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41st Annual Page Keeton

Civil Litigation Conference

Austin Nov 2-3, 2017 Renaissance Hotel
Conference Concluded
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Related products: eConference Materials
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION
The State Bar of Texas Appellate Section

Download Brochure (PDF)

Overview

Join leading litigators, judges, and law professors at the 41st Annual Page Keeton Civil Litigation Conference at the Renaissance Hotel in Austin. 

  • Updates and Opportunities: civil procedure, 85th Texas Legislature, unlawful animus, Anti-SLAPP, and business torts and damages
  • Litigations Skills: opening and closing arguments, demonstrative evidence, difficult witnesses, and voir dire
  • Litigation in the Real World: advocacy in a post-truth world, bad facts, arbitration, monitored conversations
  • Litigation in a Digital World: e-discovery, social media, and data security
  • Earn up to 12.00 hours, including 3.00 hours of ethics, with this and much more
And join us, during lunch on Friday, for the inaugural presentation of Page Keeton Award for Excellence in Continuing Legal Education to Justice Jeffrey S. Boyd, The Supreme Court of Texas.  

  • Buy

Event Schedule

Program is subject to change.
All times are Central Time Zone.

  • Day 1 November 2, 2017
  • Day 2 November 3, 2017
  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker

  • Thursday Morning, Nov. 2, 2017

    Presiding Officer:
    Michael K. Oldham, Reynolds Frizzell LLP - Houston, TX
  • 7:30 am
    Registration Opens
    Includes continental breakfast.

  • 8:20 am
    Welcoming Remarks

  • UPDATES AND OPPORTUNITIES
  • 8:30 am
    0.50 hr
    Texas Civil Procedure Update
    Examine recent judicial decisions affecting Texas litigation practice, including proposed modifications to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. Review highlights from the accompanying comprehensive review of recent case law—designed to be a handy reference tool for practitioners. 

    Courtney Taylor Carlson, Jackson Walker LLP - Houston, TX
    Co-Author:
    Elaine Grafton Carlson, South Texas College of Law Houston - Houston, TX

    Courtney Taylor Carlson, Jackson Walker LLP - Houston, TX
    Co-Author:
    Elaine Grafton Carlson, South Texas College of Law Houston - Houston, TX

  • 9:00 am
    0.50 hr
    Texas Legislative Update
    Get an update on what happened in the 85th Legislative Session, including bills that passed and those that didn’t, and how that may impact your practice.

    David E. Chamberlain, Chamberlain & McHaney - Austin, TX
    Jay Harvey, Winckler & Harvey LLP - Austin, TX

    David E. Chamberlain, Chamberlain & McHaney - Austin, TX
    Jay Harvey, Winckler & Harvey LLP - Austin, TX

  • 9:30 am
    0.50 hr
    From Parties to Presidents: Dealing With Decision-Maker Commentary
    Explore the use of off-the-job social media statements by decision-makers to demonstrate unlawful animus. Hear an in-depth examination of the legal standards for direct evidence and the stray remark doctrine along with potential strategies for rehabilitating compromised decision-makers.

    Jason Boulette, Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P. - Austin, TX

    Jason Boulette, Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P. - Austin, TX

  • 10:00 am
    Break

  • 10:15 am
    0.50 hr
    Texas Anti-SLAPP Law and Early Dismissals Updated
    Hear the latest updates on the statute that is changing Texas defamation law and turning motion practice into a contest of artful pleading and legal bullying.

    Mark C. Walker, Dickinson Wright PLLC - El Paso, TX

    Mark C. Walker, Dickinson Wright PLLC - El Paso, TX

  • 10:45 am
    0.50 hr
    Business Torts and Damages
    Get beyond tortious interference and consider the range of claims available to a business litigant—along with the range of remedies—by examining the latest court opinions covering the role and scope of tort claims in commercial litigation. 

    Karen C. Burgess, Richardson + Burgess LLP - Austin, TX

    Karen C. Burgess, Richardson + Burgess LLP - Austin, TX

  • 11:15 am
    0.75 hr
    Recent Condemnation Issues
    Compensation in power line and pipeline cases-new thoughts on an old subject, and U.S./Mexico border wall, the past, the present and what may come.

    Nicholas P. Laurent, Barron Adler Clough & Oddo, LLP - Austin, TX
    Christopher J. Oddo, Barron Adler Clough & Oddo, LLP - Austin, TX

    Nicholas P. Laurent, Barron Adler Clough & Oddo, LLP - Austin, TX
    Christopher J. Oddo, Barron Adler Clough & Oddo, LLP - Austin, TX

  • 12:00 pm
    Lunch on Your Own

  • Thursday Afternoon, Nov. 2, 2017

    Presiding Officer:
    Michael C. Smith, Siebman, Burg, Phillips & Smith, LLP - Marshall, TX
  • LITIGATION SKILLS
  • 1:30 pm
    0.50 hr
    Opening Statements and Closing Arguments—How Far Can You Go?
    In today’s desensitized society, lawyers need to do more to convince juries to identify with their client and deliver a verdict in the client’s favor. Explore how lawyers can teach to all five of the jurors’ senses when using demonstrative evidence, and discuss effective strategies for opening statements and closing arguments—such as violating the Golden Rule and maximizing the use of the laws of primacy and recency—that practitioners can use to maximize the probability of winning the trial.

    Francisco Guerra IV, Watts Guerra - San Antonio, TX

    Francisco Guerra IV, Watts Guerra - San Antonio, TX

  • 2:00 pm
    0.75 hr
    Demonstrative Evidence: How to Get It Into Evidence, As Well As Into the Jury’s Mind
    Demonstrative evidence is powerful because it’s the evidence over which you have the most control. It can, however, be tricky to use. Learn how to get it admitted, how to effectively present it to the jury without blowing your budget, and best practices for using it.

    Joshua M. Sandler, Lynn Pinker Cox & Hurst, LLP - Dallas, TX
    Britta Stanton, Lynn Pinker Cox & Hurst, LLP - Dallas, TX

    Joshua M. Sandler, Lynn Pinker Cox & Hurst, LLP - Dallas, TX
    Britta Stanton, Lynn Pinker Cox & Hurst, LLP - Dallas, TX

  • 2:45 pm
    Break

  • 3:00 pm
    0.50 hr
    Preparing Difficult Witnesses for Trial
    How do you prepare a witness who cannot stop talking, thinks they know everything, is annoyed by every question, or gets easily confused? Learn how to tame the beast for trial.

    Barry C. Barnett, Susman Godfrey LLP - Dallas, TX

    Barry C. Barnett, Susman Godfrey LLP - Dallas, TX

  • 3:30 pm
    0.50 hr
    Voir Dire: Striking the Perfect Balance
    Voir dire is often a complex balance of trying to convince your potential jurors to believe the theory of your case and like you personally, while simultaneously exposing undesirable jurors. How much time should you devote to the issues that are favorable to you and unfavorable to you? How much should you share about yourself? Review time management strategies and hear practical examples of how to get members of the jury pool to commit to answers, personalize yourself, and more.

    Chari L. Kelly, Travis County District Attorney's Office - Austin, TX

    Chari L. Kelly, Travis County District Attorney's Office - Austin, TX

  • 4:00 pm
    0.75 hr ethics
    Ethics Jeopardy
    Have fun while you earn ethics credit with a friendly game of Ethics Jeopardy! Refresh your ethics knowledge with a series of multiple-choice questions and explanations.

    Adam T. Schramek, Norton Rose Fulbright - Austin, TX

    Adam T. Schramek, Norton Rose Fulbright - Austin, TX

  • 4:45 pm
    Adjourn

  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker

  • Friday Morning, Nov. 3, 2017

    Presiding Officer:
    Amy Snell, Shipley Snell Montgomery LLP - Houston, TX
  • 7:30 am
    Conference Room Opens
    Includes continental breakfast.

  • LITIGATION IN THE REAL WORLD
  • 8:30 am
    0.75 hr
    Trial Advocacy in a Post-Truth World
    How do jurors search for the truth in a world that accepts “alternative facts” and dismisses that which is disagreeable as “fake news?” Discuss strategies for trial lawyers from jury selection to decision heuristics in relevance to modern communication norms.

    Jim M. Perdue Jr., Perdue & Kidd - Houston, TX

    Jim M. Perdue Jr., Perdue & Kidd - Houston, TX

  • 9:15 am
    0.75 hr
    Dealing with Bad Facts
    Every case has bad facts, some to a greater degree. The opponent always has points to make. Filing for a motion in limine is the first line of defense, but if that fails or there is no legitimate argument to exclude the bad evidence, what do you do? Investigate whether it is best to deal with bad facts only after the opponent introduces them, or if it is better to “inoculate” the jury against negative effects by introducing them first in a weakened form.

    Quentin Brogdon, Crain Lewis Brogdon, LLP - Dallas, TX

    Quentin Brogdon, Crain Lewis Brogdon, LLP - Dallas, TX

  • 10:00 am
    Break

  • 10:15 am
    0.50 hr
    Arbitration: What You Can and Can't Do
    Cover the creative use of the arbitral process and its limits, including procedural flexibility and fairness, the arbitrator’s discretion in receiving evidence and shaping remedies, and confirming and vacating awards.

    Craig S. Miles, King & Spalding - Houston, TX

    Craig S. Miles, King & Spalding - Houston, TX

  • 10:45 am
    0.75 hr ethics
    Monitoring and Monitored Conversations
    Examine what counsel can and can’t do to monitor opponents’ communications, and review what counsel needs to do to protect their clients’ communications.

    Steven Goode, The University of Texas School of Law - Austin, TX
    Charles Herring Jr., Herring & Panzer, L.L.P. - Austin, TX

    Steven Goode, The University of Texas School of Law - Austin, TX
    Charles Herring Jr., Herring & Panzer, L.L.P. - Austin, TX

  • 11:30 am
    Pick up lunch
    Included in conference registration.

  • Friday Afternoon, Nov. 3, 2017

    Presiding Officer:
    Lisa Bowlin Hobbs, Kuhn Hobbs PLLC - Austin, TX
  • LUNCHEON PRESENTATION
  • Page Keeton Award for Excellence in Continuing Legal Education
    Presented to the Honorable Jeffrey S. Boyd

  • 11:50 am
    0.75 hr
    View From the Bench
    Hear Justice Boyd's perspective and insight as a Texas Supreme Court Justice.

    Hon. Jeffrey S. Boyd, The Supreme Court of Texas - Austin, TX
    Commentator:
    Lisa Bowlin Hobbs, Kuhn Hobbs PLLC - Austin, TX

    Hon. Jeffrey S. Boyd, The Supreme Court of Texas - Austin, TX
    Commentator:
    Lisa Bowlin Hobbs, Kuhn Hobbs PLLC - Austin, TX

  • 12:35 pm
    Break

  • LITIGATION IN A DIGITAL WORLD
  • 12:50 pm
    0.75 hr
    Strategic Use of E-Discovery
    Fewer than one out of a hundred cases are tried. Accordingly, discovery strategy is often more vital than trial strategy. Yet, strategic use of e-discovery garners little attention, perhaps because the fundamentals demand so much focus that there is little room for flourishes. If you only know one way of doing things, how do you act strategically? Review methods to deploy e-discovery strategically, mindful of our opponent’s fears, goals, and pain points … as well as our own.

    Craig Ball, The University of Texas School of Law - Austin, TX

    Craig Ball, The University of Texas School of Law - Austin, TX

  • 1:35 pm
    0.75 hr ethics
    The Ethics of Social Media
    The world of social media presents a multitude of pitfalls for practitioners and judges alike. Hear from pioneers in the field on how to make the most of social media's advantages without running afoul of applicable disciplinary rules. Discuss cutting edge issues not yet addressed under Texas law and proposed disciplinary rules currently under consideration by the Texas Supreme Court.

    Moderator:
    Elaine Grafton Carlson, South Texas College of Law Houston - Houston, TX
    Panelists:
    John G. Browning, Passman & Jones - Dallas, TX
    Hon. Gena N. Slaughter, 191st District Court - Dallas, TX

    Moderator:
    Elaine Grafton Carlson, South Texas College of Law Houston - Houston, TX
    Panelists:
    John G. Browning, Passman & Jones - Dallas, TX
    Hon. Gena N. Slaughter, 191st District Court - Dallas, TX

  • 2:20 pm
    0.75 hr ethics
    Data Security
    Review what a litigator needs in order to prepare a client for litigation or an investigation by regulators after a data security breach. Takeaways include protocol for preserving the attorney client privilege and evidence before, during and after a breach; cybersecurity liability insurance litigation updates; and creating proof points, including a discussion of cybersecurity best practices and "cybersecurity basics," to effectively minimize damages, fines and penalties.  

    Elizabeth C. Rogers, Greenberg Traurig, LLP - Austin, TX
    Shawn E. Tuma, Scheef & Stone, L.L.P. - Frisco, TX

    Elizabeth C. Rogers, Greenberg Traurig, LLP - Austin, TX
    Shawn E. Tuma, Scheef & Stone, L.L.P. - Frisco, TX

  • 3:05 pm
    Adjourn

  • Day 1 November 2, 2017
  • Day 2 November 3, 2017
Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

Craig Ball

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Barry C. Barnett

Susman Godfrey LLP
Dallas, TX

Jason Boulette

Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P.
Austin, TX

Hon. Jeffrey S. Boyd

The Supreme Court of Texas
Austin, TX

Quentin Brogdon

Crain Lewis Brogdon, LLP
Dallas, TX

John G. Browning

Passman & Jones
Dallas, TX

Karen C. Burgess

Richardson + Burgess LLP
Austin, TX

Courtney Taylor Carlson

Jackson Walker LLP
Houston, TX

Elaine Grafton Carlson

South Texas College of Law Houston
Houston, TX

David E. Chamberlain

Chamberlain & McHaney
Austin, TX

Steven Goode

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Francisco Guerra IV

Watts Guerra
San Antonio, TX

Jay Harvey

Winckler & Harvey LLP
Austin, TX

Charles Herring Jr.

Herring & Panzer, L.L.P.
Austin, TX

Lisa Bowlin Hobbs

Kuhn Hobbs PLLC
Austin, TX

Chari L. Kelly

Travis County District Attorney's Office
Austin, TX

Nicholas P. Laurent

Barron Adler Clough & Oddo, LLP
Austin, TX

Craig S. Miles

King & Spalding
Houston, TX

Christopher J. Oddo

Barron Adler Clough & Oddo, LLP
Austin, TX

Jim M. Perdue Jr.

Perdue & Kidd
Houston, TX

Elizabeth C. Rogers

Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Austin, TX

Joshua M. Sandler

Lynn Pinker Cox & Hurst, LLP
Dallas, TX

Adam T. Schramek

Norton Rose Fulbright
Austin, TX

Hon. Gena N. Slaughter

191st District Court
Dallas, TX

Britta Stanton

Lynn Pinker Cox & Hurst, LLP
Dallas, TX

Shawn E. Tuma

Scheef & Stone, L.L.P.
Frisco, TX

Mark C. Walker

Dickinson Wright PLLC
El Paso, TX

Planning Committee

Michael K. Oldham—Co-Chair

Reynolds Frizzell LLP
Houston, TX

Amy Snell—Co-Chair

Shipley Snell Montgomery LLP
Houston, TX

Sofia Adrogué

Gray Reed & McGraw, P.C.
Houston, TX

Craig Ball

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Quentin Brogdon

Crain Lewis Brogdon, LLP
Dallas, TX

Karen C. Burgess

Richardson + Burgess LLP
Austin, TX

Elaine Grafton Carlson

South Texas College of Law Houston
Houston, TX

William J. Chriss

Law Office of William J. Chriss, P.C.
Corpus Christi, TX

Steven Goode

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Francisco Guerra IV

Watts Guerra
San Antonio, TX

Erica W. Harris

Susman Godfrey LLP
Houston, TX

Lisa Bowlin Hobbs

Kuhn Hobbs PLLC
Austin, TX

Jim M. Perdue Jr.

Perdue & Kidd
Houston, TX

Adam T. Schramek

Norton Rose Fulbright
Austin, TX

Michael C. Smith

Siebman, Burg, Phillips & Smith, LLP
Marshall, TX

Britta Stanton

Lynn Pinker Cox & Hurst, LLP
Dallas, TX

John F. Sullivan III

K&L Gates LLP
Houston, TX

Mark C. Walker

Dickinson Wright PLLC
El Paso, TX

Credit Info

  • Austin

MCLE Credit

Texas – 12.00 hrs  |  3.00 hrs Ethics
Legal Specialization(s): Civil Appellate Law, Consumer Law, Civil Trial Law, Family Law, Juvenile Law, Labor and Employment Law, Personal Injury Trial Law, Workers' Compensation Law
You may claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the State Bar of Texas. A Certificate of Attendance will be provided in Your Briefcase for your records. The system reports Texas CLE credit every Tuesday. If you are claiming credit in the last week of your birth month, self-report your CLE credit directly to the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com, using the course number provided on your certificate of attendance.
California – 12.00 hrs  |  3.00 hrs Ethics
You must claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE is required to provide the State Bar with electronic attendance records for any MCLE participatory activity within 60 days of completion of the activity. The California licensee is responsible for reporting their compliance/credit hours earned to the State Bar at the end of their reporting period directly to the State Bar of California at calbar.ca.gov UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.
Oklahoma – 14.50 hrs  |  3.50 hrs Ethics
You must claim and certify your credit online in Your Briefcase, then you will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the Oklahoma Bar Association within 30 days after the conference.

Other Credit

TX Accounting CPE – 14.50 hrs
The University of Texas School of Law (Provider #250) live conferences are presumptively approved by The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy for Texas Accounting CPE credit based on a 50-minute credit hour. Approved for general CPE credit only.

At the conference, you are welcome to sign in on the Accounting CPE Record of Attendance form at the registration desk, but we are now reporting all credit online. You will receive a Texas Accounting Certificate of Completion in Your Briefcase. Self-report your CPE credit directly to TSBPA. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.  

Contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.

Key Dates

Austin – Nov 2-3, 2017 – Renaissance Hotel
Conference Concluded
Buy
  • Austin
Individual
Last day for $575.00 Regular pricing: Oct 25, 2017
$625.00 for registrations received after this time

Group (5 registrants minimum)
Last day for $460.00 Regular pricing: Oct 25, 2017
$510.00 for registrations received after this time

Group (10 registrants minimum)
Last day for $520.00 Regular pricing: Oct 25, 2017
$570.00 for registrations received after this time


Cancellation Policy
Last day for full refund cancellation: Oct 27, 2017
$50 processing fee applied after this date
Last day for cancellation: Oct 30, 2017

Venue

Renaissance Hotel exterior view

Renaissance Hotel

9721 Arboretum Boulevard
Austin, TX
512.343.2626 (reservations)

Accommodations

$169 room rate good through October 11, 2017 (subject to availability). Please refer to the "Civil Litigation Conference" to receive this special rate.

Follow the link below to book your room online:
Book your group rate for UT Civil Litigation Conference

Parking Information

Complimentary daily self-parking.
Daily valet parking: $18
Overnight self-parking: $10
Overnight valet parking: $25

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