Speakers: Janel Dressen will interview The Honorable (Ret.) Richard B. Solum

Through an in-depth interview, gain a unique perspective from one of the state’s foremost and distinguished neutrals reflecting on strategies, challenges, and successes in resolving complex and high stakes conflicts in business and fraud litigation. 

10:00 am – 10:30 am

A Full, Fair, and Thorough Investigation: The Story of Cinda Collins and her $9.8 Million Arbitration Award

Speakers: Cory Olson (Anthony Ostlund)

On November 18, 2019, Cinda Collins, a twenty-seven-year financial advisor with RBC, was abruptly fired. The alleged reason, shared with all her clients, was a violation of RBC’s Code of Conduct. For Collins, the news was devastating. At 61 years old, the termination threatened to mark the end of her career and loss of a $325 million book of business she took three decades to build.

Five years later, Collins was awarded $9.8 million dollars by a FINRA arbitration panel, including $2.0 million in punitive damages and $1.4 million in legal fees—one of the largest FINRA awards in Minnesota history. In this seminar, we will talk about the Collins case, the challenges and hurdles faced along the way, and how Collins was able to prove that RBC’s justification was pretext for unlawful discrimination. 

10:30 am – 10:45 am | Break

10:45 am – 11:15 am

Raiding in the Financial Services Industry

Speakers: Vince Louwagie (Anthony Ostlund) and Terry Fleming (Fredrikson & Byron P.A.)

What is raiding, how a raid is defined, and how FINRA rules treat raiding in member firms different from raiding in other industries.  

11:15 am – 11:45 am

The Trial Lawyer’s Travel Guide: Navigating the Legal and Tactical Landscape of Lying, Cheating and Stealing From, and By, Willie Sutton’s Favorite Business Establishments . . . Banks

Speakers: Rich Ostlund (Anthony Ostlund)

Rich Ostlund—three-time Minnesota Attorney of the Year and ABA Commercial Law Division national treatise co-author on business fiduciary duty litigation—will share strategies, insights and key “Do’s” and “Do Not’s” gleaned from over 40 years of representing and advising— and doing battle against—dozens of banks in state and federal courts and arbitrations across America. 

11:45 am – Noon | Break – Lunch Provided

Noon – 1:00 pm | Lunch Session

When Truth Bends: Judicial Insights on Dishonesty in Civil Cases

Panel:

• Hon. Rachna Sullivan
• Hon. Karen Janisch
• Hon. Thomas Conley

Moderator: Randy Gullickson (Anthony Ostlund)

A panel of esteemed judges will engage in a lively discussion of their experiences in spotting, managing and responding to dishonesty and misconduct in and out of the courtroom.  They will provide insight and guidance on how they approach cases involving lying, cheating and stealing and their experiences in watching juries approach these cases.  Discussion will also include tips on ways to resolve the parties’ differences in these difficult cases, and insights into the consequences of failing to do so. A classroom environment will be maintained during the lunch session. 

1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Liars, Cheaters and No Contest Clauses: Who and what do no contest clauses protect?

Speakers: Dan Hall (Anthony Ostlund) and Shira Shapiro (Robins Kaplan)

This presentation will provide a discussion about the benefits and dangers of no contest provisions and the tension between providing legal protection for a decedent’s chosen estate plan and avoiding the dangers that liars, cheaters and thieves, beneficiaries and fiduciaries, pose to the estate. The presentation will address real-world examples and strategies for litigating complex estate disputes. 

1:30 pm – 1:45 pm | Break

1:45 pm – 2:15 pm

Stealing Secrets – The New Frontier in Post-Employment Disputes

Speakers: Pete McElligott (Anthony Ostlund) and Will Paterson (Anthony Ostlund)

The battleground for employees jumping from one company to another has evolved.  As non-compete provisions have become disfavored in many jurisdictions, the focus of post-separation employment disputes has shifted to fights over non-solicitation provisions, confidentiality concerns, and trade secrets. Pete McElligott and Will Paterson will go head-to-head as counsel for the former employer and former employee to show how the fight over trade secrets plays out in real time. 

2:15 pm – 2:45 pm

Love, Law, and Leverage: Protecting Your Assets Before Divorce

Speakers: Melissa Nilsson (Henson & Efron, P.A.) and Jaime Driggs (Henson & Efron, P.A.)

This program will address the unique legal and financial challenges that arise when divorce intersects with business ownership and significant assets. Attendees will gain practical guidance on structuring agreements, planning in advance, and implementing protective measures to preserve business continuity and financial stability when personal and business interests intersect.  

2:45 pm – 3:00 pm – Break

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

In-House Panel: Protecting the Business: Approaches and Expectations from Corporate Counsel

Panel:

• Jessica Newman, Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel—Baird
• Jordan Hopkins, Former General Counsel—Stearns Bank

Moderator: Art Boylan (Anthony Ostlund)

A panel discussion of in-house counsel will engage in a lively discussion of their experiences and expectations in working with outside counsel in resolving some of their most challenging problems, and actions they take to protect their companies against liars, cheaters and stealers. Learn how corporate counsel approaches these matters, what they expect from their outside counsel, and how best to work together to resolve difficult issues. 

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Networking Happy Hour in the Minneapolis Club’s Tap Room