The ABA Business Law Section is the second largest section of the ABA, serving over 60,000 business law practitioners. It addresses all aspects of business law from a global perspective and is involved in numerous areas including mergers and acquisitions, securities law, and corporate governance. The Section provides professional development opportunities, publications, and committees for members to get involved in substantive work. It also offers various resources and events specifically for young lawyers.

1. ABA Business Law Section
Young Lawyer Guide
2009-2010
YOUR WORLD
IS OUR WORLD

2. Welcome to the What Does the
ABA Business Law Section Business Law Section Do?
With over 400,000 members, the American Bar Association (ABA) is The Business Law Section is involved in every area of professional, educational,
and personal interest to business law practitioners at every stage of their career.
the largest professional voluntary membership association in the The Section forms policies, improves existing laws, educates the profession and
world. The association is comprised of over 40 Sections, Divisions, and general public, facilitates professional development of all lawyers, and plans
NEED Forums. In today’s global economy, business law is a global practice. community service initiatives of interest to its members. We make substantial
contributions to all areas affecting the practice of business law today. Most of
Serving nearly 60,000 business leaders, judges, law school professors,
PHOTO deans, law students, and government officials from 67 countries, the
the Section’s work is accomplished through its substantive committees (for a
complete list of committees, see page 5). There is constant activity, and there
ABA Business Law Section addresses all aspects of business law from are countless ways for you to get involved or to just be informed of the latest
developments affecting your practice.
a global perspective. The Section enjoys a well-deserved reputation
for strengths in fields such as mergers and acquisitions, securities law, Membership Resources and Benefits
corporate governance, corporate compliance, legal opinion practice, • Networking—What better way to meet another lawyer who works in your area
of interest than by attending a Section event? Attending a Section meeting will
business and corporate litigation, and cyberspace law, to name a few.
give you the opportunity to meet lawyers with similar interests and practice areas,
You’ve probably heard your colleagues, the media, and others in the which will help you build a national network of contacts and business referrals.
legal community refer to the ABA Business Law Section. Yes, the • Monthly Section eNewsletter—eSource delivers the best of the Section’s
resources to your desktop in an easy, click-through format.
Section is large (second largest in the ABA) and its members are very
• BLT Live Teleconferences—BLT Live is one of the most valuable member
active, but there is a place for you in the organization. This is the benefits of the Business Law Section. A series of six CLE teleconferences are
perfect time in your career to get involved in the Section and begin to produced on the second Wednesday of every other month. Topics correspond
take advantage of the array of member benefits. Investing your time in with an article(s) from the bi-monthly Business Law Today magazine and have
showcased topics including corporate litigation, business ethics, lobbying laws
the Section now can deliver big returns throughout your career. Let us and other complex business issues. These sessions are FREE for the first 250
show you the invaluable benefits of membership in the Business Law Section members who enroll in each session.
Section and involvement in the Young Lawyer Forum. • Discounts on Business Law Publications—The Section publishes hundreds
of practice-specific books written by subject-matter experts. Members receive a
This booklet is an introduction to our Section and its many offerings 20 percent discount on all Section publications. For a listing of publications,
to young lawyers. For more information about the Section, go to go to www.ababooks.org.
www.ababusinesslaw.org. We hope to work with you for many • Committees—The Section’s substantive committees are on the cutting-edge of
business law practice, issues, and concerns permeating today’s legal landscape.
years to come!
Young lawyers can become involved and make significant contributions to
a committee(s), which offers educational and social opportunities, as well as
the chance to work with business and government leaders. Also, committees
organize educational and outreach programs, produce events and reports, draft
publications and model statutes, and prepare comments on pending legislation.
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3. Opportunities for Young Lawyers
What Does the Section Provide for Young Lawyers?
Young Lawyer Forum Fellows Program
The Forum serves as a center of gravity for young lawyers to transition into the
Section while providing social and leadership opportunities for young lawyers.
The Business Law Section is committed to increasing the participation of
young lawyers in Section activities. The cost of attending Section meetings NEED
PHOTO
The Forum’s primary goal is to engage young lawyers in the substantive work combined with a perceived lack of opportunity to be an active participant in
of the Section and its committees. Every Section lawyer member who is under the substantive work of the Section have been identified as major reasons why,
the age of 40 or has been in practice for less than 10 years automatically will despite a number of outreach efforts, the Section continues to have few young
be a member of the Forum. The Forum provides a “soft landing” for you in the lawyers who are meaningful participants in Section activities.
Section and assists you in finding a home in active Section work through the The goal of the Program is to address these challenges by investing dollars
Section’s committees. in young lawyers who are expected to participate actively in the substantive
Young Lawyer Forum Chair: work of the Section and to grow into future leadership positions within the
Sherwin P. Simmons, II, Carlton Fields, Tampa, FL Section. The Program is designed not only to develop future leaders of the
Section but also to enhance the image of the Section among members of the
Institute for the Young Business Lawyer
Young Lawyers Division (“YLD”) in order to attract young lawyers into Section
Every year and in conjunction with the Section Spring Meeting, the Business
membership. For more information about Section Fellows and how to apply,
Law Section presents seven “Business Law Basics” CLE programs at a very
visit www.ababusinesslaw.org.
reasonable cost. Programs and a networking lunch make up this all-day
Institute where young and new lawyers have an incredible opportunity to
obtain quality, introductory CLE and to meet colleagues from across the U.S.
and around the world. The Institute also provides a wonderful introduction to
the benefits of participating in the Section.
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4. Opportunities to Get Involved
What Other Ways Can I Get Involved? Substantive Committees:
Committees — Professional Communities Open to All Antitrust Law Federal Regulation of Securities
Audit Responses Gaming Law
These are practice-specific groups that produce Section programming, publications,
Banking Law Government Affairs Practice
model statutes, reports, and comments on pending legislation. Opportunities
Bankruptcy Court Structure and Insolvency Process Governmental Corporations
exist at all levels: leadership positions, speaking on a panel, or just simply being
Business and Corporate Litigation Health Law
informed of the latest developments in your area of practice through specialized
Business Bankruptcy Insider Trading Legislation
e-newsletters and discussion groups. Committee membership is FREE with your
Business Financing Institutional Investors
Section membership. The Section’s substantive committees are listed on the next Business Law Education Intellectual Property Transactions
page and more information can be found at www.ababusinesslaw.org. Career and Practice Development International Business Law
Young Lawyer Forum - Subcommittees Commercial Finance International Coordinating
Join one, two, or as many as you wish to address the many areas of interest and Community Economic Development Law and Accounting
Consumer Bankruptcy Legal Opinions
concern for young lawyers. Subcommittees of the Young Lawyer Forum include:
Consumer Financial Services LLCs, Partnerships and Unincorporated Entities
Diversity
International Young Lawyers
Membership
NEED Corporate Compliance
Corporate Counsel
Mergers and Acquisitions
Middle Market and Small Business
Corporate Documents and Process Nonprofit Corporations
Newsletter
Programming
PHOTO Corporate General Counsel Private Equity and Venture Capital
Corporate Governance Pro Bono
Pro Bono/Public Service Corporate Laws Professional Responsibility
Social Credit Unions Project Finance
Solo/Small Firm Cyberspace Law Securitization and Structured Finance
Technology Derivatives and Futures Law State Regulation of Securities
Director and Officer Liability Taxation
One way to get your name and your firm out to the nearly 10,000 young lawyers Dispute Resolution Trust Indentures and Indenture Trustees
of the Section is by submitting articles for the Young Lawyer Forum Newsletter Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Uniform Commercial Code
that’s delivered electronically about three times a year. The exposure is tremendous Energy Business White-Collar Crime
and articles are always welcome. Feel free to contact the Chair of the Newsletter Environmental, Energy and Natural Resources Law
Subcommittee of the YLF, Tracy A. Cinocca, Attorney at Law, Tulsa, OK, for more
Choose to join as many that are of interest to you!
information. Committee membership is FREE with Section membership.
Go to www.ababusinesslaw.org or log into “myABA”.
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5. Section Meetings and Events
How Often Does the Section Meet? My Free Time Is Scarce—Should I Be Involved In the
Most ABA entities meet twice annually—at the ABA Midyear Meeting and
Section as a Young Lawyer?
ABA Annual Meeting. The Business Law Section gathers together at the ABA Almost everyone in the Section is pressured by time constraints, so we understand
Annual Meeting and on its own for a Spring Meeting. We encourage you to that you have little free time. The time commitment requested of any member is
attend our next meeting. For information on future meetings, go to minimal and the amount of time you give is completely up to you. The Section’s
www.ababusinesslaw.org/calendar/. various programs will provide you with a great deal of knowledge to carry with you as
• Spring Meeting Denver, CO April 22-24, 2010 you progress in your law career. Remember, there are significant, tangible benefits to
• ABA Annual Meeting San Francisco, CA August 6-9, 2010 be gained by your Section involvement. Simply put, let the Section help you become
• Spring Meeting Boston, MA April 14-16, 2011 a better lawyer.
• ABA Annual Meeting Toronto, ON August 5-8, 2011
If I Can’t Travel to Meetings, Can I Be Involved
in Section Activities?
Absolutely! Long-distance involvement is easy via the Section’s Web site, committee
membership, and other traditional means of communication. In fact, most
committee work occurs outside meeting locations. However, nothing replaces the
many networking, professional, and educational opportunities only available by
attending meetings in person.
Online Program Library – A valuable member benefit! The Business Law Program
Library contains practitioner-developed educational materials and audio from 1999
to present. It’s quick, easy, and right at your fingertips. Search the Section’s program
library for past and current meeting materials. You can search by title, keyword,
committee, topic, or meeting and year. Go to www.ababusinesslaw.org.
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6. Get Involved Today Section Leadership
How Do I Get Started? Section Officers:
There are 3 Simple Ways: Chair: Nathaniel L. Doliner, Carlton Fields, Tampa, FL
1. Bookmark the Section’s Web Site. Chair-Elect: Lynne B. Barr, Goodwin Procter LLP, Boston, MA
You can find all Section-related news, publications, and committee information at Vice-Chair: Linda J. Rusch, Gonzaga University School of Law, Spokane, WA
www.ababusinesslaw.org. If you are not a member of the ABA, you can join at Secretary: Martin E. Lybecker, WilmerHale, Washington, DC
www.abanet.org/join/ or call the ABA Service Center at 312-988-5522 or Budget Officer: Renie Y. Grohl, Warren, OH
1-800-285-2221. Immediate Past Chair: Karl J. Ege, Perkins Coie LLP, Seattle, WA
2. Join as many substantive committees that are of interest to you.
To join a committee and for more information on the substantive work of the
Section Delegates to the House of Delegates:
committees, go to www.ababusineslaw.org or log into “myABA”. FREE with Mary Beth M. Clary, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, Naples, FL
Section membership. Barbara Mendel Mayden, Young Mayden LLC, Nashville, TN
3. Engage in Young Lawyer Forum activities. Maury B. Poscover, Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP, St. Louis, MO
The leaders of the Young Lawyer Forum invite your involvement and participation Elizabeth S. Stong, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of New York, Brooklyn, NY
to address the many areas of interest and concern for young lawyers. Join a
subcommittee of interest. The Young Lawyer Forum meets during the Section Young Lawyer Forum Chair:
Spring Meeting. Sherwin P. Simmons II, Carlton Fields, Tampa, FL
ABA Contact Information:
ABA Web site: www.abanet.org
ABA Service Center:
312-988-5522 or 1-800-285-2221
Call the Service Center to join the ABA and Sections, report an address change,
check your membership status, and order ABA publications and products.
ABA Business Law Section:
321 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60654
312-988-5588 or businesslaw@abanet.org
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7. American Bar Association
Business Law Section
321 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60654
312-988-5588
www.ababusinesslaw.org