Global business law concerns to take shape at annual law meeting

As the global economy grows less stable, members of the American Bar Association will probe issues of vital business importance at the 2011 American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Aug. 4-9, in Toronto, Ontario. Issues involving cross-border cases, collective bargaining laws, immigration, and anti-corruption law set the stage for discussion. Legal professionals will also discuss the toll the global financial meltdown has taken on businesses in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. As the U.S. continue to partner with the world in business, the laws governing these relationships will become increasingly important. Issues surrounding money laundering and fraudulent financial schemes creating global anti-bribery laws also will be explored. With more than 1,400 legal programs, events and presentations by the foremost law experts, the ABA Annual Meeting is the nation's premier gathering of legal professionals. More information on sessions mentioned above: "Dodd-Frank One Year Later: Panacea or Poison?" -- A roundtable discussion of leaders in the financial field will consider whether Dodd-Frank has been successful at curing the ills spawned by the financial crisis. Experts will touch on changes in SEC enforcement, the impact on the derivatives market, rating agency conduct, investor rights and the impact Dodd-Frank has had on the bankruptcy process. "Shattering the Legal Glass Ceiling: The Myths and Realities of Law-Firm Compensation" --Although women account for over a third of the legal profession and half of students in law school, reports demonstrate female lawyers' median income is only 74 percent of their male counterparts. Panelists will discuss these reports, the law and how this disparity affects the practice of law, while recommending best practices and legal strategies to achieve pay equity and promote diversity in the legal profession. "The Postville Raids and Agri-Processors Case: Internal Investigations, Criminal Prosecutions, and Immigration Consequences for Corporations & Individuals" The unprecedented workplace raid in Postville, Iowa, that grabbed the nation's attention will be the source of discussion at this panel. The topics will include the subsequent criminal prosecutions of the workers and the corporation's top officials; relevant case law and changes that have occurred since the raid three years ago; and the swift prosecutions of the workers, lack of immigration advice, and due process concerns in the proceedings will be a key jumping-off point. Finally, the panel will discuss what worked, what didn't, and provide guidance for practitioners on all sides as to how to better and more effectively handle these cases in the future, including preventative measures that corporations can take. Moderator: Andrew Feldman Neal R. Sonnett PA, Miami, FL Patrick Coffey, Locke Lord Bissel & Brook, Chicago Sara Dill, Law Office of Sara Elizabeth Dill, Miami Christina Fiflis, Fiflis Law, Boulder, CO Jason Linder, Asst. U.S. Attorney, Ft. Lauderdale, FL "The Restructuring of the Americas: How Insolvency Courts in Canada, Mexico and the United States are Reshaping Business" The effects of the global financial meltdown have led to insolvency for many businesses in Canada, Mexico and the US. Panelists including Judge Arthur Gonzalez who presided over the Chrysler, Enron, and WorldCom bankruptcy proceedings, will discuss the domestic and international issues with cross-border cases, as well as efforts to minimize obstacles. "Wisconsin and Beyond: The State of Public Sector Bargaining in the United States" Public sector unions became front page news in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, New Jersey, and elsewhere in 2011 as Republican governors and Republican- dominated state legislatures took aim at collective bargaining laws. Speakers will discuss the factors that led to the 2011 showdowns and what the future may hold for public sector collective bargaining in the US. Speakers: Aaron L. Granger, Columbus, Ohio agranger@szd.com Joseph E. Slater, Toledo, Ohio jslater@utnet.utoledo.edu Donald D. Slesnick, Coral Gables, Florida donslesnick@scllp.com Barbara Zack Quindel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin bquindel@hq-law.com Moderator: George S. Crisci, Cleveland, Ohio gsc@zrlaw.com "Multijurisdictional, Cross-Border and International Class Actions: Where Are We Heading?" Class litigation now crosses borders and national legal systems. Senior judges from the United States and Canada will forecast the future in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent guidance on access to American courts for foreign class members and the ongoing work of several national and international task forces. "Redefining the U.S.-Canadian Border: Current Issues in Visitation and Migration'' The relationship between the United States and Canada is the closest and most extensive in the world. It is reflected in the staggering volume of bilateral trade -- the equivalent of $1.6 billion a day in goods -- as well as in people-to-people contact. About 300,000 people cross the border every day. This program will navigate U.S.-Canadian immigration issues including temporary and permanent options for migration. What are the variations between Canada and the U.S. in their immigration policies and what are the similarities including NAFTA. The discussion will include options for business and family migration. Speakers: Neil S. Dornbaum, Dornbaum & Peregoy LLC Evan Green, Green and Spiegel LLP Sylvia Johnson, Consular Affairs in U.S. Embassy Ottawa "Health Care Fraud Update: Significant Prosecutions, the "HEAT" Initiative, False Claims Act Developments and Self-Disclosure Strategies" experienced health care fraud practitioners from government, industry and prominent law firms will discuss significant developments in health care fraud. Panelists will explore recent health care fraud prosecutions of national significance, like GlaxoSmithKline and the recent activities of the Health Care Enforcement Action Team ("HEAT"). An overview of developments in False Claims Act cases in light of the health care reform amendments and an analysis of developments in self-disclosure of health care fraud including the new self-disclosure protocol from CMS as well as other self-disclosure issues will be addressed. "The Globalization of Anti-Corruption Law" Money laundering and fraudulent financial schemes are rampant in today's uncertain global economy. The globalization trend will be characterized by the adoption of anti-bribery laws in the U.S. and UK's that have a similar extraterritorial reach. A multi-national panel of experts will examine these issues as well as white-collar criminal prosecution and practice, and the globalization of anti-corruption investigations and prosecutions. The panel will report on U.S. and international developments under UK Bribery Act, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and the OECD Anti-Corruption Convention. Particular focus will be on the impact these developments will have on U.S. and foreign companies doing work in America. Moderator: Markus Funk, Perkins Coie, Denver, CO Speakers: Tyler W. Hodgson, Borden Ladner Gervais, Toronto, ON Canada Juliet Sorensen, Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago, IL Walter H. White Jr., MaguireWoods LLP, London, England Other sessions include: *Cross-Border Practice in a Shrinking Global Economy *Aug. 4, 3:45 -- 5:15 p.m., Room 716A, 700 Level, MTCC, South Building *Regulatory Burdens on U.S.- Canada Trade: A Titan in Chains *Aug 5, 2:30 -- 4:30 p.m., Pier 2/3, Convention Level, the Westin Harbour Castle *Insider Trading Revisited No. X *Aug. 6, 8:00 -- 10:00 a.m., Queen's Quay I/II, Conference Centre, The Westin Harbour Castle *General Counsel with International Issues: What's on their Minds? *Aug. 6, 8:30 -- 10 a.m., Room 718A, 700 Level, MTCC, South Building Published: Fri, Jul 29, 2011