Sidley Austin and the Chicago chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel invite you to attend a breakfast program titled, Witnesses: Practical Considerations and Ethical Constraints.
Any (honest) trial lawyer will tell you that facts win cases. At trial, facts don’t just appear from nowhere. They come from witnesses – from their testimony and from their documents. Finding and securing the cooperation of fact witnesses is critical to any litigation effort. Potential witnesses are everywhere. Current employees, former employees, departing employees, future employees, third-parties. What are the rules of the game? What can and cannot be done in contacting, communicating with, and securing the cooperation of witnesses? What can be done to make sure incoming employees don’t become star witnesses for your adversary?
Corporate counsel frequently are called on to help identify, find, and in some cases contact potential witnesses. There are a host of ethical rules that govern a lawyer’s communication and interaction with witnesses. Through several real-world scenarios, Paul Veith and Melanie Walker of Sidley Austin LLP will discuss the rules that should guide your work, and practical tips for ensuring that your trial lawyers are well-armed when it’s time to call witnesses to the stand.
SPEAKERS
- John J. Amberg, Assistant General Counsel and Head of Litigation, Northern Trust
- Paul E. Veith, Partner, Sidley Austin LLP
- Melanie E. Walker, Partner, Sidley Austin LLP
Schedule
7:30 am: Registration / Networking/Breakfast
8:00 am: Presentation
9:00 am: Q&A
ACC Chicago is an Approved Illinois CLE Provider. One (1) general MCLE hour this program. Participants seeking MCLE credit must sign-in and provide their IL bar number.
Register online.
Note, to set up your ACC Chicago registration account, please follow the site instructions as a “New User” upon your first visit. You will receive a confirmation at the end of your registration process. Attendance is complimentary but limited to ACC members, in-house prospective ACC members and guests of the sponsor.
