Course1

Business Divorce, Part 1

$65.00

Business divorce can be as complicated, costly and dramatic as traditional divorce. When owners of a closely-held company decide they cannot or will not work together anymore, there are several alternatives for achieving the separation – a division of assets among the owners, a buyout of one owner or several owners by a third party or by the company itself, or a complete or partial sale of the company.  But these and other transactional forms come with risk – the risk that dividing the assets of an operating business will cause substantial destruction of value to the company or that strife will take its toll on operations and employees.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to the alternatives for achieving a business divorce, planning the process, containing the risk and preserving value.   Day 1: Overview of techniques to accomplish a divorce – buy-sell arrangements, redemptions, compensation, employment separation and retirement plan techniques Special considerations when the divorce involves LLCs, S Corps or partnerships Valuation methods and disputes in a business divorce Techniques for financing a buyout as part of a business divorce Minimizing adverse tax consequences in a business divorce   Day 2: Compensation and retirement plan-based techniques for accomplishing a business divorce Special issues when a business divorce involves a distressed business Role of confidentiality, non-competition, and non-solicitation agreements as part of the divorce Important intellectual property issues, including customer lists, goodwill and trade secrets Preservation of valuable tax attributes   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 cocmpanies, 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. Norman Lencz is a partner in the Baltimore, Maryland office of Venable, LLP, where his practice focuses on a broad range of federal, state, local and international tax matters.  He advises clients on tax issues relating to corporations, partnerships, LLCs, joint ventures and real estate transactions.  He also has extensive experience with compensation planning in closely held businesses.  Mr. Lencz earned his B.S. from the University of Maryland and his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law.

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  • 60
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  • 10/8/2024
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Course1

Business Divorce, Part 2

$65.00

Business divorce can be as complicated, costly and dramatic as traditional divorce. When owners of a closely-held company decide they cannot or will not work together anymore, there are several alternatives for achieving the separation – a division of assets among the owners, a buyout of one owner or several owners by a third party or by the company itself, or a complete or partial sale of the company.  But these and other transactional forms come with risk – the risk that dividing the assets of an operating business will cause substantial destruction of value to the company or that strife will take its toll on operations and employees.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to the alternatives for achieving a business divorce, planning the process, containing the risk and preserving value.   Day 1: Overview of techniques to accomplish a divorce – buy-sell arrangements, redemptions, compensation, employment separation and retirement plan techniques Special considerations when the divorce involves LLCs, S Corps or partnerships Valuation methods and disputes in a business divorce Techniques for financing a buyout as part of a business divorce Minimizing adverse tax consequences in a business divorce   Day 2: Compensation and retirement plan-based techniques for accomplishing a business divorce Special issues when a business divorce involves a distressed business Role of confidentiality, non-competition, and non-solicitation agreements as part of the divorce Important intellectual property issues, including customer lists, goodwill and trade secrets Preservation of valuable tax attributes   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 cocmpanies, 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. Norman Lencz is a partner in the Baltimore, Maryland office of Venable, LLP, where his practice focuses on a broad range of federal, state, local and international tax matters.  He advises clients on tax issues relating to corporations, partnerships, LLCs, joint ventures and real estate transactions.  He also has extensive experience with compensation planning in closely held businesses.  Mr. Lencz earned his B.S. from the University of Maryland and his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law.

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  • 60
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  • 10/9/2024
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Course1

Common Area Maintenance, Insurance, and & Taxes Provisions in Commercial Leases

$65.00

Common area expenses (CAM) are part of virtually every office and retail lease. These expenses cover everything from parking lots and reception areas to common meeting spaces and restrooms.  In triple net leases, landlords seek to recover these expenses from tenants.  This can be a significant component of a tenant’s lease expense.The scope of CAM, caps or other limitations, and audit rights are highly negotiated. Landlords and lenders are often reluctant to give any concessions. This program will provide you with a practical guide to negotiating and drafting CAM provisions in commercial leases.   Scope of common area maintenance (CAM) expenses Relationship to minimum maintenance standards Treatment of taxes and insurance Differentiating operating v. capital expenses in CAM recovery Caps on CAM, fixed CAM, gross-up considerations Audit and information rights for CAM Understanding landlord, lender, and tenant motivations and concerns   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.

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  • 60
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  • 10/10/2024
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Income and Fiduciary Tax Issues for Trust and Estate Planners, Part 1

$65.00

Understanding fiduciary income taxation – the taxation of grantor and non-grantor trusts, complex and simple trusts – is essential to trust planning.  It impacts the type of trust chosen, how it’s structured and administered.  Recently changes to federal tax law have added to the complexity of fiduciary income taxation.  The tax treatment of trust income and accounting for distributions and expenses varies depending on the type of trust involved and how “Distributable Net Income” is allocated.This program will provide you with a real-world guide to the essential rules, timeframes, planning techniques and traps of the taxation of trusts.   Day 1: Fiduciary income taxation framework and rules for estate and trust planners How fiduciary and income tax planning differ from each other Planning for fiduciary taxation v. planning for individual and corporate tax purposes Types of trusts – simple, complex, grantor – and differing tax rules for each Treatment of “Distributable Net Income” Understanding “Trust Accounting Income,” and impact of Prudent Investor Rule   Day 2: Practical income allocation for simple, complex and grantor trusts Specific allocation rules for DNI – Tier System, Separate Share Rule, 65 Day Rule, specific bequests Charitable giving – tax treatment and practical impact Treatment of depreciation, administrative expenses, and allocation to income Trust terminations – capital loss carryover and excess deductions   Speaker: Jeremiah W. Doyle, IV is senior vice president in the Boston office of BNY Mellon Wealth Management, where he provides integrated wealth management advice to high net worth individuals on holding, managing and transferring wealth in a tax-efficient manner.  He is the editor and co-author of “Preparing Fiduciary Income Tax Returns,” a contributing author of Preparing Estate Tax Returns,and a contributing author of “Understanding and Using Trusts,” all published by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education.  Mr. Doyle received his B.S. from Providence College, his J.D. form Hamline University Law School, and his LL.M. in banking from Boston University Law School.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/11/2024
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Income and Fiduciary Tax Issues for Trust and Estate Planners, Part 2

$65.00

Understanding fiduciary income taxation – the taxation of grantor and non-grantor trusts, complex and simple trusts – is essential to trust planning.  It impacts the type of trust chosen, how it’s structured and administered.  Recently changes to federal tax law have added to the complexity of fiduciary income taxation.  The tax treatment of trust income and accounting for distributions and expenses varies depending on the type of trust involved and how “Distributable Net Income” is allocated.This program will provide you with a real-world guide to the essential rules, timeframes, planning techniques and traps of the taxation of trusts.   Day 1: Fiduciary income taxation framework and rules for estate and trust planners How fiduciary and income tax planning differ from each other Planning for fiduciary taxation v. planning for individual and corporate tax purposes Types of trusts – simple, complex, grantor – and differing tax rules for each Treatment of “Distributable Net Income” Understanding “Trust Accounting Income,” and impact of Prudent Investor Rule   Day 2: Practical income allocation for simple, complex and grantor trusts Specific allocation rules for DNI – Tier System, Separate Share Rule, 65 Day Rule, specific bequests Charitable giving – tax treatment and practical impact Treatment of depreciation, administrative expenses, and allocation to income Trust terminations – capital loss carryover and excess deductions   Speaker: Jeremiah W. Doyle, IV is senior vice president in the Boston office of BNY Mellon Wealth Management, where he provides integrated wealth management advice to high net worth individuals on holding, managing and transferring wealth in a tax-efficient manner.  He is the editor and co-author of “Preparing Fiduciary Income Tax Returns,” a contributing author of Preparing Estate Tax Returns,and a contributing author of “Understanding and Using Trusts,” all published by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education.  Mr. Doyle received his B.S. from Providence College, his J.D. form Hamline University Law School, and his LL.M. in banking from Boston University Law School.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/12/2024
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Course1

Subtenants in Commercial Leasing: How to Protect Your Client

$65.00

Subleases are by their very nature filled with substantial risk.  A sub-tenant agrees to take space – office, retail, or industrial – from a sub-landlord, pay the sub-landlord rent, and perform certain services. But without between the sub-tenant and the senior landlord, the sub-tenant has no rights to assert against the senior landlord even though the sub-tenant’s use of the space may depend on the actions of the senior landlord.  This sub-tenant is also at substantial risk of losing the space if either the senior or sub-landlord goes bankrupt. The relationship of these parties is highly complex. This program will provide you with a practical guide protecting subtenants in leasing.   Counseling sub-tenant clients about the range of risks in subleases How to read master leases to spot red flags for tenants Types of subleases – what works for bigger/smaller clients and spaces? Identifying master lease’s control of subleasing and sublease terms Master lease money provisions, use restrictions, attornment provisions, and termination Determining whether sublease risks outweigh the benefits   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.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/17/2024
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Course1

Earnouts: Taking a Wait and See Approach to Valuation of Closely Held Companies

$65.00

The most highly negotiated provision of most transactions is price. Sellers want to maximize the value of the deal, putting the most optimistic spin historical and forward-looking projections.  Sellers take a more skeptical view, questioning the sustainability of growth and the accuracy of forecasts.  When differences over valuation cannotbe bridged, the parties may use an earnout, which allows them to both take a wait-and-see approach and still close the transaction. Earnouts generally involve a current payment from buyer to seller together with ongoing payments to the seller if the company performs as the seller projected.  But there are many drafting and operational traps when using earnouts.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to structuring and drafting earnouts to later disputes and litigation.   Most highly negotiated and litigated provisions in earnout agreements Post-closing operations – control by buyer, but informational access to seller Defining key metrics – objective, measurable and potential traps Relationship of earnouts to senior debt and other preferential returns Debt issues and how it impacts financial results – and post-closing payments How earnouts are different than escrow and holdbacks   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. Daniel G. Straga is an attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP, where he counsels companies on a wide variety of corporate and business matters across a range of industries. He advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, venture capital, and governance matters.  Mr. Straga earned his J.D. from the George Washington University Law School and his B.A. from the University of Delaware. 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.

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  • 60
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  • 10/18/2024
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Course1

Releasing Employees & Drafting Separation Agreements

$65.00

When an employee leaves a company voluntarily or involuntarily employers often fear the worst.  Departing employees may have had access to very important and confidential information of the employer – client/customer lists, vendor information, pricing information.  How can it protected?  Employees may allege they are due additional salary, bonuses or commissions.  Might they sue?  There may have been issues involving suspected or alleged harassment or discrimination.  What’s the risk of liability?  Employees might be disgruntled.  Can anything be done to prevent disparagement of the company?  Drafting separation agreements are complex and as important as employment agreements. This program will provide you with a practical guide to drafting employee separation agreements.   Salary and benefit issues, severance payments, and payments tied to future performance Identifying points of potential liability in both voluntary and involuntary separations Drafting enforceable waivers of liability – scope, length and payment issues Post-separation commission issues for sales employees Preserving the confidentiality of important business information post-separation Non-disparagement, non-competition and non-solicitation provisions Mediation and other dispute resolution provisions   Speaker: Jerrold F. Goldberg is a partner in the New York City office of Greenburg Traurig, LLP, where he has more than 35 years’ experience practicing in virtually all aspects of labor and employment.  His expertise includes employee leave under federal and state law, traditional labor/union-management issues, employment discrimination, executive employment, severance agreements and wage and hour laws.  He represents clients before the EEOC, the FRLB, and federal and state courts.  Mr. Goldberg received his B.S. from Cornell University and his J.D. from New York University School of Law.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/21/2024
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Course1

Ethics and Virtual Law Offices

$65.00

Technology allows lawyers far more flexibility to practice law virtually – from home or in shared settings – than ever before.  No longer must they maintain freestanding offices, support staff, and libraries. Lawyers can set-up offices in their homes, communicate with clients, adversaries and the courts electronically, outsource overflow work to co-counsel or vendors, and establish web sites that can reach potential clients. These “virtual” practices are increasingly commonplace, but the relative ease with which they are established obscures many significant ethical issues.This program will provide you with a practical guide to significant issues when lawyers and law firms establish “virtual” law practices.   Disclosure to clients of the virtual character of a law practice Electronic communications, confidentiality, and ethical risks in virtual practices Ethical issues when lawyers share office space or other resources but practice separately How Web sites and a “virtual” presence implicate multijurisdictional practice issues Outsourcing work to vendors or co-counsel, and ensuring its competently performed Requirements and risks when offering legal advice across state lines Duty to understand law office technology as a duty of competence   Speakers: H. Michael Drumm is the founder and member of Drumm Law, LLC in Denver, Colorado, where he has an extensive franchise, trademark and business transactional practice.  He works with franchisors across industries nationwide helping them draft, file and renew their franchise Disclosure Documents and franchise agreements.  He has a specialty representing craft breweries to help them trademark their brands and protect their intellectual property. He has been repeatedly honored by Franchise Times magazine as a “Legal Eagle” and has been designated by the International Franchise Association as a “Certified Franchise Executive.”  Mr. Drumm received his BSBA from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. 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.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/24/2024
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Construction Contracts: Drafting Issues, Spotting Red Flags and Allocating Risk, Part 1

$65.00

Construction contracts are among the most difficult agreements to draft or review, and negotiate.  At every stage, building is fraught with substantial risk – timely regulatory approvals, cost containment and price certainty, financing contingencies, building deadlines, and a host of other risks. If these risks materialize, as is common, the bargained for exchange among the parties and their expectations are radically unsettled. Construction contracts are a careful allocation of risks, a compromise between flexibility and price/cost certainty, and establish procedures for resolving disputes short of costly litigation. This program will provide you with a practical guide to drafting the most important provisions of construction contracts.   Day 1: Reviewing and drafting essential provisions of construction contracts Use and common mistakes in using AIA contacts in negotiations with builders Defining the scope of a project and planning for modifications How fees and costs are structured – and allocating risk of modification Tying performance standards and timelines to payments   Day 2: Insurance and indemnification provisions of construction contracts Role of subcontractors and mechanics’ and materialmen liens Anticipating disputes between property owners and builders, and building in cost-effective dispute resolution Role and limitations of different type of damages   Speaker:  John Miller is the principal of John R. Miller, PLLC in the Charlotte, North Carolina and was for 39 years a partner with Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.  His practice encompasses corporate and securities law, mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, and construction law.  He was selected by his peers for inclusion in "The Best Lawyers in America" and for inclusion in Business North CarolinaMagazine's"Legal Elite" as one of the top business lawyers in North Carolina.  He received his A.B. from Duke University and his J.D., with distinction, from Duke University School of Law.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/25/2024
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Construction Contracts: Drafting Issues, Spotting Red Flags and Allocating Risk, Part 2

$65.00

Construction contracts are among the most difficult agreements to draft or review, and negotiate.  At every stage, building is fraught with substantial risk – timely regulatory approvals, cost containment and price certainty, financing contingencies, building deadlines, and a host of other risks. If these risks materialize, as is common, the bargained for exchange among the parties and their expectations are radically unsettled. Construction contracts are a careful allocation of risks, a compromise between flexibility and price/cost certainty, and establish procedures for resolving disputes short of costly litigation. This program will provide you with a practical guide to drafting the most important provisions of construction contracts.   Day 1: Reviewing and drafting essential provisions of construction contracts Use and common mistakes in using AIA contacts in negotiations with builders Defining the scope of a project and planning for modifications How fees and costs are structured – and allocating risk of modification Tying performance standards and timelines to payments   Day 2: Insurance and indemnification provisions of construction contracts Role of subcontractors and mechanics’ and materialmen liens Anticipating disputes between property owners and builders, and building in cost-effective dispute resolution Role and limitations of different type of damages   Speaker:  John Miller is the principal of John R. Miller, PLLC in the Charlotte, North Carolina and was for 39 years a partner with Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.  His practice encompasses corporate and securities law, mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, and construction law.  He was selected by his peers for inclusion in "The Best Lawyers in America" and for inclusion in Business North CarolinaMagazine's"Legal Elite" as one of the top business lawyers in North Carolina.  He received his A.B. from Duke University and his J.D., with distinction, from Duke University School of Law.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 10/26/2024
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Due Diligence in Commercial Real Estate Transactions

$65.00

This program will provide you with a practical guide to due diligence in real estate transactions – what information you need, where to get it, and the timeframes involved.  The program will also cover the relationship between the duration and depth of due diligence depending on the state of the market – i.e., how “hot” markets involve more risk because sellers or othersare reluctant to give lengthy diligence periods. The program will also discuss using information obtained in diligence to draft specific reps and warranties. This program will provide you with a practical guide to planning due diligence in real estate transaction and how that information is used.   Planning diligence – what information you need, where to get it, and timeframes Relationship between diligence and market conditions – willingness of sellers to cooperate or not Using diligence – tying information obtained to specific reps and warranties Review of leases, rent rolls, and financial statements Service contracts, condominium HOAs, and other contracts Title work – liens and other encumbrances   Speaker: 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.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 11/1/2024
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Course1

Ethics in Discovery Practice

$65.00

Discovery can be the most important phase of litigation, directing the course and outcome of the case.  How evidence is discovered, how it is used, and how mistakes in its handling are disclosed and remedied all raise very significant ethical issues. These issues – the risk of mishandling – are increased by the vast growth of ESI, electronically stored information. Litigators have certain obligations that their vendors comply with ethics rules. There are also issues surrounding the use of paralegals in discovery practice.  Failure to ensure ethics compliance during discovery can have a material adverse impact on the underlying litigation and draw an ethics complaint.  This program will provide you with a real-world guide to substantial issues ethical issues that arise in discovery practice and how to avoid ethics complaints.    Duty of candor to the tribunal during discovery Ethical issues when you learn that a client is dishonest Inadvertent disclosure privileged documents and their handling Ethics in depositions – conferring with witnesses, using video depositions and more Ethical issues in widespread data mining of discovery documents Issues involving metadata in electronic files – documents, email, text messages Attorney-client privilege and security issues of working with outside e-discovery vendors Ethics and social media discovery   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.   She received her B.A. and M.S. from the University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. from Albany Law School. 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.

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  • 60
    Minutes
  • 11/2/2024
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Ethics in Trust and Estate Practice

$65.00

Trust and estate practice often sits at the intersection of money, aging clients, family drama, easy accusations of self-dealing and misdeeds, dispute – and anger.  This turbulent combination of circumstances can put attorneys in difficult ethical spots. Questions about the competence of aging clients in combination with family drama can easily lead to ethical complaints and eventually litigation. There are also issues of decision-making authority and confidentiality if someone other than the client is paying for the representation.  Conflicts of interest, especially where a longtime client may gift something to the attorney, are rife. This program will provide you with a practical guide to substantial ethical issues in trust and estate practice. Working with clients with diminished capacity and protecting against challenges Confidentiality – understanding what information is confidential and when and to whom it can be disclosed Conflicts of interest – joint and common representations, husbands and wives, multiple generations of a family Gifts from clients – what lawyers may accept, what should they decline? Special issues when someone other than the client pays for a representation   Speakers: 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. 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.

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  • 60
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  • 11/12/2024
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Joint Ventures in Real Estate, Part 1

$65.00

Real estate joint venturesleverage the capital and expertise of partners to develop and operate or sell projects of every size.These joint ventures can take different forms – contractual or entity-based – and often involve a complex mix of equity and debt, preferential returns, and various types of fees. Thirdparties, including contractors, may have profit participation rights.  Real estate joint ventures are highly complex exercises in finance and risk management. This program will provide you with a real-world guide to types of real estate joint ventures, major capital structuring issues, and drafting the major provisions of the underlying documents.   Day 1: Entity selection for joint ventures Structing competing interests of investors, developers, and lenders Capital structure – getting the right mix of equity, mezzanine financing& long-term debt Initial and subsequent capital contributions of partners   Day 2: Management and information rights  Guarantees issue in joint ventures Structuring ordinary and liquidating distributions Valuation and sales/exchanges of partnership interests   Speakers: 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.

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  • 60
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  • 11/15/2024
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Joint Ventures in Real Estate, Part 2

$65.00

Real estate joint venturesleverage the capital and expertise of partners to develop and operate or sell projects of every size.These joint ventures can take different forms – contractual or entity-based – and often involve a complex mix of equity and debt, preferential returns, and various types of fees. Thirdparties, including contractors, may have profit participation rights.  Real estate joint ventures are highly complex exercises in finance and risk management. This program will provide you with a real-world guide to types of real estate joint ventures, major capital structuring issues, and drafting the major provisions of the underlying documents.   Day 1: Entity selection for joint ventures Structing competing interests of investors, developers, and lenders Capital structure – getting the right mix of equity, mezzanine financing& long-term debt Initial and subsequent capital contributions of partners   Day 2: Management and information rights  Guarantees issue in joint ventures Structuring ordinary and liquidating distributions Valuation and sales/exchanges of partnership interests   Speakers: 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.

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  • 11/16/2024
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Ethics and Changing Law Firm Affiliation

$65.00

When a lawyer moves from one firm to another, it can be a fairly dramatic event.  The ethical issues for the lawyer and for his or her prior firm and new firm are substantial.  There are issues of when and how to communicate to clients and whether it’s done by the lawyer or the firm. There are issues of ongoing matters and what to do with client files.  In ongoing litigation or transactional matters, do lawyers withdraw pending a client decision about whether to move the matter to the lawyer’s next firm?  Is withdrawal even permitted?  There are also issues of conflicts of interest and how they are managed – for the lawyer who is changing law firm affiliation and for the firms involved. This program will provide you with a practical guide to ethical issues when lawyers change law firm affiliation.   Ethical issues when lawyers change law firm affiliation Propriety and timing of communications with the departing lawyer’s clients – by the lawyer or the firm? Ownership and transfer of client files among law firms Ongoing litigation or transactional matters – is withdrawal permissible? Diligence for the new firm– conflicts, confidentiality, and screening Issues when a solo practitioner joins a multi-lawyer firm   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.

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  • 11/18/2024
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Baskets and Escrow in Business Transactions

$65.00

Identifying and hedging the risk of the unknown is one of the biggest risks in business documentation.  If unknown liabilities arise – or known liabilities are greater than anticipated –parties want recourse to address the economic loss.  “Caps” and “baskets” are used to address this problem.  Caps are the the total amount for which one party may be liable to the other party post-closing. “Baskets” are the amount of loss one party must incur, if any, before seeking recourse to the other party. The variations and interplay between caps and baskets can be highly complex. This program will provide you with a practical guide to the uses, types, and drafting traps of caps and baskets in business transactions.   Types of “baskets” – “tipping baskets” v. “true deductibles” v. hybrids Negotiating “caps” – aggregates limits, specific carve-outs for fraud and other bad acts Intricate relationship between baskets and caps Drafting to reduce risk of dispute and enhance collectability of claims Use of escrow to ensure payment of indemnification claims   Speaker: Steven O. Weise is a partner in the Los Angeles office Proskauer Rose, LLP, where his practice encompasses all areas of commercial law. He has extensive experience in financings, particularly those secured by personal property.He also handles matters involving real property anti-deficiency laws, workouts, guarantees, sales of goods, letters of credit, commercial paper and checks, and investment securities.Mr. Weise formerly served as chair of the ABA Business Law Section. He has also served as a member of the Permanent Editorial Board of the UCC and as an Advisor to the UCC Code Article 9 Drafting Committee.Mr. Weise received his B.A. from Yale University and his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law.

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  • 11/21/2024
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Employment Law Torts

$65.00

The workplace is deep with potential torts.  Hiring can be a delicate balance of adequately investigating the background of an applicant without making legally prohibited searches or inquiries.  Workplace supervision in a technologically interconnected age can easily give rise to claims of invasions of privacy. Workplace investigations, often involving conflicts among employees, can implicate claims of basis, discrimination, harassment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation, and retaliation.  At every stage of the employment process there are potential torts.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to employer tort liability in the workplace.    Torts in hiring –balancing act of background checks, drug/cannabis checks, and the standard of foreseeability Privacy based torts – monitoring employee social media and other digital communications/posts Negligent retention of potentially dangerous employees Torts in workplace investigations – intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation, false light torts Negligent supervision of troubled employees Best practices and defenses for employers to avoid or limit liability   Speaker: Alex J. Maturi is an attorney in the Chicago office of Paul Hastings, LLP, where he represents employers in all aspects of employment law, including discrimination, harassment, wrongful discharge, and wage and hour matters. He also counsels clients on compliance with state and federal law, and advises employers facing investigations initiated by the EEOC, OFCCP, and various state agencies.  During law school, he served as an extern judicial clerk to Judge Robert W. Gettleman of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Mr. Maturi earned his B.A., cum laude, Illinois Wesleyan University and his J.D., cum laude, from Northwestern University School of Law.

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  • 11/22/2024
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Ethics for Business Lawyers

$65.00

Lawyers advising businesses on transactions or negotiating on their behalf often confront a range of important ethical questions.  The biggest is, who is your client?  Often a company’s owners or managers will not understand the distinction between representing them and representing the company? There are also issues of identifying and clearing conflicts among clients when they are negotiating transaction.  And what can a lawyer say or do when negotiating for a client? Also, lawyers are sometimes confronted with issues about what to do when clients are dishonest.  This program will provide you with a real world guide to ethical issues when representing clients in business transactions.    Ethical issues in business and corporate practice Identifying your client in a variety of transactional contexts – the company v. its managers? Conflicts of interest in representing both sides of a transaction Ethical issues in transactional negotiations and communications with represented parties Representing clients you know to be dishonest and reporting wrong-doing “up and out”   Speakers: 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. 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 Website“Freivogel on Conflicts” at www.freivogelonconflicts.com<http://www.freivogelonconflicts.com/> .Mr. Freivogel is a graduate of the University of Illinois (Champaign), where he received his B.S. and LL.B.

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  • 11/29/2024
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Liquidation: Legal Issues When a Client Decides to Close a Business

$65.00

Planning for an LLC’s eventual liquidation can be as important as formation. Well planned and efficient liquidations help LLC members preserve value. Messy liquidations are costly and rapidly diminish value. Whether triggered by a provision in a buy/sell agreement or on the basis of a statutory provision, liquidations are a process of marshaling assets, providing a variety of notices, satisfying debts and other liabilities, and eventually liquidating distributions to LLC members. When planned and managed effectively, the process can preserve substantial value for clients. This program will provide you with a practical guide to liquidations of LLCs.   Statutory bases for voluntary LLC dissolution and how they are triggered by members Judicial/non-voluntary bases for LLC dissolution Planning for eventual dissolution of an LLC in buy/sell agreements Process of dissolution, winding up and termination – and practical consequences of each step Drafting statements of dissolution Summary of tax consequences of distributions of various type of property   Speaker: Daniel G. Straga is counsel in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP, where he counsels companies on a wide variety of corporate and business matters across a range of industries. He advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, venture capital, and governance matters.  Mr. Straga earned his and his B.A. from the University of Delaware and his J.D. from the George Washington University Law School.

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  • 11/30/2024
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Trust and Estate Planning for Pets

$65.00

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.

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  • 12/1/2024
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Drafting Client Engagement Letters in Trust and Estate Planning

$65.00

Client engagement letters are the foundation of a successful representation in trust and estate planning, administration or fiduciary litigation.  It’s where expectations are set – about fees, timelines, and who you are representing. Difficult issues involving conflicts of interests and decision-making can also be framed and addressed. These letters clarify goals and substantially reduce the risk of later dispute.  This program will provide you a practical guide to using client engagement letters to provide the foundation of a successful relationship in trust and estate planning, administration and litigation.   Most important elements of successful client engagement letter Spousal representations – joint representation or separate, and practical difficulties of each Representing multiple generations of a family – who is in charge?   Lawyer as fiduciary – what must you do if you’re the trustee How to handle extant or developing client incapacity Ongoing communication and billing issues Providing for withdrawal from an engagement – when and how   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.

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  • 12/2/2024
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Buying, Selling and Exchanging Partnership and LLC Interests

$65.00

As LLCs have become the default choice of entity for most businesses, sales and exchanges of LLC membership interests are commonplace. Despite the frequency of sales and exchanges, exactly what rights of the seller the buyer succeeds to is often mistaken and these mistakes can lead to dispute and litigation. By default, transferees succeed only to the economic interests of the transferor. They do not succeed to the transferor’s governance rights. If governance rights are part of the underlying bargain, the consent of the LLC’s other members generally must be sought.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to drafting and planning for the sale and exchange of LLC interests.   Selling/exchanging LLC and partnership interests and effective alternatives Succession to economic rights of seller v. management and information rights Tax consequences to the entity and buyers/sellers in sales/exchanges of entity interests Disguised sales of LLC/partnership interests – and techniques to avoid adverse tax impact Constructive terminations and their adverse tax consequences Distributions and other alternative to sales and exchanges of LLC/partnership interests   Speaker: C. Ben Huber is a partner in the Denver office of Greenburg Traurig, LLP, where he has a broad transactional practice encompassing mergers and acquisitions, restructurings and reorganizations, corporate finance, capital markets, venture funds, commercial transactions and general corporate law.  He also has substantial experience as counsel to high tech, biotech and software companies in the development, protection and licensing of intellectual property.  His clients include start-up companies, family- and other closely-held businesses, middle market business, Fortune 500 companies, venture funds and institutional investors.  Mr. Huber earned his B.A. from the University of Colorado and his J.D. at the University of Colorado Law School.

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  • 12/6/2024
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Rights of First Offer, First Refusal in Real Estate

$65.00

Rights of first refusal and rights of first offer are frequently used in commercial real estate transactions, establishing rights to acquire property from a seller before it hits the market.  The practical effect of these tools is often to exert downward pressure on the price of the property and hamper development of a third-party market.  Rights of first refusal can help hasten a deal among buyers and sellers or landlords and tenants, thereby reducing costs, or they can be a costly waste of time. There are many subtle differences between rights of first refusal and rights of first offer, each with subtle tradeoffs for counter-parties that must be considered in context of a particular transaction.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to drafting rights of first refusal and rights of first offer in real estate.   How rights of first refusal and rights of first offer work in real estate transactions Real-world costs, tradeoffs and risks of each type of right – and drafting tips and traps Best circumstances in which these mechanisms are used in property acquisitions, sales, and leasing How rights of refusal depress prices &limiting third party interest in the property – and how to mitigate Practical strategies for buyers and sellers, landlords and tenants when negotiating these rights   Speaker: 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.

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  • 12/7/2024
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Ethics of Beginning and Ending Client Relationships

$65.00

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.

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  • 12/8/2024
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Selection and Preparation of Expert Witnesses in Litigation

$65.00

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.

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  • 12/9/2024
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Piercing the Entity Veil: Individual Liability for Business Acts

$65.00

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

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  • 12/12/2024
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Letters of Intent in Business Transactions

$65.00

Letters of intent frame the material terms of business and commercial transactions.  They outline with considerable detail the substantive terms of the underlying agreement – price, reps and warranties, closing conditions, etc. They also provide a process by which a definitive underlying agreement will be finalized. But they are not, generally, intended to be definitive agreements themselves; not enforceable, only a substantial starting point. There is, however, a certain point at which the detail in these letters becomes so extensive that they become enforceable.  This program will provide you with a practical guide to the most important substantive and process aspects of letters of intent, their uses and traps, including unexpected enforceability.   Drafting effective letters of intent in transactions Purposes of letters, timing, relationship to diligence, exclusivity Substantive  terms v. process terms Indemnity, hold back and limitation of liability provisions Termination of a letter and survival of certain provisions Understanding the point at which letters of intent may become enforceable   Speaker: Stephanie Molyneaux is an attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP, where she assists clients with a wide variety of transactional matters.  Her experience includes mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, contractual agreements, technology transactions, licensing, and intellectual property transactions.  Ms. Molyneaux received her B.A., with distinction, from American University of Beirut and her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Richmond School of Law.

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  • 12/13/2024
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The Art and Science of Conditional Gifts in Estate Planning

$65.00

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.    

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  • 12/16/2024
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