PLI - Search Results - Facets: Seminars

Staying Out of Trouble: What Every Attorney Must Know About Ethics 2013

Tue, 17 Dec 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Understanding when a client relationship begins and ends, with an overview of new ethics rules
Whether to arbitrate or not?
The risks of fee litigation and fee arbitration
Attorney-client privilege issues

Earn up to 3.5 MCLE credit hours in Ethics

Ethics for Corporate Lawyers 2013

Tue, 17 Dec 2013 19:00:00 GMT

Join us for a unique interactive program where we will review scenarios and quiz you on the ethical implications. You will learn about:

Reach of the duty of confidentiality and the obligation of disclosure of mistakes
Misrepresentation, fraudulent nondisclosure and omissions
Responsibilities of the firm/legal department, supervising, and subordinate attorneys for an attorney’s ethical lapse
Discovery: use of social media, recording conversations and representing third-party witnesses
The execution of documents
The duty of civility

Earn two MCLE credit hours in Ethics

Pro Bono Real Estate Overview: Equity, Mortgage, and Foreclosure Issues (Free)

Mon, 16 Dec 2013 17:00:00 GMT

Mark Your Calendar. More Information to Come!

Ethical Issues in Pro Bono Representation 2013 (Free)

Mon, 16 Dec 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Using a lively, interactive format, Ethical Issues in Pro Bono Representation 2013 will examine everyday issues of ethics and professional responsibility in pro bono and public interest practice.
Within the context of pro bono representation, using “all-new” hypotheticals as the basis of discussion, this program will review issues concerning:

The attorney-client relationship
Who is the client?
Client misconduct
Confidentiality, conflicts of interest and privilege
Dealing with pro se adversaries and other third parties
Representing clients with diminished capacity
Ethical issues faced by firm and in-house counsel undertaking pro bono activities

Non-Practicing Entity Patent Litigation 2013: Plaintiff and Defense Perspectives

Thu, 12 Dec 2013 17:00:00 GMT

Mark Your Calendar. More Information to Come!

Coping With U.S. Export Controls 2013

Thu, 12 Dec 2013 14:00:00 GMT

It is more important than ever for institutions in all sectors of the economy to stay on top of export control and sanctions developments in the United States and other countries. Companies and financial institutions must be aware of their obligations under existing laws and regulations, the enforcement and disclosure risks they currently face, and those they may face in the future. Implementing and strengthening compliance programs is an increasingly important priority in all industries.

For over twenty years, PLI’s Coping with U.S. Export Controls has been the go-to program on trade control laws and regulations. The program enables attendees to “get inside” international trade controls through give-and-take between key officials from the government agencies that regulate cross-border trade and investment, experienced company managers and top lawyers in the field.

Export control reform: scope, status and implementation at the Departments of Commerce, State and Defense
Economic sanctions policy: Iran, Syria, Sudan, Burma and Cuba
Scope of end-use controls for China and managing compliance risk
Implementation of new authorities for retaliatory sanctions
Requirements and best practices for Iran-related SEC disclosure obligations
Multilateral trade control developments
Lessons from recent leading cases in trade control enforcement
Enforcement and voluntary disclosures: penalties and enforcement policies
Compliance programs: how to design and implement an effective and efficient system

Plus - register for this program and receive complimentary access to a One-Hour Audio Briefing on the Basics of Export Controls the week prior to the program.

Understanding the Securities Laws 2013

Thu, 12 Dec 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Whether you are new to the field or seeking a quick refresher or an update, this is a securities law primer that you won’t want to miss. This program will provide an overview and discussion of the basic aspects of the U.S. federal securities laws by leading in-house and law firm practitioners and key SEC representatives. Emphasis will be placed on the interplay among the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, and related SEC regulations, and on how securities lawyers can solve practical problems that arise under them in the context of public and private offerings, SEC reporting, mergers and acquisitions, and other common corporate transactions.

Overview of the integrated disclosure system and the regulatory scheme as a whole, including annual reporting obligations and common triggers of the “duty to disclose”
Registering securities under the Securities Act and exemptions from registration, including recent and proposed changes resulting from the JOBS Act
Reporting under the Exchange Act on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and how the JOBS Act changes that
Regulation of proxy solicitations, including recent rule changes and scaled executive compensation disclosure for “emerging growth companies”
Securities issues confronting corporate “insiders,” including Section 16 reporting and liability, and guidance regarding 10b5-1 trading plans
Liability for securities law violations, including insider trading
Derivatives and structured products - the basics
Securities law issues triggered by M&A and other common corporate transactions
Labor and employment issues, FCPA issues, cyber-security and other substantive areas with ethical implications (1 hour ethics credit)
Other public company disclosure issues

Special Feature

Earn up to one full hour of Ethics credit

Banking Law Institute 2013

Wed, 11 Dec 2013 14:00:00 GMT

2013 will be a watershed year for the financial services industry. Many of the most significant regulatory changes flowing from the Dodd-Frank Act will be finalized and adopted, affecting everything from capital levels and consumer lending practices to executive compensation and asset management. Compliance expectations and enforcement actions will continue to increase. At the same time, the continuing economic challenges facing the industry will begin to usher in a new era of consolidation and restructuring. In this environment, it is more critical than ever for bankers and counsel who practice in the financial services industry to understand the changing rules and enforcement priorities and the business trends that are transforming the financial services industry.

At this year’s Banking Law Institute our expert faculty will provide you with a comprehensive overview of these emerging issues and the challenges facing industry participants and regulators, and provide insight into the future direction of the new legal and regulatory environment.

Explore key issues and implications of the new rulemakings
Hear how industry players are changing their operations in response to current and anticipated regulatory developments
Survey the changing landscape of M&A in the post-reform era
Evaluate the scope and focus of likely rulemakings and enforcement priorities of the key regulatory agencies
Understand the new capital and liquidity requirements and their effects on U.S. and foreign banking organizations

Open Source and Free Software 2013: Benefits, Risks and Challenges

Wed, 11 Dec 2013 17:00:00 GMT

This program will address the critical issues that IP, technology and business lawyers need to consider when handling open source software in today’s economy. Armed with this information, you will be better able to help your clients make intelligent choices and decisions about how to take advantage of the benefits and manage the risks presented by open source software.

What is open source software? Why is it so important?
Understand open source licenses in the context of real-life issues
Get guidance on how to analyze an open source license and its key provisions
Learn about patents and standards in an open source world
Navigate new business models based on open source software
Get guidelines for effective open source development business practices

Special Feature

Earn one hour of Ethics credit

Understanding the Intellectual Property License 2013

Mon, 09 Dec 2013 17:00:00 GMT

Licensing can be used to gain access to intellectual property at a lower cost than developing or purchasing intellectual property assets, and as a way of generating new sources of revenue out of existing intellectual property assets. Companies are increasingly turning to licensing because it offers valuable economic and strategic opportunities. Virtually every business today must confront licensing issues and, therefore, a solid base of knowledge about licensing has never been more important for companies and their counsel. This introductory course will give you an overview of how to negotiate and draft effective license agreements, whether you are the licensor or licensee. Experts in licensing will discuss different kinds of licensing agreements, and the business and legal issues related to them.

Fundamentals of a copyright license
Negotiating tips and effective drafting techniques
Key provisions and practical considerations in trademark licensing
Important differences between patent and other technology licenses
Understanding software and open source licenses
Rights of publicity and entertainment licensing
Drafting considerations related to protection and enforcement of rights internationally
Addressing antitrust issues in licensing
Treatment of IP licenses under bankruptcy law
How licensing can generate new revenue
Hear from a litigator what happens when the agreement has to be enforced

Special Features:

Earn one hour of Ethics credit
Instructive mock negotiation of a license agreement

Nuts and Bolts of Corporate Bankruptcy 2013

Mon, 09 Dec 2013 14:00:00 GMT

While the economy continues to recover, businesses across a wide array of industries remain in financial distress, and attorneys of all levels and practice areas will benefit from knowing how to best advise clients facing financial challenges. This program, taught by experts in the field, including bankruptcy judges and long-time practitioners, will cover the cycle of a corporate bankruptcy from start to finish. From learning how the bankruptcy system works to exploring alternatives besides bankruptcy, this program will equip you with the essential foundation you need to spot the issues, whether you are just starting out in your career or thinking about broadening your practice area to include this field. Come away with practice tips and strategies every bankruptcy attorney needs to guide their clients through this complicated process, and find out what questions to ask.

Overview of the bankruptcy system
Options available to distressed companies and knowing when they should consider bankruptcy or reorganization
The players in bankruptcy law and their important functions: debtor in possession, trustee, creditors’ committee, examiner, and chief restructuring officer
Practice tips: counseling clients effectively
Timing is everything: what is the timeline for bankruptcy filings and what are the steps involved?
Collection enforcement actions against a company that files Chapter 11
Secured claims and claim priorities
Bankruptcy and unexpired leases, executory, and other contracts
Avoiding powers: preferences and fraudulent transfers and how to prosecute and defend them
The Chapter 11 Plan
Procedural requirements for debtors, creditors and their attorneys in bankruptcy
Employment and compensation requirements for bankruptcy professionals
Exiting bankruptcy: the company after bankruptcy

Special Feature

Earn one hour of Ethics credit

Environmental Regulation 2013: Hot Topics, Regulatory Developments, and Practical Guidance for Corporate Compliance

Fri, 06 Dec 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Join PLI and senior government officials for a detailed discussion of what will be the focal point of national environmental policy in 2013 - EPA’s promulgation, enforcement, and defense of its environmental regulations and the courts’ decisions on challenges to EPA’s regulatory actions. We will provide incisive analysis of the new regulatory requirements and their compliance implications.

Seasoned practitioners, senior government officials and experienced environmental consultants will provide practical advice for addressing and managing corporate compliance with new environmental regulatory developments. Questions you have about environmental regulatory issues will be answered by the faculty.
ALL NEW!

EPA’s current climate change regulatory scheme, from new statutory and regulatory requirements to recent guidance and court decisions
Crisis management - how to handle an environmental disaster or an unannounced agency inspection
Recent trends in Superfund litigation regarding apportionment and divisibility
The most current vapor intrusion and stormwater runoff requirements and guidance
Complying with environmental disclosure requirements in SEC filings
Practical implications of ethical rules in the environmental context

Special Feature

Earn one hour of Ethics credit

Annual Disclosure Documents 2013

Thu, 05 Dec 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Full, fair and timely communications to investors and the financial markets is a cornerstone of effective corporate governance and investor relations. As you prepare your annual disclosure documents, hear from our experienced faculty, including SEC staff, in-house counsel, private practitioners, and compensation and corporate governance advisers. Our faculty will discuss key areas of staff comment, staff review priorities and interpretations, disclosure drivers and best practices, and “must know” accounting developments affecting financial disclosures. The discussions also will cover implementation of Dodd-Frank Act, JOBS Act and other SEC rulemaking; disclosure and corporate governance developments and best practices; compensation committee and adviser independence and other executive compensation issues and trends; insider sales of company securities, including rule 10b5-1 plans; domestic and international economic, political and regulatory uncertainties and developments; cybersecurity; and ethics and whistleblower requirements that further challenge both in-house and outside counsel.

Practical how-to guidance on drafting annual disclosure and proxy documents
SEC staff, FASB and PCAOB developments affecting financial disclosures
Updates on current hot topic executive compensation disclosures and requirements
Updates on various SEC rulemaking initiatives
Practical guidance on communicating with investors and holding a successful annual meeting
Updates on the 2013 shareholder proposal season; what to expect for 2014
Impact of social media on disclosure practices
Insider trading update, including rule 10b5-1 plans

Special Feature

Earn one hour of Ethics credit

Telecommunications Policy & Regulation Institute (31st Annual)

Thu, 05 Dec 2013 14:00:00 GMT

The leading conference on telecommunications and broadband law and regulation is back again this December in Washington, D.C. This premier program provides attendees with up-to-the-minute information regarding the current legal challenges facing the telecommunications industry today - at the FCC, Congress, and within the Executive and Judicial branches.

Featuring an impressive faculty of leading practitioners, in-house counsel from telecommunications organizations, and senior officials from the FCC and the Administration, the Institute will review critical trends and the latest developments across wireless and wireline telecommunications, broadband Internet, and international issues. The Institute also concentrates on industry competition, convergence and consolidation. Co-sponsored by the Practising Law Institute and the Federal Communications Bar Association, the Institute is perfect for those looking to learn what legal pitfalls lay ahead for telecommunications practitioners in 2014!

Featured Speakers and Q&A: FCC Commissioners and senior government officials will answer your questions; this year’s program will include additional time for Q&A
Critical updates in wireline and wireless industries
Hot topics on the legislative front from current Capitol Hill staffers
Comprehensive technology overview from a senior policy maker
Spirited debate on a hot button telecommunications issue

Special Features

Commissioners and Bureau Chiefs from the Federal Communications Commission
Networking Luncheon including a special guest speaker

New Developments in Securitization 2013

Thu, 05 Dec 2013 14:00:00 GMT

As the securitization industry emerges from the financial crisis, it faces an onslaught of new regulation and uncertainty. Many transactions have been downgraded and have suffered unforeseeable losses. Additionally, investor confidence in structured products has been badly shaken. Moreover, many transactions have been subject to restructurings and litigation of various types. Will these reforms be sufficient to restore investor confidence?

At this program, you will receive an intensive and comprehensive introduction and update on what solutions are being pursued in the market, and what legislative and regulatory actions and initiatives are underway.

Learn about new legislative and regulatory developments:
- Financial regulatory, securitization and derivatives reform, including Dodd-Frank implementation and rulemaking, and Reg AB II
- FDIC securitization safe harbor reforms
- FAS 166/167 and other accounting changes
- The impact of Basel III
- Rating agency reform; changes in rating agency criteria
- Structured products litigation update
Learn about solutions being pursued in the market and new areas of opportunity:
- Resurgent asset classes and related opportunities
- Vehicle restructurings
- Other financing options
- Resolving disputes between classes of the same issue
- Government sponsored and esoteric ABS

Bridge-the-Gap II: Ethics and Skills for Newly Admitted New York Attorneys 2013

Wed, 04 Dec 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Newly admitted attorneys in New York State are required, during each of their first two years after admission to the Bar, to complete at least 16 transitional CLE credit hours in ethics and professionalism, skills, and law practice management and/or areas of professional practice.

By attending one of PLI’s two-day Bridge-the-Gap programs, you can satisfy all of your annual MCLE requirements for newly admitted attorneys.

By attending one of PLI’s one-day Bridge-the-Gap programs, you can fulfill your ethics and skills requirements and can satisfy the professional practice and law practice management MCLE requirements at other programs.

PLI’s Bridge-the-Gap I and II: Ethics and Skills for Newly Admitted New York Attorneys include different course offerings, and may be taken in either order.

Tax Strategies for Corporate Acquisitions, Dispositions, Spin-Offs, Joint Ventures, Financings, Reorganizations & Restructurings 2013

Wed, 04 Dec 2013 16:30:00 GMT

This three-day program will focus on the tax issues presented by the entire spectrum of modern major corporate transactions, from relatively simple single-buyer acquisitions of a division or subsidiary to multi-party joint ventures, cross-border mergers, and complex acquisitions of public companies with domestic and foreign operations, including spin-offs and other dispositions of unwanted operations. Evolving techniques for structuring, financing, and refinancing corporate turnovers and other activities will be emphasized, with particular attention being paid to consolidated return issues, to financially troubled businesses, to the role of new financial products and the effects of the evolving economic substance and business purpose doctrine, and to selected current issues in mergers and acquisitions, including the effects of recent legislation on executive compensation.
Major Topics & Special Features Include:

Tax accounting issues in mergers and acquisitions
Section 338(h)(10) strategies
Corporate tax strategies and techniques using partnerships and LLCs
Strategies for private equity
Structuring buyouts/venture capital deals
Current issues in tax-free and partially tax-free acquisitive reorganizations
Current issues in divisive strategies – spin-offs, split-offs and split-ups
Recent strategies for financially troubled businesses and other loss companies
“Cross-border” mergers and other international issues
Interesting corporate transactions of the past year
Issues and strategies in corporate financings and refinancings
Exploring the limits of the evolving economic substance and business purpose doctrines
Ethical and practice issues raised by recent tax shelter regulations and legislation and by Circular 230
Consolidated return planning and strategies under the new regulations

Advanced Venture Capital 2013

Tue, 03 Dec 2013 17:00:00 GMT

At this program, our expert faculty of lawyers, venture capitalists and business executives will analyze the legal and business issues relevant to navigating today’s evolving venture capital world.

Geared toward the experienced venture capital practitioner who knows the basics of venture capital and is seeking an in-depth analysis of current market conditions and the changing legal environment, this program will also address the latest financing trends, current deal terms, exit strategies and the legal and practical implications of the new securities laws on the venture capital market.

State of the industry: update on recent developments, including new fund formation, investment trends and regulatory developments
Recent trends in seed stage and venture capital financing terms
Crowdsourcing capital and crowdfunding developments
Corporate governance issues in venture-backed companies
Corporate spinouts, corporate partnering, and alternative financing deal structures and issues
International and emerging markets investing
Venture-backed company M&A exits and IPOs

Special Feature

Earn a half hour of Ethics credit

PLI's California MCLE Marathon 2013: Current Developments in Legal Ethics - Substance Abuse - Elimination of Bias in the Profession

Mon, 02 Dec 2013 17:00:00 GMT

Satisfy all of California’s MCLE special requirements at this fast-paced and up-to-the-minute program. If your last name begins with a letter from N through Z, your MCLE compliance deadline of February 1, 2014 is fast approaching.

The MCLE Marathon, taught by a faculty of outstanding California lawyers and other professionals who are recognized leaders in their field, will conveniently provide all of the California required subjects that you need:

Four hours of legal ethics
One hour of prevention, detection and treatment of substance abuse or mental illness that impairs professional competence
One hour of elimination of bias in the legal profession

You can access the live Webcast from your home or office computer and still receive participatory credit. Or you can schedule a Groupcast in your office to make the MCLE required subjects credit available to all your attorneys facing the deadline. If you need more credits to meet your 25-hour total by the deadline, go to www.pli.edu for a full list of upcoming live and On-Demand web programs. Both live and On-Demand web programs qualify for participatory MCLE credit.

How to overcome new challenges in protecting privilege and confidentiality
Strategies to resolve conflicting ethical responsibilities of various jurisdictions
Master recent developments in the law governing attorneys
Techniques to recognize and deal with stress and substance abuse in the legal profession
Opportunities to eliminate bias in the legal profession

Special Feature

Earn four hours of Ethics credit

Annual Disclosure Documents 2013

Mon, 02 Dec 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Practical how-to guidance on drafting annual disclosure and proxy documents
SEC staff, FASB and PCAOB developments affecting financial disclosures
Updates on current hot topic executive compensation disclosures and requirements
Updates on various SEC rulemaking initiatives
Practical guidance on communicating with investors and holding a successful annual meeting
Updates on the 2013 shareholder proposal season; what to expect for 2014
Impact of social media on disclosure practices
Insider trading update, including rule 10b5-1 plans

Special Feature

Earn one hour of Ethics credit

Commercial Real Estate Institute (15th Annual)

Thu, 21 Nov 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Commercial real estate fundamentals (rents and vacancy rates and development activity), although slow, are visibly recovering, with REITs outperforming other asset classes. Practitioners with a broad skill set will find it easier to achieve and maintain a viable real estate practice in this environment, given the general economy’s downward pressures on tenant retention, rental growth, development revenue, refinancing and asset values. This program helps practicing attorneys enhance traditional transactional skills, and develop workout and enforcement skills, so that they can help their clients regain their footing more quickly.

Negotiating purchases and sales, and closing complex commercial transactions in this new environment
Dealing with more cautious lenders and finding the right lending balance
Issues in availability of title coverage in a more consolidated title industry
Discussion of real estate litigation in a nutshell: from foreclosures to evictions

Plus

Land use and environmental issues affecting real estate deals
Greening leases and integrated project delivery construction contracts
The latest in ethics considerations for real estate practitioners
and much more practical advice from experienced attorneys in the nation’s leading law firms!

Special Feature

Earn one hour of Ethics credit

Trial by Jury 2013

Wed, 20 Nov 2013 14:00:00 GMT

From opening statements to closing arguments, the jury trial is a unique and essential part of our system of justice. Whether you are just embarking on a career as a trial attorney or are very familiar with the inside of a courtroom, this course will give you valuable insights into jury trials and the best way to handle them. We’ve assembled some of the most experienced and respected state and federal judges, as well as many distinguished litigators, to give you their perspectives on jury trials.

Come spend the day with the attorneys who try the nation’s most important cases and the judges who preside over them. Our stellar faculty will provide you with proven strategies and tools to successfully handle every phase of a jury case.
Join the masters of the courtroom to learn about:

Selecting the best possible jury for your case
Delivering a persuasive opening statement
Communicating your strongest case through effective direct examination
Conducting a successful cross-examination
Making a compelling closing argument
Addressing the ethical issues that arise during jury trials

Special Features

Get the “View from the Bench” you won’t hear anywhere else: each panel includes the most experienced and respected judges sharing their perspectives on various stages of jury trials
Earn one hour of Ethics credit
Earn Skills credits

Tax Strategies for Corporate Acquisitions, Dispositions, Spin-Offs, Joint Ventures, Financings, Reorganizations & Restructurings 2013

Tue, 19 Nov 2013 14:30:00 GMT

Tax accounting issues in mergers and acquisitions
Section 338(h)(10) strategies
Corporate tax strategies and techniques using partnerships and LLCs
Strategies for private equity
Structuring buyouts/venture capital deals
Current issues in tax-free and partially tax-free acquisitive reorganizations
Current issues in divisive strategies – spin-offs, split-offs and split-ups
Recent strategies for financially troubled businesses and other loss companies
“Cross-border” mergers and other international issues
Interesting corporate transactions of the past year
Issues and strategies in corporate financings and refinancings
Exploring the limits of the evolving economic substance and business purpose doctrines
Ethical and practice issues raised by recent tax shelter regulations and legislation and by Circular 230
Consolidated return planning and strategies under the new regulations

Hedge Fund and Private Equity Enforcement and Regulatory Developments Fall 2013

Tue, 19 Nov 2013 14:00:00 GMT

The government’s continued crackdown on insider trading has focused on hedge funds, their consultants and those who analyze and trade for them. Regulators and enforcement officials have now turned their sights to conflicts of interest, valuation, cross-trades, expense and trade allocation, and fee practices. Following new registration requirements under Dodd-Frank, private equity firms are under examination scrutiny by the SEC, and according to senior regulatory officials, the number of enforcement investigations and cases involving them are likely to increase. At the same time, new CFTC rules under Dodd-Frank abound, and with the agency’s expanded regulatory role and invigorated enforcement department, there are more cases than before affecting a wider range of conduct. With all of this in mind, the role of compliance has never been more important, and private funds are employing new strategies to meet those challenges and risks.

Attend this program to gain expert insights into current and anticipated enforcement, regulatory, legislative and compliance priorities. Our experts, including many from the government, will also analyze and discuss the effects these priorities have and will have on hedge fund managers and their advisers, and provide practical guidance regarding effective compliance strategies going forward.

Examine current SEC, CFTC and other regulatory hedge fund and private equity enforcement and examination priorities
Analyze the risks inherent in using expert research networks and the red flags government investigators look for with respect to advisers that use them
Understand how to identify and effectively manage conflicts of interest inherent from managing different clients, investors and products under the same private fund umbrella
Learn how best to prepare for an SEC private fund examination and what the examiners will expect and ask for when they walk through the door
Discuss best methods for constructing effective compliance programs to prioritize and guard against regulatory risk
Evaluate legislative and regulatory developments affecting hedge and private equity funds

Special Feature

Earn one hour of Ethics credit

Advanced Compliance and Ethics Workshop 2013

Mon, 18 Nov 2013 17:00:00 GMT

Legal drivers for corporate compliance and ethics programs have continued to grow in complexity and importance in recent years. The costs of non-compliance have never been greater. Indeed, five of the ten largest corporate criminal fines in U.S. history were imposed or agreed to in 2012 alone. And harsh penalties — both against business organizations and individuals — are increasingly becoming the norm outside the U.S. Moreover, the whistleblower provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act have underscored in a broad way the general importance of compliance programs to effective mitigation.

Leading experts in the field will discuss current developments, heightened standards, and practical tips on how to ensure that your company’s compliance and ethics program satisfies increasingly rigorous standards. Learn about the latest and most effective approaches to key compliance and ethics program areas such as risk assessment, program structure and management, training and other communications, auditing and monitoring, helpline procedures and implementation, and how to keep senior management and the board informed about and contributing to the program.

How to satisfy the Sentencing Guidelines’ definition of an effective compliance and ethics program - a test used by the Justice Department in determining whether to indict companies under investigation for federal offense
How companies are responding to the whistleblower provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act
The most important international developments concerning anti-corruption and competition law compliance, including interpretations of the U.K. Bribery Act
The most significant recent developments in U.S. compliance and ethics-related law, including Delaware case law on the Board’s duties of oversight
How to conduct and design compliance risk assessments to obtain the information that your program should have in order to be effective
Training and communications approaches that meet your organization’s needs but don’t break your budget
How to conduct effective compliance auditing, monitoring and self-assessment
How to master the “hard edges” of compliance - investigations and discipline

Negotiating Commercial Leases 2013

Mon, 18 Nov 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Leases can be a primary business asset and also contain landmines of liability. Known as the building blocks of value for all real estate, if leases are written poorly or administered without expertise, they can be the downfall of an otherwise sound real estate investment. This course is not to be missed for anyone who represents users or occupiers of space, or owners as investors in real estate. There’s no disputing the importance of intimately knowing the lease as a multidimensional financial tool, hell or high-water financial instrument, and contract of limitations and regulations. This program will help you to feel truly competent to negotiate these two hundred-plus pages of sophisticated instruments, along with the hidden costs, risk shifting and common law demising. Your company and clients look to you to know the market and local traps, to help them make a “market and fair” deal, and to avoid the unusual or unfair risks. Your client is depending on you to preserve the investment in difficult “risky” times. This program will teach you “what’s hot and what’s not” to help you stay on the “cutting edge” of the current market negotiations. With the market currently improving, and leases becoming more clever and intensive, learning how to stay a step ahead of the commercial leasing market and to fine tune your skills, techniques and strategies is a wise investment of your time.
Many New Topics!

Current market tricks and trends, advice and custom, as well as negotiation strategies for larger cost and greater risk lease clauses and traps
Alternative financial strategies for securing the landlord’s performance and security for owner cash flow obligations under large lease work letters and tenant improvement allowances
Practical application of “Good-Guy/Bad-Guy” off-balance sheet guaranty - hidden backdoor liability
Re-emergence of the “Takeover Lease” and papering the risk and securing the performance
Stemming the trend of transfer to tenant of traditional “Ownership Costs,” including repair, alterations, insurance and compliance responsibilities and how to shift them back to the owners/landlords
Viewing the lease negotiation and retention of counsel through the timeline of practical-based ethical considerations under the ethics codes

Special Feature

Earn one hour of Ethics credit

Think Like a Lawyer, Talk Like a Geek 2013: Get Fluent in Technology

Mon, 18 Nov 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Legal issues arising from technology have become a routine part of many lawyers’ daily practices. Technology issues arise in clients’ daily contracts, business negotiations and litigation. Lawyers, who often have no technical training, are required by court rules to report on their client’s technology infrastructure so that a judge may address electronic discovery issues. The proliferation of technology into every aspect of commerce requires that their counsel understand how the client’s increasingly complex technology works and the legal issues created by these innovations in a client’s business.

The lawyer who understands his or her client’s technology will stand out as a respected counselor who can be given challenging and complex issues. The technology-savvy lawyer will have a decided advantage in negotiating contracts or litigating intellectual property or business issues.

This unique program will present extraordinary sessions combining experienced technology lawyers with industry hi-tech experts. You will hear simple and direct explanations of current technologies.

How cloud computing is displacing traditional software applications
How social networks are monetizing the detailed data they collect
How digital forms of entertainment have displaced other delivery systems
The techniques used by mobile networks to track consumers
The impact of tablets on computer design and manufacture
How every company and individual is a target for international hackers
How digital manufacturing works and the potential for mass customization

Special Feature

Earn Continuing Privacy credit

Securities Filings 2013: Practical Guidance in a Changing Environment

Thu, 14 Nov 2013 15:00:00 GMT

This popular program will analyze in detail the principal forms used for filings with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”), and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), with particular emphasis on the mechanics of and timing for assembling particular filings. Each segment of the program will incorporate practical drafting and disclosure tips. Ethics credit and recent legislation and SEC rule changes affecting disclosure obligations, in particular those resulting from the JOBS Act, will be woven within the topics covered.

Overview of the disclosure cycle and the integrated disclosure system; Regulations S-K, S-X and M-A
Exchange Act registration and reporting, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and more
Securities Act registration statements, including discussion of eligibility, the drafting process, incorporation by reference, “experts,” consents, and “shelf” registration, as well as the new confidential filing process for “emerging growth companies”
Securities Act Section 5 - the communication rules and related filings and how those were and will continue to be affected by the JOBS Act
Broad overview of proxy statements, including when preliminary filings are required, the shareholder proposal process, and year-end timing and filing issues, including the “say-on-pay” rules, new exchange listing standards for compensation committee members, and compensation adviser disclosures
Securities filings used in mergers, acquisitions and other significant corporate transactions
Section 16 filings
Mechanics and implications of risk disclosures in both Securities Act and Exchange Act filings
Review procedures in the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance
Current issues in securities filings resulting from the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, including “conflicts minerals” disclosure

Special Feature

Earn one hour of Ethics credit

The New Pro Bono Standards: Update on the 2013 Model Rule Revisions

Thu, 14 Nov 2013 17:00:00 GMT

Mark Your Calendar. More Information to Come!

Communications Law in the Digital Age 2013

Thu, 14 Nov 2013 13:45:00 GMT

The increasingly digital media environment continues to create new challenges for communications lawyers, and this program, long recognized as the most comprehensive in its field, will highlight the hottest issues and case law facing the industry today. Covering a wide array of topical issues in media, digital communications, First Amendment, intellectual property, and privacy law, this program brings together esteemed experts comprising the country’s leading practitioners and in-house counsel.

Providing you with the strategic and practical knowledge needed to keep apace in this constantly changing practice area, this program is not to be missed.

Electronic media regulation hot topics
Domestic and international privacy and data protection regulatory initiatives
First Amendment update in digital speech and traditional media formats
Reporters privilege and media liability updates
Year in review: recent developments in intellectual property practice
Right of publicity and privacy developments
Social media issues for the communications lawyer

Special Feature

Earn one hour of Ethics credit. Lunch will be provided prior to the presentation.

Open Source and Free Software 2013: Benefits, Risks and Challenges

Wed, 13 Nov 2013 14:00:00 GMT

What is open source software? Why is it so important?
Understand open source licenses in the context of real-life issues
Get guidance on how to analyze an open source license and its key provisions
Learn about patents and standards in an open source world
Navigate new business models based on open source software
Get guidelines for effective open source development business practices

Special Feature

Earn one hour of Ethics credit

Tracking and Targeting Customers and Prospects Online, on Mobile Devices, and in Social Media 2013

Tue, 12 Nov 2013 17:00:00 GMT

Collecting data from and about consumers is now nearly ubiquitous online, in mobile apps, and in social media. Most brands use these data in some way, such as to personalize messages and content, to optimize their sites or apps, or to improve their products, services, and offerings. The data collected are often just anonymous unique identifiers and segments of potential interest, although in the context of social media apps, for example, the information is often personally-identifiable. However, with all of this advancement and revenue at hand - online advertising alone topped $100 billion, for the first time in 2012, while social media and mobile ad spending combined for $22 billion, also new highs - brands and their vendors are operating in a rapidly growing area that continues to lack regulatory certainty in the U.S. and around the world. The FTC has proposed best practices, but sued those that have stepped over the line; state attorneys general have started to do the same; the press has called out companies for data uses that they may not have considered to be improper; the self-regulatory sector continues to innovate; standards bodies are tackling cutting-edge issues such as how to interpret a consumer’s “do-not-track” signal; class action lawyers are as active as they have been in over ten years, and becoming more creative all the time; and regulators around the world are looking to apply new standards to traditional tools like cookies and web beacons. Please join us as leading practitioners and industry experts explore the cutting-edge legal concerns in online tracking and targeting.

How online, mobile, and social media tracking and targeting work from a technical perspective
Hot topics in online privacy law, including advertising in online and mobile apps and social media, how to interpret a “do-not-track” header, and new issues surrounding the use of “big data”
Self-regulatory initiatives
Fact patterns that have resulted in bad PR, government enforcement, and private litigation
How regulators around the world are addressing tracking and targeting
How Chief Privacy Officers at leading companies are handling tracking

Special Features

In-house panel shares practical tips for handling real-world issues
Earn Continuing Privacy credit

Patent Litigation 2013

Mon, 11 Nov 2013 14:00:00 GMT

The ability to identify and appropriately use financial and accounting information is relevant to a wide range of legal and regulatory matters for attorneys and allied professionals. Litigators and transactional attorneys alike will benefit from this practical course designed specifically for non-accountants and taught by members of the nation’s top accounting, tax and advisory firms, leading law firms, in-house counsel and universities.

Key factors shaping financial reporting
Foundational finance, accounting and economics terminology and principles
How to “navigate” and understand the basic financial statements - the balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows and statement of shareholders’ equity
Practical corporate finance concepts, including financial ratios and analysis
The use of valuations in business transactions and fairness opinions, as well as in common claims and defenses in litigation
Strategies for uncovering fraud in financial statements

Special Features

Earn one hour of Ethics credit
Earn Skills credit
Designed specifically for non-accountant attorneys and allied professionals
Case studies and practical examples employed throughout the program

Negotiating Commercial Leases 2013

Thu, 07 Nov 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Current market tricks and trends, advice and custom, as well as negotiation strategies for larger cost and greater risk lease clauses and traps
Alternative financial strategies for securing the landlord’s performance and security for owner cash flow obligations under large lease work letters and tenant improvement allowances
Practical application of “Good-Guy/Bad-Guy” off-balance sheet guaranty - hidden backdoor liability
Re-emergence of the “Takeover Lease” and papering the risk and securing the performance
Stemming the trend of transfer to tenant of traditional “Ownership Costs,” including repair, alterations, insurance and compliance responsibilities and how to shift them back to the owners/landlords
Viewing the lease negotiation and retention of counsel through the timeline of practical-based ethical considerations under the ethics codes

Special Feature

Earn one hour of Ethics credit

Understanding the Intellectual Property License 2013

Thu, 07 Nov 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Fundamentals of a copyright license
Negotiating tips and effective drafting techniques
Key provisions and practical considerations in trademark licensing
Important differences between patent and other technology licenses
Understanding software and open source licenses
Rights of publicity and entertainment licensing
Drafting considerations related to protection and enforcement of rights internationally
Addressing antitrust issues in licensing
Treatment of IP licenses under bankruptcy law
How licensing can generate new revenue
Hear from a litigator what happens when the agreement has to be enforced

Special Features:

Earn one hour of Ethics credit
Instructive mock negotiation of a license agreement

Nonprofit Organizations 2013: Governance, Compensation, and Form 990 Reporting Issues

Wed, 06 Nov 2013 14:00:00 GMT

This program will bring you up-to-date on the latest developments and unique financial and regulatory issues that impact the nonprofit sector.

Financial developments that impact nonprofit organizations
Compensation issues: federal and state statutory framework; what is “reasonable” compensation? Proper financial reporting
Nonprofit governance developments and best practices
Ethical issues
GAAP/TAX for related party reporting

Securities Regulation Institute (45th Annual)

Wed, 06 Nov 2013 14:00:00 GMT

For over four decades, PLI’s Annual Institute has been the premiere conference on securities regulation and corporate governance for lawyers, from new associates to seasoned practitioners. This year’s Institute will once again bring you the nation’s leading securities and corporate legal experts to deliver the practical information, insights and real-world strategies and solutions to the many challenges facing you and your clients today. The Institute’s comprehensive and practice-oriented sessions will ensure that you are on top of the latest developments and trends impacting your practice.

Latest developments in SEC rulemaking
Emerging corporate governance and compensation challenges
How social media can be helpful, or can get you into trouble
Addressing cybersecurity issues
General Counsel insights: roundtable review of real-world scenarios
Critical accounting and auditing developments
Developments in private funds and investment companies
What criminal and civil prosecutors have on their agenda
Practical aspects of defending government enforcement actions
Managing private securities litigation
Handling M&A transactions and dealing with critical issues
Ethical challenges faced by corporate and securities lawyers

Special Features

Get an update from the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance
Receive a practical list of take away points at the conclusion of each panel
Network with hundreds of your colleagues
Earn ethics credits

Commercial Real Estate Institute (15th Annual)

Mon, 04 Nov 2013 17:00:00 GMT

Negotiating purchases and sales, and closing complex commercial transactions in this new environment
Dealing with more cautious lenders and finding the right lending balance
Issues in availability of title coverage in a more consolidated title industry
Discussion of real estate litigation in a nutshell: from foreclosures to evictions

Plus

Land use and environmental issues affecting real estate deals
Greening leases and integrated project delivery construction contracts
The latest in ethics considerations for real estate practitioners
and much more practical advice from experienced attorneys in the nation’s leading law firms!

Special Feature

Earn one hour of Ethics credit

Understanding the Intellectual Property License 2013

Mon, 04 Nov 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Fundamentals of a copyright license
Negotiating tips and effective drafting techniques
Key provisions and practical considerations in trademark licensing
Important differences between patent and other technology licenses
Understanding software and open source licenses
Rights of publicity and entertainment licensing
Drafting considerations related to protection and enforcement of rights internationally
Addressing antitrust issues in licensing
Treatment of IP licenses under bankruptcy law
How licensing can generate new revenue
Hear from a litigator what happens when the agreement has to be enforced

Special Features:

Earn one hour of Ethics credit
Instructive mock negotiation of a license agreement

Pocket MBA Fall 2013: Finance for Lawyers

Mon, 04 Nov 2013 15:00:00 GMT

Key factors shaping financial reporting
Foundational finance, accounting and economics terminology and principles
How to “navigate” and understand the basic financial statements - the balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows and statement of shareholders’ equity
Practical corporate finance concepts, including financial ratios and analysis
The use of valuations in business transactions and fairness opinions, as well as in common claims and defenses in litigation
Strategies for uncovering fraud in financial statements

Special Features

Earn one hour of Ethics credit
Earn Skills credit
Designed specifically for non-accountant attorneys and allied professionals
Case studies and practical examples employed throughout the program

Advocating for Veterans 2013 (Free)

Fri, 01 Nov 2013 16:00:00 GMT

There are over 21 million veterans in the U.S; medical and financial assistance are available to men and women who have served, but some who can qualify are not receiving the benefits that they need. Attorneys can assist veterans with the problems that preclude them from receiving benefits.
Nearly 45% of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan seek compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for service-related injuries. A stunning 30% suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Learn how to navigate the VA claims process and become an effective advocate for veterans in need. You will learn the different types of military discharges, and how you can help veterans with less than Honorable discharges.

Special Feature

Get accredited to represent veterans before the Veterans Administration!

Antitrust Counseling & Compliance 2013

Fri, 01 Nov 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Lawyers counseling businesses must possess a solid foundation in principles of antitrust law and an understanding of the latest antitrust developments. Running afoul of antitrust rules can result in class actions and treble damage litigation as well as government enforcement and adverse publicity. Are you prepared to provide practical answers to the antitrust questions your clients will ask? You will be after attending this program, developed with the purpose of addressing current hot topics in antitrust counseling and compliance along with refreshing practitioners’ understanding of key principles. Covering distribution, marketing, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property licensing, and government enforcement, as well as compliance and ethics topics, this program will offer you practical advice on what works and what doesn’t, and give you the edge you need.

Is it safe today to enter into agreements that restrict resale prices? What about maximum resale prices? How can companies safely use agency agreements, MAP or unilateral price policies?
When are bundled prices, loyalty discounts and exclusive dealing acceptable and when are they problematic?
When can you expect the DOJ to investigate or seek to block a proposed merger? How is the government analyzing mergers and acquisitions under the DOJ/FTC Merger Guidelines?
How can you avoid antitrust risk in intellectual property licenses? What do you need to know when participating in industry “standard setting” or licensing a “standards essential patent”?
What do you need to know about competition law enforcement outside the U.S.? Do you need to worry about enforcement in the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) as well as the EU?
What are the top government enforcement priorities? What should we expect from the new lineup of enforcers at the DOJ and FTC during President Obama’s second term?
Learn how to avoid ethical problems that recur in the antitrust arena

Special Feature

Earn one hour of Ethics credit

Section 1983 Civil Rights Litigation (30th Annual)

Thu, 31 Oct 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Section 1983 authorizes private parties to enforce their federal constitutional rights against state and local officials and municipalities. Section 1983 litigation is typically complex and multifaceted, raising a wide range of substantive and procedural issues. The claims are asserted by alleged victims of police misconduct, prisoners, present and former public employees, and property owners, among others. The cases typically raise issues of federal constitutional interpretation, federal statutory interpretation, and sometimes state law.

At PLI’s 30th Annual Section 1983 Civil Rights Litigation program, a highly accomplished faculty of federal court judges, legal scholars, and plaintiff and defendant practitioners will analyze recent Section 1983 decisions and trends, litigation experiences, and strategies.
PLI’s 30th Annual Section 1983 Civil Rights Litigation will cover a wide range of issues. The subjects expected to be covered include:

In-depth review of the Supreme Court October 2012 Term
Municipal liability developments
Qualified immunity developments
Prosecutorial immunity
Liability of supervisors
Challenges to stops and frisks

Financial Services Industry Regulatory Compliance & Ethics Forum 2013

Wed, 30 Oct 2013 13:00:00 GMT

In the aftermath of the financial crisis and recent scandals, and targeted examination and enforcement scrutiny, financial services firms’ corporate compliance and ethics programs are under intense observation. At this program, attendees will get a solid foundation in the relevant regulatory framework, as well as practical considerations regarding the design and implementation of such programs. A distinguished faculty of practitioners and regulators will review the major regulations and current examination and enforcement actions to give attendees a multifaceted perspective on requirements and best practices in this area.

Who are the primary regulators and how do they interact?
How are conflicts of interest identified and resolved?
What practical considerations should be taken into account with respect to the integration of a compliance program within a financial services firm?
What is the role of the Chief Compliance Officer and counsel advisingthe CCO?
What are the major areas typically handled by financial services firms’ corporate compliance programs? Including AML, the Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act, privacy, and codes of conduct
What is the role of the lawyer and compliance officer with respect to risk assessments?

Special Feature

Earn one hour of Ethics credit

Securities Filings 2013: Practical Guidance in a Changing Environment

Mon, 28 Oct 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Overview of the disclosure cycle and the integrated disclosure system; Regulations S-K, S-X and M-A
Exchange Act registration and reporting, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and more
Securities Act registration statements, including discussion of eligibility, the drafting process, incorporation by reference, “experts,” consents, and “shelf” registration, as well as the new confidential filing process for “emerging growth companies”
Securities Act Section 5 - the communication rules and related filings and how those were and will continue to be affected by the JOBS Act
Broad overview of proxy statements, including when preliminary filings are required, the shareholder proposal process, and year-end timing and filing issues, including the “say-on-pay” rules, new exchange listing standards for compensation committee members, and compensation adviser disclosures
Securities filings used in mergers, acquisitions and other significant corporate transactions
Section 16 filings
Mechanics and implications of risk disclosures in both Securities Act and Exchange Act filings
Review procedures in the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance
Current issues in securities filings resulting from the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, including “conflicts minerals” disclosure

Special Feature

Earn one hour of Ethics credit

Outsourcing 2013: Sourcing Critical Services

Mon, 28 Oct 2013 13:00:00 GMT

The year 2013 brings new risks and new opportunities for companies sourcing or providing critical services, including information technology, finance and accounting, human resources, facilities management, analytics and other critical non-core functions. There are new technologies, such as Big Data and cloud computing. There are new laws and regulations, and in more and more countries. Also, cloud computing and other innovations have created new issues under existing privacy and other laws. Fortunately, there are also new and better approaches to negotiating agreements for critical services and achieving compliance in an increasingly complex ecosystem, even in multi-sourced and multijurisdictional transactions. This conference brings together legal experts from both suppliers and customers to discuss the key legal areas in today’s sourcing deals and provides practical guidance so that lawyers can create value in advising clients on sourcing transactions.

How you can add value in every phase of the outsourcing life cycle
Hot topics and trends: Big Data, cloud computing, and more
How to comply with privacy and data security regulations and address issues arising out of cloud computing
Practical insights about the competing perspectives of customers and suppliers, and the challenges they face
Key provisions in a master services agreement for sourcing critical services
Offensive and defensive IP strategies to avoid traps and unanticipated results from new technology
Special issues and provisions to maximize value in multi-country sourcing
What can go wrong, and how to avoid common pitfalls

Special Features

Earn one hour of Ethics credit
Mock negotiation of an outsourcing agreement

Commercial Real Estate Institute (15th Annual)

Mon, 28 Oct 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Negotiating purchases and sales, and closing complex commercial transactions in this new environment
Dealing with more cautious lenders and finding the right lending balance
Issues in availability of title coverage in a more consolidated title industry
Discussion of real estate litigation in a nutshell: from foreclosures to evictions

Plus

Land use and environmental issues affecting real estate deals
Greening leases and integrated project delivery construction contracts
The latest in ethics considerations for real estate practitioners
and much more practical advice from experienced attorneys in the nation’s leading law firms!

Special Feature

Earn one hour of Ethics credit

Advanced Patent Licensing 2013: Current Developments and Best Practices

Fri, 25 Oct 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Mark Your Calendar. More Information to Come!

Advanced Compliance and Ethics Workshop 2013

Thu, 24 Oct 2013 13:00:00 GMT

How to satisfy the Sentencing Guidelines’ definition of an effective compliance and ethics program - a test used by the Justice Department in determining whether to indict companies under investigation for federal offense
How companies are responding to the whistleblower provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act
The most important international developments concerning anti-corruption and competition law compliance, including interpretations of the U.K. Bribery Act
The most significant recent developments in U.S. compliance and ethics-related law, including Delaware case law on the Board’s duties of oversight
How to conduct and design compliance risk assessments to obtain the information that your program should have in order to be effective
Training and communications approaches that meet your organization’s needs but don’t break your budget
How to conduct effective compliance auditing, monitoring and self-assessment
How to master the “hard edges” of compliance - investigations and discipline

Understanding the Securities Laws 2013

Thu, 24 Oct 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Overview of the integrated disclosure system and the regulatory scheme as a whole, including annual reporting obligations and common triggers of the “duty to disclose”
Registering securities under the Securities Act and exemptions from registration, including recent and proposed changes resulting from the JOBS Act
Reporting under the Exchange Act on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and how the JOBS Act changes that
Regulation of proxy solicitations, including recent rule changes and scaled executive compensation disclosure for “emerging growth companies”
Securities issues confronting corporate “insiders,” including Section 16 reporting and liability, and guidance regarding 10b5-1 trading plans
Liability for securities law violations, including insider trading
Derivatives and structured products - the basics
Securities law issues triggered by M&A and other common corporate transactions
Labor and employment issues, FCPA issues, cyber-security and other substantive areas with ethical implications (1 hour ethics credit)
Other public company disclosure issues

Special Feature

Earn up to one full hour of Ethics credit

Representing the Games Industry Client 2013

Wed, 23 Oct 2013 16:00:00 GMT

The interactive games industry is expanding with blinding speed. The nature of the products, delivery platforms, economic models, regulatory considerations, key players, content and financing issues are all inter-related parts of a big picture. This from an industry that was virtually unknown thirty years ago! Intellectual property, including videogames, has become one of America’s leading exports in the 21st Century. The emergence of the Internet, Facebook and other social platforms and destinations, and Apple iOS, Android, tablet computers, and other digital delivery vehicles; the explosive growth of casual and social gaming; and the emergence of games of chance as a potential new and fertile area for growth have broadened the reach and audiences for games far beyond teens with their videogame consoles and personal computers. Any lawyer who represents creators of content, developers of technology or other intellectual property should have a basic understanding of current business and legal issues and practices in this dynamic field.

The parties to the deal - multiple interests are the norm
Understanding and negotiating key IP issues
Deal terms found in every developer-publisher game development negotiation
Licensing developer “tools and tech”
Termination clauses in game development contracts
Subcontracting and outsourcing: securing sufficient IP rights
Monetizing games - a developer’s and a publisher’s view of the issue
Defining the category of “Social Games”
Monetizing “free to play”
Contests and promotions - what is legal and what is not?
Games of skill vs. games of chance: when are your games violating anti-gambling laws?
Privacy issues and social games: the current FTC regulatory environment
California state enforcement actions under CalOPPA
Does your online privacy policy meet the latest requirements? Update on marketing to children (COPPA)
Protection of Personally Identifiable Information - what is required?
Financing start-up developers and publishers

Broker/Dealer Regulation and Enforcement 2013

Wed, 23 Oct 2013 13:00:00 GMT

The Dodd-Frank Act - frequently described as the most sweeping reform legislation in decades - and the contemplated, proposed or final rules implementing it, have significant implications for broker-dealers. The concurrent proliferation of new regulation and record-breaking enforcement activity by the DOJ, SEC, CFTC, states and SROs have created a strained and overburdened environment for legal and compliance personnel. This program brings together a distinguished faculty of regulators, industry experts and leading practitioners to discuss issues that will help you keep up with the changing landscape of the business and its regulatory oversight.

Current regulatory issues being addressed by the regulators
Current examination and enforcement priorities of the SEC, CFTC, SROs and state regulators
Major criminal cases impacting broker-dealers
In-house lawyers’ and compliance officers’ regulatory and enforcement challenges, and their strategies and best tips for minimizing regulatory exposure

Employment Law Institute 2013

Mon, 21 Oct 2013 13:00:00 GMT

PLI’s annual Employment Law Institute combines a comprehensive review of case law and regulatory developments, an in-depth analysis of emerging issues, and best practices to maximize employment law compliance, mitigate legal risk and achieve business objectives. The faculty is comprised of nationally recognized management and plaintiffs’ attorneys, in-house counsel and government enforcement agency officials who share their perspectives, insights and experiences.

The Year-in-Review: the important federal and state case law and regulatory developments, including an update on new developments in the arbitration of statutory claims
Government agencies’ focus - hear from the source about current priorities
Latest wage and hour developments
Recent developments under the ADA/ADAAA, including an all-new panel on employer assessments and accommodation of mental disorders
Managing leaves of absence: FMLA, ADA, Workers’ Compensation and other types of leave
NLRB current controversies and labor law in the non-unionized workplace
The virtual workplace: risks and opportunities
Social media and privacy in the workplace
Retaliation and whistleblower claims: legal and practical issues
Views from the bench - litigating employment law cases

Special Feature

Earn one hour of Ethics credit

California Trial Evidence 2013

Mon, 21 Oct 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Mark Your Calendar. More Information to Come!

Advanced Swaps & Other Derivatives 2013

Thu, 17 Oct 2013 13:00:00 GMT

The Dodd-Frank Act establishes a novel, comprehensive framework for the regulation of over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives and the market participants who transact in these products. The far-reaching effect of the Dodd-Frank Act upon the OTC markets is only now becoming clear.

The new regulatory regime touches the activities of all participants in the swaps markets, from end users to major swap participants to swap dealers. The new regulations will also affect a broad range of market facilities from clearinghouses to exchanges, to newly conceived swap execution facilities and swap data repositories.

At this program, our distinguished faculty will provide a comprehensive overview of the new regulatory framework for OTC derivatives and derivatives market participants, and explain how the new regulatory framework will affect these products, the structure of the market for these products, and market participants. The program will also cover documentation issues, and recent developments in tax, accounting and litigation related to OTC derivatives, as well as professional responsibility issues associated with derivatives.

Who is required to register and as what?
How is cross-border activity covered under the new regulatory framework?
What are the new mandatory clearing and trading requirements?
What are the new reporting requirements?
Who must be regulated as a swap execution facility?
What are the new margin requirements and to whom do they apply?
When must swap dealers be registered as futures commission merchants?

Special Feature

Earn one hour of Ethics credit

Fundamental of Swaps & Other Derivatives 2013

Wed, 16 Oct 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives are key elements in many of our financial markets. The Dodd-Frank Act is substantially changing how these important instruments are regulated and transacted. This program will introduce you to both the instruments and their new environment.

A derivative is a financial instrument that allocates the risks and price exposures associated with a designated reference asset or entity between the parties thereto. Derivatives can provide price exposure or price insulation to changes in the price or level of an open-ended range of assets or baskets of assets, including indices, stocks, interest rates, currencies, bonds, commodities, insured risks, credit risks, investment funds, property, the weather and more. Derivatives are used in an infinite variety of ways by commercial, charitable, educational and governmental entities to manage the commercial and financial risks they confront. OTC derivatives have been bilaterally traded for many years. They are now becoming subject, in some cases, to required clearing and possible exchange-type trading. An understanding of the characteristics, documentation and regulation of these instruments is the first step to effective lawyering.

At this program, our distinguished faculty will explain what OTC derivatives have been, what they are becoming and how they are documented. The faculty will also provide an overview of the new regulatory framework for OTC derivatives and OTC derivatives market participants and explain how the new regulatory framework will affect these markets and market participants.

What are OTC derivatives?
What are the basic features of fixed income, credit, equity and commodity swaps?
How are derivatives commonly traded today?
What changes in trading methods are coming?
What is the ISDA Master Agreement and how does it work?
What additional documentation is appearing in response to market changes?
How will OTC derivatives be regulated?

Fundamental of Swaps & Other Derivatives 2013

Wed, 16 Oct 2013 13:00:00 GMT

What are OTC derivatives?
What are the basic features of fixed income, credit, equity and commodity swaps?
How are derivatives commonly traded today?
What changes in trading methods are coming?
What is the ISDA Master Agreement and how does it work?
What additional documentation is appearing in response to market changes?
How will OTC derivatives be regulated?

Tax Strategies for Corporate Acquisitions, Dispositions, Spin-Offs, Joint Ventures, Financings, Reorganizations & Restructurings 2013

Wed, 16 Oct 2013 12:30:00 GMT

Tax accounting issues in mergers and acquisitions
Section 338(h)(10) strategies
Corporate tax strategies and techniques using partnerships and LLCs
Strategies for private equity
Structuring buyouts/venture capital deals
Current issues in tax-free and partially tax-free acquisitive reorganizations
Current issues in divisive strategies – spin-offs, split-offs and split-ups
Recent strategies for financially troubled businesses and other loss companies
“Cross-border” mergers and other international issues
Interesting corporate transactions of the past year
Issues and strategies in corporate financings and refinancings
Exploring the limits of the evolving economic substance and business purpose doctrines
Ethical and practice issues raised by recent tax shelter regulations and legislation and by Circular 230
Consolidated return planning and strategies under the new regulations

Hot Topics in Mergers & Acquisitions 2013

Tue, 15 Oct 2013 13:00:00 GMT

The M&A markets continue to surprise and confound the experts. With the equity markets climbing into record territory in early 2013 and the debt markets continuing to experience favorable pricing, the environment seems ripe for a strong M&A rebound. Yet the M&A market remains choppy. The volatility in deal activity creates challenges and rewards preparedness. Now more than ever, it is critical for dealmakers and their counsel to stay abreast of the latest trends and forecasts. With the presidential election and the fiscal cliff behind us, will the slowly recovering markets of the last year give way to a faster-paced resurgence in 2013? How will buyers and sellers adjust their behavior in response to recent experience? How will economic developments drive merger strategy and tactics? How should companies be preparing for approaches by activists? Join our expert faculty of lawyers, general counsels, regulators and investment bankers as we explore the fascinating state of M&A and the trends you need to be aware of for the year ahead.

Tactics for dealing with activists and proxy advisors
How to navigate the latest developments in Delaware Law
Advising boards of directors based on recent lessons learned
Recent developments in private equity transactions
SEC and antitrust developments

Pocket MBA Fall 2013: Finance for Lawyers

Thu, 10 Oct 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Key factors shaping financial reporting
Foundational finance, accounting and economics terminology and principles
How to “navigate” and understand the basic financial statements - the balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows and statement of shareholders’ equity
Practical corporate finance concepts, including financial ratios and analysis
The use of valuations in business transactions and fairness opinions, as well as in common claims and defenses in litigation
Strategies for uncovering fraud in financial statements

Special Features

Earn one hour of Ethics credit
Earn Skills credit
Designed specifically for non-accountant attorneys and allied professionals
Case studies and practical examples employed throughout the program

Consumer Bankruptcy Cases 2013

Wed, 09 Oct 2013 17:30:00 GMT

This half-day program is targeted at providing legal and practical information for both experienced consumer bankruptcy lawyers, and lawyers who do not regularly practice in this field, but are finding an increasing need to understand Chapter 7 and its related issues. The program will also feature a panel of bankruptcy judges for a dynamic “Views from the Bench” discussion.

From filing to case closing: everything you need to know about the Chapter 7 process for consumer debtors
Troubleshooting: Surprise! Your straightforward no asset Chapter 7 case is not so straightforward. Dealing with the unexpected after the Chapter 7 filing
Giving the money back: trustees seeking recovery of preferential transfers, fraudulent conveyances and unauthorized post-petition transfers
Recent case law and hot topics

California Special Education Law 2013

Wed, 09 Oct 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Currently, approximately 686,000 students with disabilities receive special education services in California, comprising about 10 percent of the state’s public school enrollment. The California Special Education Law Program will provide attendees with an overview of the basics of Special Education Law, as well as an opportunity to hear from experts in the field on the trends and cutting edge issues affecting the practice today.

Basics of special education under IDEA
Differences between the FAPE requirement of IDEA and the program access requirement of Section 504 and Title II of the ADA
Disciplining the special education student
Due process hearing procedures
Recent trends in the areas of enforcement and attorneys’ fees
Access extracurricular activities
Addressing harassment based on disability
Student privacy rights

Patent Litigation 2013

Wed, 09 Oct 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Rapid changes in patent law make it necessary that, whether you are plaintiff’s or defendant’s counsel, you are up-to-date on the current state of the law and can quickly develop successful litigation strategies and tactics. This program is taught by a faculty of both outside and in-house lawyers who have earned national reputations in patent litigation by trying and managing a wide variety of bench and jury patent trials, and provides comprehensive coverage of every phase of a patent lawsuit. Through lecture and demonstration, you will be able to hone your patent litigation skills in just two days.

The program schedule has been totally revised, based on comments from prior year attendees at this popular annual event, and many new sessions have been added to address hot topic developments over the last year.

An expanded opening session focusing on recent case law
An in-depth exploration of growing joint/multiple infringement litigation, including tactics for pursuing or defending indemnity claims
The still-evolving law of the patentability of business methods and what constitutes a business method three years after Bilski
Strategy and tactics in reexamination and post-grant review proceedings, particularly when employed in parallel to district court litigation
The continuing impact of the America Invents Act on patent litigation strategies, including the use of new PTO procedures to strengthen or challenge patents that may be asserted in litigation
Current trends in patent damages in the post-Uniloc environment
The wide-array of pretrial motions relating to: adequacy of pleadings, jurisdiction/venue, evidentiary issues, and substantive issues, that determine where a case will be tried, if a case is tried, what issues will be tried and what evidence will be considered

Special Features

Earn ethics credit
Direct and cross-examination of a technical expert at trial

Hot Issues in Executive Compensation 2013

Tue, 08 Oct 2013 13:00:00 GMT

As the economy shifts and the legislature, SEC and shareholders respond, the design, implementation and disclosure of executive compensation undergoes continual change. At this program, experts in the area - from major corporations, the SEC, the IRS and shareholder activist groups, as well as from leading law, and consulting firms - will lead you through the emerging best practices and the current reactions to the changing landscape.

The latest executive pay trends and developing best practices
Changes in the legal and regulatory landscape
Developing practices under Say-on-Pay regime and proxy-related fiduciary claims
Advising the board and compensation committee: governance considerations and independence rules
Proxy season wrap up
Executive compensation pitfalls under Section 162(m) and Section 409A
Equity compensation practices and considerations
New international developments affecting compensation for multinational corporations

Judges' Pet Peeves 2013: Tips from the Bench on Trial Practice

Mon, 07 Oct 2013 19:00:00 GMT

This program will provide litigators with the unique opportunity to hear from a distinguished panel of judges about how they view communications with the court, trial practice, and how lawyers can help (or sabotage) their cases.
Based on a series of hypotheticals, this year’s panel of state and federal court judges will discuss:

Appropriate civil litigation techniques, including how to build credibility with the court
Effective pleadings
Do's and don’ts of motion practice
Effective written and oral communication with the Court
Conducting discovery
The trial: best practices from the judicial perspective
Civility and ethics issues

Intellectual Property Law Institute 2013

Mon, 07 Oct 2013 16:00:00 GMT

PLI’s Intellectual Property Law Institute is a “must-attend” program for IP lawyers. This program provides a complete analysis of key events in all areas of IP, providing updates on cases, legislation and government agency developments that IP lawyers need to know.

A highlight of the program will be a panel of in-house IP counsel from prominent companies discussing the many facets of current interest for dealing with IP and suggesting some best practices and strategies. Plenary sessions will treat the antitrust-IP interface; whether copyright has become untethered from its constitutional moorings; the interplay among trade dress, design patents, and copyright (and what happened in Apple v. Samsung); trade secrets developments; recent developments in privacy law; a trademark law update; and ethics (one full hour credit).

This year’s program will feature four breakout sessions, each with three current topics that will focus respectively on copyrights, licensing, patents, and trademarks. Among the breakout topics will be discussions of IP licensing in the US, India, and Europe (including developments in the European unitary patent); effects of the AIA on both prosecution and litigation; a copyright update and discussion of grey market law; aesthetic functionality; and trademark licenses in bankruptcy.

The latest changes in the law of patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets
The interplay among trade dress, design patents, and copyright (against the background of Apple v. Samsung)
Developments at the IP-antitrust interface
Perceptible effects of the AIA
Whether copyright is drifting away from its constitutional basis
Updates in privacy law, and why they affect your clients
Significant trade secret developments
Trademark updates

Special Features

In-house panel providing guidance on managing IP
Four separate breakouts
Complete overview of IP law
Earn one hour of Ethics credit

Health Care and Life Sciences Law 2013

Fri, 04 Oct 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Join our expert faculty of health care and life sciences practitioners, in-house counsel, government regulators, and prosecutors as we examine the current state of health care and life sciences law and what the future might hold for affected parties. This program will cover the broad range of issues confronting the health care and life sciences industry: structuring of compliant financial and other relationships; recent developments in scientific discourse and promotional guidelines affecting FDA-regulated companies; and federal and state enforcement of health care fraud and abuse laws, including the federal False Claims Act, the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, the Stark law, and similar state laws.

The legal framework for promoting drugs, biologics, and medical devices
Legal requirements related to off-label promotion
Recent developments in health care law and regulation
Trends in health care fraud enforcement
Best practices for compliance program effectiveness and internal investigations

Techology and Entertainment Convergence 2013: Hot Business and Legal Issues in "Technotainment"

Thu, 03 Oct 2013 13:00:00 GMT

This year’s program includes today’s major legal and business issues in the convergence of entertainment and technology. The program brings together a faculty of experienced in-house lawyers, law firm attorneys and senior business executives on the cutting edge of this burgeoning practice.

The expert faculty will address recent litigation and key cases involving convergence issues, such as the myriad of issues raised by new platforms and new technologies as well as the resulting evolution of entertainment content; recent decisions on digital television, right of publicity, and contributory copyright liability; issues in connection with social media and apps, including privacy issues and the new COPPA rules; and advertising and promotions issues and strategies.

The discussions will also focus on transitions in the entertainment industries, such as TV, film, and games, and the related issues and strategies. Be sure that you are on top of all of the developments and burning legal issues at the intersection of technology and entertainment! You will learn what you need to know to maintain your practice edge by attending this one-day “Technotainment” program.

Convergence trends and relevant technology developments
The evolving entertainment industries, including TV, film and games
Trends in litigation and recent convergence cases
Legal issues in social media and Apps, including privacy issues and best practices
The complex web of agreements needed to develop content for, and to move content to, new platforms
The new COPPA rules and how to implement them
Advertising and promotions in new media

Representing the Pro Bono Client: Advocacy Skills for Administrative Hearings 2013 (Free)

Thu, 03 Oct 2013 16:00:00 GMT

The need for pro bono assistance with administrative hearings has never been higher. The increase trend of employers challenging all Unemployment Benefits claims has been combined with the explosion of UI claims during the recession. The recession and aging of the workforce has resulted in an increase in disability-based Social Security claims. Budget cuts and program changes have created a “perfect storm” for public assistance recipients, and delays in obtaining much needed benefits. Several significant changes to key benefits programs have occurred in recent years, imposing new complex rules. At the same time, county staff has shrunk, and experienced workers retired, increasing the occurrence of administrative errors and problems with client’s receipt of the benefits to which they are entitled. Legal Services also suffered staffing cuts, with reduced ability to represent clients in these cases. Unfortunately, many individuals who are owed desperately needed funds, or who have had their benefits improperly lowered or terminated, cannot make it through the appeals system without the benefit of legal counsel to guide them through the process or to vigorously defend against unlawful actions. As a result, families face the very real possibility of loss of income, hunger, homelessness, and overall family instability.

This training is designed to help mitigate the crisis by providing attorneys with a basic understanding of common issues and strategies in providing assistance with administrative appeals.

The types of administrative hearings low income clients most frequently need
- Special focus on SSI, Unemployment, and Social Services (“welfare”) claims; Labor Commissioner wage claims, occupational licenses
Common advocacy strategies and procedures for administrative hearings
Obtaining evidence
Position statements/hearing briefs
Presenting your case
Rehearings and Appeals

Corporate Counsel Institute 2013

Wed, 02 Oct 2013 13:00:00 GMT

The role of the corporate counsel continues to transform to meet new challenges in relation to an increasingly global economy, recent financial turmoil and continually changing new technologies. It is essential for all corporate counsel to be informed of the latest issues and trends and possess effective, budget-conscious strategies for managing the legal and practical business matters of corporate law departments and adding value to the enterprise.

Legal to add value as a “strategic” asset for your business: making the transition from legal advisor to business advisor
Addressing law department budget challenges
Anticipating regulatory issues and risks, including future areas of focus of the SEC, FSA, DOJ and cybersecurity
Navigating compliance in the new “flat” world: competition, privacy and FCPA
SEC, governance and other hot topics, including: proxy access, shareholder activism and cybersecurity
Litigation trends to watch, including: business cases before the Supreme Court and in state legal systems

Special Features

Lunch with keynote presentation
Network with General Counsel from leading corporations

White Collar Crime 2013: Prosecutors and Regulators Speak

Tue, 01 Oct 2013 13:00:00 GMT

This unique and well-established program, now in its sixth year, will give you the background and tools necessary to deal with white collar cases and civil enforcement actions, and to design and implement effective compliance and risk management strategies. In today’s world, white collar enforcement remains a top priority for the Justice Department, the SEC, and other prosecutors and regulators. As the government targets a wide range of businesses and individuals, prosecutors continue to use aggressive investigative techniques such as wiretaps, search warrants, and confidential informants.

You will hear directly from current and former high-level officials in many of the country’s top enforcement agencies - including the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission - as well as federal judges and leading defense practitioners, about the current and future priorities for the government and the practical implications for your company or clients.

Current enforcement priorities, including an assessment of trends and significant cases over the past year
How changes at the SEC and the DOJ may affect white collar enforcement actions
The reasons the government is attempting to hold individuals accountable, and how to deal with investigations focusing on individuals, as opposed to business organizations
Take-aways and lessons learned from recent white collar trials

Bridge-the-Gap I: Ethics and Skills for Newly Admitted New York Attorneys

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 12:30:00 GMT

New York State MCLE Rules

Attorneys admitted to the New York State Bar after October 1997 are required to complete 16 hours of approved continuing legal education per year during the first two years of admission, including three credit hours in ethics/professionalism, six credit hours in skills, and seven credit hours in professional practice and/or law practice management.

By attending PLI’s one-day Bridge-the-Gap I: Ethics and Skills for Newly Admitted New York Attorneys, you can fulfill your ethics and skills requirements for one year.

Please note the following New York State MCLE Rules, effective January 15, 2002.

Partial Credit - Credit shall be awarded only for attendance at an entire course or program, or for attendance at an entire session of a course or program. No credit shall be awarded for attending a portion of a course or a portion of a session.

Repeat Attendance - No CLE credit hours may be earned for repeating the same course or program, in any format, even if the course or program is repeated in a subsequent reporting cycle.

Corporate Political Activities 2013: Complying With Campaign Finance, Lobbying and Ethics Laws

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 12:45:00 GMT

Lobbying, campaign finance and ethics rules in Washington, and in every state, are changing, and new court cases are affecting lobbyists, corporations, associations, and unions. Compliance with federal, state and local laws is more complex than ever. Congressional ethics rules, the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA), pay-to-play laws, as well as increasing pressure on corporations to disclose to shareholders their contributions and lobby expenditures, place additional responsibilities on companies and their executives and directors. To stay above reproach, be sure to attend this acclaimed program. High-level officials from the Federal Election Commission, the Department of Justice, Congressional ethics committees, and state ethics agencies, as well as corporate compliance officers and expert private practitioners, will explain how to navigate the laws that regulate political, lobbying and gift activities.

The aftermath of Citizens United and subsequent cases
The rules for corporate, union, association and non-connected federal and state PACs
Federal and state lobbying rules, including recent changes
Elements of an effective corporate compliance program
Federal and state pay-to-play laws
Federal and state gift rules, including the Obama administration’s Executive Order and policies, with a focus on practical application
FEC hot topics: disclosure of bundled contributions, issue advocacy, 527 organizations, Super PACs, and campaigning on the Internet
FEC and key state ethics agency rulemakings and litigation
Recent civil and criminal enforcement cases, policies and sentencing guidelines
Shareholder political participation issues

Special Features

Networking Luncheon with Keynote Speaker
One hour of Ethics credit

Plus, register for this program and receive complimentary access to a one-hour web briefing on the Basics of the Federal Election Campaign Act the week prior to the program

Outsourcing 2013: Sourcing Critical Services

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 14:00:00 GMT

How you can add value in every phase of the outsourcing life cycle
Hot topics and trends: Big Data, cloud computing, and more
How to comply with privacy and data security regulations and address issues arising out of cloud computing
Practical insights about the competing perspectives of customers and suppliers, and the challenges they face
Key provisions in a master services agreement for sourcing critical services
Offensive and defensive IP strategies to avoid traps and unanticipated results from new technology
Special issues and provisions to maximize value in multi-country sourcing
What can go wrong, and how to avoid common pitfalls

Special Features

Earn one hour of Ethics credit
Mock negotiation of an outsourcing agreement

Securities Filings 2013: Practical Guidance in a Changing Environment

Thu, 26 Sep 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Overview of the disclosure cycle and the integrated disclosure system; Regulations S-K, S-X and M-A
Exchange Act registration and reporting, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and more
Securities Act registration statements, including discussion of eligibility, the drafting process, incorporation by reference, “experts,” consents, and “shelf” registration, as well as the new confidential filing process for “emerging growth companies”
Securities Act Section 5 - the communication rules and related filings and how those were and will continue to be affected by the JOBS Act
Broad overview of proxy statements, including when preliminary filings are required, the shareholder proposal process, and year-end timing and filing issues, including the “say-on-pay” rules, new exchange listing standards for compensation committee members, and compensation adviser disclosures
Securities filings used in mergers, acquisitions and other significant corporate transactions
Section 16 filings
Mechanics and implications of risk disclosures in both Securities Act and Exchange Act filings
Review procedures in the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance
Current issues in securities filings resulting from the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, including “conflicts minerals” disclosure

Special Feature

Earn one hour of Ethics credit

Bankruptcy Basics for Low-Income Clients 2013 (Free)

Thu, 26 Sep 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Although the recession is beginning to even out and foreclosures in many parts of the country are in the decline, the recession continues to affect financially marginalized people in disproportionate numbers. Many debtors are unrepresented and bankruptcy clinics are still in great demand. There is a critical need for pro bono attorneys to assist low-income clients at all levels. The practice of bankruptcy law changed dramatically with the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA). The implications of BAPCPA continue to develop in the Courts, all the way up to the Supreme Court. In the meantime the practice is ever changing and can be quite complicated with even the simplest form of bankruptcy, Chapter 7. This program was developed for brand new practitioners and those who are either not familiar with the practice or have not practiced bankruptcy law since the passage of BAPCPA. The program will focus on Chapter 7 bankruptcy, from the day a new client walks into your office to the day you receive notice that they have successfully received a discharge and their case is closed.

An overview of Chapter 7 bankruptcy including legal sources, jurisdiction, venue, eligibility and the parties
Your duties as a bankruptcy attorney and debt relief agency, how to evaluate and interview a client, how to choose between a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, and your responsibilities of investigation (due diligence)
How the discharge works and the effectiveness of the automatic stay
How to protect the debtor’s property through exemptions
An in depth overview of the means test
How to prepare the schedules in a Chapter 7 and prepare your client for the meeting of creditors

Building Better Construction Contracts 2013

Wed, 25 Sep 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Construction is one of the largest sectors in the U.S. economy. After several lean years, construction activity is beginning to pick up. The need for major infrastructure development is apparent, but tight budgets require novel contracting approaches. The Great Recession has resulted in the failure of many construction firms. This has placed a renewed emphasis on appropriate risk allocation. These challenging times require innovation in project delivery which in turn highlights the importance of good contract negotiation and drafting practices.

This program will explore project specific insurance for design risks; contractor and designer licensing, including the licensure for design/build contracting; as well as approaches to mitigating licensing risk, with an emphasis on design work in China, since the region has provided opportunities through the Great Recession. We take a further look at the design side of the industry with a focus on the changing landscape of the designer’s standard of care. With the rising importance of sustainable design and the influence of new technologies such as building information modeling, the design professional’s standard of care has never been more in flux. This program will focus on these new developments and what they mean for design professionals including novel approaches to establishing the standard of care such as a numerical threshold approach. A number of litigation topics also will be addressed. Developing appropriate approaches to handling e-discovery disputes in arbitration is challenging for both parties and arbitrators.

Our panelists will examine the importance of early intervention and cooperation in devising e-discovery plans for arbitration. Important ethical issues will be explored in the form of ethical considerations in mediation and negotiation. By attending this course, you will be able to recognize important negotiation, contracting, dispute resolution risks, and develop appropriate strategies for successfully addressing them.

Major issues for design professionals considering work in China
How to craft appropriate insurance provisions for the simple to sophisticated construction project
To evaluate and develop e-discovery plans for arbitration
To identify and evaluate the licensing challenges arising in connection with particular types of construction undertakings
The critical issues in negotiating and drafting a joint venture agreement
A deep appreciation of the designer’s standard of care in a changing construction landscape and what it means for evaluating design professional performance
Plus earn one full hour of ethics credit

Electronic Discovery Institute 2013: What Corporate and Outside Counsel Need to Know

Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:00:00 GMT

The demands and costs of e-discovery in litigation continue to grow. Nearly every case now involves some sort of e-discovery, and it is essential to know how to effectively and fairly handle the many issues that can arise. Our outstanding faculty of experienced lawyers, judges, and e-discovery professionals will provide an inside look at the current state of e-discovery, give tips for avoiding pitfalls litigants have encountered in the years since the passage of the federal rules, and discuss important ethical issues in light of court decisions imposing discovery sanctions and outlining the duties of outside and in-house counsel.

This seminar is designed to provide counsel with the understanding necessary to advise clients on state, federal and international e-discovery strategic and technology issues. You will take away practical strategies you can use when you are called upon to provide guidance on e-retention policies or e-discovery.

Update on the latest legal developments in e-discovery
Hear from judges, in-house counsel, outside counsel, and others facing the myriad of e-discovery issues that can arise in litigation
Gain the perspectives of experienced e-discovery attorneys who have encountered problems similar to those your clients will likely face
Get practical tips for conducting efficient and defensible discovery in the electronic age
Learn why sanctions are imposed for e-discovery violations and how you can avoid similar missteps

Special Feature

Earn one hour of Ethics credit

Basics of International Taxation 2013

Tue, 24 Sep 2013 16:00:00 GMT

In a global business, the tax laws of the United States may impact transactions regardless of where the transactions take place. A working knowledge of the U. S. international tax rules is, therefore, of paramount importance to a wide variety of tax and corporate professionals.

At this program, some of the world’s leading tax experts will discuss the current rules of U.S. international taxation. Each panel will focus upon a distinct international tax issue and describe how the U.S. tax rules address this issue. In particular, each panel will focus upon how these rules impact financings, mergers, acquisitions and other commercial activities. In addition, we will analyze legislative proposals that may change these rules and discuss the likely impact of such changes on global business operations.

The impact of Subpart F on global businesses
The background, purpose and history of foreign tax credits
The mechanics and significance of tax treaties
The possibility of U.S. international tax reform
Transfer pricing principles and their use in transfer of goods, services and intangibles
Reporting and withholding requirements under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)
How to recognize Passive Foreign Investment Companies (PFICs)

Daubert Practice 2013: How to Avoid Getting Sliced by Cutting-Edge Developments in Expert Witness Challenges

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 17:30:00 GMT

Familiarity with Daubert challenges is essential to complex litigation. This new seminar will introduce basic and advanced concepts of expert witness admissibility under Daubert that have evolved over the last two decades. The successful challenge to, or defense of, expert witness opinions can make or break a litigant’s chances in court. Almost every major litigation will require the skills and knowledge that this seminar will cover. Our faculty of highly experienced Daubert practitioners will share their insights into how Daubert challenges should be prepared, executed, and argued. This will assist counsel in developing and deploying effective Daubert strategies in any case where the admissibility of expert witness opinion testimony is likely to be challenged.

Basics of Daubert law and practice
Excluding your opponents' expert witnesses
Protecting your own expert witnesses from challenges
Recent legal developments in the law of Daubert
Practical considerations in challenging and defending expert witness admissibility
Strategies for plaintiffs to meet the burden of proof efficiently

Nuts & Bolts of Electronic Discovery 2013

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 13:00:00 GMT

This program will acquaint you with the basics of e-discovery law and practice. E-discovery permeates nearly every facet of litigation today, and attorneys tasked with meeting today’s complicated e-discovery requirements must recognize the nuances and technicalities involved. Join our faculty of experienced e-discovery practitioners to gain the tools and strategies to efficiently and competently navigate the e-discovery landscape.

Learn the terms and procedures you need to know. Among the topics our faculty will discuss are:

The first things to do when you receive a case involving e-discovery
The nuts and bolts of preservation, Rule 26(f) conferences, document search and review, privilege protection, and production formats
Preservation and collection strategies
Search and review processes
In-house counsel’s guide to e-discovery

Special Feature

Learn to recognize and manage common ethics issues that arise in e-discovery.

Advertising Law Institute 2013

Mon, 23 Sep 2013 14:00:00 GMT

As the economy continues to recover in fits and starts, companies increasingly look for new ways to reach their consumers efficiently and effectively. Combined with the new opportunities digital media affords, the legal risks and pitfalls can seem endless. In this program, attendees will hear from leaders in the industry about the legal requirements for conducting interactive advertising campaigns. From sweepstakes and contest laws, to endorsements and testimonial restrictions, mobile and text ads, to special concerns in the social media context, this conference will cover all of the cutting edge issues facing companies today. Attendees will get up-to-date information in this dynamic area.

Hot topics in mobile advertising
The ins and outs of behavioral advertising in the online and mobile space
Social media and infringement issues
Creating compliant cause-marketing campaigns
Running promotions on popular social media sites
Food marketing issues and special considerations when advertising in the green space
What’s new in the world of branded entertainment
Plus: Earn one hour of ethics credit!

Government Contracts 2013

Thu, 19 Sep 2013 13:00:00 GMT

The Federal government market is increasingly complex and compliance driven. Budget pressure, inappropriate use of fixed-price contracts, increasing compliance and transparency requirements, the initiation of a “super” oversight board, intensified focus on contract and business systems auditing, increased emphasis on suspension and debarment, and growing use of the False Claims Act to enforce contract terms all make participation in this market a daunting endeavor - for both experienced and new entrants alike. This program will bring leading government contracts law practitioners and policy makers together for an in-depth discussion of important business considerations involved in participating in this market, recent trends, and best practices for companies operating in the Federal government space.

Insights regarding new and pending policy, and regulatory changes and risks that contractors face
What is happening with government “commercial” acquisition? Does that path still offer meaningful differences for providers of commercial items and services? What is the effect of recent changes on barriers to entry, including commercial item and GSA Schedule contracting?
Overview of dispute resolution with the Federal government and what the judiciary sees as important recent decisions that the government contracting community should be following
Transparency and reporting requirements - how much of your business information will be public and how will the new oversight board affect your business?
Contract compliance and the False Claims Act - implications for contract management
An understanding of government auditing of contractors following recent Congressional scrutiny, the prospect for a government-wide, Federal auditing agency, and the impact of the new business systems rule
Implications of the intense focus on suspension and debarment

Hot Topics in Mergers & Acquisitions 2013

Thu, 19 Sep 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Tactics for dealing with activists and proxy advisors
How to navigate the latest developments in Delaware Law
Advising boards of directors based on recent lessons learned
Recent developments in private equity transactions
SEC and antitrust developments

International Tax Issues 2013

Wed, 18 Sep 2013 14:00:00 GMT

As the world’s economies grow increasingly integrated, the international tax laws of the U.S. impact a greater percentage of businesses and transactions. These international tax rules affect not only large US and foreign-based multinationals, but also increasingly affect mid-sized and smaller firms, financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and other commercial activity. As a result, a working knowledge of these international tax rules is of paramount importance to a wide variety of tax professionals.

At this year’s program we will assemble some of the world’s leading experts and senior government officials to discuss the complex rules of U.S. international taxation. We will focus upon both operational and transactional implications of these rules, and will describe the application of the rules to both U.S. and foreign-based entities.

Explore recently proposed International Tax Reform legislation, identifying the key concepts and predicting the future
Understand the intricacies of managing offshore cash and efficient utilization of foreign cash
Identify cross-border merger and acquisition issues, techniques and developments
Get an update on new foreign tax credit regulations implementing the 2010 legislation (including splitter and covered asset acquisition structures) and Subpart F developments
Examine recent developments in transfer pricing audits and planning

Techology and Entertainment Convergence 2013: Hot Business and Legal Issues in "Technotainment"

Wed, 18 Sep 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Convergence trends and relevant technology developments
The evolving entertainment industries, including TV, film and games
Trends in litigation and recent convergence cases
Legal issues in social media and Apps, including privacy issues and best practices
The complex web of agreements needed to develop content for, and to move content to, new platforms
The new COPPA rules and how to implement them
Advertising and promotions in new media

First Annual Institute on Current Developments in Latin American Cross-Border Securities Transactions 2013

Tue, 17 Sep 2013 12:45:00 GMT

PLI has offered continuing legal education seminars in the United States since 1933, primarily in New York City, San Francisco, Chicago and Washington, D.C. In 2001, PLI added the Institute on Securities Regulation in Europe, held in London, UK, and just this year we moved into Asia holding the First Annual Institute on Corporate & Securities Law in Hong Kong.

We are now very pleased to announce our expansion into Latin American with Practising Law Institute's First Annual Institute on Current Developments in Latin American Cross-Border Securities Transactions 2013. This highly anticipated Institute will feature leading practitioners active in U.S. and Latin American corporate and securities law, as well as government regulators, prominent investment bank professionals and in-house counsel.

Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity to attend our first ever event and make history! Hear from top industry professionals and receive the very latest updates on recent developments in cross-border transactions in Latin America, with a focus on Brazil. The year 2013 appears to be headed towards being another interesting year in Latin American capital markets with indications of an increase in dual-listed equity offerings and innovative debt transactions. Stay current on `33 and `34 Act disclosure compliance for SEC registrants and home country disclosure requirements for Brazilian issuers. Topics will include a wide spectrum of matters affecting issuers in the U.S. and home country markets, including, for example, staff comment, staff review priorities and interpretations, disclosure drivers and best practices, conflict minerals and government payments by companies in resource extractive industries; domestic and international economic, political and regulatory uncertainties and developments; and climate change, and the continuing convergence towards a global accounting standard. Learn about regulatory developments in easing market access for prospective issuers. Hear from experienced regulatory practitioners who will focus on hot issues, best practices and practical pointers in international offerings. Our faculty will review key areas of regulatory focus, including FCPA, OFAC and other money laundering regulations, and insider trading. Important topics on corporate governance will also be discussed. And a separate panel will focus on developments in project finance as Brazilian infrastructure receives increased attention as the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Rio Olympics approach.

Practical how-to guidance on drafting SEC and home country disclosure documents
Updates on recent SEC staff comments on disclosure, as well as `33 and `34 Act-driven compliance
Updates on various initiatives by regulators to ease issuer access to public markets
Practical guidance on dealing with issues of regulatory focus, including FCPA, OFAC and insider trading
Updates on corporate governance, including audit committee requirements and corporate models for public companies with dispersed ownership
Current developments in financing of infrastructure projects

Estate Planning Institute (44th Annual)

Mon, 16 Sep 2013 13:00:00 GMT

The American taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (the “2012 Tax Act”), which was enacted on January 2, 2013, made “permanent” many of the changes of the Federal transfer tax system that were part of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 and that were scheduled to expire at the end of 2012. In addition, the 2012 Tax Act made significant Federal income tax changes. Further, President Obama’s budget for the government’s fiscal year ending September 30, 2013 contains additional major proposals for transfer tax and income tax changes.

The program will review the transfer tax and income tax aspects of the 2012 Tax Act, the additional income tax and transfer tax changes that may occur, how you can use this information to your clients’ maximum advantage, and valuable estate planning techniques that are not foreclosed by the 2012 Tax Act. Moreover, the program will review other recent developments regarding charitable and non-charitable estate, trust and transfer tax planning.

A review of the transfer tax changes in the 2012 Tax Act
A review of the Administration's current transfer tax and income tax proposals
Drafting estate planning documents to comply with and take advantage of the 2012 Tax Act
Marital deduction planning – Portability is “Permanent”
Generation-skipping transfer tax planning under the 2012 Tax Act
Post-death elections and planning under the 2012 Tax Act
State transfer tax consequences of the 2012 Tax Act
FLPs and LLCs - Valuations and Discounts
An update on recent developments in all other areas of estate, trust and transfer tax planning
Charitable planning in a low interest rate environment
Ethical concerns in estate planning

Ethical Issues in California Pro Bono Representation 2013 (Free)

Thu, 12 Sep 2013 16:00:00 GMT

While the ethical obligations of Pro Bono legal practice are no different than a commercial law practice, there are practical considerations regarding eligibility of clients, challenging clients, challenging pro bono attorneys, conflicts similar in theory, different in practice settings), expectations on both sides, case management responsibility, and different delivery models, such as limited scope representation, that cause many professionals to hesitate offering pro bono legal services. This program is designed to answer questions regarding the professional responsibility obligations of pro bono legal service, encourage attorneys to engage in this professionally rewarding aspect of law practice, and remove ambiguities that are barriers to engaging in pro bono legal services.
Experts in professional responsibility and in pro bono service from government practice, private practice, legal services, and in-house corporate law departments will discuss:

Application of the California Rules of Professional Conduct
ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct
Proposed California Rules of Professional Conduct
ABA Standards for Programs Providing Civil Pro Bono Legal Services to Persons of Limited Means
Basics of Pro Bono, Including the Definition of “Pro Bono”
Why Pro Bono is Considered an Important Part of the Profession
Professional Responsibility Concerns Unique to Pro Bono

The faculty will discuss hypothetical fact patterns and illustrate the application of the rules.

Hedge Fund Management 2013

Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:00:00 GMT

In 2012, hedge funds and their managers faced their first year of operations under new regulations enacted under Dodd-Frank. New entrants to the hedge fund industry now had large barriers to entry; existing managers had to deal not only with new regulations but many were also forced to grapple with regulatory investigations and insider trading allegations. At the same time, hedge fund managers had to continue to deal with the day-to-day operational issues of running a hedge fund operation (such as relationships with prime brokers) and explore strategies for addressing new business issues, such as expanding their business to include regulated funds or selling a portion of their business to an outside investor.

How are hedge funds typically formed and structured?
How have new registration and disclosure requirements affected hedge fund managers?
What happens when a hedge fund manager suspends redemptions or liquidates a fund?
How can hedge funds improve their prime brokerage relationships?
What are the issues when buying or selling a hedge fund manager?
What are the issues when expanding into U.S. registered hedge fund business?

Directors' Institute on Corporate Governance (Eleventh Annual)

Wed, 11 Sep 2013 13:00:00 GMT

In the past year, new expectations were being placed on boards in critical areas of governance, including disclosure, oversight of complex operational issues, and responsiveness to and communication with investors pressing different concerns, such as short-term shareholder value, traditional governance issues and social responsibility. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and other anti-bribery laws have put new requirements and heightened scrutiny on companies and on boards.

At this renowned Institute, leading corporate governance experts - directors, government officials, corporate counsel, and academics - will share their perspectives on the fast-changing regulatory environment, the competing pressures being placed on boards, and needed steps boards will want to consider.

The new expectations facing boards of directors
How to address particularly difficult issues, including compensation, risk management, audit committee oversight, board succession, and shareholder engagement
The latest thinking on where boards of directors may be most vulnerable
What’s on the government’s agenda
Challenges for the future as financial reporting continues to evolve
Considerations for directors arising out of steps being taken by activist investors, the SEC, and the provisions of the Dodd-Frank legislation

Special Features

Kickoff Address: Ira M. Millstein, Restoring Balance in the Corporate Governance Paradigm
Networking Luncheon Address: Lynn Stout, Distinguished Professor of Corporate & Business Law, Cornell Law School, Ithaca, New York

California Employment Law Update 2013

Tue, 10 Sep 2013 16:00:00 GMT

PLI’s California Employment Law Update addresses the issues confronted by employment law advisers, litigators and human resources management and professionals, with particular emphasis on California State law considerations. This program combines a comprehensive review of case law and regulatory developments, an in-depth analysis of emerging issues, and practical guidance about best practices to maximize employment law compliance, mitigate legal risk and achieve business objectives.

Year-In-Review: a summary of important United States and California Supreme Court and federal and state appellate case law developments
Key developments in Federal and California wage-and-hour law
Federal and California trends in disability discrimination, including tips on addressing accommodation
The EEOC’s Strategic Enforcement Plan: What it means for employers and employees
Whistleblower claims - plaintiff and employer perspectives

Intellectual Property Law Institute 2013

Mon, 09 Sep 2013 13:00:00 GMT

The latest changes in the law of patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets
The interplay among trade dress, design patents, and copyright (against the background of Apple v. Samsung)
Developments at the IP-antitrust interface
Perceptible effects of the AIA
Whether copyright is drifting away from its constitutional basis
Updates in privacy law, and why they affect your clients
Significant trade secret developments
Trademark updates

Special Features

In-house panel providing guidance on managing IP
Four separate breakouts
Complete overview of IP law
Earn one hour of Ethics credit

Immigration & Naturalization Institute (46th Annual)

Tue, 03 Sep 2013 13:00:00 GMT

This year’s program will examine key immigration trends and hot topics for 2013. You will hear from Washington insiders about what is likely to happen with immigration legislation in the coming months, including the real possibility of Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Will anything move on bills eliminating the per-country limit for employment-based cases, or increasing immigration opportunities for high-skilled workers? What can we expect from the Department of Labor - more audits, supervised recruitment? Can employers expect continued increases in ICE enforcement activities and Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) inspections?

Join us at this year’s Institute to hear an outstanding faculty of leading practitioners in the field discuss recent reforms and developments that impact your practice. Topics will include issues related to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA) applications, new immigration initiatives in Washington and around the country, immigrant and nonimmigrant processing issues, and new laws and policies related to enforcement.

Legislative update - the evolving efforts at immigration reform
L-1B adjudications at United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of State - will the trends continue?
Temporary and long-term solutions to immigration issues facing employers with mobile employees - what to do with traveling workers?
Trends in USCIS Adjudication
H-1B cap analysis for FY 13, and a look forward to FY 14
PERM adjudication - where is it moving - what triggers audits and supervised recruitment?
State legislation, E-Verify changes, employer sanctions and interior enforcement - are there Fourth Amendment issues?
USCIS’ transitions to an online, centralized manual of immigration policies - will the manual improve consistency and transparency and how will this affect your practice?
Tips for filing approvable I-601 provisional unlawful presence waivers under USCIS’ new rules.
Strategies for protecting employers from immigration-related penalties, including comprehensive compliance programs for LCAs, I-9s, PERMs, and more.

Advanced Patent Prosecution Workshop 2013: Claim Drafting & Amendment Writing

Mon, 19 Aug 2013 16:00:00 GMT

In this advanced two-day program, you will have a unique opportunity to receive hands-on drafting experience under the guidance of experienced patent prosecutors. By working in small technologically-distinct groups, you will receive individualized feedback on claim drafting and amendment writing skills, as well as learn practical techniques for avoiding prosecution pitfalls. Guidance will be provided on the America Invents Act and its implementation by the Patent and Trademark Office, including the new post-grant review and inter partes review systems. Course material will include sample problems and model solutions.

Structure of the Programs

The New York City Workshop is organized into four technology sections: Biotechnology, Chemical/Pharmaceutical, Electromechanical and Electronics/Computers. The San Francisco Workshop is organized into three technology sections: Electromechanical/Mechanical, Electronics/Computers, and Life Sciences (Biotechnology, Chemical/Pharmaceutical). Enrollment in these sections is limited, and two or three senior patent attorneys will lead each section. Homework review and realistic claim drafting and amendment writing exercises are also a special feature of these workshops. Homework must be completed and submitted upon registering onsite at the program. More information about the homework will be made available at online at a later date. Important! Early registration is advisable as enrollment is limited.

Re-Entry Issues: Post-Incarceration Employment and Housing Challenges (Free)

Fri, 16 Aug 2013 16:00:00 GMT

In the past three decades, incarceration rates have exploded in the U.S., such that today we incarcerate over two million people, more than any other country in the world. The result is that many more people encounter the criminal justice system at some point in their lives. Indeed, an estimated 1 in 4 adults in California has an arrest or conviction record, and people of color are disproportionately affected.

A person with a prior record faces significant employment and housing barriers, even when the record is old or unrelated to the job or housing. These barriers impede community reintegration and prevent formerly incarcerated people from being able to support themselves and their families or contribute to their communities. This training is designed to give lawyers a foundation in the collateral consequences that result from contact with the criminal justice system, as well as tools for representing clients in need of reentry legal services.

Basic overview of criminal justice system and collateral consequences of arrests/convictions
Criminal records remedies (also known as “expungement”)
Employment rights and protections
Housing rights and protections
Laws pertaining to background checks
Laws pertaining to occupational licensing and appealing a license denial based on conviction history

Bridge-the-Gap II for Newly Admitted New York Transactional Attorneys 2013

Wed, 14 Aug 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Attorneys admitted to the New York State Bar are required to complete 16 hours of approved continuing legal education courses per year during the first two years of admission, including three credit hours of approved continuing legal education in ethics/professionalism, six credit hours in skills, and seven credit hours in professional practice and/or law practice management.

PLI’s Bridge-the-Gap I and II programs contain separate course offerings and may be taken in either order. By attending PLIs two-day Bridge-the-Gap program, you can satisfy all of your annual MCLE requirements for newly admitted attorneys. By attending PLI’s one-day Bridge-the-Gap : Ethics and Skills for Newly Admitted Attorneys, you can fulfill your ethics and skills requirements.

Please note the following New York State MCLE Rules, effective January 15, 2002:

Section (2)(D)(1): Partial Credit - Credit shall be awarded only for attendance at an entire session of a course or program. No credit shall be awarded for attending a portion of a course or a portion of a session.

Section (2)(D)(2): Repeat Attendance - No CLE credit hours may be earned for repeating the same course or program, in any format, even if the course or program is repeated in a subsequent reporting cycle.

Ethics and Technology: New Challenges for the 21st Century Practitioner

Tue, 13 Aug 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Using the latest technology to communicate with clients, the court, and the public is often a necessary part of a lawyer’s job. Using these tools properly is critical particularly when it involves the risk of an inadvertent disclosure of client confidential information. The stakes are raised even higher when relying on an Internet that does not fit within our traditional notions of jurisdictional limitations. The next generation of Internet communications (e.g., blogs and social networks) carry with them even greater risks, along with their benefits. At this program, you will learn about the potential ethical risks arising from use of technology and practical solutions to these issues.
You will learn about ethical issues arising from:

Confidentiality obligations under the Rules of Professional Conduct
Data protection in the digital world (the cloud and beyond...)
Technology in legal practice, data devices and other technologies
The inadvertent disclosure dilemma
Use of social media

Ethics and Conflicts of Interest in Law Practice 2013

Tue, 13 Aug 2013 13:00:00 GMT

The relevant New York Rules of Professional Conduct and their relationship to the American Bar Association Model Rules
How to identify potential and actual conflicts, determine whether a conflict may be waived, and craft effective conflict waivers
How to establish systems and protocols to assist your attorneys with identifying potential and actual conflicts
Recent developments in conflict-of-interest law from case law, ethics opinions, and disciplinary opinions:
1. Disqualifying conflicts of interest
2. Breach of fiduciary duty claims
3. Playbook conflicts
4. Prospective client conflicts
5. Corporate family conflicts
6. Ethical screening

The Attorney-Client Privilege and Internal Investigations 2013

Tue, 13 Aug 2013 19:00:00 GMT

Privilege issues arising from cooperation with the government
Recent trends in government agency approaches to internal investigations, cooperation and waiver of privilege
Ethical issues in conducting the investigation
Conflict of interest issues arising in the representation and interview of company employees
Conflicts between the company and employees on privilege waiver issues
Best practices in conducting investigations
Issues arising in international internal investigations

Defending Immigration Removal Proceedings 2013

Mon, 12 Aug 2013 13:00:00 GMT

With more than 300,000 deportation and removal cases initiated by U.S. immigration authorities each year, immigrants in the United States need competent and knowledgeable representation in this important area of law. Over half of those facing removal proceedings are unrepresented, and studies have shown that those without legal representation face a significantly higher risk of removal, regardless of eligibility for relief. In response to the acute need for trained attorneys to defend the record number of immigrants facing removal, prominent members of the bar and bench have called for more pro bono work to be done to fill the gap.

This program will provide panels of nationally-recognized experts to impart a comprehensive, nuts and bolts overview of how to most effectively defend immigrants facing removal proceedings.

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and its use in removal proceedings
Defending children, what are the options? An update on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and other related applications
Practical examples of ethical problems in removal practice
Building a case for relief: how to prepare a winning waiver application for clients with criminal convictions
Pitfalls for asylum applicants and how to avoid them, firm resettlement, the one year filing deadline, social group, and other hot topics
Updates on immigration related legislation in 2013. Will we finally see Comprehensive Immigration Reform?

Ethics in Banking and Financial Services 2013

Thu, 08 Aug 2013 13:00:00 GMT

The intersection of banking and brokerage regulation: What are the ethical and practical issues for lawyers in an era of overlapping regulatory jurisdictions?
The dangers and pitfalls of broker-dealer enforcement: What are the ethical and practical issues for lawyers in handling enforcement matters?
The ethical responsibilities of legal and compliance professionals in regulated companies: What are the duties and potential liabilities of outside and inside counsel in dealing with client problems?
Recent changes in the rules of professional responsibilities: Have the recent changes made the environment better or worse for lawyers?
Representing regulated entities in civil litigation: What are the key ethical and practical issues on which litigators need to be focused?

Writing for Transactional Lawyers 2013

Thu, 08 Aug 2013 18:00:00 GMT

What’s wrong with using words like “herein” and “provided that”? What are the elements of a well-drafted contract? By attending this program, you will learn principles of effective writing and drafting that will enhance your transactional practice.
You will learn effective transactional drafting and communication based on:

Knowledge of key principles of contract interpretation
Attention to the evolving body of commercial case law
Focus on client objectives and expectations
Application of crisp and clear drafting techniques, including use of “Plain English”

California Trial Advocacy 2013

Wed, 07 Aug 2013 16:00:00 GMT

If you think you will ever try a case, or if you want to do better the next time you are in trial, then this is the program you have been waiting for. In this full-day program, some of the most experienced trial lawyers in California will talk about the best way to prepare and present a case to a jury. We will cover what you need to do before the trial begins, in limine motions, jury selection, opening statements, witness preparation, direct and cross examination, experts, and closing arguments. The training is designed for advocates with limited trial experience, but lawyers at all experience levels should benefit from this training. The panelists are noted experts in trial advocacy who have each tried multiple cases to verdict.

Tips for properly preparing your case for trial
Use of deposition testimony at trial
Tactical considerations in preparing in limine motions
Tips on how to best use your limited peremptory challenges
Pointers on how to prepare witnesses for trial
Effective ways to deliver opening statements and closing arguments
Tips for navigating the dangerous seas of expert witnesses

Bridge-the-Gap I: Ethics and Skills for Newly Admitted New York Attorneys

Wed, 07 Aug 2013 12:30:00 GMT

ERISA: The Evolving World 2013

Mon, 05 Aug 2013 12:30:00 GMT

A working knowledge of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act’s (ERISA) framework is crucial for lawyers, HR practitioners and other professionals in the area of employee benefits and compensation planning. Our experienced faculty of leading practitioners will discuss a broad array of topics, including the basic regulatory framework, the types of plans covered, the requirements for intended tax treatment, fiduciary responsibilities and other issues relating to the investment of plan assets, how to correct errors and the role of the benefits practitioner in the transactional setting. In addition, you will learn about recent IRS, DOL and legislative and judicial developments. The benefits practice also reaches beyond ERISA and the tax laws, and the scope of the program will extend to executive compensation and to related laws other than ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code, such as those covering employment discrimination.

Requirements and special rules applicable to different retirement plans
Specific rules applicable to defined benefit plans and defined contribution plans
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) insurance coverage
Distributions from qualified plans; reporting and disclosure requirements; fiduciary responsibilities and other aspects of plan investment
Ethical issues for the practitioner
Design and operation of 401(k) plans

Special Features

Earn 1.5 hours of Ethics credit
Earn Continuing Professional Education credit

Representing the Pro Bono Client: New York Public Assistance and Food Stamp Advocacy 2013 (Free)

Fri, 02 Aug 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Mark Your Calendar. More Information to Come!

Securities Arbitration 2013

Thu, 01 Aug 2013 13:00:00 GMT

The continuing national discussion regarding the fairness of arbitration has influenced the forums management of the process. FINRA has focused not only on the compositions of arbitration panels but the definition of who is a “customer” and what is “suitable” in securities cases. In 2013 FINRA will continue its focus on employment disputes and expungement applications.

This year’s Securities Arbitration program will feature FINRA Dispute Resolution’s President and Director of Arbitration, staff, and arbitrators, as well as noted academics and experienced attorneys who represent both customers and industry players. Our faculty will explore FINRA’s efforts to reflect general concerns about the fairness of the processes and provide you with practical tips on drafting claims and answers, arbitrators selection lists, opening and closing arguments, exhibits, experts and technology and resolving common ethical dilemmas that arise in securities arbitration practice.

Find out what’s new at FINRA including:
- Proposed changes in FINRA Dispute Resolution’s arbitration rules and practices
- Plans for the continued enhancement of the rules and the hearing process
- Definitions of “customers” and “suitability” in FINRA arbitration
Analyze recent legislative developments and case law trends
Explore ethical issues in the arbitration and mediation context
Examine Arbitration Practicum on Product Cases
Plus take away Product Hearing practicums
Earn one full hour of ethics credit at our session exploring scenarios that highlight the ethical traps that counsel and arbitrators may encounter

Negotiation Workshop for Lawyers 2013

Wed, 31 Jul 2013 13:00:00 GMT

By attending this program you will learn effective negotiation skills and techniques by observing an expert faculty in simulated bargaining, by critical analysis of tactics and techniques, and by participating in an actual negotiation.

What successful negotiators do at every stage of the negotiation process
When (and how) to use an adversarial strategy and when (and how) to select a problem-solving approach
How to differentiate (and choose) between a cooperative and competitive style
When to use argument or appeal, threat or promise, to persuade your opponent
How to get, give and guard the critical information that spells success
When (and how) to concede without losing credibility
How to use the client to advantage, control the agenda, avoid ethical traps, and more…

Supreme Court Review (15th Annual): October 2012 Term

Tue, 30 Jul 2013 13:00:00 GMT

A distinguished faculty, including constitutional scholars, a law school dean, and a Supreme Court journalist, will analyze, discuss, and debate the leading Supreme Court decisions of the October 2012 Term. The faculty represents a variety of constitutional views and perspectives, and the decisions will be analyzed for their precedential, doctrinal, and ,where appropriate, their societal and litigation significance.
This Term the Supreme Court is expected to decide an unusual number of cases presenting controversial constitutional issues. Highlighting the Court’s docket are issues concerning such “hot button” issues as gay marriage, affirmative action, and Congress’s power to prevent racial discrimination in voting. The decisions in these cases are expected to resolve fundamental constitutional issues of marital, racial, and voting equality.

The Court also has several important criminal procedure cases, including cases involving Fourth Amendment searches, pre-arrest police questioning, and the right to counsel.

The Court again turns its attention to dispute resolution, litigation, and other business interest issues. These cases present a wide range of questions pertaining to Title VII employment discrimination litigation, class actions, arbitration, the Alien Tort Claims Act, takings claims, preemption, and patents.

Some of the specific issues are:

Constitutionality of the 1965 Voting Rights Act preclearance provisions (Shelby County v. Holder)
Constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act and California prohibition of gay marriage (United States v. Windsor; Hollingsworth v. Perry)
Whether a state university race- based student admission affirmative action program violates the Equal Protection Clause (Fisher v. University of Texas)
Whether the Fourth Amendment allows the state to compel arrestees to provide DNA samples for a DNA database (Maryland v. King)

Children's Law Institute (16th Annual)

Mon, 29 Jul 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Advocates representing children, parents, child welfare or foster care agencies, or working on policy must address evolving issues in an increasingly complex environment. This year, PLI’s 16th Annual Children’s Law Institute will focus on a variety of social and legal issues affecting child welfare and juvenile justice practice.

Kinship guardianship - an overview
New York’s juvenile justice system - reform efforts
Recent developments in child welfare and juvenile delinquency practice
The rights of adolescents

Representing the Pro Bono Client: Consumer Law Basics 2013 (Free)

Fri, 26 Jul 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Volunteer lawyers are needed to help the many low income clients facing a wide assortment of consumer law matters who are unrepresented. Attend this program to learn the basics of consumer law so that you can competently represent a client in need and learn new advocacy skills.

Overview of consumer law
FDCPA/Consumer collection defense
Auto fraud
Fair Credit Reporting Act

Understanding the Securities Laws 2013

Thu, 25 Jul 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Overview of the integrated disclosure system and the regulatory scheme as a whole, including annual reporting obligations and common triggers of the “duty to disclose”
Registering securities under the Securities Act and exemptions from registration, including recent and proposed changes resulting from the JOBS Act
Reporting under the Exchange Act on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and how the JOBS Act changes that
Regulation of proxy solicitations, including recent rule changes and scaled executive compensation disclosure for “emerging growth companies”
Securities issues confronting corporate “insiders,” including Section 16 reporting and liability, and guidance regarding 10b5-1 trading plans
Liability for securities law violations, including insider trading
Derivatives and structured products - the basics
Securities law issues triggered by M&A and other common corporate transactions
Labor and employment issues, FCPA issues, cyber-security and other substantive areas with ethical implications (1 hour ethics credit)
Other public company disclosure issues

Special Feature

Earn up to one full hour of Ethics credit

Basics of International Taxation 2013

Tue, 23 Jul 2013 13:00:00 GMT

The impact of Subpart F on global businesses
The background, purpose and history of foreign tax credits
The mechanics and significance of tax treaties
The possibility of U.S. international tax reform
Transfer pricing principles and their use in transfer of goods, services and intangibles
Reporting and withholding requirements under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)
How to recognize Passive Foreign Investment Companies (PFICs)

Basics of Accounting for Lawyers 2013: What Every Practicing Lawyer Needs to Know

Mon, 22 Jul 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Accounting is a language of business. Because attorneys encounter accounting information in a wide range of legal issues, it is critical for lawyers to understand financial statements and core accounting concepts. This practical course, specifically designed for the non-accountant attorney, will provide an understanding of financial statements and the key principles of accounting, using “real life” examples of accounting issues that attorneys commonly face. Whether you are in-house or external counsel, Basics of Accounting for Lawyers 2013 will help you to help your company or clients.

Basics of Accounting for Lawyers will also offer insight into the effective use of financial experts, accounting and financial issues where attorneys can put themselves at risk, and current accounting and business “hot” topics.

Understanding Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS)
The Accounting Cycle
How to read:
- The Balance Sheet
- The Income Statement
- The Statement of Cash Flows
- The Notes to the Financial Statements
How lawyers can effectively use accountants as experts
Recent regulatory changes and views from those impacted or involved in the changes
Awareness of different accounting and reporting frameworks and requirements
Ethical issues for attorneys and accountants

Ethics for In-House Corporate Counsel 2013

Mon, 22 Jul 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Ethics and financial services in the midst of global financial market turbulence
New developments in corporate governance
The new Foreign Corrupt Practices Act guidelines
Crisis management, corporate compliance, and litigation management: what every in-house counsel needs to know
E-discovery
Attorney-client privilege; Kovel privilege
Ethics and outsourcing
Corporate whistleblowing

Prior Art, Obviousness, and the America Invents Act in 2013

Mon, 22 Jul 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Patent reform has arrived: what will be its impact on those touchstones of patentability, prior art and obviousness? 102 was already a complicated concept for patent practitioners, having undergone evolving interpretations in the PTO and CAFC. How will the AIA now complicate matters further? What aspects of current 102 understanding carry over to new 102? How does the concept of “prior art” and circumstance collide in the 21st century? How does prior art on the web impact the practice? What is truly enabled? This program will allow you to obtain an essential working understanding of this newly complicated statute, including recent interpretations, case law, explore and understand the statutory revisions. Meanwhile, obviousness, the most common reason any application is rejected or patent held invalid, is continuing to evolve as a result of KSR already 6 years old). Explore 103 from inside and outside the PTO as both the CAFC and PTO try to shoehorn their past decisions into a KSR pigeonhole!

The new AIA 102 and its dates. What is the new “grace period”?
Is it truly a world-wide landscape of “filing date” prior art?
The “effective filing date” is now global - if it publishes/issues in the U.S.
Is Old 102 really gone……or, is it preserved in other guises?
A thorough review of the recent KSR 103 “guidelines” inside the PTO
Examine the impact of proper and improper benefit claims on the prior art date of a reference and the effective filing date of the application being examined
How do you apply 103 post-KSR and the 2010 PTO Guidelines and recent CAFC decisions outside the PTO?

Ethics for Discovery 2013

Mon, 22 Jul 2013 19:00:00 GMT

Pre-litigation document management and preservation - best practices and ethical duties for:

Technology assessments and inventory
Employee education
Designing and implementing document retention policies and preservation plans
Litigation risk assessments

The discovery process - recent developments and emerging issues, including:

Use of outside vendors and new search technologies
Navigation of court-imposed duties and associated ethical obligations in litigation
Metadata, mobile devices, and social media
Cloud computing and the implications of new technology
Producing documents in federal and state investigations
Preserving privilege and confidential client information in written discovery and deposition
Key (and potentially problematic) differences between federal and state court treatment of discovery

This Really Happened: A Review of Real World Ethical Issues 2013

Mon, 22 Jul 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Join us once again at this unique interactive program. Chair Katie M. Lachter and our expert faculty will review a new set of hypotheticals culled from some of the most outlandish cases recently reported. What did those attorneys do? What would you do? What do the experts say you should do? Test your knowledge of the pertinent ethical rules as you match wits with our expert faculty, and contestants. Referred to as the “ethics game show,” this program had past attendees raving: “This was one of the best programs I’ve attended!”; This is by far the best, most engaging, and frankly, most entertaining CLE program I've ever heard”; “Entertaining as well as instructive”; “Love the "quiz" format”; “Without a doubt the most painless and informative 2 hours of ethics training ever”; and “Best Ethics CLE EVER!”

Join us as we review some of the strangest cases recently reported.

Hear about:

What happens when lawyers use trickery to obtain an advantage in investigating cases
How the courts have treated the lack of civility by lawyers and their clients
What impact technological snafus can have on the client-lawyer relationship and privilege determinations
How even well-intentioned judges have a bad day and the attendant consequences

Advanced Patent Prosecution Workshop 2013: Claim Drafting & Amendment Writing

Thu, 18 Jul 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Basics of Accounting for Lawyers 2013: What Every Practicing Lawyer Needs to Know

Thu, 18 Jul 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Understanding Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS)
The Accounting Cycle
How to read:
- The Balance Sheet
- The Income Statement
- The Statement of Cash Flows
- The Notes to the Financial Statements
How lawyers can effectively use accountants as experts
Recent regulatory changes and views from those impacted or involved in the changes
Awareness of different accounting and reporting frameworks and requirements
Ethical issues for attorneys and accountants

Fundamentals of Investment Adviser Regulation 2013

Wed, 17 Jul 2013 13:00:00 GMT

In the aftermath of the financial crisis and the resulting regulatory reform, the SEC has advanced significant rulemaking to impose a greater degree of controls on investment advisers’ operations. In fact, the SEC has put the regulation of investment advisers under the microscope, establishing new rules related to adviser custody, political contributions and adviser disclosure and has retooled its adviser exam program.

At this program, attendees will get a solid foundation in the regulatory regime applying to investment advisers. Attendees will learn how the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and state securities laws interact in governing the advisory industry.

A distinguished faculty will offer insights into recent developments, including the SEC’s adviser exam program and recent enforcement cases.

Who are the regulators and how do they interact?
How does an adviser register with the SEC?
What determines whether an adviser is SEC-registered or state-registered?
What does an adviser’s fiduciary duty entail?
How are conflicts of interest resolved?
What rules apply to adviser advertising?
What is the role of the adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer?
How do the SEC and state regulators conduct inspections?

Fundamentals of Trademark Law in the Global Marketplace 2013

Tue, 16 Jul 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Whether you are just starting out, need a refresher, or have just learned how exciting a career in trademark law can be, this program is for you. Forget all the trademark books and articles, and attend this program instead to learn all the fundamentals while exploring the cutting-edge issues that are changing the face of this practice area.

This program is built on a rock-solid foundation of trademark law experience. The speakers come with dozens of years in the field, and they will share that experience with you by answering your questions, both during their presentations and informally afterwards.

Faculty members have protected famous brand names in federal court, written articles and treatises on trademarks, and managed portfolios containing some of the nation’s best-known trademarks. They will cover the basics, ranging from federal registration to cease and desist letters, as well as the hottest topics that face the practice area today.

Key principles of trademark law and unfair competition: Terminology, the federal Lanham Act, and the underlying policies that support strong trademark protection
Practical tips: Searching and clearing marks and applying for federal registration
Registration issues, both domestic and international
Hot topics and a review of the latest significant cases
Domain name issues and UDRP
Trademark infringement actions, strategies, and remedies, as well as a review of litigation alternatives

Mon, 15 Jul 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Copyright law continues to be an unpredictable and dynamic practice area. Attend this program to build the foundation needed to understand this area of law while exploring recent cases and developments, with a particular focus on Internet and data-related issues. Learn about the rights copyright protection confers, how to protect those rights, and how the Internet continues to redefine critical concepts in the field. A faculty of leading experts will explore how to tackle these new challenges in daily practice. While you might feel like a novice at 9:00 a.m., by 5:00 p.m., you’ll be able to call yourself an expert!

The program will cover these and many more topics:

Essential concepts in copyright law and practice: Copyrightability, protectable subject matter and associated rights
How copyright principles apply online
Fair use and common fair use misconceptions
Cutting-edge issues and the latest cases in copyright law
Enforcement strategies and copyright litigation, including important defense strategies
Update on DMCA issues

Privacy and Data Security Law Institute (Fourteenth Annual)

Mon, 15 Jul 2013 14:00:00 GMT

This program focuses on critical issues of information privacy, security and data protection faced by all companies. The Internet and other evolving information technologies, wired and wireless, have prompted the development of powerful tools for the collection, processing, storage and use of personal information. These trends create numerous issues regarding limitations on corporate rights to use that information and obligations to protect it from a variety of new risks and vulnerabilities. Legislators, regulators and the courts are rapidly developing new law and compliance obligations to address the privacy and security implications of the information economy. This annual conference focuses on these developments with the goal of keeping attorneys and other privacy professionals informed and up-to-date in this complex and dynamic area of laws and regulations.

The latest federal and state legislation, regulations and decisions regarding privacy and security
Foreign developments in data protection law and their impact on U.S. companies
The current enforcement priorities of the FTC and the state attorneys general
Information privacy and security issues raised by technology trends, such as cloud computing, social networking, and texting
Best practices in data security compliance
The latest legislative developments pertaining to information security requirements
Ethical and risk management issues for lawyers in using information technology
Evolving online data collection and marketing techniques and their impact on privacy law

Special Features

Earn one hour of CLE Ethics credit
Earn Continuing Privacy Education credit

Municipal Law Institute (13th Annual)

Fri, 12 Jul 2013 13:00:00 GMT

The Municipal Law Institute offers attendees sharp analyses of important developments, emerging legal issues and best practices in the field of municipal law.

Topics Discussed Will Include:

The Municipal Response to Natural Disasters
Ethics for the Municipal Lawyer
Employment Law Update

Doing Deals in and with Emerging Markets: BRICs and Beyond 2013

Thu, 11 Jul 2013 13:00:00 GMT

With emerging markets players, like those of the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries, playing an ever greater role in the global economy, attorneys and other professionals facilitating cross-border transactions need to familiarize themselves with their perspective on inbound and outbound investments. According to a recent Office for Economic Co-operation and Development study, emerging markets will account for over 60% of global economic output by 2030.

This program will provide a comprehensive overview of the most pressing legal issues involved in international dealmaking in and with emerging markets.

Attorneys and other professionals in the field will benefit from the insights offered by a stellar faculty, who will draw on decades of combined experience to share the best practices and most effective strategies they have learned and successfully employed. This program will bring together dozens of leading attorneys with global expertise, providing an excellent networking opportunity in addition to an unmatched learning experience.

Due diligence and valuation issues in deals involving emerging market players
Negotiating issues in dealing with emerging market players
Adapting deal terms to local practices and issues
Antitrust considerations in international deals
In-bound investments: facilitating investments by emerging market companies
Resolving disputes in international deals
Ethical issues for clients and their lawyers facilitating international transactions
Adhering to Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) regulations
How to hire and manage local counsel

Special Feature

Earn 1 hour of ethics credit

Fundamentals of Patent Prosecution 2013: A Boot Camp for Claim Drafting & Amendment Writing

Wed, 10 Jul 2013 16:00:00 GMT

This program is directed to patent prosecuting and litigating attorneys and patent agents with or without a Patent Office registration number or little patent experience. It will focus on teaching the basics of claim drafting, patent application preparation and prosecution, as well as a review of recent developments in the law. A litigator’s perspective is presented to show how drafting and prosecution can influence the development, and often the outcome, of subsequent patent litigation. The clinics offer a unique supplement to the kind of hands-on mentoring that senior attorneys are hard-pressed to provide to less-experienced attorneys and agents.

This three-day program will feature lectures each morning, followed by small clinic sessions in the afternoon. Both the lecture sessions and the clinics will follow the patent application process - from invention disclosure and patent preparation (Day 1), through prosecution and issuance (Day 2) to litigation/opinion drafting (Day 3). Homework is different for each program and is specially designed to complement the Chicago, New York City and San Francisco programs. Homework must be completed and submitted upon registering on-site at the program. Follow Homework link above.

The lectures are designed to provide a review of the patent preparation and prosecution process and explain:

How to decide what elements of the invention should be included in the patent
How to prosecute an application to result in allowance of an enforceable patent
How to interview an Examiner
How to use reissues, reexamination supplemental examinations and other post-issuance proceedings
How to anticipate patent litigation issues during the patent prosecution process
How to approach patent opinion drafting

Special Features

Morning lectures on critical patent application topics
One-of-a-kind, small group clinics with experienced patent prosecutors to develop and polish patent writing skills

Class Action Litigation 2013

Wed, 10 Jul 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Class action lawsuits remain an integral and exciting part of high stakes litigation and the courts, including the Supreme Court, have taken notice. This year’s program will focus on recent changes in class action law and give you the tools and strategies you need to effectively handle these complex cases. Our outstanding faculty of plaintiffs’ and defense counsel, distinguished judges, and academics will bring you up-to-date on important developments in class action litigation. You and your clients will benefit from this program whether your practice focuses on employment law, products liability, toxic tort, securities, consumer fraud, or civil rights. The course also includes pragmatic tips on litigation strategies designed to improve your skills and your chances for success in the courtroom.

This program will benefit outside attorneys who are prosecuting or defending class actions, as well as in-house counsel who want to gain a competitive edge in this fast–moving field.

Supreme Court review and round-up
New developments in CAFA and on the class action landscape
Pretrial and courtroom tips and practices from top litigators
What is involved in class notification: specifics you need to know

Special Feature:

Hear from the attorneys who litigated class action cases in the Supreme Court. They’ll share their unique insights into these important cases.

Earn one hour of ethics credit with a discussion of the unique ethical issues involved in class action litigation.

Fundamentals of Trademark Law in the Global Marketplace 2013

Tue, 09 Jul 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Key principles of trademark law and unfair competition: Terminology, the federal Lanham Act, and the underlying policies that support strong trademark protection
Practical tips: Searching and clearing marks and applying for federal registration
Registration issues, both domestic and international
Hot topics and a review of the latest significant cases
Domain name issues and UDRP
Trademark infringement actions, strategies, and remedies, as well as a review of litigation alternatives

Writing for Litigators 2013

Tue, 09 Jul 2013 18:00:00 GMT

Do you feel compelled to include phrases like “wherefore,” “heretofore,” and “albeit” in your writing? What actually is good legal writing? This program will teach you the secrets of successful legal writing, whether you are writing for judges, partners, or clients.

Getting started: planning your document and getting it done
How to persuade
The myths of writing well
Legal writing do’s and don’ts
Legal style: how to make your writing precise, concise, and powerful
What do judges need and want?

Mon, 08 Jul 2013 16:00:00 GMT

The program will cover these and many more topics:

Essential concepts in copyright law and practice: Copyrightability, protectable subject matter and associated rights
How copyright principles apply online
Fair use and common fair use misconceptions
Cutting-edge issues and the latest cases in copyright law
Enforcement strategies and copyright litigation, including important defense strategies
Update on DMCA issues

Private Equity Forum (Fourteenth Annual)

Mon, 08 Jul 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Since the financial crisis a few years ago, private equity firms have been dealing with its aftermath, including increased regulatory and legislative scrutiny of their activities and the activities of their funds as well as difficult environments in which to raise new funds and to get deals done. Many firms were required to register as investment advisers with the SEC and a number of newly registered firms are now undergoing their first SEC audits.

At this program, a distinguished panel of experts will discuss the basics of the private equity practice from fund formation to private equity M&A. Experts will guide you through an array of key topics, including a general overview of the legal issues that need to be considered in structuring a private equity fund, current regulatory and legislative issues, current issues in negotiating the terms of private equity funds and private equity M&A transactions, and how private equity firms are addressing compliance issues in the current regulatory environment.

This program is designed to provide an understanding of the business and legal issues related to private equity investment.

Registration under the Investment Advisers Act
New regulatory environment and implications for private equity funds
Negotiating with investors: Key issues
Current issues in private equity M&A
Ethical issues
Compliance programs for private equity firms that are registered investment advisers

Cybersecurity 2013: Managing the Risk

Mon, 01 Jul 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Not long ago, “cyber attacks" invoked futuristic battles in a virtual universe. Today, the threats posed by cyber attacks are very real, and are wreaking havoc on companies around the world. No industry sector is immune, and cybercrime targets have broadened significantly. Media reports of the staggering number of increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks attest to this trend, with organizations such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Twitter, Apple, Facebook and even the U.S. Department of Energy having publicly announced hacking incidents in the past year.

In February, the Obama Administration signaled its grave concern about cybersecurity by issuing an Executive Order directing the development of cybersecurity standards and addressing other measures aimed at helping U.S. companies prepare to tackle cyber threats. Officials in the European Union also have issued draft proposals for cybersecurity rules.

To keep up with the rapidly evolving legal landscape in this field, companies need to be informed not only about the risks they face, but also about forthcoming legislation that could affect how they do business. A thorough understanding of this area is particularly important for companies that have not previously been in cyberattackers’ crosshairs and need to prepare strategies to confront these new and persistent threats.

The multiple challenges posed by cybersecurity issues demand an interdisciplinary approach. Please join us for a robust discussion of the future of cybersecurity with leading experts in the field including privacy lawyers, government insiders, forensic technologists and scholars.

Cybersecurity: What are the risks?
Identifying and investigating cybersecurity attacks, including incident mitigation strategies
Developing company policies to address cybersecurity threat and response procedures
Possible statutory and contractual legal obligations resulting from cybersecurity attacks
The ins and outs of Obama’s Executive Order and the role the private sector will play in shaping its implementation
Past and current legislative proposals and their likelihood for success
Cybersecurity regulation in the European Union

End-of-Life Planning for the Low-Income Client (Free)

Fri, 28 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

End of Life Planning is, like Death and Taxes, one of those things that can go from an easy, informative and straightforward conversation to a drawn-out nightmare if ignored. Low income and very low-income clients, unlike the average middle class client, frequently do not understand the importance of, for example, having identified caretakers for their minor children in place. They frequently resort to “no planning” or improvised planning which does not take into account that, for example, transferring the title on a car or house does not address the issue of the mortgage or other lien. Because their day-to-day issues are so difficult, they frequently have difficulty making the time, and have no money to seek professional advice, on these issues. This program will explain appropriate planning techniques for medical, financial and personal issues, while providing an understanding of the medical framework in which medical advance planning operates. The program is being presented by two legal providers who bring a wealth of experience dealing with end-of-life issues of the low-income client, as well as one medical provider who will discuss how medical advance planning is being taught today.

After this program you will be able to interview and prepare a plan for the low-income client that includes a discussion of and preparation of the Advance Health Care Directive, Power of Attorney, Will and advise on other end-of-life planning techniques. You will also understand the medical view of advance planning for end-of-life, the differences between palliative and hospice care, and the intersection of the two approaches.

Understanding Patent Law 2013

Fri, 28 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

As the America Invents Act becomes part of current practice of patent law, you may think it is not possible to gain an understanding of this complicated field of law in one day. You would be incorrect. Whether you are new to patent law or are trying to refresh your knowledge of this field, this program will cover the key points you need to get up to speed. In particular, this program will cover all types of patent issues that may arise in the context of every day practice and business management. The morning discussion of fundamental patent principles, including what is patentable and how to prosecute and protect patents, establishes an important foundation for the topics that follow throughout the afternoon. Patent licensing, and patent issues that arise in the context of transactions such as mergers and acquisitions will be covered. In addition, why it is important to understand the patent landscape will be reviewed and how that understanding may lead to an assertion of your patent rights or a pre-emptive action against third party patents. A broad overview of patent litigation, including coverage of recent case law, will be addressed as well as actions in the International Trade Commission and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. In-house counsel, general attorneys and business managers will learn to spot key patent issues that may face their clients and/or organizations and will learn what steps need to be taken next.

What are the parts of a patent application and what makes something patentable?
Learn about the lifecycle of a patent, from application-preparation through filing, prosecution, and issuance
Examine the unique issues involved in patent infringement and litigation including claim construction, defenses, and relevant timelines
Explore IP issues that may arise in mergers and acquisitions transactions
Gain practical tips for patent licensing scenarios

Expert Witness 2013

Thu, 27 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

For many attorneys, searching for, retaining, and using expert witnesses can be a daunting experience. Don’t miss out on the critical benefits conferred by the effective use of expert witnesses in complex litigation. Our faculty of experienced litigators and expert witnesses will demystify the challenges of selecting, preparing, and using experts. You will come away with practical tools to handle the myriad of issues involved with expert witness preparation and testimony.

Selecting the right expert for your case
Preparing and conducting a Daubert hearing
Defending against a Daubert challenge
Understanding how recent amendments to the Federal Rules have impacted expert discovery
Deposing the opposing expert
Preparing your expert to testify at a deposition and at trial
Mastering direct and cross examination of experts at trial

M&A Litigation 2013

Thu, 27 Jun 2013 17:30:00 GMT

What better way to learn about M&A litigation than from the attorneys that litigate the nation’s most important M&A disputes and the judges who preside over them? We have assembled judges from the Delaware Supreme Court and the Court of Chancery - the most experienced and respected courts on M&A matters - and distinguished M&A litigators to give you their perspectives on the best ways to handle corporate M&A disputes.

Whether you are just embarking on a litigation career or are a veteran of fast-paced, high-stakes merger disputes, this course will give you unique insights into M&A litigation. Our stellar faculty will provide you with proven strategies and tips to handle successfully every phase of a merger dispute.
Join the masters of M&A litigation to learn about:

Disputing stockholder communications before the stockholder meeting
Litigating over the conduct of the meeting and the vote
Invoking (or escaping) entire fairness review in third party deals
Attacking and defending controlling stockholder takeouts
Mastering Delaware’s evolving approach to deal protection measures
Evaluating remedies tied to deal protection measures
Understanding the continuing debate over “Don’t Ask-Don’t Waive” standstills

Ethics for Commercial Litigators 2013

Wed, 26 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

New developments in confidentiality, the attorney-client privilege, and the attorney work-product doctrine (including disclosure obligations to third parties, the status of government pressure to waive, congressional legislation, selective waiver and inadvertent waiver)
Lawyer’s exposure to civil liability
Whistle-blower remedies for lawyers
Recent developments impacting the "no-contact" rules and lawyer "dissemblance"
Recent cases involving conflicts of interest
Current issues relating to multiple representation
Dangers to lawyers arising out of parallel investigations
Dangers to lawyers in the heightened regulatory environment
Current issues in electronic discovery

Internal Investigations 2013

Tue, 25 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Knowing how to conduct effective and efficient internal investigations is key to protecting your clients or company. Companies and their counsel need to be diligent and proactive in identifying risks and remedying potential issues. At this program, panels of experts from the private bar, in-house and the government use a real-world hypothetical fact pattern throughout the day to review the many considerations and issues that can and do arise from the beginning to the end of an investigation. The program is designed to review the fundamentals of conducting an effective and efficient investigation, as well as to touch on many practical issues arising today, including international issues, data privacy issues, labor and employment law issues, and more. Leave the program with a better understanding of how to handle investigations successfully for your clients or company.

How to conduct an internal investigation, in-house or outside
Considerations at the outset: nature and scope of the investigation
Document retention issues
Plaintiffs’ lawyers considerations: internal self-reporting to the company vs. filing with the government
Issues in international investigations
Data privacy issues
The intersection of labor and employment law and internal investigations
When and how to work with outside experts
How to deal effectively with auditors
When you should disclose and when you should not
The government’s use, evaluation and weighing of internal investigations
Concluding the investigation: when to prepare a report and how, corrective actions, cooperation with the government
Ethical issues: warnings to witnesses, representational issues, the rights of employees, avoiding obstruction, indemnification and advancement

Special Features

Updated, real-world hypothetical scenario to structure program
Earn one hour of Ethics credit
Receive a list of take-away practice points at the end of each panel

Fundamentals of Broker-Dealer Regulation 2013

Mon, 24 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Major changes in broker-dealer regulation and the industry have come about as a result of the financial services crisis and the resulting regulatory reform. At the same time, FINRA’s overhaul of its rulebook as part of its Rulebook Consolidation process is almost complete. This program will provide attendees with a solid foundation in the regulatory regime applying to broker-dealers, including what to expect next regarding broker-dealer regulation. Attendees will learn how the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, FINRA rules and state securities laws interact in governing the brokerage industry.

Attendees will also learn about recent regulatory enforcement activity by the SEC, FINRA, and the States and about how broker-dealers are responding to these developments and the challenges ahead for the industry.

A distinguished faculty will offer insights into recent rulemaking that is having far-reaching impact on the day-to-day operations of firms.

Who are the regulators and how do they interact?
What is entailed with respect to the duty to supervise?
How are conflicts of interest resolved?
What is “suitability”?
Developments regarding broker-dealer and advisory services
What is the role of the chief compliance officer?
How do the SEC and FINRA conduct inspections?

Audit Committees and Financial Reporting 2013: Recent Developments and Current Issues

Fri, 21 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

As we continue to see many new regulations from the SEC, PCAOB and financial institution regulators, we also continue to see numerous challenges emerge for the audit committee. If you are a director or member of an audit committee, or if you advise audit committees, this program will help you understand what is required of the audit committee, and those who advise them, in this rapidly changing environment. You will hear from an expert faculty of public company directors and audit committee members, lawyers and CPAs who advise audit committees, and government regulators who oversee the audit and financial reporting processes. Each panel will offer practical advice based on real-world examples to give you the information and tools you need to successfully perform and meet the many challenges facing audit committees and boards today.

The most important developments in the past year for audit committees, including SEC and PCAOB developments
Continuing impact of the Dodd-Frank regulatory reform legislation on financial reporting and audit committees
Dealing with the host of new regulations from the financial institution regulators - what audit committees and their advisors need to know
Key accounting developments: important changes and GAAP/IFRS convergence update
How to build and maintain strong compliance programs
The audit committee’s role in overseeing risk
Ethical issues arising when advising audit committees

Special Features

One full hour of ethics CLE credit
Interactive panels

Employment Discrimination Law & Litigation 2013

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Any attorney or human resources professional who advises or represents employers, employees, labor unions or government, or who has judicial/arbitral/mediator responsibility, must keep abreast of changes in the employment discrimination arena, and must also be aware of cutting-edge developments on the litigation front.

This program, designed for employment law practitioners and human resources professionals at all levels, brings together prominent practitioners from the management and plaintiffs’ bars, in-house counsel and EEOC representatives and members of the judiciary, to analyze and provide practical guidance regarding the latest developments in the employment discrimination arena.

New laws and new rulings that can affect the advice you give, the strategies you choose, and the settlements you propose
What judges think about lawyers’ approaches to litigating employment discrimination claims
Disabilities discrimination and workplace accommodation update
The EEOC’s perspective on age discrimination: restructurings, reductions in force, mandatory retirement programs and more
Latest developments in employment discrimination class actions
Discrimination trends and the experts’ future predictions

Privacy and Data Security Law Institute (Fourteenth Annual)

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

The latest federal and state legislation, regulations and decisions regarding privacy and security
Foreign developments in data protection law and their impact on U.S. companies
The current enforcement priorities of the FTC and the state attorneys general
Information privacy and security issues raised by technology trends, such as cloud computing, social networking, and texting
Best practices in data security compliance
The latest legislative developments pertaining to information security requirements
Ethical and risk management issues for lawyers in using information technology
Evolving online data collection and marketing techniques and their impact on privacy law

Special Features

Earn one hour of CLE Ethics credit
Earn Continuing Privacy Education credit

Fundamentals of Trademark Law in the Global Marketplace 2013

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Key principles of trademark law and unfair competition: Terminology, the federal Lanham Act, and the underlying policies that support strong trademark protection
Practical tips: Searching and clearing marks and applying for federal registration
Registration issues, both domestic and international
Hot topics and a review of the latest significant cases
Domain name issues and UDRP
Trademark infringement actions, strategies, and remedies, as well as a review of litigation alternatives

Current Hot Topics in IPOs 2013

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

The IPO market is the most active it has been in more than ten years, with technology companies leading the way. Recent securities law developments, including the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act and regulatory changes to implement it, are likely to spur new approaches to capital raising, including changes to current practices in IPO transactions. Even without these legal and regulatory developments, current IPO practices are constantly evolving in response to market developments. How does the IPO team maximize the likelihood of a successful transaction? What are the most difficult problems facing a company in its initial public offering? What are the current hot topics in these transactions, from the perspective of Silicon Valley?

We have assembled an “all star” faculty of Silicon Valley insiders to share their valuable insights into this leading market.

How to manage the transaction
How the JOBS Act is influencing IPO practices
Areas of special focus for drafters of today’s IPO registration statements
Special topics in due diligence
The challenges of corporate governance, equity planning and executive compensation planning for companies contemplating their IPO
Current accounting and financial reporting issues
Latest hot topics in technology company IPOs, including dual-class common stock

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 14:00:00 GMT

The program will cover these and many more topics:

Essential concepts in copyright law and practice: Copyrightability, protectable subject matter and associated rights
How copyright principles apply online
Fair use and common fair use misconceptions
Cutting-edge issues and the latest cases in copyright law
Enforcement strategies and copyright litigation, including important defense strategies
Update on DMCA issues

Fundamentals of Patent Prosecution 2013: A Boot Camp for Claim Drafting & Amendment Writing

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

How to decide what elements of the invention should be included in the patent
How to prosecute an application to result in allowance of an enforceable patent
How to interview an Examiner
How to use reissues, reexamination supplemental examinations and other post-issuance proceedings
How to anticipate patent litigation issues during the patent prosecution process
How to approach patent opinion drafting

Special Features

Morning lectures on critical patent application topics
One-of-a-kind, small group clinics with experienced patent prosecutors to develop and polish patent writing skills

International Employment Law 2013

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Employment law is no longer a local issue. Multinational employers must grapple with often conflicting standards for hiring, retaining, disciplining, and terminating employees. The issues are all the more challenging today, as employment laws, corruption laws, and whistleblower laws, from the U.S. and overseas, impose standards of conduct across borders.

This program brings together highly experienced and sophisticated practitioners, in-house counsel, and senior human resources executives from around the world. They will present in a practical way, how best to advise the multinational employer in these critical issues.

Analysis of different legal standards across borders for hiring and firing, including enforcement of restrictive covenants and confidentially agreements
Discrimination and retaliation laws worldwide
Overseas union and works councils
Best practices in avoiding criminal and civil liability, and dealing with the international whistleblower
Cross border data privacy update

Tax Planning for Domestic & Foreign Partnerships, LLCs, Joint Ventures & Other Strategic Alliances 2013

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:30:00 GMT

Joint ventures between large companies or with start-up or other smaller companies are now an everyday occurrence. Partnerships have long been the tried and true format for the holding and operation of real estate, and since the 1981 Act, for the conduct of closely-held business operations as well. Further, the increase in the number of joint ventures to develop large-scale projects and innovative concepts, the rise of the limited liability company, the promulgation of the “check-the-box” regulations, and the use of hybrids that have fueled an explosion of tax planning opportunities have led many companies, both large and small, to focus on the partnership form or the LLC form for structuring subsidiary operations and foreign operations. More than ever before, corporate tax executives find they must advise senior management, and outside counsel find they must advise their clients, on the opportunities and pitfalls of structuring joint ventures and investments as partnerships or LLCs under Subchapter K of the Internal Revenue Code.

This three-day seminar will trace the partnership tax rules from the birth of the partnership through its operating life, with emphasis on tax issues and planning strategies and opportunities; and then, since for one reason or another such ventures frequently unwind either before or after satisfying their purpose, will focus on exit strategies and tax planning possibilities in unwinding. Some of the sessions on the first day are intended to serve as a review of basics. Special attention will be given to planning under recently finalized sets of regulations and proposed regulations, and to changes wrought by recent legislation and legislative proposals. Speakers from Treasury and the IRS will be joining a number of the more advanced panels in order to discuss cutting-edge issues. Finally, the entire afternoon of the third day will be committed to international joint venture tax planning including the use of hybrids and, therefore, is intended to be quite advanced.

The benefits and detriments of choosing the partnership form
Avoiding the partnership form for certain strategic alliances
Partnership interest basis issues, including allocation of liabilities
Determinations of partner distributive shares and the effect of liabilities
Drafting partnership agreements for substantial economic effect
Expanded session on non-compensatory partnership options, convertibles, recapitalizations, and similar transactions, including a government panelist
Partnership and LLC compensatory interests including options, with a government panelist
The application of self-employment tax and the new net investment income tax to LLC members and limited partners, including a government panelist
Planning under Section 704(c)
Formation of partnerships, including joint ventures of operating businesses
“Topside” planning for private equity and hedge fund investments
Transactions between the partnership and partners, including exit strategies
Canal Corporation: Implications for structuring transactions
Dispositions of partnership interests
Partnership distributions and terminations
Section 754 election planning and special basis adjustments
Partnership mergers and divisions
Special issues of tiered partnerships
Economic substance - understanding the limits; effects of codification; other judicial doctrines; partnership anti-abuse rules; recent tax shelter cases; penalties; ethical considerations; distinguishing good from troublesome tax planning in today’s environment
Partnership workouts and debt restructurings, including a government panelist
Panel on interesting partnership transactions of the past year
Session featuring IRS and Treasury representatives on the government perspective on key partnership issues
Nuts and bolts of a partnership tax controversy
International joint venture issues and planning, including a government panelist
“Check-the-Box” planning
Effects of recent or proposed tax legislation and pending regulatory proposals

Plus New Sessions:

Advanced and cutting-edge topics in Subchapter K
Disregarded entities: Entity/aggregate tension
The umbrellas of Subchapter K

The faculty will consist of both inside and outside tax counsel with special expertise in the transactional aspects of structuring partnerships, joint ventures and other strategic alliances, both domestic and foreign. For some of the more advanced topics, the faculty will be joined by panelists from the IRS and Treasury. Many of the faculty have significant teaching experience and will adopt an approach designed to enable attendees to progress rapidly from an elementary understanding of the rules to the cutting-edge of the most complex of current transactional issues.

Business As Unusual 2013: Business Development in the "New Normal"

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:30:00 GMT

As the marketplace for law firm services changes and contracts, so must your strategies for sustainable client relationships and business development. Even competition to serve existing clients grows fiercer. At the same time, many clients are reassessing what they want from their law firms and how they will define value in service delivery in this “new normal. “

One basic principle remains true: successful business development and longstanding relationships grow from great client-facing service, not from a playlist of business development tricks and tips. You and your firm need to think clearly about:

How to assess what your clients want and need, and how to deliver it
How to define your value in delivering that service;
What you wish to be known for; and
How you will assure that your current client relationships remain strong and can help you develop new relationships going forward.

How to define a value proposition that distinguishes you, your practice, and your firm
How to sustain current business and proof it from competitive threats
How to create new business by better serving existing clients, who will offer you critical referrals/recommendations.
Which service delivery models improve current relationships and attract new clients interested in greater efficiency, cost control, and improved results
Whether improved firm business models and internal supports can help lawyers generate new business – making superior service measurable
What’s next in lawyer training to better prepare lawyers to develop and sustain business in the “new normal”

Internal Investigations 2013

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 14:00:00 GMT

How to conduct an internal investigation, in-house or outside
Considerations at the outset: nature and scope of the investigation
Document retention issues
Plaintiffs’ lawyers considerations: internal self-reporting to the company vs. filing with the government
Issues in international investigations
Data privacy issues
The intersection of labor and employment law and internal investigations
When and how to work with outside experts
How to deal effectively with auditors
When you should disclose and when you should not
The government’s use, evaluation and weighing of internal investigations
Concluding the investigation: when to prepare a report and how, corrective actions, cooperation with the government
Ethical issues: warnings to witnesses, representational issues, the rights of employees, avoiding obstruction, indemnification and advancement

Special Features

Updated, real-world hypothetical scenario to structure program
Earn one hour of Ethics credit
Receive a list of take-away practice points at the end of each panel

International Arbitration 2013

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

If your company or client has a dispute arising out of a contract with a foreign party, international arbitration represents the best method of resolving that dispute in a neutral forum and enforcing any subsequent award. However, the resolution of international business disputes through arbitration raises issues that are simply not present in the litigation context. In many ways, arbitration offers more choices than litigation. What is the appropriate place of arbitration? Under which rules should you arbitrate? How many arbitrators should you have? Which arbitrator should you choose? How can you make the proceeding more efficient? This program will address these and other critical issues and give you the information you need to successfully navigate the international arbitration process. Join our exceptional faculty of experienced practitioners for instruction on the most current and important topics in this fast-growing field. If you handle any aspects of international arbitration or mediation for your clients or company, you will not want to miss this conference.

Using U.S. courts in aid of international arbitration
The international arbitrator’s point of view
Emerging venues: Brazil, Japan, Spain and Egypt
Industry roundtable: expert practitioners and arbitrators discuss the newest developments in the field
Practical tips for winning your cases

Cloud Computing 2013: Cut Through the Fluff & Tackle the Critical Stuff

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Corporations, government organizations and millions of consumers are shifting massive quantities of data and their software applications to cloud computing facilities. Cloud computing provides flexibility, enhanced access to software functionality and potential cost savings, but can inject potential new risks. Negotiating contracts for cloud computing services presents new challenges and it can be difficult to formulate a clear understanding of the inherent new hazards. This program will provide practical advice on key terms for cloud computing contracts, help you define the vendors’ obligations for cloud computing facilities, offer strategies in protecting personal and corporate data, and assist in planning for transfers of data between cloud computing vendors. This is an opportunity to hear industry experts who will help you understand and prepare for the massive changes inherent in the shift to cloud computing.

How cloud computing technology works and the inherent operational risks
The business case for cloud computing
How to ensure privacy and data security in the cloud
Potential litigation pitfalls
What can and can’t be negotiated in enterprise cloud-computing deals
Practical concerns raised by the flood of e-discovery demands for cloud resources
Navigating export controls and trade sanctions risks and responsibilities
-Pointers for addressing indemnity and liability, termination, audit, insurance and other key provisions
- What is “Big Data” and why you should care

Special Features

One full hour Ethics credit

Antitrust Institute 2013: Developments & Hot Topics

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 14:00:00 GMT

From mergers and acquisitions to enforcement priorities, resale price maintenance to international competition, you can be certain to hear about all of the developments in antitrust law at this program led by top experts in the field. Hear from leading antitrust practitioners, senior government officials, and state regulators about how to manage all of the challenges new developments might throw your way. Whether you are a seasoned antitrust practitioner or just a beginner, this program will equip you with practical knowledge you can rely on daily.

Coverage of recent decisions, new developments, and issues to watch
Exclusive dealing and determining when it’s possible to require it
Tying and its many twists and turns
HSR pre-merger notification process
Recent decisions in mergers and acquisition
Federal and state enforcement priorities
Discrimination in price and promotions
International competition issues
Workshop of practical pointers from pleadings to discovery to trials

Protecting Domestic Violence Survivors and Children in California: Pro Bono Representation in Low-Income Domestic Violence Restraining Order Cases (Free)

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Attend this program so that you can receive the basic Domestic Violence Law training you need to represent low-income Californian survivors seeking domestic violence restraining orders and safe effective child custody and visitation orders. Learn the basic substantive law regarding California Domestic Violence Prevention Act and child custody and visitation and how to prepare and handle a hearing to obtain these critical orders. These cases can often be handled in one or two hearings and make the essential difference in creating a safe and stable environment for the domestic violence survivor and family.

Domestic Violence 101 - definitions, cycle of violence, working with survivors
California Domestic Violence Prevention Act restraining orders - procedures, forms and relief
California Custody and Visitation Law - creating safe and enforceable child custody and visitation orders
Role of Family Court Services and Preparing Clients for Mediation
How to prepare and handle a domestic violence restraining order hearing

Acquiring or Selling the Privately Held Company 2013

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

At this perennial favorite, our experienced faculty will walk you through all of the steps associated with acquiring and selling a privately held company, whether it is a large independent corporation, a division or subsidiary of a large public company, or a smaller venture capital-backed or family-owned entrepreneurial enterprise. You will learn about the special issues that apply when a private equity firm is the buyer or owns the target company, and about the techniques and strategies that are essential to successful negotiations. You will also gain an understanding of the key employee benefits, labor and employment, and intellectual property issues that arise and how to address them. Plus you will learn about special diligence concerns involving international deals, including FCPA, AML, tax and labor issues.

Analyze the terms of an acquisition agreement
Develop successful negotiation strategies
Use letters of intent to maximize strategic advantage
Structure and negotiate earn-outs and critical risk allocation provisions
Spot and deal with the key issues that arise in non-corporate law areas, such as:
- Employee benefits
- Labor and employment
- Intellectual property
Cope with the special problems associated with acquisitions of divisions or subsidiaries
Understand the fiduciary duties of directors and majority shareholders in a sale transaction
Understand the special issues relating to financial sponsors
Recognize ethical issues that arise during the negotiation and documentation of transactions
Avoid common drafting pitfalls when non-U.S. laws govern part or all of a deal

Global Capital Markets & the U.S. Securities Laws 2013: Raising Capital in an Evolving Regulatory Environment

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Capital markets are adjusting to a wide range of evolving regulatory standards which affect the way in which offerings are conducted around the world. At the same time, issuers around the world are subject to changing accounting and corporate governance standards, while market participants navigate new ground in derivative product regulation. Issuers and market participants also face an increasingly active global enforcement environment targeting activities taking place around the world. This program will keep securities lawyers up-to-date on domestic and international regulatory and market developments, bringing together an engaging group of expert practitioners and senior regulators for an in-depth look at how the U.S. securities laws work in the context of a rapidly evolving global regulatory environment.
Some of the areas this year’s program will cover are:

The latest developments with global regulatory efforts
Evolving accounting, disclosure and governance standards for issuers
Current developments with private and public offering practices
Changes to the global regulation of alternative investment vehicles and derivatives
Securities enforcement in an increasingly global regulatory environment

Fundamentals of Patent Litigation 2013

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Are you a litigator and have always wondered how patent litigation differs from your practice? Or maybe you have considered pursuing patent litigation but first wanted to find out how it differs from other types of commercial litigation? This exciting program will explore what makes patent litigation, whether in District Court or at the ITC, different from other types of litigation, from the Rule 11 pre-filing investigation through the appeal to the Federal Circuit. Attendees will learn important practical details including who to sue and what to put in the complaint. Learn what discovery is needed in a patent case and how discovery differs from other civil litigation. Disclosures of infringement and invalidity contentions, the claim construction process at and leading up to the Markman hearing will also be examined. Find out what is needed to prove infringement and how a patent may be invalidated by prior art or rendered unenforceable by inequitable conduct. Hear what can be expected at trial and what remedies are available. We will also discuss alternative forums, including the International Trade Commission, and review appeals to the Federal Circuit, and how it and the Supreme Court are reshaping patent law and patent litigation.

How the America Invents Act (“AIA”) is affecting patent litigation
Determining who to sue
Whether to send a notice letter and what can go wrong if you do
What to do if your client receives a notice letter
The forums available for suing for patent infringement
What needs to be done before filing a complaint
What needs to be in a complaint, and answer, and when to counterclaim
When a company can be liable for induced or contributory infringement
How accused infringers can take advantage of patent challenges under the AIA
How to use discovery most efficiently and effectively
How claim terms are construed and the process courts use to do it
How a patent case is tried and who, judge or jury, decides what
What remedies are available and likely to be awarded
Appeals in the Federal Circuit and how to position the case for appeal
How long all this usually takes and what it is likely to cost

Negotiating Real Estate Deals 2013

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Many things have changed in the world of real estate: the structuring of transactions, availability of financing availability of equity capital, bankruptcy remote structures, the role of the bankruptcy process, joint venture considerations, work out pitfalls, carve-out guaranties and unanticipated judicial interpretations, global market gyrations, interest rate setting irregularities, evolving neighborhoods, mega public/private projects, special servicer rights and objectives, and many other factors. This one-of-a-kind program will provide insights into the most effective way to recognize and address these concerns. Some of the best real estate lawyers in the country will be participating in this Program to give you cutting-edge advice for a challenging market place.

Explore the best techniques for negotiating real estate transactions under current market conditions.
Who has the advantage in negotiating real estate contracts, and what are realistic expectations.
How to deal with the “auction” process in or out of bankruptcy proceedings
What are lenders prepared to negotiate in their loan agreement?
What sponsors need to be wary of in signing "good guy" guaranties?
What does and does not belong in a Pre-Negotiation Agreement?
Practical considerations in loan defaults and foreclosures and their impact on achieving workout and restructuring objectives.
How do special servicers view their role in dealing with distressed real estate, and what can be accomplished?
Critical aspects of negotiating joint venture agreements.
How has the leasing world changed?
How has the financing world changed?
How do these public/private mega projects actually get done?

Prior Art, Obviousness, and the America Invents Act in 2013

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

The new AIA 102 and its dates. What is the new “grace period”?
Is it truly a world-wide landscape of “filing date” prior art?
The “effective filing date” is now global - if it publishes/issues in the U.S.
Is Old 102 really gone……or, is it preserved in other guises?
A thorough review of the recent KSR 103 “guidelines” inside the PTO
Examine the impact of proper and improper benefit claims on the prior art date of a reference and the effective filing date of the application being examined
How do you apply 103 post-KSR and the 2010 PTO Guidelines and recent CAFC decisions outside the PTO?

Pocket MBA Summer 2013: Finance for Lawyers

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Key factors shaping financial reporting
Foundational finance, accounting and economics terminology and principles
How to “navigate” and understand the basic financial statements -- the balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows and statement of shareholders’ equity
Practical corporate finance concepts, including financial ratios and analysis
The use of valuations in business transactions and fairness opinions, as well as in common claims and defenses in litigation
Strategies for uncovering fraud in financial statements

Municipal Securities Activity by Broker-Dealers and Advisors 2013

Fri, 31 May 2013 17:30:00 GMT

The Dodd-Frank Act and related developments ushered in new rules for broker-dealers and advisors in the municipal market arena. This program will provide attendees with a solid foundation in the regulatory regime applying to broker-dealer and advisor municipal securities activity. Discussion will include the interplay between the various regulators with respect to municipal securities activity and offer practical compliance considerations.

How the MSRB, SEC and FINRA interact re: municipal securities regulation
An overview of the regulatory framework
The SEC’s Municipal Advisor Rule
The MSRB Rulebook
FINRA guidance re: broker-dealer sales of municipal securities

Corporate Compliance and Ethics Institute 2013

Thu, 30 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Compliance and ethics programs should no longer be considered optional. They are an important aspect of legal risk management, and government standards on compliance programs have become increasingly specific. No matter how large or small the company, paying careful attention to corporate compliance and ethics is critical.

No area is safe - prosecutors all over the world aggressively attack corporate crime, as countries now pursue subjects like antitrust and bribery that were never before under the spotlight. And fines keep getting larger.
The Dodd-Frank Act has provided employees with an incentive to report concerns to the government - rather than their employers -which greatly enhances the need for robust compliance programs.
New technology is emerging to help prosecutors discover violations.
Best practices in compliance are raising the bar of government expectations - but also provide ways for every compliance officer to do more with less and for every compliance program to function more effectively.

In short, at no time has promoting and maintaining an ethical corporate culture been as essential for a company’s survival and success.

At the Corporate Compliance and Ethics Institute, a distinguished faculty, drawn from major corporations, academia, compliance and ethics organizations, law firms and the government will provide you with the tools you need to meet today’s compliance and ethics challenges. Whether you are constructing a new program or enhancing an existing one, our panels of experts will tell you how to ensure that your company’s program satisfies government standards and best practices expectations. You’ll learn about current developments in compliance and ethics, along with practical tips on compliance and ethics risk assessments, compliance and ethics training, auditing and monitoring, helpline and investigations procedures, technology tools, board and senior management oversight of your program and program structures that work. The highly interactive format will allow you to benchmark on a real-time basis and learn best practices from your peers.

Designing and conducting compliance risk assessments to obtain the most valuable information
Structuring your program so that it possesses appropriate independence and clout
The evolving role of the Board - more active oversight and greater expectations
Mitigating the compliance risks created by social media while complying with the NLRB’s latest decisions, and using social media to advance your program
Assessing your program for effectiveness and performing effective compliance audits
Investigating and managing allegations of wrongdoing
Best practices in compliance communications and training
Tools to help your program connect to employees of all ages - including those who spend their lives on social media sites
Do more with less - adding value to your program despite budgetary constraints
Global compliance expectations and best practices, including the UK Bribery Act and the OECD guidance on anti-bribery compliance programs

How to Find and Handle Your First Pro Bono Case (Free)

Wed, 29 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT

This program is a great opportunity to get a strong overview of the world of pro bono, how it can enrich and advance your professional development, and how to make it happen.

How to find the right case:

What types of cases are right to meet your goals
How to pick pro bono opportunities that fit in with your current employment situation
Where to find cases or matters
Options in types of volunteering commitments

Handling your first case:

Ensuring that you are or become competent
Handling your first client meeting
Understanding your client’s circumstances
Working with the court
Finishing up the case

Delaware Law Developments 2013: What All Business Lawyers Need to Know

Wed, 29 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Delaware law continues to play a critical role in U.S. corporate and securities law, particularly in today’s challenging and changing business environment. This unique annual program focuses on the important Delaware corporate law developments over the past year and the practical impact on your corporate or legal practice. The very top Delaware corporate law experts from the Delaware judiciary, leading law firms and corporations, and academia, will examine the latest case law and practical trends and share their real-world experiences, insights and advice on the issues of greatest concern to the corporate/securities legal community.

Recent developments in Delaware law: a two-hour discussion of recent opinions of the Delaware Supreme Court and Court of Chancery by leading Delaware practitioners
Nuts & Bolts of Litigation Practice in the Delaware Chancery Court: What Litigators and Transactional Attorneys Need to Know
Recent Developments with LLCs and Limited Partnerships
Judges Roundtable: Perspectives on Multi-Jurisdictional Practice
Ethical Issues in Delaware law (receive one hour of ethics CLE credit!)

New Jersey Basic CLE Marathon 2013

Tue, 28 May 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Satisfy part of your mandatory continuing legal education requirements in New Jersey and hone your legal professionalism by attending PLI’s New Jersey Basic CLE Marathon program on May 28, 2013. In accordance with New Jersey’s requirements, this one-day program will include New Jersey-specific instruction and discussion on topics authorized by the Supreme Court of New Jersey Board of Continuing Legal Education.

Civil Trial Practice
Criminal Trial Practice
Basic Estate Administration
Real Estate Closing Procedures
Trust and Business Accounting
New Jersey Professional Responsibility and Ethics

Approaching Veterans Issues: A Legal Overview Including an Update of California Penal Code Section 1170.9

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:15:00 GMT

Certain laws and courtroom practices have the potential to impact veterans differently than the rest of the population. This three hour overview will provide useful information to attorneys, judicial officers and others who interact with veterans about the implications of certain laws and practices with regards to veterans’ pasts and futures. The program will focus on Penal Code 1170.9, especially with regard to the 2013 enhancements and will address other topics of interest to the trial bench and judges.

Penal Code 1170.9: Overview and Updates
Military/Veterans Culture – What You Should Know When Representing Veterans
Child Custody & Restraining Orders: Implications for Veterans
Upgrading Military Discharge

Tax Planning for Domestic & Foreign Partnerships, LLCs, Joint Ventures & Other Strategic Alliances 2013

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:30:00 GMT

The benefits and detriments of choosing the partnership form
Avoiding the partnership form for certain strategic alliances
Partnership interest basis issues, including allocation of liabilities
Determinations of partner distributive shares and the effect of liabilities
Drafting partnership agreements for substantial economic effect
Expanded session on non-compensatory partnership options, convertibles, recapitalizations, and similar transactions, including a government panelist
Partnership and LLC compensatory interests including options, with a government panelist
The application of self-employment tax and the new net investment income tax to LLC members and limited partners, including a government panelist
Planning under Section 704(c)
Formation of partnerships, including joint ventures of operating businesses
“Topside” planning for private equity and hedge fund investments
Transactions between the partnership and partners, including exit strategies
Canal Corporation: Implications for structuring transactions
Dispositions of partnership interests
Partnership distributions and terminations
Section 754 election planning and special basis adjustments
Partnership mergers and divisions
Special issues of tiered partnerships
Economic substance - understanding the limits; effects of codification; other judicial doctrines; partnership anti-abuse rules; recent tax shelter cases; penalties; ethical considerations; distinguishing good from troublesome tax planning in today’s environment
Partnership workouts and debt restructurings, including a government panelist
Panel on interesting partnership transactions of the past year
Session featuring IRS and Treasury representatives on the government perspective on key partnership issues
Nuts and bolts of a partnership tax controversy
International joint venture issues and planning, including a government panelist
“Check-the-Box” planning
Effects of recent or proposed tax legislation and pending regulatory proposals

Plus New Sessions:

Advanced and cutting-edge topics in Subchapter K
Disregarded entities: Entity/aggregate tension
The umbrellas of Subchapter K