ABA News . . .

ABA ethics meeting to tackle host of issues facing U.S, Canadian lawyers

The American Bar Association begins today its 45th National Conference on Professional Responsibility in Vancouver, British Columbia, with an array of programs of interest to U.S. and Canadian lawyers, including panels on the future of the legal profession and mandatory bar membership, well-being, and emerging ethical and harassment issues.

The conference, sponsored by the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility, is the pre-eminent educational and networking opportunity in the field of legal ethics and professional responsibility. Leading experts, scholars and practitioners from across the country and Canada will address trends and developments in legal ethics, professional discipline, risk management, professionalism and practice issues. It will overlap with the 35th ABA National Forum on Client Protection, May 31 and June 1, also at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver.

On May 30, Peter Jarvis, a partner in Holland & Knight’s Portland, Ore.’s office, will receive the Michael Franck Professional Responsibility Award, named in honor of Michael Franck, the late director of the State Bar of Michigan and longtime champion of improvements in lawyer regulation in the public interest. Jarvis practices primarily in the area of attorney professional responsibility and risk management, advising lawyers, law firms, corporate legal departments and government legal departments about all aspects of the law governing lawyers. He is widely admired for mentoring others in the field of professional responsibility.

Also, J. Ryann Peyton, the executive director of the Colorado Attorney Mentoring Program, a program of the Colorado Supreme Court, will receive the 2019 Rosner & Rosner Young Lawyer Professionalism Award.
The award recognizes young lawyers who are dedicated to lawyer professionalism and honors those who have demonstrated an interest in and commitment to areas such as legal and judicial ethics, lawyer professionalism, client protection and professional regulation.

International Space Station, deep space ­exploration on agenda at ABA Space Law Symposium

The American Bar Association will sponsor the 2019 Space Law Symposium  on Tuesday, June 4 in Washington, D.C., with panels conducted by industry experts discussing topics such as the commercialization of the International Space Station, deep space exploration, planetary protection policy, counseling space start-ups and current trends in commercial satellite financing.

Representative Kendra S. Horn, chair of the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, will give opening keynote remarks.  William Barry, chief historian at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, will deliver luncheon remarks.

Program highlights include:

• “Legal and Policy Considerations in the Commercialization of the ISS” — This panel will address the plans for the commercialization of the International Space Station. Panelists include experts from the industry, government and international community.

• “Star Trek Voyager: International Cooperation in Deep Space Exploration” — Existing international and domestic laws and future laws will be discussed as they relate to deep space exploration concerning civil, commercial, and military robotic and human exploration.