CHICAGO - DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar has announced that it will hold a comprehensive educational seminar on the wide array of litigation issues associated with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill in August.
The program, "Oil Spill Litigation and Emerging Issues Seminar," will feature industry experts, governmental authorities and leading practitioners from around the country to discuss cleanup efforts, pending litigation, damages and governmental actions. The seminar will take place at the Houstonian Hotel in Houston Aug. 12 and 13.
John Hofmeister, former president of Shell Oil Company and author of the new book "Why We Hate the Oil Companies: Straight Talk from an Energy Insider," will discuss energy independence. His presentation will provide a critical look at the "parochialism" of the industry as well as the unfulfilled promises that politicians make with respect to energy independence. Hofmeister is the founder and CEO of Citizens for Affordable Energy Inc.
"The issues created by the Gulf Oil Spill are unprecedented," says H. Patrick Morris of Johnson & Bell, Ltd., program co-chair for the DRI seminar. "We plan to shed light on the legal, political, and historical consequences of the spill and emerging developments."
Additional seminar events include:
Journalist Kristen Hays of Reuters and Ted S. Oberg of KTRK-TV News will lead a panel on the political consequences of the oil spill on climate change and energy legislation.
Plaintiff's counsel W. Mark Lanier of the Lanier Law Firm will lead a discussion on consolidating, class action, bellweather trials, bifurcated claims, settlements and other litigation issues.
Other topics include environmental damage, the Oil Pollution Act, criminal indictments and state oil rig inspections. Attendees will also learn more about the historical impact of the spill and how changes in the law and political landscape since the Valdez incident might affect the Gulf disaster.
To register for the seminar or for more information, contact DRI Customer Service at (312) 795-1101.
DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar is an international organization of defense attorneys and corporate counsel that is recognized as a thought leader and an advocate for the defense bar at the national and state level as well as in Europe. With more than 22,000 members, DRI provides members and their clients with access to world-class education, legal resources and numerous marketing and networking opportunities that facilitate career and law firm growth. For more information, visit www.dri.org.
