The Appellate Advocacy Committee just pulled off its second seminar for the year. Along with the Commercial Litigation, Drug and Medical Device, Employment Law, and Product Liability Committees, the Appellate Advocacy Committee jointly hosted the Class Action seminar in Washington, July 21-22. The seminar was a rousing success, with over 130 class action lawyers from around the country in attendance. The faculty was incredible. Special thanks go to Rob Wise for taking the lead on marketing. Scott Smith served as the Program Chair for the seminar.
Our committee seminar in Orlando on March 10-11, 2011 was also a major achievement, thanks to the efforts of our speakers, moderators, and especially our program chair, Lisa Baird of Reed Smith and Tillman Breckenridge. (In fact, Tillman has recently moved over to Reed Smith, with good wishes from all as he makes this transition.) The seminar programming was excellent and the attendance was solid.
Before you know it, we'll be deep into planning our next seminar. I'm delighted to report that the dates have been set for our next committee seminar from June 21-22, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts. Everyone will enjoy this venue, and for history buffs the trip will be a special pleasure. Tillman will take the lead as program chair and you should feel free to contact him, Scott, or me if you'd like to be involved on the program committee.
By now you should have received a brochure and several reminders about the DRI Annual Meeting, October 26-30, 2011 in Washington, D.C. The Annual Meeting is a cornerstone of DRI membership opportunities. It offers us great education and a chance to connect at our committee meeting and CLE. It also lets us to build relationships and referral sources beyond the appellate advocacy committee.
Please register to attend as soon as possible. There is a $200 discount if you register before September 28! The location and programming are fabulous for the appellate and trial lawyer. I invite you to attend
• The Appellate Advocacy Committee has its business meeting at 8:30 a.m. on Friday October 27, where we will discuss writing and speaking opportunities and other committee projects.
• We also will have two exceptional CLE presentations on appellate law during our committee meeting. The Honorable Douglas H. Ginsburg of the U.S. Court of Appeals, D. C. Circuit, will discuss What Judges Like and What they Don't. Committee Chair Scott Burnett Smith's topic will be Appellate Issues in Class Action Law.
• On the main stage, you will earn 11.5 CLE credits along with stellar programming, including Bryan Garner on Making Your Case; Supreme Court Cases in 2011; The 21st Century Jury; Political/Wiki Leaks; and Expanding Threats to Judicial Independence, among many other sessions.
We expect to do more than learn and meet for business. We'd like all committee members to come together for a social event – either happy hour or dinner. We'll be in touch later with arrangements. And make sure you schedule time for at least some of the wonderful attractions that D.C. has to offer.
We hope you are finding time to enjoy summer with your family and friends, as well as maintain a lively and rewarding law practice. No easy task, but awfully satisfying.
All our best,
Scott Burnett Smith, Committee Chair
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings
Huntsville, AL
ssmith@babc.com
Committee Chair
Publications Vice Chair
