THE FEDERAL BAR ASSOCIATION
ATLANTA CHAPTER
NEWSLETTER – MAY 2007
Former FBI Director to Speak at June 19th Judges’ Luncheon
The Atlanta Chapter’s most popular event, the annual Judges’ Luncheon, will take place on Tuesday, June 19th, at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. The featured speaker is formerFBI Director Louis J. Freeh. Mary Edelstein is chairing this event. Mark your calendars now.
FEDERAL LABOR LAW SYMPOSIUM ON MAY 23, 2007
Administrative Law Judges from the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will explain the do's and don'ts of federal labor practice during the Chapter’s 3rd annual Labor Law symposium on May 23rd. This CLE program should be of interest to government attorneys, human resources and labor relations specialists, as well as private labor and employment practitioners. For more information, please contact Joyce Kitchens at .
Federal Criminal Practice Seminar- May 11, 2007
The Atlanta Chapter is co-sponsoring the Fourth Annual Federal Criminal Practice Seminar with the ICLE at the Ga. State Bar Headquarters on May 11th.Judge Stanley F. Birch, Jr. of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals is slated to speak at lunchtime.Chapter Vice President Jeff Berhold is co-chairing this daylong event. If you haven’t received a registration form, contact Jeff Berhold at (404) 872-3800.
MARCH LUNCHEON A GREAT SUCCESS
King & Spalding recently hosted a panel of government agency lawyers at a March 26thluncheon entitled “Working with Federal Agencies.” Panelists included Terry Bird, Immigration & Customs Enforcement (moderator); Guy Gebhardt, U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee; Kim Jones, Environmental Protection Agency; Brooks Thomas, U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Ron Crawford, Securities & Exchange Commission; Amy Liebes, Federal Trade Commission; and Bill Timm, Internal Revenue Service.
“Working with Federal Agencies,” (cont.).
The lively and informative discussion focused on the panelists’ respective roles and responsibilities within their respective agencies. Panelists also provided some practical guidance for those in private practice who interact with these particular agencies. Frank Coan chaired.
JUDGE THRASH GIVES TRIAL TIPS AT APRIL LUNCHEON
Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr., of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia – a member of the Atlanta Chapter’s Executive Committee – spoke on “Observations on the Psychology of Trying Federal Jury Trials” at the Chapter’s April 25th luncheon, which was hosted by Alston & Bird. The luncheon, and in particular Judge Thrash’s sense of humor, was enjoyed by all who attended. Ben Mathis chaired the event.
In photo, left to right:Ben Mathis, Atlanta Chapter Executive Committee; Jeff Berhold,Chapter Vice-President; U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr.; Henry Quillian, Chapter Executive Committee; John Bielema, Chapter Secretary.
Update on Chapter’s Plans For
FBA Annual Convention.
The planning for the FBA's 2007National Convention continues. Themed “Atlanta Then and Now,” the convention is being held at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, onSeptember 5-8, 2007. Convention Co-Chairs are Joyce Kitchens and Linda Amidon; Honorary Co-Chairs are Chief Judge Jack T. Camp and Senior Judge William C. O’Kelley of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. This year’s convention will offer the best and most diverse CLE courses presented at annual conventions in years, covering such topics as class action issues, appellate advocacy, class actions, the latest issues in Title VII litigation, ethics for government attorneys, and the ever-changing role of the corporate general counsel. The CLE Committee is chaired by Kerri Gildow and Chris Parker. The Fund Raising Committee, co-chaired by Phil Savrin and Robin Sangston, already has surpassed its initial goal of $100,000, and has raised the goal to $125,000! Contributors as of to date include:
Gold Sponsors
Pepsi $10k
Kitchens New$10k
KilpatrickStockton $ 10k
EllarbeeThompson$10k
Troutman Sanders $10k
Dow Lohnes $10k
Silver Sponsors
Long Law Firm $5k
Sutherland Asbill $5k
Wargo & French $5k
Cox Communications $5k
FBA Convention, (cont.)
Bronze Sponsors
Fellows Johnson$2500
Andersen Tate $2500
Rogers & Hardin $2500
Freeman Mathis $2500
Andrew M.Scherffius, PC$2500
Contributors:
Linda Amidon $500
Amy Weil$500
Gray Hedrick$350
CherryLaw Firm $100
As for FUN, a southern style dinner/ reception at the Margaret Mitchell House is planned for Thursday, September 6th -- complete with BBQ and the sounds of the Blue Grass band, Packway Handle.
A cocktail reception is also planned for the evening of Friday, September 7th at the High Museum of Art, where attendees will experience the “Now” and the “wow” of Atlanta. In additionto music, food and drinks in the beautiful Weiland Lobby, attendees will be able to view the several new exhibits of the museum, including an exhibition of photographs of Annie Leibovitz entitled: Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer’s Life, 1990 – 2005.
The Convention’s big event is always the Saturday Night Banquet, swearing in of officers, and awards presentations. Plans are still underway for this event, but rest assured it will be done in classic Atlanta style and tradition.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
Our membership has been growing steadily in recent months, but the Atlanta Chapter still ranks as only the third largest in the 11th Circuit. The Tampa Bay Chapter, for example, is more than 50% larger than the Atlanta Chapter (and growingfast). Nationwide, the membership roll of the Puerto Rico Chapter is 3 times larger than ours, and the New Orleans Chapter is more than 5 times our size.
Atlanta certainly has no shortage of attorneys who have (or would like to have) a significant practice in federal court, and our membership should reflect that. If you know of any such attorneys who are not yet members of the FBA, please have them contact David Bain, Membership Chair for the Atlanta Chapter, at 404-724-9990 or .
LEADERSHIP
If you have a question, suggestion or comment for the newsletter, the Atlanta Chapter, or would like to become more involved, please contact one of the chapter officers or executive committee members for the 2006-2007 bar year:
Amy Weil, President
(404) 581-6077
Kevin P. Weimer, President Elect
(404) 586-9200
Jeffrey L. Berhold,Vice-President
(404) 872-3800
John R. Bielema, Secretary
(404) 572-4504
Kevin A. Maxim, Treasurer
(404) 885-3506
Tom Lacy,Immediate Past President
Executive Committee
Linda Amidon
L. Frank Coan, Jr.
Kerri Gildow
Ashley R. Hurst,
Joyce E. Kitchens
Ben Mathis, Jr.
Steven D.Moore
Chris Parker
Henry Quillian
Anne Rector
Phil Savrin
Hon. Thomas W. Thrash, Jr.
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