PAST BROWN BAGS
June 29, 2010
Using Your Internship or Clerkship to Springboard Your Legal Career
Tayloe House
National Courts Building
717 Madison Place, NW
Washington, DC 20005
The Bar Association’s next brown-bag program, “Using Your Internship or Clerkship to Springboard Your Legal Career,” will be held on Tuesday, June 29, in the Tayloe House. The program, to be moderated by Judge Nancy B. Firestone, is open to Bar Association members and especially to law students, law clerks, and other young or new lawyers, whether at this or other courts, private practice firms or government agencies. The panel members include Special Master Patricia Campbell-Smith; Donald Grove, Managing Partner, Nordhaus Law Firm, Washington, D.C.; Matthew Solomson, National Courts Section, Department of Justice; and Greg Shoemaker, Law Clerk, Senior Judge Loren Smith, Court of Federal Claims. All of the panelists are present or former law clerks at the Court of Federal Claims.
Lunch will be provided by the Court of Federal Claims Bar Association.
June 8, 2010
LEED in Federal Construction – Is It a CDA Claim?
Tayloe Cafe Dining Room, 2nd Floor
National Courts Building
717 Madison Place, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Panelists: Judge Marian Blank Horn, United States Court of Federal Claims
Lance Davis, AIA, LEED AP, GSA
Scott P. Fitzsimmons, LEED AP, Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald, LLP
Steve Gillingham, Assistant Director, National Courts Section, United States Department of Justice
Beverages and cookies will be provided and attendees should feel free to bring their own lunch.
September 25, 2009
Brown Bag Seminar - Government Contracts: Challenging Past Performance Evaluations at the Court of Federal Claims
The Court of Federal Claims Bar Association will host the next installment of its Brown Bag Lunch series on Friday, September 25th from 12:00-1:30 p.m. Light refreshments and drinks will be served, but participants should also feel free to bring lunch with them. This Brown Bag Lunch will be hosted by the McGuire Woods law firm, which is located on Washington Square (1050 Connecticut Avenue N.W., Suite 1200, Washington, D.C. 20036).
At this Brown Bag event a distinguished panel, including The Honorable Francis M. Allegra, Judge, of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims will address Challenging Past Performance Evaluations at the Court of Federal Claims. In a series of recent decisions, the most recent of which was Todd Construction v. United States, the Court of Federal Claims has come to the conclusion that it has jurisdiction over claims challenging adverse past performance determinations by agencies. This panel will discuss the various aspects of these claims, including the validity of the Court's jurisdictional ruling and the types of remedies that may be appropriate from the perspective of the private bar, the Department of Justice, and the Court.
The panel will be moderated by Alan LoRe, an Assistant Director in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the U.S. Department of Justice, and John E. McCarthy, Counsel, Crowell & Moring LLP. Judge Allegra will be joined on the panel by Donald E. Kinner, Assistant Director, Commercial Litigation Branch, U.S. Department of Justice and Adelicia Cliffe, Associate, Crowell & Moring LLP.
August 21, 2009
Brown Bag Seminar - Current Issues in the Vaccine Program
The Court of Federal Claims Bar Association will host a luncheon program on current issues affecting Vaccine Program practitioners on Friday, August 21st from 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Tayloe House, which is adjacent to the National Courts Building, 717 Madison Place, Washington, DC.
Specific topics to be addressed include:
Ways to improve vaccine case processing
"Interim fees"
Alternatives to omnibus proceedings
Interpretations of the "burden of proof" under current law
Please join a distinguished panel, which will be moderated by Chief Special Master Gary Golkiewicz. Other panelists will include Special Masters Vowell and Hastings, Kevin Conway (on behalf of petitioners), and Lynn Ricciardella (on behalf of respondent).
July 22, 2009
Brown Bag Seminar - "An Introduction to the Court of Federal Claims"
This program will feature Chief Judge Emily C. Hewitt and is intended for young practitioners, summer interns and law clerks. The session will include a virtual “tour” through the major substantive areas of law within the Court’s jurisdiction, which will be presented by Judges of the Court and experienced practitioners. The program will also include information regarding the Court’s history and operations. This event will take place at Tayloe House, adjacent to the National Courts Building, 717 Madison Place, Washington, DC.
June 5, 2009
Brown Bag Seminar - "Ask The Clerk's Office"
Have you ever wondered who to contact about those nagging questions regarding filings at the Court of Federal Claims?
Have you ever asked yourself "why can't I file complaints electronically" and "will that ever change?"
Have you ever been challenged by the CM-ECF system and not known what to do next?
Have you ever agonized over questions of when and how to contact chambers?
On June 5th at Noon in the Tayloe House, the Law & Practice Education Committee will present a panel of Court insiders who will address these questions and many more. Indeed, for this brown bag session, we have reserved a significant chunk of time for your burning questions regarding Court operations and best practices.
Panelists Include:
The Honorable Charles F. Lettow, United States Court of Federal Claims
Lisa Reyes, Chief Deputy Clerk for Operations, United States Court of Federal Claims
Harold Wymbs, Senior Case Administrator, United States Court of Federal Claims
Ted King, Vaccine Case Administrator, United States Court of Federal Claims
Daffeh Hansford, CM-ECF Database Administrator, United States Court of Federal Claims
Please join us on June 5th for this very special Brown Bag event. The session will take place in Tayloe House, which is adjacent to the National Courts Building, 717 Madison Place, Washington, D.C. For further information on the program contact Jim Gette, Chair of the Law & Practice Education Committee of the CFC Bar Association, at 202-305-1461 or at james.gette@usdoj.gov.
December 16, 2008
Final “Brown Bag” of 2008
The Court of Federal Claims Bar Association & The Young Lawyers Committee of the ABA Section of Public Contract Law are pleased to announce a joint luncheon program on December 16, 2008. We are excited to announce that the Court of Federal Claims will host the program from noon to 1:30pm at the Tayloe House, which is adjacent to the National Courts Building, 717 Madison Place, Washington, D.C. The program will address current issues in government contracts as they relate to practice before the CFC. Additionally, the program will include a discussion of practice before the CFC geared toward young practitioners beginning their careers as government contract lawyers. This will be a great chance to meet the judges, learn more about the court's history and jurisdiction, and to get tips on improving oral and written advocacy. Chief Judge Edward Damich will provide opening remarks. Then a panel consisting of Judges Nancy Firestone, Thomas Wheeler, and Mary Ellen Coster Williams will discuss government contracts practice before the Court. A free lunch will be provided and space at the Court is limited, so please RSVP to Richard Arnholt (rarnholt@crowell.com) or Daniel Chudd (dchudd@jenner.com).
October 22, 2008
Getting Along in the Court of Federal Claims: Reaching Settlement With the United States
The Court of Federal Claims Bar Association will host a free luncheon program from 12:00-1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 22nd, in the Tayloe House, which is adjacent to the National Courts Building, 717 Madison Place, Washington, D.C. The program is part of the bar association's "brown bag" series, but will include a free lunch at this session.
At the upcoming session, the Takings Committee of the bar association has decided to address a topic that impacts practitioners in all areas of the court's practice: settling cases with the United States. The panel will include practitioners from both the Department of Justice and private practice. Topics will include the mechanics of settling cases with the United States as well as a discussion of the different settlement tools that can assist parties in reaching settlements; in short, everything you always wanted to know about negotiations between the private and government sector.
Given the broad applicability of this subject, all members are encouraged to attend and to bring along practitioners who have not yet joined the CFC bar association but who practice before the CFC. Additionally, the Takings Committee encourages members to respond to send e-mails with any questions or comments you may wish to put to the panel concerning a settlement process between private parties and the United States to fex@ackersonlaw.com.
Since lunch will be served we need to get as exact a head count as possible, so please RSVP on the CFC bar association's website at www.cfcbar.org.
For further information on the program contact Jim Gette, Chair of the Law & Practice Education Committee of the CFC Bar Association, at 202-305-1461 or at james.gette@usdoj.gov.
July 25, 2008
Chief Judge to Speak at Brown Bag Event for Young Attorneys, Summer Interns, and Summer Associates
On July 25, 2008, the Chief Judge of the Court of Federal Claims, Edward Damich, will be joined by Judge George Miller on a panel to discuss: the court's mission and varied jurisdictional grants; the court's docket and; practical tips for young attorneys practicing before the court. The event will conclude with a brief "Ask the Judges" session on practice before the court. Judges Damich and Miller will be joined on the panel by both government and private practitioners, who will address several of the different substantive areas of practice before the court.
The event is free and light refreshments will be served. Attendees are encouraged to bring along a "brown bag" lunch if they so desire. This event is aimed at law clerks, summer associates, and young lawyers interested in the court's diverse practice areas (i.e., government contracts, Constitutional claims, tax refunds, Indian claims, patent and copyright matters, and vaccine injury claims). The program will be held from 12:00-1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 25th, in the Tayloe House, which is adjacent to the National Courts Building, 717 Madison Place, Washington, D.C.
Firms and government offices are encouraged to send their summer interns and associates along with one or more young lawyers to the event. Please RSVP with the number of attendees to james.gette@usdoj.gov.
For further information on the program, summer program coordinators or individuals should contact Jim Gette, Chair of the Law & Practice Education Committee of the CFC Bar Association, at 202-305-1461 or at the e-mail address above.
June 11, 2008
Brown Bag – Electronic Discovery
On Wednesday June 11, 2008, please join us for a panel discussion on electronic discovery. Electronic discovery is now a routine part of most civil litigation, including litigation involving the Federal Government. This past November, the Court of Federal Claims amended its Rules to incorporate revisions to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure regarding the discovery of Electronically Stored Information. In addition to provisions defining the scope and methods of electronic discovery, the new Rules underscore the Government's and other litigants' substantive responsibility to preserve electronic evidence before litigation commences. Avoiding and resolving disputes with these new Rules requires early and open dialogue among counsel. The panel will focus on the Government Contracts arena, but will address electronic discovery issues that have broad application across different practice areas of the court. Our distinguished panel will help start the dialogue by discussing the changes to the Court's Rules, developments at the Boards of Contract Appeals in this area, current topics of interest in the area of electronic discovery, and, of course, attempt to answer any questions our audience may have.
*Lunch will be available at the price of $7.00 per person*
This Session Is Being Jointly Sponsored by the Court of Federal Claims Bar Association, the ABA Contract Claims and Disputes Resolution Committee, and the Federal Circuit Bar Association Government Contracts Committee.
WHEN: June 11, 2008; 12:00 p .m. - 1:30 p.m.
LOCATION:
Dickstein Shapiro LLP
1825 I Street, N.W., 12th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20006
RSVP TO: Tina Gillenwater at gillenwatert@dicksteinshapiro.com or (202) 420-3149
It is important that you let us know if you intend to attend the meeting, as we need to provide the lobby security with a list of attendees.
PANELISTS:
Hon. Christine Odell Cook Miller
United States Court of Federal Claims
Coleman Bird
United States Department of Justice Commercial Litigation Branch
Beryl Howell
Stroz Friedberg, LLC
James Payne
United States Department of Justice Environment & Natural Resources Division
Hon. Reba Page
Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals
Judge Jeri K. Somers
Civilian Board of Contract Appeals
MODERATOR:
Daniel Graham, Wiley Rein LLP
April 21, 2008
Simmering Tax Issue Splits the Court of Federal Claims
In a showdown worthy of the O.K. Corral, the Tax Committee of the Court of Federal Claims Bar Association presents a brown bag program on the split between the IRS and taxpayers, which has been echoed in two recent conflicting decisions by the Court of Federal Claims. In Grapevine Imports, Ltd. V. United States, 77 Fed. Cl. 505 (2007) (Allegra, J.) and Salman Ranch Ltd. V. United States, 79 Fed. Cl. 189 (2007) (Miller J.), the Court reached opposite conclusions about when the IRS has six years, instead of three years, to assess additional taxes. Raising the stakes, the Federal Circuit has now accepted interlocutory appeal of the Salman Ranch decision.
Todd Welty of Meadows, Collier, Reed, Cousins & Blau, LLP, and Grover Hartt, III of the United States Department of Justice, (both riding in from Dallas, Texas), will go head-to-head in a no-holds-barred match on this issue.
Come watch the fireworks at High Noon on Monday, April 21, 2008, at the offices of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, 1111 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W., Washington, D.C. Lunch will be provided gratis!