Top officials from DOJ, FBI, DHS, FDIC to speak at ABA Fidelity and Surety Law meeting

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2018 — Government officials from the Department of Justice, FBI, Homeland Security and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation will be participants on various panel discussions during the American Bar Association  Fidelity and Surety Law 2018 Midwinter Conference, Jan. 24-26 in Washington, D.C.

What:  
The Fidelity and Surety Law 2018 Midwinter Conference
Sponsored by the ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section

When: 
Wednesday-Friday, Jan. 24-26, 2018

Where:
JW Marriott Hotel
1331 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, D.C. 20004

On Thursday, there will be a full-day construction program with an eye toward the surety professional. Entitled, “Construction—A Marvelous Mediation of Heroic Proportions:

Insurance Coverages in Complex Construction Litigation,” the program runs from 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will include 12 different mediation topic sessions.

On Friday, there will be a full-day of surety programming focusing on the impact of arbitration on the surety, beginning at 8:45. And on Thursday and Friday, there will be fidelity programming addressing modern hazards and modern coverages, with a focus on the cyber world and cyber loss.

Program highlights include:

Presentation of the Section’s Martin J. Andrew Award to New Jersey and New York attorney Armen Shahinian with its Martin J. Andrew Award on Thursday, Jan. 25, from 8:15-8:30 a.m.  The Martin J. Andrew Award is the highest award given by the TIPS’s Fidelity and Surety Law Committee. It is considered the pinnacle of achievement for anyone practicing fidelity and/or surety law. Shahinian practices in the areas of commercial litigation, construction litigation, fidelity and surety law and bankruptcy with Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi.

“Cybercrime: Criminal Prosecution, Investigation, Homeland Security, Legislative Developments” — Panelists will focus on the various roles and responsibilities of the Department of Justice, Homeland Security, and their component agencies, including the FBI, the DOJ’s Criminal Division and National Security Division; the National Cyber Investigative Joint Task Force; National Protection and Programs Directorate; and the U.S. Secret Service. The panel will provide an in-depth analysis of how these federal agencies work collaboratively with each other and private sector entities to prevent, mitigate, and manage cybersecurity risk. Moderating the panel will be Adam Hickey, deputy assistant attorney general, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. Speakers are: Richard Downing, deputy assistant attorney general, Criminal Division, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.; Sean P. Farrell, chief, Office of the General Counsel, Cyber Law Unit, FBI, Washington, D.C.; and Thomas McDermott, deputy assistant secretary for Cyber Policy, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, D.C.

Thursday, 9:30-10:45 a.m.

“Needs of Your Insured Banks: FDIC And Regulatory Issues, Risks, Coverages” — This panel will focus on current cyber security issues unique to banks. The presenters will discuss the laws and regulatory guidance, the potential for future regulations and regulatory requirements, the events the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) sees daily, and how banks can protect themselves against cybersecurity risk and exposure. Seeing how cyber security events interact with the regulatory guidelines will provide insight into cyber effects on banks in the world today. Speakers are: FDIC counsels Roy Ahrens and John Dorsey, both from Arlington, Va.; and Ryan J. Weeks, associate, Mills Paskert Divers, Tampa, Fla.

Friday, 9:30-10:15 a.m.

A complete program schedule can be found online.

There is no charge for media covering this event. To register, please contact Robert Robinson at 202-662-1097 or Robert.Robinson@americanbar.org.

The ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section unites plaintiff, defense, insurance, and corporate counsel to advance the civil justice system. TIPS is a national source of expertise in tort, trial and insurance practice and brings lawyers together to share information and speak out on issues of importance. The section has about 17,000 members and over 30 general committees that focus on substantive and procedural matters in areas across the broad spectrum of civil law and practice. For more information about the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section visit the TIPS website, www.americanbar.org/tips.

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