All panels are listed in Eastern time at the Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel. View CLE Accreditation. Date, time and location are subject to change.

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Rhapsody & George Benson, 3rd Floor

Affiliate Leadership Training: Now You're a Leader

Presented by: YLD Affiliate Assistance Team

Designed for chair-elects and high level leadership of young lawyer organizations, this special session gives you the skills to ensure an effective leadership year.

Themes/Topics:

Discovering and Developing Your Leadership Style
Creating S.M.A.R.T Goals
Designing Your Organizational Structure
Crafting an Effective Action Plan
Developing Your Talent Management Strategy
Building a Collaborative Team Environment
Running Successful Meetings
The ABA and YLD as Your Partner

View Materials (PDF)

Speakers for Leadership Training:
Connie O. Walker (PDF), Law Clerk to the Honorable Frank P. Geraci, Jr., Rochester, NY
Julie R. Colton, Voelker & Colton, LLC, Pittsburgh, PA
James W. Creenan, Creenan & Baczkowski PC, Murrysville, PA
Elizabeth Derrico (PDF), American Bar Association Division for Bar Services, Chicago, IL
David R. Watson, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Cleveland, OH
Paige Greenlee (PDF), Sivyer, Barlow & Watson P.A., Tampa, FL
Anna Romanskaya, Stark & D’Ambrosio, San Diego, CA

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Jimmy Stewart, 2nd Floor

CLE PROGRAM: Ensuring the Safety, Permanence and Well-Being of LGBTQ Youth

Presented by: ABA Center for Children and the Law

This session will provide an overview of LGBTQ youth who are involved in the welfare and juvenile justice systems, and common risk factors they encounter navigating these systems.

View Materials (PDF)

Program Chair/Speaker: Mimi Laver, ABA Center on Children and the Law, Washington, DC

3:15 PM - 4:15 PM Jimmy Stewart, 2nd Floor

CLE PROGRAM: Jerk Management 101: Success Tips for Taking Depositions with Difficult Opposing Counsel

Presented by: YLD Antitrust Committee

This program features attorneys with varied experience levels and practice areas who all share the common experience of dealing with difficult opposing counsel. The panelists will share their experiences and tips on how to handle these situations. All attendees will be provided a list of best practices from the panelists.

View Materials (PDF)

Program Chair: Helen Wong, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC

Moderator: Jason E. Hirshon, Slinde Nelson Sanford, Portland, OR

Speakers:
Adrian K. Felix, Carlton Fields Jorden Burt, Miami, FL
Christina Liu, Illinois Department of Insurance, Chicago, IL
Elizabeth J. Palmer, Rosen Rosen & Hagood LLC, Charleston, SC

8:00 AM - 8:45 AM Symphony Ballroom, 2nd Floor

Opening Session / Plenary and Breakfast

Speaker: Judge Nora Barry Fischer (PDF), U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PA

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM George Benson, 3rd Floor

Financial Sanity: How to Smartly Manage Your Money

Presented by: American Bar Endowment

Do you ever stress about money? Whether tackling student loan debt, looking to invest, or just needing some assurance, managing your finances can be one of the most emotionally fraught aspects of your life. During this engaging breakout session, Kristin Brandli, Independent Financial Consultant, will provide tools and tips to help you smartly maintain your "financial sanity."

Moderator: Andrea Galvez, American Bar Endowment, Chicago, IL

Speaker: Kristin R. Brandli, North Star Resource Group, Minneapolis, MN

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Symphony Ballroom A, 2nd Floor

CLE PROGRAM: Social Media Across Borders

Presented by: YLD Membership Board

As social media becomes more prevalent in society, the law is equally impacted by social media. This panel will provide an overview of how social media affects the substantive practice of law and our professional development as lawyers, and compares social media legislation in the U.S. and Canada.

View materials (PDF)

Program Chair: Mark D. Nichols, Polenberg Cooper Saunders & Riesberg PL, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Moderator: Raychelle Tasher, Ms. JD Board of Directors, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Speakers:
Jad-Patrick Barsoum, JoliCoeur Lacasse Avocats, Quebec, Canada
Samuel A. Hornak, Clark Hill PLC , Pittsburgh, PA
Scott W. MacMullan, Scott MacMullan Law LLC, Annapolis, MD

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Symphony Ballroom B, 2nd Floor

CLE PROGRAM: The Inside Scoop: The Ins and Outs of Working with In-House Counsel

The diverse panel of in-house counselors will provide young lawyers with the inside scoop on working with, and keeping happy, your general counsel - complete with tips, pitfalls, and the keys to finding and keeping business.

View materials (PDF)

Program Chair/Moderator: Marla N. Presley, Jackson Lewis P.C., Pittsburgh, PA

Speakers:
Pamela W. Connelly, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Tom Frooman, Cintas, Loveland, OH
Joanne La Rose, FedEx Ground, Pittsburgh, PA
Jessica L. Lynch, Alcoa, Pittsburgh, PA

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Symphony Ballroom C, 2nd Floor

CLE PROGRAM: Creating Solid Anti-Bullying Policies & Law: Navigating Free Speech Issues

Presented by: YLD Individual Rights & Responsibilities Committee

Unique legal issues exist at the intersection of anti-bullying policy and free speech protections. This program will present an overview of these unique legal issues, evaluate the latest developments in anti-bullying policies and laws, and provide practical insights on creating defensible and sound anti-bullying policy.

View Materials (PDF)

Program Chair: Evan L. Wilson, Metropolitan Airports Commission, Minneapolis, MN

Speaker:
Jeremy Tedesco, Alliance Defending Freedom, Phoenix, AZ

10:15 AM - 11:15 AM George Benson, 3rd Floor

ETHICS CLE PROGRAM: Minding Your P's & Q's: Professionalism and Ethics in the Courtroom

Presented by: The Lawyers Conference of the Judicial Division

An interactive panel of judges and experienced lawyers will discuss and address various issues relating to professionalism and ethics in the courtroom, including tips and advice for young lawyers regarding civility, ethical obligations, courtroom demeanor, and judicial pet peeves.

View materials (PDF)

Program Chair: Emily Tidmore, Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC, Birmingham, AL

Moderator: Michael G. Bergmann, Public Interest Law Initiative, Chicago, IL

Speakers:
Judge Cathy Bissoon (PDF), U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PA
Judge Christine A. Ward, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas (Civil Division), Pittsburgh, PA
The Honorable David N. Wecht, The Superior Court of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PA

10:15 AM - 11:15 AM Symphony Ballroom A, 2nd Floor

CLE PROGRAM: Mock Hearing: Tightening Trends in Class Certification or Business as Usual?

Presented by: YLD Antitrust Committee

Class certification has received the attention of the U.S. Supreme Court and Circuit Courts of Appeal in recent years and many have argued that these decisions have made it more difficult for antitrust plaintiffs (and others) to obtain class certification. This mock hearing will present both sides of the story through the lens of the Apple e-books litigation. Join us as we watch experienced trial counsel present these issues to a sitting federal judge and see how the issues are perceived and decided in a dynamic mock hearing.

View Materials (PDF)

Program Chair: Kate Wallace, Jones Day, Los Angeles, CA

Speakers:
Donna M. Doblick, Reed Smith LLP, Pittsburgh, PA
Judge Nora Barry Fischer (PDF), U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PA
John D. Goetz, Jones Day, Pittsburgh, PA
Mary Pat Stahler, Jones Day, Pittsburgh, PA

10:15 AM - 11:15 AM Symphony Ballroom B, 2nd Floor

ETHICS CLE PROGRAM: Anatomy of ADR: Ethical Considerations for the Neutral and the Lawyer

Presented by: ABA TIPS Taskforce on Outreach to Young Lawyers

This session will explore the application of the code of professional responsibility for lawyers in alternative dispute resolution. The panel will address how rules regarding confidentiality, the lawyer’s role as a third party neutral and advocate, candor towards the tribunal, and truthfulness in statements to others are applied during the ADR process. Also to be discussed are required disclosures, conflicts of interest, the unauthorized practice of law, and the ethical obligations of ADR provider organizations.

View materials (PDF)

Program Chair: Latanishia D. Watters, Hand Arendall LLC, Birmingham, AL

Speaker:
Bernard "Bernie" Behrend, Behrend Mediation Services, Pittsburgh, PA
John J. Hatzell, Jr., AIG Staff Counsel, Philadelphia, PA
Michael D. McDowell, Arbitrator & Mediator, Pittsburgh, PA

10:15 AM - 11:15 AM Symphony Ballroom C, 2nd Floor

CLE PROGRAM: Family Responsibility: A New Frontier in Workplace Liability

Presented by: YLD Labor & Employment Committee

Family responsibility discrimination claims, i.e., discrimination based on a real or perceived obligation to provide care for a family member, are on the rise. Panelists will give perspectives from the plaintiff’s bar, the defense bar, and the EEOC on how these claims arise, why more of these claims are being pursued, and how we can provide better guidance to our clients on these issues.

View materials (PDF)
Links of Interest:
EEOC Enforcement Guidance: Unlawful Disparate Treatment of Workers with Caregiving Responsibilities
EEOC Employer Best Practices for Workers with Caregiving Responsibilities

Moderator: Kyle R. Hartman, Seyfarth Shaw, Chicago, IL

Speakers:
Lisa Hernandez, EEOC, Pittsburgh, PA
Vincent J. Mersich, Law Offices of Vincent Mersich, Elizabeth, PA
Jill M. Weimer, Littler Mendelson, Pittsburgh, PA

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM George Benson, 3rd Floor

CLE PROGRAM: Perspectives on Race and Gender in the Law

Presented by: YLD Government, Military & Public Sector Committee

This CLE tackles the pervasive influence of race and gender in the law from three different perspectives. First, Dr. Davis, Director of the Center on Race & Social Problems, will present his recent 2014 empirical research on racial disparities in Pittsburgh’s criminal justice system. He will also discuss racial and gender disparities nationwide. Second, we will hear from a practitioner who can discuss examples of racial and gender bias in day-to-day practice. Finally, University of Pittsburgh School of Law Professor Pat Chew will present her research on how the race and gender of the judiciary may subtly influence their decision-making.

View materials (PDF)

Program Chair: Kristian J. Collins, Social Security Office of Disability Adjudication & Review, Tallahassee, FL

Moderator: Shenique A. Moss, Michigan Department of the Attorney General Finance Division, Lansing, MI

Speakers:
Pat K. Chew, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Pittsburgh, PA
Kelly-Ann F. Clarke, Greer, Herz & Adams LLP, Galveston, TX
Dr. Larry E. Davis, University of Pittsburgh Center on Race & Social Problems, Pittsburgh, PA

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Symphony Ballroom A, 2nd Floor

ETHICS CLE PROGRAM: Avoiding the Summons: Top 10 Legal Malpractice Pitfalls

Presented by: YLD Standing Committee on Lawyers’ Professional Liability

Vague instructions. Dabbling in a new practice area. Uncooperative clients. Young lawyers face unique ethical and professional challenges. Sometimes they lead to malpractice claims. Drawing on empirical data and our experiences defending lawyers, this will be an entertaining look at the most common malpractice pitfalls and ethical quandaries that frequently lead to malpractice claims, such as competence (Model Rule 1.1), scope of representation (MR 1.2), fees (MR 1.5), conflicts of interest (MR 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.11), and effective withdrawal (MR 1.16). Lawyers are sued every day. Don’t let it be you.

View materials (PDF)

Speakers:
Melissa M. Lessell, Deutsch Kerrigan & Stiles, New Orleans, LA
J. Logan Murphy, Standing Committee on Lawyers’ Professional Liability, Tampa, FL

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Symphony Ballroom B, 2nd Floor

CLE PROGRAM: Practicing Sports Law in the 21st Century

Presented by: Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC

A panel of experienced sports law practitioners will explain how they got involved in this area of law, share some of their most interesting sports law experiences, and discuss the variety of legal issues that arise in this specific practice area with an emphasis on current issues and trends.

View Materials (PDF)

Program Chair/Moderator: Erin Lucas Hamilton, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, Pittsburgh, PA

Speakers:
Ronald L. Francis Jr., Reed Smith, Pittsburgh, PA
Brian H. Simmons, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC Pittsburgh, PA
Travis Williams, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh, PA

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Symphony Ballroom C, 2nd Floor

CLE PROGRAM: Persuasive Use of Exhibits in Trial

Presented by: YLD Law Practice Division Committee

Kirsha W. Trychta is a professor at Duquesne Law School. Kirsha will talk about how a young lawyer can be more persuasive in the courtroom and she will weave various trial graphics and courtroom presentation points into her actual presentation. This promises to be an engaging, interesting and informative presentation for all those who attend!

View Materials (PDF)

Program Chair/Moderator: Scott W. MacMullan, Scott MacMullan Law LLC, Annapolis, MD

Speaker: Kirsha W. Trychta, Duquesne University School of Law, Pittsburgh, PA

12:40 PM - 2:00 PM Jimmy Stewart, 2nd Floor

CLE LUNCHEON PROGRAM - International Litigation: Access to Justice in Other Jurisdictions

Actions abroad pose many difficulties including how your client funds the use of a lawyer in countries with different legal systems. This session will compare the approaches taken by three countries to enable clients to access justice. Some countries outlaw contingency fees, others allow lawyers to double their fees if they are successful. Understanding the differences will enable you to choose the best jurisdiction to stage an international claim.

View Materials (PDF)

Program Chairs: Mario A. Sullivan, Johnson & Sullivan, Ltd., Chicago, IL
Keith Etherington, Law Society, Manchester, United Kingdom

Moderator: Dionna M. Lewis, YLD Scholar, Washington, DC

Speakers:
Keith Etherington, Law Society, Manchester, United Kingdom
Paul-Matthieu Grondin, Young Bar Association of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
Josselin J. Lucas, Union des Jeunes Avocats (UJA) de Paris, Washington, DC

Opening Remarks: ABA President-elect William C. Hubbard, Columbia, S.C

10:00 - 11:00 AM Rhapsody, 3rd Floor

CLE PROGRAM: DOMA, Detroit, and Bankruptcy: A Panel Discussion on the Recent and Major Developments in Bankruptcy Law and How They Can Affect Your Practice

Presented by: YLD Bankruptcy Committee

What are the consequences of the recent Supreme Court decision striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act? What are the implications of a major municipal bankruptcy filing, as the City of Detroit did earlier this year? What are the more recent and major bankruptcy decisions with broad reaching effect? This panel, including a former federal bankruptcy judge and bankruptcy law practitioners, will provide insight into these hot topic issues, and will provide practical tips on how they may affect your practice.

View materials (PDF)

Program Chair/Moderator: Edward M. Fitzgerald, Holland & Knight LLP, Orlando, FL

Speakers:
Jason A. Antin, Dickie McCamey & Chilcote P.C., Pittsburgh, PA
Robert S. Bernstein, Bernstein–Burkley P.C., Pittsburgh, PA
Alexandra E. Dugan, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, Nashville, TN
Judith K. Fitzgerald, Indiana Tech Law School, Fort Wayne, IN

10:00 - 11:00 AM George Benson, 3rd Floor

CLE PROGRAM: Beyond the Playground and into the Locker Room: Legal Ramifications of Bullying in College and Professional Sports

Presented by: YLD Public Service Team and YLD Entertainment and Sports Committee

How far is too far? Some call it hazing, some call it bullying. So, just where is the line? That question has gained more reflection recently in the wake of Jonathan Martin walking away from the Miami Dolphins after reporting Richie Incognito’s bullying. Since the reporting of this incident, players, teams, and the media have not come out on both sides of the ball – some supporting Jonathan Martin and others criticizing Martin for breaking "the locker room code". This panel will discuss the legal issues surrounding and arising from bullying in college and professional sports and ways to prevent or respond to bullying from the perspective of athletes, universities, and professional sports organizations.

View materials (PDF)

Moderator: Mark D. Nichols, Polenberg Cooper Saunders & Riesberg PL, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Speakers:
Malcolm Burnley, Philadelphia Magazine, Philadelphia, PA
Alexis S. Cobb, ASC Executive Group, LLC, Pittsburgh, PA
Abioye E. Oyewole, U.S. Copyright Office, Washington, D.C.
Richard C. Smith, Norton Rose Fulbright, Washington, DC

10:00 AM - 12:15 PM Symphony Ballroom C, 2nd Floor

Affiliate Programming

Presented by: Affiliate Assistance Team

10:00 - 11:00 AM: Planning and Organizing a Regional Summit: A How to Guide

Join us for a panel discussion with affiliate leaders who have experience planning, organizing, and executing regional summits consisting of affiliates' regional meetings. The presentation will provide ideas and tips for young lawyers to take back to their own regions in order to plan their own regional summits.

Moderator: Anna Romanskaya, Stark & D’Ambrosio, San Diego, CA

Speakers:
Vincent M. Cox, Cavanaugh & Lemon, P.A., Topeka, KS
Shenique A. Moss, Michigan Department of Attorney General, Lansing, MI
Rebecca A. Roser, Robinson, McFadden & Moore, PC, Columbia, SC

Materials:
How to Plan and Present a YLD Regional Summit (PDF)
YLD Regional Summit Policy (PDF)

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM: Affiliate Leader Roundtable: Issues Affecting Your Young Lawyers Association

Affiliate leaders will be invited to participate in roundtable discussions focusing on areas of particular importance to each affiliate. Several topic-based tables will be set up and affiliate leaders will be invited to move tables at 15 minute increments, allowing more focus on issues of particular importance to each affiliate. Discussions will be held on various topics including: Dealing with conflict on the board/between officers; innovative ideas for raising money for events/projects; best practices for hosting events with other sections/bar associations; and creative ideas for service projects.

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Rhapsody, 3rd Floor

CLE PROGRAM: Practicing Law While Breaking the Confines of Implicit Bias in and Outside the Courtroom

Presented by: YLD Public Education Committee

Recent statistics show that although law school graduation rates for males and females are nearly equal, fewer than 19% of law firm partners are women, fewer than 6% are racial minorities, and fewer than 2% are female minorities. The scarcity of women and minorities in law firm partner positions is one outcome of gender and racial bias in the legal profession that creates additional problems for women and racial/ethnic minorities, and lowers the overall perception of our legal system. What, if anything should we do about implicit bias in the courtroom? How can attorneys deal with biases inside the courtroom and in their daily practice? This presentation will address how gender and racial/ethnic bias, exhibited in its many forms within the courtroom, can affect decision-making and could ultimately compromise the integrity of the court system. The CLE will also provide tips for practitioners wanting to break the confines of bias in the legal profession in and outside the courtroom.

View materials (PDF)

Program Chairs: Andrea L. Ciobanu, Ciobanu Law PC, Indianapolis, IN
Lori Frio, Law Professional, Springfield, PA

Moderator: Andrea L. Ciobanu, Ciobanu Law PC, Indianapolis, IN

Speakers:
Marie A. DeForest, DeForest Koscelnik Yokitis & Berardinelli, Pittsburgh, PA
Maria A. Feeley, Pepper Hamilton, Philadelphia, PA
A. Jeanne Grove, G3MH, LLP, San Francisco, CA
Indira K. Sharma, Saul Ewing LLP, Baltimore, MD

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM George Benson, 3rd Floor

Surviving and Thriving in Government Practice

Presented by: YLD Member Service Team

This Starting Points program features government attorneys who will share tips on how to succeed in government practice. The program will emphasize skill and development opportunities for government practitioners and professional development plans for ascension in government. The program will also discuss how government practitioners can plan for a successful transition out of government practice.

12:15 PM - 12:45 PM Symphony Ballroom AB, 2nd Floor

Closing Session: Next Steps Diversity Challenge Award Presentation

CLE Accreditation

The ABA directly applies for and ordinarily receives CLE credit for ABA programs in AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DE, GA, GU, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MN, MS, MO, MT, NM, NV, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, VI, WA, WI, and WV. These states sometimes do not approve a program for credit before the program occurs. This course is expected to qualify for 8.00 CLE credit hours (including 2.00 ethics hours) in 60-minute states, and 9.60 credit hours (including 2.40 ethics hours) in 50-minute states. This transitional program is approved for both newly admitted and experienced attorneys in NY. Attorneys may be eligible to receive CLE credit through reciprocity or attorney self-submission in other states. For more information about CLE accreditation in your state, contact Amy Cacich.

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Descriptions | YLD 2014 Spring Conference

Program Descriptions