Risk Management 2026

9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.    

Welcome and Introduction

9:10 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.   

Competency in Areas of Practice and Insurance Considerations 

• Cyber attacks on law firms

• Referrals & associations with attorneys proficient in area of representation

• Dangers in office sharing and implied partnerships 

• Graphs/Charts – problematic areas of practice

• Develop a docket control procedure for appointments and reminders

• File retention 

• Purchasing the appropriate coverage 

• The insurance application 

• Claims made coverage and coverage for prior acts

• The importance of proper and timely notice 

• Extended reporting periods/retirement

Speakers:

Brett A. Scher, Esq., Kaufman Dolowich, LLP, New York, NY

Mike Mooney, USI Affinity, Philadelphia, PA

1.0 MCLE Credit in Ethics

10:00 a.m. – 10:10 a.m.     

Break          

10:10 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.   

Recognizing and Handling Conflicts of Interest Proper New Matter/Client Intake                            

• Maintenance of conflict procedures

• Lateral hires

• Identifying the client

• Conflicts between attorney and client

• Simultaneous representation of clients with adverse interests

• Transactions between lawyer and client

• Conflict between present and former client

• Representing business organizations

Speaker:

Marian C. Rice, Esq., L'Abbate, Balkan, Colavita & Contini, LLP, Melville, NY

1.0 MCLE Credit in Ethics

11:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.   

Break

11:10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.     

Effective Client Relations and Resolving Attorney-Client Disputes

• Choosing the client carefully

• Client’s expectations

• Informative and truthful communications 

• Statement of Client’s Rights and Responsibilities

• Importance of the clear, unambiguous written letter of engagement

• Standardization of engagement, non-engagement & disengagement letters

• Informed consent 

• Preserving the secrets and confidences of a client 

• Limiting liability to a client

• How to avoid suits for fees – Fee Arbitration Rules

• Escrow requirements 

• Importance of documenting a file 

• Resolving attorney-client disputes – Mediation of Attorney-Client Disputes

• Proper withdrawal from employment

Speaker:

Andrew R. Jones, Esq., Furman Kornfeld & Brennan, LLP, New York, NY

1.0  MCLE Credit in Ethics

12:00 p.m. – 12:50 p.m.   

Relations with Others, Including Partners and  Nonclients

• Integrity in dealing with non-clients – Standards of Civility

• Intra-firm relationships and dealing with partners 

• Supervisory responsibilities of law firms and attorneys 

• Scope of supervisory responsibility of lawyers 

• Ethical issues facing newly admitted attorneys  

• Stress management and Lawyers’ Assistance Programs                                    

• The “innocent” partner  

• Lawyer advertising and marketing

Speakers:

Lisa Shrewsberry, Esq., Traub Lieberman Straus & Shrewsberry, LLP, Hawthorne, NY

Matthew K. Flanagan, Esq., Marshall Dennehey, New York, NY | Melville, NY

1.0 MCLE Credit in Ethics

12:50 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.         

Questions and Answers

1:00 p.m.                             

Adjournment