The UIA in Baqueira Beret

The UIA, in cooperation with the ABA Section of Litigation and Section of International Law, is organizing the 8^thwinter seminar on impacts of the financial crisis. The seminar will be held in Baqueira Beret, Spain, from February 23 to March 2, 2013.

The financial crisis continues to impact financial institutions, large companies, small companies, government enterprises and individuals throughout the world. Attorneys are being asked to consider issues relating to the crisis, both in transactions and in litigation.

The winter seminar addresses important challenges relating to the financial crisis: regulatory measures that have been introduced by governments, the buying and selling of distressed companies and assets, termination of contracts that cease being economically viable, liability of bank employees and boards when a financial institution is in distress, claims based on the manipulation of market indexes (such as the London Interbank Offered Rate – LIBOR) and related new causes of action, litigation involving banking products, litigation involving so-called “MAC” or material adverse change clauses, foreclosure actions, international employment and mobility restrictions and reduction of the costs of litigation through mediation under new European regulations.

The seminar will open with a reception on Sunday, February 24, 2013.

The session on Monday, February 25, will focus on regulatory measures and legal challenges and opportunities for M&A in distressed companies, relevant ethical issues as well as an interesting case study involving the restructuring of an Italian Group with German Instruments.

Tuesday’s session will be dedicated to the termination of commercial contracts and the liability of bankers.

On Wednesday, February 26, the focus will shift to litigation based on market manipulation and financial products.

The session on Thursday, February 27, will address MAC clauses and foreclosure issues, and the closing session on Friday, February 28, will focus international mobility for employees as well as the new mediation rules in Europe.  The participants will close the seminar with a closing dinner that evening.

Prominent speakers from various countries, representing both civil law and common law perspectives, will report: already, we know that we will have speakers from Poland (Michal Barlowski), Germany (Mark Hilgard, Ulrich Baumann and Enrico Fadani), Saudi Arabia (Majed Garoub), the United States (Judge Bernice Donald, Bruce Leppla, Carlos Gonzalez, Louis Burke and Brad Richards), Ireland (Paul Convery), Spain (Prof. Ignacio Arroyo Martinez and Francisco Ramos), Denmark (John Kahlke), Sweden (Bengt Kärde), Canada (Jacqueline Bart), England (Laura Devine), Italy (Enrico Fadani) and Brazil (Juliano Moretti).

The winter seminar is a great occasion to meet lawyers from many parts of the world. It provides many opportunities for networking among the participants – sessions will take place in the morning from 7.30 a.m. to 10 a.m., and in the afternoon from 5.30 p.m. to 8 p.m., allowing professional interaction in the sessions as well as informal interaction on the slopes during the day. The participants typically eat together at lunchtime and dine together in the evenings as well.

This incredible opportunity will take place at an exceptional winter resort – Baqueira Beret, in the Pyrenees, a cosmopolitan and chic resort where the King of Spain skies with his family.

The organizing committee, including Francisco Ramos, as the local organizer from Barcelona, Franz Schubiger from Switzerland, and Winfried Schmitz and Louis Burke from New York, look forward to seeing you in Baqueira.

Brad RICHARDS
Haynes and Boone, LLP
Houston, Texas