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Program AgendaTuesday, October 271:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 287:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. 7:15 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. 12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. Thomas A. Shannon, Jr. is currently the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. He has been a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, serving as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council from 2003 to 2005. From 2002 to 2003, he was Deputy Assistant Secretary of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the Department of State, where he was Director of Andean Affairs from 2001 to 2002. He was also U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS) from 2000 to 2001. He has served as Director for Inter-American Affairs at the National Security Council from 1999 to 2000; as Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela from 1996 to 1999; and as Regional Labor Attaché at the U.S. Consulate General in Johannesburg, South Africa from 1992 to 1996. During his career as a Foreign Service Officer, Mr. Shannon also served as Special Assistant to the Ambassador at the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil from 1989 to 1992; as Country Officer for Cameroon, Gabon, and Sao Tome and Principe from 1987 to 1989; and as the Consular/Political Rotational Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City, Guatemala from 1984 to 1986.On June 1, 2009, Assistant Secretary Shannon was nominated to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Brazil and awaits Senate confirmation. The topic of his luncheon address will be an Overview of U.S. Foreign Policy in the Western Hemisphere. 3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Enjoy this first full evening of networking opportunities by dining with your fellow Committee members after the first full-day of programming. This social setting will provide a great opportunity to meet your colleagues in the Section, learn about and shape committee plans for the year, and become more active in the Section. Thursday, October 297:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 7:15 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Despite the economic challenges facing the world and the region, ground-breaking efforts are underway in countries such as Brazil, Mexico, and Venezuela to dramatically reform the petrochemical sector and develop projects that expand both up-stream and down-stream petrochemical production. Companies such as Braskem, Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) and Petroquímica de Venezuela (Pequiven) are at the forefront of Latin America's ongoing "petrochemical revolution." In this participatory discussion panel, counsel from PEMEX, Pequiven and the International Finance Corporation—an experienced lender and investor in Latin American petrochemical projects—will explore and discuss the latest trends and opportunities in the region's petrochemical sector, and will share their perspective on the legal and practical challenges that must be overcome in order to successfully develop and finance petrochemical infrastructure projects in Latin America. Sponsoring Committee: Program Chairs: Moderator: Speakers: 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 12:15 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. For too long, corrupt actors around the world have been able to enrich themselves by stealing, bribing, and extorting with impunity. These corrupt actors use their ill-gotten gains to employ sophisticated lawyers, accountants, bankers, and other professionals to move assets around the globe for them and to hide them from the public view, often permanently. Victim governments and their instrumentalities, often with limited resources and even more limited technical expertise, are called upon to investigate and pursue these criminals and their assets on a very uneven playing field. That is where the public-private partnership asset-recovery model comes in. Join us for a presentation by a group of preeminent corruption fighters and world renowned asset recovery specialists for an in-depth examination of this paradigm-shifting asset recovery approach. Sponsoring Committee: Program Chairs: Moderator: Speakers:
3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. The most recent economic crisis evidenced a strong underlying interconnection among the economies of the world – and inevitably, among their legal systems. This is palpable in corporate insolvency cases with international repercussions. At this panel, moderators from the United States and European Union will present primary bankruptcy cases filed in their jurisdictions affecting creditors, debtors, assets, claimants, and third parties in Latin America. Insolvency experts from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico will respond specific questions from moderators seeking for responses on aspects of how Latin American jurisdictions embrace the UNCITRAL's Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency, what sort of cooperation are local judges able to provide foreign courts in cross-border insolvency proceedings, and what mechanisms do local laws provide for the reorganization of financially-troubled businesses. Speakers will point out tips and traps on cross-border insolvency in their jurisdictions. Sponsoring Committees: Other Sponsors: Program Chairs: Moderators: Speakers: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Friday, October 307:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 7:15 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. 7:15 a.m. – 7:45 a.m. 7:45 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. The financial crisis has impacted almost all existing commercial agreements. Many of these agreements have force majeure provisions or other similar provisions, whose enforceability may be challenged or be more difficult to enforce. This panel will review from each country's perspective the impact that the crisis has had on various forms of commercial agreements and the obstacles to enforcing certain provisions and terminating various forms of commercial relationships in Latin America. Audience members will assist a lively discussion on those and other issues that arise when the crisis directly impacts a party'sability to comply with commercial relations. Sponsoring Committees: Program Chairs: Moderator: Speakers: 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m Through unprecedented international cooperation, government enforcers and regulators are reaching beyond their own borders to investigate possible violations of their civil and criminal codes related to international business operations and transactions. The long arm of the law has not only extended its reach, it has strengthened its grip and become increasingly well coordinated. This has resulted in the recent trend toward more prosecutions of individuals and record-setting penalties for companies and individuals. Because of recent high-profile cases, anti-bribery compliance, in particular, has become a major concern for international companies. This program will spotlight the unprecedented collaboration between U.S. and non-U.S. enforcement agencies, and examine the issues companies and their counsel need to understand when involved in a cross-border investigation, including: collecting data; navigating data privacy laws; understanding varying privilege laws; coordinating investigations and settlements with different enforcement agencies; and handling extradition issues. Sponsoring Committees: Program Chairs: Moderator: Speakers: 12:15 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. In the current economic crisis, companies are working to retain key employees, while at the same time undertaking workforce reductions in unprecedented numbers. Stock options are under water, and employers are trying to come up with alternatives. Additionally, non-compete agreements have taken on new importance, as key executives are fleeing for greener pastures. This program will discuss new challenges in structuring compensation systems and retaining key employees, and it will also discuss best practices for enforcing non-compete agreements when, despite their best efforts, key employees depart the company. The program will include a discussion of recent cases involving cross-border enforcement of employment agreements and non-compete agreements; best practices in drafting cross-border employment agreements; and the steps multi-national companies are taking to retain key executives. Program Chairs: Moderator: Speakers: 3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. 10:30 p.m. Saturday, October 317:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 1:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. |
