7:30 – 8:00am Continental Breakfast
8:00 – 9:30am Program
Room 290, Stanford Law School

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Recognizing the complexity and urgency in dealing with cyber-security threats, this is the first of two programs on what board members need to know in dealing with cyber-security issues.

Separate and apart from education on basic IT system vulnerabilities, an equally important component of cyber-security is understanding the processes and policies your company may have in place (or not) to respond to a cyber-emergency. Join a seasoned panel of specialists — drawn from insurance, public relations, forensics, the FBI and outside counsel — to focus on the board’s best practices in response to the inevitable cyber-security attack.

• What is the board’s obligation to understand the company’s IT function and cyber-response plan?
• What are practical tips on crisis management in the event of a breach? When and how should disclosure be made and to whom?
• What legal and insurance considerations enter into a breach response?
• What are your duties — and the pros and cons — of working with law enforcement and regulatory agencies?

On April 21 a second program will focus on the technical aspects of cyber attacks.

Our Panel

John Christiansen is a managing director in the San Francisco of Sard Verbinnen. He advises a wide range of clients on contested and friendly M&A transactions, corporate positioning, crisis situations, proxy contests, management changes, initial public offerings, earnings and guidance issues, as well as ongoing media and investor relations programs. Current and recent engagement and representation highlights include HP on its separation into Hewlett Packard Enterprise and HP Inc., Avago Technologies on its $37 billion acquisition of Broadcom, Alibaba on its $25 billion NYSE IPO and Onyx Pharmaceuticals on its $10.4 billion sale to Amgen.
Lauri Floresca is senior vice president and E&O/cyber-team leader at Woodruff-Sawyer & Co. With a background in underwriting executive liability products and more than 20 years’ experience in the insurance brokerage and risk management industry, Lauri has the technical experience to identify and solve complex insurance problems. She is a widely respected expert for her knowledge in the areas of directors and officers liability and cyber liability. Lauri has extensive experience placing D&O programs for public companies of all sizes, including a number of NASDAQ 100 and Fortune 500 companies.
Nicolas Forst, Supervisory Special Agent, San Jose Cyber Squad, Federal Bureau of Investigation
As global co-head of M&A at Orrick, Ed Batts counsels publicly traded companies in complex mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and public offerings. He has particular experience with cross-border transactions, public/public mergers, tender offers and going private transactions. Ed advises on board matters and public reporting obligations, including activist investor situations, stockholder proposals and accounting related issues. In addition, he has regularly represented registrants and underwriters in primary and secondary equity offerings.