The 30th Annual MCLE Spectacular
Friday, November 8, 2024
at the Concord Hilton, 1970 Diamond Blvd., Concord. Earn 6+ MCLE credits in one day!
7:30 am – 8:30 am – Check in/Walk-in Registration
8:30 am – 9:30 am – Breakfast Keynote:
“Well-Being is a Team Sport: Community-Based Efforts to Drive Well-Being Change in the Legal Profession,” J. Ryann Peyton
1 hour Wellness Competence MCLE credit
We often think of well-being as an individual problem, solvable with simple fixes such as doing more yoga, drinking more water, getting more rest, and setting boundaries. Yet the research continues to show that personal solutions are not enough to combat the systemic, structural, and cultural elements of the legal profession that keep people unwell. If lawyers don’t take care of each other.. who will? The responsibility for driving well-being change in the legal profession is on all of us. Incorporating actionable and replicable goals and strategies to drive true culture change, this presentation will explore how a community-based approach to lawyer well-being can remove the often artificial, unnecessary, and outmoded barriers that prevent legal professionals from being able to perform at their best.
10:00 – 11:30 am – Concurrent Morning Seminars
1.5 Hours of General MCLE Credit
CCCBA Appellate Section
Speakers:
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| Gary A. Watt, Hanson Bridgett | Justice Mark Simons, California Court of Appeal, First District, Div. 5 | Don Willenburg, Gordon & Rees Scully Mansukhani |
The past 18 months featured an array of opinions on everything from arbitration to evidence. Join Court of Appeal Justice Mark Simons, and appellate attorneys Gary Watt, and Don Willenburg as they analyze recent decisions affecting civil litigation practice and tactics. Topics include arbitration, evidence, civil procedure, and more. .
1.5 hours General MCLE credit
The CCCBA Alternate Dispute Resolution Section
Speakers:
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| Robert Jacobs , Judicate West | David Sarnoff, Judicate West | Maria Bourn, Gomerman Bourn | Joseph Lordan, O’Hagan Meyer LLP |
Success at Mediation depends on providing the mediator with everything they need in order to forge a path to settlement and then working effectively with that mediator. Come hear a panel of distinguished neutrals and highly experienced litigators discuss make-or-break strategies that frequently determine whether or not a case settles at mediation.
1.5 hours Legal Ethics MCLE credit
The CCCBA Estate Planning & Probate Section
Speakers:
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| Amy Bomse Rogers, Joseph O’Donnell | Kathryn Korn Korn Law Group |
Sponsored by:
When your successor trustee misbehaves – how to manage navigate and manage ethical traps while representing the successor trustee
This program is for those attorneys who represent successor trustees who either become successor trustee due to the incapacity of the settlor or after the settlor dies. Often times, the successor trustee is a family member who may not know or understand the fiduciary nature of their role.
What happens if you represent the successor trustee and you become aware of questionable behavior?
Do you use conflict waivers? How good is your conflict waiver?
How do you manage conflict when it arises?
What are some red flags to look for when representing a successor trustee?
The CCCBA Criminal Law Section
1.5 hours General MCLE credit
Speakers:
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| Danielle A. Jones, Hendrix-Smith & Jones, APC | Thomas Daly Thomas Daly Law, APC | Rachel M. Chapman Mirador Law |
The program will be part of their multiple part crossover series on the evidence code: this being the first part of the sub-series on hearsay. This program will include the foundational components of the hearsay rule, definition, timing, speaker, conduct, non-hearsay purposes, and an introduction to the most common hearsay exceptions.
1.5 hours General MCLE credit
The CCCBA Tax Section
SPEAKER: G. Scott Haislet
This program is designed for attorneys seeking to deepen their understanding of Section 1031 exchanges, focusing on strategic considerations and best practices for successfully structuring these transactions. The session will also provide an in-depth analysis of the Tax Court’s decisions in Estate of Bartell, 147 T.C. No. 5 (2016) and its implication for reverse exchanges, offering critical insights into the evolving landscape of 1031 exchanges.
12 Noon – 1:30 pm – Luncheon Keynote:
“No Democracy Lasts Forever,” Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean, Berkeley Law; Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law, UC Berkeley
1 hour Legal Ethics MCLE credit
Dean Erwin Chemerinsky will explore the intricate relationship between the U.S. Constitution and the health of American democracy, as outlined in his new book, “No Democracy Lasts Forever: How the Constitution Threatens the United States.” He will discuss the various constitutional provisions that can undermine democratic principles and examine historical and contemporary examples. He will also explore the ethical responsibilities of lawyers and judges in upholding democratic values and ensuring justice within the legal framework. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the constitutional challenges facing the nation, the ethical implications for legal professionals, and the imperative for civic engagement in preserving democracy. *The first 100 registrants will receive a complimentary copy of this book. Dean Chemerinsky has agreed to sign copies for us after his presentation.
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm – Concurrent Afternoon Seminars
1.5 hours General MCLE credit
The Family Law Section
Speakers:
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| Alex Spaete, CP, ABV CITP Bridge Forensic CPAs | Christie Saenz, The Law Offices of Joseph H. Wolch |
Are you confused and confounded by Moore, Marsden, and its multitudinous progeny? Do Branco triggers keep you tossing and turning at night? And how about burdens of proof? Come and listen to our fireside chat style program where we will give you the tools and information you need to be calm, collected, and confident when you next encounter a Moore/Marsden issue.
1.5 hours General MCLE credit
The CCCBA Litigation Section
Speakers:
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| Michael Gatto Law Office of Michael E. Gatto | Benjamin Busifield, MD, |
Mr. Gatto will deliver a captivating presentation that covers a range of topics, including: Initial Considerations; Common Injuries – spinal injuries and TBI; Marshaling Evidence; Introducing Medical Testimony; Opening Statement; and Closing Argument. This will be followed by a Mock Direct and Cross Examination with Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Busfield.
1.5 hours General MCLE credit
The CCCBA Real Estate and Bankruptcy Sections
Speakers:
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| J. Randall Toch Of Counsel, Hoge Fenton | Darya Sara Druch Darya Druch, Attorney at Law |
We will unlock one of the greatest mysteries of the real property universe, which is this: If, how, and when, may a creditor collect on a defaulted debt by foreclosing on real property AND get a money judgment as well? Or, to put it another way, when can a debtor just say: “Take the property, because that’s all you’re ever going to get from me anyway!”
1.5 hours Technology in the Practice of Law MCLE credit
CCCBA
Speaker: 
Michael Pierson, Partner, Key Counsel, P.C.
Are you ready to transform your legal practice and stay ahead in the ever-evolving legal landscape? In this hands-on session, “Leveraging AI to Supercharge Your Law Practice: For Beginners,” you’ll discover how artificial intelligence can radically enhance your day-to-day operations. From slashing time spent on legal research to automating document review and client communication, AI offers powerful tools that can supercharge your efficiency and elevate your practice. This is not theory—this is practical, actionable knowledge that will empower you to work smarter, not harder, and gain a competitive edge in the legal profession.
1.5 hours General MCLE credit
The CCCBA Employment and Business Sections
SPEAKERS:
Just as in the Princess Bride, marriage is the common theme threading through this interdisciplinary presentation, examining the intersection of romantic entanglements and business, tax, bankruptcy, and employment law. This entertaining seminar aims to educate lawyers from all walks of life on little-known doctrines and rules where the fact of marriage, cohabitation, and dating is relevant to fashioning a legal solution to our clients’ problems. Join us at this unique wedding reception!
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Afternoon Plenary:
“Insights into Difficult Conversations,” Esther Kim and Jonathan Lee
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| Esther Kim, Turner, Huguet, Adams & Farr | Jonathan Lee, Linkedin profile |
1 hour Implicit Bias/Bias-Reducing Strategies MCLE credit
Esther Kim and Jonathan Lee will lead a discussion of how one can approach difficult conversations in the practice of law, whether with a client, opposing counsel, or an office colleague. The discussion will explore tools that can be used internally to prepare for and navigate these conversations as well as tips and pointers for how to communicate with the counterpart in the conversation.