Many in-house counsel have been there. A new set of regulations suddenly turns an industry upside down. A natural disaster places employees at significant safety risk. A public-relations nightmare threatens a company’s reputation and the goodwill of its brand

Corporate risk comes in all shapes and sizes. Big or small, the responsibility of companies to properly manage crises is greater than ever — underscoring the significant role in-house counsel play in helping their clients to mitigate risk.

“As regulations change and the threat of litigation rises, the importance of lawyers has never been greater,” Andrew Ross Sorkin wrote in a 2012 New York Times article about the ever-increasing risk-management responsibilities of today’s corporate attorneys.

At the GWLS afternoon panel on Sept. 30, “Managing Corporate Risk: Key Issues in Preventing and Navigating Through Crisis,” five experienced, senior-level legal department panelists tackle this topic, discussing the best approaches to ensure clients take the right steps in handling difficult situations.

Speakers include Allyson Bouldon, vice president and chief compliance officer of Chiquita Brands International; Nancy Hill Dowling, vice president and general counsel of Danone-US; Julie M. Jacobs, executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of AOL; Jan Stern Reed, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel of Walgreens; and Joan B. Stafslien, executive vice president and general counsel and corporate secretary of CareFusion.

The speakers will focus on practical approaches to risk management and how in-house counsel can work most effectively with business teams. Additionally, panelists will offer insight about the development of proactive risk-assessment tools and workable parameters to guide business decisions on key issues during times of crisis.

The discussion is sure to provide lawyers with useful tools and strategies for navigating corporate risk with confidence.