An Introduction to Business Courts and Complex Litigation Courts:

Program Description

In the past 15 years, states and cities have been creating new business courts and specialized commercial litigation dockets at an accelerating pace. Commercial litigators have seen how these courts and dockets have greatly reduced litigation costs and case disposition times, while at the same time increasing the predictability of court decisions and level of client satisfaction.

Nevertheless, almost every time a new business court or specialized docket has been proposed, it has been met with opposition and wrongly labeled as being “elitist” or unfairly favoring “big business.” These myths are easily debunked by the facts and the experiences of those involved with any of our new courts or dockets.

Program Faculty

Mitchell L. Bach (Moderator), Attorney, Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC, Philadelphia, PA

Lee Applebaum, Partner, Fineman, Krekstein & Harris, PC, Philadelphia, PA

Merrick L. Gross, Shareholder, Akerman Senterfitt, Miami, FL

Robert L. Haig, Partner, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, New York, NY

Hon. Steven I. Platt, Retired Judge, The Platt Group Inc., Upper Marlboro, MD

CLE Credit*

1.0 hours of CLE credit in 60-minute states/1.2 hours of CLE credit in 50-minute states have been requested in states accrediting ABA teleconferences and live audio webcasts.*

NY-licensed attorneys: This non-transitional CLE program has been approved for experienced NY-licensed attorneys in accordance with the requirements of the New York State CLE Board for 1.0 total NY CLE credits.

The following states accept ABA teleconferences for mandatory CLE credit:
AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, KY, LA, ME, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NH, NM, NV, NY, OK, OR, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY.

*States currently not accrediting ABA Teleconferences: DE, IN, PA, KS, OH