15 May, 2012

Conference Chair: Trevor Potter, former chairman, Federal Election Commission

The Corporate Political Spending Conference, to be held May 15 in Washington, D.C., will focus on how companies that engage in the political process can meet the challenges of the complex environment created by the Citizens United decision and increased public and media scrutiny.

The conference, chaired by Trevor Potter, former chairman of the Federal Election Commission, will give executives responsible for political spending decisions and policies an opportunity to hear from and engage with thought leaders in the field, including members of The Conference Board Committee on Corporate Political Spending.

Business leaders and experts in corporate political spending will address key strategic issues, including policies and practices, board oversight, disclosure, and the risks involved with political activity. This conference will also cover: 

• Compliance and Training for Corporate Political Spending
• Political Spending Governance: The Role of Senior Management and the Board
• Effective Political Engagement: When, Why, and How to Engage in the Political Process under Citizens United
• Political Spending in the Boardroom: The Role of Boards and Shareholders
• Communicating Your Political Activity Strategy

Who should attend

Senior executives from the following functions: Legal, Governance, Public Affairs, Government Affairs, Investor Relations.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

REGISTRATION AND CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST 8–9 AM

A 9–9:15 AM

Conference Opening: Corporate Political Spending and the 2012 Elections

Trevor Potter, Conference Chair; Member, Caplin & Drysdale; Former Chairman, Federal Election Commission; General Counsel, McCain Campaign, 2008 

B 9:15–10:15 AM

The Battle over Corporate Political Activity: Left Wing Plot, Good Governance, or Both?

Moderator
Trevor Potter, Member, Caplin & Drysdale
Panelists
Paul Atkins, Chief Executive Officer, Patomak Global Partners; Former Commissioner, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Charles E.M. Kolb, President, Committee for Economic Development
Bruce Freed, President and Founder,The Center for Political Accountability
Andrew J. Pincus, Partner, Mayer Brown LLP

C 10:15–10:30 AM

The Conference Board Committee on Corporate Political Spending

Dan Bross, Senior Director of Corporate Citizenship, Microsoft Corporation 

NETWORKING REFRESHMENT BREAK 10:30–11 AM

D 11 AM–NOON

Effective Political Engagement: When, Why and How to Engage in the Political Process Under Citizens United

Moderator
Stefan Passantino, Partner, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP
Panelists
Carolyn Brehm, Vice President, Global Government Relations, Procter & Gamble
James Cicconi, Senior Executive Vice President – External and Legislative Affairs, AT&T 
Howard Opinsky, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Washington, DC, Hill + Knowlton Strategies

LUNCHEON NOON–1 PM

E1 1–2:15 PM

Political Spending in the Boardroom: The Role of Boards and Shareholders

Moderator
Amy Goodman, Partner, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Panelists
Adam Kanzer, Managing Director and General Counsel, Domini Social Investments
Matthew Lepore, Corporate Secretary, Chief Counsel - Corporate Governance, Pfizer, Inc.
Nell Minow, Editor, The Corporate Library; Founder, GMI Ratings

E2 1–2:15 PM

So You Need a Policy: Context & Purpose in Developing a Program on Corporate Political Spending

Moderator
Joseph M. Birkenstock, Member, Caplin & Drysdale 
Panelists
Wesley Bizzell, Assistant General Counsel, Altria Client Services Inc. 
Laurence D. Laufer, Partner, Genova Burns Giantomasi & Webster
Steven Tomasic, Assistant General Counsel, J.P. Morgan Chase 

NETWORKING REFRESHMENT BREAK 2:15–2:30 PM

F1 2:30–3:45 PM

The Role of Public Disclosure

Moderator
Trevor Potter, Conference Chair; Member, Caplin & Drysdale
Panelists
Dan Bross, Senior Director of Corporate Citizenship, Microsoft Corporation 
Lori Zyskowski, Corporate and Securities Counsel, General Electric 

F2 2:30–3:45 PM

Political Spending for Government Contractors

Moderator
Karl Sandstrom, Of Counsel, Perkins Coie 
Panelists
Hon. Cynthia L. Bauerly, Commissioner, Federal Election Commission
Matthew Sanderson, Associate, Caplin & Drysdale
Jonathan D. Simon, Member, Van Ness Feldman

G 3:45–4:45 PM

Money, Politics and the Press in a Volatile Election: What Companies Should Beware Of

Moderator
Peter Cook, Chief Washington Correspondent, Bloomberg Television
Panelists
Eliza Newlin Carney, Staff Writer, CQ Roll Call 
Thomas Hamburger, National Desk, The Washington Post 

CLOSING REMARKS 4:45–5 PM
Trevor Potter, Conference Chair; Member, Caplin & Drysdale

NETWORKING COCKTAIL RECEPTION 5–6 PM 

For speaking and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Marcel Bucsescu at marcel.bucsescu@conferenceboard.org. 

The Conference Board (TCB) is a New York not-for-profit corporation that is exempt from federal income tax as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. In furtherance of its charitable and educational purposes, TCB promotes the understanding of business practices and economic cycles and, among other activities, convenes groups to study and exchange information on particular subjects and supports and undertakes nonpartisan analysis and research.

As a 501(c)(3) organization, TCB is prohibited from participating or intervening in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. This conference is nonpartisan, and neither TCB nor conference participants may use this conference to express support of or opposition to any candidate for public office.

TCB’s charter prohibits it from attempting to influence legislation. Although this conference will include discussion of how to comply with current federal and state laws governing political expenditures, or proposed legislation. If proposed legislation becomes part of the conference program, TCB will ensure that the presentation meets the requirements for nonpartisan analysis, study or research, which is an exception to lobbying. To do so any such presentation must be independent and objective and should provide a sufficiently full and fair exposition of the facts so that any individual attending the conference may form an independent conclusion or opinion regarding the legislation.