Sixth Annual Conference on Strategies for Litigating Class Actions

The Sixth Annual Conference on Strategies for Litigating Class Actions
Presented by Law Seminars International

Featuring a national panel of leaders from the court and from both sides of the class action bar.  Download brochure in PDF.





Who Should Attend

Corporate and trial attorneys, corporate executives and governmental officials responsible for managing class actions litigation

Why You Should Attend

Class actions dominate the litigation landscape. They create massive liability exposure for defendants, attract the attention of regulators and law enforcement officials, generate bad publicity, undermine corporate public relations, and draw whistleblowers out of the woodwork. Whether in finance, securities, antitrust, consumer, employment or other areas, class actions multiply and magnify the risks of missteps in litigation.

This conference brings together a national panel of leaders from both sides of the class actions bar, and members of the judiciary, to explain current and important developments in state and federal laws affecting class actions, and to share innovative strategies to meet the business and legal challenges of class actions.
~ Program Co-Chairs: Thomas L. Boeder, Esq. and Timothy G. Fielden, Esq.

What You Will Learn

• Strategies for winning or defeating class certifications
• The impact of California's Section 17200 Decisions
• Considerations for consumer protection class actions
• A judge's view of problematic issues for plaintiffs and defendants
• Litigating class actions between certification and trial
• Prefiling and trial strategies
• When and how to negotiate attorney's fees
• Reacting to Rule 23
• Trial strategies
• When and how to use economic experts
• Settlement strategies and issues
• Potential for ERISA claims

AGENDA

Thursday, May 06, 2010
8:00 a.m.	Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 a.m.	Introduction and Overview
8:45 a.m.	Update on Class Action Litigation Trends Case law update and national trends: What they tell us about the best current strategies and arguments for winning or defeating class certifications
9:30 a.m.	Impact of California's Recent Section 17200 Decisions Effect on consumer fraud cases; standing requirements for plaintiffs; causal links; injury in fact requirement; limits on awards
10:15 a.m.	Break
10:30 a.m.	Special Substantive Law Considerations for Consumer Protection Class Actions Plaintiff's perspective: Arbitration issues, hot topics in causation; Defendant's perspective: Choice of law issues, reliance/causation issues, recent Washington State cases and national trends
11:30 a.m.	Special Address: Class Action Communications in the Digital Age Practical steps corporate defendants must implement to level the playing field and retake the advantage amid increased client demand for brand protection in a perilous viral environment
12:15 p.m.	Lunch (on your own)
1:30 p.m.	A View From the Bench on Class Actions Problematic class action issues for plaintiffs and defendants
2:30 p.m.	Litigating Class Actions Between Certification and Trial Reconsideration motion, Rule 23(f) petition, merits discovery, experts, summary judgment, motion for trial plan and decertification motions
3:30 p.m.	Break
3:45 p.m.	Attorney and Consultant Perspectives on Working Effectively and Efficiently with Testifying and Consulting Experts When and how to use economic experts; finding the right people; common attorney mistakes; problems with market research surveys, demonstrating similarity or dissimilarity of experiences, numerosity, commonality and adequacy of representation
5:00 p.m.	Continue the Exchange of Ideas: Reception for Faculty and Attendees
Friday, May 07, 2010
8:00 a.m.	Continental Breakfast
8:30 a.m.	Introduction and Overview
8:45 a.m.	Avoiding Ethical Traps in Settling Class Actions When and how to negotiate attorney's fees; important differences between common fund and statutory fees cases, valuing non-monetary class benefits and judicial candor in claims-made settlements
9:45 a.m.	Pre-Filing Strategies and Preparation Best practice considerations for case investigation and selection of class representatives
10:30 a.m.	Break
10:45 a.m.	Settlement Strategies and Issues - Plaintiff's perspective - Special master's perspective: Catherine A. Yanni, Esq., Mediator JAMS / San Francisco, CA - Defendant's perspective
12:15 p.m.	Lunch (on your own)
1:30 p.m.	Strategies for Reacting to the Evolution of Rule 23 What you have to do to win
2:00 p.m.	Potential for ERISA Claims Litigation trends and effective trial and settlement strategies
2:45 p.m.	Break
3:00 p.m.	Trial Strategies and Approaches
3:45 p.m.	Cases Involving Foreign Defendants Recent cases on treatment of foreign businesses and individuals in U.S. class actions
4:30 p.m.	Evaluations and Adjourn
May 6 - 7, 2010 Renaissance Seattle Hotel Seattle, WA For additional information and to register, visit www.lawseminars.com.