Wednesday, September 5
3–5 p.m. Registration Desk Open

Thursday, September 6
7 a.m..–5 p.m. Registration Desk Open
8 a.m.–5 p.m. Exhibits Open

8:30–10 a.m. Emerging Issues in Federal Class Action Practice (1.5 hours general CLE credit)
Panelists: Hon. William S. Duffey Jr., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia; W. Pitts Carr, Carr & Palmer; Ashley Watson, vice president and general counsel, Attenex Corp.; Lee Schreter, Littler Mendelson; Moderator: Kevin Maxim, Troutman Sanders, LLP

This panel will explore the latest in federal class action issues and trends. The panel will draw from the experiences of the federal judiciary, in-house counsel, and from litigators representing class action plaintiffs and defendants. Issues to be discussed include the role of electronic discovery in class action litigation, whether the specter of litigating multiple states’ laws should impact class certification, hybrid and collective-action trends in employment class actions, and the evolving law surrounding the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005.

9–10 a.m. The Lawyer’s Federal Liability Act: Ethics and Professionalism Under the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA) (1 hour ethics credit)
Panelists: Hon. Paul Bonapfel, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia; Hon. Ray Mullins, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia; Hon. Jan Karlin, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Kansas; Kelly Stapleton, U.S. Trustee; Moderator: Michelle Carter, King & Spalding
Sponsored by the FBA Bankruptcy Section

The panel, which includes three bankruptcy judges and a U.S. trustee and is moderated by a bankruptcy lawyer, will examine the changes to the bankruptcy code brought about in the 2005 amendments and whether those changes
placed new duties upon and liabilities for lawyers who regularly practice bankruptcy law. The session will include a discussion of significant ethics case law since the effective date of BAPCPA.

9–10 a.m. Trends in Claims Under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (1 hour general CLE credit)
Panelists: Nancy Rafuse, Ashe, Rafuse & Hill, LLP; David Long-Daniels, Greenberg Traurig; Robert Dawkins, regional attorney, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Atlanta District Office; Moderator: Charles A. Shanor, professor of law, Emory University School of Law

An examination of current trends in the number of pregnancy discrimination complaints, a view from the plaintiff and the defendant’s perspective, and an overview of recent case law.

10:15 –11:45 a.m. Employment Law Update (1.5 hours general CLE credit)
Speaker: J. Al Latham Jr., Paul Hastings (L.A.)

The definitive update from a definitive source. A lively and highly informative update on all of the key cases facing an employment law practitioner. A chance to get up to speed with one of the foremost speakers in the country.

10:15 –11:45 a.m. The Universal Standard of Civility in the Legal Profession (1.5 hours professionalism credit)
Panelists: Hon. William C. O’Kelley, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia; Hon. Timothy C. Batten Sr., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia; Col. Linda Strite Murnane (Ret.), USAF, senior legal officer, Trial Chamber III, International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia; Moderator: C. Ronald Ellington, A. Gus Cleveland distinguished chair of legal ethics and professionalism, University of Georgia Law School.

Civility in litigation: What exactly does civility mean in this context? Three judges will share their perspectives on why civility matters and what it requires of even zealous advocates. The panel will discuss whether standards of civility should be enforced by judges or remain an aspirational ideal and whether, if civility is largely in the eye of the beholder, differences in status, gender, or age influence our perceptions of what appropriate behavior demands.

Noon–1:30 p.m. Foundation of the FBA Fellows Luncheon

The Foundation of the Federal Bar Association will induct its 2007 fellows. Featured Speaker: Larry D. Thompson, senior vice president, government affairs, general counsel and secretary of PepsiCo, and former deputy attorney general .

1:45–3:15 p.m. Today’s Corporate General Counsel (1.5 hours general CLE credit)
Panelists: James A. Hatcher, senior vice president, law and policy, Cox Communications; Becky Powhatan Kelley, executive vice president– distribution and business affairs/general counsel, The Weather Channel; Teri Plummer McClure, senior vice president of legal, compliance and public affairs, general counsel, and corporate secretary, UPS; Scott Meece, worldwide general counsel, CIBA Vision Corporation; Moderator: William J. Carney, Charles Howard Candler professor of law, Emory University School of Law

How are general counsel spending their time, and how do they think they should be spending their time? General counsel from four prominent companies will share their thoughts on some of the most pressing concerns they face, including: managing legal expenses; the dual role of the general counsel as lawyer and business adviser; the impact of Sarbanes-Oxley (the legal and ethical realities of compliance monitoring, as well as effectively training employees for compliance); employment law issues (diversity, ERISA, etc.); and data security, data preservation, and e-discovery (including record retention policies, IT department constraints, and dealing with the unreasonable opposing counsel).

1:45–3:15 p.m. The Supreme Court—Then and Now (1.5 hours general CLE credit)
Panelists: Jan Crawford Greenburg, legal correspondent, ABC News; Ken Foskett, staff writer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Best-selling authors Jan Crawford Greenburg, Supreme Conflict: The Inside Story of the Struggle for Control of the United States Supreme Court, and Ken Foskett, Judging Thomas—the Life and Times of Clarence Thomas, will discuss the dynamics of the Supreme Court and the changes since the appointment of Chief Justice Roberts.

2–4 p.m. Foundation of the FBA Board Meeting

3:30–5 p.m. Effective Appellate Advocacy
(1.5 hours general CLE credit)
Panelists: Hon. William H. Pryor Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit; Hon. Timothy M. Tymkovich, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit; Hon. Jeffrey S. Sutton, U.S. Court
of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; Moderator: J. Timothy McDonald, Rogers & Hardin LLP

Three circuit judges will discuss important issues in oral advocacy and brief writing. The panel will relate their experiences on brief-writing strategy and what tactics are most effective. The panelists will also identify what makes for good and bad oral argument. Significant time will be left for audience questions.

3:30–5 p.m. Using an Environmental Conflict Resolution Specialist (1.5 hours general CLE credit)
Panelists: Cherie P. Shanteau, senior mediator/ senior program manager, U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution; Lawrence
Roberts, Patton Boggs; Rachel Deming, Scarola Ellis LLP; Modera-tor: Warren Burke, Office of Legislative Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives
Sponsored by the FBA Environmental Law Section

This session will provide an overview of environmental conflict resolution (ECR) processes, the phases of ECR, the mechanics of when and how to use an ECR specialist, and case examples in conflicts involving natural resources damages, tort/personal injury claims, and permitting disputes. The session will include special topics in environmental justice and the role of tribal governments as trustees in specific situations.

6:30–9:30 p.m. Reception at the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum

A “southern style” reception at the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum complete with BBQ and the sounds of bluegrass band Packway Handle.

Friday, September 7
Optional Spouse Excursions available. Please see General Information for more details.

7 a.m.–5 p.m. Registration Desk Open
8 a.m.–5 p.m. Exhibits Open

9–10 a.m. Hot Topics in Intellectual Property Law
(1 hour general CLE credit)
Panelists: David Wier, chief patent counsel, Level 3 Communications; Kirstin L. Stoll-DeBell, Merchant & Gould, PC; Theodore Davis, Kilpatrick Stockton LLP; Luke Anderson, Merchant & Gould, PC
Sponsored by the FBA Intellectual Property and Communications Law Section

Experienced IP practitioners will address current hot topics such as the creation and sale of virtual game characters, copyright issues on the Web, the new trademark dilution act, keyword advertising and domain name disputes, and recent decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court that change the landscape of patent licensing and litigation.

9–10 a.m. The Horizon: A Preview of the Supreme Court’s Upcoming Term
(1 hour general CLE credit)
Panelists: Michael R. Dreeben, deputy solicitor general, U.S. Department of Justice; Howard Bashman, attorney and author of the blog howappealing.law.com.

Two renowned appellate advocates will preview the Supreme Court’s upcoming term (both criminal and civil cases granted certiorari) and examine recent trends in the Court’s decisionmaking process.

9–10 a.m. The Legal Journey on the Road Less Traveled– International Opportunities for Federal Lawyers (1 hour general CLE credit)
Speaker: Col. Linda Strite Murnane, (Ret.), USAF, senior legal officer, trial chamber III, International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
Sponsored by the FBA Career Services Division

Col. Murnane will discuss unique opportunities that have taken her to Latvia, Zambia, Rwanda, Papua New Guinea, Argentina and now the ICTY at The Hague.

9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Optional Spouse Excursion—
Simply Southern Tour

10:15–11:45 a.m. Civil Rights in the South
(1.5 hours ethics or professionalism credit)
Some panelists include: Rev. Joseph Lowery; Judge W. Louis Sands, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia; Judge Horace Ward, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia; Judge John H. Ruffin, U.S. Court of Appeals for Georgia

This session includes a historic perspective of famous Atlanta cases.

10:15–11:45 a.m. E-discovery Issues (1.5 hours general CLE credit)
Panelists: Joseph C. Bartolo, Esq. , National Technology Advisor, IKON Office Solutions; Hon. C. Christopher Hagy, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia; Browning E. Marean, DLA Piper;

A perspective nine months after the changes to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure took effect. How have the new rules impacted civil litigation in federal court? Are we making progress, or are some lawyers and litigants alike still burying their heads in the sand? This session offers practical suggestions for complying with the new e-discovery rules.

Noon–2 p.m. Younger Federal Lawyers Awards Luncheon

Presentation of the Younger Federal Lawyer Awards, which are bestowed upon outstanding federal attorneys nominated by U.S. agency heads, general counsels, judge advocates general, administrative judges, and fellow attorneys. Featured Speaker: Frances Fragos Townsend, assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism.

2–4 p.m. Vice Presidents of the Circuits Training

2–4:30 p.m. Younger Lawyers Division Board Meeting

2–5 p.m. Optional SpouseExcursion—MLK–CNN

3:30–5:30 p.m. National Labor Relations Board Reception

Held at the National Labor Relations Board offices—Harris Tower, 10th Floor, Peachtree Center, 233 Peachtree St NE—and sponsored by Region 10 of the National Labor Relations Board and the FBA Labor & Employment Law Section. General Counsel Ronald Meisburg and Board Member Peter Schaumber from the NLRB will be in attendance.

5–7 p.m. Federal Litigation Section Hospitality Suite

7–10 p.m. Reception at the High Museum of Art
Attendees will experience the “now” and the wow of Atlanta. In addition to music, food and drinks in the beautiful Weiland Lobby, attendees will be able to view several new exhibits, including the special exhibit: Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer’s Life, 1990–2005.


Saturday, September 8
7 a.m.–5 p.m. Registration Desk Open

8:30–9:15 a.m. Vice Presidents of the Circuits Meeting

8:30–11 a.m. Section and Division Leadership Meeting

9:30–11:30 a.m. Chapter Leaders Training presented by the Vice Presidents of the Circuits

11:45 a.m.–1:45 p.m. FBA Awards Luncheon

This annual event recognizes the outstanding service and achievements of members, sections, divisions, and chapters. The following awards will be presented: Special Recognition Awards, Section and Division Leadership Awards, Vice Presidents for the Circuit Awards, Chapter Activity Awards, and Newsletter Awards.

2–5 p.m. National Council Meeting

6:30–10:30 p.m. Reception and Presidential Installation Banquet

The banquet marks the formal installation of James S. Richardson Sr. as the Federal Bar Association national president for the fiscal year 2008. The banquet will feature the presentation of the Ilene and Michael Shaw Public Service Grants, the President’s Award, the Sarah T. Hughes Civil RightsAward, and the Earl W. Kintner Award.