Law departments as sponsors of conferences

An ad for the upcoming conference of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association lists 31 sponsors (as of July 18, 2008). Among the many law firms and other service providers to firms and law departments are three companies: Intel, American Airlines, and Walmart. My supposition is that the law departments of those companies signed up as sponsors. I also noticed that Wal Mart sponsors the National Association of Women Lawyers will host the Fourth Annual General Counsel Institute in early November.

It is unknown to me whether these law departments pay sponsorship fees, or whether their prestigious names are so desired by the conference organizers that no payment is needed