MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

LETTER FROM THE BRITISH CONSUL GENERAL

Join us for our last quarterly Happy Hour of the year at The Junction's beautiful outdoor Beer Garden!

This is a great opportunity to catch up with friends in beautiful Marin and meet more members of our BABC community living in the North Bay. Guests from the East Bay, South Bay and San Francisco also more than welcome. Free to attend, no host bar.

While it is free to attend, please do register and look for the table with the UK and US Flags on it.

Can't wait to see you there!

Any business with international connections, whether customers, employees, business partners or vendors will know first-hand the conundrum of creating and maintaining a global corporate identity, but what is corporate culture? How can it be part of the solution to building a diverse and internationally located team?

Join ZEDRA's VP of global expansion Brieanne Runsten as she moderates a discussion with Matheus Riolfi, Co-Founder and CEO at Tint, along with Peter Saari, COO at Distillery, and Bob Lehlo, VP of People at Discreet Labs. Together the panel will share their perspectives on why corporate culture is so important and some key takeaways on how to keep your individual corporate culture working for you.

Our thanks to ZEDRA Group for sponsoring and moderating this event! And to Werqwise for hosting us!

This event is complimentary to attend for members and non-members. Appetizers, Penfolds wine and beer will be served.

Operating as a global company is at the forefront of business now more than ever. With remote workforces spanning the globe, bespoke solutions requiring in-country support, and up-and-coming markets forming in previously neglected regions, companies need an international expansion plan as part of their playbook.

Expanding for the first time can seem daunting and untangling a patchwork expansion plan gets costly and confusing. International workforce expansion can be an exciting time for your workforce, if you have the right tools in place to avoid potential legal liability.

Join Andrew Laing, our Moderator and Sales Director at Vistra with panelists, Charles Zamora, Global People Advisory Officer at Vistra, Selin Akkan, and Eileen Leman, Employment Law Associates from Cooley LLP, as we discuss the issues that companies face when hiring in a new jurisdiction.

After the event, you will:

• Know how to leverage global hiring solutions to hire the best talent possible, and to manage compliance, employee satisfaction, and integration from afar;
• Better understand the signs that it’s time to expand and learn how to take advantage of these opportunities so you can keep ahead of the curve;
• Be equipped with the tools you need to engage your first employee in a new country, or to send your local employees overseas to establish a new presence;
• Better understand the potential legal pitfalls of hiring in a new jurisdiction without first considering the types of employment or engagement that best fit your needs;
• Recognize what permanent establishment is and how to navigate it efficiently across all of your international operations.

Our thanks to Cooley and Vistra for sponsoring/moderating this event!

Webex link will be provided in the confirmation email after you register.

A CHRISTMAS PARTY LIKE NO OTHER!

The BABC Annual Christmas Luncheon Fundraiser has long been known as a Christmas Party like no other and this year will be no exception with an expected attendance of approximately 1,000 guests! The 59th Annual Christmas Luncheon which will once again be held at the spectacular Fairmont Hotel, atop Nob Hill.

Every year, the BABC Northern California dedicates an Auction Item that directly benefits its elected charity partners.

In 2022, we are delighted to announce that Raphael House will once again be the beneficiary of one item from its Auction. Additionally, proceeds from our fun Heads and Tails game will also benefit Raphael House.

TICKETS AND TABLES ARE NOW ON SALE!

We are delighted to announce that tickets and tables to this annual gathering of the international business community are now on sale! Additionally, there are a few remaining sponsorship opportunities available which include premium seating, close to the stage, plus pre-and post-event promotional opportunities.

Tickets and tables to this event are available for purchase by members only.

Click here to join the BABC Northern California and attend this coveted event!

Tickets include complimentary champagne and a sumptuous three-course traditional British Christmas lunch with plenty of wine!

Guests will enjoy some great entertainment from the Dicken’s Christmas Fair Characters, Christmas Carols by Brass Farthing and Pitch Please, bagpipes from our friends at The Irish Pipers’ Band of San Francisco, and our band Jane Blonde and the Goldfingers! And of course and an incredible Live Auction and Grand Raffle Prize drawing.

We will have a range of luxury trips and experiences to be won by lucky ticket holders on the day of the lunch. We will also have a fabulous live auction where you can purchase trips and experiences you won’t want to miss!

Thank you to those who joined us for the Navigating Cross-border Challenges Relating to HR Data Protection and Employee Right-to-Work Compliance webinar. We hope that you were able to glean some helpful information.

If you’d like to revisit the topic or share this webinar with colleagues, the presentation material can be downloaded here and a recording of the webinar can be found here.

It is with great sadness that we share news of the passing of Carole Obley at her home on Thursday, October 13^th, 2022.

Many of you will have known Carole as a warm, kind, caring and deeply connected supporter of both the BABC and of our Charity Partner, Raphael House, serving on their board for 11 years, as interim executive director and as an official advisor. For the BABC Northern California, Carole was always so generous with her time – keeping us connected to business opportunities for the organization and for our community and members. She brought both Raphael House to us as an important charity to support more than 15 years ago, and additionally, Bank of the West as a now long-standing member and supporter of the organization. 

Carole was also well connected in the San Francisco philanthropic community and provided countless hours of service for the betterment of the community. Her British charm, wit and genuineness will be sorely missed by many.

We extend our deepest condolences to her family and friends for their loss.

With deepest sympathy,

Jo Healey,

BABCSF Executive Director

Sign-ups for Raphael House’s annual Adopt-A-Family Program are now open!

Raphael House’s Adopt-A-Family Program began in 1989, serving 100 families in its first year with gifts and necessary items provided by the local community. Since then, our community has continued that spirit of giving to spread holiday cheer to thousands of families in need.

Adopt-A-Family matches our generous community members with families at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness so that families can enjoy a holiday season full of warmth and joy.

This year, we ask donors to kindly provide gift cards instead of physical gifts to allow our families the opportunity to purchase exactly the gifts they and their children want and need.

Join us for this annual tradition that supports hundreds of parents and children each year!

For more information about how Adopt-A-Family works, read our FAQs.

Join leading US and EU LifeSciences Law firms Fieldfisher & Gardner Law and colleagues for this CLE event covering Healthcare Compliance, Data Privacy and Regulatory hot topics for MedTech and Pharma companies. Live and virtual attendance options.

Discussion topics include:

* FDA Violations and the Park Doctrine Threat

* EU Healthcare Compliance Update

* Pre-Approval Communications and Trial Recruitment Do's and Don'ts

* International Data Transfers: How Can International Businesses Ensure Compliance

* Cybersecurity

* EU MDR Update and UK/Swiss Market Entry

* Panel Discussion Featuring Distinguished Silicon Valley Industry GC's

The British Benevolent Society of California hopes to see you at The City Club of San Francisco for a Christmas celebration dinner with family and friends! 

Let’s meet in early December for a toast to the end of the year and good days to come. The evening will include a raffle and carol singing led by ‘Pitch Please’ a capella group. Dress code is cocktail or formal attire.

The BBS provides financial aid and compassionate relief to British Citizens in need throughout the Western United States.

Lewis & Llewellyn is pleased to welcome Zack Flood to the firm as an associate.

Before joining Lewis & Llewellyn, Zack practiced at the San Francisco office of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP. There, he represented clients ranging from early startups to Fortune 500 companies in industries including pharmaceuticals, mobile banking, social media, live music, semiconductors, telecommunications, video streaming, and ad tech.

BABC Executive Director, Jo Healey, sat down with new BABC President and Bird & Bird Business Relationship Manager, Maya Mancuso, to get the scoop on what their membership in our chapter means to them.

Tell me about your company and the services it provides to help those doing business in the Transatlantic Corridor.

Bird & Bird is an international law firm with a focus on helping organizations being changed by technology and the digital world. Our San Francisco representative office provides US businesses with a full suite of legal services and advice related to matters in the UK, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, including international expansion and investments outside the US, intellectual property, disputes, data privacy, venture capital transactions, cross-border M&A, HR issues, complex restructuring and transformational projects and coordinated multi-jurisdictional services.

How is your company unique from others in the same sector?

Bird & Bird is unique in many ways!  We have a team on the ground here in San Francisco but don’t practice US law which means we can collaborate with local US firms and support their clients on all their international legal needs beyond the US. Reciprocally, we work closely with US law firms when our international clients need US legal advice for transactions in the US.

We have a broader geographic reach than many other international law firms with representative offices in the Bay Area. We have offices in 31 key business centres across the UK, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa and the US.

The way we are structured also makes us different. We have a ‘one firm’ culture and are organized as a single partnership, rather than a franchise or other model with separate profit centres. This means the work is always done by the right lawyers in the right locations. With one profit pool, our lawyers are incentivized to work well together and we’re very good collaborators across jurisdictions...

Click here to continue reading.

Last week, BritishAmerican Business (BAB) launched its 2022 – 2023 Policy Agenda, its flagship policy publication that reflects the top policy issues for leading transatlantic businesses. In this year’s edition are eight issues that should be a priority for the US and UK governments in the year to come...

Continue reading here.

CORPORATE MEMBERS

Design Shifu is a subscription-based graphic design service that helps with creatives such as newsletters, flyers, brochures, and social media content with flexible subscription plans. We're all about speed and high-quality designs for a monthly flat rate. We help our clients with their daily design requirements with quick turnaround time at affordable pricing.

Businesses of every size and shape have made WP Shifu their go-to website services partner, a one-stop shop, for all their day-to-day WordPress & WooCommerce needs. We take care of everything related to your WordPress and/or WooCommerce website, from daily maintenance and backups to content and security updates so that you can scale your business like never before. With our team of talented developers, you can focus on what you do best – running your business.

PREMIER MEMBER

As the regional business development agency, Invest NI’s role is to grow the local economy. We do this by helping new and existing businesses to compete internationally, and by attracting new investment to Northern Ireland.

We are part of the Department of The Economy and provide strong government support for business by effectively delivering the Government’s economic development strategies. Some of the recent US Investors we have worked with include, Puppet Labs, Alert Logic, Rapid7, Proofpoint and Whitehat Security.

UPGRARADED PREMIER MEMBER

Relocity is a fast-growing destination concierge company making the relocation process less stressful and more personal through an innovative service delivery model and proprietary technology platform. We deliver high-touch destination services by pairing local experts with a world-class, AI-driven mobile technology for an immersive, on-demand, and personalized relocation experience for employees. Established in 2016, our approach has proven highly effective with more than 200+ companies served and valued by Fortune 500 and top tech companies in a growing list of cities throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia.

CORPORATE MEMBERS

Imagine the power of 180,000 people with a common purpose – building relationships that create value for you and your business. This is PwC. Every day, our people work with you to build the value you are looking for.We’ll start by getting to know you. Our tailored solutions will help you meet the challenges and opportunities of doing business in the US market, and beyond.

We offer a global perspective and in-depth knowledge of local, state and US issues and focus on audit and assurance, tax, and consulting services . In the US, PwC concentrates on 16 key industries, providing targeted services including – but not limited to – human resources, deals, forensics, and consulting services . We help resolve complex issues and identify opportunities.

For 30+ years, SuiteAmerica has excelled in creating innovative solutions for clients and guests around the world. Our laser focus on hospitality combined with leading-edge technology delivers a more efficient and enjoyable experience with real time availability, online booking, 24/7/365 guest services, and high-quality housing options. When welcoming guests, whether for a relocation, business travel, temporary assignments, or a group experience, our proprietary reservation software makes it easy to search, select, and book an apartment to match your top priorities.

BUSINESS & COMMUNITY PARTNER MEMBERS

BDO is the brand name for BDO USA, LLP, a U.S. professional services firm providing assurance, tax, and advisory services to a wide range of publicly traded and privately held companies. For more than 100 years, BDO has provided quality service through the active involvement of experienced and committed professionals. The firm serves clients through more than 60 offices and over 650 independent alliance firm locations nationwide. As an independent Member Firm of BDO International Limited, BDO serves multi-national clients through a global network of more than 80,000 people working out of nearly 1,600 offices across 162 countries and territories.

Founded in 1863, our society joins people who share a connection with Scotland in a community and a bond of culture and benevolent purpose. Relief to people with Scottish origins, who are in distress remains an important function for us. Additionally, the Society gives financial support to Scottish cultural organizations in Northern America, such as Bagpipe Bands, Fiddling Schools, Scottish Country Dancing, and other cultural artists and musicians. Lastly, the Society manages a robust scholarship fund for students studying in Scotland or Northern California.

The Saint Andrew’s Society of San Francisco hosts many events each year, including an Annual Banquet and Ball (December) and a Burns Supper (Black tie event in January). We invite everyone who is interested to learn more and celebrate Scottish culture to join us! 

Global Temporary Housing Solutions. End-to-end services that provide the right housing fit for every resident, every time. In combination with our parent organization, The Ascott Limited, Synergy offers over 120,000 apartments worldwide as well as nearly 500,000 apartments across 6,000 locations via our vast supply chain network – effectively making it one of the most dynamic global temporary housing platforms available today.

Here in Wales, we’re investing in the future. We’re developing the ideas and technologies that will help to shape the next century. The renewable energy that will power our world. The tech that will connect everyone and everything. And we’re nurturing the talent and ingenuity that will make it all happen.

We want to hear from businesses, governments and universities in the area who are interested in creating partnerships with Wales in particular in our key sectors such as compound semiconductors, cyber, creative and the life sciences.

Just last week, Milpitas-based KLA announced a capital investment of over $100m into Wales with accommodation for 750 employees. Here's a video of Welsh Economy minister Vaughan Gething at the ground breaking ceremony.

Join them and a suite of other companies from the West Coast who are seeing just what Wales has to offer!

One of the benefits of membership in the BABC Northern California is the opportunity to access Member-to-Member-Only special offers and hot deals.

To learn how to access codes and instructions, log in to your BABC Account and click on the Member-to-Member Deals button.