March 4, 2025 Contracts & Commercial CLE Institute

9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Registration

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
"Insurance and Commercial Contracts: Flexible assets for your bottom line"
Presented by Blank Rome LLP

This program will cover topics including: Limiting liability; Using insurance and contracts in your M&A plans; Using and aligning insurance and commercial contracts to further your business interests.

Speakers:

• John Gibbons, Partner,  Blank Rome LLP 
• Ajla Glavasevic, Deputy General Counsel & Global Data Privacy Officer, Quaker Chemical Corporation

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
"There’s No Place Like Home: Leveraging Forum Selection Clauses to Stay Out of Oz Post-Mallory"
Presented by Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads LLP

The Supreme Court’s groundbreaking decision in Mallory v. Norfolk Southern has rewritten the rules of personal jurisdiction, shaking up the legal landscape and leaving businesses navigating uncharted territory. This presentation takes you straight into the eye of the storm, unpacking the decision’s impact and its potential to pull companies into litigation tornadoes in plaintiff-friendly “judicial hellholes.” But fear not—there’s no place like home when you’re armed with strategic drafting and proactive contracting solutions. From crafting ironclad forum selection clauses to leveraging arbitration agreements and revising state registrations, we’ll demonstrate how in-house counsel can structure contracts to reclaim control and fortify their companies against the unexpected. This isn’t just a legal update—it’s a high-stakes roadmap to drafting your way to safety in a post-Mallory world. Don’t get swept away—learn how to draft smarter and stay ahead!

Speakers:

• Dylan Henry, Partner, Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads LLP
• Kimberly Sachs, Associate, Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads LLP
• Tracey Pachman, SVP & General Counsel, St. Joseph's University

12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. 
Luncheon

1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
"Drafting Transactional Contract Issues: Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say (or not)"
Presented by Stradley Ronon

In this session, we'll dive deep into the top drafting issues of transactional contracts, moving beyond simple 'say what you mean' clichés to a holistic approach that ensures your contracts truly deliver. We'll explore a robust framework for drafting, focusing on understanding your objectives, contextual awareness, and the precise use of language to achieve crystal clarity.

Speakers:

• Lisa Jacobs, Partner, Stradley Ronon

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. 
"Beyond the Fine Print: A Review of Critical Contracting Principles and Lessons Learned From Litigation"
Presented by Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP

This CLE provides insight into contract drafting from the perspectives of both transactional and litigation attorneys. The panel will provide an overview of critical considerations when drafting contracts as well as issues that frequently arise in contract disputes and litigation to learn to avoid those issues.  The panel will discuss recent court decisions and the presenters’ own experience to provide key takeaways for contract drafting.

Speakers:

• Zachary Murphy, Associate, Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
• Brian Thomas, Associate, Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
• Michael Donnini, Counsel, Comcast Cable