Capital Law’s Annual Business, Tax Institute, 10/16/09, Broadens Focus To Benefit Executives, Counsel Navigating Turbulent Economy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Nichole Johnson, Director of media relations and communications, Capital University, (614) 236-6945 Cell: (614) 440-9158.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Capital University Law School’s Sixth Annual Business and Tax Institute is shifting its focus this year from tax and estate planning to new corporate governance issues emerging out of the financial crisis, and transaction options for distressed companies trying to stay afloat in choppy economic waters. The conference topic is “The Financial Crisis: New Administration Initiatives and How Practitioners Should Advise Clients as a Result.” It will be held Friday, Oct. 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio, 275 E. Broad St., in downtown Columbus. Featured speakers and panelists include nationally recognized practicing attorneys, business financial advisors and academics, such as:

• James Wilson, immediate past chair of the American Bar Association’s Section on Antitrust Law and a partner in the Columbus office of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP;
  
• Michael J. O’Sullivan, a corporate partner in the Los Angeles office of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP and blogger at provided, however, a blog devoted to corporate law issues; and
  
• John P. Beavers, managing partner at Bricker & Eckler LLP and founder and director of Bricker & Eckler’s Counsel for Boards and Executives.

“The financial crisis has shaken the foundation of our economy, and in many ways, executives are trying to regain their footing on ground that hasn’t settled yet,” said Regina Burch, associate professor of law at Capital, corporate governance expert and blogger for the Corporate Justice Blog. “Our intention with this institute is to offer practical advice from a legal and business perspective to executives, boards and their counsel as they steer their organizations through a turbulent economic environment.”

The morning sessions will focus on the financial crisis and the governance of private and publicly held for-profit and nonprofit corporations. Afternoon sessions will address financial transactions for distressed companies, including bankruptcy, restructuring and raising capital. The day will conclude with a presentation by James Wilson, who will highlight the new Department of Justice antitrust enforcement policy and its impact on business combinations designed to help financially troubled business organizations. Other conference speakers and panelists include:

• Anthony Blanchard, vice president, Deloitte & Touche Corporate Finance LLC, in Detroit, Mich.
  
• Kevin M. Kinross, associate, Bricker & Eckler LLP, Columbus, Ohio
  
• Trish D. Lazich, assistant chief of the Collections Enforcement Section of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, where she manages the bankruptcy portfolio
  
• Jeannine R. Lesperance, of the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, in Washington, D.C.
  
• Andrew M. Malek, assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and affirmative civil enforcement coordinator for the district
  
• Jeffrey A. Marks, principal, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP, in Cincinnati, Ohio
  
• Victoria E. Powers, partner, Schottenstein Zox & Dunn Co. LPA, in Columbus, and co-leader of the business restructuring and creditors’ rights practice group and coordinator of the creditors’ rights and corporate trust practice area
  
• Michael P. Shuster, partner, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, in Cleveland, Ohio

Up to 7.0 continuing legal education credits are available. For more detail on the speakers, agenda, costs, registration and more, visit <http://www.law.capital.edu/GradLawConference>.

Capital University Law School Brings Distinguished Alumnus Ronald Shuff, Flowserve SVP/GC, to Visit Law School as Second Alumnus-in-Residence

On October 24 and 25, Ronald Shuff, Senior Vice President - Secretary and General Counsel of Flowserve Corporation will visit his law school alma mater, Capital University Law School, as the second Alumnus in Residence. Capital's Alumni-in-Residence program brings distinguished alumni to the law school to reconnect with faculty and to share career insights with students. Mr. Shuff will engage with students, faculty, staff and alumni through a variety of activities including student organization meetings, attending classes, and delivering a public lecture on his tips for a successful legal career. Mr. Shuff, who also holds an MS from the MIT Sloan School of Management Sloan Fellows program, has over 25 years of significant, personal interaction with board members and over 30 years experience in managing corporate legal and non-legal staff.

Flowserve is a pump and valve manufacturer serving the oil, gas, power generation, chemical processing, water resources and other industries. Flowserve’s common stock is traded on the NYSE. More information will be available in the near future here.

Symposium in Central Ohio: The Financial Crisis: New Administration Initiatives and How Practitioners Should Advise Clients as a Result

On Friday, October 16, 2009, Capital University Law School Graduate Law Programs will present a conference on “The Financial Crisis: New Administration Initiatives and How Practitioners Should Advise Clients as a Result.” The goals of the conference are to educate the audience on the corporate governance issues that arose from the recent financial crisis in the financial industry, and to instruct the audience on financial transaction options that distressed companies may use in the current recessive and turbulent economic environment. Speakers and panelists include nationally recognized practicing attorneys, business financial advisors and academics.

The conference’s morning portion will focus on the financial crisis and the governance of private and publicly held for profit and nonprofit corporations. The morning will begin with a presentation and discussion of directors’ and senior executives’ respective duties and responsibilities. Then the focus will shift to the financial crisis and whether the crisis resulted from a failure in corporate leadership or from a confluence of low probability, market-driven events. The next segment will address potential federal legislation that may impact board governance. The presentation will shift to examine beliefs underlying corporate governance (e.g., “pay-for-performance requires equity-based compensation,” “managers must think like owners”) and to challenge whether these and other beliefs lead to corporate governance practices that are in the best interests of the corporation.

The conference’s afternoon portion will address financial transactions for distressed companies, including bankruptcy, restructuring and raising capital. This portion will touch on the responsibilities of management of distressed companies as well as offer practical advice on the restructuring tools available for distressed companies. In addition, one segment will provide insights and pointers on how corporations may proceed smoothly through the business bankruptcy process. The afternoon will conclude with a presentation highlighting the new Department of Justice antitrust enforcement policy and its impact on business combinations designed to help financially troubled business organizations.

Additional details regarding the program will be forthcoming here in the near future.