Advertising Claims Substantiation

The conference is organized by the American Conference Institute (ACI), a C5 Group company. ACI brings together legal, regulatory, compliance and business professionals to examine developments in advertising law, consumer protection and claims substantiation.

The 10th Anniversary Forum focuses on developing, testing, reviewing and defending advertising claims in a changing regulatory and digital environment. The 2027 program examines generative AI, personalized pricing, influencer marketing, youth advertising, environmental and health claims, consumer perception, and regulatory enforcement. The conference also explores how legal and marketing teams can create effective campaigns while maintaining reliable substantiation and managing litigation risk.

The conference takes place February 4–5, 2027, at the New York City Bar, 42 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036. A livestream attendance option is also available. While the event is hosted at the New York City Bar offices, this is not a New York City Bar event. Attendance is open to all professionals regardless of membership status or legal background. Additional workshops are scheduled for January 20, 2027 (virtual), and February 3, 2027 (in person).

The conference is designed for in-house counsel, marketing and advertising counsel, compliance professionals, brand protection specialists, regulatory affairs professionals and business executives responsible for advertising and promotional claims. It is also relevant to outside counsel specializing in advertising, marketing, retail, consumer protection, intellectual property, privacy, technology, entertainment and digital media. Professionals working in social media, brand management, corporate communications, public relations and emerging technologies will find the program applicable to their responsibilities.

The conference brings together professionals from consumer packaged goods, food and beverage, personal care, cosmetics, financial services, digital platforms, entertainment, technology, healthcare and wellness, and consumer products. The 2027 faculty includes representatives from Unilever, Danone, Henkel, Mastercard, Goldman Sachs, HelloFresh, Sony Interactive Entertainment, The Clorox Company, Wella Company and Brother International Corporation.

The 2027 program covers advertising claims substantiation, FTC and state Attorney General enforcement priorities, National Advertising Division (NAD) challenges, generative AI in marketing, personalized and algorithmic pricing, comparative claims, and consumer net impression. Sessions also address influencer and affiliate disclosures, youth-focused advertising, sensory claims, PFAS-free and sustainability representations, country-of-origin claims, health and wellness marketing, consumer class actions, and modernizing legal review processes. Three optional workshops provide instruction on substantiation fundamentals, NAD procedures and claims for FDA-regulated consumer products.

Attendees will learn how to evaluate advertising evidence, identify express and implied claims, assess consumer takeaways, and develop defensible substantiation strategies. They will examine how to use AI in claim development and testing while maintaining appropriate human oversight, and how to address personalized pricing, influencer content and youth-focused marketing. The program also provides approaches to reviewing environmental, origin, health and sensory claims, responding to NAD and competitor challenges, and improving collaboration between legal, marketing and agency teams.

The faculty includes senior in-house marketing counsel, advertising and consumer protection attorneys, state enforcement officials, NAD representatives, regulatory affairs executives, advertising compliance leaders and consumer research specialists. The 2027 conference is co-chaired by Laura Brett, Partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and former Vice President of the National Advertising Division; Kristin Marchesiello, Senior Marketing Counsel at Unilever; and Amy Ralph Mudge, Partner and Chair of the Advertising, Marketing & Digital Media Practice Group at Baker & Hostetler LLP.

The 2027 faculty includes representatives from Unilever, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Mastercard, Danone, HelloFresh, Sony Interactive Entertainment, The Clorox Company, Henkel Corporation, Wella Company, Brother International Corporation, SuperAwesome, Ruder Finn, Greencheq Inc. and Equity Wellness Co. Government and self-regulatory representation includes the Office of the New York State Attorney General, New Jersey Office of the Attorney General and BBB National Programs, including its National Advertising Division. Law firm and advisory representation includes Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, Baker & Hostetler LLP, Henries PLLC, Purdy Smith and Tom Rosholt Consulting, Inc.

The conference offers opportunities to connect with in-house counsel, advertising lawyers, compliance professionals, regulatory representatives and marketing leaders through networking lunches, refreshment breaks and interactive discussions. A structured Day One networking lunch connects attendees in small groups, who later reconvene for a peer-led roundtable on influencer disclosures. The optional in-person workshops also provide opportunities for practical discussion and professional exchange.

Yes. Groups of 4–8 attendees receive a 10% conference discount, while groups of 9–12 receive a 15% conference discount. Participants must register together in one transaction and belong to the same organization or firm. For groups of 12 or more, contact ACI at 1-888-224-2480. Financial scholarships may also be available for eligible government employees, judges, law students, nonprofit organizations and others.

ACI offers a Worry-Free Registration Guarantee. Registrants who register and pay can request a full refund through January 28, 2027, or choose a full credit note for themselves or a colleague to attend another event. Cancellations and changes must be submitted to ACI’s Customer Experience Team by the applicable deadline. For assistance, contact [email protected].

A limited number of rooms are available at a negotiated rate at Sofitel New York, 45 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036, near the conference venue. To request the conference rate, contact the hotel at +1 212-354-8844 and quote “ACI – Advertising Claims Substantiation.” The room-block cutoff is January 4, 2027; availability and the negotiated rate are not guaranteed after that date or once the block fills.

Yes. The conference offers Continuing Legal Education (CLE) opportunities. The program has been approved for CLE credit by the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board and the State Bar of California, and is designated nontransitional. ACI will seek accreditation in other jurisdictions requested by registrants with continuing education requirements. Credit eligibility and hours vary by jurisdiction. CPD and CME accreditation have not been confirmed.