Welcome to the conference website for the 39th Annual National Bar Association Commercial Law Section (NBA-CLS) Corporate Counsel Conference (CCC)! We are anticipating with great delight our meeting in Dana Point, California, Wednesday, February 18 – Saturday, February 21, 2026!
Our annual conference attracts attorneys, judges, and law students from across the country, including public General Counsels from many Fortune 500 and other corporations. Attendees will have the opportunity to take part in engaging CLE Panels on cutting edge topics with industry leaders and practitioners from across the country, networking events and dine-arounds, law firm/corporate counsel connections expo, headshot lounge, and concluding with a festive awards celebration. We hope you will join us!
We are One:
United
in Purpose
The landscape has shifted. DEI programs are changing. Language is being stripped. Support feels less certain. But through all of this, one truth remains: our purpose does not depend on external labels or policies. Our 2026 theme, We Are One: United in Purpose.
This conference will afford us the opportunity to reflect, renew, and recommit. We will explore how to rise from disruption with clarity and how to protect our well-being, our careers, and our communities when DEI feels under threat — and how to shape what comes next.
Annual Corporate Counsel Conference
In 1987, a small group within NBA-CLS met to consider ways for NBA members in business practice to meet with institutional corporate clients for the purpose of developing professional relationships and to create opportunities for institutional entities to seek out, meet, and refer outside legal matters to Black attorneys. The inaugural Corporate Counsel Conference in 1988 was held in Chicago, Illinois and was a resounding success because it enabled Fortune 500 companies with the ability to meet and network with NBA members who practice in areas of substantive law affecting America’s major corporations.
Enjoy CCC Signature Events & Highlights
Each year, the NBA-CLS family convenes to network and support each other as we establish new connections and reinforce existing ones. From year to year, attendees come to anticipate many of our signature CLE sessions, events, and highlights.
Where connections become collaborations. Engage with industry leaders, share perspectives, and strengthen the relationships that power your professional growth.
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Where expertise meets opportunity. Based on expertise and availability, sponsors may share insights, engage with an influential audience, and position their brand as a trusted thought leader shaping the future of the industry
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Where conversations create connections. Join exclusive small-group dinners with industry leaders and peers to exchange insights, forge relationships, and enjoy meaningful dialogue over an exceptional meal.
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Where business meets the fairway. From expert-led clinics to our annual tournament, enjoy hands-on coaching, friendly competition, and meaningful networking with industry peers—all while perfecting your swing on the greens.
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Where relaxation meets renewal. Unwind and recharge with spa treatments on the final day in Dana Point, CA—your perfect pause to relax, refresh, and return home with renewed energy and focus.
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Where confidence meets the camera. Step into the Headshot Lounge to refresh your personal brand with a polished, professional photo—captured by a skilled photographer and ready to elevate your LinkedIn, website, or firm profile.
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Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort and Club
1 Monarch Beach Resort
Dana Point, CA 92629
A Special Thanks to Our Signature and Platinum Sponsors
Signature Sponsor
Platinum Sponsors
Founded on August 1, 1925, 12 Black lawyers met in Des Moines, Iowa to establish a national network of Black lawyers.
We will celebrate their legacy as we continue to connect people, ideas, and opportunities!
The NBA’s 12 distinguished founders are:
- George H. Woodson
- S. Joe Brown
- Gertrude E. Rush
- James B. Morris
- Charles P. Howard, Sr.
- Wendell E. Green
- C. Francis Stradford
- Jesse N. Baker
- William H. Haynes
- George C. Adams
- Charles H. Calloway
- L. Amasa Knox
