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Sign Up Now for the 2013 BLS "Hot Topics " MCLE Series!
All programs start at 12 noon on the indicated date, and run for an hour with corresponding CLE credit. You must register in advance in order to participate.
Thursday, May 16, 2013, 12 noon - 1 p.m.
Nitrates and Groundwater: Emerging Contaminants and Liability
Agribusiness Commiteee
1 hour participatory MCLE credit
This program will cover the general scope of emerging nitrate contamination issues in California, including potential theories of liability and exposure. The focus will be on claims that can be expected against agriculture, industry, and suppliers – and resulting implications for the legal practitioner. The program will also explore legislative, regulatory, and industry developments, as well as mitigation approaches and best practices.
Speakers: Steve Goldberg, Katharine Wagner and Greg Broderick, Downey Brand LLP
Thursday, May 23, 2013, 12 noon - 1 p.m.
Planned Corporate Giving: The Benefits and Legal Requirements of Company Foundations
Nonprofit Organizations Committee
1 hour participatory MCLE credit
This program will discuss the role of Company Foundations in corporate giving and the benefits to both the corporations and their communities that may be derived from the judicious use of Company Foundations. This webinar will also review the underlying legal requirements for use of Company Foundations and traps for the unwary.
Speaker: Barbara Rosen, Evans & Rosen LLP
Thursday, May 30, 2013, 12 noon - 1 p.m.
The Latest Court Decisions: Effect on Opinion Letters
Opinions Committee
1 hour participatory MCLE credit
This program will cover the recent important court decisions and how they affect opinion letters, including cases concerning the enforceability of arbitration clauses under California law, as well as conflicts of law, the parol evidence rule and recent developments in opinion practices across the country, featuring new reports and developments from some of the preeminent legal authorities.
Speakers: Steven O. Weise, Proskauer Rose LLP; Jerome Grossman, Gresham Savage Nolan & Tilden, P.C.
Thursday, June 6, 2013, 12 noon - 1 p.m.
The Contractual Integration Clause After Riverisland
Insolvency Law Committee / Commercial Transactions Committee
1 hour participatory MCLE credit
The panel will explore the impact of the recent Riverisland case in which the California Supreme Court ruled that evidence of extrinsic fraud to contradict a written restructuring agreement is admissible, overruling the Pendergrass case which for years has protected lenders in lender liability lawsuits and barred testimony directly contradictory to the four corners of the agreement.
Speakers: John Engel, Sullivan, Hill, Lewin, Rez & Engel; Kathleen Kizer, DLA Piper; Donna Parkinson and Thomas Phinney, Parkinson Phinney
Thursday, June 13, 2013, 12 noon - 1 p.m.
Franchise Relations: Independent Contractor or Employee
Franchise Law Committee
1 hour participatory MCLE credit
This program will focus on the critical issues in connection with California’s developing law on the characterization of franchise relationships between franchisors and franchisees, including: (a) whether and when franchisees and/or their direct employees may qualify as employees of the franchisor; and (b) the respondeat superior liability of a franchisor for a franchisee’s and/or a franchisee employee’s actions.
Speakers: Gerard P. Davey, Gerard P. Davey, A Professional Law Corporation; Grant Nigolian, Grant Nigolian, P.C.
The Business Law Section is a State Bar of California-approved MCLE provider.
The Members Speak - BLS Survey.
Over 300 members of the BLS recently completed a survey of their experiences with and involvement in the Section. Preliminary findings include a desire to connect with one another and exchange information in real time. Engagement in the BLS by members is relatively high, with 20% of the responders saying that they are active within the Section and not simply passive recipients of information and services. BLS continues to review the results of the survey to determine how to best meet the needs of its members. If you would like further information about the survey or how to get more involved with the BLS please email Alan Insul at ami@insullaw.com.
Franchise Law Committee Gets DOC Opinions Online.
The BLS Franchise Law Committee has, with the assistance of State Bar staff, posted remediated, searchable copies of more than 600 Department of Corporations opinions on Franchise Law dating back to the 1970’s. This is the first opportunity for BLS members to search and access these opinions electronically. BLS is proud to offer them in a format accessible to the disabled community. A link will shortly be posted on the BLS Members Only page.
Insurance Leaders Hold Symposium.
Did you know that the insurance industry in California directly or indirectly employs hundreds of thousands of Californians, is the fourth largest contributor (through premium taxes) to California’s General Fund, and is a significant investor in municipal bonds issued by California municipalities? High level leaders of this industry, including Adam Cole, the General Counsel of the California Department of Insurance, Ken Cooley, Assembly Member and Member of the Assembly Committee on Insurance, and Harvey Rosenfield, founder of Consumer Watchdog, join in a symposium on Thursday, May 16, 2013, at the Sutter Club, 1220 9th Street, Sacramento from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. to provide keen insight into the California insurance industry. For more information, please contact Philip Lo at
plo@lynberg.com.
Legislative Watch – Standing Committees Track Active Bills.
BLS Standing Committees remain active in tracking possible new legislation. The Section maintains a matrix of current legislation at
http://www.calbar.ca.gov/AboutUs/Legislation/
SearchforLegislation/BillTrackingSectionsandCommittees.aspx. Many Standing Committees also tailor the tracking to the needs of their members. The Insurance Law Committee posts its tracking of bills at
http://businesslaw.calbar.ca.gov/StandingCommittees/InsuranceLaw
LegislativeUpdate.aspx. And during its February meeting, the Legislative Subcommittee of the BLS Cyberspace Law Committee introduced its legislative matrix. The Subcommittee summarized the current bills pending before the legislature, and selected those for further watch, with priority given to bills affecting privacy policies, search warrants for electronic information, online advertising, and online gambling. For more information, contact Sarah DeDiego at sarah@dediegolaw.net. The BLS Agribusiness Committee is also reviewing bills amending the Food and Agriculture Code, with priority given to bills that will impact pesticides and fertilizers, including water quality, and labor bills that impact agriculture specifically. The Agribusiness Committee is also tracking selected land use bills, such as CEQA remediation for agricultural land conversion and changes to the Williamson Act. This Standing Committee plans to provide periodic e-bulletins starting with an introductory summary of the bills. For more information, contact Rich Ross at
richross@calcounsel.com.
Bankrupt Collaboration: Insolvency Law Committee and California Bankrupty Forum Together Again.
On May 17, 2013, the Insolvency Law Committee (“ILC”) will host its signature annual cocktail reception at the Paradise Point Resort and Spa in San Diego, California at the California Bankruptcy Forum (“CBF”) Insolvency Conference. For nearly a decade, the ILC has hosted a reception at CBF to reach out to 250 plus insolvency professionals who attend CBF. This year, with support from both the CBF and State Bar, members of the ILC will showcase to attendees ILC’s accomplishments in legislation, legal education and, of course, the ILC’s prodigious E-Bulletin production. The officers and members of the ILC invite you to attend the reception, to sign-up to receive E-Bulletins, to join the ILC, and to join and receive the benefits of BLS membership generally. For more information please feel free to contact ILC co-chairs James Hill at
hill@sullivanhill.com, or Tom Phinney at
tom@parkinsonphinney.com.To sign up for the
CBF Insolvency Conference, please click
HERE.
Get Wet and Wild - Agribusiness Committee Hosts Water Tour.
Earn 5 hours of MCLE credit while traveling from Fresno into the pristine Sierra Nevada on the Agribusiness Committee’s Water Tour on May 31, 2013. The tour and seminar provides an historical and legal overview of river water rights, as well as a tour of Southern California Edison Company’s Big Creek Hydroelectric Project: Powerhouse #1 located about 12 miles outside of Shaver Lake, and the Balsam Meadows Hydroelectric Project/Eastwood Powerhouse facility, which is located next to Shaver Lake, off Stevenson Creek. Light breakfast and box lunch is included. The cost is $60. RSVP to Janice Lewis (jlewis@bakermanock.com or (559) 432-5400) by Thursday, May 23 with your name, company affiliation, date of birth, and social security number. Space is limited to 25 people and will be filled on a first come, first serve basis.
CLE 4 FREE! – Attend a Standing Committee Meeting.
BLS Standing Committees often provide MCLE credit for programs presented during their regular meetings. These Standing Committees are composed of California’s thought leaders in their subjects, and attending regular Standing Committee meetings provides you with invaluable knowledge. Standing Committees currently offering MCLE credit include Agribusiness, Consumer Financial Services, Financial Institutions, Nonprofit Organizations, and Cyberspace Law. Join their constituency lists and watch their E-Bulletins for program announcements.
Step up to the Bar
Did You Find This Issue of the BLS E-News Interesting? Then Consider Joining a Constituency List.
This issue of the E-News contains only a sampling of the news you can receive with a BLS membership. Please click HERE and follow the instructions, log in, and update your contact information to receive electronic communications from one or more standing committees.
Do You Want To Get Involved? Here Are Four Ways You Can:
Contribute an Article to the Business Law News (“BLN”)
Approximately 8,000 self-identified business lawyers in the California State Bar subscribe to the BLN. If you want take advantage of this opportunity, please contact one of BLN’s Co-Managing Editors, Marianne Man at Marianne@TheTaxCounsel.com or Robert Brayer at rbrayer@lbinsolvency.com to discuss topic ideas or submit your article. Read BLN’s submission guidelines by clicking HERE.
Join the Editorial Board of the Business Law News
The BLN Editorial Board has current openings. If you want to help refine articles written by some of the leading business law attorneys in their respective fields and work with top-level editors, please contact one of BLN’s Co-Managing Editors, Marianne Man at Marianne@TheTaxCounsel.com or Robert Brayer at rbrayer@lbinsolvency.com.
Mentor a Young Business Lawyer
The BLS and the California Young Lawyers Association (“CYLA”) seek experienced business lawyers to pair with CYLA members interested in developing business law careers for a one-year commitment. Prospective mentors should indicate interest in an email sent to bls.cyla.mentor@calbar.ca.gov. Young lawyers seeking mentoring should send an email to cyla.bls.mentee@calbar.ca.gov.
Participate in a BLS "Road Show"
Want to help introduce law students to the world of business law? The BLS offers panel-style presentations to introduce law students to the world of business law. The lawyers explain matters such as the realities of law practice, the impact of the economy on jobs, client relationships, career progression, and tips on finding job opportunities in business law. The program is offered at law schools throughout the State. Please contact April Pearson at april@avrilex.com to help educate the next generation.
Connect 13
Learn more about a specialty area of business law by attending a May 2013 meeting of one or more of the thirteen BLS Standing Committees. As mentioned above, some meetings offer CLE credit. Contact the Standing Committee Chairs for more information.
A Week in Legal London Sponsored by the Litigation Section
Are you a business litigator? BLS thought this offering from the Litigation Section may hold special interest for you. You can register for the Litigation Section's A Week in Legal London program scheduled for May 19-23, 2013. As official guests of the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, you will have the unique opportunity to experience the inner workings of the British legal system including the Supreme Court, the Royal Courts of Justice, the Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court), Magistrates’ Court, and various Crown Courts. In addition to daily courtroom visits and dining at the Inns of Court, participants will have access to New Scotland Yard’s Crime Museum (formerly known as the Black Museum). A gala farewell dinner will be held in the Peer’s Dining Room in the House of Lords in the Palace of Westminster with attendees as invited guests of the Right Honourable Lord Wallace of Tankerness QC. For more information please click HERE.
OTE: This is not a BLS sponsored event and the BLS provides this offering on behalf of the Litigation Section.
Save Money with CEB
Continuing Education of the Bar, California (CEB) is extending some special discount offers to our section. As a member of the Business Law Section, you're eligible for:
- 10% off selected CEB print or online books
- A rebate on your section dues that can be applied to the cost of a CEB Gold CLE Passport or a CLE program ticket
A complete list of the products eligible for a discount is available on a CEB web page accessible through our Members Only Area. Information about the section dues rebate program can be found on the CEB Web site (new window).
Contact Us
Business Law Section
The State Bar of California
180 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94105-1639
415-538-2570
FAX 415-538-2368