Session A | Session B | Session C

Session D Seminars
3:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.

D1	Unleashing the Power of Casemaker® This informative program will instruct you on how to effectively use the new version of Casemaker, the Connecticut Bar Association’s comprehensive, online legal research tool available exclusively to members. A step-by-step demonstration will reveal the wealth of information available to you and will demonstrate key features. Representatives from Casemaker will also be on hand throughout the day to answer any questions you may have. Moderator: Donald D. Philips, Connecticut Bar Association Inc., New Britain Speaker: Jim Corbett, Director of Business Development, Casemaker, Lynnwood, WA (Seminar repeated in Session A1, B1) View on Map
D2	Insuring Construction Risks – Hot Topics Related to Construction Defect Claims Insurance Law Section/Construction Law Section The landscape of insurance coverage for construction risks is complicated and ever-evolving. This panel will dissect the fundamentals of insurance coverage in the construction field and explore some of the more recent and dramatic changes in the coverage outlook for construction claims. The panel will also discuss – through presentation and encouraged audience participation – key strategies for efficiently and effectively resolving coverage disputes for construction clients. Speakers: Michael J. Donnelly, Murtha Cullina LLP, Hartford Kathleen D. Monnes, Day Pitney LLP, Hartford Alice Sherman, Willis of Massachusetts, Inc., Hartford Jeffrey J. Vita, Saxe Doernberger & Vita PC, Hamden Introduction by: Charles T. Lee, Insurance Law Section Chair, Anderson Kill & Olick PC, Stamford View on Map
D3	Alimony Reform in Connecticut–Has the Time Come? Family Law Section This seminar will cover (1) the historical purposes of alimony, (2) the present purposes of alimony as well as the current national trends, (3) the proposed bill that is/has been in the Connecticut legislature, and (4) a discussion/debate as to the pros and cons of reform in Connecticut. Moderator: Robert D. Zaslow, Zaslow & Sandler LLC, West Hartford Speakers: Barbara D. Aaron, Berman Bourns Aaron & Dembo LLC, Hartford Alexander J. Cuda, Rutkin Oldham & Griffin LLC, Westport Louis Kiefer, Law Offices of Louis Kiefer, Hartford Allen Gary Palmer, Halloran & Sage LLP, Westport Jill Seaman Plancher, Connecticut Legal Services Inc., Stamford Samuel V. Schoonmaker IV, Schoonmaker Legal Group LLC, Stamford View on Map
D4	How to Get More A-Level Clients: The Nine Things You Must Do To Steadily Generate High-quality Work With so many resources available on legal marketing, and with so many options for how to spend your precious marketing time, it can be daunting to figure out what you should be doing and how you should be doing it. This fast-paced session will lay out the nine specific activities that lead directly to getting hired more often. Speakers: Douglas Brown, SuccessTrackESQ, Cheshire Bill Jawitz, SuccessTrackESQ, Milford View on Map
D5	Unraveling the Mysteries of Tax Allocation Provisions Business Law Section/Tax Section The panel will explain the fundamentals of the tax allocation provisions for pass-through entities and review alternative approaches for achieving specific economic results. After providing a general overview of the safe harbor allocation provisions under the § 704(b) regulations, the panel will delve into the mysteries of the qualified income offset (QIO), the gross income allocation (GIA), and the partners’ interest in the partnership (PIP) approaches. The panel will compare the advantages and disadvantages of the tax-driven and distribution-driven approaches and also consider the benefits of the different methods for dealing with built-in gain under § 704(c). The program will focus on several common economic scenarios, including a common/preferred unit structure and profits interest provisions. Moderator: John H. Lawrence, Jr., Shipman & Goodwin LLP, Hartford Speakers: Leslie E. Grodd, Halloran & Sage LLP, Westport Louis B. Schatz, Shipman & Goodwin LLP, Hartford Stephen Ziobrowski, Day Pitney LLP, Boston, MA View on Map
D6	The Adaptable Lawyer: Staying Practical in Today's Complex Legal Environment Insurance Programs for the Bar Committee Presented by lawyers for lawyers, this program will focus on providing valuable instruction, practical guides, checklists, and risk control and ethical recommendations to help lawyers safely navigate today’s complex legal environment and assist them in minimizing professional liability risk. Topics include identifying risk in business transactions, civil litigation, emerging technology, practice errors and complying with ethical and professional obligations. Attend this program and earn up to 7.5% premium credit for three years on professional liability insurance offered through the CBA exclusively endorsed program, underwritten by CNA. Moderator: Kenneth J. Laska, Insurance Programs for the Bar Committee Chair, Segal & Laska LLC, Plainville Speakers: David P. Atkins, Pullman & Comley LLC, Bridgeport Mark A. Dubois, Geraghty & Bonnano LLC, New London Sean Ginty, Risk Control Consulting Director, CNA-Lawyers Program, Chicago, IL Comments by Christopher Slack, Statewide Grievance Committee, Connecticut Judicial Branch, East Hartford (Seminar repeated in Session A7) View on Map
D7	Spousal Protections and the Treatment of Annuities Elder Law Section Section Reception immediately follows seminar at 5:15 p.m. Our clients are living longer and are consequently dealing with health care and financial challenges they may not have anticipated. These burdens may fall to the elderly spouses of those afflicted with significant illnesses, or surviving spouses. Fortunately, there are a myriad of benefits and legal protections, available to such spouses. This presentation will focus on benefits and legal protections such as those built into the Medicaid and Veterans Pension programs. We will also focus on recent case law dealing with “spousal refusal,” spousal liability for nursing home costs, and the treatment and use of annuities, which many of our clients rely upon to provide financial security during their retirement years. Program Co-chairs: Brendan F. Daly, Czepiga Daly Dillman LLC, Newington L. Joyelle DeFelice, Cohen and Wolf PC, Bridgeport Deborah L. Hadaway, Elder Law Center of Connecticut LLC (a private law firm), Glastonbury Laurel D. Mangan, Law Office of Laurel D. Mangan, Vernon Speakers: Stephen O. Allaire, Ruggiero Ziogas & Allaire, Bristol Joseph A. Cipparone, Cipparone & Zaccaro PC, New London Introductions by: Sharon L. Pope, Elder Law Section Chair, Law Offices of Sharon L. Pope, Hartford View on Map
D8	Recent Trends in Consumer Law, Connecticut and Nationwide Consumer Law Section This seminar will review recent trends in Connecticut case law related to the Connecticut Creditor Collection Practices Act, and recent developments in case law nationally on a variety of Consumer Law issues and their potential effect in our region. Moderator: Robert B. Clark, Consumer Law Section Chair, Clark Law Offices, Trumbull Speakers: Daniel S. Blinn, Consumer Law Group LLC, Rocky Hill Jennifer R. Rossi, Law Office of Jennifer Rossi LLC, West Hartford View on Map