Program Chair and Presenter

Michael J. Cohen
Meissner Tierney Fisher & Nichols, S.C.
Milwaukee

Presenters

Aaron H. Aizenberg
Kravit, Hovel & Krawczyk, S.C.
Milwaukee

Hon. Ellen R. Brostrom
Milwaukee County Circuit Court
Milwaukee

Robert B. Corris
Robert B Corris, S.C.
Hartland

Matthew M. Fernholz
Cramer, Multhauf & Hammes LLP
Waukesha

David J. Turek
Gass Turek LLC
Milwaukee

Dean P. Laing
O'Neil Cannon Hollman DeJong & Laing, S.C.
Milwaukee

Susan E. Lovern
von Briesen & Roper, S.C.
Milwaukee

Matthew W. O'Neill
Fox, O'Neill & Shannon, S.C.
Milwaukee

David G. Peterson
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, S.C.
Waukesha

8:00 a.m. : Registration

8:30 a.m. : Shareholder Disputes

• Special Litigation Committee (“SLC”)
• Motion to enforce SLC’s report
• Direct v. derivative claims
• Equal distributions between shareholders
• Excessive compensation
• Bonuses and constructive dividends
• Self-dealing and mismanagement claims
• Judicial dissolution of company – be careful what you ask for

Matthew M. Fernholz, David G. Peterson

Panel Discussion - Shareholder Disputes
Moderator: Michael J. Cohen
Panelists: Aaron H. Aizenberg, Robert B. Corris, Dean P. Laing, Susan E. Lovern, Matthew W. O’Neill, David J. Turek

9:20 a.m. : Weaponizing the 30(b)(6) Deposition

• Areas of potentials abuse
  • Number of topics
  • Application of the 7-hour limit
  • Paid witnesses unrelated to parties
• Remedies to curb abuse

Aaron H. Aizenberg

Panel Discussion - Weaponizing the 30(b)(6) Deposition
Moderator: Michael J. Cohen
Panelists: Robert B. Corris,Matthew M. Fernholz, Dean P. Laing, Susan E. Lovern, Matthew W. O’Neill, David G. Peterson,David J. Turek

10:10 a.m. : Break

10:25 a.m. : Mining for Diamonds: Examining Diamond Assets, LLC v. Godina and Karsten v. Terra Eng’g & Constr. Corp.

• Surveying Diamond Assets
• Re-inspecting Hunter v. Hamilton as discussed in Diamond Assets
• Testing the treatment of issues in Diamond Assets against Karsten
• Digging into Karsten’s questioning of Selmer Co. v. Rinn

Robert B. Corris
                         
Panel Discussion – Mining for Diamonds
Moderator: Michael J. Cohen
Panelists: Aaron H. Aizenberg, Matthew M. Fernholz, Dean P. Laing, Susan E. Lovern, Matthew W. O’Neill, David G. Peterson,David J. Turek

11:15 a.m. : Civility in the Courtroom

• Civility Expectations
• Attorney’s Oath:  “I will abstain from all offensive personality . . .”
• SCR Chapter 62:  Standards of Courtesy and Decorum
• SCR Chapter 20:  Rules of Professional Conduct
• Civility in Practice
• Zealous Advocacy v. Civility
• Know Your Judge
• The Role of SBW Ethics Counsel
• The Role of OLR
• Civility in Times of Crisis & Elections

Moderator: Joseph M. Russell
Panelists: Hon. Ellen R. Brostrom, Timothy J. Pierce

12:05 p.m. : Lunch (on your own)

1:05 p.m. : Fraudulent Transfers – Claims and Defenses

• Wisconsin Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act (“WUFTA”), Wis. Stat. ch. 242.
• Key definitions
• Claims
• Fraudulent as to present and futurecreditors.
• Fraudulent as to present creditors.
• Remedies
• Injunctive relief
• Avoidance
• Monetary damages
• Statute of limitations

Susan E. Lovern

Panel Discussion – Fraudulent Transfers
Moderator: Michael J. Cohen
Panelists: Aaron H. Aizenberg, Robert B. Corris, Matthew M. Fernholz, Dean P. Laing, Matthew W. O’Neill, David G. Peterson, David J. Turek

1:55 p.m. : Panel Discussion – Hot Topics in Business Litigation

• Business defamation claims
• Boundaries of zealous advocacy/frivolous claims
• Contempt of court
• Civil v. criminal sanctions

Moderator: Michael J. Cohen
Panelists: Aaron H. Aizenberg, Robert B. Corris, Matthew M. Fernholz, Dean P. Laing, Susan E. Lovern, Matthew W. O’Neill, David G. Peterson, David J. Turek

2:45 p.m. : Break

3:00 p.m. : Damages – Offense and Defense Issues and Strategies

• Getting out early on analyzing damages
• Have client’s financial officers developing the damages evidence
• In non-compete cases, analyze loss of business
• Learn how to use a spreadsheet
• Importance of itemization and supplementing itemization of damages
• Always include a thorough itemization and reserve right to update
• Update prior to mediation and prior to final pretrial
• Early discovery focused on plaintiff’s damages
• Demanding itemization, documents and names of witnesses
• Discovery focused on mitigation
• Retention and use of experts
• Motions in limine

Matthew W. O’Neill

Panel Discussion – Damages
Moderator: Michael J. Cohen
Panelists: Aaron H. Aizenberg, Robert B. Corris, Matthew M. Fernholz, Dean P. Laing, Susan E. Lovern,David G. Peterson,David J. Turek

3:50 p.m. : Panel Discussion – Hot Topics in Arbitrations, Mediations, Settlement Agreements

• Scope of arbitrability
• Finality of arbitrability
• Dealing with a biased arbitrator
• Enforceability of terms sheets and settlement agreements in mediation
• Importance of detailing essential terms and conditions
• Paul R. Ponfil Trust v. Charmoli Holdings, Inc.
• Signed by parties
• Limitations of Peirringer releases
• Intentional acts
• Insurance claims
• Other non-negligence claims

Moderator: Michael J. Cohen
Panelists: Aaron H. Aizenberg, Robert B. Corris, Matthew M. Fernholz, Dean P. Laing, Susan E. Lovern, Matthew W. O’Neill, David G. Peterson,David J. Turek

4:40 p.m. : Program Concludes

Following program start times, webcast replay schedule will vary slightly from above listed times.

• Learn how to best address various types of shareholder disputes
• Be able to spot abusive 30(b)(6) deposition tactics and learn how to reign them in
• Examine the most recent case law on restrictive covenants in Wisconsin
• Understand claims and defenses in fraudulent transfer cases
• Know how to properly analyze and itemize damages
• Explore the hottest topics in business litigation, arbitration, and mediation

• In-house counsel
• Corporate lawyers
• Business lawyers who advise corporate clients
• Litigators
• Employment lawyers
• Insurance lawyers
• Intellectual property lawyers

Event Brochure

BOOK BONUS!

Business Litigation and Dispute Resolution in Wisconsin

Seminar attendees will enjoy a free two-week trial of the Business Litigation and Dispute Resolution in Wisconsin Books UnBound® title and an invitation to save 20% on either a 1-year subscription to the Books UnBound title or the purchase of the print book.* Prepare for every stage of trial with step-by-step guidance on practices and procedures.

*Attendees will receive information to access the free trial and discount via email after attending the program. Discount applies to both print and digital Books UnBound® editions of this title and cannot be applied to previous purchases. Offer valid as long as CLE credit is available for this program. For Books UnBound users, discount may be applied to purchase of individual Books UnBound title only and may not be used on purchase of full library.