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).
Laurel
Set along East Passyunk Avenue, “South Philly’s hottest dining strip,” according to Eater, and helmed by Top Chef winner Nicholas Elmi, Laurel is a French-American dining room that showcases seasonal, finely-tuned plates. Laurel pairs its polished cooking with attentive service and a calm, understated elegance that delights visitors and locals alike.
1.9 Miles from Convention Center
Address: 1617 E Passyunk Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19148
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Middle Child Clubhouse
This neighborhood luncheonette, just a short walk from the convention center, puts a creative twist on classic Philly deli and diner staples served with strong coffee in a casual, energetic setting. Loved by locals for its imaginative comfort food, friendly counter service, and dependable, speedy bites that hit just right, it’s a go-to spot for a quick, enjoyable meal.
2.2 Miles from Convention Center
Address: 1232 N Front St., Philadelphia, PA 19122
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Parc
Located on Rittenhouse Square, Parc captures the spirit of a classic brasserie with an all-day menu that ranges from croissants and café au lait to steak frites, escargots, and towering seafood platters. Philadelphians flock to it for the Parisian vibes that make you want to sit and enjoy your coffee for hours.
1 Mile from Convention Center
Address: 227 S. 18th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103
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Picnic
Housed in a beautifully repurposed 19th-century brewery in East Kensington, this expansive spot invites you in through a wine shop. It opens into a sunlit, arched-ceiling dining hall—perfect for popping in solo for exceptional oysters and rotisserie chicken or settling in with a lively group over natural wines and wood-fired fare. With an indoor garden party vibe, Picnic offers casual but well-mannered service.
3.8 Miles from Convention Center
Address: 2421 Martha St., Philadelphia, PA 19125
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Ray’s Café
In the heart of Philadelphia’s Chinatown, just a few minutes from the convention center, this family-run café serves meticulously brewed siphon coffees (including exotic blends and slow-drip Japanese-style cold brews) alongside fresh, handmade dumplings, beef noodle soup, and other comforting Taiwanese-style dishes. It’s an ideal spot to recharge with something both quick and thoughtfully prepared.
0.3 Miles from Convention Center
Address: 141 N 9th St., Philadelphia, PA 19107
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Reading Terminal Market
This beloved indoor market, which shares a building with the convention center, is one of America’s oldest and largest public markets. It brims with diverse, family-run vendors offering everything from Pennsylvania Dutch pretzels and Amish-style baked goods to ethnic dumplings, pho, artisanal cheeses, and the legendary roast pork sandwiches at DiNic’s. It’s the perfect spot for a quick, convenient, and delicious bite celebrating Philadelphia’s heritage.
0.1 Miles from Convention Center
Address: 1136 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19107
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Suraya
Located in Fishtown, this celebrated Lebanese “bazaar” unfolds across a coffee market, all–day café, full dining room, and lush courtyard garden—where plates of vibrant mezze and Mediterranean-inspired mains flow as seamlessly as the arak–infused cocktails. Whether you’re looking for a brunch spot, an impeccable dinner, or perusing the market, this spot rewards a quick stop or extended stay.
2.4 Miles from Convention Center
Address: 1528 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19125
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The Hayes
With fast, attentive service, a welcoming, mid-century tavern vibe, and a broad selection of craft beers, wines, and cocktails, this contemporary American gastropub, a few blocks from the convention center, is an intimate and casual spot where you can enjoy a satisfying bite without needing a long time commitment.
0.4 Miles from Convention Center
Address: 1123 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19107
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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.
