Message from Christopher J. Passarelli, Chair of the Business Law Section

I hope that you are all having a terrific New Year, 2023 – as well as a successful Lunar New Year, of the (Water) Rabbit! This is an opportunity for all of us as members of an Association, and in particular as members and leaders of our Section, to reflect; to let go of the obsolete; and to embrace new opportunity.

The Business Law Section recently concluded its participation in the CLA Leadership Meeting which took place in beautiful Monterey, California, from January 19-21, 2022. The BLS held its monthly BLS Executive Committee meeting in-person (with virtual attendance optional) and Long Range Strategy meeting in connection therewith. I also had the honor to interact with the leaders of the CLA and our sister sections on issues related to education programming, and  participate in new marketing efforts on behalf of our beloved Section, soon-to-be revealed! It was, as usual, as highly valuable and rewarding experience for attendees, including myself.

The Business Law Section, along with its sister sections of the California Lawyers Association, are in fact parting ways with the past and embarking upon an entirely brand new, ambitious era of marketing and membership growth, undergirded by the recent passage of a very significant CLA financial budget for 2023. This supports the CLA Strategic Plan, and includes plans for long-awaited website and technology infrastructure improvements to better serve and communicate with our members, and prospective members, to continue to build upon the goodwill, legacy and destiny of CLA, as the premiere association for all California lawyers.  We are very excited for what the future holds as the sections go forward together as “One CLA.”

To such end, the Business Law Section is excited to announce that it will soon be rolling out a series of new continuing legal educational (CLE) webinars featuring the esteemed thought leaders of its sister sections in collaboration with the leaders of the Business Law Section, beginning with a joint program series with the Intellectual Property Section tentatively slated to kick off this coming March, 2023. Please keep an eye out for more news to follow, including a series program schedule, and list of speakers.

JOIN CLA BLS AT THE STATE CAPITOL!

We are very much looking forward to the upcoming BLS Legislative Day, currently slated to take place on April 19, 2023 at the California State Capitol. CLA Legislative Director, Saul Bercovitch will be on hand with a significant contingent of legislators and state legislative staff.The Sectioninvites its members and leaders to participate in its ongoing advocacy efforts to improve the law, as we maintain our longstanding, valued relationships, and forge new relationships atthe State Capitol.

TIME TO RENEW!

It never too late to ensure the renewal of your BLS membership! (I know this personally, from experience!) If you are registered through an entity, agency or law firm, please reach out to your finance/accounting department and ask them to pay your dues via State Bar agency billing. More information can be found by visiting https://billing.calbar.ca.gov/ab/help/.

Lastly, the BLS continues to actively recruit our leaders of tomorrow. We seek to associate professionally with those individuals and institutions exhibiting a strong commitment to leadership, protection of the public, and the advancement of our legal profession. We urge you to seek out and encourage such individuals to become active members and seek appointment to one of our fifteen (15) Standing Committees. Now is the critical window within which to seek appointment, which may not come again. The application for appointment is electronically accessible here: https://calawyers.org/business-law/business-law-section-standing-committee-application/

We wish you all a successful New Year!

Christopher J. Passarelli
Chair, Business Law Section