The Business and Corporate Litigation Committee is pleased to present its annual mini-theme issue of Business Law Today. The breadth of business litigation faced by today’s companies is staggering. So, too, is the attendant cost and risk. The Business and Corporate Litigation Committee (BCLC) is the home within the ABA Business Law Section (BLS) for lawyers, in-house counsel, judges, and law students interested in dispute resolution, including litigation, arbitration, and mediation for business clients, as well as substantive issues for business litigators. Our members from around the United States and beyond are approximately 2,000 strong, making the BCLC one of the ten largest committees in the BLS. We have approximately 35 subcommittees in which you can develop your knowledge, connections, and leadership.
To join our growing committee, any BLS member may join the BCLC for free here. Many of our members have found an opportunity to flourish as authors, to show their expertise in particular areas of the law. For example, the BCLC has, for numerous years, authored the indispensable Recent Developments in Business and Corporate Litigation (formerly the Annual Review). The 2017 edition contains 19 chapters authored by over 150 committee members. This single volume is divided into five parts:
- Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice
- Civil Business Claims
- Business Associations Law
- Employment & Labor Law
- Finance & Securities Litigation & Arbitration
Committee members regularly write articles for the Section’s Business Law Today publication, as evidenced by this mini-theme issue. These articles represent hot legal topics including (1) the Defend Trade Secrets Act; (2) conducting business on Native American lands after the Supreme Court decision in Dollar General; (3) recent developments in the Delaware Supreme Court on director independence; and (4) authenticating digital evidence at trial. In addition, the BCLC has its own newsletter—The Network—which offers further writing opportunities for committee members.
The BCLC takes great pride in its quality programming and special events. The committee participates actively in the BLS Spring, Annual, and Fall Meetings, and it typically presents 11 CLE programs annually. BCLC regularly presents non-CLE programs and special events, such as the Tips from the Trial Bench program, the Woman Business and Commercial Advocates Reception, and the Annual Pro Bono and Public Service Project. Our popular committee dinners held at each meeting are regularly co-sponsored by the Judges’ Initiative Committee and ADR Committee.
If you missed the Section Spring Meeting in New Orleans, please join us at the Section Annual Meeting in Chicago on September 14–16. The benefits of the BCLC are many, and your experience can be tailored to your individual practice and needs. We are an inclusive and collaborative group—please check out the BCLC webpage here. I hope to see you soon at a future meeting!