Don’t Assume the Worst: Why Conversation Still Matters in Litigation

What Every Construction Lawyer Should Know about Mandatory Mediation Under SB440

With the enactment of SB 440, owners, contractors and subcontractors and their counsel must now navigate a mandatory claim dispute process defined by newly-enacted SB 440 (Civ. Code sections 8850 and 8851). The Legislature has made clear that it is in the best interest of the “state and its citizens” to ensure that claims on many private construction projects are “paid in full and in a timely manner”. This program will provide construction lawyers, their clients, insurers, and neutrals with a practical overview of the mandatory dispute resolution process enacted in SB 440, the strategies for how to best use those procedures, and the opportunities created for resolution of claims during the pendency of a project, without the accumulation of claims and the risk of additional draconian interest charges that will only make them much more difficult to resolve in the future. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

Don’t Assume the Worst: Why Conversation Still Matters in Litigation

Modern litigation is dominated by email and written correspondence, and direct conversations between lawyers have become less common. Yet many disputes stall not because the law is unclear, but because key information is not exchanged clearly or early enough. In this half hour presentation, mediator and former litigator Robyn Frick explores the role communication plays in moving cases toward resolution. Drawing on her experience as both a litigator and mediator, she discusses how timely conversations between counsel can clarify issues, reduce misunderstandings, and help cases progress more efficiently. Participants will leave with practical guidance on when direct communication is most effective and how conversations at key inflection points in litigation can strengthen advocacy and improve outcomes. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

International Family Law - Family Law Across the U.S. and India

International Family Law examines how family law disputes are handled across different legal systems, cultures, and jurisdictions. Through in-depth conversations with leading international practitioners, the series explores forum selection, property and support regimes, child custody, enforcement challenges, and conflicts of law, with each discussion grounded in practical comparisons to California family law. In this episode, Ranjit Malhotra and Mrunalini Deshmukh explore international family law disputes between India and the United States. The conversation covers forum selection and jurisdictional strategy across India's personal law frameworks, international child abduction in the context of India's non-signatory status under the 1980 Hague Convention, child custody standards and the recognition of foreign custody orders, relocation and move-away considerations, marital property and asset division, support obligations, and the enforcement of California judgments in India. Alphonse Provinziano of Provinziano & Associates moderates the conversation by drawing comparisons to California law, contextualizing India's diverse legal frameworks for U.S.-based practitioners, and probing practical enforcement and litigation strategies across borders.

How Do You ... Deposition?

Learn what you can and cannot ask, and what to do when someone refuses to answer your deposition question. Evan Walker, of The Law Office of Evan Walker, leads this program on essential deposition skills for every attorney. From how to utilize the court reporter to using the written transcript to your full advantage, this program discusses techniques every litigator should know. Attendees will walk away empowered with applicable directives to conduct their depositions like seasoned professionals. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

When Lawyers Protest: Professional Responsibility and Ethics

Lawyers are increasingly visible in moments of public protest, civic action, and political expression. Join law professor and ethics expert Renee Knake Jefferson for a timely and practical examination of how professional responsibility rules apply when lawyers engage in protest and other forms of public participation. This program goes beyond the question of whether lawyers may protest to explore what the legal profession owes to the public when its members do. Drawing on recent, real-world examples, the ABA Model Rules, disciplinary cases, and emerging scholarship, the session will examine how ethical duties related to professionalism, public confidence in the justice system, and lawyer conduct intersect with civic engagement. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of where ethical boundaries lie, how those boundaries are shifting, and how to navigate public action without jeopardizing professional standing or public trust.