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Alternative Dispute Resolution

Chairs

Abrams, Hon. Jerome
Gale, James

Vice-Chairs

Wilkes, Hon. Christopher

Mission Statement

The Alternative Dispute Resolution Subcommittee serves the Committee and the Section by monitoring and disseminating applications of negotiation, mediation, arbitration and other methods of resolving business disputes outside the courts. It creates panel presentations, articles, and other work product to assist transactional attorneys in negotiating contracts that include commercially efficient methods to resolve disputes arising from those deals, and also to assist litigation attorneys in avoiding protracted, risky and costly judicial proceedings whenever possible.​

Appellate Litigation

Chairs

Azadian, James
Hua, Jenny

Vice-Chair

Webster, Cory

Mission Statement

We are the Appellate Litigation Subcommittee. We are focused on issues of importance to the business community that are percolating through the nation’s appellate courts, with particular attention to the United States Supreme Court. We are also focused on the role of, and the value added by, appellate practitioners in modern commercial litigation.

Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain Subcommittee

Chair

Newman, Brad
Scarpulla, Hon. Saliann

Vice-Chair

Blunk, Rachel

Mission Statement

Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) and related technologies are transforming the workplace and many industries, including consumer technology, healthcare, retail, transportation, financial services and insurance.  The AI Subcommittee monitors the rapid development and deployment of artificial intelligence and automated systems across industries, and involves attorneys, regulators and judges in dialogue and education about the legal implications.  The Subcommittee closely tracks the evolving AI regulatory landscape on the local, state, federal and international levels, and the increasing waive of AI-related litigation. Through the active participation of its members, the Subcommittee’s twin focuses are on elevating the level of discourse and scholarship surrounding the vexing legal issues facing those involved in this evolving area of the law, and serving as a resource for regulators seeking to establish AI public policy.

Bankruptcy Litigation

Chairs

Rubenstein, Michael
Fitzgerald, Edward

Vice-Chairs

Stong, Hon. Elizabeth
Stulman, Aaron

Mission Statement

The mission of the Bankruptcy Litigation Subcommittee of the Business and Corporate Litigation Committee of the ABA Business Law Section is to educate jurists, practitioners and scholars on current developments in commercial bankruptcy law. The Subcommittee strives to keep its finger on the pulse of the practice to provide timely, relevant information and analysis to ABA members for their use in developing and mastering their understanding and application of the law.

Business Courts

Chairs

Allf, Hon. Nancy
Welch, Hon. Heather

Vice-Chairs

Hermes, Ed
Ridgely, Hon. Henry
Thomas, Carmen

Mission Statement

The Subcommittee on Business Court’s mission is to provide resources to governments, legislatures, judiciaries, Bar Associations, academics, the media, and individual judges and lawyers seeking information and assistance to support the development and improvement of specialized business, commercial, and complex litigation courts. In addition to the fount of information available on our web page, there are numerous judges and lawyers who make themselves available to speak, formally and informally, on these subjects. We work closely with the Judges Initiative Committee and the Section’s Business Court Representatives in bringing the practical expertise of business court judges and practitioners to the Section’s members, and other committees; and we closely monitor related developments in this area throughout the United States and internationally.​

Business Torts

Chairs

Miller, Kathleen
Owens, Hon. Denise
Sozio, Michael

Vice-Chairs

Kanan, Stephanie

Cannabis and Alcoholic Beverages Litigation

Chairs

Branch, KC
Dickens, Kristina

Vice-Chair

Sava, Christina

Mission Statement

The mission of the Cannabis and Alcoholic Beverage Law Subcommittee is to provide a forum for and to educate attorneys, regulators and judges about the complex legal issues facing those involved in these highly regulated areas of the law.  The Subcommittee is focused on raising the level of discourse and scholarship on the topics of alcohol and cannabis through the active participation of its members in remaining engaged with the rapidly changing landscape and resulting implications of the federal, state and local regulation of cannabis and alcohol both in the U.S. and in Canada.

Class and Derivative Actions

Chairs

Brabander, J R Kristian
Templer, Deborah

Vice-Chairs

O'Brien, Michael
Tomkowiak, Sarah

Communications and Technology

Chairs

Readinger, Laura
Crawford, Jomaire

Vice-Chair

Wang, Mian

Mission Statement

The Communications and Technology Subcommittee works at the Committee and Subcommittee levels to assist with communicating the mission, content, and activities of the Business and Corporate Litigation Committee and its Subcommittees. We welcome those who wish to become Subcommittee members. If you have an inclination for working on websites, listservs, creating podcasts, using social media, etc., participating in the Subcommittee’s work is a great opportunity to use your skills and fulfill these interests, while networking across the Committee and its Subcommittees in supporting their efforts.

Corporate Counseling and Litigation

Chairs

Steadman, Anne
Butcher, Rebecca

Vice-Chairs

Potts, Benjamin
O'Dell, Julie

Diversity Clerkship Program

Chairs

Bach, Mitchell
Tiradentes, Vanessa
Ward, Hon. Christine

Vice-Chairs

Wang, Mian

E-Discovery

Chairs

Readinger, Laura
Wilkes, Hon. Christopher
Witte, Robert

Vice-Chairs

Stemerman, Jonathan
Allf, Hon. Nancy

Employment Litigation

Chairs

Baldocchi, Jennifer
Berle, Hon. Elihu

Vice-Chairs

Garcia, Tomas
Masinter, Eve

Ethics, Professionalism and Civility

Chairs

Owens, Hon. Denise
Schuster, Hon. J Stephen

Vice-Chairs

Berle, Hon. Elihu
Gale, Hon. James
Halaby, Andrew

Financial Institutions Litigation

Chair

Riley, Karl

Vice-Chair

Henson, Courtney
Pastore, Michael

Former Chairs Advisory

Chairs

Riback, Stuart
Clendenen, Patrick
Staudenmaier, Heidi

In-House Litigation Management

Chairs

Eyre, Douglas
Newman, Hon. Clifton

Vice-Chairs

Gray, Jennifer
Kim, Patricia
Pinkston, Arnold
Zabat-Fran, Christina

Indemnification and Insurance

Chair

Zeberkiewicz, Krysten
Welch, Hon. Heather

Vice-Chair

Dorelli, Michael

Mission Statement

The mission of the Indemnification and Insurance Sub-committee of the Business and Corporate Litigation Committee of the ABA Business Law Section is to focus on the latest developments in the law regarding indemnification and advancement of directors and officers, in connection with the defense of lawsuits and investigations against them, to provide for their legal fees and other costs associated with defending claims against them in their corporate capacity. The sub-committee also covers director and officer liability insurance and developments in that area of the law. Each year, the sub-committee writes a chapter in a book on the law in our area that covers the recent developments and recent cases for the ABA publication entitled: "Recent Developments in Business and Corporate Litigation."

Intellectual Property Litigation

Chairs

Vrana, Robert
Bolling, Jesse

International Litigation

Chairs

Barber, Steve
Trapp, Hon. Randa
Rovira, Alfredo

Vice-Chairs

Mestre, Jorge
Cameron, Cara

Investigations, Enforcement and White Collar

Chairs

Rollins, James
Levitske, John

Vice-Chairs

Dubow, Jay
Welch, Ben
Yates, Hon. Chris

Judicial Designees

Abrams Hon. Jerome
Allf, Hon. Nancy
Ambro, Hon. Thomas
Berle, Hon. Elihu
Driscoll, Hon. Timothy
Gale, Hon. James
Iannazzone, Hon. Joseph
Johnston, Hon. Mary
Licht, Hon. Richard
McCoy, Hon. Mac
Newman, Hon. Clifton
Owens, Hon. Denise
Scarpulla, Hon. Saliann
Stong, Hon. Elizabeth
Thompson, Hon. Alvin
Wilkes, Hon. Christopher
Bledsoe, Hon. Louis
Welch, Hon. Heather
Yates, Hon. Christopher
Adams, Hon. Meghan
Kirwan, Hon. Peter

Meetings and Programs

Chairs

Templer, Deborah
Witte, Robert
Heyman, Kurt
Trapp, Hon. Randa

Vice-Chairs

McCoy, Hon. Mac
Burton, Emily
Riback, Stuart

Membership

Chairs

Fitzgerald, Edward
Stong, Hon. Elizabeth

Vice-Chair

Cameron, Cara
Blunk, Rachel

Mission Statement

The Membership Subcommittee works to recruit, retain, and engage members for the Business and Corporate Litigation Committee, Our leadership includes a former Committee chair and former Section Fellows, and all are welcome. We especially seek the input of new members of the Committee and Section and new lawyers, as we support the Committee's efforts to reach out to and to serve the needs of business litigators at every stage in their careers.

Network Newsletter

Chair

Dibella, Bianca
Swift, Kristen

Vice-Chairs

Steadman, Anne
Doshi, Sonali
Bolling, Jesse

Mission Statement

The Business and Corporate Litigation Committee's Network Newsletter is a regular online publication that is the Committee's primary method of communicating with its members. The Network Newsletter includes a message from the BCLC Chair; reports from the BCLC's Subcommittees, Task Forces, and Working Groups; substantive Feature Articles about hot topics in business and corporate litigation; information about past and future BCLC programming at ABA meetings; and various other articles about topics of interest to BCLC members. All BCLC members are encouraged to contact the Sub-Committee Chair to volunteer in the Network Newsletter's editing process, particularly as a way to learn more about the Committee's work and engage with other members.

Partnerships and Alternative Entities

Chairs

Brauerman, Stephen
Murphy, Kathleen

Private Business Governance and Divorce

Chairs

Donimirski, Melissa
Popke, Hon. Lit

Vice-Chairs

Greenlee, Paige
Dressen, Janel
Licht, Hon. Richard
Seo, Byeongsook
Tiradentes, Vanessa
Sciaccotta, John

Mission Statement

The Private Business Governance and Divorce Subcommittee provides a forum for attorneys to discuss this newly recognized practice area that is quickly gaining traction in the legal field. The Subcommittee endeavors to address the variety of practice areas implicated by a Business Divorce, ranging from transactional work in negotiating and executing buyouts, to contract litigation, to corporate and alternative entity litigation, and even the psychology of the litigants, with timely and informative presentations and discussions led by members of the Subcommittee. This is one of the fastest-growing groups in the Committee and provides a venue for seasoned Business Divorce attorneys and new practitioners to network with and learn from one another. The group welcomes all attorneys who are interested in this growing practice of law.

Pro Bono and Public Service

Chairs

Iannazzone, Hon. Joseph|
Letcher, Kate

Vice-Chair

Metzinger, Walter

Mission Statement

The Business and Corporate Litigation Committee's Pro Bono Subcommittee three principal activities are co-sponsoring the Section's Spring Meeting public service project, co-sponsoring the Section's Annual Meeting public service project, and contributing the "Pro Bono: Nonprofit Law and Litigation" chapter to the annual section publication, the Annual Review of Developments in Business and Corporate Litigation.

Publications

Chairs

Mendelson, Jessica
Steadman, Anne

Vice-Chairs

Park, Erin
Stover, Emily

Real Estate and Land Use Litigation

Chairs

Krolikowski, Charles
Driscoll, Hon. Timothy

Vice-Chairs

Sable, Daniel
Rutherford, Alyssa

Receiverships and Fiduciaries 

Chairs

Riela, Michael
Bledsoe, Hon. Louis
Licht, Hon. Richard

Vice-Chairs

Damian, Melanie
Stong, Hon. Elizabeth

Mission Statement

The Receiverships and Fiduciaries Subcommittee focuses on professionals who work in or are interested in learning about the areas of receivership, insolvency, restructuring, and international asset recovery.  Our mission is to provide a forum through which receivers, their professionals, and others seeking to become involved in receivership work may obtain receivership education and enjoy networking opportunities. We intend for receivers and the professionals who support them to share insights on securing receivership appointments, working with courts, receivership entities, and targets of receiver and fiduciary litigation, and to provide solutions to legal and practical issues receivers and fiduciaries commonly face; to offer educational programs and networking opportunities through meetings and panel presentations; and to share information regarding qualifications for appointments at the state and federal levels.

Securities Litigation & Arbitration

Chairs

Sherman, Meredith
Lapierre, Stephanie

Vice-Chair

Reid, Ghillaine
Weeks, Mary

Sports-Related Disputes

Chair

Metzinger, Walter
Martin, Tate

Vice-Chair

Iannazzone, Hon. Joseph

Trial Practice

Chairs

Johnston, Hon. Mary
Masinter, Paul
Yates, Hon. Christopher

Vice-Chair

Harmon, Kate
Eyre, Doug

Mission Statement

The Trial Practice Subcommittee of the BCL Committee provides an opportunity for judges and attorneys to share ideas, techniques and resources for effective trial practice in a collegial setting. The Subcommittee focuses on the development and dissemination of practical resource materials for members who wish to enhance their effectiveness, and those of their colleagues, in court in order to maximize their chances for a successful outcome at trial.

Tribal Court Litigation

Chair

Dreveskracht, Ryan
Sebrin, Corinne

Vice-Chairs

Rand, Kathryn
Staudenmaier, Heidi

Wellness, Life Balance & Time Management

Chair

Formeller, Dan
Sherman, Meredith

Vice-Chair

Stong, Hon. Elizabeth
Smith, Jennifer
Szwimer, Morris

Mission Statement

Business lawyers, judges, and law students face many demands from countless sources, including, for example, clients, colleagues, and personal responsibilities. Newer methods of communication (e-mail, texting, etc.) along with continued reliance on the billable hour model may impose additional demands on time, both in and out of “working hours.” The Wellness, Life Balance & Time Management Subcommittee provides a forum for all attorneys, judges, and law students in the Committee to learn from one another and discuss strategies for promoting physical and emotional wellbeing. The Subcommittee addresses a wide range of topics including physical health, mental health, substance abuse, diversity in the legal profession, and methods for promoting effective time management and life balance. The Subcommittee encourages and welcomes the participation of all attorneys, judges, and law students who are interested in discussing and finding effective solutions to these important issues.

Women Business and Commercial Advocates

Chairs

Wang, Mian
Masinter, Paul

Mission Statement

The Women Business and Commercial Advocates Subcommittee provides a forum for all attorneys in the committee to come together to celebrate and to support the advancement of women business litigators. This is one of the fastest-growing groups in the committee and provides a venue for business litigators to network with one another and learn from prominent women business lawyers and judges. The committee also seeks to increase the number of women who practice in business and commercial litigation by providing mentoring and programming geared toward women business advocates. In addition, the subcommittee annually hosts a program or reception recognizing and celebrating the accomplishment of women in the profession and particularly the judiciary. The group welcomes all attorneys who are interested in promoting participation of women business lawyers and judges in the legal profession.