MCLE London™ Programme 2017

Friday 13th January

BREXIT?  QUO VADIMUS? JUST KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON? Panel Presentations and open floor discussions.

The UK is to secede (sort of, possibly) from the European Union structure, the US is apparently to become willing later this January to tear up or alter fundamentally  (sort of, possibly, perhaps) international trade and comity agreements in place or close to being in place – NAFTA, TPP, TTIP, NATO and perhaps many other agreements or conventions; there is thus extra uncertainty for practicing international lawyers and their clients who must somehow continue to advise and act while political caprices of The Gods ebb and flow above regardless of the mortals below.   Some panellist overviews and open floor discussion of key areas – NB unfortunately we do not feel we can at this moment in time ask anyone to try to give us a knowledgeable US overview of any prospective policy outcomes in this regard.

Caroline Morgan, Senior Political Analyst, Representation of the European Commission in the  United Kingdom.  Caroline is a non-practicing lawyer, spent much of her career with the EU drafting and negotiating EU legislation, and now acts as a political analyst in the policy areas of Trade, justice, home affairs, gender equality, migration, Council of Europe., European Court of Human Rights, competition, education, culture, multilingualism & youth, and budget

Alison Hook, Director, Hook Taganza, is Vice Chair of Trade in Legal Services Committee of the International Bar Association, was formerly the Head of International at the Law Society for 8 years, and was Deputy Head of UK Representation for the European Commission for 4 years. Her firm specializes in consultancy for the legal market, particularly with cross-border regulatory issues, market access and international law firm strategy and business development.  In her EU career she was actively y involved with anti-dumping and trade defence measures while working in the cabinet of Sir Leon Brittan

Innokenty Alekseev, Advocat and Counsellor (Russia), based in London and an alumnus of Stanford University Law School. He specializes in private international law and wealth management and has interests in the science of law.

Edmond Curtin, Attorney (NY),  Barrister-at-Law and member of the Kings Inns (Eire), Solicitor (England & Wales)   Visiting professor at Westminster Universisty, Founder of The Centre for  Finance and Law Research. Counsels on corporate, regulatory and finance matters. His advisory practice covers Brexit, regtech, legal risk, governance, and financial regulation. His transactional practice covers capital markets (derivatives and securities) and corporate finance.
Particular interests in Global Markets, ILS, regulatory change, and private capital investments. Admitted in England.

Maurice P Choquard, Attorney (CA), Admitted to Swiss Bar (ZH,GE,SZ,ZG),; Maurice’s areas of practice include Arbitration, Banking, Conflict of Laws, Contracts, Corporations, Foundations & Trusts, Fiduciary Operations, Inheritance, Swiss & International Judicial Assistance, Commercial Matters and Transactions (USA-CH; France-CH), M & A, Real Estate Transactions, Strategic Planning of New Business
 

CATCHING THE TIDE.   A high level presentation on the topic of what would be the likely trade agreement between the EU and UK and its potential implications for UK’s trade relationships with other States. 
Anastasios Tomtsis, Solicitor (Dikigoros – (ΔΣΘ)), Greece; Avocat, Brussels (E-list); Counsel, Clifford Chance LLP, Brussels Office. Attorney (NY); 

THE HEART OF THE DEAL – UNCERTAINTY – THE DRIVING FORCE.  A psychological Insight into Conflict Resolution and Mediation at all levels, including the commercial, legal, governmental and international

Paul Randolph, Barrister, Accredited Mediator, Member of the UK Bar Council ADR Committee, Board Member of UK Civil Mediation Council, member of the European Mediation Network Initiative, the Slynn Foundation, and the IBA.   Paul is also Course Leader on the Mediation course at the Regent’s School of Psychotherapy and Psychology at Regent’s University, London.
ISLAMIC LAW AND ISLAMIC FINANCE – AN INTRODUCTION.
A general overview of Islamic systems of law.  Operating actively and to some extent under the radar of domestic law, increasingly it cannot be ignored in today’s cosmopolitan world but must come to be better understood and worked with in contemporary legal practice.  In particular, that area described as Islamic Finance is becoming more and more a commonplace part of commercial legal practice in the UK and elsewhere..
Professor Shaheen Ali, Warwick University School of Law. Shaheen currently teaches modules on Islamic Law, Women’s Human Rights, Global Justice and Contemporary Problems in Human Rights.  Her research interests lie at the intersection of Islamic Law and Jurisprudence, Women and Child Rights and International Law of Human Rights.  Formerly Professor of Law University of Peshawar, Pakistan for 25 years and Director Women’s Study Centre at the same university,  member of  National Commission of Inquiry on Women as well as the Prime Minister’s Consultative Committee on Women in Pakistan. Shaheen has consulted with a range of national and international organisations including the British Council, DFID, NORAD, UNICEF, UNIFEM, UNDP, as well as providing expert legal opinions in the area of Islamic law in UK and US courts.
Wayne Evans, Director NH6 Consulting. Specialist advisor and former Director of International Strategy from start at the TheCityUK and a former Director at International Financial Services London (IFSL) after a career at the UK Foreign Office specializing in Trade Promotion, Economic and Political Policy, Currently a member of the Islamic Finance Board of the University of East London

Saturday 14th January

SUBSTANCE ABUSE and MENTAL HEALTH  (MH)  – THE CO-MORBID LAWYER. Alcoholism and Depression can be a lethal combination within the legal profession. Lawyers need to understand the causes of their client’s and colleague’s problems – Alcoholism and Depression share common symptoms   (Chatham House Rule applies please)

 Jonathan Goodliffe, Solicitor and professional support lawyer; specialist in financial regulation and particularly of insurance products. A former editor of the Journal of British Insurance Law Association, Jonathan is also a researcher, writer and activist in organisations and activities concerning alcoholism in the legal world.
 Simon Keevey-Kothari, Barrister specializing in Intellectual Property, whose academic background comprises an undergraduate degree in biological sciences, after which he pursued legal studies and was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1996; member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, IP Bar Association, Licensing Executives Society, and a Lawcare volunteer.
 Jane Duke is a law graduate currently working in the NHS as the manager of a large GP surgery in central London. She has been a volunteer with Lawcare, a registered charity providing personal support for legal professionals since 2001 shortly after joining a high street law firm as a paralegal.

PRACTICE MANAGEMENT  –  CURRENT ISSUES – LEGAL RISK, AI and  ROBOTIC CONTRACT MANAGEMENT – CURRENT ANALYTICS AND ALGORITHMS FOR GENERAL COUNSEL

Matthew Whalley, Director of  Legal Risk at EY (formerly Ernst & Young); with a scientific background in oceanography and Knowledge Management, Matthew has  worked on the topics of legal risk and knowledge management with HSBC Group Legal & Compliance,  and then with Berwin Leighton Paisner as Head of Legal Risk Consultancy before  moving to EY at the beginning of 2016. Author: “Legal Risk 2.0; Show you’re in control”

THE ELIMINATION OF BIAS IN THE PROFESSION AND THE RECOGNITION OF BIAS IN SOCIETY
Daniel Winterfeldt, Attorney (NY), Solicitor (England and Wales), admitted to the US Supreme Court, Partner Reed Smith. Daniel practices in the firm’s Financial Industry Group and amongst other things is the founder and co-chair of the Forum for US Securities lawyers in London, providing ongoing securities advice to the London Stock exchange.   He is also the founder and co-chair of the InterLaw Diversity Forum for LGBT Networks, and also a member of the Law Society of England and Wales’ Equality and Diversity Committee

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN THE PRACTICE OF LAW – Interesting lawyer stuff!

Diane Karpman Attorney (CA) of Karpman and Associates, Los Angeles.  Diane is an author, expert witness, and consultant in legal malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty cases in California. A former professor of law at Western State University College of Law and of the University of West Los Angeles College of Law she has also been an adjudicator at the State Bar Court; she has served on a number of Bar Committees, including in particular as Chair of the Editorial Board of the ABA/BNA Lawyers’ Manual on Professional conduct in 2006.  Her current practice limited to the representation of Attorneys.  She lectures and presents extensively on topics of current ethical and professional relevance to attorneys under the generic title of “Interesting Lawyer Stuff!”

Sunday 15th January – New Skills Course for  Newly Qualified NY Attorneys

TRIAL ADVOCACY – fundamentals for English law jurisdictions – Practical Intensive Program (6 x 50 minute hours)
 
Richard Ladmore formerly a solicitor, barrister, and Senior Lecturer at the College of Law of England and Wales. Currently, Richard is a freelance trainer and Lead Freelance Consultant on Dispute Resolution to the University of Law of England and Wales.  Richard designed the University’s Higher Rights of Audience advocacy courses (for High Court advocacy) and assessments [both written and oral] for the UK and for Hong Kong. He sits as an assessor in the UK and also delivers the courses He has designed  today’s customised intensive course.