chevron-down Created with Sketch Beta.
January 24, 2024

2018 Spring Meeting

2018 State and Local Government Law Spring Conference

April 19 – 21, 2018
Detroit, MI

 

Section of Public Contract Law & 13th Annual State & Local Procurement Symposium

April 19 – 20, 2018
Detroit, MI

See the symposium brochure.

 

Limited-Time Book Promotion

State & Local Government Law books

Thursday, April 19

Noon – 7pm
Registration
Pre-function Area – Floor 3

Noon – 1pm
AGDJ Committee Meeting – 11-State Opioid Litigation
Founders B – Floor 3

  • Anthony J. Majestro, Powell & Majestro PLLC, Charleston, WV
Call-in: 866.646.6488
Access code: 476.263.2730#

Noon – 1pm
SLG Executive Committee Meeting
Washington Boardroom – Floor 3
Call-in: 888.853.9384
Access code: 860.275.8316#

1:30 – 2:30pm
Young Lawyers Committee Meeting
Esquire – Floor 3
Call-in: 866.646.6488
Access code: 476.263.2730#

3 – 4:30pm
PCL Practicum: Law Practice Management Issues for State and Local Government Lawyers
Founders A – Floor 3
This panel will explore the following law practice management questions as well as issues corollary.

  • Who's the boss?
  • How do you handle tensions between parts of your overall client (i.e. Governor v Legislature v General Public)?
  • What do workflows look like?
  • How is outside counsel procured and utilized?
  • How is malpractice coverage handled?

Moderator

  • Steven Liedel, Dykema, Ann Arbor, MI
Speakers
  • Daniel Arking, Assistant Corporation Counsel, City of Detroit, MI
  • Jonathan Beamon, Senior Assistant Corporation Counsel, City of Hartford, CT
  • Kim James, Assistant Corporation Counsel, Detroit, MI
  • Eileen Meskill, Connecticut Assistant Attorney General, Hartford, CT
  • Brig Smith, Corporation Counsel, City of Middletown, CT
  • Cheryl Smith-Williams, Assistant Corporation Counsel, City of Detroit, MI

4:45 – 6:15pm
Resiliency, Disaster Planning and Response
Founders A – Floor 3
This panel will examine timely issues relating to resilience and disaster preparedness for state and local governments, with topics to include post-disaster work contracting, Stafford Act and FEMA regulation compliance, and avoidance of common pitfalls resulting in costly claw-backs and other penalties.

Moderator

  • Edward Thomas, Esq., President, Natural Hazard Mitigation Association, Boston, MA
Speakers
  • Jordan Corbitt, Baker Donelson, Houston, TX
  • Mary Joan Fales, Senior Assistant City Attorney, Ann Arbor, MI
  • Janell Smith, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Washington, DC

6:30 – 8pm
Welcome ReceptionSponsored by Ackerman, Ackerman & Dynkowski | Crowell Moring | Dalton Tomich
Clark Hill
500 Woodward Ave
Suite 3500
Detroit, MI

 

Friday, April 20

7am – 5pm
Registration & Hospitality
Pre-function Area – Floor 3

7 – 9am
Breakfast
Esquire – Floor 3

8:15 – 9:15am
"Sanctuary" Cities, and Conflicting Federal and State Immigration Policies: What's a Contractor to Do?
Founders A & B – Floor 3
Many states and cities disagree with the Trump Administraton's approach to immigration, and have objected by establishing "sanctuary" cities and adopting other policies which have put state and local contractors in difficult positions, especially those who work across multiple jurisdictions. This expert panel will discuss how different states' efforts work with, or run up against, federal policy. We will detail how employers are affected, and what steps contractors can take during the procurement process to ensure compliance with federal and state laws. This informative session will provide critical information on a hot-button, high-risk area of the law in time of uncertainty.

Moderator

  • Kaytie Pickett, Jones Walker, Jackson, MS
Speakers
  • Viviana Martinez, Esq., Assistant Special Legal Counsel to the President, Legal and Government Affairs, Office of the President, Cook County, Chicago, IL
  • Leon Rodriguez, Seyfarth Shaw, Washington, DC

9:30 – 10:45am
Governments Are Leading the Way with Energy Procurement
Founders A & B – Floor 3
Governments are some of the largest property managers. From an energy perspective, this can mean large electric and gas bills and reliance on old technologies. But there are ways building managers can both reduce costs and lead the way towards energy use from cleaner sources. This panel will discuss, through case studies, how state and local governments are already using energy contracting to source renewable energy, innovative technologies, and make buildings more efficient energy users. This interactive discussion will provide useful tips for state and local attorneys involved in the procurement process.

Moderator

  • Alexander W. Judd, Day Pitney LLP, Hartford, CT
Speakers
  • Monica Berry, NRG Energy, Buffalo, NY
  • Tony DesChenes, former procurement lead for the State of Michigan, Michigan Legislative Consultants, Lansing, MI
  • David Ginsberg, Partner, Crowell & Moring, Los Angeles, CA
  • Steve H. Hilfinger, Foley and Lardner, Detroit, MI
  • Joaquina Borges King, Esq., Senior Counsel, Eversource Energy, Berlin, CT

11am – 12:15pm
State and Local Pay to Play and Ethics Restrictions
Founders A & B – Floor 3
This panel will consider trends and recent developments in state and local government restrictions on contractors’ activities related to elections and lobbying, including “pay to play” prohibitions and restrictions on gifts to government officials, as well as tips for contractors navigating the myriad different statutes and regulations in this area.

Moderator

  • Brandis Zehr, Wiley Rein LLP, Washington, DC
Speakers
  • Steven I. Berlin, Executive Director, Chicago Board of Ethics, Chicago, IL
  • Jared DeMarinis, Director – Candidacy and Campaign Finance Division, Maryland State Board of Elections, Annapolis, MD
  • Donna Y. Frazier, Parish Attorney, Shreveport, LA
  • Brett G. Kappel, Akerman LLP, Washington, DC

12:30 – 2pm
Lunch Program
Crystal Ballroom – Floor 4
Presenter will be Honorable Dennis Archer, Chairman and CEO, Dennis W. Archer PLLC; Chairman Emeritus, Dickinson Wright PLLC; former Detroit Mayor; and former ABA President

2:30 – 4pm
Pay for Success — Private Financing for Public Social Services Programs
Founders A & B – Floor 3

  1. Government identifies a critical social issue with historically poor outcomes such as recidivism, chronic homelessness, or early childhood education.
  2. Private Funders such as foundations, banks and businesses, provide upfront capital to a high-performing social service provider that is helping a specific at-risk target population.
  3. Service Providers deliver services to key at-risk communities, in an effort to reach or exceed predetermined outcomes for success.
  4. Evaluators rigorously measures outcomes to ensure providers achieve impact.
  5. Government repays private funder’s initial investments only if project is successful in achieving positive outcomes.

Moderator

  • Pamela Parrish, Chief Legal Counsel – Transactional & Economic Development, City of Detroit, Detroit, MI
Speakers
  • Wendy Jackson, Managing Director, Kresge Foundation, Detroit, MI
  • Fraser Nelson, Managing Director, Sorenson Impact Center, Salt Lake City, UT
  • Wells Parker, Dorsey & Whitney, Salt Lake City, UT
  • Jack Robinson, Ph.D., Chief Research Officer, Sorenson Impact Center, Salt Lake City, UT

4:15 – 5:45pm
Flint Water — Ethics in Local Government
Founders A & B – Floor 3
This panel will examine the various legal ethical issues that arose throughout the Flint Water Crisis, which highlight issues relevant to public works contracting and state and local government attorneys generally. In particular, this panel will focus on the issues that arose as a result of the interplay of local and state entities in trying to address the crisis.

Moderator

  • Michael P. Donaldson, Carlton Fields, Tallahassee, FL
Speakers
  • Peter D. Jacobson, JD, MPH, Professor Emeritus of Health Law and Policy Director, Center for Law, Ethics, and Health – University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI
  • Nikkiya T. Branch, Esq., Associate General Counsel, Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, Detroit, MI
  • Patrick Rose, Patrick Levine Rose PLC, East Lansing, MI

7 – 9pm
Texas de Brazil Dinner ($65 / person)
1000 Woodward Ave
Detroit, MI

Texas de Brazil is carving a new experience in dining. The restaurant is an authentic Brazilian-American “Churrascaria”, or steakhouse, that combines the cuisines of Southern Brazil with the generous spirit of Texas.

Treat yourself to a 50 – 60 item seasonal salad area that includes appetizers, gourmet vegetables, soups, and salads. Turn your place card to green and prepare to be swarmed by a troop of carvers generously serving various cuts of seasoned beef, lamb, pork, chicken, and Brazilian sausage, all accompanied by traditional side items and house-baked Brazilian cheese bread.

 

Saturday, April 21

7am – 5pm
Registration & Hospitality

7 – 9am
Breakfast
Pre-function Area – Floor 3

7:30 – 8:30am
Eastern Market Tour (complimentary)
2934 Russell St
Detroit, MI

Eastern Market Development Corporation (EMDC) is a community-based non-profit development entity established to ensure that the Eastern Market District remains an authentic and diverse place for all businesses, residents, and visitors. EMDC engages in commercial and mixed-use (mixed-income housing, retail, industrial) development projects in collaboration with private and philanthropic partners.

The EMDC's work as a nonprofit includes managing the public market and operating programs to strengthen Metro Detroit's food sector. The EMDC operate programs that increase access to healthy food and incubate and accelerate the growth of food businesses.

Please RSVP to Tamara Edmonds Askew. Note: Transportation to the Eastern Market is not included with the tour.

9 – 10am
Urban Lawyer Advisory Board
Esquire – Floor 3

10 – 11am
Land Use Committee Training
Founders A – Floor 3
Call-in: 866.646.6488
Access code: 476.263.2730#

11am – Noon
Building and Growing the Section — Plenary Session
Founders B – Floor 3

Noon – 1pm
Substantive Committee Meetings
Boulevard A – Floor 2
Eminent Domain, Public Finance, Government Operations, Environmental and Energy, Ethics, Public Education, Emergency Management, Diversity Law, International, Native American Tribal Law, Public Contract, Sharing

1 – 2pm
Publications Oversight Board, Content Advisory Board
Esquire – Floor 3
Call-in: 866.646.6488
Access code: 476.263.2730#

1 – 2pm
Electronic Communications Committee
Washington Boardroom – Floor 3

2 – 4pm
Edsel & Eleanor Ford HouseOn Your Own Tour
1100 Lake Shore Rd
Grosse Pointe Shores, MI

Edsel & Eleanor Ford House tells the story of the home life of a prominent American family. The Fords were cultural, social and economic leaders in an era of great optimism, as well as a turbulent time of economic depression and world war. They were nationally prominent and they owned more than one house, but Southeast Michigan was their home. Here they built their final residence along the shores of Lake St. Clair, at a place known locally as Gaukler Pointe. Their impressive yet unpretentious home is where they raised and nurtured their four children. It reflects their love of family as well as their mutual passion for art and quality design.

General house tours and premium tours are sold first-come, first-served, at Ford House on the day of the tour. Space is limited on our tours. The Grounds and Visitor Center will be open 9am - 6pm Tuesday - Saturday, and 11am - 6pm Sunday. Find pricing and additional information.

3pm
Motown MuseumOn Your Own Tour
2648 W Grand Blvd
Detroit, MI

"Hitsville U.S.A." is the nickname given to Motown's first headquarters. A former photographers' studio located at 2648 West Grand Boulevard in Detroit approaching the New Center area, it was purchased by Motown founder Berry Gordy in 1959.

It was converted for use as the record label's administrative building and recording studio, which was open 22 hours a day (closing from 8 - 10am for maintenance). Following mainstream success in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Gordy moved the label to Los Angeles and established the Hitsville West studio there, as a part of his focus on television and film production as well as music production.

Adults $15 | Senior / Youth $10
Purchase tickets in advance for Saturday, April 21st at 3pm tour.

Open everyday 9:30am - 5pm
Henry Ford MuseumOn Your Own Tour
20900 Oakwood Blvd
Dearborn, MI

The Henry Ford (also known as the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and Greenfield Village, and the Edison Institute) is a large indoor and outdoor history museum complex and a National Historic Landmark in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan, United States. The museum collection contains the presidential limousine of John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln's chair from Ford's Theatre, Thomas Edison's laboratory, the Wright Brothers' bicycle shop, the Rosa Parks bus, and many more historical exhibits. It is the largest indoor-outdoor museum complex in the United States and is visited by 1.6 million people each year.

Find ticket pricing options and special event information.

 

Sunday, April 22

8:30 – 11am
State & Local Government Law Council Breakfast Meeting
Crystal Ballroom – Floor 4
Call-in: 866.646.6488
Access code: 476.263.2730#

 

*Conference schedule is tentative and subject to change.