Volume 41 | February 2024

Where Europeans & Americans Connect to do Business

NEWSLETTER

February 2024

Picture of the Month

Meet & Greet with Lisette den Breems, Consul General of The Netherlands in Miami and EACC Florida President Alan Sutin, Executive Director Christina Sleszynska and EACC Florida Board Member Scott Bettridge

UPCOMING EVENTS


AI in Business

Navigating Risk in Adopting a Powerful but Not Well-Understood Technology


February 13, 2024 I 4.30 p.m. - 6.30 p.m. I Greenberg Traurig

Whether in search of reduced costs, improved service or simply a sense of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), companies – large and small - are rapidly moving to adopt the increasingly powerful artificial intelligence business tools (”AI”) now available to them. These companies are using AI both as a standalone technology for specialized use cases and/or embedding it within common enterprise software systems that handle core business processes.


While AI can deliver impressive results, even the CEOs of some major providers of AI tools acknowledge that they do not fully understand the behavior of this powerful technology. For example, AI has a common tendency to “hallucinate”, a term used in AI-speak to mean make up facts and assert the existence of things, people or circumstances that are not real.

 

Although a number of countries and regions are developing AI strategies and regulatory frameworks, the technology, its benefits, risks, and ethical issues it generates are not necessarily well understood by the regulators either. The use of AI by organizations – especially generative AI - is increasingly prompting questions around intellectual property, data privacy, discrimination, litigation, transparency, ethics, and regulation which largely remain unanswered.



This program will look at some of the key issues companies involved in transatlantic business are facing as it relates to the use of AI, how regulatory frameworks are being developed on both sides of the Atlantic, and how companies can manage risk in the still muddled AI waters.


  • Laura Juanes Micas, VP, Privacy Officer – Restaurant Brands International
  • Alan Sutin, Chair Technology, Media & Telecommunications Practice and Senior Chair Global Intellectual Property & Technology Practice – Greenberg Traurig, and President – EACC Florida [Moderator]
  • David Zetoony, Co-Chair, U.S. Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice – Greenberg Traurig
  • An EU Regulator or expert (TBA)
  • A tech company representative (TBA)

Date: February 13, 2024

Time: 4.30 pm - 6.30 pm


Registration

EACCFL Members: free

Guests w. Promo Code: free

All others: $30



REGISTRATION

Program hosted by

SPECIAL NOTE: EACC Florida Member LeverX is offering a Design Thinking Workshop on February 14 during which participants will learn how AI technologies can be applied to solve existing business problems. The workshop is free of charge. Registrations on a first come first serve basis. Maximum 20 participants. Details here..

Member and Partner Events

Date: February 14, 2024

Time: 9.00am - 12.00pm

INFO & REGISTRATION

WORKSHOP I Empowering your Business with AI Capabilities


Join us for a Design Thinking Workshop hosted by LeverX.


The workshop will feature a combination of interactive group activities and expert insights, employing tools like opportunity cards to stimulate brainstorming and real-world problem-solving. These interactive elements are structured to foster a deep understanding of AI's potential, enabling participants to translate abstract concepts into concrete, actionable business strategies.


Format: Facilitated workshop (in person only)

Duration: 3 hours

Location: LeverX offices in Brickell. Exact location to be provided upon registration

Fee: Free of charge. First come first serve. Maximum 20 participants.

Past Events & Activities

Celebrating the New Year with Pernod Ricard !



Where in Miami can you have a meeting in the corporate offices of an iconic company – whose motto is “Créateurs de Convivialité” – featuring a bar complete with bar-tender and fully stocked with some of the best-known spirits in the world?


The answer is … Pernod Ricard’s offices in Miami’s Blue Lagoon, home of the Caribbean and Central America, Travel Retail Americas and Pernod Ricard USA Florida divisions.

The New Year Celebration hosted by Pernod Ricard, an EACC Florida Member, on January 25 was EACC Florida’s first event for 2024. And what a great event it was!

EACC Florida Members braved Miami notorious traffic to join our Board Members and Pernod Ricard Executives for a cocktail, a celebratory glass of champagne, nice bites, and presentations of the company, its products and Pernod Ricard’s 2030 Sustainability & Responsibility Roadmap.


Many thanks to Pernod Ricard and their wonderful team for a very warm welcome, your wonderful hospitality and “conviviality”! We’ll come back for sure!

Large Tech Delegation from Belgium Hosted by EACC Florida


Last December, EACC Florida welcomed 50 of Belgium’s most forward-looking tech companies with a seminar titled “Introduction to South Florida’s Tech Ecosystem” and a well-attended Networking Reception.


This was probably the largest official delegation of European tech companies coming to Miami – and certainly from a small (but mighty) country like Belgium. It was led by AGORIA, the Belgian Tech Federation and graced by the presence of H.E. Consul General of Belgium Michel Gerebtzoff.

The panel discussion included Leigh-Ann Buchanan – President of the Miami Dade Innovation Authority, Jaret Davis – Senior Vice-President & Co-Managing Shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, Melissa Medina – CEO & President of eMerge Americas, Ivan Rapin-Smith, Managing Director at Watsco Ventures, and was moderated by Alan Sutin, President of EACC Florida and Chair Technology, Media & Telecommunications Practice and Senior Chair Global Intellectual Property & Technology Practice at Greenberg Traurig.


Hosted by

Left to right: Scott Bettridge (Cozen O'Connor), H.E. Consul General of Belgium Michel Gerebtzoff, Alan Sutin (EACC Florida President & Greenberg Traurig), Bart Steuker (CEO AGORIA), Isabel Michiels, Julie de Bergeyck, Frederick Tibau (Team AGORIA), Manuel Molina (Honorary Consul of Belgium in Miami)

Industry Briefing with Kristian Hedberg. Minister Counsellor for Transportation & Mobility at the EU Delegation in Washington DC.



On December 7th, EACC Florida held an Invitation-Only Industry Briefing with Kristian Hedberg, Minister Counsellor, Mobility & Transport at the EU Delegation in Washington DC.


Kristian Hedberg updated our guests on the EU’s transportation and mobility agenda with a focus on innovation and sustainability including areas of coordination with the United States. Topics discussed included the European Green Deal, the decarbonization and electrification agenda for rail and road, the development of sustainable fuels for aviation and maritime. As regards EU-US coordination, the focus is on electrification, the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act, standardization across key areas, and more.


The briefing with Kristian Hedberg was part of a 3-day official visit to Miami of a larger delegation of European transportation counselors. Later that day, EACC Florida Executive Director was invited to attend a reception hosted by Consul General of The Netherlands Lisette den Breems and attended by members of the official delegation. Kristian Hedberg joined the EU Delegation in Washington DC in September 2023. This was his first official visit to South Florida.


Hosted by

TRANSATLANTIC NEWS

EU I Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) Enters into Force. The ACI is first and foremost designed to act as a deterrent against economic coercion. Countermeasures include include the imposition of tariffs, restrictions on trade in services and trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights, and restrictions on access to foreign direct investment and public procurement. Read more.


EU I New Initiatives to Strengthen Economic Security. The Commission adopted five initiatives to strengthen the EU's economic security at a time of growing geopolitical tensions and profound technological shifts. Read more.


European Council I Anti-money Laundering: Deal on Stricter Rules Reached. With the new package, all rules applying to the private sector will be transferred to a new regulation, while the directive will deal with the organisation of institutional AML/CFT systems at national level in the member states.

The provisional agreement on an anti-money laundering regulation will, for the first time, exhaustively harmonise rules throughout the EU, closing possible loopholes used by criminals to launder illicit proceeds or finance terrorist activities through the financial system.

The agreement on the directive will improve the organisation of national anti-money laundering systems. Read more.


EIB I European Institutions Join Forces to Boost the European Space Sector. The European Commission, the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the European Space Agency (ESA) signed today at the Space Conference a collaboration arrangement to join forces to strengthen the European space sector. This will include small and medium businesses (SMEs) and start-ups and enhance Europe's position in space. Read more.


World Bank I Global Economics Prospects Report - Jan 2024 Edition Summary. Global growth is expected to slow to 2.4 percent in 2024—the third consecutive year of deceleration—reflecting the lagged and ongoing effects of tight monetary policies to rein in decades-high inflation, restrictive credit conditions, and anemic global trade and investment. Read more.

EU/US - EU & US Hold 5th Trade & Technology Council Meeting. Officials from both sides of the Atlantic agreed to increase bilateral trade and investment, co-operate on economic security and emerging technologies and to advance joint interests in the digital environment. In the margins of this TTC meeting, both sides agreed to continue to explore ways to facilitate trade in goods and technologies that are vital for the green transition, including by strengthening the cooperation on conformity assessment. The EU and the US have also committed to make tangible progress on digital trade tools to reduce the red tape for companies across the Atlantic and to strengthen our approaches to investment screening, export controls, outbound investment, and dual-use innovation. Read more.


New York FED - Inflation Expectations Decline Across all Horizons. Inflation expectations at the short-term horizon reached the lowest level recorded since January 2021. Earnings growth and spending growth expectations also decreased slightly to their lowest recorded levels since 2021, while expectations about credit access and households’ financial situation turned less pessimistic. Read more.


LatAm I EU and Chile Sign Trade and Political Agreements. The agreements will facilitate cooperation between the EU and Chile including the de-risking of supply chains, the securing sustainable supply of critical raw materials, and addressing climate change. Read more.


LatAm I EU - Mercosur Trade Agreement Falls Through. The trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur in the making for 20 years and which would have created one of the world's largest free trade zones was not signed at a December 7 summit of South American leaders in Brazil. It is unclear what the next steps will be. Read more.


IMF I Charts Spotlight Inflation, Economic Growth, Globalization, and Climate Change. From inflation and economic growth to housing, food prices, globalization, and climate change, these visualizations encapsulate the biggest challenges policymakers faced. Read more.

Thought Leadership
MEMBER and PARTNER INSIGHTS

5 Trends to Watch: 2024 Data Privacy & Cybersecurity. Cybersecurity Rules by the SEC and the EU; Server Side Tracking Replaces Browser Side Tracking; Training AI Models; Washington State’s New Health Privacy Law; Legislation Loves Company. Read more.


Florida Bill Considers Impacts of Social Media on Minors. The Florida Legislature is considering several bills relating to the impacts of social media on minors. Read more.


5 Trends to Watch: 2024 UK Financial Services Regulation. Final rules expected on non-financial misconduct; Continuing reforms to the Senior Managers and Certification Regime; A change in approach for FCA investigations and Upper Tribunal proceedings; The FCA’s intervention in relation to complaints about motor finance discretionary commission; New categories for the promotion of products under the FCA Sustainability Disclosure Requirements. Read more.


Compliments Greenberg Traurig


Trends That Will Shape the Construction Industry in 2024. After years of uncertainty, 2023 offered a glimpse into a new normal for the construction industry. Major developments included a downward trend in the commercial real estate market, increased focus on sustainability, labor shortages, rising interest rates and inflation, and active legislation at the federal and state levels to pave the way for infrastructure projects across the country. Read more.


ETIAS Will Now Launch in 2025: its Impact on Over 1 Billion Travelers to Europe. It was recently announced that due to a variety of complications, challenges, and concerns, the ETIAS roll-out scheduled for 2024 has been postponed to 2025. Read more.


USCIS Fee Increase: What You Need to Know to Plan Your 2024 Immigration Budget. Starting April 1, 2024, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will implement a meaningful fee increase, the first increase since 2016. Numerous case types and specific forms will receive significant fee increases, including but not limited to H-1B, L-1, TN, EB-5, I-129 and I-14. Read more.


Compliments Cozen O'Connor


R&D Tax Credit: Significant Reporting Changes Proposed by the IRS. Recently proposed reporting changes currently being contemplated by the IRS and Congress could impact taxpayers claiming the R&D tax credit as soon as the 2024 tax year. In light of these potential changes and recent court cases, taxpayers should review their substantiation strategy and prepare to provide additional information should that be required to claim the credit going forward. Read more.


Compliments Kaufman Rossin

New Members Spotlight

Welcome to Corporate Member PICadvanced !


EACC Florida is delighted to welcome PICadvanced US LLC as a Corporate Member!


PICadvanced US LLC

  

In the field of telecommunications, namely the fiber to the home, PICadvanced has been a disruptor. With active presence in the standards and fora our activities gravitate around innovation and leadership: we have purposed ourselves to be the disruptor in access networks with the radical change of the optical interfaces from bulky to integrated circuits.


The mother company, PICadvanced SA, a Portuguese company founded in 2014, has been key to the advancement of technology in the world.


Based on this accumulated knowledge, PICadvanced US LLC will serve as disruptor in the context of the US operations with strong focus on design for the US based platforms and support of the local clients vertically from concept to production of devices and subsystems that suit their needs.


Info: https://picadvanced.com/

Welcome to Corporate Member Schlentrich Law !


EACC Florida warmly welcomes boutique law firm Schlentrich Law as a Corporate Member!


SCHLENTRICH LAW


Schlentrich Law, a boutique law firm based in the heart of Miami, offers high-quality legal advice to private and corporate clients in Business Law, Immigration Law, Real Estate Law, and Trusts & Estates.


The firm’s founder, Barbara Schlentrich, holds a Juris Doctor cum laude and Master of Laws in International Law from the University of Miami. She is admitted to practice law in Florida and Germany where she has been serving European clients in corporate, financial, and international law for more than 25 years. By opening her office in Miami in 2023, she has fulfilled her American dream and is highly motivated to help clients from both sides of the Atlantic understand the laws in the “Old” and the “New World,” including the respective cultural differences.


For more information visit www.schlentrichlaw.com

NOW is the Perfect Time to Join!

Recommend EACC Florida to a Client or Business Partner

EACC is a Connector
We open doors for our members across our chapter network on both sides of the Atlantic and we keep you informed on the relevant issues affecting your business.
 
Members of the EACC network enjoy:
  Access to our network of high-level business executives & our unique referral service
  Invitations to exclusive seminars & a direct exchange with transatlantic experts
  Visibility for your organization & opportunities to showcase your thought-leadership
  The ability to make a difference & actively engage in the Trans-Atlantic business dialogue


Meet the EACC Network

Our Members are Part of Something Bigger


Together with its sister chapters, EACC Florida is part of a growing and highly dynamic transatlantic network reaching over 10,000 executives in the US and across Europe. With over 750 members, the EACC is a valuable resource for any size business. If you would like to get involved, let us know. 
Founding Members / President's Circle
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