As the robot in Lost in Space would say, “Danger, Will Robinson.” However, this alert is not about a warning to a pioneering family of space colonists. Rather, it is a warning to you, as a member of the Construction Law Section, that the deadline for this year’s Mid-Winter CLE is fast approaching and you are in danger if you have not registered. Here is the rest of the story . . .
This year’s Mid-Winter CLE will take place on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at the NC Bar Center in Cary. The program is titled: Construction Law Potpourri: An Assortment of “Trends and Changes” Topics Requested by Our Members. Designed to address a variety of topics, this program addresses an assortment of trends and changes in the field. These topics, chosen by the section members, include basic lien law at the forefront of a dispute, the bankruptcy considerations at the tail end of a dispute and everything in between. Each session provides practical information for the everyday practice of construction law. Don’t hesitate to register if you wish to attend as those who register by January 30, 2020 will receive a 10% discount. Pasted below is a link to the online brochure containing the detailed agenda and list of speakers.
On a final note, a networking reception will be held the night before the CLE between 5:00-6:30 p.m. at Whiskey Kitchen, 201 West Martin Street, Raleigh. Even if you are unable to attend the CLE, please try to swing by the networking reception to enjoy drinks and appetizers with your fellow Section members.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00Constructionhttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngConstruction2020-01-09 09:33:022020-01-10 14:15:49The Mid-Winter CLE is Just Around the Corner!
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00SportsandEntertainmenthttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngSportsandEntertainment2020-01-08 17:43:302020-01-09 16:11:10Sports & Entertainment Law Section Articles of Interest (December 2019)
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and a happy start to the New Year!
On Thursday, January 30, 2020, the NCBA Insurance Law Section will host its seventh annual CLE at the North Carolina Bar Center in Cary, North Carolina. This year’s CLE covers a number of insurance-related topics including the Restatement of the Law of Liability Insurance, Top Insurance Law Decisions from 2019, E-Discovery in 2020, Cyber Insurance, and more.
This year’s CLE has been approved for 1.0 hour of Ethics/Professional Responsibility Credit AND also satisfies the NC State Bar Technology Training requirement.
As always, the Section will hold its annual meeting during the lunch break.
For more information and to register, click here. On behalf of the entire NCBA Insurance Law Section, we hope to see you there!
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00InsuranceLawhttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngInsuranceLaw2020-01-08 15:45:062020-01-09 09:39:31Insurance and More (2020 Insurance Law Section Annual Meeting and CLE)
Recent Cases from the Court of Appeals That May be Of Interest
On Tuesday, January 7, 2020, the Court of Appeals issued a large number of opinions, including several that may be of interest to administrative law practitioners. Opinions discussing the Rules of Civil Procedure and Rules of Evidence are included because of their potential usefulness in OAH cases. Myers v. Myers, although a family law case, will be of interest on several issues. Summaries are taken directly from the Court’s website, with a few notes added (they’re in complete sentences).
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00Administrativehttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngAdministrative2020-01-08 14:56:572020-01-09 09:30:46Recent Cases from the Court of Appeals That May be Of Interest
It’s the start of a new year and a new decade. Perhaps you’ve reflected on the time leading up to 2020 and have made some resolutions to better yourself in the new year. Maybe you want to better your relationships with your family, friends, colleagues, or yourself. But what about your outside counsel? After all, it is an important business relationship; colleague, advisor, direct report all in one. How are you going to strengthen that relationship?
So, as we begin a new year and new decade, it is a good time to ask yourself: How’s your relationship with outside counsel? What could you be doing differently? We scoured our colleagues (and friends) for some practical advice to get you moving in the right direction. Consider this your relationship advice, from your friendsin-house and outside:
From the way they are typically discussed in news stories, a casual observer could perhaps be forgiven for concluding that trademarks are primarily about confusion. In North Carolina – the only state that recognizes Trademark Law as a separate, board-certified specialty – we are not casual observers.As a result, we recognize that trademarks (and federal trademark registrations) might more properly be characterized by distinctiveness, by the ability to set one’s goods and services apart from others’. In an effort to accentuate this positive aspect of Trademark Law, here’s a look back at ten years of memorable trademarks registered at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00IntellectualPropertyhttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngIntellectualProperty2020-01-07 13:36:442020-01-13 17:02:31Decade of Distinctiveness
From left, Jeffrey Russell, Melissa Michaud, Colin Shive and Stephen Rawson.
Tharrington Smith Announces Four New Partners Four associate attorneys—Melissa Michaud, Stephen Rawson, Jeffrey Russell, and Colin Shive—have been promoted to partners at Tharrington Smith in Raleigh. Michaud, Rawson, and Shive practice in the Education Law Section, and Russell practices in the Family Law Section.
Michaud has worked at Tharrington Smith since 2013, prior to which she taught middle school in eastern North Carolina through Teach for America. She holds a bachelor of arts in political science from Brown University and a juris doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Rawson has worked at Tharrington Smith since 2013, prior to which he was a middle school science teacher in Kentucky. He holds a bachelor of science in physics and a juris doctorate from Duke University.
Russell has worked at Tharrington Smith since 2013 and is a board-certified specialist in Family Law. He holds a bachelor of arts in political science from Furman university and a juris doctorate, magna cum laude, from Campbell University.
Shive has worked at Tharrington Smith since 2012, prior to which he clerked for the Honorable William Osteen, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. He holds a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from Clemson University and a juris doctorate with high honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
By Rachel Royal Steve Epstein considers it not only his duty as a lawyer, but his privilege, to provide pro bono service. “If not for me, who will do this work?” he questions. Since April 2010, Steve has spent his days as a Civil Litigation attorney at Poyner Spruill, LLP with a focus in Family Law.
By contrast, his pro bono work is where he steps out of his everyday comfort zone to delve into landlord tenant issues and customer disputes with car dealerships. He does this through Lawyer on the Line, a partnership between the NC Bar Foundation and Legal Aid of North Carolina.
Steve has been volunteering for Lawyer on the Line since its inception as the formerly known “Call 4All.” He handles approximately half a dozen calls per year, but he often assists the client well beyond the initial call, which has included writing demand letters, problem resolution, and even filing suit on the client’s behalf.
By Allison Standard Constance NCBA member Kevin Pratt understands that pro bono work is an opportunity to demystify the legal process for clients and pave a way to communication that can resolve clients’ issues. Pratt works on consumer cases with Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Lawyer on the Line program, and he also volunteers on landlord-tenant cases with Legal Aid of North Carolina-Charlotte.
In his pro bono work, he finds that information gaps exist between clients and their corporate adversaries, and with representation, the free flow of information allows the parties to better understand the dispute and resolve it amicably.
Recently, Pratt represented an elderly, disabled husband and father who was being sued by a creditor attempting to renew a previously obtained judgment. The client is a cancer survivor, and now has significant health problems resulting from an adverse reaction to chemotherapy.
It’s 2020. No longer is that the first line in a sci-fi movie. It’s fact.
With a new calendar year, it also marks another milestone. We are halfway through the bar year. It’s hard to believe my term as chair of the Sports and Entertainment Law Section is half over, but I’m excited about what we’ve done so far and thrilled about the next few months.
The last calendar year was a difficult one for me both personally and professionally. To those of you who know me well, this will not be a surprise. To anyone else: I’m a fairly open book so feel free to ask at the next networking event – let’s get to know each other better. That said, throughout the year, the support of connections that I’ve made – friends, really – through the NCBA and this Section have been invaluable. That includes the NCBA staff.
Without them, this year would have been much, much more difficult. That support wouldn’t have been available to me without a few simple networking events and repeated opportunities to build friendships through the NCBA.
So far this year, we have organized group outings to minor league baseball in Greensboro, virtual reality in Durham, happy hour in Cary and partnered with SLA and others for a college football game. This coming winter and spring, we are working on a joint event with the Corporate Counsel section, a Carolina Hurricanes game, The Racing Attorney Conference returns to Charlotte and more.
Over the next few months, I’d like to ask each of you to consider your role in the Section. At minimum, come enjoy some of these events. Then, there are lots of ways to be more involved. If you’re not already on a committee, join one. At the Section’s annual meeting in April, the Section council will vote on a new slate of officers – maybe one could be you. A committee of us will also recommend to the new chair a new set of committee leaders and new council members. If you have an interest in any of these positions or changing up your role, please reach out to me.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00SportsandEntertainmenthttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngSportsandEntertainment2020-01-06 15:22:192020-01-06 16:53:45Mid-Year Comments from the NCBA SEL Chair
The Mid-Winter CLE is Just Around the Corner!
Construction Law SectionAs the robot in Lost in Space would say, “Danger, Will Robinson.” However, this alert is not about a warning to a pioneering family of space colonists. Rather, it is a warning to you, as a member of the Construction Law Section, that the deadline for this year’s Mid-Winter CLE is fast approaching and you are in danger if you have not registered. Here is the rest of the story . . .
This year’s Mid-Winter CLE will take place on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at the NC Bar Center in Cary. The program is titled: Construction Law Potpourri: An Assortment of “Trends and Changes” Topics Requested by Our Members. Designed to address a variety of topics, this program addresses an assortment of trends and changes in the field. These topics, chosen by the section members, include basic lien law at the forefront of a dispute, the bankruptcy considerations at the tail end of a dispute and everything in between. Each session provides practical information for the everyday practice of construction law. Don’t hesitate to register if you wish to attend as those who register by January 30, 2020 will receive a 10% discount. Pasted below is a link to the online brochure containing the detailed agenda and list of speakers.
On a final note, a networking reception will be held the night before the CLE between 5:00-6:30 p.m. at Whiskey Kitchen, 201 West Martin Street, Raleigh. Even if you are unable to attend the CLE, please try to swing by the networking reception to enjoy drinks and appetizers with your fellow Section members.
Link to brochure:
https://www.ncbar.org/media/990576/837clp_web.pdf
Sports & Entertainment Law Section Articles of Interest (December 2019)
Sports & Entertainment Law SectionMembers of the Sports & Entertainment Law Section found the following recent third party articles to be of potential interest to the Section:
Want To See Pete Davidson Do Standup? There’s An NDA You Have To Sign First…
A slam-dunk? Sweeping and dramatic changes may be coming to the NBA
Federal Legislators Form Working Group To Address Student-Athlete Name, Image and Likeness Rights
Questions Raised Over Marketing Restrictions on Olympic Athletes
Tepper Sports files for 8 trademarks for Charlotte’s MLS team name
No Apologies: Marc Jacobs Pushes Back on Nirvana’s Copyright and Trademark Infringement Claims
Insurance and More (2020 Insurance Law Section Annual Meeting and CLE)
Insurance Law SectionDear Section Members!
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and a happy start to the New Year!
On Thursday, January 30, 2020, the NCBA Insurance Law Section will host its seventh annual CLE at the North Carolina Bar Center in Cary, North Carolina. This year’s CLE covers a number of insurance-related topics including the Restatement of the Law of Liability Insurance, Top Insurance Law Decisions from 2019, E-Discovery in 2020, Cyber Insurance, and more.
This year’s CLE has been approved for 1.0 hour of Ethics/Professional Responsibility Credit AND also satisfies the NC State Bar Technology Training requirement.
As always, the Section will hold its annual meeting during the lunch break.
For more information and to register, click here. On behalf of the entire NCBA Insurance Law Section, we hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
NCBA Insurance Law Section, CLE Committee
Recent Cases from the Court of Appeals That May be Of Interest
Administrative LawRecent Cases from the Court of Appeals That May be Of Interest
On Tuesday, January 7, 2020, the Court of Appeals issued a large number of opinions, including several that may be of interest to administrative law practitioners. Opinions discussing the Rules of Civil Procedure and Rules of Evidence are included because of their potential usefulness in OAH cases. Myers v. Myers, although a family law case, will be of interest on several issues. Summaries are taken directly from the Court’s website, with a few notes added (they’re in complete sentences).
Read more
How’s Your Relationship (with Outside Counsel)?
Corporate CounselIt’s the start of a new year and a new decade. Perhaps you’ve reflected on the time leading up to 2020 and have made some resolutions to better yourself in the new year. Maybe you want to better your relationships with your family, friends, colleagues, or yourself. But what about your outside counsel? After all, it is an important business relationship; colleague, advisor, direct report all in one. How are you going to strengthen that relationship?
So, as we begin a new year and new decade, it is a good time to ask yourself: How’s your relationship with outside counsel? What could you be doing differently? We scoured our colleagues (and friends) for some practical advice to get you moving in the right direction. Consider this your relationship advice, from your friends
Read more
Decade of Distinctiveness
Intellectual Property Law SectionFrom the way they are typically discussed in news stories, a casual observer could perhaps be forgiven for concluding that trademarks are primarily about confusion. In North Carolina – the only state that recognizes Trademark Law as a separate, board-certified specialty – we are not casual observers.As a result, we recognize that trademarks (and federal trademark registrations) might more properly be characterized by distinctiveness, by the ability to set one’s goods and services apart from others’. In an effort to accentuate this positive aspect of Trademark Law, here’s a look back at ten years of memorable trademarks registered at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.
Read more
Checking In: Jan. 7, 2020
Checking In, Featured PostsBy Sidney Shank
From left, Jeffrey Russell, Melissa Michaud, Colin Shive and Stephen Rawson.
Tharrington Smith Announces Four New Partners
Four associate attorneys—Melissa Michaud, Stephen Rawson, Jeffrey Russell, and Colin Shive—have been promoted to partners at Tharrington Smith in Raleigh. Michaud, Rawson, and Shive practice in the Education Law Section, and Russell practices in the Family Law Section.
Michaud has worked at Tharrington Smith since 2013, prior to which she taught middle school in eastern North Carolina through Teach for America. She holds a bachelor of arts in political science from Brown University and a juris doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Rawson has worked at Tharrington Smith since 2013, prior to which he was a middle school science teacher in Kentucky. He holds a bachelor of science in physics and a juris doctorate from Duke University.
Russell has worked at Tharrington Smith since 2013 and is a board-certified specialist in Family Law. He holds a bachelor of arts in political science from Furman university and a juris doctorate, magna cum laude, from Campbell University.
Shive has worked at Tharrington Smith since 2012, prior to which he clerked for the Honorable William Osteen, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. He holds a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from Clemson University and a juris doctorate with high honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Read more
Pro Bono Volunteer Spotlight: Steve Epstein
Featured Posts, Pro Bono CommitteePro Bono Project: Lawyer on the Line
Steve Epstein considers it not only his duty as a lawyer, but his privilege, to provide pro bono service. “If not for me, who will do this work?” he questions. Since April 2010, Steve has spent his days as a Civil Litigation attorney at Poyner Spruill, LLP with a focus in Family Law.
By contrast, his pro bono work is where he steps out of his everyday comfort zone to delve into landlord tenant issues and customer disputes with car dealerships. He does this through Lawyer on the Line, a partnership between the NC Bar Foundation and Legal Aid of North Carolina.
Steve has been volunteering for Lawyer on the Line since its inception as the formerly known “Call 4All.” He handles approximately half a dozen calls per year, but he often assists the client well beyond the initial call, which has included writing demand letters, problem resolution, and even filing suit on the client’s behalf.
Read more
Pro Bono Spotlight: Kevin Pratt
Featured Posts, Pro Bono CommitteePro Bono Project: Lawyer on the Line
NCBA member Kevin Pratt understands that pro bono work is an opportunity to demystify the legal process for clients and pave a way to communication that can resolve clients’ issues. Pratt works on consumer cases with Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Lawyer on the Line program, and he also volunteers on landlord-tenant cases with Legal Aid of North Carolina-Charlotte.
In his pro bono work, he finds that information gaps exist between clients and their corporate adversaries, and with representation, the free flow of information allows the parties to better understand the dispute and resolve it amicably.
Recently, Pratt represented an elderly, disabled husband and father who was being sued by a creditor attempting to renew a previously obtained judgment. The client is a cancer survivor, and now has significant health problems resulting from an adverse reaction to chemotherapy.
Read more
Mid-Year Comments from the NCBA SEL Chair
Sports & Entertainment Law SectionIt’s 2020. No longer is that the first line in a sci-fi movie. It’s fact.
With a new calendar year, it also marks another milestone. We are halfway through the bar year. It’s hard to believe my term as chair of the Sports and Entertainment Law Section is half over, but I’m excited about what we’ve done so far and thrilled about the next few months.
The last calendar year was a difficult one for me both personally and professionally. To those of you who know me well, this will not be a surprise. To anyone else: I’m a fairly open book so feel free to ask at the next networking event – let’s get to know each other better. That said, throughout the year, the support of connections that I’ve made – friends, really – through the NCBA and this Section have been invaluable. That includes the NCBA staff.
Without them, this year would have been much, much more difficult. That support wouldn’t have been available to me without a few simple networking events and repeated opportunities to build friendships through the NCBA.
So far this year, we have organized group outings to minor league baseball in Greensboro, virtual reality in Durham, happy hour in Cary and partnered with SLA and others for a college football game. This coming winter and spring, we are working on a joint event with the Corporate Counsel section, a Carolina Hurricanes game, The Racing Attorney Conference returns to Charlotte and more.
Over the next few months, I’d like to ask each of you to consider your role in the Section. At minimum, come enjoy some of these events. Then, there are lots of ways to be more involved. If you’re not already on a committee, join one. At the Section’s annual meeting in April, the Section council will vote on a new slate of officers – maybe one could be you. A committee of us will also recommend to the new chair a new set of committee leaders and new council members. If you have an interest in any of these positions or changing up your role, please reach out to me.