Objective: This programme aims to equip in-house counsel with foundational and advanced compliance knowledge, distinguishing the role of compliance from legal advisory functions. It provides practical guidance for those looking to develop or transition into regulatory compliance roles within organizations. Participants who complete all four sessions will receive an ACGC Compliance Certification, recognizing their competency in core compliance principles.

Programme Structure: The programme consists of three online sessions and one in-person session at the ACGC Annual Conference. Each session is designed to build on the previous one, ensuring progressive knowledge acquisition.

Session 1 (Online) – Introduction to Compliance: Setting the Foundations

• Understanding compliance as a distinct function from legal advisory

• The role and responsibilities of a compliance officer

• Key compliance concepts: policies, controls, and regulatory obligations

• Case studies: How compliance interacts with legal within organizations

Session 2 (Online) – Compliance Frameworks & Standards

• Overview of global compliance frameworks (ISO 37301, anti-corruption frameworks, data protection laws)

• Sectoral compliance obligations (e.g., GDPR, AML regulations, ESG reporting)

• Implementing and maintaining compliance programs

• Interactive discussion on recent compliance failures and lessons learned

Session 3 (Online) – Risk & Audit Management

• Identifying and mitigating compliance risks

• Developing internal compliance controls and audit mechanisms

• The role of whistleblowing and internal investigations

• Compliance reporting and accountability to regulators and stakeholders

Session 4 (In-Person at ACGC Conference) – Compliance Live Lab: Navigating Real World Challenges 

• Scenario-Based Team Challenge

• • • Participants work in teams to address a live compliance challenge relevant across industries (e.g., regulatory breach, data privacy issue, fraud investigation).

    • Each team devises a response strategy using knowledge from previous sessions.

• Live Faculty Feedback

• • • Teams present their compliance action plan to a panel from the ACGC Compliance Faculty & Partner Law Firm for immediate feedback.

• Key Takeaways & Certification Milestone

• • Faculty leads a debrief, tying the exercise back to industry best practices.

  • Successful completion leads to ACGC Compliance Certification.

Virtual Compliance Lab – For Those Unable to Attend in Person

To ensure equal learning opportunities, remote participants will complete an engaging Virtual Compliance Simulation.

Key Components:

• Case Study Briefing & Materials

• • • Access to a recorded briefing on the compliance scenario.

    • Detailed case study documents with key challenges, risks, and regulatory considerations.

• Compliance Challenge Submission: Participants submit a written compliance response plan outlining:

• • Risk assessment

  • Legal & regulatory considerations

  • Recommended actions

  • Deadline: 48 hours after the live session ends.

• Key Takeaways & Certification Milestone

• ACGC Compliance Faculty evaluates submissions and provides feedback. 

• Participants must attend a debrief session.

• Completion of this alongside previous sessions grants certification.

Assessment & Certification Criteria: To ensure meaningful engagement and knowledge retention, participants must:

• • Complete all four sessions (online + in-person/virtual).

  • Submit a case study response after the final session, applying key learnings to a real-world compliance scenario.

• Engage in the Compliance Live Lab or Virtual Compliance Lab.

Successful participants will receive an ACGC Compliance Essentials Certificate, issued in partnership with the ACGC Compliance Faculty and a Partner Law Firm.