Conference Agenda
Day 1, Monday, September 26, 2011
7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Continental Breakfast & Registration
8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
Welcome by Co-Chairs
Frederick S. Longer, Levin, Fishbein, Sedran & Berman, Philadelphia
John H. Beisner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Washington, D.C.
8:45 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
MDL Proceedings: When to Create? Where to Assign?
Overview presentation on the legal principles/precedents regarding when an MDL proceeding may be created and where it should be assigned, including a review of recent trendlines in counsel strategies and MDL Panel practices.
Frederick S. Longer, The Law Offices of Levin, Fishbein, Sedran & Berman, Philadelphia
Jessica D. Miller, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP & Affiliates, Washington, D.C.
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Plaintiffs’ Perspectives: Why Do We Love MDLs? Why Do We Hate Them?
Spontaneous discussion of what plaintiffs can achieve through MDL proceedings and what they have to fear from them.
Moderator:
Christopher A. Seeger, Seeger Weiss, LLP, New York
Ellen Relkin, Weitz & Luxenberg P.C., New York
Robert K. Shelquist, Lockridge Grindal Nauen, PLLP, Minneapolis
Peter Kaufman, Panish, Shea & Boyle LLP, Los Angeles
10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Refreshment Break
10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Defendants’ Perspectives: Why Do We Love MDLs? Why Do We Hate Them?
Spontaneous discussion of what defendants can achieve through MDL proceedings and what they have to fear from them.
Moderator:
John H. Beisner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Washington, D.C.
Nina M. Gussack, Pepper Hamilton LLP, Philadelphia
Cari K. Dawson, Alston + Bird, LLP, Atlanta
Jeffrey Kilduff, O'Melveny & Myers, LLP, Washington, D.C.
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Selecting and Presenting Bellwethers
W. Mark Lanier, The Lanier Law Firm, Houston
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
What Hath CAFA Wrought? Handling Class Actions in MDL Proceedings
The passage of the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) has resulted in more class actions being heard in federal courts and the creation of more MDL proceedings in which class actions are a major (and sometimes only) component. This panel will discuss how MDL courts should deal with class actions, particularly where the proceeding encompasses multiple single-state class actions.
William M. Audet, Audet & Partners LLP, San Francisco
Philip H. Curtis, Arnold & Porter, LLP, New York
Holly E. Loiseau, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, Washington, D.C.
3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
A Paperless World? Documentary Discovery in an MDL Proceeding
This discussion will highlight plaintiffs' and defendants' perspectives on the nuts and bolts of how to (and how not to) handle document discovery in an MDL proceeding involving a large document population (that is, virtually all MDL proceedings).
Leonard A. Davis, Herman, Herman, Katz & Cotlar, LLP, New Orleans
Benjamin Barnett, Dechert LLP, Philadelphia
4:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
MDL Proceedings: The Role in Resolution
This panel will discuss the role that MDL courts should/should not play in pursuing resolution of claims, including the appropriate timing of such efforts and the use of bellwether trials and other mechanisms to allow the parties to understand the value of the pending claims.
Moderator:
Troy Rafferty, Levin Papantonio Thomas Mitchell Rafferty & Proctor, P.A., Pensacola, FL
H. Laddie Montague Jr., Berger & Montague P.C., Philadelphia
Gerard A. Dever, Fine, Kaplan & Black, Philadelphia
Douglas R. Marvin, Williams & Connolly, Washington, D.C.
Adam L. Hoeflich, Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott, LLP, Chicago