15th Litigation Skills Symposium

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This year's program is being presented in conjunction with the California Bankruptcy Forum and is being hosted by the University of San Diego School of Law.

Welcome to ABI’s 15th Litigation Skills Symposium! This four-day symposium offers insolvency practitioners and financial advisors a rare opportunity to gain critical skills in a unique learn-by-doing environment by combining quality instruction with individualized critique, with expert faculty demonstrating the specific advocacy skills necessary to be an effective practitioner. Participants will work in small groups, and their performances will be videotaped and evaluated by the faculty, who will provide invaluable feedback on technique, style and strategy. The workshops include live performances by lay and expert witnesses, concluding with mock trials on the last day.

The entire program is extremely work-intensive and interactive for both the attendees and faculty. Enrollment is limited to 20 lawyers in order to maximize the learning experience. There are also 6 openings for financial professionals, who will receive invaluable training on how to be an effective witness and will put their learned skills to work as witnesses during the final-day trial. Approximately 18.25 hours of CLE/CPE credit are available.

What previous attendees have said about the training:

"This program was fantastic, and I am happy I completed it.... I would enthusiastically recommend the program to any associate looking for trial experience."

Lecture and demonstration topics will include:

Trial Preparation for Lawyers
The Financial Professional as Expert Witness
Direct Examination of Non-Experts and Introduction of Evidence
Effective Cross-Examination of Expert Witnesses and Non-Experts
Art of Persuasion/Trial Techniques to Win Your Case
Valuation Training for Financial Professionals
Strategies to Prepare a Case for Trial

Sessions

Wednesday, May 17

5:00-7:00 p.m.

Program Registration

6:00-7:00 p.m.

Faculty/Registrant Cocktails & Heavy Hors D’oeuvres

7:00-9:00 p.m.

Program Introduction

Lecture: Trial Preparation for Lawyers

Lecture: The Financial Professional as Expert Witness

7:15-8:15 p.m.

Faculty Training Session

Thursday, May 18

7:00 a.m.

Bus departs hotel for Law School

7:30-8:30 a.m.

Breakfast

8:30-9:30 a.m.

Lecture/Demo: Introduction of Evidence/Direct Examination

9:30-10:00 a.m.

Refreshment Break

10:00-11:45 a.m.

Workshop 1: Direct Examination of Non-Experts and Introduction of Evidence

11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Catered Lunch

12:30-2:00 p.m

Lecture/Demo: Effective Cross-Examination

2:00-2:30 p.m.

Refreshment Break

2:30-4:15 p.m.

Workshop 2: Cross-Examination of Non-Experts

4:15-5:00 p.m.

Lecture: Art of Persuasion/Trial Techniques to Win Your Case

Lecture: Valuation Training for Financial Professionals

5:00 p.m.

Bus departs for hotel

5:30-6:30 p.m.

CBF Reception at hotel

Friday, May 19

7:15 a.m.

Bus departs hotel for Law School

7:45-8:30 a.m.

Breakfast

8:30-9:45 a.m.

Lecture/Demo: Working with Expert Witnesses

9:45-10:15 a.m.

Refreshment Break

10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Workshop 3: Direct Examination of Expert Witnesses

12:15-1:15 p.m.

Catered Lunch

1:15-3:30 p.m.

Workshop 4: Cross-Examination of Expert Witnesses

3:30-3:45 p.m.

Refreshment Break

3:45-4:45 p.m.

Team Meetings and Strategy Sessions to Prepare Case for Trial

4:45 p.m.

Bus departs for hotel

5:15-6:30 p.m.

CBF Reception at hotel

6:30 p.m.

Faculty Dinner

Saturday, May 20

7:00-8:00 a.m.

Breakfast at hotel

8:30 a.m.

Bus departs for Law School

9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon

Mock Trials

Conference Information

Hotel

ABI and CBF have arranged for a special conference rate of $269 per night at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego. Reservations must be made by April 26, 2017, to secure the special conference rate. Reservations may be made by contacting the Loews directly at (877) 872-8559 and using Group Code CAB516. You can also book your room online at here. Rooms are held on a first-come, first-served basis. ABI cannot guarantee anyone a room after the block is filled.

Location

Loews Coronado Bay Resort
4000 Coronado Bay Rd.
Coronado, CA 92118

University of San Diego School of Law
5998 Alcala Park, Warren Hall
San Diego, CA 92110

Symposium Attire

Business attire is required for the entire program.

Cancellation Policy

All fees, except a $75 handling fee, will be refunded if written notice of cancellation is received by April 26, 2017. No refunds will be granted after April 26, but substitutions will be allowed. After April 26, upon written request, a coupon for 20% off the registration fee (not including optional events) will be issued, which can be used (by the canceling registrant only) for any ABI educational program up to one year after this conference, or for this same conference next year.

Continuing Education Credit

18.25 hours of general CLE credit are pending in states calculating CLE on a 60-minute hour, and 21.5 hours of general CLE credit are pending in 50-minute-hour states. Credit hours granted are subject to approval from each state. California MCLE: ABI certifies that this activity has been approved for MCLE credit in the amount of 18.25 hours. NY MCLE: This transitional and non-transitional program has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the CLE Board for a maximum of 21.5 credit hours. 21.5 hours of CPE credit are also available.

*ABI offers intermediate-level courses, which assume that attendees have some knowledge in insolvency matters (pursuant to the “Statement on Standards for CPE Programs” established by AICPA and NASBA). ABI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State Boards of Accountancy have the final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website, www.nasbaregistry.org. For more information regarding administrative policies such as complaints and refunds, please contact the American Bankruptcy Institute at (703) 739-0800.

Co-Chairs

Mark M. Maloney

King & Spalding; Atlanta

Gregory R. Westfall

Grant Thornton LLP; New York

R. Scott Williams

Rumberger Kirk & Caldwell; Birmingham, Ala.

Faculty

Edward T. Gavin

Gavin/Solmonese LLC; Wilmington, Del.

Jay S. Geller

Law Office of Jay S. Geller; Portland, Maine

Dillon E. Jackson

Foster Pepper PLLC; Seattle, Wash.

Jordan A. Kroop

Perkins Coie LLP; Phoenix

Christian C. Onsager

Onsager | Fletcher | Johnson LLC; Denver

Kenneth Pasquale

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP; New York

Thomas J. Salerno

Stinson Leonard Street LLP; Phoenix

Andrea B. Schwartz

Office of the U.S. Trustee; New York

Mike Sullivan

Grant Thornton LLP; New York

Judy D. Thompson

JD Thompson Law; Saluda, NC

Lynnette R. Warman

Culhane Meadows PLLC; Dallas

Hon. Gregg W. Zive

U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Nev.); Reno

Financial Professionals Registration

In addition to litigation training for attorneys, the Symposium is open to financial experts who want to enhance their skills in the area of litigation support and testimony. Financial experts will receive training from professionals who have developed expertise in this area. As a financial expert, you will get hands-on training on how to prepare for and give persuasive expert testimony in bankruptcy litigation matters, and on how to survive grueling cross-examinations. Among other things, each financial expert will give testimony in multiple practice workshops throughout the week and will also work directly with the attorney teams in preparing testimony to be offered at a mock confirmation hearing before a federal bankruptcy judge. This unique opportunity is limited to 6 financial experts on a first-come, first-served basis. These spaces will not last, so register early!

Rates

ABI Member	$1,445
New ABI Member*	$1,740

* Includes a one-year ABI membership — a $325 value! You must be an ABI member to attend. Membership is individual and nonrefundable.