The ABA Annual Institute on Class Actions Planning Committee (on which I sit) has developed another dynamight program this year.  Beyond the now-annual “Class Actions 101” course that I developed and co-teach to open the Institute, and Prof. Jack Coffee (Columbia Law School) and Prof. Lahav’s (Univ. of Connecticut Law School) annual survey of class action case law developments, we are excited to have a showcase program consisting of the Rule 23 Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee on Civil Rules of the U.S. Judicial Conference attend our meeting to brief us on their important work and solicit input from our attendees.

To my knowledge, this is the first time in the Institute’s history that a Rule 23 Subcommittee (or any other subset of the Advisory Committee) has presented at the Institute.   (For those who do not know, Rule 23 is the federal court procedural rule governing class actions, upon which many state rules are patterned.) We hope that many experienced and new class action practitioners will join us at the Wit Hotel in Chicago October.  Register via the ABA website or by phone: ABA 18th Annual Institute registration or Call (800) 285-2221 .

In addition to Class Actions 101, I will be moderating a panel on what many consider to be a cutting-edge topic of class action practice:  “issue classes” under Rule 23(c)(4).  There have been several  important recent appellate cases in this area  and these cases are gaining traction.  But their use has generated some controversy.  I will be joined by Professor Laura Hines of the University of Kansas Law School who has written on this topic; Professor Elizabeth Burch from the University of Georgia Law School who is currently writing an article in the area; Hon. Gary R. Feinerman, United States District Judge in Chicago; and three distinguished class attorneys:  Suzanne Bish of Chicago, Michael Caddell of Houston, and Cari Dawson of Atalanta.  Look for a lively discussion!

Here’s the brochure: 2014 ABA National Institute on Class Actions Brochure

There are other great programs as well, including panels on privacy class actions, class action experts, the economics of marketing a class action practice from both defense and plaintiff perspectives, and more.  This is a great opportunity to network, learn, and gain some CLE credit.

If you would like to attend and receive a $100 discount for knowing a faculty member (me), please contact me via email or phone.

Drew.