Course1

Ethics of Co-Counsel and Referral Relationships

$79.00

Co-counsel and referral relationships are common in law practice.  Lawyers associate with other lawyers on cases to gain specialized knowledge required for competent representation in a case.Litigation counsel may seek local counsel on a case in another jurisdiction.  Lawyers also refer out business for a variety of reasons, including overflow work or the work is outside of a lawyer’s core competencies.  These any many other co-counsel and referral relationships, however, raise substantial ethical and malpractice issues.  This program will provide you with a framework for understanding the ethical issues surrounding co-counsel and referral relationships.   Duty to supervise counsel to whom you have referred work Associating with other lawyers or firms to gain competence in specific areas Fee splitting in co-counsel or referral relationships Liability to co-counsel for breaches of fiduciary duty or malpractice Liability for errors of co-counsel Duty to inform of malpractice by co-counsel   Speakers: Brian S. Faughnan is special counsel in the Memphis office of Thomason Hendrix Harvey Johnson & Mitchell, PLLC, where he represents clients in a wide variety of matters at the trial level and on appeal.  He counsels lawyers and law firms on a wide variety of issues surrounding legal ethics and professional responsibility. He is the chair of the Tennessee Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility, a reporter for the committee’s rules revision project, a member of the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers, and a member of the Media Law Resource Center’s Ethics Committee.  William Freivogel is the principal of Freivogel Ethics Consulting and is an independent consultant to law firms on ethics and risk management.  He was a trial lawyer for 22 years and has practiced in the areas of legal ethics and lawyer malpractice for more than 25 years.  He is chair of the Editorial Board of the ABA/BNA Lawyers’ Manual on Professional Conduct. He maintains the Web site “Freivogel on Conflicts” at www.freivogelonconflicts.com.  

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 5/30/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

Parking: Special Issues in Commercial Leases

$79.00

The right of tenants – and their employees and customers – to park can be one of the most important elements of office and retail leases.  Physical space is often sparse and expensive, making parking spots even more dear. Tenants want absolute rights to parking and to ensure attendant services – e.g., snow removal, maintenance, etc. – while landlords want maximum flexibility, including the right to reclaim spots.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to spotting parking issues in commercial leases, and negotiating effective rights for your clients.    Demised spaces v. rights to park Types of rights to park – general rights v. exclusive rights Issues for lots v. parking garages Duties to patrol employee use of parking spots Economic issues for landlords and tenants, including CAM Parking as zoning issue – ratio of office/retail space to parking spots Reclamation of parking spots by landlord for later development   Speaker: Anthony Licata is a partner in the Chicago office of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, where he formerly chaired the firm’s real estate practice.  He has an extensive practice focusing on major commercial real estate transactions, including finance, development, leasing, and land use.  He formerly served as an adjunct professor at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and at the Illinois Institute of Technology.  Mr. Licata received his B.S., summa cum laude, from MacMurray College and his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 5/30/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

Lawyer Ethics and Texting

$79.00

Text messaging has become a mainstream form of communication.  Clients now routinely text their lawyers about pending matters.  They may ask about the status of a case, provide facts about a case, communicate decisions to a lawyer, or message other sensitive information.  These messages are often to a lawyer’s mobile phone that is used extensively for personal purposes, unsecured in their transmissions, and easily accessible by third parties. This new wave of lawyer-client communication raises many difficult ethical questions, including preservation of the attorney-client privilege.   This program will provide you with a guide to the major ethics issues when lawyers and their clients text message about pending matters.   Confidentiality issues involving unsecured transmission of texts involving sensitive case issues How to handle mobile phones used for both personal purposes and law practice Potential loss of the attorney-client privilege when text messages are accessible by third parties Tension among the duties of competence, prudence and to communicate with clients Understanding the ethical risks and counseling clients about the risks to their case when texting   Speaker: Thomas E. Spahn is of counsel in the Tysons Corners, Virginia office of McGuireWoods, where he advises firm clients on professional responsibility issues and properly creating and preserving the attorney-client privilege and work product protections.  He has served on the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility and is a Member of the American Law Institute and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.  He has written extensively on attorney-client privilege, ethics and other topics, and has spoken at over 2000 CLE programs throughout the U.S. and in several foreign countries.  Through links on his website biography, he has made available to the public his summaries of over 1,600 Virginia and ABA legal ethics opinions, organized by topic; a 300 page summary of his two-volume 1,500 page book on the attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine; over 900 weekly email alerts about privilege and work product cases; and materials for 40 ethics programs on numerous topics, totaling over 9,000 pages of analysis.  Mr. Spahn graduated magna cum laude from Yale University and received his J.D. from Yale Law School. Mr. Spahn will serve as the discussion leader of today’s program.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 5/31/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

Drafting Legal Holds in Civil Litigation

$79.00

Legal holds are essential documents in civil litigation.  Presented by one party to the other, often by the plaintiff to the defendant in anticipation of filing a complaint, the hold demands the other party preserve specified evidence – documents or other items – which is essential underlying claiming.  But these no mere matter of issuing a form letter. Their scope and demands must be carefully tailored to the underlying claim. There are also issues of notice, who should receive the hold, remedies for breach, and potentially sanctions. This program will provide you with a practical guide to planning and drafting legal holds in civil litigation.    Giving notice of a litigation hold – and practical legal effect Who should receive the hold? Defining the scope of hold Standards in federal and state courts Electronically stored information – preservation v. pulling Termination of litigation Remedies for violation of hold – sanctions, adverse judgement   Speaker: Stanley E. Woodward Jr. is partner with Brand | Woodward, where he has a broad civil litigation and white collar criminal defense practice.  He also conducts internal corporate investigations.  He serves as an adjunct professor of law at Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, where he teaches pre-trial litigation and employment law. Before entering private practice, he served as a judicial clerk to Judge Vanessa Ruiz of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, and Judges Joan Zeldon and Judge Rufus King III of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.  Mr. Woodward earned his B.A., cum laude, and his M.S., magna cum laude, from American University, and his J.D., cum laude, from The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 5/31/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

LIVE REPLAY: Ethics of Beginning and Ending Client Relationships

$79.00

Substantial ethics issues flow from the moment an attorney-client relationship is formed, whether it is formed intentionally or through inadvertence.  Determining when a relationship commences and the scope of the representation has dramatic implications for issues related to confidentiality, conflicts of interest, the attorney-client privilege and more. Ending an engagement is nearly as complicated. When are you allowed to end an engagement?  And how must you go about it without prejudicing a client’s interest in a transaction or in litigation? This program will you provide a real-world guide the ethical issues of beginning and ending an attorney client relationship.   Determining when and how a relationship starts – including through inadvertence Email and technology issues – how unsolicited communications may trigger ethical obligations Joint representation issues – unsorting the confidentiality and privilege issues End a relationship – when are you allowed to end an engagement?  How do you do it ethically? Circumstances when you might be required to end a relationship   Speaker: Elizabeth Treubert Simon is an ethics attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, where she advises on a wide range of ethics and compliance-related matters to support Akin Gump’s offices worldwide.  Previously, her practice focused on business and commercial litigation and providing counsel to clients regarding professional ethics and attorney disciplinary procedures.  She is a member of the New York State Bar Association Committee on Professional Discipline and the District of Columbia Rules of Professional Conduct Rules Review Committee.  She is the immediate past chair of the District of Columbia Legal Ethics Committee.  She writes and speaks extensively on attorney ethics issues.   She received her B.A. and M.S. from the University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. from Albany Law School.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/1/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

Trust and Estate Planning for Pets

$79.00

Providing for the care of pets is, for some clients, their most urgent estate and trust priority.  These clients want to ensure that, after their own deaths, their pets are looked after in a safe and secure environment.  But the law is unclear in this area – there are few familiar planning patterns to follow in this area.The challenge for the planner is to create new structures to achieve these goals, including choosing standards for caregivers and trustees, drafting distribution provisions, and providing for the disposition of the remains of pets.This program will provide you with a practical guide to the estate and trust planning for pets and other animals, including drafting trusts, fiduciary standards, and distribution provisions.   Legal and practical framework for estate and trust planning for pets and other animals Traditional trusts v. statutory trusts – advantages and disadvantages of each Drafting standards for caregivers and trustees, and understanding the relationship between the two Distributions to caregivers for the pet and for themselves Designation of remainder beneficiary or trust, terminating the trust, and final disposition of pets or other animals   Speakers: Missia H. Vaselaney is a partner in the Cleveland office of Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP, where her practice focuses on estate planning for individuals and businesses.  She also represents clients before federal and state taxing authorities.  Ms. Vaselaney is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and has been a member of the Steering Committee for AICPA’s National Advanced Estate Planning Conference since 2001.  Ms. Vaselaney received her B.A. from the University of Dayton and her J.D. from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. Michael Sneeringer an attorney in the Naples, Florida office of Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, where his practice focuses on trust and estate planning, probate administration, asset protection planning, and tax law. He has served as vice chair of the asset protection planning committee of the ABA’s Real Property, Trust and Estate Section and is an official reporter of the Heckerling Institute.Mr. Sneeringer received his B.A. from Washington & Jefferson College, his J.D., cum laude, St. Thomas University School of Law, and his LL.M. from the University of Miami School of Law.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/1/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

Drafting Demand Letters

$79.00

Demand letters may seem like they’re merely hammer-strokes, the first blow of litigation.  But the most effective demand letters are more subtly crafted.  Tone is important.  Vitriolic letters – letters that do not keep a client’s goals in mind and misjudge the reader’s range of likely reactions – may be counterproductive.  Rather than moving the process toward a good outcome, the letter may actually result in setbacks and greater costs.  There’s a subtle balance between precision and vagueness, stimulating favorable response by being sufficiently vague so that the reader speculates about adverse consequences.There’s also the issue of how much of your case – favorable facts and persuasive law – to include in the letter.This program will provide you with a real-world guide to setting goals and carefully crafted demand letters to advance client goals.   Setting goals and realistic expectations Striking the right tone – how aggressive is too aggressive? Precision v. vagueness - leaving room for speculation and negotiation How much of your case – the facts and the law – to include in the letter? Common traps and mistakes in demand letters   Speaker:  Shannon M. Bell is a member with Kelly Law Partners, LLC, where she litigates a wide variety of complex business disputes, construction disputes, fiduciary claims, employment issues, and landlord/tenant issues.  Her construction experience extends from contract negotiations to defense of construction claims of owners, HOAs, contractors and tradesmen.  She also represents clients in claims of shareholder and officer liability, piercing the corporate veil, and derivative actions.  She writes and speaks on commercial litigation, employment, discovery and bankruptcy topics.  Ms. Bell earned her B.S. from the University of Iowa and her J.D. from the University of Denver.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/2/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

Drafting Employee Handbooks

$79.00

Employee handbooks define the relationship of employer and employee for most employees.  These handbooks establish leave policies, polices for working from home, sick leave, and grounds for dismissal. They also help ensure the protection of employer trade secrets.  In a highly interconnected age, they establish policies for the use of smartphones, tablets, and other devices on and for the job. If a handbook is carefully planned and drafted, it provides for a stable workplace, reducing the risk of employer liability.The absence of a handbook can lead to just the opposite – a workplace with ad hoc policies and abounding risk.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to drafting employee handbooks.   Essential elements of employee handbooks Work from home policies and protections Ensuring handbooks are not enforceable contracts and are subject to change by employers Compliance with EEO laws, including the ADA, FMLA and others Prohibition of discrimination, harassment, and other unlawful conduct Defining workplace policies for personal smartphones, tablets, and other devices Time off, leave of absence, and discipline and dismissal procedures   Speaker: Stefanee Handon is an attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of Paul Hastings, LLP, where she represents employers in all aspects of employment law, including wage and hour compliance, fair employment practices, and individual employment rights.  She also counsels employers on all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including hiring, pay, promotion, and termination.  Ms. Handon received her B.A., with high distinction, from the University of Virginia and her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/2/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

LIVE REPLAY: Trust and Estate Planning for Pets

$79.00

Providing for the care of pets is, for some clients, their most urgent estate and trust priority.  These clients want to ensure that, after their own deaths, their pets are looked after in a safe and secure environment.  But the law is unclear in this area – there are few familiar planning patterns to follow in this area.The challenge for the planner is to create new structures to achieve these goals, including choosing standards for caregivers and trustees, drafting distribution provisions, and providing for the disposition of the remains of pets.This program will provide you with a practical guide to the estate and trust planning for pets and other animals, including drafting trusts, fiduciary standards, and distribution provisions.   Legal and practical framework for estate and trust planning for pets and other animals Traditional trusts v. statutory trusts – advantages and disadvantages of each Drafting standards for caregivers and trustees, and understanding the relationship between the two Distributions to caregivers for the pet and for themselves Designation of remainder beneficiary or trust, terminating the trust, and final disposition of pets or other animals   Speakers: Missia H. Vaselaney is a partner in the Cleveland office of Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP, where her practice focuses on estate planning for individuals and businesses.  She also represents clients before federal and state taxing authorities.  Ms. Vaselaney is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and has been a member of the Steering Committee for AICPA’s National Advanced Estate Planning Conference since 2001.  Ms. Vaselaney received her B.A. from the University of Dayton and her J.D. from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. Michael Sneeringer an attorney in the Naples, Florida office of Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, where his practice focuses on trust and estate planning, probate administration, asset protection planning, and tax law. He has served as vice chair of the asset protection planning committee of the ABA’s Real Property, Trust and Estate Section and is an official reporter of the Heckerling Institute.Mr. Sneeringer received his B.A. from Washington & Jefferson College, his J.D., cum laude, St. Thomas University School of Law, and his LL.M. from the University of Miami School of Law.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/5/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

Ethics and Client Money: Trust Funds, Expenses, Setoffs & More

$79.00

Whenever an attorney takes money from a client – for fees billed, to cover expenses, as a retainer, or held in trust – there are substantial ethical issues involved.  Many ethical complaints arise from accusations that an attorney mishandled funds. In billing and collecting fees and expenses, there are issues about whether the fees and expenses were explained in advance and are proper in relation to services provided.  If an attorney accepts credit cards from clients, there are significant issues related to disclosure, Truth-in-Lending laws, chargebacks, pass-through of merchant processing fees, and confidentiality.  In trust funds, there are issues of segregation of funds, accounting, and more. This program will provide you with a practical guide to the many ethical issues that arise when attorneys, clients, and money mix.   Traps in trust fund accounting and the risks of “set-offs” of disputed amounts Disclosure and documentation of trust accounting of client money Retainers – use, accounting, and regular communications Accepting credit card payments from clients –  pass-through processing fees, Truth-in-Lending, disclosure and confidentiality Confidentiality when a client has a dispute with his credit card company – ethical tension of client duties and contractual obligations Use of credit cards to fund a retainer and related trust fund accounting issues – trust funds v. operating funds   Speaker: Thomas E. Spahn is of counsel in the Tysons Corners, Virginia office of McGuireWoods, where he advises firm clients on professional responsibility issues and properly creating and preserving the attorney-client privilege and work product protections.  He has served on the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility and is a Member of the American Law Institute and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.  He has written extensively on attorney-client privilege, ethics and other topics, and has spoken at over 2000 CLE programs throughout the U.S. and in several foreign countries.  Through links on his website biography, he has made available to the public his summaries of over 1,600 Virginia and ABA legal ethics opinions, organized by topic; a 300 page summary of his two-volume 1,500 page book on the attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine; over 900 weekly email alerts about privilege and work product cases; and materials for 40 ethics programs on numerous topics, totaling over 9,000 pages of analysis.  Mr. Spahn graduated magna cum laude from Yale University and received his J.D. from Yale Law School. Mr. Spahn will serve as the discussion leader of today’s program.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/5/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

Due Diligence in Real Estate: How to Conduct and Use

$79.00

  This program will provide you with a real world guide to due diligence in real estate transactions – what information you need, where to get it, and the timeframes involved – depending on the type of transaction involved.  The relationship between the duration and depth of due diligence and the state of the market – how “hot” markets involve more risk because sellers or othersare reluctant to give lengthy diligence periods – will be discussed.  The program will also discuss using information obtained in diligence to draft specific reps and warranties. This program will provide you with a real-world guide to planning due diligence in real estate transaction – essential information to obtain depending on the transaction involved and how to tie that information the transaction’s reps and warranties.   Relationship between diligence and market conditions – willingness of sellers to cooperate or not Using diligence to draft specific reps and warranties Service contracts, condominium HOAs, and other contracts Review of leases, rent rolls, and financial statements Title work – liens and other encumbrances Zoning, regulatory and tax issues Notices of new or special tax assessments   Speaker: Richard R. Goldberg is a retired partner, resident in the Philadelphia office of Ballard Spahr, LLP, where he established an extensive real estate practice, including development, financing, leasing, and acquisition.  Earlier in his career, he served as vice president and associate general counsel of The Rouse Company for 23 years.  He is past president of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, past chair of the Anglo-American Real Property Institute, and past chair of the International Council of Shopping Centers Law Conference.  Mr. Goldberg is currently a Fellow of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys and is a member of the American Law Institute.  Mr. Goldberg received his B.A. from Pennsylvania State University and his LL.B. from the University of Maryland School of Law.    

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/6/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

2023 Trust and Estate Planning Update

$79.00

This annual program will provide you with a wide-ranging on important developments impacting your estate and trust planning practice. The program will provide a discussion of recent case law, regulatory developments and IRS rulings related to beneficiary creditor protections, basis planning, qualified small business stock, deductions for pass-through income, limits on state taxation of non-grantor trusts, and much more. The program will discuss the changing dynamic of trust and estate planning practice.  This annual program will provide you with a practical review of developments impacting your trust and estate planning practice. Impact of recent tax law on trust and estate planning Review of significant letter rulings, case law, and regulatory developments Fiduciary litigation trends Review of legislative proposals, including impact of election Speakers: Daniel L. Daniels is a partner in the Greenwich, Connecticut office of Wiggin and Dana, LLP, where his practice focuses on representing business owners, corporate executives and other wealthy individuals and their families.  A Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, he is listed in “The Best Lawyers in America,” and has been named by “Worth” magazine as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the United States representing affluent individuals. Mr. Daniels is co-author of a monthly column in “Trusts and Estates” magazine.   Michael Sneeringer an attorney in the Naples, Florida office of Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, where his practice focuses on trust and estate planning, probate administration, asset protection planning, and tax law. He has served as vice chair of the asset protection planning committee of the ABA’s Real Property, Trust and Estate Section and is an official reporter of the Heckerling Institute.   Missia H. Vaselaney is a partner in the Cleveland office of Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP, where her practice focuses on estate planning for individuals and businesses.  She also represents clients before federal and state taxing authorities.  Ms. Vaselaney is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and has been a member of the Steering Committee for AICPA’s National Advanced Estate Planning Conference since 2001.  

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/6/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

2023 Ethics in Civil Litigation Update, Part 1

$79.00

This annual ethics update will cover a wide range of ethical developments important to your civil litigation practice.  The program will provide detailed coverage of developments in conflicts of interest in litigation, confidentiality and the attorney-client privilege, and drafting and negotiating settlement agreements.  The program will feature its annual tour of the waterfront of technology issues in litigation practice.  Please join for this annual program which will provide you with a lively discussion of ethical developments important to civil litigation practice.    Day 1: Ethics and technology in law practice review Ethics and settlement agreements Recent developments in conflicts of interest, part 1   Day 2: Ethics, evidence and witnesses Developments in confidentiality and preserving the attorney-client privilege Recent developments in conflicts of interest, part 2   Speakers: Lucian T. Pera is a partner in the Memphis office of Adams & Reese, LLP.  His practice includes professional malpractice litigation as well as counseling lawyers and law firms in the area of ethics and professional responsibility.  He was a member of the ABA’s Ethics 2000 Commission and is co-author of "Ethics and Lawyering Today," a national e-mail newsletter on lawyer ethics, which is accessible at: www.ethicsandlawyering.com.  He is the immediate past Treasurer of the ABA and currently serves as Vice President of the Tennessee Bar Association.  Before entering private practice, he served as a judicial clerk to Judge Harry W. Wellford of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.  Mr. Pera received his A.B. with honors from Princeton University and his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law. William Freivogel is the principal of Freivogel Ethics Consulting and is an independent consultant to law firms on ethics and risk management.  He was a trial lawyer for 22 years and has practiced in the areas of legal ethics and lawyer malpractice for more than 25 years.  He is chair of the Editorial Board of the ABA/BNA Lawyers’ Manual on Professional Conduct. He maintains the Web site “Freivogel on Conflicts” at www.freivogelonconflicts.com.  Mr. Freivogel is a graduate of the University of Illinois (Champaign), where he received his B.S. and LL.B. Thomas E. Spahn is a partner in the McLean, Virginia office of McGuireWoods, LLP, where he has a substantial practice advising clients on properly creating and preserving the attorney-client privilege and work product protections.  For more than 30 years he has lectured extensively on legal ethics and professionalism and has written “The Attorney-Client Privilege and the Work Product Doctrine: A Practitioner’s Guide,” a 750 page treatise published by the Virginia Law Foundation.  Mr. Spahn has served as a member of the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility and as a member of the Virginia State Bar's Legal Ethics Committee.  He received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Yale University and his J.D. from Yale Law School.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/7/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

"Boilplate" Provisions in Contracts: Overlooked Traps in Every Agreement

$79.00

The “back of the book” provisions of common business, commercial and real estate agreements are often labeled “boilerplate,” copied and pasted from earlier agreements. But when disputes arise, these overlooked provisions – related to damages, choice of law and forum, notice, integration, and amendments – can determine the fate transaction. These provisions, if not closely examined in the context of every agreement, can provide grounds for litigation – or threats of litigation. This program will provide you with a practical guide to drafting essential “boilerplate” provisions with an emphasis on reducing risk.   Damages – types, limitations, drafting traps Choice of law/choice of forum – what the law allows v. what parties prefer Amendments – forms of written amendments, email, and course of dealing Notice – adapting methods to digital communication, traps Integration – conversations, extraneous writings, and assumptions   Speaker: Shannon M. Bell is a member with Kelly Law Partners, LLC, where she litigates a wide variety of complex business disputes, construction disputes, fiduciary claims, employment issues, and landlord/tenant issues.  Her construction experience extends from contract negotiations to defense of construction claims of owners, HOAs, contractors and tradesmen.  She also represents clients in claims of shareholder and officer liability, piercing the corporate veil, and derivative actions.  She writes and speaks on commercial litigation, employment, discovery and bankruptcy topics.  Ms. Bell earned her B.S. from the University of Iowa and her J.D. from the University of Denver.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/7/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

Lawyer Ethics and Investigations for and of Clients

$79.00

Investigations by lawyers are an essential element of most litigation.  Lawyers investigate the parties and the facts underlying the case through the use of third-party investigators, online searches, obtaining public records, seeking the production of electronic communications, including text messages, and much more.  Also, lawyers sometimes need to investigate their own clients – to assure themselves of the veracity of certain representations or when the lawyer suspects the client may be actively misleading the lawyer.  These investigations are not without risk. Ethics rules limit what lawyers can do and say, and how the work product of these investigations may be used.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to ethical issues when lawyers conduct investigations.   Duty of an attorney to investigate a case before filing a lawsuit “Pre-texting” – the ethics of deception  in investigations Ethical issues when a lawyer investigates a client – and when it is ethically required Conflicts of interest in investigations Ethical issues in social media and online searches – and obtaining text messages Use of third-party investigators Limitations on investigating members of a jury or jury pool When investigations go awry – discipline, sanctions, exclusion of evidence obtained   Speakers: Elizabeth Treubert Simon is an ethics attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, where she advises on a wide range of ethics and compliance-related matters to support Akin Gump’s offices worldwide.  Previously, she practiced law in Washington DC and New York, focusing on business and commercial litigation and providing counsel to clients regarding professional ethics and attorney disciplinary procedures.  She is a member of the New York State Bar Association Committee on Professional Discipline and the District of Columbia Legal Ethics Committee.  She writes and speaks extensively on attorney ethics issues.    Thomas E. Spahn is a partner in the McLean, Virginia office of McGuireWoods, LLP, where he has a substantial practice advising clients on properly creating and preserving the attorney-client privilege and work product protections.  For more than 30 years he has lectured extensively on legal ethics and professionalism and has written “The Attorney-Client Privilege and the Work Product Doctrine: A Practitioner’s Guide,” a 750 page treatise published by the Virginia Law Foundation.  Mr. Spahn has served as a member of the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility and as a member of the Virginia State Bar's Legal Ethics Committee.  

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/8/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

2023 Ethics in Civil Litigation Update, Part 2

$79.00

This annual ethics update will cover a wide range of ethical developments important to your civil litigation practice.  The program will provide detailed coverage of developments in conflicts of interest in litigation, confidentiality and the attorney-client privilege, and drafting and negotiating settlement agreements.  The program will feature its annual tour of the waterfront of technology issues in litigation practice.  Please join for this annual program which will provide you with a lively discussion of ethical developments important to civil litigation practice.    Day 1: Ethics and technology in law practice review Ethics and settlement agreements Recent developments in conflicts of interest, part 1   Day 2: Ethics, evidence and witnesses Developments in confidentiality and preserving the attorney-client privilege Recent developments in conflicts of interest, part 2   Speakers: Lucian T. Pera is a partner in the Memphis office of Adams & Reese, LLP.  His practice includes professional malpractice litigation as well as counseling lawyers and law firms in the area of ethics and professional responsibility.  He was a member of the ABA’s Ethics 2000 Commission and is co-author of "Ethics and Lawyering Today," a national e-mail newsletter on lawyer ethics, which is accessible at: www.ethicsandlawyering.com.  He is the immediate past Treasurer of the ABA and currently serves as Vice President of the Tennessee Bar Association.  Before entering private practice, he served as a judicial clerk to Judge Harry W. Wellford of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.  Mr. Pera received his A.B. with honors from Princeton University and his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law. William Freivogel is the principal of Freivogel Ethics Consulting and is an independent consultant to law firms on ethics and risk management.  He was a trial lawyer for 22 years and has practiced in the areas of legal ethics and lawyer malpractice for more than 25 years.  He is chair of the Editorial Board of the ABA/BNA Lawyers’ Manual on Professional Conduct. He maintains the Web site “Freivogel on Conflicts” at www.freivogelonconflicts.com.  Mr. Freivogel is a graduate of the University of Illinois (Champaign), where he received his B.S. and LL.B. Thomas E. Spahn is a partner in the McLean, Virginia office of McGuireWoods, LLP, where he has a substantial practice advising clients on properly creating and preserving the attorney-client privilege and work product protections.  For more than 30 years he has lectured extensively on legal ethics and professionalism and has written “The Attorney-Client Privilege and the Work Product Doctrine: A Practitioner’s Guide,” a 750 page treatise published by the Virginia Law Foundation.  Mr. Spahn has served as a member of the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility and as a member of the Virginia State Bar's Legal Ethics Committee.  He received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Yale University and his J.D. from Yale Law School.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/8/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

LIVE REPLAY: The Art and Science of Conditional Gifts in Estate Planning

$79.00

In formulating their trust and estate plans, clients often want to set up benchmarks of achievement before distributions or gifts are made. These benchmarks often involve educational attainment – i.e., that a child obtain a college degree by a certain.  But they may involve more difficult to measure benchmarks or life goals that are arguably not appropriate – i.e., that a child marry or have children of their own by a certain age.  Conditional gifts can easily lead to resentments among beneficiaries, questionable enforceability, disputes, and fiduciary litigation.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to conditional gifting using incentive trusts and other mechanisms, and counseling clients about the real limits and risks of conditional gifting.   Conditional gifting using incentive trusts and other mechanisms Establishing objectively measurable conditions for gifts or distributions Types of conditions or benchmarks – education, life goals, etc. What’s enforceable, what’s not – counseling clients about limits Choosing the right fiduciaries to administer conditional gifts/incentive trusts   Speaker: Missia H. Vaselaney is a partner in the Cleveland office of Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP, where her practice focuses on estate planning for individuals and businesses.  She also represents clients before federal and state taxing authorities.  Ms. Vaselaney is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and has been a member of the Steering Committee for AICPA’s National Advanced Estate Planning Conference since 2001.  Ms. Vaselaney received her B.A. from the University of Dayton and her J.D. from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/9/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

How to Fix a Broken Trust: Decanting, Reformation & Other Tools

$79.00

Not every irrevocable trust ends up serving its intended purpose or is financially viable.  Many unforeseen events can and do occur – tax laws change, family circumstance change – sometimes dramatically, or there can be d a deep downturn in a family business.  In these and many other circumstances trusts are broken and need to be “fixed” – fiduciary powers adjusted, distributions policies modified, trusts divided or merged, or even terminated.  The process of accomplishing these fixes are necessarily limited and come with risks, including tax liability and potentially liability to future beneficiaries. This program will provide you with a practical guide to techniques for fixing broken irrevocable trusts.   Trust reformation by agreement of all stakeholder or by court order Principal and income adjustment powers under the UPIA Techniques for converting a trust from one type to another Use of “decanting” to terminate trusts and distribute assets when the trust is not viable Framework of tax considerations when trusts are restructured or terminated   Speaker: Benjamin S. Candland is a partner in the Richmond, Virginia office of McGuireWoods, LLP, where his practice focuses on estate planning, administration, estate and gift taxation, and litigation. He provides individual clients with advice on various estate planning matters involving estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes. He is a member of the ABA Real Property and Probate Section and the Virginia Bar Association Trusts and Estate Section. Mr. Candland received his B.A. from Brigham Young University and his J.D. from the College of William and Mary School of Law.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/9/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

The Ethics of Supervising Other Lawyers

$79.00

Lawyers are not only responsible for their own ethical conduct and decision making but also for the ethical practice of lawyers they supervise.  Whether it’s a partner supervising the work of an associate or the lead lawyer on a case supervising a group of partners and associates, the supervising lawyer has responsibilities to ensure that the lawyers he or she is supervising are ethically compliant. When subordinate lawyers violate ethics rules, supervising lawyers are potentially liable for that misconduct. This program will provide you with a guide to ethical issues when lawyers supervise other lawyers and non-lawyer support staff.   Standards for ensuring compliance by subordinate attorneys and potential liability when they act improperly Lawyer supervision of paralegals and other non-lawyer staff Responsibilities of subordinate lawyers who rely on judgment of supervising lawyers Special issues involved in billing the work of subordinate and co-counsel attorneys, and paralegals In-house counsel of outside counsel   Speaker: Matthew Corbin is Senior Vice President and Executive Director in the Professional Services Group of AON Risk Services, where he consults with the company’s law firm clients on professional responsibility and liability issues.  Before joining AON, he was a partner with Lathrop & Gage, LLP, where he was a trial and appellate lawyer handling professional liability, commercial, business tort, employment, construction, insurance, and regulatory matters. Before entering private practice, he served as a judicial clerk to Judge Mary Briscoe of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.  Mr. Corbin earned his B.A. from the University of Kansas and his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law. Mark A. Webster is a Senior Vice President with the Professional Services Practice at Aon. As a member of the group’s loss prevention team, Mark consults with Aon’s 275+ law firm clients on a wide range of professional responsibility and liability issues.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/12/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

LIVE REPLAY: Selection and Preparation of Expert Witnesses in Litigation

$79.00

Experts play a vitally important role in civil litigation, whether they act as consulting experts or also as testifying experts.  The complexity of modern litigation has substantially increased the pressure on attorneys to carefully evaluate the suitability of experts for a particular case and prepare them for testimony. Approaching, evaluating and preparing witnesses, however, is as much an art as science or database search.  Furthermore, once an expert is selected, there are substantial risks surrounding discovery and preserving the attorney-client privilege.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to selecting and preparing experts in civil litigation.   How to find the right expert witness and common traps Evaluating the suitability of experts for your case Consulting v. testifying experts Approaching and retaining experts Preparing witnesses for testimony in a specific case Practical tips on the best/worst uses of particular types of expertise in litigation Discovery issues and preserving the attorney-client privilege   Speaker: Shannon M. Bell is a member with Kelly & Walker, LLC, where she litigates a wide variety of complex business disputes, construction disputes, fiduciary claims, employment issues, and landlord/tenant issues.  Her construction experience extends from contract negotiations to defense of construction claims of owners, HOAs, contractors and tradesmen.  She also represents clients in claims of shareholder and officer liability, piercing the corporate veil, and derivative actions.  She writes and speaks on commercial litigation, employment, discovery and bankruptcy topics.  Ms. Bell earned her B.S. from the University of Iowa and her J.D. from the University of Denver.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/12/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

Talking About Wealth Transfer Plans: Practical Strategies to Avoid Disputes Among Beneficiaries

$79.00

Transferring wealth often unearths long-deferred issues that may complicate or even subvert the best laid trust and estate plans. Heirs may have expectations about their inheritance that are unrealistic. Certain children may expect to take control of a family business. There are often interpersonal resentments or animosities among children of different marriages. Sometimes, too, there are children from a relationship that was previously unknown.  These and many other issues need to be explored before plans are formulated and documents drafted.  But raising these issues is a very delicate conversation which sometimes takes lawyers to the edge of their comfort zone. This program will provide you a practical guide to raising these issues and counseling clients about the legal issues involved.    Communicating wealth transfer plans before the death of a client When to have those conversations – timing is everything How to broach uncomfortable topics and pose unpopular choices Anticipating visceral reactions and strategies to avoid estrangement and dispute How trustee choices may impact beneficiary reactions   Speaker: Daniel L. Daniels is a partner in the Greenwich, Connecticut office of Wiggin and Dana, LLP, where his practice focuses on representing business owners, corporate executives and other wealthy individuals and their families.  A Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, he is listed in “The Best Lawyers in America,” and has been named by “Worth” magazine as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the United States representing affluent individuals. Mr. Daniels is co-author of a monthly column in “Trusts and Estates” magazine.  Mr. Daniels received his A.B., summa cum laude, from Dartmouth College and received his J.D., with honors, from Harvard Law School.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/13/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

Planning with S Corps, Part 1

$79.00

Despite the prevalence of LLCs, S Corps remain a preferred choice of entity for many family-controlled and other closely-held businesses.  They retain certain tax advantages over other pass-through entities and their corporate structure makes them familiar to investors, their legal counselors, and lenders. Still, S Corps are “fragile” entities in the sense that the tradeoff for their tax and other benefits is that they must adhere to a several capital structure restrictions, which limit their flexibility.  Drafting S Corp stockholders’ agreements is a careful balance of maximizing tax benefits, preventing the loss of the preferred tax status through inadvertently disqualifying corporate actions, and maximizing organizational flexibility in other areas. This program will provide you with a real world guide to business planning with S Corps and drafting their underlying stockholder agreements. Day 1: Business planning with S Corps and drafting S stockholders’ agreements Counseling clients on choice of entity considerations of S Corps v. LLCs/partnerships Capital structure issues – restrictions on types of debt and equity Who qualifies as an eligible  S Corp stockholder Transferability of interests and restrictions to preserve S Corp status   Day 2: Understanding tax benefits (and traps) of S Corps Distribution planning in S Corps – tax advantages/disadvantages of withdrawing money as salary or distributions Incentive compensation issues, including fringe benefits and restrictions on deductibility Planning for the merger or sale of an S Corp into another S Corp, LLC or C Corp   Speakers: Frank Ciatto is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP, where he has 20 years’ experience advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, limited liability companies, tax and accounting issues, and corporate finance transactions.  He is a leader of his firm’s private equity and hedge fund groups and a member of the Mergers & Acquisitions Subcommittee of the ABA Business Law Section.  He is a Certified Public Accountant and earlier in his career worked at what is now PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York.  Mr. Ciatto earned his B.A., cum laude, at Georgetown University and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. James DePaoli is an attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP, where his practice focuses on corporate and commercial matters. He represents clients in the acquisition and disposition of assets and securities, mergers, and other business combinations and reorganizations. Mr. Paoli earned his B.S/B.A., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University and his J.D. from Duke University School of Law.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/13/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

Planning with S Corps, Part 2

$79.00

Despite the prevalence of LLCs, S Corps remain a preferred choice of entity for many family-controlled and other closely-held businesses.  They retain certain tax advantages over other pass-through entities and their corporate structure makes them familiar to investors, their legal counselors, and lenders. Still, S Corps are “fragile” entities in the sense that the tradeoff for their tax and other benefits is that they must adhere to a several capital structure restrictions, which limit their flexibility.  Drafting S Corp stockholders’ agreements is a careful balance of maximizing tax benefits, preventing the loss of the preferred tax status through inadvertently disqualifying corporate actions, and maximizing organizational flexibility in other areas. This program will provide you with a real world guide to business planning with S Corps and drafting their underlying stockholder agreements. Day 1: Business planning with S Corps and drafting S stockholders’ agreements Counseling clients on choice of entity considerations of S Corps v. LLCs/partnerships Capital structure issues – restrictions on types of debt and equity Who qualifies as an eligible  S Corp stockholder Transferability of interests and restrictions to preserve S Corp status   Day 2: Understanding tax benefits (and traps) of S Corps Distribution planning in S Corps – tax advantages/disadvantages of withdrawing money as salary or distributions Incentive compensation issues, including fringe benefits and restrictions on deductibility Planning for the merger or sale of an S Corp into another S Corp, LLC or C Corp   Speakers: Frank Ciatto is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP, where he has 20 years’ experience advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, limited liability companies, tax and accounting issues, and corporate finance transactions.  He is a leader of his firm’s private equity and hedge fund groups and a member of the Mergers & Acquisitions Subcommittee of the ABA Business Law Section.  He is a Certified Public Accountant and earlier in his career worked at what is now PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York.  Mr. Ciatto earned his B.A., cum laude, at Georgetown University and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. James DePaoli is an attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP, where his practice focuses on corporate and commercial matters. He represents clients in the acquisition and disposition of assets and securities, mergers, and other business combinations and reorganizations. Mr. Paoli earned his B.S/B.A., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University and his J.D. from Duke University School of Law.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/14/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

Buying and Selling Commercial Real Estate, Part 1

$79.00

Buying and selling commercial real estate is a lengthy and complex undertaking from diligence and letters of intent to mortgage agreements and, ultimately, the underlying purchase and sale agreement. Reps and warranties have become more extensive and exacting in detail. Financing contingencies have become lengthy and complex. Due diligence has become lengthier, more invasive and costlier – or barely permitted at all, in particularly “hot” markets.  Managing all these elements is demanding.  This program will provide you a practical guide to the transactional cycle of buying and selling commercial real estate.   Day 1: Planning the process – letters of intent, negotiations, closing process Due diligence depending on the type of deal – title, environmental, finance issu Understanding the minefield of seller’s reps and warranties Buyer and seller’s covenants in a volatile market Deposits of money   Day 2: Issues for income producing properties, multiple family properties, and distressed properties Finance issues in operative agreements, including finance contingencies, and working with commercial lenders Conditions to closing and reducing the risk of not closing Post-closing issues, baskets, escrow and contingencies Bankruptcy issues in operative agreements   Speakers: Anthony Licata is a partner in the Chicago office of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, where he formerly chaired the firm’s real estate practice.  He has an extensive practice focusing on major commercial real estate transactions, including finance, development, leasing, and land use.  He formerly served as an adjunct professor at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and at the Illinois Institute of Technology.  Mr. Licata received his B.S., summa cum laude, from MacMurray College and his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School. John S. Hollyfield is of counsel and a former partner in the Houston office Norton Rose Fulbright, LLP.  He has more than 40 years’ experience in real estate law practice.  He formerly served as chair of the ABA Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, president of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, and chair of the Anglo-American Real Property Institute.  He has been named a "Texas Super Lawyer" in Real Estate Law by Texas Monthly magazine and is listed in Who’s Who in American Law.  He is co-editor of Modern Banking and Lending Forms (4th Edition), published by Warren, Gorham & Lamont.  He received his B.B.A. from the University of Texas and his LL.B. from the University of Texas School of Law. Richard R. Goldberg is a retired partner, resident in the Philadelphia office of Ballard Spahr, LLP, where he established an extensive real estate practice, including development, financing, leasing, and acquisition.  Earlier in his career, he served as vice president and associate general counsel of The Rouse Company for 23 years.  He is past president of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, past chair of the Anglo-American Real Property Institute, and past chair of the International Council of Shopping Centers Law Conference.  Mr. Goldberg is currently a Fellow of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys and is a member of the American Law Institute.  Mr. Goldberg received his B.A. from Pennsylvania State University and his LL.B. from the University of Maryland School of Law.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/14/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

Buying and Selling Commercial Real Estate, Part 2

$79.00

Buying and selling commercial real estate is a lengthy and complex undertaking from diligence and letters of intent to mortgage agreements and, ultimately, the underlying purchase and sale agreement. Reps and warranties have become more extensive and exacting in detail. Financing contingencies have become lengthy and complex. Due diligence has become lengthier, more invasive and costlier – or barely permitted at all, in particularly “hot” markets.  Managing all these elements is demanding.  This program will provide you a practical guide to the transactional cycle of buying and selling commercial real estate.   Day 1: Planning the process – letters of intent, negotiations, closing process Due diligence depending on the type of deal – title, environmental, finance issu Understanding the minefield of seller’s reps and warranties Buyer and seller’s covenants in a volatile market Deposits of money   Day 2: Issues for income producing properties, multiple family properties, and distressed properties Finance issues in operative agreements, including finance contingencies, and working with commercial lenders Conditions to closing and reducing the risk of not closing Post-closing issues, baskets, escrow and contingencies Bankruptcy issues in operative agreements   Speakers: Anthony Licata is a partner in the Chicago office of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, where he formerly chaired the firm’s real estate practice.  He has an extensive practice focusing on major commercial real estate transactions, including finance, development, leasing, and land use.  He formerly served as an adjunct professor at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and at the Illinois Institute of Technology.  Mr. Licata received his B.S., summa cum laude, from MacMurray College and his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School. John S. Hollyfield is of counsel and a former partner in the Houston office Norton Rose Fulbright, LLP.  He has more than 40 years’ experience in real estate law practice.  He formerly served as chair of the ABA Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, president of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, and chair of the Anglo-American Real Property Institute.  He has been named a "Texas Super Lawyer" in Real Estate Law by Texas Monthly magazine and is listed in Who’s Who in American Law.  He is co-editor of Modern Banking and Lending Forms (4th Edition), published by Warren, Gorham & Lamont.  He received his B.B.A. from the University of Texas and his LL.B. from the University of Texas School of Law. Richard R. Goldberg is a retired partner, resident in the Philadelphia office of Ballard Spahr, LLP, where he established an extensive real estate practice, including development, financing, leasing, and acquisition.  Earlier in his career, he served as vice president and associate general counsel of The Rouse Company for 23 years.  He is past president of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, past chair of the Anglo-American Real Property Institute, and past chair of the International Council of Shopping Centers Law Conference.  Mr. Goldberg is currently a Fellow of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys and is a member of the American Law Institute.  Mr. Goldberg received his B.A. from Pennsylvania State University and his LL.B. from the University of Maryland School of Law.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/15/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

Estate Planning for Digital Assets

$79.00

Some of the most valuable assets a client has are the most difficult to define, value, and transfer on death.  “Digital assets” – everything from digital music and pictures stored online, to bank and credit card reward programs, Facebook pages and online TurboTax files, bank and retirement account credentials – are a class of asset that every client has, yet planning for them is new.  These assets are not governed by a conventional set of federal or state laws, rather by a complex set of rules set by a variety of organizations, none of which are standardized but which planners need to understand nonetheless to satisfy client expectations.  This program will provide you guide to the nature of digital assets, how they are controlled, and how to plan for them.   Digital assets in estate planning – defining and transferring them on death How failure to plan for these assets can scuttle estate plans and disappoint client expectations Fiduciary access to digital assets under current law Practical planning for digital assets – what works, what doesn’t, and what’s not at all clear How user polices impact the planning process – what you need to know about how these assets are titled and controlled How federal law impacts the planning process and unconventional planning issues   Speaker: Michael Sneeringer is a Partner in the Naples, Florida office of Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, where his practice focuses on trust and estate planning, probate administration, asset protection planning, and tax law. He is an Executive Council member of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar and the Articles editor, Trust and Estate, for Probate & Property Magazine.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/15/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

Drafting Settlement Agreements in Civil Litigation

$79.00

A settlement in litigation is only as good as the settlement agreement.  The case may have stopped short of trial or stopped in the middle of trial as the parties realized that settlement was the best course of action, but preserving the informal agreement to settle places immense pressure on getting the underlying agreement right – not only settling the present dispute but preserving the settlement as things change over time. Understanding the law governing these agreements and carefully drafting their essential provisions – mutual releases, scope, financial terms, non-disclosure, non-disparagement– are essential to preserving the value of the settlement. This program will provide you with a practical guide to the essential provisions, traps and opportunities of litigation settlement agreements.   Framework of law governing settlement agreements Essential provisions of settlement agreements, including traps for the unwary Defining scope of settlement and mutual releases – either to prevent resumption of litigation or leave related litigation untouched Role of non-disclosure and non-disparagement provisions, violations and remedies. Enhancing the enforceability and decreasing the costs of settlement agreements   Speaker: Steven B. Malech is partner in the New York City office of Wiggin and Dana, LLP, where he is chair of the firm’s probate litigation practice group.  He is represents beneficiaries, fiduciaries and creditors in disputes involving alleged violations of the Prudent Investor Act and its predecessors, alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, disputed accountings, and will contests. He represents clients in cutting edge probate litigation matters involving trusts and estates with assets in the hundreds of millions of dollars. 

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/16/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

LIVE REPLAY: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Law Practice

$79.00

This program will provide you with a practical guide to diversity, inclusion, and equity in law firms and in clients. The program will discuss the value of diversity and inclusion, including how it fosters collegiality, greater client value, and organizational and personal growth.  The panel will look at real world case studies of what types of diversity training work and help law firms – and also review those types of training that do not work. The program cover best practices not only for law firms but also for advising clients on developing diversity, inclusion, and equity training and practices.   Types of diversity – internal, external, organizational, and worldview Racial and ethnic, generational and age, gender, socio-economic diversity Training to raise awareness of unconscious bias v. promoting allyship and inclusivity What types of diversity training work – and what types do not work? Best practices in helping law firms and their clients grow in diversity, inclusion and equity   Speaker: Anthony Licata is a partner in the Chicago office of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, where he formerly chaired the firm’s real estate practice.  He has an extensive practice focusing on major commercial real estate transactions, including finance, development, leasing, and land use.  He formerly served as an adjunct professor at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and at the Illinois Institute of Technology.  Mr. Licata received his B.S., summa cum laude, from MacMurray College and his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/16/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

Selection and Preparation of Expert Witnesses in Litigation

$79.00

Experts play a vitally important role in civil litigation, whether they act as consulting experts or also as testifying experts.  The complexity of modern litigation has substantially increased the pressure on attorneys to carefully evaluate the suitability of experts for a particular case and prepare them for testimony. Approaching, evaluating and preparing witnesses, however, is as much an art as science or database search.  Furthermore, once an expert is selected, there are substantial risks surrounding discovery and preserving the attorney-client privilege.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to selecting and preparing experts in civil litigation.   How to find the right expert witness and common traps Evaluating the suitability of experts for your case Consulting v. testifying experts Approaching and retaining experts Preparing witnesses for testimony in a specific case Practical tips on the best/worst uses of particular types of expertise in litigation Discovery issues and preserving the attorney-client privilege   Speaker: Shannon M. Bell is a member with Kelly & Walker, LLC, where she litigates a wide variety of complex business disputes, construction disputes, fiduciary claims, employment issues, and landlord/tenant issues.  Her construction experience extends from contract negotiations to defense of construction claims of owners, HOAs, contractors and tradesmen.  She also represents clients in claims of shareholder and officer liability, piercing the corporate veil, and derivative actions.  She writes and speaks on commercial litigation, employment, discovery and bankruptcy topics.  Ms. Bell earned her B.S. from the University of Iowa and her J.D. from the University of Denver.

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/19/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE
Course1

LIVE REPLAY: Piercing the Entity Veil: Individual Liability for Business Acts

$79.00

One of the bedrock principles of business law is limited liability. The individual owners of an entity – shareholders of a corporation or members of a limited liability company – cannot be held personally liable for the debts or liabilities of the entity.  But the doctrine is not absolute.  There are many common law fact patterns that allow courts to pierce the entity veil – co-mingling of funds, using an entity as an alter ego, among others – and reach an individual person’s assets. There are also several sources of statutory authority allowing veil piercing. This program will provide you with a practical guide to common law, equitable, and statutory theories of piercing entity veils.   Statutory and equitable principles to pierce the entity veil Fact pattern justifying piercing limited liability to reach an owner’s personal assets Statutory sources permitting breaching the entity veil Application of veil piercing to non-corporate entities Liability for improper distributions Piercing for withheld income and employment taxes, and sales/use taxes   Speakers: Allen Sparkman is a partner in the Houston and Denver offices of Sparkman Foote, LLP.  He has practiced law for over forty years in the areas of estate, tax, business, insurance, asset protection, and charitable giving.  He has written and lectured extensively on choice-of-entity, charitable giving and estate planning topics.  He is the Colorado reporter for the books "State Limited Partnership Laws" and "State Limited Liability Company Laws," both published by Aspen Law & Business.  He has also served as president of the Rocky Mountain Estate Planning Council.  Mr. Sparkman received his A.B. with honors from Princeton University and his J.D. with high honors from the University of Texas School of Law

  • Teleseminar
    Format
  • 60
    Minutes
  • 6/19/2023
    Presented
SEE MORE