2011-2012 Business and Transactional Law Center Speakers and Events
2011-2012 Upcoming Events
March 5, 2012
Practical Considerations in Acquisition Practice or Little Things They Don't Tell You in Law School
Bradley Haddock, '80, will present a lunch presentation at noon in Room 114. His presentation is titled, "Practical Considerations in Acquisition Practice or Little Things They Don't Tell You in Law School."
According to Haddock, "Business acquisitions are one of the most enjoyable aspects of my practice. They require the lawyer to combine and use all of your legal knowledge, understand how each area intersects and affects the transaction, and coordinate and integrate the legal issues with other disciplines."
Bradley Haddock received his law degree from Washburn University School of Law in 1980, where he served as the Executive Editor of the Washburn Law Journal.
Prior to forming his own firm and teaming with Biggs Law Group, LC, in 2009, he was the Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary of Koch Chemical Technology Group, LLC ("KCTG"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Koch Industries, Inc., the largest privately held company in the United States. During his distinguished career at Koch, Brad served as lead counsel for several key businesses, including Koch's refining, chemicals, and asphalt businesses, and the group of 10 global manufacturing and engineering businesses that became KCTG. While at Koch, he led or significantly participated in more than 65 domestic and international acquisitions.
Brad has served as a member of the board of directors of the American Arbitration Association since 2005. He is also a qualified member of the American Arbitration Association's Roster of Neutrals. During his tenure at Koch, Brad was an active member of the Association of Corporate Counsel. He has received an AV (5.0 out of 5.0) rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer review rating available for legal expertise and ethics.
His practice areas include Business Law, Commercial Transactions, Competition Law, Compliance Programs and Training, Corporate Formation and Governance, Arbitration and Mediation, Intellectual Property Portfolio Management and Licensing, Intellectual Property Arbitration and Litigation, Domestic and International Mergers and Acquisitions, Risk Assessment and Management, and Software Development and Licensing.
More information is available at Haddock Law Office and Biggs Law Group.
February 9, 2012
Real Estate and Construction Law
Kevin Breer, '99, an attorney with the Polsinelli Shughart law firm, spoke to law students and faculty February 9 about real estate and construction law in relation to the economic downturn that the housing market has experienced in recent years. Breer's visit was part of the Lunch and Learn series sponsored by the Business and Transactional Law Center.
Breer worked in the marketing and management end of construction before attending law school, a decision, he said, was beneficial for his law career. Because he knew and understood construction, as well as construction law, he said his clients were more confident in his abilities to represent them.
Breer's law practice was very different prior to the market crash in 2008. He primarily handled real estate development involving disputes about property lines and adverse possession claims. He also represented developers who were suing the city or county over their refusal to allow certain development plans, such as changing land zoned for commercial development to land for single family homes. Prosperity of the times resulted in hundreds of building permits being drawn constantly, some by non-professional builders. This resulted in major flaws and building defects, the bulk of the construction claims in the early 2000s. Claims of subcontractors against general contractors for payment were also very common.
After the market crashed, Breer said real estate and construction completely changed. Banks stopped loaning money for development and home purchases. Clients could not afford to hire attorneys to defend law suits so if they were sued they filed for bankruptcy. Loan enforcement and bankruptcy became the bulk of his practice, which now includes residential foreclosures, commercial foreclosures, and landlord tenant cases. The firm also represents contractors and suppliers who aren't getting paid, and mechanics liens have become commonplace. To cover the financial losses resulting from the crash, Breer said some states require contractors' general liability insurance to cover building defects. Kansas is one of those states, which means the firm must sue insurance companies for defect claims instead of the contractor.
Breer's lecture offered students a better understanding of construction law and how to adapt to changes in the market.
Zach Young contributed to this article.
November 15, 2011
Kansas Politics: An Inside Look at Government Relations
Kansas lobbyist, Natalie Bright, '98, offered a lunch presentation to students on November 15, 2011 titled "Kansas Politics: An Inside Look at Government Relations."
In her talk to the students, Bright first explained how her law degree aids her career as a lobbyist. Bright discussed how the skills she gained from law school help her understand the dynamics of legislation, how legislation impacts a client, and strategies for debate. She then described what she does as a lobbyist. "For every rule in the legislature, there is another rule that can break it," she said. Her job is to represent her clients in maneuvering through that process. Bright explained that a bill rarely gets passed in the first session, and how as a lobbyist she "babysits" the bill.
Several students inquired about the current issues that Bright faces as a lobbyist. In response, she explained the healthcare, tax, and immigration reform challenges that have become prominent issues in representing businesses and associations.
Bright received her law degree from Washburn University School of Law in 1998, after completing a joint degree in business administration and political science at the University of California-Riverside. After graduating from Washburn, she began her lobbying career by working at the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Bright worked on the 1998 reform of the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals and also the 1999 Comprehensive Transportation Program. She left the State Chamber in 1999, and began working as a contract lobbyist in Wichita, Kansas. Approximately a decade later, Bright and Marlee Carpenter, '99, established Bright and Carpenter Consulting, Inc., a Wichita-based lobbying firm that evaluates the political and legislative climate in relation to its clients' interests.
October 6, 2011
Law School: Not Just for Lawyers Anymore
Distinguished Practitioner in Residence Steve Minnis, '85, President of Benedictine College, presented "Law School: Not Just for Lawyers Anymore." Learn more about Steve Minnis and his visit.
September 22, 2011
Second Annual Business Law Student Reception
The Business and Transactional Law Center will host its second annual Business Law Reception on September 22, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. (Photo from last year's reception)
The Business and Transactional Law Center student organizations: the Business Law Society, the Tax and Estate Planning Association, the Environmental Law Society, the Real Estate Society, the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation and the Intellectual Property Society, in conjunction with the Business and Transactional Law Center, will be hosting the Second Annual Business Law Wine and Cheese Social Event at the Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center.
This event is intended to serve both as a social business event, at which students can be exposed to the type of business social meeting you might encounter in the professional world, as well as to provide information to students on each of the listed student organizations. Dress is business casual. All students, and especially first year students, are encouraged to attend to find out more information about the goals, events and opportunities sponsored by these organizations. The event will include information tables for all organizations and a brief presentation at 5:45 from each group as well. You may arrive and depart as you wish to attend to other obligations during the event.
