Program Schedule

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE: July 30 | July 31 | August 1

Descriptions for all programs are available on this page.

Thursday, July 30
» View descriptions of Thursday’s programs
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.	Avoiding Ethical Minefields when Preparing and Examining Witnesses
	Becoming Louis Brandeis: How to Get Trial Experience
	Electronic Discovery Around the World
3:45 – 5:15 p.m.	It’s a Small World After All: Suing Foreign Companies in the U.S.
	Objection! When and How to Object at Trial
	Social Networks, Blawgs & Podcasts: Business Development Tools for the Internet Age
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.	Welcome and Outreach Reception

Friday, July 31
» View descriptions of Friday’s programs
7:00 – 8:15 a.m.	Committee Practice Area Discussion and Networking Breakfast Meetings*
8:30 – 10:00 a.m.	Ladder to Success: Finding and Keeping Clients
	The Only Three Rules of Cross-Examination (Sponsored by LexisNexis)
	Top 20 Ways to Protect Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product While Working with Expert Witnesses
10:30 a.m. – Noon	Presidential Showcase Program: Lessons from History: A Conversation with Former Attorneys General
12:15 – 1:45 p.m.	International Human Rights Award and Passing of the Gavel Luncheon
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.	Arbitration: Has It Fulfilled Its Promises?
	Ethical Issues and E-Discovery: How Inside and Outside Counsel Can Work Together
	Making Rain During a Drought: Business Development in Tough Economic Times
	The Roberts Court – Three’s a Charm?
3:45 – 5:15 p.m.	Plenary Program: Litigation at the O.K. Corral: How Cross-Examination Won the West
7:00 – 10:30 p.m.	Art in the Park: An Evening at the Art Institute’s New Modern Wing

Saturday, August 1
» View descriptions of Saturday’s programs
7:00 – 8:15 a.m.	Committee Practice Area Discussion and Networking Breakfast Meetings*
8:30 – 10:00 a.m.	Ethics Jeopardy
	Subprime Redux: Recent Developments in Subprime Enforcement and Litigation
	Trial by Jury: The Judge’s Perspective
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.	A Civil Action: A Debate on Trial Techniques
	What Chief Litigation Counsel Want You to Know
	Hot Topics in Environmental Law
3:45 – 5:15 p.m.	A Winning Beginning: How to Make Phenomenal Opening Statements
	Government Litigators in the New Administration: How Far Must They Go to Seek Justice?
	Legal Strategies for Dealing with Anonymous Internet Posters

*All Committee Practice Area Discussion and Networking Breakfast Meetings will take place at The Fairmont.

Thursday, July 30

2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Avoiding Ethical Minefields when Preparing and Examining Witnesses
Regency Ballroom D, Gold Level, West Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago
This program considers the basic ethical issues confronting lawyers in dealing with their own and opposing witnesses. Knowing how to identify and resolve these ethical problems can save careers. This will be an instructive, interactive program based on actual ethical dilemmas that almost every trial lawyer confronts.
Becoming Louis Brandeis: How to Get Trial Experience
Crystal Ballroom A, Green Level, West Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago
Louis Brandeis, one of America’s greatest lawyers, did not wait for greatness. He seized the initiative by getting into the courtroom quickly through pro bono trials and by successfully representing companies with substantial litigation needs. This program, led by dynamic courtroom lawyers and in-house counsel, reveals the secrets of abundant trial experience.
Electronic Discovery Around the World
Columbus Hall CD, Gold Level East Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago
Litigation and data increasingly have no boundaries. Experts from around the world discuss a range of issues about how different jurisdictions handle electronic information in civil litigation.

3:45 – 5:15 p.m.

It’s a Small World After All: Suing Foreign Companies in the U.S.
Columbus Hall CD, Gold Level East Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago
This program explores three of the thorniest issues that arise when suing foreign companies in US courts -- how to handle discovery abroad, what to do if your opponent files a collateral retaliatory suit in their home country, and how to collect on your judgment in a foreign land.
Objection! When and How to Object at Trial
Crystal Ballroom A, Green Level, West Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago
Through the use of live demonstrations, a panel consisting of a well known plaintiff’s lawyer, a well known defense lawyer and a judge, along with a moderator, will share their expertise on effective methods for making and overcoming evidentiary objections at trial (or whether to object all) on a variety of evidentiary issues.
Social Networks, Blawgs & Podcasts: Business Development Tools for the Internet Age
Regency Ballroom D, Gold Level, West Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago
As the Internet generation increases its presence in the marketplace, visibility on the Internet is becoming essential for business development. This program will teach attorneys what social networks, blawgs (or blogs) and podcasts are, why they should become skilled in them and how they can effectively use these cutting-edge devices.

Friday, July 31

8:30 – 10:00 a.m.

Ladder to Success: Finding and Keeping Clients
Columbus Hall AB, Gold Level, East Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago
It takes more than skills and expertise to climb the ladder to success You need clients and they demand more than legal talent. A panel of experienced attorneys and consultants will provide practical tips on effective client service and how you can develop, build, and manage client relationships.
The Only Three Rules of Cross-Examination
Columbus Hall EF, Gold Level, East Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago
Sponsored by: LexisNexis

This innovative program takes a new look at a critical skill. Whether you are a plaintiff or defense attorney, make cross-examination the focus of your case by using advanced techniques that position cross as the surest means to a favorable verdict. Learn how cross examination can utilize your best witness: you.

Program attendees will have the opportunity to purchase Pozner and Dodd’s Cross-Examination: Science and Techniques, 2nd ed. onsite at a 20% discount!
Top 20 Ways to Protect Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product While Working with Expert Witnesses
Columbus Hall CD, Gold Level, East Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago
This program will present 20 proven practice pointers followed by seasoned trial lawyers to efficiently and safely work with experts, without blowing the client’s protections. The program will also cover the proposed amendment to Rule 26(a)(2)(B) and its impact on these best practices in federal cases.

10:30 a.m. – Noon

Presidential Showcase Program: Lessons from History: A Conversation with Former Attorneys General
Regency Ballroom C, Gold Level, West Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago
As our nation’s chief law enforcement officer, the Attorney General must tackle tough issues every day. Six former United States Attorneys General will discuss these issues and the lessons that our newest Attorney General can learn from his predecessors.

2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Arbitration: Has It Fulfilled Its Promises?
Columbus Hall CD, Gold Level, East Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago
This program will involve speakers who will provide presentations and then participate in a moderated debate on hot current issues involving arbitration, including enforcement, discovery, costs, and legislative efforts to curtail arbitration. Speakers include an in-house counsel, an experienced international arbitration practitioner, and an advocate against arbitration.
Ethical Issues and E-Discovery: How Inside and Outside Counsel Can Work Together
Columbus Hall AB, Gold Level, East Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago
The world of e-discovery has introduced some thorny ethical challenges for in-house counsel. Learn how the outside counsel can be an asset, not a liability. This format will be very interactive beginning with you sharing your views through electronic voting. The in-house counsel, judge and outside counsel will explore practical solutions to the strains that recent rulings place on the working relationship between inside and outside counsel.
The Roberts Court – Three’s a Charm?
Columbus Hall EF, Gold Level, East Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago
For the third year in a row, the three professors will dissect the opinions of the Roberts Court in what again promises to be an insightful, humorous, and interactive presentation. It also promises again to be a standing-room only program. Don’t be late!

3:45 – 5:15 p.m.

Plenary Program: Litigation at the O.K. Corral: How Cross-Examination Won the West
Columbus Hall EF, Gold Level, East Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago
After the gunfight, Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday were charged with first degree murder. The prosecutor had plenty of evidence, but the defense lawyer won, saving his clients from the gallows. Find out how he did it and how you can use these same techniques to win your toughest cases.

Saturday, August 1

8:30 – 10:00 a.m.

Ethics Jeopardy
Columbus Hall CD, Gold Level, East Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago
Ethics Jeopardy is in an audience-participation, question and answer game-format that is fast paced, funny and educational. It focuses on the latest professional ethics cases from around the country, including use of model disciplinary rules and state-based ethical rules that illustrate rules adopted by most other states.
Subprime Redux: Recent Developments in Subprime Enforcement and Litigation
Columbus Hall AB, Gold Level, East Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago
Legislators, regulators, bankers, mortgagors and consumer groups are devising strategies to preserve home ownership, minimize foreclosures and restore stability to housing markets. Who are the ultimate victims—consumers or shareholders required to buy back billions in modified loans? Government enforcement, regulators and senior industry lawyers will discuss legislative, enforcement and litigation challenges arising from the subprime meltdown.
Trial by Jury: The Judge’s Perspective
Columbus Hall EF, Gold Level, East Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago
Experienced trial judges will share their expertise and opinions on effective and not so effective methods for advocacy and presentation of evidence. Among other issues, the panelists will be asked to address how technology can be used (or can backfire) in presentations to juries and judges.

2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

A Civil Action: A Debate on Trial Techniques
Columbus Hall EF, Gold Level, East Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago
Jan Schlichtmann represented eight Massachusetts families against W.R. Grace and Beatrice Foods for contamination of the water supply in their town. His career and involvement in the case was the subject of the motion picture, “A Civil Action,” starring John Travolta. Using scenes from the movie, Schlichtmann will provide insight concerning the trial techniques used in the case and the role of civil litigation in achieving justice.
What Chief Litigation Counsel Want You to Know
Columbus Hall AB, Gold Level, East Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago
Hear from Chief Litigation Counsel of corporations on what they expect from outside lawyers, what keeps them coming back, and how outside lawyers can become more efficient allies in these challenging times of economic downturn. Gain valuable insight from the panel and come ready to join in the lively discussion.
Hot Topics in Environmental Law
Columbus Hall CD, Gold Level, East Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago
There is no downturn in environmental law developments for 2009, and we are excited to present the annual Environmental Hot Topics program with nationally recognized practitioners. Expected topics include Nanotechnology, CERCLA Joint & Several Liability, Green Buildings, Climate Change and GHG Regulations, and Environmental Claims in Bankruptcy. This year’s anticipated environmental law, regulation and case developments will be of vital interest to environmental, real estate, bankruptcy and corporate lawyers and litigators.

3:45 – 5:15 p.m.

A Winning Beginning: How to Make Phenomenal Opening Statements
Columbus Hall EF, Gold Level, East Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago
A compelling opening statement is critical to winning your case. Join as expert trial lawyers present opening statements from a hypothetical case, followed by a lively discussion with federal trial judges and a jury consultant on how to get the most form your opening statements.
Legal Strategies for Dealing with Anonymous Internet Posters
Columbus Hall CD, Gold Level, East Tower, Hyatt Regency Chicago
This panel discussion is designed to provide corporate and outside counsel with strategies for dealing with situations where a person anonymously puts false and disparaging material on the internet.

» View the ABA Annual Meeting website