If you are an attorney, you’ve probably been asked to serve on a Board. However, if you do agree there are numerous legal & ethical pitfalls that you must avoid as an attorney.
In this CLE, Nikki Semanchik will teach you what you need to know about serving on a Board, from your initial homework & due diligence to your ethical duties & avoiding conflicts of interest. The course is broken into three main parts, with Nikki first providing background on the key points of Nonprofit Law, she will then take a deep dive into your fiduciary duties and conclude by detailing the risks of serving as Director & legal counsel. Additional topics: entity type, public transparency, Board Committees vs. Advisory Boards, the duties & role of Directors, the Articles of Incorporation, reviewing bylaws & internal policies, Duty of Care, Duty of Inquiry, Duty of Loyalty, Duty to Follow Investment Standards, conflicts of interest, director protections, the Business Judgment Rule, volunteer immunity, Indemnification, Directors & Officers (D&O) Insurance, Nonprofit Compliance, the loss of the attorney-client privilege and your liability exposure.
Nikki Semanchik is the Founding Attorney of Semanchik Law Group, a business and nonprofit firm located in San Diego, California. In addition to assisting nonprofits with formation, compliance and governance, she also represents for profit businesses on a wide variety of matters.
Practice Areas: Business Law
Offered In: Alabama (AL) | Alaska (AK) | Arizona (AZ) | Arkansas (AR) | California (CA) | Colorado (CO) | Connecticut (CT) | Delaware (DE) | District of Columbia (DC) | Florida (FL) | Georgia (GA) | Hawaii (HI) | Illinois (IL) | Indiana (IN) | Iowa (IA) | ITA (ITA) | Kentucky (KY) | Maryland (MD) | Massachusetts (MA) | Michigan (MI) | Minnesota (MN) | Missouri (MO) | Montana (MT) | Nebraska (NE) | Nevada (NV) | New Hampshire (NH) | New Jersey (NJ) | New York (NY) | North Carolina (NC) | North Dakota (ND) | Ohio (OH) | Oregon (OR) | Pennsylvania (PA) | Puerto Rico (PR) | Rhode Island (RI) | South Dakota (SD) | Tennessee (TN) | Texas (TX) | Vermont (VT) | Virginia (VA) | Washington (WA) | West Virginia (WV)
Course Expiration: 07/10/2029
Media Type: Streaming Video, Streaming Audio, Audio Download, Video Download, MP3 Player, USB
1.20 credit hours
Original Production Date: 07/10/2024
Run Time: 1:00:00
Choice of Law, Prevailing Party, Forum Selection, Force Majeure. “Boilerplate” refers to the standard clauses that typically appear at the end of a contract.
These provisions are often pulled from templates and frequently overlooked by the parties and the attorneys tasked with drafting the agreements. However, these clauses establish essential rights for the parties and warrant careful consideration – especially in the front-end drafting stage of the agreement so you can avoid trying to enforce or fight these common clauses on the back end in litigation. In this CLE, Shannon Bell will delve into these common boilerplate clauses: choice of law, arbitration, forum & venue selection, amendment & modification, force majeure, jury waiver, prevailing party, merger and survival. Shannon will dissect key case law from around the country and provide practical tips & suggestions for drafting better boilerplate clauses in your contracts.
Shannon M. Bell has years of trial experience in state and federal courts and litigates a wide variety of complex business disputes, construction disputes, fiduciary claims, employment issues, and landlord/tenant issues, with a specialization in construction.
Practice Areas: Business Law, Litigation
Offered In: Alabama (AL) | Alaska (AK) | Arizona (AZ) | Arkansas (AR) | California (CA) | Colorado (CO) | Connecticut (CT) | Delaware (DE) | District of Columbia (DC) | Florida (FL) | Georgia (GA) | Illinois (IL) | Indiana (IN) | Iowa (IA) | ITA (ITA) | Kentucky (KY) | Maryland (MD) | Massachusetts (MA) | Michigan (MI) | Minnesota (MN) | Missouri (MO) | Montana (MT) | Nebraska (NE) | Nevada (NV) | New Hampshire (NH) | New Jersey (NJ) | New York (NY) | North Carolina (NC) | North Dakota (ND) | Ohio (OH) | Oregon (OR) | Pennsylvania (PA) | Puerto Rico (PR) | Rhode Island (RI) | South Dakota (SD) | Tennessee (TN) | Texas (TX) | Vermont (VT) | Virginia (VA) | Washington (WA) | West Virginia (WV)
Course Expiration: 06/10/2029
Media Type: Streaming Video, Streaming Audio, Audio Download, Video Download, MP3 Player, USB
1.20 credit hours
Original Production Date: 06/10/2024
Run Time: 1:00:00
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission is one of the most consequential, controversial and misunderstood decisions of the 21st century. And it’s also 175 pages long.
If you don’t feel like sifting through 175 pages of incredibly complex legal arguments, you’re in luck – First Amendment & campaign finance attorney Zach Greenberg is here for you. Zach will break down what’s in the decision, what it practically means, the concurrence, the dissent and the key rationales used by both sides. Specific topics covered: The 3 main elements of Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA), First Amendment prohibition against the government discriminating based on the speaker, Money = Free Speech, how the First Amendment extends to corporations, what Citizens United is NOT about, Independent Expenditures, express advocacy vs. issuing ads, state vs. federal elections, election season vs. non-election season, Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce, McConnell v. Federal Election Comm’n, the 3 pillars of the majority decision, the Anti-Distortion Rationale and the Corruption Rationale.
A native New Yorker, Zach graduated from Binghamton University in 2013 and Syracuse Law in 2016. Zach developed an appreciation for free speech while leading the College Libertarians and the Federalist Society.
Practice Areas: Constitutional Law, Election Law, Law Practice Management
Offered In: Alaska (AK) | Arizona (AZ) | California (CA) | Colorado (CO) | Connecticut (CT) | District of Columbia (DC) | Florida (FL) | Georgia (GA) | Illinois (IL) | Indiana (IN) | ITA (ITA) | Kansas (KS) | Maine (ME) | Maryland (MD) | Massachusetts (MA) | Michigan (MI) | Missouri (MO) | Nevada (NV) | New Hampshire (NH) | New Jersey (NJ) | New York (NY) | North Dakota (ND) | Ohio (OH) | Oklahoma (OK) | Oregon (OR) | Pennsylvania (PA) | South Carolina (SC) | South Dakota (SD) | Tennessee (TN) | Texas (TX) | Utah (UT) | Vermont (VT) | Washington (WA)
Course Expiration: 10/11/2029
Media Type: Streaming Video, Streaming Audio, Audio Download, Video Download, MP3 Player, USB
1.20 credit hours
Original Production Date: 10/11/2024
Run Time: 1:00:00
From Mullets on the Go to the KFC Colonel’s Secret Recipe – and even MLB’s Lena Blackburne Rubbing Mud for baseballs– you won’t find a more entertaining CLE. This course features intellectual property attorneys Eric Hanscom and David Branfman, who provide practical guidance for attorneys counseling clients on patent and trade secret protection. Drawing from decades of experience, the presenters explain the distinctions between utility and design patents, the benefits and limitations of provisional applications and the strategic application of trade secrets. Through numerous entertaining case studies and real client stories, this session offers insights into leveraging multiple IP tools effectively. The discussion includes legal requirements, enforcement risks, best practices and how to advise clients based on business goals and budget constraints.
Learning Objectives:
• Understand the distinctions between utility, design, and provisional patents.
• Identify when trade secrets are preferable over patent protection.
• Recognize how trademarks, trade dress, and patents can work in tandem.
• Evaluate common IP pitfalls and missteps made by clients.
• Apply legal and strategic considerations to IP planning and protection.
• Develop trade secret protection plans and understand their legal foundations.
• Analyze real-world examples to understand the practical application of IP law.
Patent attorney Eric Hanscom is actively involved in overseeing IP litigation, contract negotiation and customs issues around the globe. David Branfman’s IP practice focuses on entertainment law, including trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, licensing, motion pictures & TV and music.
Practice Areas: Business Law, Intellectual Property
Offered In: Alabama (AL) | Alaska (AK) | Arizona (AZ) | California (CA) | Colorado (CO) | Connecticut (CT) | District of Columbia (DC) | Florida (FL) | Georgia (GA) | Hawaii (HI) | Idaho (ID) | Illinois (IL) | Indiana (IN) | Kansas (KS) | Louisiana (LA) | Maine (ME) | Maryland (MD) | Massachusetts (MA) | Michigan (MI) | Minnesota (MN) | Mississippi (MS) | Missouri (MO) | Montana (MT) | Nebraska (NE) | Nevada (NV) | New Hampshire (NH) | New Jersey (NJ) | New Mexico (NM) | New York (NY) | North Dakota (ND) | Ohio (OH) | Oklahoma (OK) | Oregon (OR) | Pennsylvania (PA) | South Carolina (SC) | South Dakota (SD) | Tennessee (TN) | Texas (TX) | Utah (UT) | Vermont (VT) | Washington (WA) | Wyoming (WY)
Course Expiration: 05/31/2030
Media Type: Streaming Video, Streaming Audio, Audio Download, Video Download, USB
1.20 credit hours
Original Production Date: 05/31/2025
Run Time: 1:00:00
In 2006 the FRCP was amended to include a “new” type of evidence – Electronically Stored Information (ESI). Twenty years later almost every trial hinges on text messages, Facebook posts, IG stories, tweets, emails, blogs & countless more sources of electronic evidence.
In this CLE, Nicholas J. Schneider, Esq. will discuss the basics of laying a foundation for the admission of evidence, provide tangible trial tips and show you example trial examinations for establishing each of the five core foundation elements. Nick will then apply this framework, with practical examples, to common types of modern digital evidence, including business records, text messages, social media and other forms of ESI. These rules and procedures are addressed: Introduction & Exclusion of Evidence, Pre-Foundation, Competence, Foundation, the Original Document Rule, Privilege, Relevance, Authenticity and Hearsay. Nick will specifically discuss preparing & introducing: ESI, photos, video, email, texts, social media and websites & blog posts.
Nicholas Schneider is a trial attorney and Partner with the national law firm Eckert Seamans. He focuses his practice on complex commercial disputes involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, business torts, employment disputes, copyright infringement, unfair competition and class actions.
Practice Areas: Criminal Law, Litigation, Personal Injury
Offered In: Alabama (AL) | Alaska (AK) | Arizona (AZ) | Arkansas (AR) | California (CA) | Colorado (CO) | Connecticut (CT) | Delaware (DE) | District of Columbia (DC) | Florida (FL) | Georgia (GA) | Hawaii (HI) | Illinois (IL) | Indiana (IN) | Iowa (IA) | ITA (ITA) | Kentucky (KY) | Maryland (MD) | Massachusetts (MA) | Michigan (MI) | Minnesota (MN) | Missouri (MO) | Montana (MT) | Nevada (NV) | New Hampshire (NH) | New Jersey (NJ) | New York (NY) | North Carolina (NC) | North Dakota (ND) | Ohio (OH) | Oregon (OR) | Pennsylvania (PA) | Puerto Rico (PR) | Rhode Island (RI) | South Dakota (SD) | Texas (TX) | Vermont (VT) | Virginia (VA) | Washington (WA) | West Virginia (WV)
Course Expiration: 08/28/2029
Media Type: Streaming Video, Streaming Audio, Audio Download, Video Download, MP3 Player, USB
1.20 credit hours
Original Production Date: 08/28/2024
Run Time: 1:00:00