NARCA 2012 Fall Collection Conference

Client Meetings

Client Meetings are 30 minutes each (with the exception of lunchtime) and will be limited to conference registrants. "By Invitation Only" is at the request of the clients for their meetings. A NARCA Conference Registration is required to attend all meetings.

NARCA Defense Bar Educational Session

It Ain't Over 'til It's Over - Litigating Class Actions Before and After Class Certification

This session will discuss class action defense strategies from the filing of the class action complaint through class certification. It will identify the most current trends in consumer class action lawsuits. The session will also explain how to potentially decertify a class action after class certification and how to defeat the case on the merits of plaintiff's claims.

Speakers:
David Kaminski - Carlson & Messer LLP
Joseph Messer - Messer & Stilp, Ltd.
David Schultz - Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP

NARCA Defense Bar Educational Session

Stump the NARCA Defense Bar Attorneys - An Open forum for attendees to bring questions relating to FDCPA or other defense litigation questions. Note: Questions can be submitted in advance to NARCA's Manager of Membership, Robin Cole. (membership@narca.org)

Moderator:
Tomio Narita - Simmonds & Narita, LLP

Panelists:
John Bedard - Bedard Law Group, P.C.
June Coleman - Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard
John Gillespie - P. Scott Lowery P.C.
Keith Wier - Bush & Ramirez, LLC

First Time Attendee and NARCA New Member Session

Plan to get the most out of your first NARCA Conference - attend this session to meet NARCA Leaders and learn how to make the most of this conference to insure the success of your firm.

NARCA Opening Reception in the Exhibit Hall

The NARCA Exhibits are as much a part of the educational experience as the educational sessions. This Opening Reception is in the Exhibit Hall as it provides the opportunity for everyone to get reacquainted AND to visit with those who provide services and materials to the practice area of legal collection.

Breakfast in the NARCA Exhibit Hall

Sponsored by JJL Process Corp.
For the Early Birds - This is a great time to spend time learning about the goods and services provided by Conference Exhibitors.

NARCA Member Business Meeting

Join your fellow members to learn about the State of NARCA, hear NARCA Election Speeches of prospective Board Members and the President-Elect, and witness NARCA's Award Presentations.

Refreshment Break in the NARCA Exhibit Hall

Visit with exhibitors and learn about the latest and greatest to support operations in the law firm.

General Session #1

Keynote Address by Corey Stone, Assistant Director, Office of Deposits, Collection and Credit Information Markets, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

The central mission of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is to make markets for consumer financial products and services work for Americans - whether they are applying for a mortgage, choosing among credit cards, or using any number of other consumer financial products. The CFPB has responsibility for oversight of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Attend this session to learn more about how CFPB will interact with the field of legal collections.

General Session #2

Ready or Not - CFPB Examinations

With the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) no one knows what to expect - What will it be like to undergo a CFPB examination? What will be the CFPB's focus on debt collection counsel and what methods will it use to gather information about debt collection attorneys' operations?

This panel will share their experiences guiding consumer financial services clients through the CFPB examination process. The panel will share tips on how to prepare for an examination, including what to do now to develop appropriate policies and procedures and documentation of your firm's compliance efforts.

The panel will also explore the "hot topics", such as attorney-client privilege and areas they believe will be the focus of the CFPB's examinations and investigations of collection counsel.

Moderator:
Don Maurice - Maurice & Needleman, P.C.

Panel:
Alan Kaplinsky - Ballard Spahr LLP
Donald C. Lampe - Dykema
Christopher Willis - Ballard Spahr LLP

General Session #3

Keynote: Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler

In Maryland, the Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State. The Attorney General's Office has general charge, supervision and direction of the legal business of the State, acting as legal advisors and representatives of the major departments, various boards, commissions, officials and institutions of State Government. The Office further represents the State in all cases pending in the Appellate Courts of the State, and in the U.S. Supreme Court and lower Federal Courts. General Gansler also serves as President of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG).

General Session #4

Report from NARCA's Client Audit Standards Task Force

Client Audits absorb an enormous amount of resources for both Clients and Law Firms. This client-driven task force - which includes attorneys from large, medium and small firms - has met several times - and is ready to discuss preliminary results of these discussions.

Speakers:
Matthew Russell, Executive Vice President, Operations - TRAK America
Xenia Murphy, Director - Legal Outsourcing - Midland Credit Management

Refreshment Break in the NARCA Exhibit Hall

Visit with exhibitors and learn about the latest and greatest to support operations in the law firm.

General Session #5

Economics of Practice Sessions (two 30-minute sessions)

Session #1 - Insurance Coverage Issues Panel

This presentation will identify the types of insurance coverage a NARCA firm should be looking at and discuss ideas for keeping costs down specifically rewarding coverage for FDCPA, FCRA and TCPA claims.

Panel:
John Bedard - Bedard Law Group, P.C.
George S. Coakley - Reminger Co., L.P.A.
David Kramer - Oswald Companies
Mitchell L. Williamson - Pressler & Pressler

Session #2 - Process Serving Standards

Recently a group of law firms and process server companies came together to discuss the creation of standards for the process of service. Attending this session will provide law firms with a perspective of "due diligence" in the hiring of process servers as well as provide an update to the effort to create standards.

Speakers:
Nick Machol - Machol & Johannes, LLC
Joel Rosenthal - JJL Process Corp.

Special Friday Evening Event at The Center Club

Enjoy cocktails and gourmet offerings at Baltimore’s premier private club. The Center Club, located in the heart of the downtown area on the 15th and 16th Floors of the Transamerica Building, provides breathtaking panoramic views of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, sports stadiums and city skyline. Transportation will be provided to conference registrants.

Sponsored by Weinstock, Friedman & Friedman, P.A.

Breakout Sessions

Educational Sessions - Breakout Sessions will be concurrent

Breakout #1 - Minimal Damage Awards

Consumers who sue under the FDCPA don't always get the full $1000 in statutory damages and sometimes not much in the way of actual damages either. This session will go over these 'low dollar' cases to see what courts and juries tend to look at in awarding damages. With this information, attendees will be armed with information necessary to negotiate lower settlements and information on how to best position a case for a minimal verdict.

Speakers:
June Coleman - Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard
John Gillespie - P. Scott Lowery P.C.

Breakout #2 - New State Rules Affecting Debt Collection; Challenges, Opportunities and Impact

A panel discussion of leading collection attorneys regarding new state rules affecting debt collection. The panel will explore the affect of the new rules in their respective states and discuss the trends that are unfolding across the country. In this session the panel will disclose their experiences and challenges they encountered as they participated in the creation of the new state rules.

Moderator:
Jeff Wasserman - Ciconte, Wasserman, Scerba & Kerrick, LLC

Panel:
Michele Gagnon - Lyons, Doughty & Veldhuis, P.C. (MD)
Adam J. Olshan - Law Offices of Howard Lee Schiff, PC (CT)
Hillary Veldhuis - Lyons, Doughty & Veldhuis, P.C. (DE)

General Session #1

Sending Letters is the Practice of Law: Now What?

This presentation will explore the recent ethics complaints and the practices under scrutiny such as the unauthorized practice of law, failing to supervise non-lawyer assistants and claims arising from FDCPA violations. It is expected this session will qualify for ethics CLE credit in most states.

Moderator:
Manuel Newburger - Barron & Newburger PC

Panelists:
Carol Johnston - NJ Administrative Office of the Courts - Secretary, Advisory Committee on Professional Ethics - Secretary, Committee on Attorney Advertising; and Secretary, Committee on Unauthorized Practice of Law
Gene Shipp - Bar Counsel for the Office of Bar Counsel, Washington, D.C.

General Session #2

Liability for Dismissals

Attendees will learn about FDCPA claims that arise out of the dismissal of debt collection lawsuits.

Speakers:
Alan Leeth - Burr & Forman LLP
R. Frank Springfield - Burr & Forman LLP