Katherine Seikaly Chronicles the Benefits of Attending the Qui Tam Conference

Federal Bar Association conferences are an ideal opportunity to take a deep dive into emerging and unique areas of the law with seasoned attorneys and experts in the field. The 2020 Qui Tam Conference in Washington, D.C. on February 27–February 28 is no exception. This two-day conference will feature experienced False Claims Act (FCA) litigators from a variety of perspectives who will address advanced topics and discuss key developments pertaining to the FCA. Take this opportunity to interact with leading practitioners in the field while earning CLE credit and enjoying multiple networking events. Register now at fedbar.org/event/quitam20.

Katherine Seikaly, co-chair of the 2020 Qui Tam Conference, is managing partner in the Tysons office of Reed Smith. She focuses her practice on government and internal investigations, regulatory compliance and enforcement matters, and related litigation, with particular focus on the FCA. She has represented clients in a variety of industries, including health care, manufacturing, defense, and financial services. In the Q&A below, Katherine Seikaly graciously explores those elements that make the upcoming Qui Tam Conference a must-attend!

What makes this year’s Qui Tam Conference unique? 

This year we will be focusing on emerging trends in FCA litigation, both substantively and procedurally.  For example, on the substantive side, we have a panel on non-traditional causes of action, like antitrust and environmental law violations, cybersecurity issues, and the impact of the current trade war.  On the procedural side, we have a panel on government dismissals, which got a lot of press this year but are probably not as groundbreaking as some people might think, and one on cooperating with the government in investigations, which became a hot topic after the DOJ issued a guidance document in 2019. So, while the Qui Tam Conference will share perspectives from all sides of FCA litigation, with someone from the government, the relator’s bar, and the defense bar on each panel, this year will be unique in the topics that we explore.

Which panels or panelists do you most look forward to hearing from? 

One panel that I always enjoy is the very first one of the conference, which is the Year in Review.  The panelists are excellent, and it is a great summary of what happened over the past year.  I’m also looking forward to the panel on AUSA Procedures, which will feature AUSAs from around the country discussing how their offices handle FCA cases, and how those procedures might be different. Our keynote speakers for both days are excellent. On the first day, we will hear from Jody Hunt, assistant attorney general for the Civil Division at DOJ. On the second day, we are going to have a Q&A session with Michael Granston, deputy assistant attorney general for the Civil Division. The cool thing about the Q&A is that we will be reaching out to attendees before the conference to ask them to submit questions they would like us to ask.

Why is the time ripe for a conference of this nature? 

The DOJ recently released its statistics for FCA recoveries for 2019, which showed that it collected over $3 billion from these cases and investigations, over $2 billion of which involved qui tam suits. This is obviously a huge area of the law, and there are lots of new developments both substantively and procedurally that our expert panelists are going to explore. It is a great time for experienced practitioners to come and learn about these new and emerging trends, and also for attorneys who may be new to this space to come and learn what it is all about.

How did you become involved as the co-chair of the Qui Tam Conference?

I was asked to moderate a panel on settlements of qui tam cases for the inaugural Qui Tam conference in 2018. After that I was invited to serve on the board of the section as secretary and I’ve been deeply involved ever since. I served on the planning committee and as a moderator on a panel addressing materiality under the FCA for the 2019 conference. Then it seemed like a natural progression for me to co-chair the 2020 conference. David Finkelstein, who is a trial attorney in the Fraud Section of the Civil Division of DOJ, was one of the panelists at the 2019 conference and was excellent, so we asked him to co-chair the 2020 conference with me.

Who should attend this conference?

The conference is great for both experienced FCA practitioners as well as lawyers who may be new to this area of the law but want to learn what it is all about. Anyone who attends will learn a lot about what is going on in the FCA world and what to expect in the next couple of years.

Join the Federal Bar Association this February in Washington, D.C. at the FHI 360 Conference Center as Qui Tam Conference panelists provide fresh analysis on the rapidly changing landscape of FCA litigation and enforcement. Sign up today at fedbar.org/event/quitam20.

About the Author

Stacy Slotnick, Esq. holds a J.D., cum laude, from Touro Law Center and a B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She performs a broad range of duties as an entertainment lawyer, including drafting and negotiating contracts; addressing and litigating trademark, copyright, patent, and other IP issues; and directing the strategy and implementation of public relations, blogging, and social media campaigns.

About the FBA

Founded in 1920, the Federal Bar Association is dedicated to the advancement of the science of jurisprudence and to promoting the welfare, interests, education, and professional development of all attorneys involved in federal law. Our more than 16,000 members run the gamut of federal practice: attorneys practicing in small to large legal firms, attorneys in corporations and federal agencies, and members of the judiciary. The FBA is the catalyst for communication between the bar and the bench, as well as the private and public sectors. Visit us at fedbar.org to learn more.