Brief Encounters

Since our nation’s founding, nonprofits have played a major role in civil rights. In fact, the first nonprofit formed in the United States was devoted to help the enslaved. Nonprofits have been pushing the status quo ever since, and the status quo has pushed back, sometimes vigorously. Which raises the question: do nonprofits themselves have civil rights? The hosts of this podcast are college clas...

This podcast describes past local government efforts to keep hazardous freight rail traffic out of D.C. and illuminates what DC government is doing now to protect D.C. citizens, using current laws and regulations.  In 2005, the D.C. Council was blocked by the D.C. Court of Appeals from enforcing legislation that would have stopped rail transport of hazardous freight into DC.  In 2007 a  government...

In the first episode of the new series, "Intersections: Energy and Environmental Issues in Law and Tech", D.C. Bar EENR Community Co-Chair Kathryn Caballero and Cathy Pagano of the Board of the Women's Bar of Association of D.C. (WBA) interview Alexandra Klass, who is the U.S. DOE Deputy General Counsel for Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Demonstrations. Alexandra discusses the wo...

The rise of streaming platforms along with changes in the traditional film theater market is creating new opportunities and challenges for filmmakers. Entertainment lawyer, Kirk Schroder, is joined by Tom Malloy, the co-founder and president of Glass House Distribution. Glasshouse is an international distribution company specializing in feature films and television and is present in all major film...

American Antitrust Institute President Diana Moss is joined by Proskauer Rose antitrust partner John Ingrassia for a discussion of antitrust policy and enforcement under the Biden administration.  In this session, learn how the agencies are approaching mergers, monopolization, non-compete agreements, and the power of big tech. Please note, the positions and opinions expressed by the speakers...

Madison Eggert-Crowe, Vice President of Political Affairs at Comcast, Ki Hong, Political Law Partner at Skadden, and Kady Ashley, M&A Partner at Skadden discuss political law issues that can arise in the transactional setting, including corporate contributions, lobbying, “pay-to-play” and PACs.  Learn to spot issues in due diligence and hear advice on integration. Please note, the positio...

With the post pandemic resurgence of Broadway and other theaters, some key legal issues remain the same and other new ones now face lawyers who practice in this area. Entertainment lawyer, Kirk Schroder, is joined by Broadway legal and business affairs veteran, Victoria Traube, Executive Vice President for  Business & Legal Affairs at Concord Theatricals in New York City. C...

This episode welcomes back as guest  Mike Ehrenstein , an expert business trial lawyer and a founder of  Ehrenstein | Sager , a small law firm based in Florida that often represents clients in high-stakes and high-value international disputes. In conversation with D.C. Bar Member  Kiran Nasir Gore , Mike discusses the tools, relationships, and leadership principles that ensure...

Hear a discussion between Sam Buffone and Maurice Bellan, two experienced False Claims Act practitioners on the primary tool the government uses to combat fraud on the U.S. the False Claims Act (FCA). Learn about what the FCA is, the types of industries it implicates (it's more than Defense), what you should look for when performing M&A due diligence, and the FCA risks that are present when ac...

Jill Morrison, Chair of the Human Rights Committee of the International Law Community, interviews Ramou Jallow, a national security LLM candidate at Georgetown University Law Center. They will explore strategies for conflict prevention and the impact of the pandemic on peace and security. Please note, the positions and opinions expressed by the speakers are strictly their own, and do not necessari...

The growth of the audiobook market continues to create opportunities for voice-over talent. In this podcast, entertainment attorney Kirk Schroder of Schroder Brooks Law Firm discusses certain legal and business issues related to voice-over talent who are members of the SAG-AFTRA guild. Kirk's guest is Jane Love, National Director, Audiobooks (SAG-AFTRA).  Jane oversees the negotiations and ad...

With carve out transactions becoming an increasingly common feature of the M&A landscape, it is critical that buyers, sellers and their advisors are aware of the implications this transaction structure has on representations and warranties insurance ("RWI") cover. Michelle Heisner, Partner at Baker McKenzie LLP and Co-Chair of the M&A Subcommittee of the D.C. Bar Taxation Community, and Da...

Brief Encounters sits down with Ellen Jakovic, president of the D.C. Bar; Candace Beck, president of the Women’s Bar Association; and Rawle Andrews, president of the Bar Association of the District of Columbia, to discuss their journeys to leadership of their respective organizations. In addition, the trio gives insights on the role of bar organizations, the landscape for membership organizations...

The prospect of litigation can induce anxiety in even the most seasoned clients.  In this podcast, business litigation attorneys D. Margeaux Thomas and Christine Bacon, of the Thomas Law Office PLC, discuss tactics to help your clients reduce anxiety and de-stress during litigation.  Margeaux and Christine discuss ways to allow your client to feel heard, to assist them with overcoming po...

Audit provisions are very standard in royalty agreements. In this podcast, entertainment attorney Kirk Schroder of Schroder Brooks Law Firm discusses the basics of royalty audits with Ilan Haimoff, a partner in the Hollywood based public accounting firm of GHJ Advisors. Ilan is an expert in Royalty Licensing and Forensics and is an Entertainment and Media Niche Leader. In this podcast, Kirk a...

Public access to judicial records is important. That is especially important in cases that have effects beyond the parties to the case—in particular, cases that involve defective products or dangerous environmental conditions that pose dangers to the general public. That principle is ignored when a court agrees to the parties’ request to hide those dangers from the public, by allowing overbroad co...

Jill Morrison, Chair of the International Law Community's Immigration and Human Rights Subcommittee chats with Diann Rust-Tierney on her work to abolish the death penalty. Please note, the positions and opinions expressed by the speakers are strictly their own, and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, nor those of the D.C. Bar, its Board of Governors or co-sponsoring Communit...

In this special episode commemorating the 50th anniversary of the D.C. Bar, Felicia Battista and Tom Mugavero, chair and vice-chair, respectively, of the D.C. Bar Communities Committee, discuss the advantages and benefits of joining the D.C. Bar Communities. Moderated by D.C. Bar Communities Director Pamela Robinson.  Please note, the positions and opinions expressed by the speakers are stric...

At the center of Process & Industrial v. Nigeria is a multibillion-dollar arbitration award issued in 2015 in London. In the years since, protracted court proceedings over the fate of this award have unfolded on three continents. The latest phase of this saga required the D.C. Circuit Court to weigh in on how Nigeria's agreement to the New York Convention interplays with its sovereign immunity...

The Department of Justice's antitrust trial to block the merger of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster has shaken up the book industry. A survey released by the Association of American Literary Agents indicated that 87% of respondents oppose, citing, among their chief concerns, that the deal would result in “less competition” for titles and “lower advances.” This landmark trial may not o...

This episode is the follow-up to the discussion from the episode released on July 27, 2022 .  On July 12, 2022, the D.C. Council passed the Non-Compete Clarification Amendment Act of 2022, which made significant changes to its existing ban on noncompete agreements. This podcast, moderated by Olive Lee, a third-year law student at George Washington University Law School, features Rachel E. Gre...

In this special episode commemorating the 50th anniversary of the D.C. Bar, newly instituted President-Elect Charles Lowery, Jr. is interviewed by Leila Bham, member and former chair of the Corporations, Finance, and Securities Law Community. They discuss a wide range of topics related to leadership in the legal profession, including the importance of DEIA initiatives and Charles’ approach to lead...

Public interest advocate Bert Foer in conversation with attorney Don Resnikoff on the background and implications of the Supreme Court’s decision in New York Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, argued last November and announced on June 23, 2022. Please note, the positions and opinions expressed by the speakers are strictly their own, and do not necessarily represent the views of their employer...

D.C. Law § 23-209 is the latest in the string of state legislation restricting non-compete provisions and agreements. This podcast, moderated by Olive Lee, third-year law student at George Washington School of Law, features D’Ontae D. Sylvertooth, Of Counsel at Ogletree Deakins, and Rachel Green, Associate at Katz, Marshall, and Banks, who consider the questions, comments, and concerns from both t...

In this episode, Aliza Shatzman, President and Co-Founder of The Legal Accountability Project, speaks with Corrine Propas Parver from Women Lawyers on Guard about judicial accountability. They discuss Aliza’s personal experience with harassment and retaliation by a former DC judge; the scope of the problem; solutions, including the Judiciary Accountability Act (JAA) (H.R. 4827/S. 2553) and DC Cour...