Event Calendar

Friday, June 01, 2012 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Live Teleseminar Replay: Business Planning with Series LLCs

jbrown — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 18:00:00 GMT

To register for this live teleseminar, please click here

About the Teleseminar

“Series LLCs” are a major innovation in business planning. They help resolve certain challenges in business planning with LLCs and open new opportunities for clients. Each “series LLC,” or “cell,” is essentially a sub-entity within a larger LLC. Clients can partition assets and liabilities within each series, shielding them from claims creditors of other series. Every series can have its own economic and ownership structure, too. But for state law purposes they are treated as one entity, thereby greatly reducing the administrative complexity of multiple LLCs. Potentially too, each series can be treated as a separate entity for tax purposes, letting some be treated as pass-through entities, others as disregarded entities or otherwise. But as in all planning, there are risks. This program will provide you with a real world opportunity to the business planning opportunities and risks of series LLCs.

• Understanding the benefits of using “series LLCs” in business planning

• Circumstances when series LLCs make most tax and non-tax sense

• Tax planning opportunities, risks and uncertainties in using series LLCs

• Drafting tips and drafts for Series LLCs

• Creditor and bankruptcy considerations

About the Speaker

Allen Sparkman is a partner in the Denver offices of Sparkman Foote, LLP and of counsel in the Houston office of the Bond Law Firm, PLLC. He has practiced law for over thirty years in the areas of estate, tax, business, insurance, asset protection, and charitable giving. He has written and lectured extensively on choice-of-entity, charitable giving and estate planning topics. He is the Colorado reporter for the books "State Limited Partnership Laws" and "State Limited Liability Company Laws," both published by Aspen Law & Business. He has also served as president of the Rocky Mountain Estate Planning Council. Mr. Sparkman received his A.B. with honors from Princeton University and his J.D. with high honors from the University of Texas School of Law.

Mandatory MCLE Credit Hours and Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility (LEPR) Credit Hours
This seminar qualifies for 1.0 MCLE Credit Hour, including up to 1.0 Taxation Specialty Credit (Tentative).

Monday, June 04, 2012 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Live Teleseminar Replay: Social Media Policies and Liability in the Workplace

jbrown — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 18:00:00 GMT

To register for this live teleseminar, please click here

About the Teleseminar

Social media – Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, blogs, YouTube, Google and more – have permeated the way employers assess, communicate with, and manage prospective, current and former employees. Online background checks using Google or social media are commonplace for job applicants. Employee use of social media to communicate with co-workers and the outside world is pervasive. Former employees often ask for references using LinkedIn and other professional job-seeking sites. These and other employer and employee uses of social media have, seemingly overnight, fundamentally altered the legal landscape of the workplace in new and unexpected ways. This program will provide you with a real-world guide to employer liability for social media usage in the workplace and for background checks on job applicants, and best practices to reduce risk and limit liability.

• Social media use and liability for employers, including issues involving job applicants, current and departing employees

• Using social media and online resources for background checks – permissible uses, limits, risks and liability

• Social media torts by employees at the workplace – tortuous interference, defamation, invasions of privacy, harassment and discrimination

• Preventing disclosure of confidentiality company information through employee use of social media

• Best practices for workplace monitoring of employee social media usage

About the Speaker

Gregg M. Lemley is a partner in the St. Louis office of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., where he has an extensive labor and employment law and related commercial litigation practice. He represents employers in a wide range of litigation matters in both state and federal court in disputes involving discrimination based on race, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin and the FMLA, sexual and racial harassment, and retaliation. Mr. Lemley also has a substantial practice assisting employers in the development, implementation and application of harassment, drug testing, family medical leave and a wide range of other personnel policies. Mr. Lemley received his B.A. from Webster University and his J.D. from Washington University School of Law.

Mandatory MCLE Credit Hours and Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility (LEPR) Credit Hours
This seminar qualifies for 1.0 MCLE Credit Hour.

Tuesday, June 05, 2012 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Live Teleseminar: 2012 Ethics in Civil Litigation, Part 1

jbrown — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 18:00:00 GMT

To register for this live teleseminar, please click here

About the Teleseminar

This wide ranging ethics update will cover major ethics developments important to your civil litigation practice. The program will cover developments in conflicts of interest at each stage of litigation and developments in confidentiality and the attorney-client privilege. Use of “the cloud” by attorneys to store litigation files online and related data security issues, with a focus on inadvertent disclosure and improper access, will also be covered. The program will also cover ethics in e-discovery, the use of metadata in litigation, and ethics issues in judicial recusal. Throughout the program, the speakers will focus on developing best practices to avoid ethics complaints and how to reduce the risk of violations.

Day 1: June 5, 2012:

• Developments in the attorney-client privilege and confidentiality

• Attorneys and “the cloud,” litigation files and data, data security and client confidences

• Developments in conflicts of interest in civil litigation, part 1

About the Speakers

Lucian T. Pera is a partner in the Memphis office of Adams & Reese, LLP. His practice includes professional malpractice litigation as well as counseling lawyers and law firms in the area of ethics and professional responsibility. He was a member of the ABA’s Ethics 2000 Commission and is co-author of "Ethics and Lawyering Today," a national e-mail newsletter on lawyer ethics, which is accessible at: www.ethicsandlawyering.com. Before entering private practice, he served as a judicial clerk to Judge Harry W. Wellford of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Mr. Pera received his A.B. with honors from Princeton University and his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law.

William Freivogel is the principal of Freivogel Ethics Consulting and is an independent consultant to law firms on ethics and risk management. He was a trial lawyer for 22 years and has practiced in the areas of legal ethics and lawyer malpractice for 20 years. He is chair of the Editorial Board of the ABA/BNA Lawyers’ Manual on Professional Conduct and recent past chair of the ABA Business Law Section Committee on Professional Responsibility. He maintains the Web site “Freivogel on Conflicts” at www.freivogelonconflicts.com. Mr. Freivogel is a graduate of the University of Illinois (Champaign), where he received his B.S. and LL.B.

Mandatory MCLE Credit Hours and Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility (LEPR) Credit Hours
This seminar qualifies for 1.0 MCLE Credit Hour, including up to 1.0 LEPR Credit Hour.

Wednesday, June 06, 2012 12:00 PM - 3:20 PM - Live Webcast: The Art of Advocacy: What Lawyers Can Learn From Actors

jbrown — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 17:00:00 GMT

For More Information and to register for this live webcast, please click here

Persuasion is the point of every word the actor and the lawyer speaks. A performance comes alive when the actor or lawyer connects deeply with an audience through a masterful command of evocative language, human emotion and skillful pacing … resulting in an ovation for the actor … a decisive WIN for the attorney! Presented in three sessions – webcast attendees join a workshop that offers concrete solutions to courtroom “performance” and presentation challenges.

SESSION I: Acting Like a Human Being: Demeanor and Skills in Storytelling (Opening and Closing). Attendees learn the elements of storytelling, how to create and deliver "telegrams" (ten word messages from lawyer to juror) and explore and use their own personal demeanors for sharing the client’s story in the courtroom.

SESSION II: Actor/Playwright Meets Lawyer: Inflection, Orchestration and Meter (Closing Argument). Through written and performance exercises and observation, attendees learn meter and rhythm in language and the importance of the three primary delivery inflections … falling, rising and sustaining … and how to apply them for closing argument.

SESSION III: Directing the Trial: Skills in Questioning and Controlling Focus (Direct and Cross). Attendees learn how to control the focus of the jurors and witnesses in both direct and cross examination by seeing through the eyes of the witnesses and jurors and feeling what it is like to be in those positions in the courtroom.

The program includes a live Chat Room in which attendees can discuss these communication issues with the presenters.

SPECIAL BONUS - Skills in Vocal Improvement on DVD or VOD for attendees of this program. Click here to order now!

Mandatory MCLE Credit Hours and Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility (LEPR) Credit Hours
This seminar qualifies for 3.33 MCLE Credit Hours.

Wednesday, June 06, 2012 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Live Teleseminar: 2012 Ethics in Civil Litigation, Part 2

jbrown — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 18:00:00 GMT

To register for this live teleseminar, please click here

About the Teleseminar

Day 2: June 6, 2012:

• Loss prevention and managing difficult clients and cases in a challenging economy

• Developments in conflicts of interest in civil litigation, part 2

• Ethics in e-discovery and using metadata

About the Speakers

Mandatory MCLE Credit Hours and Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility (LEPR) Credit Hours

This seminar qualifies for 1.0 MCLE Credit Hour, including up to 1.0 LEPR Credit Hour.

Thursday, June 07, 2012 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Live Teleseminar Replay: Portability of the Estate and Gift Tax Exemptions

jbrown — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 18:00:00 GMT

To register for this live teleseminar, please click here

About the Teleseminar

The new estate tax regime introduced many new estate planning opportunities. Perhaps the biggest was the concept of “portability,” which allows a surviving spouse to utilize the unused portion of a deceased spouse’s estate and gift tax exemption. Portability of the exemption seemingly made planning easier, but it has many limits and traps. How do you plan for portability when it does not apply to the Generation Skipping Transfer Tax or to state taxes? What happens when a spouse remarries – whose unused exemption is portable? There are also major questions related to locking in the higher exemption amount before it expires at the end of 2012 and planning when the estate tax is scheduled to change drastically in 2013. This program will provide you with a practical guide to planning for portability and structures for locking in the higher exemption amount before it expires at the end of 2012.

• Overview of “portability” and major planning issues in 2012

• Do you still need a “bypass” or “credit shelter” trust?

• How do you trigger portability?

• Generation Skipping Transfer Tax, second marriage and state tax issues

• Structures for locking in the $5 million gift tax exemption before it expires at the end of 2012

• Spousal estate reduction trusts – GRATS, life insurance trusts, installment sales to intentionally defective grantor trusts

• Traps to avoid with the “clawback”

About the Speakers

Daniel L. Daniels is a partner in the Greenwich, Connecticut office of Wiggin and Dana, LLP, where his practice focuses on representing business owners, corporate executives and other wealthy individuals and their families. A Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, he is listed in “The Best Lawyers in America,” and has been named by “Worth” magazine as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the United States representing affluent individuals. Mr. Daniels is co-author of a monthly column in “Trusts and Estates” magazine. Mr. Daniels received his A.B., summa cum laude, from Dartmouth College and received his J.D., with honors, from Harvard Law School.

David T. Leibell is a partner in the Greenwich, Connecticut office of Wiggin and Dana, LLP, where he has an extensive estate, trust and charitable giving practice. He previously worked in the financial services industry, specializing in the financial aspects of estate planning. Mr. Leibell is a frequent lecturer on fiduciary topics throughout the United States, and has authored many articles on charitable, estate and tax planning topics. He is the author of a monthly column in “Trusts & Estates” magazine. He also authors a column for “Registered Representative Magazine.” Mr. Leibell received his B.A. from Trinity College and his J.D. from Fordham Law School.

Mandatory MCLE Credit Hours and Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility (LEPR) Credit Hours
This seminar qualifies for 1.0 MCLE Credit Hour,
including up to 1.0 Estate Planning & Probate Specialty Credit (Tentative).

Friday, June 08, 2012 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Live Teleseminar Replay: Forming a New Nonprofit Organization

jbrown — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 18:00:00 GMT

To register for this live teleseminar, please click here

About the Teleseminar

Forming a new nonprofit organization is every bit as challenging, if not more so, than forming a for-profit entity. Choosing the right entity given your client’s mission is only the first step toward the more complicated process of applying for and obtaining tax exempt status from the IRS. That is a complex and costly process in which mistakes are often made. Also, new nonprofit organizations need essential operating and governance documents, which have only become more importance with recent enforcement activity by the IRS and state attorneys general, turmoil in the nonprofit community because of changes in mission and losses in endowment funds, and increased public scrutiny. This program will provide you with an essential guide to the three step process of forming an entity, obtaining tax exempt status, and putting in place the organization’s essential governing documents.

• Major decision points in forming a new nonprofit/exempt organization

• Choice of entity for nonprofits – what’s the right entity given its mission and funding?

• Obtaining tax exempt status from the IRS – what are the common and costly mistakes?

• Essential governing documents and practices for new exempt organizations

• Timeline of forming a new entity – essential steps and deadlines

About the Speakers

Michael Lehmann is a partner in the New York office of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, where he specializes in tax issues related to non-profits and in the tax treatment of cross-border transactions. He advises hospitals and other health care providers, research organizations, low-income housing developers, trade associations, private foundations and arts organizations. He advises clients on obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status, executive compensation, reorganizations and joint ventures, acquisitions, and unrelated business income planning. Mr. Lehmann received his A.B., magna cum laude, from Brown University, his J.D. from Columbia Law School, and his LL.M. from New York University School of Law.

Michele A. W. McKinnon is a partner in the Richmond, Virginia office of McGuireWoods, LLP, where she an extensive tax-exempt organization and charitable giving practice. She has more than 20 years experience representing public charities, major colleges and universities, supporting organizations, large private foundations, and charitable trusts. She is a Fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and currently serves as its Virginia State Chair. Ms. McKinnon received her B.A. from the University of Virginia, her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Richmond School of Law, and her L.L.M. in taxation from the College of William & Mary Marshall-Wythe School of Law.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Live Teleseminar: Business Divorce: Planning for When Businesses Fall Apart, Part 1

jbrown — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 18:00:00 GMT

To register for this live teleseminar, please click here

About the Teleseminar

The owners of closely held businesses sometimes decide they can no longer work together. It may be that the business is not a success and they want to be done with it – or the business may be a wild success, but they can no longer bear to be in the same company as the other owners. They want a “business divorce” – to separate the assets of company, each going his or her own way, perhaps carrying on the business in whole or part. Sometimes the emotional friction that attends these separations impairs the operating business or diminishes the value of its assets. This program will provide you with a practical guide to minimizing the adverse consequences of a business divorce, including effective transactional techniques to separate operating assets while allowing the business to continue, limiting adverse tax consequences, dealing with compensation, competition and intellectual property issues, and much more.

Day 1: June 12, 2012:

• Planning for a closely-held “business divorce” – practical legal, tax and financial issues and consequences

• Special issues for S Corps, LLCs and partnerships

• Transactional techniques short of liquidation to accomplish a divorce, including buy-sell agreements, compensation and retirement plan techniques

• Dividing assets of an operating business while preserving the business

• Minimizing adverse tax consequences after a business divorce

About the Speakers

Frank Ciatto is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Venable, LLP, where he has more than 20 years’ experience advising clients on major corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, antitrust and related tax issues. He is a leader of his firm’s private equity and hedge fund groups and a member of the Mergers & Acquisitions Subcommittee of the ABA Business Law Section. He is a Certified Public Accountant and earlier in his career worked at what is now PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York. Mr. Ciatto earned his B.A., cum laude, at Georgetown University and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

Norman Lencz is a partner in the Baltimore, Maryland office of Venable, LLP, where his practice focuses on a broad range of federal, state, local and international tax matters. He advises clients on tax issues relating to corporations, partnerships, LLCs, joint ventures and real estate transactions. He also has extensive experience with compensation planning in closely held businesses. Mr. Lencz earned his B.S. from the University of Maryland and his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law.

Mandatory MCLE Credit Hours and Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility (LEPR) Credit Hours
This seminar qualifies for 1.0 MCLE Credit Hour, including up to 1.0 Taxation Specialty Credit.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM - Live Webcast: Clarence Darrow: Crimes, Causes and the Courtroom

jbrown — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 17:00:00 GMT

For More Information and to register for this live webcast, please click here

A master of the courtroom stage, who possessed an uncanny understanding of human character, Clarence Darrow was arguably the greatest trial lawyer of the twentieth century. He was an adamant opponent of capital punishment and a passionate proponent of civil and human rights. Often called the "Attorney for the Damned," he fought for the underdog and took on criminal cases thought to be hopeless. Yet, while commanding respect as a trial lawyer, Darrow was often embroiled in bitter controversy for his unpopular stands on many issues and criticized for his purported unethical professional behavior. This spellbinding and realistic character portrait of Darrow portrays his deeply held beliefs and hard fought courtroom battles. Replete with humor, humanity and intense courtroom drama, the movie engages attendees in four of the great defense lawyer's most famous cases between 1910 and 1928: Loeb and Leopold, Henry Sweet, the McNamara Brothers bombing of the LA Times Building and the Scopes "Monkey Trial." Using Darrow's own thoughts and courtroom summations, the movie explores timeless social, legal and ethical issues and provides a fresh and engaging tool to facilitate discussion of ethical behavior in and out of the courtroom.

Mandatory MCLE Credit Hours and Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility (LEPR) Credit Hours

This seminar qualifies for 3.0 MCLE Credit Hours, including up to 3.0 LEPR Credit Hours (Tentative).

Wednesday, June 13, 2012 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Live Teleseminar: Business Divorce: Planning for When Businesses Fall Apart, Part 2

jbrown — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 18:00:00 GMT

To register for this live teleseminar, please click here

About the Teleseminar

Day 2: June 13, 2012:

• Special issues in “distressed” business divorces

• Valuation techniques for closely held businesses during a business divorce and financing a buyout

• Role of non-competition agreements

• Compensation techniques for accomplishing a business divorce

• Important intellectual property issues, including customer lists, goodwill and trade secrets

• Preservation of valuable tax attributes

About the Speakers

Mandatory MCLE Credit Hours and Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility (LEPR) Credit Hours
This seminar qualifies for 1.0 MCLE Credit Hour, including up to 1.0 Taxation Specialty Credit.

Thursday, June 14, 2012 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Live Teleseminar: Ethics in Beginning and Ending a Attorney-Client Relationship

jbrown — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 18:00:00 GMT

To register for this live teleseminar, please click here

About the Teleseminar

There are major ethical issues involved in beginning an attorney-client relationship and in ending the engagement. Not all engagements begin with a representation letter. It is easy to trigger ethical obligations to someone whom you do not think of as your client, but whom has become a client through inadvertence. This is particularly true of unsolicited communications through web sites and email. In increasingly complicated transactions, planning documents, and litigation, joint representations and their host of confidentiality and privilege issues have also become pervasive. Ending a relationship is nearly as complicated. When are you allowed to end an engagement? And how must you go about it without prejudicing a client’s interest in a transaction or in litigation? These and other ethics questions will be discussed in this real-world guide to ethical traps in beginning and ending an attorney-client relationship.

• Ethics issues involved in beginning and terminating an attorney-client relationship

• Determining when and how a relationship starts – including through inadvertence

• Email and technology issues – how unsolicited communications may trigger ethical obligations

• Joint representation issues – unsorting the confidentiality and privilege issues

• End a relationship – when are you allowed to end an engagement? How do you do it ethically?

• Circumstances when you might be required to end a relationship

About the Speaker

Thomas E. Spahn is a partner in the McLean, Virginia office of McGuireWoods, LLP, where he has a broad complex commercial, business and securities litigation practice. He also has a substantial practice advising businesses on properly creating and preserving the attorney-client privilege and work product protections. For more than 20 years he has lectured extensively on legal ethics and professionalism and has written “The Attorney-Client Privilege and the Work Product Doctrine: A Practitioner’s Guide,” a 750 page treatise published by the Virginia Law Foundation. Mr. Spahn has served as member of the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility and as a member of the Virginia State Bar's Legal Ethics Committee. He received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Yale University and his J.D. from Yale Law School.

Mandatory MCLE Credit Hours and Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility (LEPR) Credit Hours
This seminar qualifies for 1.0 MCLE Credit Hour, including up to 1.0 LEPR Credit Hour.

Thursday, June 14, 2012 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM - Seminar: Nobody Told Me There’d Be Days Like These

jmanning — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 18:00:00 GMT

"Nobody Told Me There'd Be Days Like These!"

Stress, Pressure and Ethical Decision-Making for Attorneys

presented by the

South Carolina Bar-Continuing Legal Education Division, Reel Time CLE and in conjunction with the N.C. Association of Defense Attorneys and Asset Seminars

Live at the

Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa

Two Grasslawn Ave.

Registration: 1 – 1:15 p.m.

Program: 1:15 – 4:30 p.m.

About the Seminar
This program qualifies for 3.0 MCLE credit hours, including 2.0 LEPR credit hours and 1.0 SA/MH awareness hour.

Based on a series of clips from the critically-acclaimed legal thriller, Changing Lanes (starring Ben Affleck and Samuel L. Jackson), this LIVE program explores the intersection of ethical decision-making and the inevitable stress encountered by attorneys. Participants will have an opportunity to identify and better understand the many sources of pressure common to the practice of law, and to discover practical ways to avoid the kinds of professional and personal problems that can literally ruin a career.

The mix of LIVE guided discussions and instructional time is led by practicing litigation attorney Chris Osborn, of Horack Talley Pharr & Lowndes, PA, and professional counselor and former lawyer, Michael Kahn, JD, LPC both of Charlotte, NC.

Friday, June 15, 2012 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM - Seminar: Government Law Section Mid-Year Update

JHeape — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 13:30:00 GMT

Government Law Section Mid-Year Update

presented by the

South Carolina Bar-Continuing Legal Education Division

Co-sponsored by the Government Law Section

Live at the

Bar Conference Center

1501 Park Street

Columbia, SC 29202

Click here for live Webcasting

About the Seminar - FOR GOVERNMENT SECTION MEMBERS ONLY!

Each year the Government Law Section strives to present information that is both timely and useful for local government attorneys. This year’s update will offer several thought-provoking topics, including a segment on substance abuse issues in the legal profession. This segment has been approved by the S.C. Supreme Court Commission on CLE for one hour of instruction devoted to substance abuse/mental health, required at least once every three years for practicing attorneys. Don’t miss out on this informative and entertaining seminar - register now!

This program qualifies for 6.0 MCLE credit hours including 1.0 LEPR and 1.0 SA/MH credit hour.

Program Agenda

8:30 a.m. Registration

8:55 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks

Joan E. Winters

Law Office of Joan E. Winters, LLC

9 a.m. Here’s What’s Happening Now and Beyond

Timothy C. Winslow

S.C. Association of Counties

10 a.m. Issuer Liability and Disclosure: It’s a Whole New World

Ray E. Jones

Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein, LLP

11 a.m. Mid-morning Break

11:15 a.m. How to Handle Meth Labs: What’s That I Smell?

A. “Sandy” Cruickshanks IV

Laurens County Attorney

11:45 a.m. New Markets Tax Credits

Michael W. Burns

Brandon Norris

McNair Law Firm, P.A.

12:15 p.m. Lunch (included)

1:15 p.m. Attorney Substance Abuse: Truth, Myth and Behavior in the Legal Profession

Jason Collett

ARCpoint Labs

2:15 p.m. Break

2:30 p.m. Media Relations: How to Really Handle the Press

Stephany Snowden

Public Information Director, Richland County

3:30 p.m. Ethics Topic TBD

Dean Robert M. Wilcox

USC School of Law

4:30 p.m. Adjourn

Alternate Registration Method

Friday, June 15, 2012 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Live Teleseminar: Employment Law Torts

jbrown — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 18:00:00 GMT

To register for this live teleseminar, please click here

About the Teleseminar

The hiring process is supposed to identify the most talented applicants for employment, help recruit and retain them. But the process is fraught with potential torts from beginning to end. Employers cannot identify the best applicants without seeking substantial information about their professional history. Employers cannot protect themselves in the workplace without investigating complaints of harassment or intimidation. Employers often need to monitor employee activity to prevent disclosure of confidential information. Each of these and other activities are considered essential by employers to reduce their risk exposure, but they are also fertile sources of tort liability. This program will provide you with a practical guide to tort liability in the employment relationship, including torts in recruiting and hiring applicants, retaining and monitoring employees on the job, and in discharging them.

• Common law and statutory sources of employment law torts

• Pre-employment torts – hiring questionnaires, drug testing requirements, background checks

• Negligent hiring and retention, and deprivation of career opportunities

• Torts in workplace investigations, employee monitoring, including of social media, and invasions of privacy

• Torts in discharging employees

• Torts committed by employees for which employers are liable – harassment, violence, negligence

About the Speaker

Kenneth W. Gage is a partner in the Chicago office of Paul Hastings, LLP, where he represents employers in a wide range of federal and state employment litigation matters. He handles a wide range of employment matters from pre-litigation counseling through trials and appeals involving age, race and sex discrimination claims, retaliation claims, and state common law claims, as well as numerous summary judgment rulings. Before entering private practice, Mr. Gage served as judicial clerk to Chief Judge Thomas J. McAvoy of the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York. Mr. Gage received his B.S. degree, cum laude, from the University at Buffalo and his J.D. degree from the University of Buffalo.

Mandatory MCLE Credit Hours and Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility (LEPR) Credit Hours

This seminar qualifies for 1.0 MCLE Credit Hour,
including up to 1.0 Employment & Labor Law Specialty Credit.

Monday, June 18, 2012 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Live Replay Teleseminar: Franchise Red Flags and Traps

jbrown — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 18:00:00 GMT

To register for this live teleseminar, please click here

About the Teleseminar

The number of people buying franchises hasn’t slowed in the slow economy. Instead, as clients leave their professions, jobs and other businesses, they often seek a “pre-form” or “ready-made” business in franchise opportunities. There’s a certain deep logic to the growth in franchising that is unlikely to abate. This presents practitioners with the challenge of reviewing and negotiating complex franchise agreements that seem to be written exclusively in boilerplate, appear non-negotiable, involve complicated financial arrangements, and involve a host of unfamiliar federal and state laws. This program will demystify franchising and its operative agreements, providing you with practical guidance for understanding the financial and substantive legal arrangements involved, tips for negotiating with franchisors and for spotting red flags before your clients buy.

• Overview of the law governing franchising

• How to evaluate the overall rewards and risks of franchises your clients are considering

• Most important provisions of franchise agreements

• Determining what’s negotiable and what’s not

• Understanding the complex economic arrangements

• Spotting franchise red flags and traps

About the Speaker

Harris J. Chernow is a partner in the Philadelphia office of Chernow Kapustin, LLC, where he has a national franchise, business transactional and real estate practice. He represents franchisees and franchisors on the full range of franchise transactions, including licensing, distribution, corporate structuring, retail development, and dispute resolution. He is a member of the Governing Committee of the ABA’s Forum on Franchising and formerly as chair of the Forum’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Committee. He is also a contributor to the book “Franchising 101, the Complete Guide to Evaluating, Buying and Growing Your Franchise Business,” published by Upstart Publishing Company. Mr. Chernow received his B.S. from Temple University and his J.D. from Temple University School of Law.

Mandatory MCLE Credit Hours and Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility (LEPR) Credit Hours
This seminar qualifies for 1.0 MCLE Credit Hour.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Live Teleseminar: 2012 Estate, Trust and Gift Tax Planning Update, Part 1

jbrown — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 18:00:00 GMT

To register for this live teleseminar, please click here

About the Teleseminar

This two day program will provide you a practical guide to major legislative, regulatory and case law developments in estate and gift, trust and charitable planning in the past year. The first day will focus on recent changes to the estate and gift tax law and how the law is scheduled to change – often in dramatic ways – at end of 2012. The first day will also focus on capturing benefits under the new law before its favorable provisions expire at the end of 2012. The second day of the program will focus on developments unrelated to the new tax law. Major case law and regulatory developments, including the IRS’s review of “decanting” of trusts, new proposed valuation timing rules, and GST developments, will be discussed. The second day will also cover FLP and LLC developments related to family businesses.

Day 1: June 19, 2012:

• Detailed review of how the estate gift new tax law will change again at the end of 2012

• Planning for new exemption amounts and rates in 2013

• Understanding the new concept of “portability”

• Capturing the benefits of the new law before they expire at the end of 2012

• Charitable giving update

About the Speakers

Blanche Lark Christerson is a managing director at Deutsche Bank Private Wealth Management in New York City, where she works with clients and their advisors to help develop estate, gift, tax, and wealth transfer planning strategies. Earlier in her career she was a vice president in the estate planning department of U.S. Trust Company. She also practiced law with Weil, Gotshal & Manges in New York City. Ms. Christerson is the author of the monthly newsletter “Tax Topics." She received her B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College, her J.D. from New York Law School and her LL.M. in taxation from New York University School of Law.

Renee M. Gabbard is a partner the Costa Mesa, California office of Paul Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, LLP, and leads the firm’s west coast private client practice group. Her practice focuses exclusively on representing privately held businesses, high net worth clients and charitable organizations. Her areas of practice include all aspects of income, capital gains, gift and estate tax planning, charitable planning, and advanced wealth and business succession planning. She has written and spoken widely on estate and trust planning topics. Ms. Gabbard received her B.A. from the University of Southern California and her J.D. from New York University School of Law.

Daniel L. Daniels is a partner in the Greenwich, Connecticut office of Wiggin and Dana, LLP, where his practice focuses on representing business owners, corporate executives and other wealthy individuals and their families. A Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, he is listed in “The Best Lawyers in America,” and has been named by “Worth” magazine as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the United States representing affluent individuals. Mr. Daniels is co-author of a monthly column in “Trusts and Estates” magazine. Mr. Daniels received his A.B., summa cum laude, from Dartmouth College and received his J.D., with honors, from Harvard Law School.

Mandatory MCLE Credit Hours and Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility (LEPR) Credit Hours

This seminar qualifies for 1.0 MCLE Credit Hour, including up to 1.0 Estate Planning & Probate
and 1.0 Taxation Specialty Credit.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM - Live Webcast: Ben Franklin on Ethics

jbrown — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:00:00 GMT

For More Information and to register for this live webcast, please click here

Even in Ben Franklin's time, the public held cynical views about lawyers. How can one be a better practitioner and help negate some of the lingering negative attitudes toward today’s lawyers? In this engaging and informative program, Ben Franklin (who worked with more lawyers than most modern day practitioners) challenges today’s lawyers to expand their own notion of ethics much as he, himself, did during his own life. Portrayed by Christopher Lowell, internationally acclaimed actor, historian, and Franklin scholar, Ben discusses the ethical issues he confronted and challenges attendees to put ethical considerations at the heart of legal practice. Franklin speaks of the importance of ethical practices and the spirit of Pro Bono Publico as the underpinnings of a virtuous life. Topics include Ethics in Documentation, Ethics and Relationships, Ethics and Fees, Ethics and Loyalty and the importance of Humility and Honesty.

A live chat room discussion with Ben and a Moderator concludes the program.

Mandatory MCLE Credit Hours and Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility (LEPR) Credit Hours
This seminar qualifies for 1.25 MCLE Credit Hour,including up to 1.25 LEPR Credit Hours (Tentative).

Wednesday, June 20, 2012 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Live Teleseminar: 2012 Estate, Trust and Gift Tax Planning Update, Part 2

jbrown — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 18:00:00 GMT

To register for this live teleseminar, please click here

Day 2: June 20, 2012:

• Update of major case law and regulatory developments

• Generation Skipping Transfer Tax developments

• IRS review of “decanting” trusts

• Proposed changes to the valuation rules

• State transfer tax issues

• Family Limited Partnership and LLC update

About the Speakers

Blanche Lark Christerson is a managing director at Deutsche Bank Private Wealth Management in New York City, where she works with clients and their advisors to help develop estate, gift, tax, and wealth transfer planning strategies. Earlier in her career she was a vice president in the estate planning department of U.S. Trust Company. She also practiced law with Weil, Gotshal & Manges in New York City. Ms. Christerson is the author of the monthly newsletter “Tax Topics." She received her B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College, her J.D. from New York Law School and her LL.M. in taxation from New York University School of Law.

Renee M. Gabbard is a partner the Costa Mesa, California office of Paul Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, LLP, and leads the firm’s west coast private client practice group. Her practice focuses exclusively on representing privately held businesses, high net worth clients and charitable organizations. Her areas of practice include all aspects of income, capital gains, gift and estate tax planning, charitable planning, and advanced wealth and business succession planning. She has written and spoken widely on estate and trust planning topics. Ms. Gabbard received her B.A. from the University of Southern California and her J.D. from New York University School of Law.

Daniel L. Daniels is a partner in the Greenwich, Connecticut office of Wiggin and Dana, LLP, where his practice focuses on representing business owners, corporate executives and other wealthy individuals and their families. A Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, he is listed in “The Best Lawyers in America,” and has been named by “Worth” magazine as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the United States representing affluent individuals. Mr. Daniels is co-author of a monthly column in “Trusts and Estates” magazine. Mr. Daniels received his A.B., summa cum laude, from Dartmouth College and received his J.D., with honors, from Harvard Law School.

Mandatory MCLE Credit Hours and Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility (LEPR) Credit Hours

This seminar qualifies for 1.0 MCLE Credit Hour, including up to 1.0 Estate Planning & Probate
and 1.0 Taxation Specialty Credit.

Thursday, June 21, 2012 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Live Teleseminar: Sophisticated Choice of Entity, Part 1

jbrown — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 18:00:00 GMT

To register for this live teleseminar, please click here

About the Teleseminar

Choice of entity is the first major legal decision of every company. The type of entity chosen will have a seminal impact not only at formation but throughout the entity’s existence: Every time the company earns a profit or incurs a loss, makes a distribution to its owners, undergoes a major transaction with another entity, or liquidates, the choice of entity will have a real and substantial impact on financial, tax and regulatory treatment of the company and its owners. This program will provide you with a framework for understanding the real-world organizational law, financial, tax and regulatory tradeoffs of choosing one type of entity – C Corps, S Corps, LLCs and partnerships – over the others, and provide practical tips on counseling your clients.

Day 1: June 21, 2012:

• Choice of entity considerations – organizational law, tax, and regulatory – at each stage of the lifecycle of a business

• Special considerations for service-based businesses

• What types of entity generally work best for what industries

• Finding the right ownership and compensation structure depending on the choice of entity

• Governance structures, fiduciary obligations and conflicts of interests among owners

About the Speakers

Alson R. Martin is a partner in the Overland Park, Kansas office of Lathrop and Gage, LLP, where he has a national practice focusing on business law, taxation, health care, and retirement plans. He is a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel and the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel. Mr. Martin is the author of "Limited Liability Companies and Partnerships" and the co-author of "Kansas Corporation Law & Practice (Including Tax Aspects)." He is the president and a director of the Small Business Council of America. Mr. Martin received his B.A., with highest distinction, from the University of Kansas, and his J.D. and LL.M. from New York University School of Law.

Mandatory MCLE Credit Hours and Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility (LEPR) Credit Hours
This seminar qualifies for 1.0 MCLE Credit Hour, including up to 1.0 Taxation Specialty Credit.

Friday, June 22, 2012 11:30 AM - 5:00 PM - Seminar: Ethics on the River - Get Off the Denial River

jmanning — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 16:30:00 GMT

Second Annual Ethics on the River:

Ethics in the Age of Tweets and Text

presented by the

South Carolina Bar-Continuing Legal Education Division

Live at the

Saluda Shoals Park - River Center

5605 Bush River Road

Columbia, SC 29212

About the Seminar
This program qualifies for 1.0 MCLE credit hour, including 1.0 LEPR credit hour.

Warm weather is fast approaching and what better way to spend a Friday afternoon in June than paddling with your colleagues down the cool, scenic Saluda river! The SC Bar CLE Division is excited and proud to sponsor the second “Ethics on the River” CLE program!

We will meet at Saluda Shoals Park where Karen L. Luchka with Fisher & Phillips LLP will lead us in a interactive and practical discussion on ethics in social networking & technology. We’ll have a terrific lunch, and then River Runner Outfitters will provide us with an unforgettable afternoon on the beautiful Saluda River. When the trip is over, they’ll return us to our cars at Saluda Shoals Park.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity for fun, fellowship, and CLE! Register now because we’re limited to 30 participants! Please Note: Walk-ins cannot be accepted

Program Agenda

11:30 a.m. Registration

12 p.m. Lunch (Included)

12:30 p.m. Get Off the Denial River: Ethics in the Age of Tweets and Text

Karen L. Luchka

Fisher & Phillips, LLP

1:30 p.m. Adjourn

2 p.m. Depart for Kayaking Trip

5 p.m. Return to Saluda Shoals Park