VIRTUAL Contracts & Commercial Law (CCL) CLE Institute

Please join us for our next VIRTUAL CLE Institute!  Click on the appropriate link(s) below to register by adding the session(s) to your cart.  Remember that the site is a bit slow, so you have to make sure you only click it once and wait for the cart screen to pop up.

July 7, Part 1 Agenda:

Session I, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – Shifting Trade Winds: New Opportunities Under USMCA and the US-UK Trade Talks

REGISTRATION LINK: https://acc.inreachce.com/Details/Information/defc2587-1286-4371-b7d6-6914936073f5

Given the inevitable economic impact of COVID-19, businesses are looking for new ways to generate additional revenue, including potential expansion to untapped markets. Despite recent cataclysmic market disruptions, the US has managed to conclude the replacement agreement to NAFTA (the USMCA) and to initiate trade negotiations with a number of countries including the post-BREXIT UK. In this session, panellists from Canada, the UK and the USA will discuss what companies need to consider regarding implementation of the USMCA (including timelines, new rules relating to customs and border clearance and the impact on supply chain relationships, and opportunities such as higher de minimus rules for duty/VAT) and will hear about anticipated key issues in the US/UK negotiations and what this may mean for the competitive landscape in areas such digital trade and financial services. The panelists will also discuss how the “web” of regional agreements might be expected to work together, as the UK also considers its post BREXIT trading relationship with Canada and Mexico.

Break - 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Session II, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – Pandemic, Riots, Civil Authority and Insurance Coverage

REGISTRATION LINK: https://acc.inreachce.com/Details/Information/c4eb853e-864f-4389-9413-3050e6a46e39

Policyholders may have never considered the prospect of a months-long shut down as a result of a pandemic with riots added to the mix, let alone how insurance policies may respond in the face of that shutdown.  This session will endeavor to provide attendees with information to demystify the coverage implications of civil authority closures and restrictions resulting from pandemic and riots and provide insight to policyholders trying to understand their business interruption coverage for these events.

July 8th, Part 2 Agenda:

Session I, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – The Impact of COVID-19 on Performance and Negotiation of Commercial Contracts

REGISTRATION LINK: https://acc.inreachce.com/Details/Information/dc9402e8-076a-445f-9487-4585e6b61be6

This presentation will discuss the effects of the contractual doctrines of impossibility, impracticability and frustration of purpose as they relate to the performance or defenses to performance of existing commercial contracts in the context of business disruptions caused by unforeseen events like COVID-19, as well as the negotiation of appropriate terms.

Break - 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Session II, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – Non-compete Clauses and Other Restrictive Covenants: How to Best Protect Your Business

REGISTRATION LINK: https://acc.inreachce.com/Details/Information/c01e1d87-7e8e-490c-abcc-86db73b96a5f

Non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality and non-disclosure provisions are an important tool to protect your organization from unfair competition from departing employees and rival businesses.  However, due to varying applicable laws and business needs, the language of these agreements needs to be carefully tailed to your situation to ensure enforceability.  This presentation will focus on best practices and pitfalls when drafting these documents.