Welcome to the Bar Year

Dear Members of the NCBA Corporate Counsel Section,

Welcome to the 2026-2027 bar year!  For those who don’t know me yet, my name is Chris Scott, and I have the great pleasure of serving as the chair of our section for this new year. I am grateful for this opportunity, and look forward to working with our section leaders, the NCBA and all of you to help make this another great year for our section and state.

In recent years, the Corporate Counsel section has provided its members with opportunities to participate in a variety of activities and events. Guided by the needs and wishes of our section members, we will continue to provide high-quality programs, such as our annual CLE event, and our popular “thought leadership” discussion series. Our members can expect more fun and engaging networking events, which could include partnering with other sections to enjoy an evening at Top Golf or possibly a Durham Bulls game. As much as possible, we try to spread these events around the state, to give everyone a chance to participate. We always aim to have some family-friendly events, too!

Our section is also dedicated to serving the greater community, and will perform pro bono service days a few times throughout the year. Some of you may have generously offered your time to help with our past service projects, such as working with the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. Be on the lookout for more information about upcoming opportunities to help those in need.

I want to thank those of you who have been active in the section, and who have agreed to serve on the Council or as Committee chairs. Planning and coordinating events throughout the year would not be possible without the assistance of many of our dedicated members. I am grateful for your efforts and even more appreciative of the opportunity that I have had to get to know each of you. If you are new to the section, or if you are considering boosting your level of participation this year, I encourage you to join a committee that may interest you — we want your input and ideas! Please feel free to reach out to me, or other section leaders, if you have any questions about opportunities for involvement.

Serving in the Corporate Counsel section has been among the most rewarding aspects of my professional career. More than once, I have reached out to a colleague for guidance or advice, and found them more than willing to share a document, or jump on a call, or refer me to a learned expert. These are connections I would not have, but for my involvement with our section. We are a community of legal professionals who are dedicated to serving our clients, supporting our state and region and to upholding the highest standards of the practice of law. I am thrilled that you have chosen to join us this year, and I look forward to working with and for all of you, and hopefully meeting a bunch of you, too!