MCLE London™ Programme 2013

MCLE London^TM January 2013 – 21st Mandatory/Minimum Annual Continuing Legal Education Course – Description

• DOING BUSINESS IN RUSSIA
  Philipp Koverchenko – Attorney (Russia)
  Innokenty Alekseev – Attorney (Russia)

• INTERNATIONAL AML AND DUE DILIGENCE
  Richard Parlour – Solicitor (England and Wales)
  
  
• ELECTRONIC TRIAL MANAGEMENT
  Oliver McClintock – Solicitor (England and Wales)
  
  
• THE JACKSON CONTENTIOUS LEGAL COSTS REFORMS IN UK
  Maura McIntosh – Solicitor (England and Wales)
  
  
• SUBSTANCE ABUSE – WOMEN AND ALCOHOL
  Jonathan Goodliffe – Solicitor (England and Wales)
  Gillian Baxter – Solicitor (England and Wales)
  
  
• ELIMINATION OF BIAS IN THE PROFESSION
  Patricia Corcoran – Diversity and Inclusion Specialist, former Diversity Director (Law Soc.)
  Stephen Ward – Director of Communications, Law Society England and Wales 2003-12
  
  
• ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN THE PRACTICE OF LAW
  Sharisse O’Carroll – Attorney (OK), Professor University of Tulsa College of Law

Doing Business in Russia? -Russia joined the WTO this year, and the USA must now pass enabling legislation to permit increased trade with Russia because of existing cold war legislative restrictions and concern back then about Human Rights. Review of what to be aware of when advising clients about international commercial contracts in Russia. Can or should substantial Russian disputes be litigated elsewhere than Russia for the present?

AML and due diligence – Good Deeds in a Naughty World. Contemporary anti-money laundering and criminal proceeds provisions are now on the statute books of many countries in which we practice, and lawyers more than ever are in the firing line, not just the clients. But many countries where our clients are engaged are endemically or massively corrupt, whether overtly or covertly. What are the things we as lawyers can and should do to protect our clients (and ourselves) before, during, and after they enter into commercial relations in difficult parts of the world? How far can reasonable due diligence in this context be expected to go, on the assumption that commerce and international life must continue and that our clients must be part of it? Some practical considerations and answers.

Electronic Trial management – The Paperless Court – Clouding the Issues? – A review of the advances in document processing and accessing technology for court proceedings in complex and highly document-heavy cases and some legal, procedural and security issues arising or potentially arising from the use of this form of technology. Based on the recent Beresovsky v Abramovich Chancery case in London where unusually, and by way of a first, the “Magnum Cloud” system received substantial and express judicial plaudits in the judgment for facilitating the proceedings which involved substantial issues of foreign law and very substantial documentation.

To Sue or Not To Sue in the UK? The Jackson reforms to litigation funding etc are due to come into effect in 2013. How will they affect us and the advice we give to our clients in contentious matters? Will the UK courts still constitute a forum of preference for international commercial disputes once these are in place?

Substance Abuse – “Women and Alcohol”. A controversial title for a controversial but critical professional topic. -(1.5 hours)

Elimination of Bias in the Profession.”The Agenda for Change” -The International Women in Law Summit of this title took place on 8 March 2012. It addressed some of the challenges that women continue to experience in reaching senior positions in legal practices across the world. Organised by the Law Society of England and Wales, the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL), the Association of Women Solicitors (AWS) and Catalyst, the event attracted lawyers from all around the world. One of the biggest global legal surveys to be conducted within the last decade was then undertaken. The global research review examined current progress in gender diversity through the lens of international business research and the legal profession. Its findings have been released nationally in the UK on the 10th January 2013. Our specialist presenters, experts involved in this field, will be the first to review and discuss those results. An exclusive! (1.5 hours)

Professional Ethics. “The Ethics of Reciprocity, Autonomy versus benevolence, and the Case of the Flammable Infant Pyjamas.” (2 x 1.5 hours) An interesting review and consideration for American-qualified Attorneys of legal ethics conundra which cross boundaries – jurisdictional, moral, and ethical. Be prepared to participate!