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

By Christopher J. Passarelli
BLS Chair

Dear Business Law Section Members and Friends:

​On the heels of the highly successful California Lawyers Association (“CLA”) Leadership Meeting last January in Monterey, I am very pleased to report that our Section is busier than ever, engaging its members on multiple fronts. There is really so much going on, it is quite difficult to focus on a select few items, for highlighting in this month’s missive from the Chair.

CALL FOR PROGRAMS – Annual Meeting, Solo & Small Firm Summit – and beyond!

​CLA is actively soliciting Continuing Legal Education (“CLE”) program topics and speakers for two of its flagship annual events, the Solo & Small Firm Summit (from Thursday, June 15th to Friday, June 16th) and the State Bar Annual Meeting in San Diego (from Friday, September 15th to Sunday, September 17th).  The BLS is busily coordinating with its sister sections to develop cutting edge crossover programming with broad appeal, and not just for those two events. 

The Executive Committee welcomes your input on the nature and types of CLE programming that is most valuable to you as a practitioner. Furthermore, to the extent that you have or wish to develop a CLE program or series, e.g., including valuable practice pointers and timely updates about cutting-edge legal issues affecting the practice of business law in its myriad forms, we strongly encourage our esteemed, experienced practitioners and thought leaders to step forward and showcase their expertise, for the good of all members. Contact me (cp@dpf-law.com) and BLS Vice Chair of Programs, Aigerim (“Aika”) Dyussenova (aikadyussenova@gmail.com) for further information and support.   

​Aside from the above two flagship CLA events, BLS is developing a collaborative CLE series together with the Intellectual Property Law Section, and likewise welcomes your input as to hot crossover I.P. – Business law topics, as well as a host of additional programming opportunities. The foregoing efforts are further undergirded and supplemented by an active effort to update the BLS online CLE catalog with only the most useful and interesting substantive content. As always, throughout the process, we encourage and greatly value the input of our members. If there is a program you want to see updated, please let us know!

JOIN US FOR CLA LEGISLATIVE DAY

The BLS is excited to participate in the upcoming CLA Legislative Day event at the California State Capitol, to take place on April 19, 2023, featuring Keynote Speaker, Rob Bonta, California’s 34th Attorney General! BLS is expecting a considerable turnout on its behalf, so please RSVP to me and BLS Vice Chair of Legislation, Grant Nigolian (grant@gnpclaw.com) should you wish to attend on behalf of the BLS. We will interact with fellow members and legislative staff on issues of interest to the Sections, and in furtherance of the business law practice. It is an outstanding opportunity for professional development, exposure and an effective means to make valuable, lasting inroads with our legislature and fellow BLS members!

CALL TO ACTION: JOIN A STANDING COMMITTEE OR APPLY TO THE BLS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The BLS presents myriads leadership opportunities, to further your career, as well as your personal and professional fulfillment, to expand your professional network and solidify your permanent legacy in the California legal community and beyond, all while building some of the most valuable and rewarding life-long relationships with veritable legal experts and thought leaders in your substantive legal practice area. Thanks to those individuals who reached out to me personally about opportunities for leadership within our Section for the next term. I am heartened by the robust response to our January E-News, from both current and prospective members! If now is the time for you to take the next step in the evolution of your practice, contact Section Manager, John Buelter, and the BLS Appointments Coordinator, Chris Chediak (chediak@weintraub.com) for more information, or you can simply apply to seek an appointment to the BLS Standing Committee of your choice. The online application to the BLS Executive Committee can be found here.

STILL TIME TO RENEW!

​Did you plum forget to renew your CLA membership, or you renewed, but forgot to renew your membership to the Business Law Section? (There is no shame, as this happened to me, recently!) Just go here to shore up that vital piece.

DID YOU KNOW? CLA MEMBERSHIP FOR NON-ATTORNEYS 

​One final note: CLA is NOT limited to admitted California lawyers. The BLS routinely associates with non-attorney business legal experts, and such individuals are eligible for membership in the CLA, and the Section. If there is an extraordinary individual with business law expertise that is not a practicing California lawyer, within or outside of your practice, please encourage them to explore membership in our Section, as a strong and valuable means to bolster their professional network!