Past Webinars
Video replays of the webinars are available to members in the Webinar Archives of the Resources section of the AALA website. Click “Member Login” in the upper right corner and login as a member to access this content. These webinars are organized by AALA’s distance education committee, which includes members of the AALA. The technology platform is sponsored by the Center for Agricultural Law & Taxation at Iowa State University.
.
Wednesday, December 7, 12:00–1:30 PM (CT)
Farm Bill 101
Given the expiration of the current Farm Bill on September 30, 2023, this webinar will give an overview and history of the Farm Bill – highlighting why the Farm Bill is important, reviewing what the different titles of the Farm Bill cover, and examining different stakeholder positions. Speakers will share their insights and perspectives as Farm Bill “veterans” on the history, dynamics, opportunities, and challenges of the next one.
- Chris Adamo, Vice President of Public Affairs and Regenerative Agriculture Policy, Danone, and former Staff Director, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry
- Fred Clark, former Chief Counsel, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry
- James Glueck, Vice President, Torrey Advisory Group, and former Staff Director, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry
Chris Adamo |
|
|
|
Chris Adamo is Vice President at Danone North America for public affairs & regenerative agriculture policy, assisting one of the world’s largest B Corps with strengthening the role of business in driving social and environmental good for all. Chris helps Danone build strategies for implementing regenerative agriculture with farming partners across its supply chain as it strives to measure impact toward climate change, water, and farmer well-being.
Prior to joining Danone, Chris spent over a decade at the highest levels of the federal government working on issues related to agriculture, environment and climate change. He served as chief of staff for the White House Council on Environmental Quality from 2015 until the end of the Administration in 2017, where he helped lead the President’s agenda on climate change and conservation. From 2011-2105, he led the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry as its staff director, including the negotiations and drafting of the 2014 Farm Bill, which included new opportunities for landscape-scale conservation and unprecedented investments in healthy foods. Chris began his Senate career in 2005 and was a legislative counsel in U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow’s office starting in 2007, where he worked on priorities such as the 2007 energy bill, the 2008 farm bill, the 2009-2010 energy and climate bill efforts, as well as various other environmental initiatives. Chris graduated with a degree in economics and business from Kalamazoo College and a law degree from Vermont Law School. |
Fred Clark |
|
|
|
Fred Clark has been directly engaged in drafting each of the past seven Farm Bills, dating back to 1985. Most recently Fred served as Majority Counsel to the Senate Agriculture Committee (for Republican Chairman Pat Roberts) during the drafting of the 2018 Farm Bill, where Fred served as principal drafter of statutory language for the Commodities, Trade, Credit, Rural Development, Research, and Crop Insurance titles. Prior to his Senate service Fred served for 20 years as counsel in several law and lobbying firms, where he focused on agriculture, trade, agricultural research, and finance issues, including drafting major provisions of the 1996, 2002, 2008 and 2014 Farm Bills. Fred served for 10 years as staff in the U.S. House of Representatives, including eight years on the Agriculture Committee serving Democratic Chairman Kika de la Garza. In that role Fred participated extensively in the writing of both the 1985 and 1990 farm bills. Born and raised in San Jose, California, Fred served as FFA State Treasurer before earning a B.S. in Agricultural Business Management from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center. Fred retired from his role as Chief Counsel to the Senate Agriculture Committee in February 2022, and has since enjoyed safaris in Tanzania, hiking in the Grand Canyon, and ballroom dancing lessons with Rika, his wife of more than 30 years. |
James Glueck |
|
|
|
As vice president at Torrey Advisory Group, James Glueck provides analysis, strategic advice, and representation to clients on a range of agriculture and food policy issues. James served as staff director for the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee from 2017 until 2021 under the leadership of Chairman Pat Roberts. In the past, Glueck served as deputy staff director and policy director for Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee Ranking Member Thad Cochran as well as a legislative assistant for Senator Mike Johanns. His legislative experience includes work on the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills as well as biotech disclosure and pesticide registration laws.
Prior to coming to Capitol Hill, James worked for Bunge North America, an integrated agribusiness and food ingredient company. Previously, he served at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including roles as a senior advisor to the Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services–during the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha round negotiations and the 2008 Farm Bill, congressional liaison, deputy White House liaison, deputy director of intergovernmental affairs, and confidential assistant in the Farm Service Agency. James received an undergraduate degree in agricultural development from Texas A&M University and a graduate certificate in Advanced International Affairs from the George Bush School of Government and Public Service. |
.
Wednesday, September 7, 12:00–1:30 PM (CT)
Agricultural Insolvency: What’s Different?
Agriculture is unique, and insolvency is, too. In a presentation by Restructuring and Insolvency lawyers at K&L Gates, they cover aspects of insolvency that are unique to food production and agriculture.
Brandy Sargent, Partner, K&L Gates
Margaret Westbrook, Partner, K&L Gates
This webinar was offered only to AALA members for continuing legal education credit.
Please be sure to note the following: CLE credit cannot be offered to those who only watch the recorded version after the webinar.
Brandy Sargent |
|
 |
Brandy Sargent represents debtors, lenders, vendors, purchasers, and official and unofficial committees in a variety of commercial and agricultural bankruptcy, workout, and litigation matters. Brandy has significant experience representing vendors, customers, and other contract counterparties in complex payment, performance, and contract compliance issues arising in bankruptcy and insolvency matters. She regularly advises clients regarding supply chain disruptions arising in bankruptcy and insolvency cases. In addition, she has specific experience advising clients regarding consignment agreements, purchase money security interests, and warehouse and transportation liens. In agribusiness insolvency matters, Brandy assists clients with unique issues arising under the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA), Food Security Act (FSA), state agricultural lien statutes, and cooperative member and marketing agreements. |
Margaret R. Westbrook |
|
 |
Margaret Westbrook is a partner in the Raleigh K&L Gates office and has two distinct areas of practice: restructuring and insolvency and campaign finance. Currently serving as the U.S. practice group coordinator for the restructuring and insolvency practice group within the firm, she represents and litigates for secured and unsecured creditors in restructuring and insolvency matters both in and out of the state and federal courts in North Carolina, and in other jurisdictions, including New York, Delaware, Texas and Virginia. Margaret advises transactional clients with respect to insolvency risks and debt restructuring. She represents purchasers and sellers of debt and assets from financially distressed companies in a variety of structures, including foreclosure sales, Article 9 sales and Chapter 11 Section 363 sales. She has extensive experience with agricultural cases, including Chapter 12 proceedings, and with healthcare insolvency issues both in and outside of formal insolvency proceedings. Margaret is a member of Class 32 Fellows of the American College of Bankruptcy.Margaret also advises corporations and trade associations on matters relating to the regulation of corporate political activity, including the formation and administration of state and federal political action committees, campaign finance regulations and gift laws. She formerly represented clients in the North Carolina General Assembly and currently advises clients regarding the development of political compliance programs. |
.
Tuesday, August 30 at 12:00–1:30 PM (CT)
Legal Issues for Indoor Agriculture
Consumer demand for local food and food traceability has created market value for vertical, indoor, and other controlled environmental agriculture (CEA) systems in recent years, while innovations in LED lighting technology, artificial intelligence, robotics, and other innovations have spurred investment and significant growth. CEA companies face a host of unique legal issues and others that are common to traditional producers of agricultural products. This panel legal of experts will discuss working with agricultural technology companies, issues unique to CEA companies, issues they share with conventional agriculture, and opportunities for innovation in agriculture as the Farm Bill approaches.
Speakers:
Karen Ellis Carr, ArentFox Schiff
Marni Karlin, Karlin Strategic Consulting LLC
Chris Livingston, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary for Bowery Farming
Kei Nishimura, Associate General Counsel, Plenty
Karen Carr |
|
 |
Karen counsels, advocates, and litigates on behalf of food and agriculture companies and industry groups, with a focus on agricultural technology, food, biotechnology, pesticides and other chemical substances, and environmental law. Karen co-leads ArentFox Schiff’s AgTech industry group.
Karen has experience in litigation and regulatory counseling, strategy, and advocacy, with a primary focus on products regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Karen advises on pathways to commercialization for new products and technologies, advertising and labeling, testing and reporting, data use and compensation disputes, and litigation relating to product approvals. Karen has specific expertise with the Plant Protection Act, the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, the National Organic Program, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), and the Administrative Procedure Act. |
Marni Karlin |
|
 |
Marni Karlin is a recognized leader and subject matter expert passionate about creating a healthier and more sustainable food system, using advocacy, strategic planning, law, policy, and communications tools. She has over twenty years of experience in food; sustainable, organic, and controlled environment agriculture; organization management; policy; advocacy; law; and legislative and administrative process.
Her past roles include food and agriculture industry trade association general counsel and vice president of government affairs, legal policy advisor, legislative director, corporate attorney, and trained chef. She has an extensive background in project development; management of staff and boards; strategic thinking; building and leading coalitions; advocating and shaping the debate; political and corporate strategy; financial management and development; organic food and agriculture; and written and oral communication. |
.
Thursday, August 4 at 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM (CT)
National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard – Six Month Check-In
The National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (NBFDS) was implemented on January 1, 2022. This session will provide a refresher on the NBFDS and explore the current regulatory and litigation landscape surrounding the implementation of the NBFDS, including a discussion of the ongoing lawsuit challenging the NBFDS under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
Samuel Jockel, Senior Associate, Alston & Bird
Rachel Lowe, Partner, Alston & Bird
Brandon Neuschafer, Partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AALA CLE Webinar: Food & Beverage Consumer Labeling Litigation
This webinar includes Melissa Gold and Kimberly M. Bousquet of Thompson Coburn LLP. The two panelists will present an annual update as to Food & Beverage Consumer Labeling Litigation including but not limited to (i) the basics of a food product labeling suit, (ii) a 2020 product labeling litigation look back, and (iii) 2021 product labeling litigation trends.
Please note:
1. This webinar is offered to current AALA members only as a part of the member benefits.
2. This program is being offered for CLE credit in each jurisdiction.
3. The CLE reporting will not occur until after the program.
4. Pre-registration and active participation during the program is required in order to receive credit.
The Biden Administration and Agricultural Trade
March 4 at Noon (CST) on Zoom
As the new Biden Administration takes shape, it will be faced with many challenges and opportunities connected to agricultural trade. Who will be the key players in agricultural trade for the Biden Administration and what might the Administration’s policies look like? How should the Administration approach current issues such as trade with China, WTO reform, potential U.S actions against agricultural imports (such as phosphate fertilizers), and trade negotiations with foreign countries? This webinar will explore these and many other agricultural trade questions.
Speakers: Craig Thorn, Partner at DTB Associates, Sharon Bomer Lauristen, founder of AgTrade Strategies LLC, and Joe Glauber, Senior Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute.
Craig Thorn
Partner
DTB Associates
Craig Thorn is a partner at DTB Associates. He advises clients on issues related to agricultural trade, trade agreements and trade barriers, including regulatory barriers. Before founding DTB Associates, Mr. Thorn spent over 15 years with the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He headed the Agriculture Section in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative in Geneva, where he represented the United States at the World Trade Organization on agricultural trade matters during the final phase of the Uruguay Round negotiations. He also served in FAS as Director of the Europe Division and Deputy Director of the Multilateral Trade Policy Affairs Division and as an attaché in the U.S. Mission to the European Union.
Sharon Bomer Lauritsen
Founder
AgTrade Strategies LLC
Sharon Bomer Lauritsen is the founder of AgTrade Strategies LLC, a consulting service on U.S. agricultural trade policies. She retired from the U.S. government in 2020 with 29 years of experience, most recently as the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Agricultural Affairs and Commodity Policy, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Executive Office the President.
Sharon served at USTR for 15 years leading agriculture trade negotiations for the United States, including with Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and at the World Trade Organization. She also worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, for ten years in senior management positions, and five years leading the agriculture section of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. She started her career in government relations for the United Fresh Produce Association.
Joseph Glauber
Senior Research Fellow
International Food Policy Research Institute
Joe Glauber is a Senior Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington, DC where his areas of interest are price volatility, global grain reserves, crop insurance and trade. Prior to joining IFPRI, Glauber spent over 30 years at the U.S. Department of Agriculture including as Chief Economist from 2008 to 2014. As Chief Economist, he was responsible for the Department’s agricultural forecasts and projections, oversaw climate, energy and regulatory issues, and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.
From 2007-2009, Glauber was the Special Doha Agricultural Envoy at the office of the U.S. Trade Representative where he served as chief agricultural negotiator in the Doha talks. He served as economic adviser at the so-called Blair House agreements leading to the completion of the Uruguay Round negotiations. He is the author of numerous studies on crop insurance, disaster policy and U.S. farm policy.
Dr. Glauber received his Ph.D. in agricultural economics from the University of Wisconsin in 1984 and holds an AB in anthropology from the University of Chicago. In 2012, he was elected Fellow of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association
The 2020 Elections & Outlook for 2021 Agricultural Policy
Join us January 7 at Noon (CST) on Zoom
Description: This webinar will focus on the outcomes of the November 2020 elections, the impacts those elections will have on the Administration, the Senate, and the House of Representatives, and how those changes might impact agricultural policy and priorities in 2021.
Speakers: Phil Karsting, Senior Policy Advisor at Olsson Frank Weeda Therman Matz PC, Randy Russell, President and Partner of The Russell Group, and David Crow, President of D.C. Legislative and Regulatory Services.
Phil Karsting
Senior Policy Advisor
Olsson Frank Weeda Terman and Matz
Phil Karsting previously served as Vice President of Public Policy and Interim President and CEO of World Food Program USA. From May 2013 to January 2017 he served as Administrator of USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, appointed during the second term of the Obama Administration. He came to the position having worked for more than 22 years on agricultural policy in the United States Senate.
Immediately prior to joining FAS Karsting served as Chief of Staff to Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI), then Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies. Karsting also served as Senior Analyst on the Democratic Staff of the Senate Budget Committee where he handled issues relating to agriculture, rural development, housing, telecommunications, energy, and the environment. He began his Capitol Hill service as Legislative Assistant to Senator Jim Exon (D-NE) where he handed agriculture and natural resource matters.
During his time in the Senate, he served on the Senate Bi-partisan Chiefs of Staff steering committee and as a Senior Fellow with the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Leadership. In 2013 he developed a curriculum and taught legislative process and committee procedure in Monrovia, Liberia, on behalf of the National Democratic Institute.
Click here to learn more about Phil
Randy Russell
President and Partner
The Russell Group
Randy Russell was born and raised in Virginia. Prior to joining the firm in 1986, Randy served in a number of agricultural policy positions, both inside and outside of government, including Chief of Staff for Secretary of Agriculture John R. Block, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economics at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Vice President for Agriculture and Trade Policy at the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Director of Government Relations for The Pillsbury Company, and the 1981 Farm Bill Coordinator for USDA.
Randy attended George Mason University where he did both his undergraduate studies in Public Administration and graduate studies in Economics. He was a proud member of GMU’s baseball team, where he played catcher.
Randy has been actively involved in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program in Northern Virginia. He was a Big Brother for ten years and was named President, Vice President and Treasurer of the Northern Virginia Council of Big Brothers/Big Sisters. He also served on the Board of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the National Capital Area. Randy currently serves as Chairman of the Board and is on the Executive Committee for the World Food Program USA, which raises awareness and funding to fight global hunger. He is also on the Board of Governors of the Bryce Harlow Foundation, encouraging the highest standards for professional lobbying and government affairs.
Randy and his wife, Beth, live in McLean, VA, and have six children. The Russells are co-founders of The Golden Phoenix Foundation, working to address the issue of childhood abandonment around the world. He and Beth are also active members of the National Council for Adoption, which helps promote domestic and foreign adoptions as well as foster care.
Randy and Beth have a small farm in Round Hill, VA where they raise alpacas, as well as chickens and turkeys.
Click here to learn more about Randy
David Crow
President
D.C. Legislative and Regulatory Services
David Crow founded DCLRS in 1991 with the goal of developing a full-service government relations practice with expertise in legislative and regulatory affairs. He has built a small and talented team specializing in a number of policy areas including agriculture, climate policy, energy, international, labor and immigration, pesticides and fertilizers, small business, transportation and infrastructure, and water policy.
In a career that began in 1975, David has developed a wide range of contacts and knowledge working for Rep. Tom Coleman (R-MO), Secretary of Agriculture Jack Block, the Fertilizer Institute, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, and the Jefferson Group. David also speaks to a wide range of industry audiences. He continues to be deeply engaged in the political process, raising money for candidates who represent issue areas and geographical regions that impact our clients. David also worked on several presidential and congressional campaigns in order to connect our clients to the political process.
David is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a degree in Political Science and Journalism and has an MPA from The George Washington University. David has also taken a number of law courses in environmental policy from Georgetown University and the USDA Graduate School. David served as a Naval Reserve Officer in Public Affairs from 1985 to 1991.
Click here to learn more about David
Food Innovation & Food Labeling; Policy and Legal Issues for Plant-Based Foods and Cell-Cultured Meat
Join us October 12 at 12:00pm (CST) on Zoom
Food innovations can provide alternatives to traditional agricultural products, such as meat and dairy. These include plant-based products that already have been commercially available for many years, and new innovations such as cell-cultured protein. While consumers can benefit from having more choices, there have been concerns over the existing and future marketing of these products. Much of the focus has been on the meat and dairy-related names used for these products, which some contend can mislead consumers. As a result, some states have taken action to prohibit the use of certain names, the FDA has been examining questions of standards of identity, and some members of Congress have introduced federal legislation to address name issues. What are these products and what names and labeling questions surround their sale? What are the latest legal and policy developments, and what are the arguments both for and against name and labeling regulations? This webinar will explore these and many other questions.
Speakers: Stuart Pape, Polsinelli PC; Mark Dopp, North American Meat Institute; Clay Detlefsen, National Milk Producers Federation; Jessica Almy, Good Food Institute
Stuart Pape
Shareholder, Practice Chair
Polsinelli PC
Stuart Pape helps clients understand and face challenges presented by regulations imposed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and similar health and safety regulatory bodies worldwide. He currently serves as chair of the firm’s FDA Law practice, and focuses on:
- Assisting clients in obtaining approval of new food ingredients, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices
- Advising on labeling and advertising of regulated products and claims substantiation
- Assisting in enforcement proceedings initiated by regulatory bodies
- Helping clients develop sound strategies in the face of challenges from NGOs.
- Lobbying in connection with legislative consideration of statutory changes to the laws governing FDA regulated products
Regularly appearing before the FDA, USDA, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Federal Trade Commission, numerous other federal and state regulatory bodies, and the Congress of the United States, Stuart serves clients across the U.S. and around the world in many capacities. Previously, he served in various positions in the Office of the Chief of Counsel at the FDA, including as associate chief counsel for food. He also served as executive assistant to FDA Commissioner Donald Kennedy.
Click here to learn more about Stuart
Mark Dopp
Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Scientific Affairs/General Counsel
North American Meat Institute
Mark Dopp is the general counsel and senior vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs for the North American Meat Institute (NAMI), previously serving as the American Meat Institute’s (AMI) senior vice president of regulatory affairs and general counsel. He became AMI’s outside general counsel in May 1995 and in 1999 he formally joined the Institute and assumed responsibility for AMI’s legal and regulatory affairs. In his current role, Dopp oversees policy development and research and represents industry views to government officials on all significant regulatory and scientific initiatives. He also provides legal counsel to NAMI.
Prior to joining AMI, Dopp worked at Hogan and Hartson (now Hogan Lovells), where he was active in areas of food and agricultural law on behalf of many clients, including domestic and foreign corporations. He joined Hogan and Hartson in 1989 as an associate and in January 1993 became a partner. Dopp began his career in USDA’s Office of the General Counsel in 1984 and entered private practice in 1985.
Dopp received his Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural economics from the University of Wisconsin and his Master of Science from Michigan State University in 1981, also in agricultural economics. He received his law degree in 1984 from the University of Missouri.
Click here to learn more about Mark
Clay Detlefsen
Senior Vice President, Regulatory & Environmental Affairs
National Milk Producers Federation
Clay Detlefsen is Senior Vice President of Regulatory and Environmental Affairs and Staff Counsel for NMPF. He is responsible for issues related to food safety and defense, dairy food labeling and environmental issues. He is engaged in numerous homeland security activities and is co-chair to the Food and Agricultural Sector Coordinating Council (FASCC). Clay has a bachelor of science in microbiology, an MBA in finance and a law degree. He has been a member of the Maryland Bar since 1997.
Click here to learn more about Clay
Jessica Almy
Director of Policy
Good Food Institute
Jessica oversees GFI’s team of lawyers and lobbyists, who are focused on securing funds for plant-based and cultivated meat research and development and on ensuring a level statutory and regulatory playing field for plant-based and cultivated meat. She came to The Good Food Institute from the Center for Science in the Public Interest, where she served as Deputy Director of Nutrition Policy. Before working for CSPI, she worked for the D.C.-based law firm Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal. She holds a J.D. from New York University School of Law and an M.S. in Animals and Public Policy from Tufts University. She is a member of the bar in New York and Washington, D.C.
Click here to learn more about Jessica
AALA CLE Webinar: You Said What to Whom? An Attorney-Client Privilege Update
This webinar includes Jeffrey N. Brown, Senior Litigator and Kimberly M. Bousquet, both of Thompson Coburn LLP. The two panelists will speak about primers for the creation of the attorney-client privilege, the role of in-house counsel, procedural processes, sharing information, JV transactions, third party reports, ownership transfer issues, and the government’s role.
Please note:
1. This webinar is offered to current AALA members only as a part of the member benefits.
2. This program is being offered for CLE credit in each jurisdiction.
3. The CLE reporting will not occur until after the program.
4. Pre-registration and active participation during the program is required in order to receive credit.
Webinar: the Current Antitrust Spotlight on Agriculture: What You Need to Know
Thursday August 6, 2020
Join us August 6, 2020 at 12:00 PM (CST)
Over the last decade, many agricultural sectors have been the subject of civil antitrust law suits, including eggs, potatoes, mushrooms, beef, pork, chicken, tuna, and turkey. Perceived spreads between consumer prices and the amount paid to growers by processors and packers for supply have also triggered greater regulatory scrutiny. Recently, the Department of Justice has ramped up its criminal investigation into the agricultural industry. In December 2019, an executive in the Tuna sector was convicted of conspiring to fix the price of canned tuna. Last month, he was sentenced to 40 months in prison and was required to pay a $100,000 criminal fine. Also in June 2020, the Department of Justice secured a criminal indictment against four executives of two broiler integrators that are defendants in the civil broilers litigation. That criminal case is set to go to trial on February 16, 2021. At the same time, Congress is considering legislation requiring meatpackers to obtain at least half of their supply through negotiated trades or bids with quick delivery times in an effort to support prices paid to ranchers.
This webinar will provide a brief overview of ongoing civil and criminal antitrust cases; pending supply-related legislation; the potential penalties companies and individuals face when they violate antitrust laws; the status of the most interesting cases; and what these cases might mean for legal practitioners, farmers, and consumers.
This webinar includes the following speakers:
John Monica, Protorae Law; Gary Smith, Hausfeld; and Julia Chapman, Dechert, LLP.
John Monica
Protorae Law
“John Monica is a member of the firm’s litigation team, where he focuses on commercial litigation, trial work, and antitrust matters. He also is nationally recognized for his nanotechnology and chemical regulatory expertise.
With over twenty-five years’ experience, John’s practice is concentrated in complex civil, multi-party, class action, and multi-district litigation. He has a broad range of first-chair responsibility in cases nationwide, as well as first-chair federal appellate experience in the Second, Third, Sixth, and Federal Circuits. He also advises clients on antitrust compliance issues and monitors trade association activities to ensure compliance with state and federal laws…”
Click here to continue reading more about John.
Gary Smith
Hausfeld
“Gary focuses his practice on antitrust litigation. In his young career, he has already secured over $882.5 million to benefit the victims of anticompetitive practices. Gary has litigated cases at every level, from state trial court all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States, through which he has gained a wide range of experience briefing and arguing dispositive motions, taking and defending fact and expert witness depositions, and serving on trial teams, inclusive of first- and second-chair jury trial experience. He has challenged monopolistic practices and cartel activity in a wide range of industries – from the agricultural sector to the financial markets to various healthcare sectors.
Gary is also committed to serving the community through pro bono work. Most recently, he has been working with a team of Hausfeld lawyers to advise victims of clergy sexual abuse who have received settlement offers from the Archdiocese.”
Click here to learn more about Gary.
Julia Chapman
Dechert, LLP
“Julia Chapman focuses her practice on antitrust, competition, and commercial litigation matters. She has litigated complex cases through all stages of litigation, from early dispositive motions through trial. Ms. Chapman also represents clients in government investigations and counsels clients on the antitrust aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures. She has experience in a wide range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, health care, agriculture, chemicals, retail, and publishing.
Ms. Chapman maintains an active pro bono practice, representing incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals in civil rights actions, appeals, and resentencing proceedings. She also serves on the board of directors of Pennsylvania’s Court Appointed Special Advocates.
In 2019, Ms. Chapman was named among Pennsylvania’s “Lawyers on the Fast Track” in The Legal Intelligencer’s 2019 Professional Excellence Awards.”
Click here to learn more about Julia.
Regulation and the 9th circuit Dicamba Decision
This webinar will provide an overview of pesticide regulation and registrations in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the recent amended registrations for over-the-top (OTT) uses of dicamba, and the potential impacts of the recent 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in National Family Farm Coalition v. EPA on certain uses the herbicide dicamba this Spring.
This webinar includes the following speakers:
Donald C. McLean, co-manager of Arent Fox’s Litigation Department and commercial litigator; Jim Aidala, Senior Government Affairs Consultant with Bergeson & Campbell, PC and former Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances (now the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention); and Tracy Heinzman, attorney at law at Wiley Rein. In addition, Bob Perlis, who is the retired Assistant General Counsel for Pesticides at EPA, will join us to answer questions.
Jim Aidala
“Jim Aidala is a Senior Government Consultant with Bergeson & Campbell PC, a Washington, D.C. law firm. He has been intimately involved with the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) legislation and key regulatory matters for over four decades. Mr. Aidala brings extensive legislative experience on Capitol Hill and past work experiences at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the pesticide and chemical regulatory programs.
Prior to joining B&C in 2003, Jim held a senior political appointment at EPA during the Clinton Administration, including as Assistant Administrator for what is now called EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. Among other duties, he led the team responsible for legislative drafting of the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act. Regarding biotechnology, as part of his EPA experience, Jim was extensively involved in the development of biotechnology regulations issued under both FIFRA and TSCA.
Before joining EPA, Jim was a professional staff member on the Government Operations Committee, Subcommittee on Environment, in the U.S. House of Representatives. While there, he was in charge of oversight of EPA’s implementation of FIFRA and TSCA.
Overall, his experience includes extensive involvement in both crafting and implementing the legislative and regulatory policies that underlie current requirements for approval of pesticides and chemicals. Also, in 1981 Jim was an original co-founder of The Capitol Steps, a Washington, DC musical political satire troupe. Jim’s education includes undergraduate and graduate studies at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Brown University, and Harvard University.”
Tracy Heinzman
“Tracy has been representing clients for more than 28 years in a broad range of environmental, chemical, food and consumer product regulatory matters. She is nationally recognized for her strategic representation of businesses that manufacture and market chemicals, pesticides, animal food, and other highly regulated consumer products. Tracy counsels clients on sophisticated environmental/regulatory requirements affecting all aspects of consumer product development, production, marketing, supply chain management, distribution and use. She represents clients on a wide range of legal and policy matters involving the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), and other federal and state laws regulating chemicals, pesticides and other consumer products. In particular, Tracy works with clients in the agricultural sector.”
Donald C. McLean
“Donald C. McLean is a Partner and Co-Manager of the Litigation Department at Arent Fox LLP in Washington, DC. Don’s practice focuses on the defense of pesticides and other crop protection tools and the products of biotechnology as part of regulatory counseling, agency submissions, and in litigation, frequently before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. As part of that work, Don has significant experience with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Plant Protection Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act. Don also frequently provides counsel and litigates with respect to data use and compensation disputes under FIFRA.”
Webinar: USDA’s Part 340 Rule: Modernizing Regulation of Agricultural Biotechnology
On May 15, 2020, the US Department of Agriculture released its final rule addressing regulation of agricultural products of biotechnology. The rule represents the first comprehensive revision of the Agency’s biotechnology regulations, known as Part 340, in thirty years. USDA’s new rule addresses advances in biotechnology, including gene editing, since the original rule was put into place in 1987. The rule will be implemented in a phased approach, with some changes taking place as early as June 17, 2020.
This webinar will provide a basic overview of the rule, how it differs from the existing rule, what’s included and what’s exempted, when and how it will be implemented, and an early preview of its impact on developers working to advance new and innovative agriculture products.
This webinar includes the following panelists: Dr. Clint Nesbitt, PhD, is the Senior Director of Science & Regulatory Affairs, Food and Agriculture Section, at BIO (Biotechnology Innovation Organization). Dan Jenkins is the Regulatory Strategy Lead for Pairwise, a company that is using innovative plant breeding tools, like CRISPR, to develop new varieties of leafy greens, cherries, and berries. Karen Carr, a partner at Arent Fox in Washington, DC, focuses her practice on agricultural technology, including applications of biotechnology to plants, animals, and microbes for use in food and agriculture.
Karen Carr, Partner, Arent Fox LLP
“Karen Carr is a Partner in the Washington, DC office of Arent Fox LLP. She counsels, advocates, and litigates on behalf of food and agriculture companies and trade groups, with a focus on environmental law, agricultural technology, biotechnology, pesticides and other chemical substances, and food. Karen represents regulated entities in litigation under a number of federal environmental and administrative law statutes, on regulatory and product counseling, and on issues related to advertising and labeling, testing and reporting, and data use and compensation disputes. In addition to her work with individual companies, Karen has represented a number of industry associations in litigation, coordination of industry regulatory strategy, and federal and state legislative issues. Karen has first- and second-chaired matters in numerous state and federal trial and appellate courts throughout the country and in arbitration and mediation, and has experience in all phases of litigation from pre-litigation strategy and counseling to settlement negotiation and appeals.
“Before joining Arent Fox, Karen served as a law clerk for the Honorable James P. Jones, then-Chief Judge of the US District Court for the Western District of Virginia. She received her BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her JD from the University of Oregon School of Law.”
Dan Jenkins, Regulatory Strategy and Quality Lead, Pairwise
“Dan Jenkins has 20 years’ experience working in the food and agriculture industry and serves as the Regulatory Strategy and Quality Lead for Pairwise. Prior to this Dan was the Managing Director and Chief of Staff at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) trade association. Dan also worked as the Director of Regulatory Affairs for Genus PLC, the world’s largest animal genetics company as well as Monsanto for a decade, most of which was in Washington D.C., where he was responsible for all domestic regulatory biotech and chemistry product approvals. Prior to this, Dan worked in pesticide commercial sales and R&D for Dow AgroSciences for nearly ten years. Dan earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, a Master’s of Science degree in Entomology and Applied Ecology from the University of Delaware and his Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School.”
Dr. Clint Nesbitt, Senior Director of Science and Regulatory Affairs, Food and Agriculture Section of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO)
“Dr. Nesbitt is the Senior Director of Science and Regulatory Affairs in the Food and Agriculture Section of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO). BIO is the world’s largest trade association representing more than 950 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 nations. Before joining BIO in late 2014, he worked for more than ten years as a regulator of agricultural biotechnology in the Biotechnology Regulatory Services of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Prior to this, he worked for Cornell University’s Cooperative Extension Program, where he was director of a public outreach and education project on agricultural biotechnology. Dr. Nesbitt has a Ph.D. in plant breeding and plant molecular biology from Cornell University, where he studied tomato genetics.”
The Impact of the Coronavirus on Food and Agriculture
April 28, 2020 1:00pm (CST)
The current pandemic is posing major challenge to the health and economic well-being of Americans. The food and agricultural sectors are helping to ensure a stable and safe food supply, but there are still many challenges up and down the supply chain. In this webinar, experts will discuss a wide range of timely issues regarding the pandemic and its impact on food and agriculture. Topics covered will include agricultural labor issues and immigration, the CARES Act, and the latest on how downstream sources, like grocers, are adapting to make sure consumers get access to food.
This webinar includes Doug Baker, Vice President, Industry Relations, FMI-The Food Industry Association; Brandon Dais, Partner, Phelps; and Joe Glauber, Senior Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute.
Brandon Davis, Partner, Phelps
“Brandon Davis practices in the areas of labor and employment and business, employment-based and family-based immigration. His employment litigation practice includes representing employers in the defense of employment related claims, alleging retaliation, discrimination and workplace harassment under federal and state statutes. He also handles EEOC charges and other administrative complaints through the administrative and judicial process. He has also represented clients on a variety of human resource and risk management issues, and has assisted employers with implementing effective strategies and labor solutions. Mr. Davis also has an active litigation practice which includes litigation involving class actions, unfair trade practices, non-competition disputes, trade secrets disputes, contract disputes, wrongful termination and employment discrimination, state and federal wage and hour litigation and various commercial litigation matters. In this regard, Mr. Davis primarily represents clients in the oil and gas, agriculture, technology, health care and engineering industries.”
Joseph Glauber, Senior Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute
“Joe Glauber is a Senior Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington, DC where his areas of interest are price volatility, global grain reserves, crop insurance and trade. Prior to joining IFPRI, Glauber spent over 30 years at the U.S. Department of Agriculture including as Chief Economist from 2008 to 2014. As Chief Economist, he was responsible for the Department’s agricultural forecasts and projections, oversaw climate, energy and regulatory issues, and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.
From 2007-2009, Glauber was the Special Doha Agricultural Envoy at the office of the U.S. Trade Representative where he served as chief agricultural negotiator in the Doha talks. He served as economic adviser at the so-called Blair House agreements leading to the completion of the Uruguay Round negotiations. He is the author of numerous studies on crop insurance, disaster policy and U.S. farm policy.
Dr. Glauber received his Ph.D. in agricultural economics from the University of Wisconsin in 1984 and holds an AB in anthropology from the University of Chicago. In 2012, he was elected Fellow of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.”
Doug Baker, Vice President, Industry Relations, FMI-The Food Industry Association
“Doug Baker is a food retail industry relations vice president for FMI where he facilitates professional, non-competitive collaboration among member communities across supply chain resilience, private brands, and technology issue areas.
Prior to FMI, Doug began his career in the food retail industry in 1984 with Fry’s Food Stores. His 30+ years in food retail have included leadership roles at Fry’s (a division of Kroger), Kraft/Nabisco and Federated Foods with focuses on retail operations, consumer packaged goods and private brand development and marketing.”
The Farm Economy and Estate Planning
Join us Thursday, March 26 at 12:00 PM (CST) for our next webinar!
This webinar will discuss the current farm economy, as well as the impacts the farm economy is having on estate and succession planning across the country. Panelists include: Michael Fielding with Husch Blackwell in Kansas City, Missouri; Patrick Costello, a partner at Costello, Carlson, Butzon & Schmit LLP in Lakefiled, Minnesota; and Dr. Gary Schnitkey, a professor in Agricultural & Consumer Economics at the University of Illinois.
Michael Fielding
Michael D. Fielding is a partner in the Food & Agribusiness unit of Husch Blackwell LLP in Kansas City, Missouri where he advises lenders in resolving distressed agricultural loans. Mr. Fielding is licensed in Missouri, Kansas and Iowa as well as several federal courts and is Board certified in Business Bankruptcy by the American Board of Certification.
Patrick Costello
“Patrick Costello is a nationally recognized authority on taxation, estate planning, business planning, and agricultural law. He is a member of the Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska Bar. Costello is the Past President of the American Agricultural Law Association and received the AALA Excellence in Agricultural Law Award for Private Practice in 2012 and the Distinguished Service Award in 2019. He is a Fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a Director of the Minnesota State Bar Foundation.
Mr. Costello has served on the Board of Governors of the Minnesota State Bar Association and chaired its Sections on Agricultural Law and Outstate Practice. He is author of numerous continuing legal education articles on agricultural law and taxation. In the American Bar Association, he served as co-chair of the Animal Law Committee of the Section of Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice and is a member of the Real Property, Trust and Estate Section. Since 1977, he has practiced law in his hometown of Lakefield, Minnesota as a member of the 8th oldest law firm in the State of Minnesota.”
Dr. Gary Schnitkey
Dr. Gary Schnitkey is a Professor at the Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences. His research interests are crop insurance and risk management, farm profitability, and machinery management.
“Dr. Schnitkey uses Farm Business Farm Management (FBFM) data on revenue and costs to analyze profitability of major field crops and to assess impacts of farm programs and risk management strategies. His research informs farmers of the most profitable rotations and encourages long-term change to impact yield.” (https://ace.illinois.edu/directory/schnitke)
Overview and Perspective on the Trump Administration’s “Navigable Waters Protection Rule”
Join us Tuesday, February 18 at 12:00PM (CST) on Zoom
On January 23, 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released their widely anticipated final rule defining the term “waters of the United States.” This rule is the replacement for the repealed 2015 Obama Administration “Clean Water Rule.” Why is this rule and the definition of “waters of the United States” important? How does the final rule define “waters of the United States” and how does it differ from past regulation and guidance, including the Clean Water Rule? This webinar will answer these questions, provide different perspective on the merits of the rule, and look to the future regarding the inevitable litigation. This webinar features Deidre Duncan (Partner, Hunton Andrews Kurth), Tony Francois (Senior Attorney, Pacific Legal Foundation), and Patrick Parenteau (Professor of Law and Senior Counsel Environmental Advocacy Clinic, Vermont Law School).
Deidre Duncan
Deidre is a partner at Hunton Andrews Kurth and is the co-leader of the firm’s environmental practice.
“Deidre represents clients on permitting, compliance and litigation relating to the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other environmental statutes. Deidre counsels clients on Corps infrastructure and civil works projects, including issues involving funding, acquisition and construction. She frequently counsels clients on administrative rulemaking and policy, providing regulatory clarifications when necessary, and drafting federal and state legislation on myriad intricate issues. She is also well known for negotiating and obtaining permits for complicated energy and development projects.
Her clients include development companies, oil and natural gas pipelines, electric utilities, agricultural interests, state and local agencies, and various trade associations.
Prior to entering private practice, Deidre served as assistant general counsel of the Army at the Pentagon, advising the secretary of the Army on environmental and land use issues involving the Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works and section 404 Regulatory program, as well as the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) program. Deidre has extensive experience with federal regulatory agencies, military departments and the US Department of Justice.”
Tony Francois
“Tony Francois is an attorney in PLF’s Sacramento office, and has litigated cases around the country defending Americans’ property rights from land use and environmental restrictions. He is a member of the California State Bar and also practices before several federal trial and appellate courts and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Since graduating from college in 1987, Tony has continuously fought government, starting with other countries’ governments as an Infantry officer in the U.S. Army. He served in the former West Germany at the close of the Cold War and personally removed a portion of the Berlin Wall in 1990. Close proximity to the Soviet and Warsaw Pact communist governments of the Cold War gave him a permanent desire to defend freedom against government tyranny.
The end of the Cold War and return to the States in the early 90s led him to see that many government abuses were taking hold in our country as well. Tony was also inspired to trade the military barracks for the courtroom by reading about abuses imposed by the IRS on American taxpayers, and well as the epic conflict between Wayne Hage and the U.S. Forest Service over grazing and water rights in the Western States.
Tony graduated from the University of California Hastings College of the Law in 1996 with honors. After representing farmers, ranchers, and other landowners in private law practice and then for a decade as a policy advocate before the California legislature, Tony joined PLF in 2012. In his off hours, he enjoys martial arts, Giants baseball, reading history, and raising his family with his wife in Sacramento.”
Pat Parenteau
“Patrick A. Parenteau is Professor of Law and Senior Counsel in the Environmental Advocacy Clinic at Vermont Law School. He previously served as Director of the Environmental Law Center and was the founding director of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic.
Professor Parenteau has an extensive background in environmental and natural resources law. His previous positions include Vice President for Conservation with the National Wildlife Federation in Washington, DC; Regional Counsel to the New England Regional Office of the EPA; Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation; and Of Counsel with the Perkins Coie law firm in Portland, Oregon.
Professor Parenteau has been involved in drafting, litigating, administering, teaching, and writing about environmental law and policy for over four decades. His current focus is on confronting the twin challenges of climate disruption and biodiversity conservation through his teaching, writing, public speaking and advocacy.
Professor Parenteau is a Fulbright US Scholar and a Fellow in the American College of Environmental Lawyers. He is the recipient of the Kerry Rydberg Award for excellence in public interest environmental law and the National Wildlife Federation’s Conservation Achievement Award.
Professor Parenteau holds a B.S. from Regis University, a J.D. from Creighton University, and an LLM in Environmental Law from the George Washington U.”
Agricultural Law Update
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
This AALA webinar includes David Grahn, the Associate General Counsel for the Farm Credit Administration; Jeffrey Peterson, Principal, Gray Plant Mooty; and Kristine Tidgren, Dolezal Adjunct Assistant Professor and Director of the Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation, Iowa State University. In this webinar, David will provide a USDA and Washington update, Jeff will discuss agricultural finance happenings, and Kristine will touch on tax law developments.
David Grahn
“David P. Grahn is the Associate General Counsel for the Farm Credit Administration. In this role, David is responsible for providing legal advice to the Board of Directors and the staff of the Farm Credit Administration on a wide variety of subjects concerning the Administration responsibilities to regulate the Farm Credit System Institutions.
From 2002 through 2017, David was the Associate General Counsel for the Food Assistance, International, and Rural Division at the United States Department of Agriculture. In this position he was responsible for the legal advice provided by the Office of the General Counsel to the Rural Development; Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, and Farm Production and Conservation Mission Areas of United States Department of Agriculture.
In 2011, David was awarded the Meritorious Presidential Rank Award for his service to the U.S. government, and that same year, he received the Excellence in Agriculture.
Jeff Peterson
“Jeff Peterson focuses his practice on commercial transactions, creditor’s rights, bankruptcy, cooperatives, and agricultural and food law. He is a frequent speaker on agriculture and finance topics and is a former chair of the American Bar Association Agricultural and Agribusiness Financing Subcommittee. Jeff is co-managing attorney of the St. Cloud office and co-chair of the firm’s Commercial Financial Services Practice Group.
Jeff previously practiced law in the Kansas City area. He has a background in agribusiness, working for Country Hedging, Inc. (the commodity trading subsidiary of CHS) as a commodity branch manager and market analyst in Kansas City, advising clients on commodity hedging strategies and trading agricultural futures and options for grain and livestock producers and grain cooperatives in South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado.
Kristine Tidgren
“Kristine is an adjunct assistant professor in the Agricultural Education & Studies Department and the director for the Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation. Kristine’s work focuses on studying and interpreting laws impacting the agricultural industry. In particular, she focuses on agricultural taxation.
Since joining CALT in 2013, Kristine has written hundreds of articles and blogposts to keep tax professionals, practicing attorneys, producers, and agribusiness professionals informed about legal developments impacting their business. She also writes technical chapters for the National Income Tax Workbook and regular articles for farm publications. In addition to her writing, Kristine speaks to many professionals and producers each year regarding tax and agricultural law topics. She also plans and provides instruction for CALT-hosted seminars, including the annual federal income tax schools.”
Hemp in 2020: A Legal and Regulatory Update for Legal Counsel to Growers, Landlords, Lenders, Processors, and Sellers.
Marisa Bocci
Marisa Bocci, K&L Gates LLP, will discuss protections for landlords and lenders when working with hemp growers.
Jonathan Havens
Jonathan Havens, Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP will cover federal and state requirements governing hemp and hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) products, providing an in-depth look at the current rules of the road and offering predictions for how the landscape could change.
Mila Buckner
Mila Buckner, Hodgson Russ, LLP, will discuss the current regulatory environment for hemp growers, including the new interim final rule issued by the USDA.
Tough Times in Farm Country: Taking the Pulse of the Agricultural Trade Climate
October 23, 2019
This webinar includes Jessica Horwitz, an international trade, customs and regulatory lawyer at Bennett Jones LLP in Toronto, Canada; Veronica Nigh, the International Trade and Resource Issue Economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation; and Megan Provost, Vice President of Policy and Programs at the Farm Foundation. Check out the three speaker synopses below to find out what they’ll be discussing on the upcoming webinar- you won’t want to miss out!
Jessica Horwitz
The USMCA and the US-Canada trade relationship:
In 2018, the NAFTA member states signed an updated version of NAFTA called the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA). This presentation will address the impact that the USMCA will have on agribusiness, including increased market access for dairy, poultry, egg and sugar containing products, protections for proprietary formulas in prepackaged products, geographic indication protections for wine and distilled spirits, equal treatment of grain grades, regulation of agricultural biotechnology and GMOs and other changes of interest including administrative provisions. Prospects and expected timing for ratification of the USMCA will also be discussed.
Veronica Nigh
Certain foreign nations have targeted U.S. food and agricultural products with retaliatory tariffs since early 2018 in response to U.S. Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and Section 301 tariffs levied on U.S. imports from China. As a result, U.S. shipments of products to countries with retaliatory tariffs have declined, reducing overall global demand for affected U.S. agricultural products and driving down the prices of U.S. agricultural commodities. USDA has undertaken two trade aid packages, one in 2018 valued at $12 billion and a second in 2019 valued at up to $16 billion to assist farmers in response to trade damage from continued tariff retaliation and trade disruptions. While these payments have not fully offset the impact of the trade disruption, they have been helpful for farmers trying to survive the downturn. Depending on the length and depth of the tariffs and the range of products affected, the long-run trade impacts could inflict further harm as U.S. competitor countries have an incentive to expand their agricultural production.
Megan Provost
The United States and some of its key agricultural trading partners have been adopting tariff escalations and other trade barriers that could significantly alter some long-term trading relationships. Actions on everything from higher tariffs on agricultural and non-agricultural products to the potential for trade sanctions and application of new sanitary/phytosanitary barriers all stand to impact long-term future trading relationships, changing the landscape for agricultural trade and potentially introducing farmers, agribusinesses, and food processors into a new era of market unpredictability. Given these trade dynamics, a basic understanding of food and agricultural trade is critical. Learn more about how Farm Foundation’s Food and Agricultural Trade Resource Center can provide a solid foundation of basic trade education, as well as more detailed analyses of larger trade issues, which will support a quality dialogue on agricultural trade.
The AALA Land Use & Resource Law and Environmental Law Update Webinar!
This webinar is a sneak peak of one of the most popular sessions each year at the AALA Symposium! The webinar includes Jesse Richardson, Professor at West Virginia University College of Law, discussing Land Use & Resource Law. Anthony Schutz, Professor at Nebraska College of Law discusses Environmental Law. These two will be speaking deeper on these topics at the AALA 2019 Annual Symposium coming up in Washington D.C.
Free webinar co-sponsored by Iowa State University Center for Agricultural Law & Taxation and the American Agricultural Law Association
Presentation will discuss the current farm economy, pending 2019 crop finance issues including using 2018 crop and 2018 crop proceeds for 2019 operating costs, negotiating with landlords and purchasing crop inputs on credit, and mandatory farmer/lender mediation statutes.
Susan E. Stokes
Appointed to the position of Assistant Commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) in November 2016. Stokes brings a wealth of experience working with Minnesota farmers and farm organizations having spent 14 years at the Farmers’ Legal Action Group Inc. (FLAG) in St. Paul, first as FLAG’s Legal Director and then as the organization’s Executive Director. As Assistant Commissioner, Stokes currently oversees three of the MDA’s regulatory divisions – Pesticide and Fertilizer Management, Dairy and Meat Inspection, and Food and Feed Safety, as well as the agency’s Laboratory Services.
Meg Moynihan
A senior advisor at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. For many years she managed the MDA’s organic program. She also previously worked as a program director, educator, and evaluator, and served with the U.S Peace Corps-Thailand. Moynihan owns and operates a diversified 70 cow organic dairy farm with her husband Kevin Stuedemann. In 2016 the Stuedemanns lost their milk market and Meg took a leave of absence to run the farm singlehandedly, experiencing the stress, anxiety, burnout, and depression common to many farmers.
Jeff Peterson
A principal shareholder with Gray Plant Mooty, a law firm with offices in Minneapolis, St. Cloud, Fargo and Washington, D.C. He focuses his practice on commercial transactions, creditor’s rights, bankruptcy and agricultural and food law. Jeff has a background in agribusiness having worked for Country Hedging, Inc., the commodity trading division of CHS, as a commodity branch manager and market analyst in Kansas City where he advised clients on commodity hedging strategies, and trading agricultural futures and options for grain and livestock producers and grain cooperatives in South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado.
He is a frequent speaker on agriculture and finance topics, is a former chair of the American Bar Association Agricultural and Agribusiness Financing Subcommittee, and is the current chair of GPM’s Commercial Financial Services Practice Group. He grew up on a dairy farm in northwest Wisconsin, is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law, and received an LL.M. degree in agricultural law from the University of Arkansas.
Science, Law, and the Regulation of Food Disruptors: Lab-Created Protein and Gene Editing
Thursday, August 9, 2018
The webinar covered current issues pertaining to the regulation and commercialization of plant and animal products of biotechnology, including
(1) the status of regulatory proposals for the regulation of plant and animal products of gene editing at USDA and FDA; and
(2) an overview of USDA’s currently proposed rule implementing the new bioengineered food disclosure statute.
The webinar also covered the issues related to labeling and other regulations of new plant-based and meat-based protein products on the verge of being market-ready — and explored whether existing regulations are adequate for these emerging technologies.
Our expert presenters – scientists Allison Berke of the Good Food Institute (GFI) and Clint Nesbitt of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO); attorneys Susan Burns of Susan Burns LLC and Karen Carr of Arent Fox LLP; and moderator Kim Bousquet of Thompson Coburn LLP – helped explain the scientific and technical developments that have given rise to these new legal and regulatory issues; what regulators are thinking of doing in response to these developments; and what may happen next in the arenas of regulation and disclosure.
Our speakers include:
Dr. Clint Nesbitt
is the Director of Regulatory Affairs in the Food and Agriculture Section of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO). BIO is the world’s largest trade association representing nearly 1000 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 nations. Before joining BIO in late 2014, he worked for more than ten years as a regulator of agricultural biotechnology in the Biotechnology Regulatory Services of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Prior to this, he worked for Cornell University’s Cooperative Extension Program, where he was director of a public outreach and education project on agricultural biotechnology. Dr. Nesbitt has a Ph.D. in plant breeding and plant molecular biology from Cornell University, where he studied tomato genetics.
Dr. Allison Berke
Academic Research Advisor for the Good Food Institute (GFI). She received her Ph.D. in Bioengineering from UC Berkeley, B.S. degrees in math and biology from MIT, and previously worked in biomedical- and security-focused consulting with McKinsey & Co. She has experience managing research, education, and outreach activities as the Executive Director of the Stanford Cyber Initiative and teaches CS181 at Stanford (Computers, Ethics, and Public Policy). At GFI, Allison advises academic research and education initiatives related to clean meat and plant-based meat alternatives.
AALA Member Karen Carr
of Arent Fox LLP has significant experience with regulatory counseling and litigation under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Plant Protection Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act, and on issues related to advertising and labeling, testing and reporting, food safety, and data use. Her practice in Washington, DC, focuses on regulatory and litigation matters in the areas of biotechnology, food, and agriculture. In particular, she represents individual companies and regularly serves as outside counsel to biotechnology, seed, and crop protection industry associations, as well as industry coalition groups. As part of her association and coalition work, Karen handles litigation, coordination of industry regulatory strategy, and federal and state legislative issues. Karen earned her J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law and her BA from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
AALA Member Susan Burns
of Susan Burns LLC is a transactional lawyer who has worked primarily with companies in growth mode. She recently received her LL.M. in Food and Agriculture law and uses her background to work with food companies in their efforts to build a compelling consumer proposition. Susan works with her clients by sourcing fully-vetted small businesses in the innovative, organic, and sustainable food arena for acquisition. She also serves in leadership roles in the ABA Section of International Law, currently as the Americas Division Chair and Mexico Committee Co-Chair, and serves on the board of the Minnesota Organic Advisory Task Force. She earned her J.D. from Hamline University School of Law and her BA from the College of St. Benedict. While working on her LL.M. at the University of Arkansas, Susan served as a Legal Fellow for The Good Food Institute. It was that experience that piqued her interest in new food technology and its regulation, particularly meat based cellular agriculture. Her current favorite question is, “What is beef?”
Moderator and AALA Member Kim Bousquet
of Thompson Coburn LLP in St. Louis, Missouri is a passionate advocate for food, beverage, and agriculture clients in high-stakes business disputes. She routinely handles litigation and pre-litigation disputes for companies in the agriculture, agribusiness, biotechnology, food, and manufacturing industries. In particular, Kim focuses on litigation and client advice involving plants and animals, food and beverage labeling litigation, GE seed litigation, food labeling laws and regulations (including the new bioengineered foods disclosure law), the Food Safety Modernization Act, produce safety rules, restaurant menu labeling and Food Code compliance, pesticide laws, regulatory action by the USDA and FDA, and urban agriculture. Kim earned her BA at Drury University, her M.S. (environmental studies) and J.D. at University of Oregon, and is currently pursuing an L.L.M. in Food and Agricultural Law at University of Arkansas.
Nuts and Bolts of the Syngenta Corn Settlement: A Discussion with Co-Lead Counsel
Monday, June 4, 2018
Don Downing and AALA member William Chaney are two of the four court-appointed co-lead and litigation class counsel in the In re Syngenta AG MIR 162 MDL proceedings pending in Kansas Federal Court. In this webinar, they reviewed the history of the case and summarized the key points of the recently announced, historic $1.51 billion class action settlement reached on behalf of producers, grain elevators and ethanol plants. In particular, they discussed the allocations of the settlement amount, identify the key claims, objection and opt-out deadlines and explained the easy and simple procedures for practitioners, producers and industry participants to complete the claims forms in order to participate in the settlement.
In this webinar, practitioners, producers and other industry participants heard discussion of:
- The claims asserted in the Syngenta corn litigation
- How those claims were resolved in the settlement, who may benefit from the settlement and how the settlement funds will be allocated
- The deadlines and procedures for class members to make claims, object or opt-out of the settlement
- The information which will be needed for a practitioner, producer or other industry member to make a claim
Our speakers and moderator are nationally recognized experts in agricultural class action litigation:
Bill Chaney
an AALA member and partner at Gray Reed & McGraw in Dallas, Texas, has successfully prosecuted and defended numerous complex commercial disputes with millions of dollars at stake, multiple parties and parallel litigation across several courts. Recently, Bill has played a key role in pioneering nationwide litigation involving genetically-modified crops. He served as a court-appointed member of the federal plaintiffs’ executive committee that helped farmers, mills and exporters recover substantial financial losses due to contamination of U.S. rice supplies with a genetically-modified variety developed by an international chemical and agricultural company. He is currently serving in a similar leadership role in the ongoing Syngenta corn class action, focused on helping farmers and others hold GMO seed developers accountable for introducing unapproved genetically-modified seeds to U.S. corn supplies.
Don M. Downing
Vice President of the St. Louis law firm of Gray, Ritter & Graham, P.C., has represented farmers in numerous high stakes cases. As national co-lead plaintiff counsel he helped obtain a preliminarily approved $1.51 billion settlement for U.S. corn producers in multidistrict litigation involving Switzerland-based Syngenta. He was appointed national co-lead plaintiffs’ counsel in multidistrict litigation involving contamination of the U.S. rice supply by genetically modified rice that resulted in total settlement payments of over $1 billion. Don has represented hundreds of farmers in several states and recovered millions of dollars in cases involving defective cotton seed and crop damage caused by herbicide drift. Most recently, he was appointed Chair of the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee in the dicamba multidistrict litigation pending in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri.
A Mid-Year Update on Developments in Environmental and Land Use Law affecting Agriculture
Monday, April 30, 2018
This webinar provided an update on the last six months for Environmental Law and Land Use Law, including updates on recent litigation and key cases under review by the Supreme Court of the United States.
Key topics of interest to practitioners of agricultural law included:
- Clean Water Act jurisdiction over groundwater;
- U.S. Supreme Court review of interstate conflicts over water and impacts on agricultural uses;
- Land use conflicts arising from marijuana production;
- Recent cases affecting water rights and priority use; and
- Right to Farm laws.
Our speakers and moderator are AALA members who are internationally recognized experts:
Professor Anthony Schutz
is an associate professor at the University of Nebraska, College of Law. His research and teaching interests include agricultural law, land use regulation, environmental and natural resources law, private governance, and state and local government. Mr. Schutz was raised on a farm near Elwood, Nebraska, attended the University of Nebraska, Kearney, for his undergraduate training, and attended the University of Nebraska College of Law where he received his J.D., with highest distinction. He clerked in the United States Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and taught as a visiting lecturer at Cornell Law School before joining the College of Law faculty. He has served as chair of the American Association of Law Schools’ Agricultural Law Section and on the board of directors of the American Agricultural Law Association.
Jesse J. Richardson
is a Professor of Law and the Lead Land Use Attorney at the Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic at the West Virginia University College of Law. He is also the Policy and Research Advisor for Water Systems Council. Before coming to WVU, Mr. Richardson was an Associate Professor at Virginia Tech. His research and experience focuses on land use law and water law. He began his legal career in private practice in his home town of Winchester, Virginia. Mr. Richardson presently has served on the Board of Directors of the American Agricultural Law Association and as the association’s President. Mr. Richardson previously served on the Virginia Water Policy Technical Advisory Committee. He was honored with the 1999 Professional Scholarship Award from the American Agricultural Law Association, the 2004 William E. Wine Award for a history of teaching Excellence from Virginia Tech (the highest teaching award granted by the university), and the 2009 University Certificate of Excellence in Outreach. He has worked on the legal and policy aspects of water across the United States.
Moderator Peggy Kirk Hall
is an Assistant Professor and Field Specialist in Agricultural and Resource Law at The Ohio State University. She directs OSU Extension’s Agricultural and Resource Law Program and teaches Agribusiness Law in the College of Food, Agricultural & Environmental Sciences at OSU. Hall created the Ohio Land Use Law Academy, a training program for local land use officials in Ohio. She is a partner in the Agricultural & Food Law Consortium, a multi-institutional agricultural law research initiative directed by the National Agricultural Law Center. Hall holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from The Ohio State University and earned her law degree from the University of Wyoming College of Law, where she was a member of the Land and Water Law Review. She has served on the Board of Directors for the American Agricultural Law Association and as the association’s President. Hall and her family own and operate a grain farm and farm market in central Ohio.
Examining the Science and Legal Landscape of Dicamba: Where we are and what’s ahead
Friday, February 23, 2018
In this webinar, speakers provided vital information useful for agricultural attorneys who are assisting clients with potential Dicamba issues for the next planting season, including:
- An overview of Dicamba issues from a plant scientist’s perspective, Dr. Kevin Bradley, University of Missouri
- A summary of state and federal regulatory action taken to address Dicamba issues and an overview of the litigation landscape, Paul Goeringer and Kelly Nuckolls Winslow, University of Maryland Extension
- A plaintiff attorney perspective on civil claims/lawsuits, Bill Randles, Randles & Splittgerber law firm, addressing the Bader Farms case and class action plaintiffs; and
- A defense attorney perspective on civil claims and lawsuits, Liz Blackwell, Thompson Coburn, representing defendant Monsanto.
Speakers:
Kevin Bradley, Ph.D. serves on the faculty of the University of Missouri where he has extension and research responsibilities in the area of weed management in corn, soybean, wheat, pastures, and forages. Dr. Bradley also teaches a graduate level class in herbicide mechanism of action. In addition to evaluating new herbicides and weed management techniques, Dr. Bradley’s applied extension and research program focuses on the development of programs for the prevention and management of herbicide-resistant weeds, on the interaction of herbicides and weeds with other agrochemicals and pests in the agroecosystem, and on the effects of common pasture weeds on forage yield, quality, and grazing preference. By far, the largest percentage of Dr. Bradley’s research and extension efforts are directed towards the development of strategies for the management of glyphosate- and multiple herbicide-resistant weed biotypes. Specifically, he has conducted numerous surveys to characterize the prevalence of herbicide resistance in weeds like waterhemp, and to determine the effectiveness of future herbicide-tolerant crop technologies for the management of these troublesome species. Dr. Bradley earned his B.S. in Agriculture at Ferrum College and his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science at Virginia Tech.
Paul Goeringer is an AALA Member and Extension Legal Specialist at the University of Maryland where he specializes in legal risk management as it relates to agriculture. Previously Paul worked at the University of Arkansas where his legal research was focused in the areas of environmental compliance, right-to-farm laws, agricultural leasing laws, contracting issues, federal farm program compliance, recreational use and agritourism issues, and estate planning issues in agriculture. At the University of Maryland, Paul has worked with county extension educators to begin to fill the void in the areas of agricultural leasing and legal issues in estate planning. Paul is also looking at modifying his existing research in the areas of environmental compliance, right-to-farm laws, and federal farm program compliance to benefit Maryland’s farmers. Paul is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a B.S. in Agricultural Economics, the University of Oklahoma with a J.D., and the University of Arkansas with an LL.M. in Agricultural Law and an M.S. in Agricultural Economics.
Kelly Nuckolls Winslow is an AALA member and Extension Legal Specialist with the Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics at the University of Maryland, College Park and the Agriculture Law Education Initiative. Kelly has focused on farm transitions and estate planning, pesticide regulation and drift liability, and tax law. She received her B.A. from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, and her J.D. from Drake University Law School in Des Moines, Iowa, where she received a certificate in Food and Agricultural Law. While at Drake, Kelly served as an intern in the Drake Agricultural Law Center and the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic. Kelly also recently completed her LL.M. in Agricultural and Food Law from the University of Arkansas School of Law.
Bill Randles is a partner in the firm of Randles and Splittgerber in Kansas City, Missouri. He is a distinguished litigator with more than two decades of experience handling high-stakes business litigation including many “bet the company” matters for major corporations and small to mid-size businesses. He excels at winning complex cases, in the pretrial stage, as well as in the courtroom and on appeal. Over the course of his legal career, Bill has litigated on behalf of a wide range of clients from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses and individuals. His practice is primarily devoted to general litigation, including product liability, business and commercial matters, employment and labor issues, torts, and contract disputes. Bill earned his B.A. in speech and psychology from Southwest Baptist University, his Masters of Communication Studies from Baylor University, and his J.D., with honors, from Harvard Law.
Liz Blackwell is a partner in the Thompson Coburn law firm in St. Louis, Missouri representing consumer product manufacturers in high-stakes product liability and false advertising litigation in state and federal courts across the country. She has defended clients against product design claims, false labeling and advertising claims, targeted marketing claims, content-based speech regulations, and court-ordered compelled speech in many cases, at both the trial court and appellate level. Recently, Liz successfully defended a major food manufacturer in a putative statewide “all natural” food labeling class action brought under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act. She has also represented tobacco industry clients at trial in several significant cases challenging the industry’s product advertising and labeling practices. Liz has served on national legal strategy teams for major consumer product manufacturers for many years. She is regularly called upon to advise clients and develop briefing on complex federal preemption, First Amendment, punitive damages, and federal jurisdictional issues in complex product liability litigation. She has acted as lead legal issues and appellate counsel at trial in many cases, and for many years served on the national punitive damages defense team for a major consumer product manufacturer. She has significant experience developing expert witnesses, taking and defending depositions, and developing strategies for removing cases to federal court. Liz earned her B.A. at Westminster College, her M.T.S. from Harvard Divinity School, and her J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Reviewing Key Provisions Impacting Agricultural Producers
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
In this two-hour webinar, speakers discussed key provisions of the new tax law impacting agricultural producers and businesses. In addition to discussing generally applicable sections, speakers talked about the 199A deduction and its potential application to different types of income, including that derived from farm rentals and payments from cooperatives. Speakers also highlighted several ambiguities in the law, noting the need for further regulatory guidance.
Speakers addressed these issues and others:
- What key individual income tax changes impact producers?
- How does the new 199A deduction impact my client’s business?
- Does the 199A deduction apply to farm rental income or self-rentals?
- What is the latest on the 199A qualified cooperative deduction?
- What are the impacts of the new tax law on estate planning and basis after death?
- How does the new tax law impact depreciation or like-kind exchanges?
Speakers:
Kristine Tidgren
is Assistant Director, Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation, Iowa State University where she analyzes legal developments impacting practitioners and producers. She writes numerous articles on current ag law and taxation issues, teaches an agricultural law class to undergraduate students, and is a frequent speaker on ag and tax law topics. She graduated Order of the Coif from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law and received an undergraduate degree in journalism from Iowa State University. She grew up on a farm in West Central Iowa. Tidgren is a member of the AALA and co-chairs AALA’s Distance Education Committee.
Theodore Feitshans
Extension Professor Emeritus in Economics-Ag/Environmental Law at North Carolina State University, has developed an Extension education program to provide legal information to a wide variety of audiences on environmental, agricultural, and related issues. Ted is currently conducting research on legal issues involving farm business succession. Ted has been a frequent presenter at American Agricultural Law Association (AALA) annual conferences and is a past President of the AALA. Ted earned his J.D. cum laude from Georgetown University, his M.S. in agricultural and applied economics from the University of Minnesota, and his B.S. with honors in animal science from Cornell University.
Marlis Carson
is Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, a trade association based in Washington, D.C. In addition to overseeing NCFC’s legal, financial, and tax compliance issues, Marlis coordinates the activities of NCFC’s Legal, Tax and Accounting Committee on federal issues impacting farmer cooperatives. She also serves as NCFC’s corporate secretary/treasurer. Prior to joining NCFC, Marlis served as a tax manager in Ernst & Young’s National Tax Department in Washington, D.C. She grew up in Kansas and is a graduate of Sterling College (Sterling, Kansas) and of The George Washington University Law School. She is a member of the Virginia State Bar.
Charles L. Telk Jr.,
CPA is the tax partner at Gardiner Thomsen, Certified Public Accountants – a CPA firm specializing in Agricultural Cooperatives headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. Chuck grew up in Southern California and graduated from California State University, Northridge. Prior to graduating from CSUN, Chuck played football at McPherson College in McPherson Kansas – annually whipping Sterling College (Sterling, Kansas) on the gridiron.
Employment and Labor in Agriculture: What’s Happening Now, What Lies Ahead
October 16, 2017
Immigration reform is again at the forefront. The impact of the changing legal landscape is important for all employers and employees, especially those in labor-intensive industries such as agriculture. Prudent employers must keep abreast of the changing legal environment and stay one step ahead to avoid time-consuming and expensive litigation and audits.
This webinar reviewed 2017 legal and policy developments and their impact on ag employers. Speakers discussed what ag employers might expect in 2018 and beyond.
Speakers:
Kristi J. Boswell
serves as Senior Advisor to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue on workforce issues. Prior to her recent appointment, Boswell served as American Farm Bureau director of congressional relations, where she also focused her work on farm labor. Boswell spoke at the 2015 AALA Agricultural Law Educational Symposium in Charleston, South Carolina on immigration policy as it affects agriculture, and she spoke at the AALA 2017 symposium in Louisville, Kentucky.
Boswell grew up on a farm in southeastern Nebraska where her family raised corn and soybeans. She holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is a graduate of the University of Nebraska’s College of Law. Boswell has been a member of the AALA since 2015.
Immediately after law school, Boswell practiced corporate defense litigation at Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP and worked as a political aide for a Nebraska State Senator Pam Redfield. One of her first jobs was serving as the Ag Youth Coordinator for the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.
Mark A. Fahleson
is a partner with the law firm of Rembolt Ludtke LLP in Lincoln, Nebraska. Fahleson is a 1989 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Agricultural Honors) and graduated with high distinction in 1992 from the University of Nebraska College of Law, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Nebraska Law Review. He served as a judicial clerk for the Hon. D. Nick Caporale of the Nebraska Supreme Court and practiced employment and labor law in Omaha before becoming Legislative Director and later Chief of Staff to Rep. Jon Christensen (R-NE) in Washington D.C. Fahleson has served as adjunct faculty at the University of Nebraska College of Law, teaching employment law, and is the past Chair of the Employment and Labor Law Committees for DRI and the International Association of Defense Counsel. Fahleson’s current practice centers on employment and labor law, government relations and agricultural law. He spoke on employment law issues at the 2017 AALA symposium in Louisville, Kentucky.