Transactional Law Conference

Northeastern University School of Law graduates practice in a variety of business arenas, advising their business clients on all sorts of issues and activities. This meeting of graduates will focus on advising clients on evaluating, structuring, negotiating and performing business transactions and managing deals. This is an opportunity for us to discuss new and emerging issues impacting business transactions practice and to share lessons learned.  It also provides us the opportunity to reflect on the nature of lawyering for business during a historical  moment for capitalism.

Program

9:30 a.m.              Registration in the lobby of the new law school, 65 Forsyth Street.  Coffee and Networking, Outside of Dockser 240.

10:30 a.m.            The Impact of the Economy on the Practice with  Mark Cress '88, Partner, Bulkley, Richardson & Gelinas, LLP; Mark Salvacion '91, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Prudential Investment Management Services, LLC; and Stephen Seckler '88, President of Seckler Legal Coaching.  Professor James Hackney will serve as moderator.

This panel will focus on the way in which reforms and economic consequences of the 208-2009 financial crisis have, and will, impact the law and practice of advising clients on business transactions and doing deals. How will lawyers and their business clients face these new challenges? The panelists will contribute comments and insights from various perspectives, including small and large firm practice, real estate development, legislation and in-house practice.

12:00 p.m.           Lunch, Dockser Commons

1:30 p.m.             Doing Deals Now with Vanessa Candela '00, Senior Corporate Counsel, EMC Corporation; Matthew Dallett '84, Partner, Edwards Angell, Palmer and Dodge; and John Lanza '95, Practice Group Leader and Co-Chair Intellectual Property Group, Choate Hall & Stewart LLP.  Professor Dan Austin will serve as moderator.

This panel will discuss the impact of the financial crisis on deal-making and the types of deals clients are looking to do now. The panelists will share experiences and provide insights into the way in which "deals are done." What are the new and emerging issues impacting business transactions? The discussion will also highlight types of skill and knowledge needed to do deals in a variety of practices. Our panelists will represent a wide array of deal expertise, such as mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, venture capital and in-house company counseling.

                         Break

3:00 p.m.           Corporate Responsibility with Elyse Cherry '83, CEO, Boston Community Capital; Robert Jarrin '99, Director of Government Affairs, Qualcomm Inc; Chris Jochnick, Director of the Private Sector Department at Oxfam America; and Robert Sweet Jr. '79, Partner at Foley Hoag LLP.  Professor Susan Montgomery '86 will serve as moderator.

There is an increasing awareness and call for accountability with regard to corporate responsibility for the social, environmental and other consequences of business decisions and activities. The focus on corporate responsibility raises several pressing governance, reporting and reputation/branding issues.

How do we advise clients to "do good while doing business?" Our panelists will discuss these issues, focusing on concerns about sustainability, environment, human rights, housing, safety, workers and consumer protection. Panelists will share experiences and discuss these issues from a variety of practice perspectives.

4:30 p.m.         Networking Reception, Outside of Dockser 240

6:00 p.m.         Conference Concludes