The Level Legal Guide
to the ACC Annual Meeting 2025
Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love!
For the first time in nearly 10 years, the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Annual Meeting returns to the East Coast. This year, we’re gathered in Philadelphia, the birthplace of America, where the Declaration of Independence was signed, Rocky climbed the steps, and the Cheez Whiz runs like water (OK, maybe that last one is a stretch).
The Level Legal Guide to the ACC Annual Meeting is a resource to help you find places to eat, things to do, and ways to make the most of your time at this always-engaging meeting of in-house legal professionals. Whether you’re looking for a recommendation for a quick bite near the convention hall or an activity to enjoy the best Philadelphia has to offer, we’ve got you covered.
Level Legal believes in “making legal human.” This philosophy is at the core of our eDiscovery, managed review, forensics, and consulting services—as well as our approach to this guide. For us, the ACC Annual Meeting is all about making new connections and fostering existing ones. We created this guide to help you explore the city and experience something new, whether you’re familiar with Philadelphia or a first-time visitor.
Tips for Navigating the Pennsylvania Convention Center
This year’s ACC Annual Meeting is held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in the heart of Philadelphia’s Center City neighborhood. It can be overwhelming to navigate—the convention center spans over six blocks and includes over 600,000 square feet of exhibit hall space. Here are some tips that will help make your ACC Annual Meeting experience more enjoyable.
Enter on Broad Street: The ACC Annual Meeting takes place in Exhibit Hall E. This hall is near the Broad Street entrance on the west side of the convention center. Depending on where you’re staying, there may be a more convenient entrance, but you’ll have to walk further to get to the meeting hall once you’re in the building.
Plan Ahead with the Program Schedule: It includes all of the sessions, networking activities, and other happenings at the Annual Meeting. You can also download the event’s mobile app (on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store) for easier access to programming and the exhibit hall layout on the go. Once downloaded, you can log in using the email you used to register for ACC.
Make Time for Keynotes (and a Philly Celebration): The Annual Meeting has two keynotes this year, plus a special celebration on Tuesday evening:
- On Monday, you’ll hear from award-winning journalist and financial columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin, who you might recognize from The New York Times or CNBC.
- On Tuesday, Lindsay Czarniak, an Emmy-winning sportscaster, sits down with NFL agent and attorney Nicole Lynn for a live interview.
- And you don’t want to miss the nostalgic fun on Tuesday night, when special guest DJ Jazzy Jeff performs.
Find a Foodie Paradise at Reading Terminal Market: Philadelphia’s historic Reading Terminal Market is connected to the Pennsylvania Convention Center and can satisfy just about any craving with over 80 vendors and 30 eateries, including Pennsylvania Dutch specialties like soft pretzels and fudge. You’ll find it on the opposite side of the convention center from the ACC exhibit hall, on the ground floor of the building that houses the Grand Hall and Ballroom AB.
Delectable Dining Philly-Style: An ACC Annual Meeting Diner’s Guide
While Philadelphia may be nationally known for foods like cheesesteaks (more on that later), hoagies, or soft pretzels, its dining options go way beyond those classics and include some of the finest on the East Coast.
These handpicked spots from our team are perfect for impressing clients, treating yourself and your team to a well-deserved meal, or a quick bite (with networking built in).
Ama
A highlight of the Fishtown neighborhood, known for its excellent restaurants, Ama is a stunning, wood-fire-driven Mexican restaurant by Chef Frankie Ramirez. It offers shareable, regionally inspired, elevated, and deeply heartfelt dishes. It’s a great choice if you’re leaning toward a more thoughtful dining experience.
2.5 Miles from Convention Center
Address: 101 W Oxford St., Philadelphia, PA 19122
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Andra Hem
Tucked behind an unassuming townhouse façade in Rittenhouse, this Scandinavian-inspired cocktail lounge has an elegant feel with jewel-toned rooms and art-clad walls. Its award-winning drinks shine in an intimate, stylish setting, perfect for a cozy solo stop or a memorable post-conference meet-up.
0.6 Miles from Convention Center
Address: 218 S 16th St., Philadelphia, PA 19102
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Bar Lesieur
A short walk from the convention center, this chic French‑inspired steakhouse puts a modern twist on classic bistro fare with an artfully curated cocktail and French wine menu. Guests praise standout options such as tuna crudo, crab spaghetti, and velvety onion crepes, and its atmosphere—dimly lit and stylishly intimate—makes it an elegant choice for a relaxed yet memorable evening.
0.5 Miles from Convention Center
Address: 1523 Sansom St., Philadelphia, PA 19102
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Bar-ly
You can’t beat Bar-ly for convenience or individuality—as Chinatown’s only sports bar, it’s right across the street (11th Street, to be specific) from the convention center. It serves a lively mashup of Asian, Tex–Mex, and classic pub favorites with a casual, energetic vibe that makes it the perfect spot for a no-fuss bite or drink.
0.1 Miles from Convention Center
Address: 101 N 11th St., Philadelphia, PA 19107
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Barclay Prime
Perched on Rittenhouse Square, this polished steakhouse reimagines the classic American grill—offering impeccably aged steaks, a refined raw bar, and signature touches like a curated “knife program” that invites you to choose your knife of choice for your meal. Known for its elevated yet unabashedly celebratory atmosphere—and frequently booked for special occasions—Barclay Prime strikes a balance between show-stopping experience and dependable neighborhood favorite.
1 Mile from Convention Center
Address: 237 S 18th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103
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Butcher and Singer
This former 1930s bank turned chophouse is wrapped in art-deco grandeur and revives the golden-age steakhouse with dry-aged cuts, an expansive raw bar, and bold versions of classics like stuffed hash browns and Twin Lobster Tails. The unique ambiance is unmatched and unexpected; they call it “old-world Hollywood,” and it lives up to that descriptor.
0.6 Miles from Convention Center
Address: 1500 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19102
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Dear Daphni
This sleek Mediterranean‑inspired spot elevates shared dining with artful mezze and grilled mains like whole branzino and Tunisian lamb shank in a sun‑bright, jewel‑toned dining room. Check it out for a stylish scene, including herbal cocktails and a buzzy happy hour, and stay for the vibrant atmosphere and standout dishes.
0.8 Miles from Convention Center
Address: 125 S 20th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103
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El Chingon
Nestled just outside Center City in South Philly, this spirited spot elevates Mexican fare with bold, inventive twists. Its lively vibe, refined baking roots, and unmistakable sense of place make it a deliciously authentic stop that The New York Times praised as “a neighborhood restaurant, albeit one of the highest order.
1.8 Miles from Convention Center
Address: 1524 S 10th St., Philadelphia, PA 19147
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Her Place Supper Club
This intimate supper club-turned-restaurant, helmed by rising star Chef Amanda Shulman, delivers deeply personal seasonal dishes like exquisite hand-rolled pasta or tender chicken with indulgent toppings and playful riffs like mussels escabeche. It’s all served in a charmingly vintage dining room where mismatched tea-house plates and an open kitchen feel like a homey dinner party.
0.6 Miles from Convention Center
Address: 1740 Sansom St., Philadelphia, PA 19103
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Honeysuckle
Called this year’s “most ambitious restaurant” by The Philadelphia Inquirer, this Afro‑centric fine dining room brings ancestral flavors to the fore, featuring standouts like heirloom‑corn hush puppies, exquisite porgy fried fish with peaches and crème fraîche, and a playful “McDonald’s Money” burger sporting truffle, caviar, and Cooper Sharp atop milk bread.
0.7 Miles from Convention Center
Address: 631 N Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19123
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Hop Sing Laundromat
Just a hop (no pun intended), skip, and a jump from the convention center, you’ll find Hop Sing Laundromat hidden behind an unmarked metal door in Chinatown. This theatrical speakeasy elevates cocktail culture with meticulously crafted drinks. With nearly 1,000 rare spirits, exacting house rules (no phones, photos, or casual attire), and a hush‑hush vibe, it’s more of a dramatic, mood-setting experience than a quick stop—but the payoff is exceptional cocktails that are worth lingering for.
0.1 Miles from Convention Center
Address: 1029 Race St., Philadelphia, PA 19107
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La Jefa
This lively café and cocktail bar celebrates Mexican flavors with playful brunch plates like chilaquiles, unique sandwiches, and pan dulce paired with house-fermented agave sodas. By evening, it shifts into a warm, sultry bar where creative mezcal- and tequila-forward cocktails shine alongside shareable bites rooted in Guadalajara’s traditions.
0.6 Miles from Convention Center
Address: 1605 Latimer St., Philadelphia, PA 19103
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Come Meet Us
Swing by booth 424 to meet a team that is making legal human, delivers remarkable delight, and hands out the best swag!
Say Cheese: A Guide to Ordering the Perfect Cheesesteak
You would be hard-pressed to find another foodstuff as closely associated with a metropolitan area as cheesesteaks are with Philadelphia. The sandwich has a history in the city going back almost a century. And, around 1950, when an employee of Pat’s Steak Sandwiches grabbed a can of Cheez Whiz and married it with their deliciously greasy sandwich, history was made.
In November 2024, one Geno’s Steaks store in Philadelphia estimated they sell 30,000 cheesesteaks a month—meaning, city-wide, Philadelphians consume millions of cheesesteaks yearly. With this volume, you don’t want to be the person holding up the line.
So, what do you need to know when you’re ordering a cheesesteak in the town where the sandwich was born? Here are a few quick tips:
Don’t worry about how you like your steak cooked. The steak in a cheesesteak is thinly sliced and always fully cooked. So, unless you want to risk outing yourself as a tourist, don’t ask for it “medium rare” or “well done.”
Order it “wit” or “witout.” OK, you don’t have to go full Philly on the accent, but you need to tell the person taking your order whether you want it with or without grilled onions.
Choose your cheese—if it’s an option. Depending on where you’re dining, you might get a choice of American, provolone, or Cheez Whiz (yes, the type from the can). Pick your preferred cheese, but whatever you do, don’t ask for Swiss. John Kerry made this mistake during his presidential run and hasn’t lived it down.
Don’t fear the Whiz. While it may be gastronomically controversial, Cheez Whiz has been used on cheesesteaks since their inception. And, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer, the “food-service grade Cheez Whiz” you’ll get on a Philly cheesesteak has a higher percentage of real cheese than the can you buy at a supermarket.
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Four Tips to Ace the ACC Annual Meeting
1 ) Start Your Day With a Refreshing Walk or Run
If you’re an early riser, join us on Tuesday, October 21, at 6:30 a.m. and register for the Rocky 5K Fun Run & Walk. Industry veteran and long-time runner Ari Kaplan will lead a run from the convention center to the Rocky steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Practice your best arms-up Rocky pose and meet at the Broad Street Entrance of the Pennsylvania Convention Center for some healthy fun and networking.
2) Navigate Like a Pro
Check your coat and heavy items for easier movement. Plan for a good amount of walking—the ACC Annual Meeting is a large exhibit space in an even larger convention center. Wear comfortable shoes and carve out time to check out the vendor booths in the exhibit hall.
3) Embrace Unplanned Encounters
Don’t overschedule. Sessions often run over time, and there’s value in carving out time for unplanned meetings. Allowing time for spontaneous interactions usually leads to the most rewarding experiences.
4) Don’t Worry If It’s Your First Time
The ACC Annual Meeting is very welcoming, and you’ll have no trouble starting conversations with your peers, whether at the hotel bar or lobby before the conference or once you arrive. Even starting at the registration desk, you’ll be amazed at what an ice-breaker standing in line and waiting for your name tag can be.
AIh – AI to the Human Power
AI hype is real, but when applied thoughtfully it amplifies human potential and drives strategic, data-driven decisions. Meet us at booth 424 and find out how we’re implementing AI to solve unique problems.
Time Bound: Excursions for Every Schedule
When you need a break from the ACC Annual Meeting, or if you have some time around the conference to spare, here are some of our top tips for things to do around the city—from 15 minutes to a few hours.
Fifteen Minutes
- Take a Photo at the Chinatown Friendship Gate: Only a 5-10 minute walk from the convention center, this beautiful arch serves as a symbolic entrance to Philadelphia’s Chinatown neighborhood. Designed by local Chinese-American architect Sabrina Soong, the Friendship Gate was dedicated in 1984 and renovated in 2008. Its bright colors and intricate detail reflect traditional Chinese architecture of the Qing dynasty (1644-1912).
Thirty Minutes
- Take in a Spectacular View with a City Hall Tower Tour: Get a panoramic view of Philadelphia from 548 feet above ground at Philadelphia’s City Hall Tower, a short walk from the convention center. If you have more time, consider a full tour of the historic City Hall building, the world’s highest masonry load-bearing structure, which features over 250 sculptures designed by Alexander Milne Calder—a feat that took 20 years to complete!
Two Hours
- Enjoy the Finer Things at the Philadelphia Museum of Art: Of course, you may want to go just to do the “Rocky Run” up the steps and take a picture with your best boxing pose in front of the statue of Sly Stallone. However, if you have the time, stay to enjoy a world-class art museum featuring an eclectic experience that includes everything from Van Gogh and Renoir to a collection of arms and armor spanning four centuries to a Ming Dynasty reception hall—the “only one of its type existing outside China.”
Three Hours
- Explore “America’s Most Historic Square Mile”: Only a short cab ride or 15-20 minute walk from the convention center is Philadelphia’s Old City, which includes some of the most iconic places in American history, such as the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the Betsy Ross House, to name a few. Stroll through the beautiful Independence National Historical Park or immerse yourself in the birthplace of America with a guided tour or a visit to the Ben Franklin Museum.
