Federal Bar Association

Sacramento Chapter: The Magistrate Judge's Role in Federal Civil Cases
2025-06-16 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Justice Anthony M. Kennedy Learning Center, 501 I Street, Room 4-200, Sacramento, CA, 95814, United States
Join us on Monday, June 16, 2025 at the Justice Anthony M. Kennedy Learning Center for our first in-person CLE program of the year, “The Magistrate Judge’s Role in Federal Civil Cases,” presented by Hon. Carolyn K. Delaney, Hon. Chi Soo Kim, and Hon. Sean C. Riordan. The panel will discuss the benefits of proceeding before a United States magistrate judge for all purposes in civil cases in federal district court, including for motion practice and trial, as well as settlement conference procedures. The panel will also address changes to the district court’s consent procedures and Local Rules. Questions from attendees are welcome and encouraged.
Please RSVP by June 9. In-person seating is limited and will be on a first-registration basis. Boxed lunches will be served. A Zoom option will be provided for those who cannot attend in-person. 1 hour of CLE credit pending.
Please click here to register.
Cost: FBA Members $20, non-members $40, and law students $15.
To join the FBA or renew your membership, go to: https://www.fedbar.org/membership/join/.

Pride in ADR (New York)
2025-06-17 17:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Benjamin N Cardozo School of Law, 55 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 10003, United States
Pride in ADR (New York)
Hosted by:
FBA Diversity & Inclusion Committee
FBA ADR and LGBTQ+ Law Sections
FBA Southern District of New York Chapter, and
New York State Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section
You are cordially invited to join the Federal Bar Association for the Second Pride in ADR (New York) Tuesday, June 17, from 5:00–9:00 p.m. ET, hosted in person at Cardozo Law in New York City and available remotely, virtually anywhere in the world. This year’s event will commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Federal Arbitration Act, the 25th Anniversary of Baker v. Vermont and a decade since Obergefell v. Hodges.
Pride in ADR is a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ communities’ availability, visibility, and selection as professionals in the field of alternative dispute resolution and a conversation about some of the challenges which persist as well as those which lay ahead. The Hon. Beth Robinson, U.S. Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, the first lesbian appellate court judge in our Nation’s history, a former Vermont Supreme Court Justice and co-lead counsel in Baker v. Vermont which saw Vermont become the first state to sustain civil unions will keynote this year’s Pride in ADR focused on “Public Policy and Consensus Building as a Form of ADR.” Judge Robinson’s keynote will be followed by a panel discussion on the topic of the existence of an LGBTQIA+ ADR Ecosystem as conducive to the accessibility and selection of LGBTQIA+ arbitrators and mediators.
Presented by the FBA’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, ADR and LGBTQ+ Law Sections, the Southern District of New York Chapter, and the New York State Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section, this event honors Pride Month by recognizing and celebrating the contributions of LGBTQIA+ professionals in the field of alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
The panel will be followed by cocktails and conversation.
No matter your practice, no matter your location, no matter your sexual orientation, no matter your gender identity, come “out” in-person or online, Tuesday, June 17th, and join us. Show your Pride in ADR!

Venue
The June 17 event will be held in-person at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (55 Fifth Ave, NY, NY 10003). Virtual participation is also available.
Please also join the event hosts for a casual evening with a cash bar at The Stonewall Inn from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, June 16, 2025, in advance of Pride in ADR (New York)!

Registration
Registration has closed for this event.
Registration is free, but space is limited.
For questions about registration, please email the Southern District of New York Chapter at secretary@fbasdny.org or FBA Sections and Divisions at sections@fedbar.org.

About the Presenters
Keynote:

Hon. Beth Robinson, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Beth Robinson has served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit since November 2021, and served on the Vermont Supreme Court for the preceding decade. Before she was a judge, Robinson was a partner at Langrock Sperry & Wool in Middlebury and Burlington Vermont, with a focus on workers’ compensation, personal injury, family law, employment, and LGBTQ rights, and then served briefly as Counsel to Governor Peter Shumlin. Robinson is best known for her role as co-counsel in Baker v. State, representing three same-sex couples seeking marriage licenses, and as a leader in the Vermont Freedom to Marry movement from 1994-2010.

Welcome: Christie McGuinness, J.D., Master of Ceremonies
Christie McGuinness is a Litigation Associate in the New York Office of Saul Ewing LLP. Christie focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation with a particular focus on False Claims Act matters. Christie also serves as the President of the Southern District of New York Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, and as the Secretary of the Younger Lawyer’s Division of the Federal Bar Association.

Marty Rouse
Marty Rouse was recently Vice President for Outreach and Engagement for the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. He served as National Field Director for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) from 2004-2020. He was recruited to HRC after heading MassEquality, the group that led the political fight to protect the marriage equality decision in Massachusetts. Marty spearheaded HRC’s efforts to build and flex the political muscle of the LGBTQ community across the US, playing pivotal roles in winning marriage equality in Hawaii, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and Washington states before marriage equality was secured nationwide by the US Supreme Court in 2015. He also led HRC’s successful effort to build grassroots support to repeal the discriminatory ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ military policy.
Marty was born and raised on Long Island. He was the State LGBT Director of Bill Clinton for President, worked on LGBTQ issues under NYC Mayor David Dinkins and Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger. In 1996, the White House sent Marty to Vermont to run President Clinton’s re-election there. Over several years Marty helped elect dozens of fair-minded state legislators in the Green Mountain State.
In the Clinton Administration, Marty worked for Fair Housing Assistant Secretary Roberta Achtenberg (our nation’s first openly LGBTQ+ Senate confirmed political appointee). At the US Dept. of Health and Human Services, Marty worked under Cabinet Secretary Donna E. Shalala where he helped bring attention to the health disparities experienced by LGBT people.
Marty graduated from the State University of New York at Stony Brook which included one year at Tübingen University, Germany. He currently runs his own political consulting firm, Catamount Consulting. Clients have included the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA).
Marty resides in the DC suburb of North Bethesda, Maryland and is always in search of the perfect frozen margarita.
Seth Rosen, Chief Development Officer, The American LGBTQ+ Museum
Seth Rosen (he/him) is an attorney and seasoned fundraiser with over 20 years of experience raising funds for progressive human and civil rights nonprofits.
As a senior at Brandeis University, Seth spent a year at GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) as an intake volunteer. Answering countless questions from members of the LGBTQ+ community, Seth saw how a small, dedicated staff tackled enormous problems and helped thousands of people obtain the equality they deserved. The experience was life-changing. It opened his eyes to the effectiveness of strategic advocacy and the power of perseverance. Seth’s commitment to social justice and public service led him to law school and civil rights litigation. Since then, Seth has gained considerable expertise in nonprofit law and fundraising. He’s held leadership positions at major national and international organizations, including Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Amnesty International USA, GMHC, Lambda Legal, and the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association.
Seth received his JD from New York Law School and his MPA. from New York University. Seth and his husband, Dr. Jacob Goertz, reside in New York City with their two sons. Seth is an avid marathon and ultra-marathon runner and can often be found in Central Park, running miles or enjoying time with his family.
William (Bill) Crosby, Jr., J.D., Featured Panelist
William (Bill) Crosby, Jr. is Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Managing Attorney at Interpublic Group, a New York based advertising and marketing company with over 50,000 employees worldwide. At Interpublic, where he has been since 2002, Bill oversees global litigation, manages the Latin American legal operations, and serves as the chief of staff for the global legal department. He was an associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell from 1993 until 1995, and at Kay, Collyer & Boose (now defunct) from 1995 until 2002. He started serving as a commercial arbitrator in 2009 and has since presided over hundreds of domestic and international disputes involving a variety of contractual and intellectual property issues. Bill is a Fellow of the College of Commercial Arbitrators, a Director of the AAA-ICDR, a Director of NYIAC, Chair of the AAA-ICDR Council, Incoming Chair of the NYSBA Dispute Resolution Section for the 2025-26 term, and is a former Director of the LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York. He speaks regularly on arbitration related issues (from the in-house and the arbitrator perspectives), as well as on litigation and compliance issues. Bill is a 1990 graduate of Yale College and a 1993 graduate of Stanford Law School.
Dr. Kabir Duggal, Featured Panelist
Dr. Kabir Duggal is a Senior Fellow and Advisor at the Center for International Commercial and Investment Arbitration at Columbia Law School (CICIA) and an attorney in Arnold and Porter’s New York office, focusing on international arbitration and public international law matters, serving both as arbitrator and mediator. He is recognized as a “Chartered Arbitrator” (the highest ranking for arbitrators) by both the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Asian Institute of Alternative Dispute Resolution. He also frequently serves as an expert on international arbitration and public international law matters. Dr. Duggal is also a Lecturer-in-Law at Columbia Law School, an adjunct Professor at Fordham Law School, and a Course Director and a Faculty Member for the Columbia Law School-Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Comprehensive Course on International Arbitration. He also acts as a Consultant for the United Nations Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries (UN-OHRLLS) on the creation of a novel “Investment Support Program.” Dr. Duggal works closely with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) as an expert. He has also conducted training and capacity-building sessions for several Governments on public international law and dispute resolution matters. He has published over 60 articles and has spoken at over 400 arbitration events all over the world. He is a graduate of the University of Mumbai, University of Oxford (DHL-Times of India Scholar), NYU School of Law (Hauser Global Scholar), Leiden Law School (2019 CEPANI Academic Prize), and is currently pursuing an SJD Degree from Harvard Law School. Dr. Duggal is admitted to practice law in New York, District of Columbia, England & Wales (as a Barrister), and in India. His LinkedIn profile is available here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duggalkabir/
Yasmine Lahlou, J.D., Featured Panelist
Yasmine Lahlou, J.D., is a Partner at Chaffetz Lindsey in New York. Fluent in English, French and Italian, Yasmine Lahlou has over 25 years of experience in international arbitration and litigation and has been with Chaffetz Lindsey since 2009. Initially trained in Paris and admitted in New York, Yasmine is experienced in civil and common law systems. Yasmine has represented clients in arbitration proceedings conducted under the ICC, ICDR, LCIA, UNCITRAL and ad hoc rules. She has acted as a presiding, sole and co‐arbitrator in ICC, SCC, ICDR/AAA, CRCICA and LCIA arbitrations.
Yasmine is a member of the International Court of Arbitration of the ICC and co-chair of the ICC’s Working Group on Expedited Procedure Provisions. For the third year in a row, Yasmine has been named one of 23 “Global Elite Thought Leaders” in North America— a title reserved for the top 2.5% of ranked practitioners considered the “very best by peers and clients, achieving the highest number of recommendations in the research”— by Who’s Who Legal 2025 Arbitration report.
Yasmine was just ranked Band 1 in Award Enforcement by Chambers USA and has been continuously recognized in Chambers, Legal 500 and Latinvex. Yasmine is past co-editor-in-chief of the ICC’s Dispute Resolution Bulletin Editorial Board. Member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR, member of the Advisory Council of Africa Arbitration, and retiring member of the board of directors of ArbitralWomen, she is also a Peer Review Board member of the American Review of International Arbitration (ARIA) at Columbia Law School.
Robyn Weinstein, J.D., Featured Panelist
Robyn Weinstein is the Director of the Cardozo Mediation Clinic and the Associate Director of the Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution. Previously, Robyn was the Alternative Dispute Resolution Administrator for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY), where she was a mediator and directed the court’s mediation, arbitration and mediation advocacy programs. Robyn has mediated a wide range of civil disputes including insurance and commercial matters, employment discrimination and labor cases, and civil rights matters involving the police and various corrections facilities. While at the EDNY, she developed a Pilot Mediator Incubator to recruit, mentor and train junior attorneys from diverse backgrounds to serve as mediators on the court’s roster. She also implemented a Trial Ready Rapid Mediation Pilot for civil cases in which trials were delayed due to the pandemic.
Prior to her role at the court, Robyn was the director for the Los Angeles office of Arts Arbitration & Mediation Services of California Lawyers for the Arts and an adjunct clinical professor of mediation at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law. During her time in California, Robyn was elected president of the Southern California Mediation Association in 2015. More recently, Robyn served as the co-chair of the DEI Subcommittee of the New York City Bar Association ADR Committee, where she worked to develop the New York DEI Neutral Directory. Robyn is now chair of the ADR Inclusion Network and is the co-chair of the ABA Dispute Resolution Section Legal Education in Dispute Resolution Committee. Robyn has also written about the hurricane response mediation program developed at the Eastern District of New York, and on the subject of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the field of dispute resolution.
Robyn received her B.A. from George Washington University, and her J.D. from Cardozo Law School where she was a member of the mediation clinic and a fellow for the Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution. She is a member of the Bar in New York and California and is approved as a Part 146 mediation trainer by the New York State Unified Court System.
Jess Waltman, J.D., Panel Moderator
Jess Waltman joined Gordon Arata in 2023 and represents clients in commercial litigation matters. Prior to joining Gordon Arata, Jess litigated complex pharmaceutical and medical device cases across the country. Jess is admitted to practice in Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas; before the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits; and before the Supreme Court of the United States.
In 2013, Jess graduated from the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and the Patterson School of Accountancy at the University of Mississippi after being inducted into Phi Kappa Phi and the University of Mississippi Hall of Fame. He graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2016 and was awarded the “Robert C. Khayat Award for Outstanding Service to the Mississippi Law Journal” by his peers and the 2016 “Outstanding Law Student Award” by the faculty.
Jess served as president of the Young Lawyers Division of the Mississippi Bar from 2022 to 2023, and he was honored as the Mississippi Association for Justice’s 2023 “New Lawyer of the Year”. Jess is a director of the Younger Lawyers Division of the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, and he is an active member of Federal Bar Association’s Diversity Committee and LGBTQ+ Law Section.
Jess is a governor on the Human Rights Campaign’s Board of Governors, and he is active with the New Orleans Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Krewe of Armeinius, the Krewe of King Arthur, and the Krewe of Tucks.
Amy Boyle, J.D., Lead Organizer and Event Host
Amy Boyle is the Managing Partner at MSB Employment Justice in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Within the Federal Bar Association, Amy is the Chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section and a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She is a Past Chair of the Younger Lawyers Division and Past Member of the Sections and Divisions Council. A frequent speaker on the topics of employment law, discovery, trial, wellness and wellbeing, and diversity and inclusion, Boyle has organized and presented at many FBA events. Aside from her work with the FBA, Boyle is active with the Minnesota Women Lawyers, serving as a Board Member and the Co-Chair of its Equity Committee and Judicial Initiative, and Minnesota NELA.
Amy’s practice involves handling all types of employment matters, with a particular focus on representing women who have experienced sex discrimination, sexual harassment and assault, and retaliation at work and whistleblower clients who have reported illegal workplace practices or companies engaged in deceitful conduct. Amy also represents clients who have found themselves in an untenable work situation, advising and negotiating severance agreements for executive-level employees often leaving long-term employment.
Bryan Branon, J.D., Lead Organizer and Event Host
Bryan J. Branon, J.D., Principal, Branon’s ADR, is an international arbitrator, mediator and business development strategist whose career has focused on the intersection of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and public policy. A former law clerk on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Court of International Trade, and intern in the Irish Parliament, Bryan has worked for several leading ADR provider organizations on four continents over 15 years where he helped establish the Afghanistan Centre for Commercial Dispute Resolution, the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution and the International Mediation Institute. He is a founding member of the Tashkent International Arbitration Centre “45” Steering Committee and previously served as the Ciarb Regional Relationship Manager for the Americas, the first Americas-based employee in its 107-year-history, where he established the Ciarb Americas headquarters and helped found the first Spanish-speaking branch in Ciarb history, Peru.
Bryan frequently lectures, publishes and consults on diversity, equity and inclusion, international ADR systems design, neutral appointments, and ADR strategy, procedure and contract clause considerations. He welcomes arbitrator and mediator appointments, consultancy, speaking, training and publishing inquiries both in the U.S.A. and abroad. Bryan can be reached at Bryan@BranonsADR.com.

Sponsors
Thank you to our Champion Sponsor, AAA-ICDR!

Thank you to our Advocate Sponsor, JAMS!

Thank you to our Ally Sponsors, Saul Ewing and the FBA Federal Litigation Section!

Thank you to our national partner, The National LGBTQ+ Bar Association!

Thank you to our local partner, the New York State Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section!

Thank you to the following supporting organizations for their contributions and support:

FBA DC Chapter
FBA International Law Section
FBA New Orleans Chapter
FBA Minnesota Chapter
FBA Younger Lawyers Division
International Association of LGBTQ Judges
New York International Arbitration Centre
The International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution “CPR”

Orange County Chapter: Bench and Bar Luncheon with the Hon. Karen E. Scott
2025-06-18 11:30 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Renaissance Newport Beach, 4500 MacArthur Boulevard, Newport Beach, CA
CHARTING A COURSE FOR SMOOTH SAILING IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Registration 11:30 a.m.
Lunch and Program 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
Cost
FBA/OC Member $55 • Non-Member $65
Government Employee / Law Student $25
Judicial Officers / Court Staff FREE
Register Now
Please register and prepay by June 10.
No refunds for cancellations received after this date.
Note vegetarian meals must be requested in advance.
Upon registration you will receive an automatic receipt and later, as the event nears, we’ll provide a detailed confirmation notice. If you don’t see these messages, please check your junk mail folder. We ask you to consider whitelisting info@FBAOC.com to avoid missing any notices.
CLE
The above activity has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education by the State Bar of California in the amount of 0.5 hour general CLE. The FBA/OC certifies that this activity conforms to the standards for the approved education activities prescribed by the rules and regulations of the State Bar of California governing MCLE.
Flyer
Click HERE to download the event flyer.
Questions
Contact FBA/OC at info@FBAOC.com or 949-608-9905.

Webinar: Resources to Assist Recently Separated (or Who May Soon be Separated) Federal Government Lawyers
2025-06-18 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
If you’ve recently separated—or are anticipating separation—from federal government service, there are a range of valuable resources available to support you. This webinar will provide guidance on navigating your job search, managing your financial planning, and addressing your mental health during this period of transition.
Our panelists are deeply committed to public service and eager to help!
Brian Levine, founder of FormerGov.com (the first directory of former government and military professionals), has partnered with the Federal Bar Association (FBA) to offer:

A FREE year of standard membership to currently unemployed government workers
Significant discounts to all FBA members
Simply create a robust profile on FormerGov.com, and the platform will actively connect you with in-house counsel, recruiters, media, event organizers, and more

Kieren Reilly, CFP®, will be discussing an amazing nonprofit, Advisers Give Back, offering free financial guidance to those affected by government layoffs.

To qualify:

Non-retirement savings must be under $250,000
Income must be below $100,000 for individuals or $150,000 for married couples

Eileen Grady Vermilye, a licensed social worker with over 35 years of experience and the former head of the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys’ Employee Assistance Program, will be explaining how to access free or low-cost counseling resources and tools to support your mental health and wellness during this challenging time.
Join us to learn how to move forward with confidence and support.
Register Now!
This webinar is presented by the FBA’s Professional Development Committee, Younger Lawyers Division, Federal Career Service Division, and the DC Bar. Note: This event is free to all attendees.
*This event does not offer CLE Credit*

Presenters
Brian Levine is the co-founder of FormerGov.com–the first directory for former government and military professionals. When he is not working on FormerGov, he serves as a cybersecurity and data privacy consultant. Brian has been honored to serve the public at the federal, state, and local level. Brian has served as a cybercrime prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice, and National Coordinator for 300 federal cybercrime prosecutors. He has served as an Assistant Attorney General (AAG) in the Internet & Technology Bureau of the New York Attorney General’s Office, and an Assistant District Attorney (detail) at the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office in Detroit, Michigan. He has also served as a judicial law clerk at the District Court and Circuit Court Level. Brian also served as a civil litigator with AmLaw 100 law firms. Brian graduated with a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) and a J.D. from New York University School of Law (NYU).
Kieren Reilly is a Vice President, Senior Portfolio Manager and Certified Financial Planner™ with the Cirelli Wetzler Reilly Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley in Baltimore, Maryland. He has over 10 years of experience advising corporate executives, business owners and individuals. Kieren firmly believes everyone deserves access to fiduciary financial advice. He volunteers weekly with Advisers Give Back, a 501(c)(3) non-profit on a mission to improve access to pro bono financial planning. Advisers Give Back matches pro bono clients with pro bono Certified Financial Planning (CFP®) professionals nationwide for ongoing, one-on-one advice. To help those impacted by recent federal workforce layoffs, Advisers Give Back is offering free, personalized financial planning specifically tailored to former government employees to help navigate employment and benefits, manage debt and build a budget, and plan for retirement or a career transition. To qualify for free financial planning service, your non-retirement savings must be under $250,000. Singles must earn less than $100,000, and married couples less than $150,000.
Eileen Grady Vermilye is a licensed clinical social worker. She worked at the Department of Justice for 27 years providing mental health and wellness services. Eileen developed and managed the Executive Office for United States Attorneys Employee Assistance Program, supporting more than 10,000 employees at USAOs nationwide. In addition to providing crisis response and mental health support following individual, office-wide, and large-scale crises, Eileen provided training and management consultation at all levels of the Department. She also provided individual counseling and consultation for thousands of employees and their family members, with particular focus on the effects of chronic stress, secondary trauma, grief and loss. Eileen also worked for the United States Army, Navy, and Marine Corps for ten years providing mental health services and advocacy for those impacted by domestic abuse, rape and sexual assault. Eileen received her BA and MSW from the National School of Social Service at the Catholic University of America.
Introduction
Bonnie Greenberg spent over 37 years as a prosecutor for the DOJ before retiring from full-time work in 2023. Her heart remains with her federal colleagues. She now focuses on teaching, both in the U.S. and abroad. Specifically, Bonnie is an adjunct professor for Georgetown Law, teaching Trial Advocacy and Applied Evidence, completed a corruption program for Uzbekistani prosecutors in Spring 2023, and evaluated Kenya’s training institute for the State Department in 2024. She also assists with Trial Advocacy courses at Ft. Belvoir for the National White Collar Crime Center. Bonnie was honored by the Maryland Daily Record as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women for 2015 and selected for a Leadership in Law Award in 2009. In 2022 she was one of the first attorneys selected as a Certified Instructor by the Department of Justice’s (“DOJ”) Office of Legal Education, Faculty Development Institute.
Bonnie is a long-time member and supporter of the FBA. She served as a member of the Board of Directors, National Council, and is a Life Fellow for the Foundation. She was the Maryland Chapter President in 2004 and the Chapter Delegate from 2014-2022. Bonnie served on many committees and most recently served as the chair of the Professional Development Committeee. She is serving a one-year transition term as the past chair of the Professional Development Committee.

Registration
Registration is free. Use this link to register!

CLE
Please note CLE will not be offered for this event.

Webinar: FBA Friday: Focus on Fashion Law and IP
2025-06-20 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
Presented by the FBA’s Intellectual Property Law Section as a resource for Judicial Intern Academy participants as well as FBA law students and new attorneys. The section’s immediate past chair, Olivera Medenica, will share details about her career path, her expertise in the fields of fashion law and intellectual property law (among other fields); and her leadership of the FBA’s SDNY Chapter and the IP Law Section. She will also provide an overview of the successful Fashion Law Conferences. Past section chair Oliver Ruiz will serve as moderator, and there will be an opportunity for questions.
Registration is Closed

Presenters

Olivera Medenica, Partner, Dunnington Bartholow & Miller LLP
Olivera Medenica CIPP/CIPM is an equity partner at Dunnington Bartholow & Miller LLP, and is a member of its intellectual property, privacy, advertising, art and fashion law, international, and litigation and arbitration practice groups. Olivera is also a member of Dunnington’s Executive Committee, chairs its Trademark Practice Group, Privacy Practice Group as well as its Diversity Committee.
Olivera’s intellectual property practice consists of “soft IP”: copyright, trademark and trade secrets. In addition to her litigation practice, she prosecutes trademarks before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and first chairs contentious opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board. She has co-authored five books in the field of intellectual property: Navigating Fashion Law, Aspatore’s Inside the Minds Series, Thomson Reuters (2015 Edition); the American Bar Association’s Legal Guide to Fashion Design (2013); The Business and Law of Fashion and Retail, Carolina Academic Press (2020); The Routledge Companion to Copyright and Creativity in the 21st Century, Taylor & Francis Group (2020); The Fashion Designer Survival Guide (chapter covering IP) (2020). Olivera has also served as an arbitrator in intellectual property disputes.
Olivera is an adjunct professor of law at Brooklyn Law School where she teaches Fashion Law and an adjunct professor of law at Cardozo Law School where she teaches Advertising Law. She is also a visiting professor at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne on the topic of Fashion Law. Olivera has lectured widely on issues dealing with intellectual property, ecommerce, social media and wearable technology. Lecture engagements have included Lawline.com, the Federal Bar Association, New York County Lawyers’ Association, the New York City Bar, the New York State Bar Association, Harvard Law School, Brooklyn Law School, New York Law School, South by Southwest Interactive, Cardozo Law School, the School of Visual Arts, Manhattan School of Music, Direct Marketing Association Conference (Geek-End), and the New York Foundation for the Arts.
She has also written articles for a variety of publications including the New York Law Journal, National Law Journal, Ecommerce Law and Strategy, Brooklyn Journal of International Law, Cardozo Arts and Entertainment Law Journal, Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review and the Internet Law Journal. Olivera is an Advisory Board Member of the New York Law School Innovation Center for Law and Technology, Fashion Law Initiative. She is also the founder of an annual Fashion Law Conference hosted by the Federal Bar Association’s IP Section, in New York and Paris. Both conferences were featured in the Huffington Post, Forbes and Intellectual Property Watch.

Oliver A. Ruiz, Partner, Malloy & Malloy, P.L. (Moderator)
Oliver A. Ruiz is a Partner with the intellectual property law firm of Malloy & Malloy, P.L. (www.malloylaw.com), and oversees the firm’s litigation department, representing clients as lead or local counsel in federal courts in all types of intellectual property matters. He also handles trademark applications for clients, and represents clients in U.S. Patent & Trademark Office proceedings. Oliver is Board Certified by The Florida Bar for Intellectual Property Law, and has been rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell since 2010.
Oliver currently serves as a Circuit Vice President for the Eleventh Circuit, and as a member of the FBA’s Sections & Divisions Council. He served as Chair of the Circuit Vice Presidents (2023-24), during which time he served on the FBA’s national Board of Directors in an ex officio capacity. Oliver is also a Life Fellow of the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association. He is a Past President of the Federal Bar Association’s South Florida Chapter, and a Past Chair of the FBA’s Intellectual Property Law Section. He has served, and continues to serve, on various FBA National Committees.
Oliver earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University, and a law degree from St. Thomas University School of Law, where he was as a board member for the Moot Court Board, and President of the Student Bar Association. He is a Miami native, and is fluent in Spanish.

Registration
Registration has closed for this event.
Registration Fees

FBA Member: $0
Nonmember: $95

Live Captioning: Closed captioning is available for all virtual webcasts.

Internet Requirements: Virtual programs require suitable internet strength to stream online panels. A minimum internet connection of 800 Kbps is recommended for an optimal attendee experience. Test your connection here.

CLE
Please note that CLE is not offered for this event.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I access the virtual webinar?
A: Each webinar will have a unique link to watch the live broadcast. Registered attendees will receive login instructions via a calendar invitations 24 hours prior to the webinar.
Q: Will recordings of the sessions be available after the event?
A: Approved sessions will be available for registrants to view live and on-demand following the webinar.
Q: Who do I contact for more information?
A: Please contact sections@fedbar.org for any other questions.

Email Communication Policy
By registering for this event, you agree to receive email communication from the Federal Bar Association and affiliated sponsors of the program concerning event details, Continuing Legal Education certification, programming changes, upcoming events, surveys, and post-event communications.
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By registering for an online FBA program, you agree to the recording of audio and visual content presented during the live event and consent to subsequent use of the recording by the FBA. You agree that the recording is the sole property of the FBA and that the recording may be used by the FBA in any manner in its sole and absolute discretion. This recording may include questions and poll responses provided by you during the live event. If you do not consent to the recording and the FBA’s use of the same, do not register for the event.
If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact sections@fedbar.org

D.C. Bar Federal Attorney Career Summit, Co-Sponsored by the Federal Bar Association
2025-06-23 | D. C. Bar Headquarters, 901 4th St NW, Washington, DC, 20001, United States
D.C. Bar Federal Attorney Career Summit

Are you a government attorney navigating your next career move or considering one? Join the D.C. Bar on June 23 for a full-day summit designed to equip attorneys with the tools, insights, and connections to thrive in every stage of their career journey.

You’ll gain actionable tools to:

Create a compelling resume for various legal settings
Navigate the transition from government to private practice ethically and strategically
Improve your interview skills for in-person and remote interviews
Explore legal career options in state and local government
Determine if starting your own practice is right for you
Build resilience and stay well during times of change

Get insider information from legal recruiters and hiring partners on what stands out in today’s job market. Then, wrap up the day by building your network at our in-person reception.
This is your chance to invest in your next step. Space is limited.
The Federal Attorney Career Summit is co-sponsored by the Federal Bar Association and the D.C. Bar Communities.

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Eastern District of Pennsylvania Chapter: FBA Lunch Event
2025-06-26 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | James A. Byrne U.S. Courthouse, 601 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19106, United States
We cordially invite you to attend our upcoming Eastern District of Pennsylvania Chapter event to learn more about the premier bar association serving federal practitioners and the federal judiciary, and hear from national and local leadership about the work of the FBA and benefits of membership.
Join us to learn how an FBA membership can provide unique opportunities to engage with fellow attorneys, a chance to learn from and work closely with federal judges, and full access to outstanding CLE programs. We look forward to seeing you on June 26th!
Thursday, June 26, 2025
James A. Byrne U.S. Courthouse
Jury Room, Second Floor
Noon – 1:00 p.m.
601 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Kindly RSVP by June 19 to sboutros@eckertseamans.com

Webinar: Federal Protective Service: Judicial Safety and Security
2025-06-26 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
The Federal Protective Service is responsible for safeguarding federal employees in the Executive Branch, including most of the several thousand administrative law judges and administrative judges employed by various federal agencies such as at the Executive Office of Immigration Review, the Social Security Administration and the Department of Labor. In this webinar, Federal Protective Services representatives will speak on Judicial Safety and Security. While tailored to administrative law judges and administrative judges, they will provide practical information for all judges and will address materials in their “Your Safety, Our Priority” campaign (https://www.dhs.gov/publication/your-safety-our-priority), which addresses threats and online safety. Bring your questions to this timely and informative session.
**This event does not offer CLE Credit**
Registration is closed
Sponsored by the FBA Judiciary Division.

Presenters

David A. Hess, Deputy Director, Policy, Communications and Engagement
Federal Protective Service/Management Directorate
Mr. David A. Hess is Deputy Director, Policy, Communications and Engagement within the Federal Protective Service (FPS) – a position he has held since May 2018. In this role, Mr. Hess works closely with the FPS Director, FPS Principal Deputy Director, FPS Chief of Staff, and with program and support offices to further develop, implement, and oversee FPS’ policy, intergovernmental programs and communications activities. In his position, Mr. Hess plays a key role in developing and advancing FPS’ outreach and engagement efforts to external partners and stakeholders, including Congress.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Hess served as the Chief of Staff of the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) from November 2012 through April 2018. In this role, he worked closely with the NPPD’s Under Secretary and Deputy Under Secretaries to help manage the day-to-day operations of the Directorate to achieve its mission to protect and enhance the resilience of the nation’s physical and cyber infrastructure. During the 2017 Presidential transition, Mr. Hess was asked to serve as NPPD’s Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary; he held this position from January 2017 to July 2017. Additionally, from January through September 2014, Mr. Hess served as NPPD’s Acting Deputy Under Secretary.
Before joining the NPPD front office, Mr. Hess served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for NPPD. Prior to that, he served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the DHS’ Preparedness Directorate. In these roles, Mr. Hess was the principal congressional advisor to the Under Secretary and leadership of NPPD and the Preparedness Directorate, respectively. Mr. Hess also served as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Legislative Affairs (House) to assist the Assistant Secretary of Legislative Affairs manage DHS’ Office of Legislative Affairs. As Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Mr. Hess had primary oversight of the responsibility for the Department’s interaction with the U.S. House of Representatives.
Prior to joining DHS, Mr. Hess was a public affairs specialist in the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, Office of Justice Programs (OJP), United States Department of Justice (DOJ). He served as a congressional, media, and public liaison for offices in OJP. Mr. Hess supported the Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP), which was established within DOJ to develop and implement a National program to prepare for and respond to the incidents of terrorism involving weapons of mass destruction.

Arnold (AJ) Jackson, Assistant Director Field Operations, West
Federal Protective Service/Office of the Under Secretary/Management Directorate
Arnold (AJ) Jackson serves as the Assistant Director for Field Operations (ADFO) of the Federal Protective Service’s West Zone. AJ Leads and manages the daily enforcement of Regions 8, 9 and 10, which spans 14 states and 3 territories. Through 3 Regional Directors, he guides and manages all West Zone protective security programs and administrative and operational programs, including the physical infrastructure and protection of approximately 2,400 government-owned or leased properties. As the senior leader for all West Zone resources, AJ is also responsible for the health and welfare management for over 353 government personnel, and program oversight for 2782 Protective Security Officers.
AJ joined the Federal Protective Service in August 2000 and rose to the position of Regional Director, leading the operations of Region 8 from June 2009 to October 2014, prior to becoming the ADFO. One of eleven Regions, Region 8 is comprised of Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, North and South Dakota. AJ has over 30 years of experience managing a variety of law enforcement, security, investigative programs, and was a member of the Air Forces Europe HQ Staff and Inspector General Team.
Prior to joining the Federal Protective Service, AJ served 22-years in the United States Air Force; he was assigned as the European Security Force Manager. In this capacity, AJ was the advisor to the Director Security Forces on all quality-of-life matters pertaining to the health, welfare, and security operations of over 5000 military and civilian personnel at Air Force installations in the European and Middle Eastern Theater.
AJ received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from University of Maryland and has undertaken numerous professional development training through Immigrations and Customs Fellows Program, the Council for Excellence in Government Fellows Program, Criminal Investigator Training program, and Federal Bureau Investigations National Academy.
Hon. Wanda Wright, Administrative Judiciary Committee Chair, Judiciary Division (Moderator)*
Judge Wanda Wright has been Administrative Judiciary Chair within the Judiciary Division of the Federal Bar Association since February 2025. Prior to assuming this role, Judge Wright served three years as a Regional Vice President and National Executive Board member of the Association of Administrative Law Judges (AALJ), representing judges in 17 offices in the southeastern United States. During her tenure, Judge Wright was honored to serve as AALJ Chair of the Health & Safety Committee where she developed the AALJ’s re-entry safety inspection protocols nationwide during the covid-19 pandemic, implemented enhanced security notification procedures, and collaborated on a health and safety video series. Judge Wright is the principal author of the proposed ALJ/AJ Privacy Bill. Prior to her appointment as an administrative law judge in 2010, Judge Wright was a disability advocate and assistant district attorney in New York. Judge Wright is admitted to the NY and NC bars and is a member the federal bar in North Carolina. She is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and she received her law degree from the University of Virginia, where she was Articles Editor of the Virginia Tax Review.
* Disclaimer: The views expressed here are the author’s personal opinions and are not the views of the Social Security Administration or the federal government.

Registration
Registration is closed for this event.

FBA Member: $0
Nonmember: $0

CLE
Please note CLE will not be offered for this event.

Live Captioning: Closed captioning is available for all virtual webcasts.

Internet Requirements: Virtual programs require suitable internet strength to stream online panels. A minimum internet connection of 800 Kbps is recommended for an optimal attendee experience. Test your connection here.

Email Communication Policy
By registering for this event, you agree to receive email communications from the Federal Bar Association and affiliated sponsors of the program concerning event details, Continuing Legal Education certification, programming changes, upcoming events, surveys, and post-event communications.
Recording Disclaimer
By registering for an online FBA program, you agree to the recording of audio and visual content presented during the live event and consent to subsequent use of the recording by the FBA. You agree that the recording is the sole property of the FBA and that the recording may be used by the FBA in any manner in its sole and absolute discretion. This recording may include questions and poll responses provided by you during the live event. If you do not consent to the recording and the FBA’s use of the same, do not register for the event.
If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact sections@fedbar.org

Webinar: The ABCs (D, E and F) of Admiralty Jurisdiction
2025-06-27 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
As it relates to admiralty and maritime subject matter jurisdiction, the U.S. Constitution states in Article III, Section 2 that “[t]he judicial Power shall extend. . . to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction…” The first statute defining the boundaries of admiralty jurisdiction was enacted in 1789 (known as the First Judiciary Act; Chapter 20, section 9, 1 Stat. 73). The current statutory grant of admiralty jurisdiction can be found at 28 U.S.C. § 1333(1), which gives federal district courts original jurisdiction over “any civil case of admiralty or maritime jurisdiction, saving to suitors in all cases all other remedies to which they are otherwise entitled.” Some kinds of maritime cases—typically those involving in rem remedies against a vessel or cargo—are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts. Under the “savings to suitors” clause, on the other hand, state courts may have concurrent jurisdiction over admiralty claims when a state court is competent to grant relief, which is in most instances where in personam jurisdiction may be had in a state court. Learn how the Supplemental Admiralty Rules play into this unique and complex area of law.
Presented by the Federal Bar Association’s Admiralty Law Section as a resource for FBA law students, new attorneys, and Judicial Intern Academy participants.
Registration is closed

Presenters

Carlos Llinas Negret, Partner at Nelson & Fraenkel LLP and Chair, Admiralty Law Section

Michelle Otero Valdés, B.C.S, Attorney, and Immediate Past Chair, Admiralty Law Section

Adam B. Cooke, Shareholder, Fowler White Burnett P.A. and Membership Chair, Admiralty Law Section

Registration
Registration is closed for this event.
Registration Fees

FBA Member: $0
Nonmember: $95

Live Captioning: Closed captioning is available for all virtual webcasts.

Internet Requirements: Virtual programs require suitable internet strength to stream online panels. A minimum internet connection of 800 Kbps is recommended for an optimal attendee experience. Test your connection here.

CLE
Please note while the FBA is not arranging CLE credit for this webinar, depending on the state, attendees may obtain CLE credit on their own.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I access the virtual webinar?
A: Each webinar will have a unique link to watch the live broadcast. Registered attendees will receive login instructions via a calendar invitations 24 hours prior to the webinar.
Q: Will recordings of the sessions be available after the event?
A: Approved sessions will be available for registrants to view live and on-demand following the webinar.
Q: Who do I contact for more information?
A: Please contact sections@fedbar.org for any other questions.

Email Communication Policy
By registering for this event, you agree to receive email communication from the Federal Bar Association and affiliated sponsors of the program concerning event details, Continuing Legal Education certification, programming changes, upcoming events, surveys, and post-event communications.
Recording Disclaimer
By registering for an online FBA program, you agree to the recording of audio and visual content presented during the live event and consent to subsequent use of the recording by the FBA. You agree that the recording is the sole property of the FBA and that the recording may be used by the FBA in any manner in its sole and absolute discretion. This recording may include questions and poll responses provided by you during the live event. If you do not consent to the recording and the FBA’s use of the same, do not register for the event.
If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact sections@fedbar.org

Webinar: Bankruptcy Appeals: Finality, Standing and Mootness
2025-07-01 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
Bankruptcy appeals can be tricky! This CLE will discuss (1) finality; (2) standing; and (3) mootness, three complex areas that have led to a great deal of litigation and a number of recent appellate cases. The presentation will focus on the key Supreme Court and Court of Appeals cases.
Register Now!
Presented by the Federal Bar Association’s Bankruptcy Law Section

Presenter

Sally McDonald Henry, Professor of Law
Sally McDonald Henry is the John E. Krahmer Endowed Professor of Commercial and Banking Law the Texas Tech University School of Law, where she began teaching in 2012. At Tech, she is the faculty editor of the Texas Bank Lawyer. Before she became a professor, she was a partner in Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP’s corporate restructuring group, where she practiced law for a number of years.
During the years she practiced law, Ms. Henry represented virtually all interested parties in corporate restructuring cases, including banks, debtors, unsecured creditors, and trustees, and handled cross-border transactions involving Germany, Mexico, Israel, Argentina, and many other jurisdictions.
A graduate of Duke University and New York University School of Law. Ms. Henry is the author of several books and numerous articles on commercial law and restructuring topics. She has lectured on these topics throughout the world.
During the time she practiced, Ms. Henry was the recipient of an annual New York city-wide award from The Legal Aid Society for her pro bono work. As a teacher, she has been the recipient of a number of awards, including the Texas Tech Hispanic Law Students’ Professor of the Year and the Texas Tech Black Law Students’ Professor of the Year awards. In 2022, she received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, the highest award for teaching which is awarded annually to two professors at Texas Tech University.

Registration

Register here!

Live Broadcast | FBA Member: $0
Live Broadcast | Nonmember: $95
On-Demand Broadcast | FBA Member: $50
On-Demand Broadcast | Nonmember: $95

CLE
Please note: CLE for this webinar has not been pre-approved.
MyLaw and the FBA will seek 1.0 General CLE credit hours in 60-minute states, and 1.2 General CLE credit hours in 50-minute states.
Posted credit hours are estimated and subject to respective state approval and rounding rules. CLE qualifications vary by state/jurisdiction.
For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.

Orange County Chapter: Bench and Bar Luncheon with the Hon. Patrick Bumatay, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
2025-07-08 11:30 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Renaissance Newport Beach, 4500 MacArthur Boulevard, Newport Beach, CA
July Bench and Bar with the Hon. Patrick Bumatay, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
LUNCH CONVERSATION WITH CIRCUIT JUDGE BUMATAY
Join the FBA/OC for a lunch conversation with Ninth Circuit Judge Bumatay, ranging in topics from his storied career and rise to the bench, the value of dissenting opinions, to the role of the judiciary in modern times.
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Registration 11:30 a.m.
Lunch and Program 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
Cost
FBA/OC Member $55 • Non-Member $65
Government Employee / Law Student $25
Judicial Officers / Court Staff FREE
Register Now
Please register and prepay by June 27.
No refunds for cancellations received after this date.
Note vegetarian meals must be requested in advance.
Upon registration you will receive an automatic receipt and later, as the event nears, we’ll provide a detailed confirmation notice. If you don’t see these messages, please check your junk mail folder. We ask you to consider whitelisting info@FBAOC.com to avoid missing any notices.
CLE
The above activity has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education by the State Bar of California in the amount of 0.75 hour general CLE. The FBA/OC certifies that this activity conforms to the standards for the approved education activities prescribed by the rules and regulations of the State Bar of California governing MCLE.
Flyer
Click HERE to download the event flyer.
Questions
Contact FBA/OC at info@FBAOC.com or 949-608-9905.

2025 Summer Law Clerk Program: Judge Advocate Panel
2025-07-08 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, 450 E St NW, Washington, DC, 20001, United States
Judge Advocates from the Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, & Marines discuss what it is like to be a lawyer in the military and how to join the JAG Corps on Active Duty or in the Reserve.
Registration has closed.

Speakers
Maj Aneisha Bell, Air Force Judge Advocate
Major Aneisha T. Bell serves as the Chief of Recruiting for the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps, in the Professional Development Directorate, Office of the Judge Advocate General, Department of the Air Force. She manages the judge advocate recruiting programs, including all recruiting communications and materials, and provides technical assistance and policy guidance for all prospective judge advocate applicants. Prior to this assignment, she served as victims’ counsel, deployed deputy staff judge advocate, and assistant staff judge advocate.
Maj Bell received her commission through the Direct Appointment Program and entered active duty in January 2018. While in law school, she participated in the University of South Carolina School of Law Juvenile Justice Clinic. She also interned at the City of Columbia City Attorney’s Office, Richland County Public Defender’s office, and the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina interning for the Honorable Judge Margaret B. Seymour. Maj Bell is admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of Alabama and the United States Supreme Court.

Capt Chelsea A Lucas, Marine Corps Judge Advocate
Capt Chelsea A. Lucas is currently stationed at Marine Corps Recruiting Command in Quantico, VA. She is presently assigned as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate and Law Programs Manager. Previously, she served as the Executive Officer for Headquarters Battalion Marine Corps Base Hawaii from June 2023 to June 2024. Capt Lucas simultaneously served as the Service Company Commander beginning in March 2023. Prior to taking company command, Capt Lucas was the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for Marine Corps Base Hawaii from May 2021 to March 2023. Before her time as the DSJA, Capt Lucas was attached to the Legal Services Support Team as a Trial Counsel from October 2020 to May 2021. Capt Lucas is originally from New York and attended the University of San Diego where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in Political Science in May 2014. She attended the University of South Carolina School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctorate in May 2018. She is a member of the Alabama State Bar.
Capt Lucas competed on the NCAA Division I Women’s Rowing team at the University of San Diego from 2010 to 2014 where she was named to the West Coast Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll in 2012 and 2013. Capt Lucas served on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and as Chair for the Out-of-State Student Council. During law school at the University of South Carolina, she was a Member of the Mock Trial Bar, served as a Representative of the Student Bar Association, practiced as a Student Attorney in the University’s Criminal Defense Clinic, and edited a manuscript for the South Carolina Bar Association. Additionally, Capt Lucas clerked at the law office of Quinn and Hardy and completed an externship at the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate on United States Army installation, Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
Capt Lucas completed Officer Candidate Course 222 at Officer Candidate School, Quantico, Virginia and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in August 2016. In the summer of 2017 Capt Lucas conducted on-the-job training at the Legal Services Support Section on Marine Corps Base Quantico. Capt Lucas then attended The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia where she graduated fourth overall from Alpha Company 1-20 in April 2020 earning meritorious career designation. Following her training at The Basic School, she then completed the Force Fitness Instructor Course in Quantico, VA with a certificate of commendation as the honor graduate. Capt Lucas then attended Naval Justice School in Newport Rhode Island where she earned the Trial Advocacy Award for BLC 20030.
Capt Lucas served as a legal augment for PHIBRON Five on the USS Essex LHD-2 during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise 2022. While aboard the Essex, she provided staff judge advocate support to 7th Marines, the USS Essex Captain and crew, and international allies and partners during the conduct of the exercise scenario. Capt Lucas also supported Exercise Spartan Trident in January of 2022 and September of 2023 by serving as a Staff Judge Advocate for 3dMLR throughout the execution of the exercise. In November and December of 2022, Capt Lucas served as a legal augment at INDOPACOM in support of exercise Pacific Fury and in support of operations for the J06.
Capt Lucas is authorized to wear the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Lt. Peyton Nedley, Coast Guard Judge Advocate
Lieutenant Peyton Nedley serves as the Accessions & Resource Program Manager for the Coast Guard Legal Program (CGJAG), overseeing the Coast Guard’s legal recruiting and judge advocate accessions.
She previously served as a staff attorney in the Office of Claims and Litigation, where she was responsible for representing the Coast Guard in federal civil litigation nationwide in coordination with the Department of Justice. She also held a collateral duty as Military Aide to the Judge Advocate General and Chief Counsel of the Coast Guard.
Lieutenant Nedley joined the Coast Guard as a Direct Commission Lawyer in 2021. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Political Science and History and received her J.D. and LL.M. in International and Comparative Law from Duke University School of Law.
Lieutenant Nedley’s individual military awards include the Coast Guard Achievement Medal and the Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon (2) with Operational Distinguishing Device.
She is a Tar Heel from Wilmington, North Carolina, and currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia, with her husband.
Maj Vy T. Nguyen, Army Judge Advocate
Major Vy T. Nguyen commissioned in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps in 2018. Prior to commissioning, she served as an Honors Program Attorney Advisor for the Department of Justice Krome (Detained) Immigration Court in Miami, FL. She received a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Toronto in 2012 and dual-degree J.D./M.A. in International Affairs from the American University Washington College of Law and School of International Service in 2015. She currently serves as a Branch Chief in the Government Appellate Division at Fort Belvoir, VA. Her prior assignments include: Defense Counsel, U.S. Army Trial Defense Service, Vilseck, Germany; Military Justice Advisor, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade and 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade, Fort Drum, NY; Command Judge Advocate/Legal Advisor, Kandahar Airfield/Train, Advise, Assist Command–South, Afghanistan; and Chief, National Security Law Attorney, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, NY. Her military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal with Combat Device, Joint Meritorious Unit Citation, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and NATO Operation Resolute Support Medal. MAJ Nguyen was the U.S. Army recipient of the 2021-2022 ABA Outstanding Young Military Lawyer Award. She is a member of the Virginia bar and admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Virginia, U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and U.S. Supreme Court.
LCDR James Wu Zhu, Navy Judge Advocate
Lieutenant Commander James Wuzhu is the Legal Assistance Department Head at Region Legal Service Naval District Washington in Washington, DC. He commissioned under the student program on 29 April 2015 and graduated from Officer Development School in November 2015 and Naval Justice School in March 2016. He was previously at Region Legal Service Office Southwest in San Diego, California, from March 2016 to October 2017, Defense Service Office West in San Diego, California, from October 2017 to March 2018, and Region Legal Service Office Mid-Atlantic Branch Office Newport, Rhode Island, from April 2018 to July 2020, where he was first the Naval Station Newport staff judge advocate until May 2019, then deployed on USNS COMFORT as staff judge advocate to Commander, Task Force FOUR NINE, in fall 2019, and ended as legal assistance attorney. He was the victims’ legal counsel on Naval Base Guam, with an area of responsibility covering Guam, Okinawa, Diego Garcia, and Singapore, from August 2020 to August 2022. He completed JPME Phase I in March He was an appellate government counsel at the Office of the Judge Advocate General Code 46 from August 2022 to June 2025.
Lieutenant Commander Wuzhu earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies-Political Science, and Linguistics, with a minor in the Study of Religion from the University of California, San Diego, in 2011. He earned Bachelor of Science in Engineering in electrical engineering and Bachelor of Science in biomedical sciences degrees from Arizona State University in 2024. In 2012, he earned a Master of Public Policy and Administration degree from California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California, in 2012. In 2015, he earned Juris Doctor and Master of Laws in International and Comparative Laws degrees from Duke University School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in the State of California and the District of Columbia.
Lieutenant Commander Wuzhu is authorized to wear the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (x2), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (x2), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Humanitarian Service Medial, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Medal, Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon, and Rifle Marskmanship Ribbon.
Allison Starnes-Anglea (Moderator)

Presented by: Younger Lawyers Division
Thank you to our Sponsor

Registration
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Registration Fees

Complimentary for FBA Members & Non-Members

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Please note CLE will not be offered for this event. If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact Daniel Hamilton, Program Coordinator sections@fedbar.org

Webinar: The Difference Between Winning and Losing: How to Effectively Cross-Examine a Vocational Witness on Foundation and Methodology
2025-07-08 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
Most cases are won or lost at step five of the sequential process. Yet, that step rests on the testimony of the vocational witness. Effectively cross-examining vocational witnesses is the primary tool in the arsenal of a representative. Such cross-examination is based upon the foundation of the vocational witness’s testimony, his knowledge of the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (“DOT”), and the various resources available. In this seminar, we will explore questions to ask, where to probe the soft spots, how to address the methodology of converting data from available resources to the DOT, and how to reduce the viability of the vocational witness testimony.
Register Now!
Presented by the Federal Bar Association’s Social Security Law Section

Presenters
Dana W. Duncan, Founder, Duncan Disability Law, SC
Dana W. Duncan is the founder of Duncan Disability Law, SC, located in Nekoosa, Wisconsin. He has represented thousands of disabled clients throughout Wisconsin and the nation in Social Security law. In addition to a high-volume administrative practice in Social Security disability, Mr. Duncan has averaged over a hundred federal Social Security appeals over the past five years. He was a speaker for several professional organizations and in numerous continuing legal education programs.
Mr. Duncan is admitted to practice in Wisconsin and Utah.
He is admitted to the Federal District Courts, including the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin, the Northern, Central, and Southern Districts of Illinois, the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, Colorado, North Dakota, and Utah.
He is also admitted to the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the First, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Circuits and U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans’ Affairs.
He has more than 35 years of experience in Social Security law and has personally argued more than 50 cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, Chicago, Illinois; and before the Fourth Circuit, Richmond, Virginia.
He earned his B.A. degree from Beloit College and his J.D. degree from Marquette University.
Spelios Bacoyanis, Attorney at Law, Nash Disability Law
Spelios Bacoyanis has been licensed to practice law since 2012 and has practiced exclusively in the area of Social Security Disability law since 2017. He has represented clients at all levels of Social Security from initial claims up through the federal district court.
Spelios was the Chair of the Chicago Bar Association Social Security Law Committee from 2020-2021. As Chair, he authored and advocated for Public Act 102-0183, which expanded the definition of medical providers in Illinois and provided that individuals seeking SSDI,SSI, Aid to the Aged Blind and Disabled, and Federal Veterans’ benefits could obtain their medical records in Illinois for no charge. Spelios is currently the Vice Chair of the Federal Bar Association Social Security Law Section, and he has given numerous talks on Social Security, ranging from continuing legal education seminars to community discussions with organizations like the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI).
Spelios received his undergraduate degree from Purdue University and received his J.D. and L.L.M. degrees from The John Marshall Law School (now the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law), where he was treasurer of the Student Bar Association. While at John Marshall, he was a senior clinical intern at the Fair Housing Legal Clinic, working closely with disabled individuals in housing discrimination cases.
Adam Vanderwerff, Attorney, Duncan Disability Law, SC
Adam Vanderwerff is a native Wisconsinite who spent a few years exploring the mountains of Colorado. Adam is an avid outdoorsman who loves to run, hike, bike, camp, canoe, and kayak. Attorney Vanderwerff is the son of an engineer and a musician who taught him that he should creatively think through every problem.
Adam has had an extremely varied early career in litigation, including family law, landlord-tenant issues, and personal injury. Adam also served as an Assistant Attorney General for Consumer Protection and Antitrust for two years, helping ensure fair, safe, and effective pharmaceutical treatment for the Citizens of Wisconsin.
Adam learned the value of hard work from his father, who showed him that the work was not done until it was done right.
He is admitted to the Federal District Courts, including the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin and Colorado, and to the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He earned his Juris Doctor from Marquette University Law School in 2016. He is a member of NOSSCR – National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives; NADR – National Association of Disability Representatives; and WAWCA – Wisconsin Association of Worker’s Compensation Attorneys.

Registration

Register Here!

Live Broadcast | FBA Member: $0
Live Broadcast | Nonmember: $95
On-Demand Broadcast | FBA Member: $50
On-Demand Broadcast | Nonmember: $95

CLE
Please note: CLE for this webinar has not been pre-approved.
MyLaw and the FBA will seek 1.0 General CLE credit hours in 60-minute states, and 1.2 General CLE credit hours in 50-minute states.
Posted credit hours are estimated and subject to respective state approval and rounding rules. CLE qualifications vary by state/jurisdiction.
For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.

Western District of Pennsylvania Chapter: Bagels with the Bench
2025-07-15 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | Joseph F. Weis, Jr. U.S. Courthouse, 700 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, United States
Come join us for our next installment of Bagels with the Bench, this time featuring W.D. Pa. District Judge Christy C. Wiegand. July 15, at 9:00 am.
Where: W.D. Pa. Courthouse, Courtroom 9B
Attendance is limited to the first 20 chapter members, so if you are not yet a member, please join us today.
RSVP to Aaron at weiss@zklaw.com.

Webinar: Suspension and Debarment under the Updated FAR Rules
2025-07-15 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
*Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
Join us for a panel discussion on the January 2025 revisions to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) rules on suspension and debarment, intended to bring the FAR more closely into alignment with the Nonprocurement Common Rule (NCR) that applies to non-procurement transactions. Panelists will also discuss the ongoing “Revolutionary FAR Overhaul” and any overhaul (or predictions on overhaul) of FAR Part 9.
Register Now!
Presented by the FBA’s Government Contracts Section

Presenters
Sarah Drabkin, Suspension and Debarment and Whistleblower Manager, U.S. Department of State (invited)
Sarah Drabkin is the Suspension and Debarment and Whistleblower Manager in the Office of Global Acquisitions, Office of Acquisition Policy Directorate at the U.S. Department of State (State). Sarah is also the Acting Federal Assistance Director and serves as an Alternate Competition Advocate.
Previously, Sarah was an Integrity Officer with the Office of Suspension and Debarment in the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) for over 7 years. As an Integrity Officer Sarah analyzed S&D cases, agency protests, and various other government contract policy issues. Prior to this Sarah was a procurement analyst at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) where she helped to create their first S&D office, The Office of Recipient Integrity Coordination. Sarah was also an intern at GSA in the Suspension and Debarment Division during her time in law school.
Sarah received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a minor in History from Old Dominion University and a Juris Doctor from University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law in May 2012. She is a member of the D.C. Bar Association and serves as a co-chair for the American Bar Association – Public Contracts Law Section, Debarment and Suspension Committee.
Leslie Edelstein, Associate, Vinson & Elkins (Moderator)
Leslie is a litigation and regulatory attorney focused on government contracts and national security. Her work involves representing government contractors in litigation matters, including litigating bid protests at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Court of Federal Claims (COFC); filing and responding to contract claims; and prosecuting claim appeals at the different Boards of Contract Appeals. Leslie assists government contractors on contract and regulatory compliance matters involving the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), and agency supplemental acquisition regulations. Her practice also involves compliance counseling and risk mitigation associated with internal and government investigations. She helps clients conduct risk assessments, and develop and adopt compliance policies. She provides guidance to clients on government contracting risks associated with mergers and acquisitions. In addition, Leslie assists clients in conducting internal investigations and responding to government fraud investigations and present responsibility inquiries. Leslie routinely assists clients in suspension and debarment matters.
Leslie also assists foreign and domestic clients to comply with the requirements of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). This involves helping clients understand the risks associated with proposed transactions and, when necessary, filing notice of the transaction with CFIUS.

Duc Nguyen, Partner, Fluet
Duc H. Nguyen is a Partner in Fluet’s Government Contracts Practice, specializing in federal procurement, suspension and debarment, and corporate compliance. He previously served as Managing Director at a national integrity monitoring firm and as the Senior Debarring Official at the EPA, where he issued over 1,500 exclusion notices and led high-profile administrative agreements. He also served as Vice Chair of the Interagency Suspension and Debarment Committee, appointed by the OMB.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Nguyen was a Senior Attorney at NASA and an Attorney-Advisor at U.S. Army Materiel Command, overseeing contracts totaling over $100 billion. A retired U.S. Army Judge Advocate and logistician, he served for 20 years with deployments across East Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
He is active in the ABA, co-authoring the Practitioner’s Guide to Suspension and Debarment, and is fluent in Vietnamese with additional proficiency in French and Korean. A former refugee, he continues to advocate for Southeast Asian refugee communities.
Kara Sacilotto, Partner, Wiley
Kara Sacilotto is a nationally recognized government contracts attorney whose practice focuses on suspension and debarment, bid protests, internal investigations, False Claims Act matters, and ethics and compliance counseling. She has successfully represented clients of all sizes before the GAO, U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and Boards of Contract Appeals, and regularly advises on emerging areas of risk such as cybersecurity compliance, procurement collusion, and artificial intelligence.
Kara has testified before Congress on federal procurement issues and serves as an adjunct professor at American University’s Washington College of Law. She is deeply involved in the government contracts legal community, having held numerous leadership roles within the American Bar Association and Federal Bar Association. Her work has earned her recognition as a Super Lawyers honoree and a Law360 Government Contracts MVP. Kara is known for her strategic, practical approach and deep commitment to integrity in public contracting.

Registration
Register Now!
Registration Fees

FBA Member: $0
Nonmember: $95

Live Captioning: Closed captioning is available for all virtual webcasts.

Internet Requirements: Virtual programs require suitable internet strength to stream online panels. A minimum internet connection of 800 Kbps is recommended for an optimal attendee experience. Test your connection here.

CLE
Please note: CLE for this webinar has not been pre-approved.
MyLaw and the FBA will seek 1.0 General CLE credit hours in 60-minute states, and 1.2 General CLE credit hours in 50-minute states.
Posted credit hours are estimated and subject to respective state approval and rounding rules. CLE qualifications vary by state/jurisdiction.
For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I access the virtual webinar?
A: Each webinar will have a unique link to watch the live broadcast. Registered attendees will receive login instructions via a calendar invitations 24 hours prior to the webinar.
Q: Will recordings of the sessions be available after the event?
A: Approved sessions will be available for registrants to view live and on-demand following the webinar.
Q: Who do I contact for more information?
A: Please contact sections@fedbar.org for any other questions.

Email Communication Policy
By registering for this event, you agree to receive email communication from the Federal Bar Association and affiliated sponsors of the program concerning event details, Continuing Legal Education certification, programming changes, upcoming events, surveys, and post-event communications.
Recording Disclaimer
By registering for an online FBA program, you agree to the recording of audio and visual content presented during the live event and consent to subsequent use of the recording by the FBA. You agree that the recording is the sole property of the FBA and that the recording may be used by the FBA in any manner in its sole and absolute discretion. This recording may include questions and poll responses provided by you during the live event. If you do not consent to the recording and the FBA’s use of the same, do not register for the event.
If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact sections@fedbar.org

Northern District of California Chapter: Stress and Duress - Past and Present Challenges to the Judicial Branch
2025-07-16 15:00 - 16:15 (America/Los_Angeles) | Western District of WA Courthouse, 700 Stewart St, Seattle, WA, 98101, United States
Presidential speeches, threats of (and actual) impeachment, court packing plans, and other efforts to diminish the role of judges all have been part of judicial history. Recently, swatting, pizza deliveries, and unrestrained social media rhetoric have been added to the list. Join our distinguished panel as we look at historical and current challenges to the judiciary and their very real impact on judges and the rule of law. Is what we are experiencing now qualitatively or quantitatively different from what occurred in the past? And how has the quest for justice been affected?
1.25 General CA & WA CLE Credit Available ($40)
To register, please click here.

Reflections from Judge Scott W. Stucky
2025-07-22 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
Judge Scott W. Stucky will reflect on his distinguished career, including his service as a federal judge, chief judge, and senior judge. He will share lessons learned and other observations from some of his many cases. Steven R. Miller, Federal Career Service Division Chair, will moderate.
Registration is closed
Presented by the Federal Bar Association’s Federal Career Service Division

Presenter
The Honorable Scott W. Stucky, Senior Judge.
President George W. Bush appointed Scott W. Stucky to the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces on December 20, 2006. He became Chief Judge on August 1 , 2017, and Senior Judge on August 1, 2021.
Judge Stucky was born in Hutchinson, Kansas, in 1948, and grew up on a family farm near Pretty Prairie, Kansas. He graduated from Wichita State University, where he received a commission as a second lieutenant, U.S. Air Force Reserve, through ROTC. He then attended Harvard Law School, from which he graduated in 1973. After his admission to the Kansas bar, Judge Stucky went on active duty as a judge advocate in the Air Force, serving in San Antonio, Texas; U-Tapao, Thailand; and Syracuse, New York. After leaving active duty, Judge Stucky practiced with a Washington, D.C., Jaw firm and then served as a branch chief with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
In 1983, Judge Stucky became a civilian legislative counsel for the Department of the Air Force. Four years later, he became the Air Force’s principal legislative counsel, responsible for its legislative drafting, statutory analysis, and related matters.
He served as a member and panel chairman on the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records . Judge Stucky was selected to serve as an OPM LEGIS Fellow, and to attend the Federal Executive Institute, the Harvard Program for Senior Officials in National Security, and the National War College.
In 1996, Judge Stucky became General Counsel of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. Jn this capacity, he was the principal legal officer for the majority side of the Committee.
He served two chairmen , Senators Thurmond and Warner ; three staff directors; and was responsible as counsel for I 0 consecutive national defense authorization acts
From 1982 to 2003, Judge Stucky served in the Air Force Reserve as a judge advocate individual mobilization augmentee (IMA). He was three times appointed as an appellate military judge on the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals, serving for a total of almost seven years on that court. From 1999 to 2001, he was the senior I MA in Washington, D.C., responsible to the Judge Advocate General for the training and readiness of some 120 Reservists . Upon his retirement as a colonel in 2003, Judge Stucky was awarded the Legion of Merit for outstanding service.
In addition to his undergraduate and law degrees, Judge Stucky holds master’s degrees in history from Trinity University and in international law from George Washington University. He has lectured at the JAG schools of all three services and was for I0 consecutive years a panelist at the ABA’s annual Law and National Security Conference. He was a member of the board of directors of Omicron Delta Kappa (a college leadership society) from 2006 to 2010, and of the Executive Committee of the ABA Appellate Judges Conference from 2012 to 2016.
Judge Stucky was married to the former Jean Seibert. Jean Stucky, a graduate of Wellesley College and Cornell Law School, retired as Assistant General Counsel for Contractor Human Resources at the U.S. Department of Energy in 2018 and died in 2020. The Judge has two children, Mary-Clare and Joseph.

Registration
Registration is closed for this event.

Registration Fees

FBA Member: $0
Nonmember: $95

Live Captioning: Closed captioning is available for all virtual webcasts.
Internet Requirements: Virtual programs require suitable internet strength to stream online panels. A minimum internet connection of 800 Kbps is recommended for an optimal attendee experience. Test your connection here.

CLE
Please note CLE will not be offered for this event.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I access the virtual webinar?
A: Each webinar will have a unique link to watch the live broadcast. Registered attendees will receive login instructions via a calendar invitations 24 hours prior to the webinar.
Q: Will recordings of the sessions be available after the event?
A: Approved sessions will be available for registrants to view live and on-demand following the webinar.
Q: Who do I contact for more information?
A: Please contact sections@fedbar.org for any other questions.

Email Communication Policy
By registering for this event, you agree to receive email communication from the Federal Bar Association and affiliated sponsors of the program concerning event details, Continuing Legal Education certification, programming changes, upcoming events, surveys, and post-event communications.
Recording Disclaimer
By registering for an online FBA program, you agree to the recording of audio and visual content presented during the live event and consent to subsequent use of the recording by the FBA. You agree that the recording is the sole property of the FBA and that the recording may be used by the FBA in any manner in its sole and absolute discretion. This recording may include questions and poll responses provided by you during the live event. If you do not consent to the recording and the FBA’s use of the same, do not register for the event.
If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact sections@fedbar.org

International Judicial Well-Being Day Webinar
2025-07-23 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
July 25, 2025 will be the first ever International Judicial Well-Being Day. Please join the FMJA, FJA, and NCBJ on July 23, 2025 for a special one-hour webinar on International Judicial Well-Being Day with Justice Rangajeeva Wimalasena, President of Nauru Court of Appeal.
Justice Wimalasena, in collaboration with a global team of distinguished judges and experts, conceived International Day of Judicial Well-being to promote global recognition of judicial well-being. Justice Wimalasena will share the journey behind the creation of the Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well-being and the International Judicial Well-being Day, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in March 2025. He will also highlight key findings from the UNODC judicial well-being study, along with other relevant international research on judicial well-being.

Tampa Bay Chapter: The Honorable Elizabeth A. Kovachevich 34th Annual National Seminar on Federal Sentencing
2025-07-30 - 2025-08-01 | Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando (Disney Springs), 2000 Hotel Plaza Blvd, Lake Buena Vista, FL, 32830
Please join us July 30-August 1, 2025, for the Thirty-Fourth Annual National Seminar on the Federal Sentencing in Orlando, Florida.
A detailed agenda will be released soon!
If you or others in your office wish to attend our Seminar, please complete the enclosed registration form and mail it to the address indicated with your check or purchase order or register with a credit card on our website at https://federalbartampa.org/event/the-honorable-elizabeth-a-kovachevich-34th-annual-national-seminar-on-federal-sentencing/. Checks should be made payable to the Tampa Bay Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.
Pricing is as follows:
Tuition for all Government attendees is $344 if postmarked on or before June 1, 2025, $394 if postmarked on or before June 15, 2025, or $484 if postmarked on June 16, 2025, or later. CJA Attorneys are eligible for the government rates.
Tuition for all Non-Government attendees is $494 if postmarked on or before June 1, 2025, $544 if postmarked on or before June 15, 2025, or $584 if postmarked after June 16, 2025.
*Members of NACDL, FBA, or ABA CJS receive a $50 discount on the above prices.
We are offering group discounts for four or more registrants
For additional information or registration assistance please contact:
Katherine Earle Yanes at KYanes@kmf-law.com or Christina Barteaux at CBarteaux@kmf-law.com

Webinar: Cease & Desist Letters and Declaratory Judgment Actions - What Copyright, Trademark and Patent Practitioners Need To Know
2025-07-30 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://www.fedbar.org/event/webinar-cease-desist-letters-and-declaratory-judgment-actions-what-copyright-trademark-and-patent-practitioners-need-to-know/
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
This CLE program explores how cease and desist letters can trigger declaratory judgment actions, with a focus on minimizing risk while effectively enforcing intellectual property rights. Practitioners will learn best practices across copyright, trademark, and patent contexts, including some recent case law.
Register Now!
Presented by the FBA’s Intellectual Property Law Section

Presenters

Raymond J. Dowd, Partner, Dunnington Bartholow & Miller LLP
Raymond J. Dowd is a managing partner of the law firm Dunnington Bartholow & Miller LLP in New York City. He acts as problem-solver for businesses, not-for-profits and individuals confronting potential investigations, litigation, arbitration and mediation. He serves as lead counsel in high-stakes litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts in disputes often centered on foreign law issues. He has obtained multimillion-dollar intellectual property judgments, recovered Nazi-looted art, and scored landmark trusts and estates decisions from Surrogate’s Court to the New York Court of Appeals (including removing the butler from the Estate of Doris Duke and representing the Republic of Germany in recovering an ancient Assyrian tablet for Berlin’s Pergamon Museum).
Ray authored Copyright Litigation Handbook in 2006 and updates it annually with decisions focusing on the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. He has testified as a New York law expert before London’s High Court. He teaches trial advocacy through use of statistics, data and charts and use of expert witnesses at his alma mater Fordham Law School. In 2019 he received the Roger J. Goebel International Alumni Award. Current scholarship focuses on the 1907 Hague Convention on Land Warfare and its impact on art restitution claims.
Ray’s past volunteer service includes National Arts Club, Board of Governors and Chair, Audit Committee, Federal Bar Association, General Counsel and Board of Directors, Southern District of New York President, Network of Bar Leaders President, American Foreign Law Association President. He is a Fellow of the New York Bar and the Federal Bar Foundations. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Fordham Law Alumni Association, the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center and the Fondation des États-Unis in Paris, France.
He is conversant in French and Italian.

Olivera Medenica, Partner, Dunnington Bartholow & Miller LLP
Olivera Medenica CIPP/CIPM is an equity partner at Dunnington Bartholow & Miller LLP, and is a member of its intellectual property, privacy, advertising, art and fashion law, international, and litigation and arbitration practice groups. Olivera is also a member of Dunnington’s Executive Committee, chairs its Trademark Practice Group, Privacy Practice Group as well as its Diversity Committee.
Olivera’s intellectual property practice consists of “soft IP”: copyright, trademark and trade secrets. In addition to her litigation practice, she prosecutes trademarks before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and first chairs contentious opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board. She has co-authored five books in the field of intellectual property: Navigating Fashion Law, Aspatore’s Inside the Minds Series, Thomson Reuters (2015 Edition); the American Bar Association’s Legal Guide to Fashion Design (2013); The Business and Law of Fashion and Retail, Carolina Academic Press (2020); The Routledge Companion to Copyright and Creativity in the 21st Century, Taylor & Francis Group (2020); The Fashion Designer Survival Guide (chapter covering IP) (2020). Olivera has also served as an arbitrator in intellectual property disputes.
Olivera is an adjunct professor of law at Brooklyn Law School where she teaches Fashion Law and an adjunct professor of law at Cardozo Law School where she teaches Advertising Law. She is also a visiting professor at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne on the topic of Fashion Law. Olivera has lectured widely on issues dealing with intellectual property, ecommerce, social media and wearable technology. Lecture engagements have included Lawline.com, the Federal Bar Association, New York County Lawyers’ Association, the New York City Bar, the New York State Bar Association, Harvard Law School, Brooklyn Law School, New York Law School, South by Southwest Interactive, Cardozo Law School, the School of Visual Arts, Manhattan School of Music, Direct Marketing Association Conference (Geek-End), and the New York Foundation for the Arts.
She has also written articles for a variety of publications including the New York Law Journal, National Law Journal, Ecommerce Law and Strategy, Brooklyn Journal of International Law, Cardozo Arts and Entertainment Law Journal, Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review and the Internet Law Journal. Olivera is an Advisory Board Member of the New York Law School Innovation Center for Law and Technology, Fashion Law Initiative. She is also the founder of an annual Fashion Law Conference hosted by the Federal Bar Association’s IP Section, in New York and Paris. Both conferences were featured in the Huffington Post, Forbes and Intellectual Property Watch.

Maaike Angulo Vrij , Associate, Dunnington, Bartholow & Miller LLP.
Maaike Angulo Vrij is an associate at Dunnington focused on intellectual property and advertising, art, and fashion law specialties and a member of the the France Desk, investigations, litigation, arbitration and mediation practice areas.
She holds an LL.M. in Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law from Fordham University School of Law. While at Fordham, she worked as a Research Assistant for the Hansen Intellectual Property Institute, under the supervision of Professor Hugh Hansen, and participated as a volunteer at the Fashion Law Clinic and the Earth Law Institute.
Previously, she completed her legal studies in France at the University Panthéon-Assas, where she graduated with a French Juris Doctorate, with a master’s degree in litigation, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution. She also holds a Bachelor in History from Sorbonne University.
Ms. Angulo Vrij is admitted to practice law in New York State. She is a native French speaker, and is fluent in Spanish.

Padmaja Chinta, Partner, Dunnington, Bartholow & Miller LLP
Padmaja Chinta is a partner at Dunnington where she chairs the patent practice. She is an experienced intellectual property attorney and trial lawyer. She has counseled clients on all aspects of intellectual property and various business agreements with an emphasis on litigation.
Padmaja has extensively litigated cases in federal courts across the country. Her cases span a broad spectrum of products with a particular focus on the technology field, pharmaceutical field and consumer products. She has obtained significant victories in claim constructions, summary judgment, pre-trial, and §101 motions to dismiss for her clients. She has successfully defended patents in IPR proceedings before the Patent Board. She has also represented clients in trade secret, trademark, copyright, arbitration and contract litigation.
Padmaja regularly speaks at various bar and IP conferences and has guest lectured at the Brooklyn Law School. She is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and a NY Super Lawyer. She is the immediate past president of the Federal Bar Association’s SDNY Chapter and is the national Chair of the IP Section.
Padmaja graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Registration
Register Now!

Live Broadcast | FBA Member: $0
Live Broadcast | Nonmember: $95
On-Demand Broadcast | FBA Member: $50
On-Demand Broadcast | Nonmember: $95

CLE
Please note: CLE for this webinar has not been pre-approved.
MyLaw and the FBA will seek 1.0 General CLE credit hours in 60-minute states, and 1.2 General CLE credit hours in 50-minute states.
Posted credit hours are estimated and subject to respective state approval and rounding rules. CLE qualifications vary by state/jurisdiction.
For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.

District of Columbia Chapter: FCPA Enforcement - The International Perspective
2025-08-06 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
With the Department of Justice pursuing fewer cases of international corruption and re-orienting its FCPA enforcement priorities, three European regulators have come together to fill the void. In late March, authorities from the UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO), France’s Parquet National Financier (PNF), and Switzerland’s Office of the Attorney General (OAG) announced a task force to strengthen collaboration in cases involving international bribery and corruption. In this panel moderated by former US Attorney Joe Whitley, hear from prominent white-collar practitioners in each jurisdiction to learn more about the task force, what it portends for European enforcement trends, and what it means for American companies doing business overseas.
Speakers include:
Joe D. Whitley
Mr. Whitley is the Chair of Womble Bond Dickinson’s White Collar Defense, Investigations and Regulatory Enforcement practice. He represents clients nationally and internationally in a variety of white collar matters. Mr. Whitley has served as Acting Associate Attorney General, the U.S. Attorney for both the Middle and Northern Districts of Georgia, and as the General Counsel to the Department of Homeland Security.
Ross Dixon
Mr. Dixon is a partner at Hickman & Rose in London, where he handles matters involving financial crime, business crime, and regulatory compliance. He has acted in some of the UK’s most serious and complex fraud, false accounting and bribery and corruption cases. Mr. Dixon has great experience in cases that involve parallel investigations in the UK and overseas, including the US, Europe, South East Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Sonja Maeder Morvant
Ms. Maeder Morvant is the Group Head of Legal at Edmond de Rothschild in Geneva. She is a legal executive with broad experience as an in-house lawyer, outside counsel, and board member. Her practice focuses mainly on complex disputes and, particularly, white collar crime, mutual assistance in criminal matters, asset tracing, and compliance. Ms. Maeder Morvant has been ranked in the International Who’s Who of Business Crime Lawyers and as a Top 100 Women Worldwide in Investigations by the Global Investigation Review.
Emmanuel Moyne
Emmanuel Moyne is a partner at Bougartchev Moyne in Paris. He handles white collar criminal matters, often in cases involving several foreign jurisdictions. Mr. Moyne has particular expertise in sensitive financial and political matters, bribery, and environmental crimes. He also performs internal investigations and assists large companies in designing and implementing internal compliance programs.
To register please click here.
Please contact Eric Nitz, President, D.C. Chapter, at enitz@mololamken.com with questions.

Webinar: The Twelve Monotasks: Do One Thing at a Time to do Everything Better, featuring author Thatcher Wine
2025-08-06 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://beacon360.content.online/xbcs/S2601/catalog/product.xhtml?eid=68008
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
This Wellness session is designed to help you be more focused, less stressed, more productive, and a lot happier. Take back control of your focus, productivity, and well-being with The Twelve Monotasks by Thatcher Wine. Studies have shown that multitasking reduces efficiency and increases errors, while focusing on one task at a time produces superior results. Our brains are programmed to best focus on one thing at a time; call it monotasking, mindfulness, or being present, the idea is to be wholly absorbed in an activity. When we fully devote ourselves to something like reading, listening, or going for a walk, it can be a transformative experience.
This webinar is presented by the FBA’s Professional Development Committee.
Register Today!

Presenter:

Thatcher Wine, Founder & CEO, Juniper Books
Thatcher Wine is a creative entrepreneur, speaker, and author. He most recent book is The Twelve Monotasks: Do One Thing at a Time to Do Everything Better. He is also the coauthor of For the Love of Books: Designing and Curating a Home Library. Since 2001, he has been the founder and CEO of Juniper Books, a company based in Boulder, Colorado, that offers pop culture driven special edition book sets. In 2023, Thatcher launched a new brand, Juniper Custom, dedicated to the curating and designing custom book sets, book collections, and libraries for homeowners, gift givers, interior designers, and others worldwide. Thatcher has long been an advocate for reading as a form of self-care and a means to build focus in the digital age, concepts that form part of the foundation of The Twelve Monotasks. While defending the place of printed books in our culture for the past twenty years, Thatcher has also sought to reinvent their creative potential. He has spoken widely about books and libraries including a TED Talk called “The Books We Keep, the Stories We Tell.” Thatcher’s monotasking philosophy took shape as he grew Juniper Books and weathered numerous personal challenges, including a life-threatening cancer diagnosis. From a childhood in the restaurant business to the rise and fall of his internet startup in his twenties, Thatcher’s experiences have informed and refined his ideas on living with focus and purpose. Thatcher graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in History and Art History. He made a brief appearance in the world of investment banking, then truly began his career as a strategy consultant with Monitor Company. In the early days of the Internet, he served as Director of Business for US Interactive (formerly Digital Evolution) helping many pioneering businesses establish their Internet presence. In 1999, he raised venture capital and launched Feedback Direct, a portal for consumers to obtain customer service from thousands of companies. Thatcher has long been an innovator in the world of books and design. Departures magazine called him “the man who brought back the library.” He is in the inventor of custom book jackets (US Patent No. 9349308) and he is a frequent collaborator with many of the world’s leading interior designers, architects, real estate developers, visual merchandisers, and hospitality brands. Thatcher lives in Colorado and loves to spend time with his two children and plays on the slopes and trails whenever possible.
Moderator:

TJ McGrath
T.J. McGrath serves as the General Counsel for the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission advising the Executive Director on legal and business matters. Prior to MedPAC, she was the General Counsel at the Congressional Budget Office, and Associate General Counsel for the TRICARE Management Activity now the Defense Health Agency. She served 12 years on active duty with the Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps and 18 years as a reservist.
T.J. co-founded Ardaithe Consulting LLC, developing tailored durable soft skills training for leadership and staff. Specializing in Resiliency Training, Resolving Workplace Disputes, and Leading Teams, she has deployed training modules on Ethics, Sexual Harassment, Bystander Intervention, Mindfulness, and De-escalation.
For the FBA she currently serves on the Professional Development Committee and is a member of the Labor and Employment Law Section.

Registration
Register Here!

Live Broadcast | FBA Member: $0
Live Broadcast | Nonmember: $95
On-Demand Broadcast | FBA Member: $50
On-Demand Broadcast | Nonmember: $95

CLE
Please note: CLE for this webinar has not been pre-approved.
MyLaw and the FBA will seek 1.0 General CLE credit hours in 60-minute states, and 1.2 Wellness or General CLE credit hours in 50-minute states.
Posted credit hours are estimated and subject to respective state approval and rounding rules. CLE qualifications vary by state/jurisdiction.
For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.

Webinar: False Claims Act Pre-trial Strategy
2025-08-07 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
This program will explore strategy and pitfalls for both relator and defense counsel in pre-trial False Claims Act litigation. Topics covered include a general overview of pre- and post-complaint filings for relators, interactions with the government during its investigation, counseling your clients during the government’s investigation, declined litigation, and settlement. The panelists include counsel for relators, defendants, and the government, offering perspectives from each of the relevant parties in False Claims Act litigation.
Register Now!
Presented by FBA Qui Tam Conference 2025 sponsor Kang Haggerty.

Presenters
Ross M. Wolfe, Associate, Kang Haggerty LLC
Ross M. Wolfe is an associate at Kang Haggerty LLC where he focuses his practice on whistleblower actions under the False Claims Act and commercial litigation. He works with relators from intake through the conclusion of the case, helping them navigate the unfamiliar process a relator must navigate. Ross also represents whistleblowers who have suffered retaliation by their employers as a result of their whistleblower activities.
Nicomedes Sy Herrera, Partner, Herrera Kennedy
Nicomedes Sy Herrera is a strategic litigator with over 27 years of experience handling complex, high-stakes business and trade disputes, specializing in qui tam and antitrust litigation. Mr. Herrera has spearheaded groundbreaking billion-dollar qui tam lawsuits against major pharmaceutical companies, alleging fraudulently procured patents to block generic competition. These pioneering cases assert that such practices unlawfully inflated drug prices paid or reimbursed by federal and state agencies. In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Herrera has held senior executive and general counsel roles at prominent financial services firms in New York and Chicago. Notably, he served as Vice President and General Counsel of Corridor Capital Group Holdings, LLC, and its spin-off entities. He also serves or has served on the boards of various charities and co-founded the Pope Francis Legal Help Center in the Diocese of Oakland. Mr. Herrera graduated from Columbia College in 1994 and Columbia Law School in 1997. He is admitted to the Bars of California, New York, and Florida.
Erin Lindgren, Assistant United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office – Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Erin Lindgren is an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where she has handled a number of significant investigations and settlements under the False Claims Act, including securing a $44 million settlement against a remote cardiac monitoring company for fraudulent billing practices and a significant settlement with a psychiatrist for overbilling Medicaid through inadequate patient consultations. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Erin was hired into the Attorney General’s Honors Program in the Tax Division for the Department of Justice. While at the Tax Division, Erin served as Counsel to the Acting Assistant Attorney General, and received the Outstanding Trial Attorney award and two Special Commendations. Erin clerked for the Honorable Juan R. Sánchez of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Erin received her J.D. from the Temple University Beasley School of Law, with honors, and her B.A. from the University of Southern California, with honors.
Emily McGowan, Partner, Alston & Bird LLP
Emily McGowan helps health care companies handle complex enforcement and litigation matters. She regularly defends clients in False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute investigations and assists managed care organizations, pharmacy benefit managers, and drug manufacturers in high-stakes government enforcement actions and related litigation. She counsels clients on issues involving Medicare Advantage, including sales and marketing compliance, risk adjustment, and prior authorization. Emily also handles investigations and inquiries into the use of artificial intelligence in health care. Emily has been ranked in Chambers USA since 2020 and is currently Band 1 in North Carolina for Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations.

Registration

Register Now!

Live Broadcast | FBA Member: $0
Live Broadcast | Nonmember: $95
On-Demand Broadcast | FBA Member: $50
On-Demand Broadcast | Nonmember: $95

CLE
Please note: CLE for this webinar has not been pre-approved.
MyLaw and the FBA will seek 1.0 General CLE credit hours in 60-minute states, and 1.2 General CLE credit hours in 50-minute states.
Posted credit hours are estimated and subject to respective state approval and rounding rules. CLE qualifications vary by state/jurisdiction.
For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.

Webinar: An Untapped Market: Reaching Hispanic Communities Seeking Legal Status
2025-08-12 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
This session will help immigration attorneys connect with a critical yet often underserved segment of the U.S. population: the estimated 10.5 million individuals living in the U.S. without legal status, many of whom are actively seeking adjustment of status, asylum, or other forms of immigration relief. These individuals often hesitate to seek help due to fear, language barriers, and misinformation. This program will equip attorneys with culturally fluent marketing strategies—delivered in Spanish—to build trust and encourage more individuals to seek legal guidance and protection.
Register Now!
Presented by FBA Immigration Law Conference 2025 sponsor Alpenglo Digital.

Presenters
Jean Ginzburg, CEO and Founder, Alpenglo Digital
Jean Ginzburg is a nationally recognized marketing strategist with over 15 years of experience helping law firms grow through culturally fluent digital campaigns. As the founder of Alpenglo Digital, she specializes in helping immigration attorneys connect authentically with Spanish-speaking audiences—especially individuals seeking adjustment of status or humanitarian relief. Jean’s work combines deep knowledge of multicultural marketing, bilingual content strategy, and performance-driven advertising across platforms like Meta and TikTok. She has helped law firms increase consultations, build community trust, and serve more clients through personalized outreach that meets people where they are.

Registration

Register Now!

Live Broadcast | FBA Member: $0
Live Broadcast | Nonmember: $95
On-Demand Broadcast | FBA Member: $50
On-Demand Broadcast | Nonmember: $95

CLE
Please note: CLE for this webinar has not been pre-approved.
MyLaw and the FBA will seek 1.0 General CLE credit hours in 60-minute states, and 1.2 General CLE credit hours in 50-minute states.
Posted credit hours are estimated and subject to respective state approval and rounding rules. CLE qualifications vary by state/jurisdiction.
For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.

WEBINAR: SCOTUS Term Review 2024-2025
2025-08-14 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Graciously joining the Federal Bar Association for her third year in a row, Amy Howe—co-founder of the SCOTUSblog—will treat attendees to a legal overview and analysis of the U.S. Supreme Court’s most recent term. Amy will break down the Court’s decisions, noting key takeaways and highlighting major rulings. She brings the insights of an experienced attorney who has argued before SCOTUS, a professor who has taught SCOTUS litigation at Stanford Law and Harvard Law, and now a journalist and co-founder of the award-winning legal blog on SCOTUS happenings. You won’t want to miss this legal “year in review” of SCOTUS, coupled with the analytical insights of a career-long dedicated SCOTUS expert!
Presented by the Professional Development Committee.

Register Now!
About the Presenter

Amy Howe, CO-FOUNDER OF SCOTUSblog
Amy Howe is the co-founder of SCOTUSblog and its primary reporter. She was part of the blog team that won a Peabody Award in 2013, as well as a National Press Club Journalism Award for Breaking News.
Before turning to full-time journalism, she served as counsel in over two dozen merits cases at the Supreme Court and argued two cases there. From 2004 until 2011, she co-taught Supreme Court litigation at Stanford Law School; from 2005 until 2013, she co-taught a similar class at Harvard Law School. She has also served as an adjunct professor at American University’s Washington College of Law and Vanderbilt Law School. Amy is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds a master’s in Arab Studies and a law degree from Georgetown University.
About the Moderator

Samantha Pallini, Attorney, Minneapolis City Attorney’s Office
Samantha Pallini, Esq. is the accountability and oversight attorney for the Minneapolis City Attorney’s Office.
She began her career in civil rights litigation for the City of New York’s Corporation Counsel, Special Federal Litigation Unit. From there, Samantha joined private practice in Chicago with The Sotos Law Firm, P.C., litigating civil rights cases throughout the district courts of the Seventh and Ninth Circuits, as well as one case seeking cert in the U.S. Supreme Court. She subsequently served as the Practice Area Lead for federal civil rights at a LexisNexis legal data analytics company, before joining the Minneapolis City Attorney’s Office.
Samantha currently serves the FBA as the Chair of the Professional Development Committee.

Register Now!

Live Broadcast | FBA Member: $0
Live Broadcast | Nonmember: $95
On-Demand Broadcast | FBA Member: $50
On-Demand Broadcast | Nonmember: $95

For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.

CLE
Please note: CLE for this webinar has not been pre-approved.
MyLaw and the FBA will seek 1.0 General CLE credit hours in 60-minute states, and 1.25 General CLE credit hours in 50-minute states.
Posted credit hours are estimated and subject to respective state approval and rounding rules. CLE qualifications vary by state/jurisdiction.
For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.

Email Communication Policy
By registering for this event, you agree to receive email communication from the Federal Bar Association and affiliated sponsors of the program concerning event details, Continuing Legal Education certification, programming changes, upcoming events, surveys, and post-event communications.
Recording Disclaimer
By registering for an online FBA program, you agree to the recording of audio and visual content presented during the live event and consent to subsequent use of the recording by the FBA. You agree that the recording is the sole property of the FBA and that the recording may be used by the FBA in any manner in its sole and absolute discretion. This recording may include questions and poll responses provided by you during the live event. If you do not consent to the recording and the FBA’s use of the same, do not register for the event.

Webinar: Pet Peeves in IP Litigation
2025-08-19 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**

Join a candid conversation with federal judges from across the country as they share their top pet peeves in IP litigation—from patent and trademark to copyright and trade secrets. Hear what litigators should avoid (and do more of) when advocating in their courtrooms and gain practical insights to sharpen your strategy and credibility. Learn how to tailor your approach to different judges and districts for more effective advocacy.
Register Now!
Presented by the FBA’s Intellectual Property Law Section.

Presenters

District Judge Beth L. Freeman, Northern District of California
Judge Beth Labson Freeman is a Judge on the Federal Court in the Northern District of California, appointed by President Obama in 2014. Judge Freeman sits in the San Jose Division, hearing a broad array of cases including antitrust, civil rights, consumer class actions, commercial litigation and technology cases including patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret cases. She serves on the Northern District’s patent local rules and jury instruction committees. Judge Freeman previously was a Superior Court Judge in San Mateo County, California from 2001 to 2014. Judge Freeman served as Presiding Judge and Assistant Presiding Judge of the San Mateo Court.
Prior to her appointment to the bench in 2001, Judge Freeman was deputy county counsel in San Mateo County, and an associate attorney at Lasky, Haas and Cohler in San Francisco and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson in Washington, D.C. Judge Freeman is a graduate of the Harvard Law School and University of California, Berkeley.

District Judge Paul J. Oetken, Southern District of New York
Paul Oetken has been a United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York since his appointment in 2011. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1988, where he majored in philosophy, and received a J.D. from Yale Law School in 1991. He served as a law clerk to Justice Harry A. Blackmun on the United States Supreme Court in 1993-1994, after clerking for Judge Richard D. Cudahy (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit) and Judge Louis F. Oberdorfer (U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia). Following his clerkships, Judge Oetken worked as an attorney at Jenner & Block in Washington, DC. He then served as attorney-adviser in the United States Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel from 1997 to 1999.
In 1999, Judge Oetken joined the White House Counsel’s Office, serving as Associate Counsel to President Bill Clinton until the end of President Clinton’s term in January 2001. Judge Oetken then worked as an attorney at Debevoise & Plimpton in New York from 2001 to 2004, leaving to become head of litigation at Cablevision Systems Corporation, where he was Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel until his appointment to the bench. Judge Oetken is an Adjunct Professor at NYU Law School and previously taught at Fordham Law School. He was appointed by the Chief Justice to serve on the Judicial Conference Committee on the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. He serves as President of the William C. Conner Inn of Court and as a Director of the Federal Judges Association. While in private practice he served on the Media Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association

District Judge Anuraag Singhal, Southern District of Florida
On December 20, 2019, Raag Singhal received his judicial commission to serve on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Judge Singhal is the first Asian American in history to serve as an Article III judge in the jurisdiction of the Eleventh Circuit (Alabama, Georgia and Florida).
Immediately prior to becoming a federal judge, Judge Singhal spent eight years as a State Circuit Court Judge in Broward County, Florida, having been appointed by then-Governor Rick Scott in 2011. While on the state bench, Judge Singhal served, at times, in the criminal, civil and mental health divisions and was fortunate enough to sit as an Associate Judge on Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal on four occasions.
As a lawyer, Judge Singhal gained experience at a civil litigation firm followed by three years as an Assistant State Attorney. After that, Singhal ran a successful criminal defense practice in Fort Lauderdale for eighteen years. During that time, he handled more than two hundred jury trials including thirty first-degree murder cases.
Judge Singhal has had leadership roles in many law-related groups. He is past-President of the Broward Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Stephen H. Booher Chapter of the American Inns of Court. He was on the Board of Directors of the Broward County Bar Association, and is a frequent speaker at events for various local Bar groups such as the Asian Pacific American Bar Association and the Federalist Society. Singhal was also Associate Dean of the Florida College for Advanced Judicial Studies at the time of his appointment to the federal court system.
Judge Singhal received his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1989 where he was very active in Moot Court activities, and was on the winning team of the J. Braxton Craven National Moot Court Competition (4th Amendment). He received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Rice University in 1986.

Padmaja Chinta, Partner, Dunnington, Bartholow & Miller LLP (Moderator)
Padmaja Chinta is a partner at Dunnington where she chairs the patent practice. She is an experienced intellectual property attorney and trial lawyer. She has counseled clients on all aspects of intellectual property and various business agreements with an emphasis on litigation.
Padmaja has extensively litigated cases in federal courts across the country. Her cases span a broad spectrum of products with a particular focus on the technology field, pharmaceutical field and consumer products. She has obtained significant victories in claim constructions, summary judgment, pre-trial, and §101 motions to dismiss for her clients. She has successfully defended patents in IPR proceedings before the Patent Board. She has also represented clients in trade secret, trademark, copyright, arbitration and contract litigation.
Padmaja regularly speaks at various bar and IP conferences and has guest lectured at the Brooklyn Law School. She is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and a NY Super Lawyer. She is the immediate past president of the Federal Bar Association’s SDNY Chapter and is the national Chair of the IP Section.
Padmaja graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Registration

Register Now!

Registration Fees

FBA Member: $0
Nonmember: $95

Live Captioning: Closed captioning is available for all virtual webcasts.
Internet Requirements: Virtual programs require suitable internet strength to stream online panels. A minimum internet connection of 800 Kbps is recommended for an optimal attendee experience. Test your connection here.

CLE
Please note CLE will not be offered for this event.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I access the virtual webinar?
A: Each webinar will have a unique link to watch the live broadcast. Registered attendees will receive login instructions via a calendar invitations 24 hours prior to the webinar.
Q: Will recordings of the sessions be available after the event?
A: Approved sessions will be available for registrants to view live and on-demand following the webinar.
Q: Who do I contact for more information?
A: Please contact sections@fedbar.org for any other questions.

Email Communication Policy
By registering for this event, you agree to receive email communication from the Federal Bar Association and affiliated sponsors of the program concerning event details, Continuing Legal Education certification, programming changes, upcoming events, surveys, and post-event communications.
Recording Disclaimer
By registering for an online FBA program, you agree to the recording of audio and visual content presented during the live event and consent to subsequent use of the recording by the FBA. You agree that the recording is the sole property of the FBA and that the recording may be used by the FBA in any manner in its sole and absolute discretion. This recording may include questions and poll responses provided by you during the live event. If you do not consent to the recording and the FBA’s use of the same, do not register for the event.
If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact sections@fedbar.org

Webinar: Trade Secrets & Non-Solicits in Business Sales: Trial Insights & Strategic Considerations
2025-08-20 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
When a business changes hands, restrictive covenants like non-solicitation and trade secret protections often follow the deal—but so can disputes. In recent years, courts have taken a nuanced approach to enforcing these provisions, especially when non-competes in general have been increasingly outlawed or limited in scope. This webinar will explore the current state of the law governing trade secrets and non-solicitation agreements in the sale-of-business context, with a practical focus on client advising and litigation strategy. Attendees will gain insights from recent trials from the presenters involving these claims, including effective themes for both plaintiffs and defendants, the role of injunctive relief, and evidentiary challenges around damages and bad faith. Whether enforcing or defending against such claims, this session will help practitioners sharpen their playbook for navigating these high-stakes cases in federal court.
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Presented by FBA Annual Meeting & Convention 2025 sponsor Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A.

Presenters
Moderator: Kyle Kroll, Shareholder, Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A.
I am passionate about advocating for clients in high-stakes business disputes, in both trials and appeals. My practice spans many industries, and I particularly enjoy cases involving intellectual property and unfair competition. In all of my cases, I strategize to minimize risk, maximize opportunity, and achieve client goals. I make it a priority to clearly and timely communicate with clients, ensuring they are always informed and supported. Drawing on my clerkship with The Honorable Joan N. Ericksen, U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, I have honed my skill in analyzing legal arguments and presenting them persuasively. This experience constantly informs my advocacy, helping me craft compelling themes that resonate with judges, juries, and other key decision-makers. In my practice to-date, I’ve amassed substantial litigation and appellate experience, leading cases at trial and arguing before high appellate courts— including the Minnesota Supreme Court and Eighth Circuit. I’ve first-chaired three trials and participated in several more. Along the way, I’ve been honored by jurists for “excellent” advocacy and the “care and effort” I bring to my cases. These experiences reflect my commitment to the highest standards of professionalism. Outside the courtroom, I am a leader in my community, including in both state and national bar associations. I enjoy wine tasting, golfing, biking, hiking, and traveling.
Aimée D. Dayhoff, Shareholder, Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A.
There’s a perception of litigators as being argumentative to a fault, thriving on confrontation. While I can certainly hold my ground – and do on issues important to my clients – it’s not always in the best interest of their businesses to pound a path to the courtroom. My clients come to me when they have a problem that they need to solve, whether it’s deciding whether to sign a vendor contract, or whether to enter into litigation with a former employee. It’s important to get details right on the front-end to avoid repercussions later, which means really getting to know my clients’ businesses inside and out. When it comes to litigation, I guide my clients through the difficult and sometimes emotional process. Your business is your baby, and it can be natural to feel that it’s being attacked when being sued for breach of contract, perhaps, or if a former employee has stolen trade secrets. But motivation can’t be dictated by personal animosity, and I help my clients take the emotion out of a naturally fraught process, to find the answer that’s right for their business. For some closely held businesses, I serve as outside general counsel, acting as a sounding board for their day-to-day issues. In this capacity, I love being able to work with my clients as a partner in their businesses, being able to connect them with the experts at the firm that can address a specific issue, and save them the cost of maintaining an internal legal department. I reside in Minnetonka with my two kids (albeit one is in college now and rarely home) and our dog, Floyd. I love traveling both nationally and internationally and checking out all of the amazing new restaurants in the Twin Cities.
Lisa Ellingson, Shareholder, Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A.
Now more than ever, data and technology are involved in every part of our lives. They affect how we work, how we communicate, and even how we sleep. And because of its pervasiveness in our lives, technology is the subject of near-constant legal changes and challenges. For my litigation clients in the technology space, the success of their businesses can depend on things like defending trade secrets and enforcing commercialization agreements. I enjoy navigating the constantly changing landscape of new information and technologies within a legal framework to help my clients further their business goals. As part of my technology practice, I also advise clients related to data protection and privacy. I assist clients with a wide range of privacy issues, from website privacy policies to incident response. I am the Co-Chair of Winthrop & Weinstine’s Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice Group. I am also a Certified Information Privacy Professional / United States (CIPP/US) and a Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM), and I regularly give presentations on privacy issues. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our two young children. I am also active in the international Korean adoptee community, and am a Regional Governor for the International Association of Korean Lawyers.
Olga Rogne, Managing Associate, Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A.
Before going to law school I was trained as a journalist, and many lessons from that training prepared me for my strong advocacy for clients in litigation. I am excited every time I get to dig through all the facts and details, learn the inner workings of my clients’ businesses, and then develop a through line and a persuasive, novel argument to support my client’s position and tell their story. Finally, I love taking all that background and nuance, and coming up with the best possible way to communicate our side to the judge or jury. Outside of work, I have recently taken up equestrian sports, and have started showing in the Hunter/Jumper ring. I never did it as a child, but I love challenging myself and overcoming my fears. In the winter, I’m also an avid skier and like to spend as much time as possible on the slopes.

Registration

Register Now!

Live Broadcast | FBA Member: $0
Live Broadcast | Nonmember: $95
On-Demand Broadcast | FBA Member: $50
On-Demand Broadcast | Nonmember: $95

CLE
Please note: CLE for this webinar has not been pre-approved.
MyLaw and the FBA will seek 1.0 General CLE credit hours in 60-minute states, and 1.2 General CLE credit hours in 50-minute states.
Posted credit hours are estimated and subject to respective state approval and rounding rules. CLE qualifications vary by state/jurisdiction.
For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.

Webinar: Administrative Judiciary and Federal Lawyers-Navigating the Current Employment Environment to Preserve our Position and Serve the Public
2025-08-26 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
Administrative judges, administrative law judges and lawyers employed by the federal government are navigating a number of personnel challenges in this current employment environment. During this CLE, hear from experts in federal sector employment law who will place executive orders such as EO 14171 and EO 13957 and cases such as Jarkesy v. SEC, and others in legal context with a discussion of options and resources available via MSPB, EEOC , OSC and the courts to preserve our position and continued service to the American people.
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Presented by the FBA’s Judiciary Division & Labor & Employment Law Section

Presenters
Peter H. Noone, Owner & Lead Instructor for Noone Employment Training, LLC, Partner with the law firm Avery, Dooley & Noone, LLP.
Peter H. Noone is the owner and lead instructor for Noone Employment Training, LLC, as well as a practicing attorney from the Boston area. He has been a Partner with the law firm, Avery Dooley & Noone, LLP, since 1998. He focuses his practice as a trial lawyer in the areas of federal employment law, administrative law and appeals, security clearance matters, and whistleblower and discrimination complaints.
Mr. Noone has represented federal employees and federal, state, and local law enforcement officers in litigation and disciplinary proceedings. He has assisted his clients in successfully defending disciplinary actions ranging from letters of reprimand to removal and has assisted clients in defending security clearance revocations and in adverse suitability determinations. Mr. Noone has represented clients throughout agency and criminal investigations in: Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) appeals, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) hearings, Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) hearings; Trials in United States District Court, and other proceedings before Federal Agencies.
He is a frequent instructor and lecturer for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) and has developed and provided training seminars to the Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) Office of Professional Responsibility. Mr. Noone is also a speaker at the Office of Inspector General (OIG) Criminal Investigator Academy and has provided discrimination education and training to various federal personnel. He has also developed training for the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Law Enforcement Steering Committee and various federal agencies.

Suzanne Summerlin, Owner, Summerlin Labor Strategies.

Suzanne Summerlin is an attorney in solo practice and also serves as General Counsel of the Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network. She previously served as nominee for General Counsel of the Federal Labor Relations Authority under President Biden, and has led litigation on behalf of federal employees and unions challenging executive orders and agency-wide removals

Hon. Wanda Wright, Administrative Judiciary Committee Chair, Judiciary Division (Moderator) *
Judge Wanda Wright has been Administrative Judiciary Chair within the Judiciary Division of the Federal Bar Association since February 2025. Prior to assuming this role, Judge Wright served three years as a Regional Vice President and National Executive Board member of the Association of Administrative Law Judges (AALJ), representing judges in 17 offices in the southeastern United States.
During her tenure, Judge Wright was honored to serve as AALJ Chair of the Health & Safety Committee. Judge Wright is the principal author of the proposed ALJ/AJ Privacy Bill. Prior to her appointment as an administrative law judge in 2010, Judge Wright was a disability advocate and assistant district attorney in New York. Judge Wright is admitted to the NY and NC bars and is a member of the federal bar in North Carolina. She is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and she received her law degree from the University of Virginia, where she was Articles Editor of the Virginia Tax Review.
* Disclaimer: The views expressed here are the author’s personal opinions and are not the views of the Social Security Administration or the federal government.

Registration
Register Now!

Live Broadcast | FBA Member: $0
Live Broadcast | Nonmember: $95
On-Demand Broadcast | FBA Member: $50
On-Demand Broadcast | Nonmember: $95

CLE
Please note: CLE for this webinar has not been pre-approved.
MyLaw and the FBA will seek 1.0 General CLE credit hours in 60-minute states, and 1.2 General CLE credit hours in 50-minute states.
Posted credit hours are estimated and subject to respective state approval and rounding rules. CLE qualifications vary by state/jurisdiction.
For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.

Add to calendar

Orange County Chapter: Young Lawyers' Division Roundtable Lunch with the Hon. Kenneth K. Lee
2025-08-27 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Stradling, 660 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1600, Newport Beach, C, 92660, United States
Open to practicing attorneys who are under 40 years of age or have been practicing 10 years or less.
Space is Limited!
This event is FREE but reservations are required.
Once this event sells out, you may contact info@FBAOC.com to be placed on a waiting list.
Event Flyer:
Click HERE to download and share the flyer.
Questions:
Contact FBA/OC at info@FBAOC.com or 949-608-9905.

Webinar: Managing Toxic Employees: Perspectives from Employers and Employees
2025-09-03 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
**Program hosted in (ET) Time Zone**
Panelists James Noel and Jon Wall will cover a variety of issues and advice related to how to manage toxic employees. This webinar will cover what to do when an employee is subjected to a toxic environment and what employers should do when they have a report of or otherwise know about toxic employees in the workplace. Panelists will cover not only how toxic work environments can result in claims of discrimination and retaliation, but also how anti-bullying legislation and/or policies can play a role in managing difficult employees.
Register Now!
Presented by the FBA’s Labor and Employment Law Section

Presenters

TJ McGrath (Moderator)
T.J. McGrath serves as the General Counsel for the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission advising the Executive Director on legal and business matters. Prior to MedPAC, she was the General Counsel at the Congressional Budget Office, and Associate General Counsel for the TRICARE Management Activity now the Defense Health Agency. She served 12 years on active duty with the Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps and 18 years as a reservist.
T.J. co-founded Ardaithe Consulting LLC, developing tailored durable soft skills training for leadership and staff. Specializing in Resiliency Training, Resolving Workplace Disputes, and Leading Teams, she has deployed training modules on Ethics, Sexual Harassment, Bystander Intervention, Mindfulness, and De-escalation.
For the FBA she currently serves on the Professional Development Committee and is a member of the Labor and Employment Law Section.

James Noel, Counsel – McConnell Valdés LLC, Puerto Rico
James Noel is Counsel, Labor & Employment Law Practice Group for McConnell Valdés LLC. Mr. Noel has provided advice and has represented employers in all areas of federal and Puerto Rico employment law.
Mr. Noël has vast litigation experience in both state and federal courts. His initial assessment to clients is based on years of experience and takes into consideration the nature of the claims, the opposing counsel, the state-court judge, and the potential exposure of a jury trial, among other criteria.
Mr. Noël has handled matters involving more specialized knowledge than the usual employment case, such as the Railway Labor Act, the National Labor Relations Act, the Federal Arbitration Act, ERISA, and COBRA. He has also served as counsel in cases before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
In addition to litigation, Mr. Noël has handled numerous due diligence matters, including the purchase or sale of businesses in Puerto Rico, as well as labor and employment audits.
He is the Past-President of the FBA, Puerto Rico Chapter; former Treasurer of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the FBA national; Vice-Chairman of the Counsel of Past Presidents of the FBA Puerto Rico Chapter; a Fellow of the Foundation of the FBA; and a member of the Board of the Labor and Employment Section of the FBA.
Mr. Noël provides advice to Corporación La Fondita de Jesús, a non-profit organization which helps people who have problems with controlled substances kick the habit. He has also provided pro bono services in Federal and State Courts.

Jon Wall, Member, Higgins Benjamin PLLC
Jon Wall practices employment litigation with Higgins Benjamin, PLLC, in Greensboro, N.C. He currently serves as Treasurer of the Employment Law Section of the Federal Bar Association, and he is a past chair of the employment law sections of the North Carolina Bar Association and the North Carolina Advocates for Justice.
A graduate of Duke University and Washington & Lee University School of Law, Wall currently sits in the Board of Advisors of Elon University School of Law and the North Carolina Wildlife Federation.

Registration
Register Now!

Live Broadcast | FBA Member: $0
Live Broadcast | Nonmember: $95
On-Demand Broadcast | FBA Member: $50
On-Demand Broadcast | Nonmember: $95

CLE
Please note: CLE for this webinar has not been pre-approved.
MyLaw and the FBA will seek 1.0 General CLE credit hours in 60-minute states, and 1.2 General CLE credit hours in 50-minute states.
Posted credit hours are estimated and subject to respective state approval and rounding rules. CLE qualifications vary by state/jurisdiction.
For questions regarding this program, please contact MyLaw CLE by email: registration@mylawcle.com or phone: 877-406-8636.
