Gerald L. Andriole
Urologist combats prostatic diseases
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Gerald L. Andriole Urologist combats prostatic diseases |
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Law symposium ties into Enron collapse; Conflicts of interest in numerous disciplines to be examined Feb. 22-23 By Jessica N. Roberts Key government officials, leading academics and prominent practitioners in the securities field will examine conflicts of interest in the wake of Enron's astonishing collapse during the F. Hodge O'Neal Corporate and Securities Law Symposium at the School of Law Feb. 22-23. The symposium will focus on conflicts of interest in accounting and consulting, conflicts of interest for lawyers and multidisciplinary practice. All panels will be held in Anheuser-Busch Hall. The first panel, from 9 a.m.-noon Feb. 22, will explore conflicts of interest in the world of accounting and consulting, as illustrated by the recent collapse of Enron Corp. In the last several years, the business of the traditional accounting firm expanded significantly in the area of management consulting to the point where, in many instances, consulting revenues equal or outpace accounting revenues. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently revised Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, which addresses auditor independence. While various initiatives in this area have lead to some breakups of major accounting and consulting firms, many firms continue to operate in this controversial manner. Joel Seligman, J.D., dean and the Ethan A.H. Shepley University Professor at the School of Law, will moderate this panel. Presenters include: ¥ William T. Allen, professor of law at New York University School of Law, clinical professor of business at New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business, former Chancellor of the Delaware Court of Chancery, and of counsel at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz; and ¥ Bevis Longstreth, of counsel at Debevoise & Plimpton and former commissioner of the SEC. Commentators include: ¥ John H. Biggs, chairman, president and chief executive officer of TIAA-CREF and member of the Washington University Board of Trustees; ¥ Nicholas Dopuch, Ph.D., the Hubert C. and Dorothy R. Moog Professor of Accounting in the Olin School of Business at Washington University; ¥ Shaun F. O'Malley, former chair of Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers); and ¥ Lynn Turner, former chief accountant of the SEC. The conference continues at the Charles F. Knight Executive Education Center with a lunch and keynote address -- "Current Issues at the SEC" -- by David Becker, general counsel to the SEC. The second panel, from 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Feb. 22, will focus on conflicts of interest for lawyers and law firms in two distinct contexts: lawyers serving on corporate boards of directors, and law firms taking equity interests in clients in exchange for legal services. The former topic has long been the topic of active debate as lawyer-board members are invariably confronted with conflicts of interests due to their unique position. The latter topic has received increased attention in recent years as this practice has spread throughout the country, most commonly with law firms providing legal services (and even office space) to technology startups with little or no cash in exchange for equity stakes in those clients. Peter A. Joy, J.D., professor of law at the School of Law, will moderate this panel. Presenters include: ¥ James D. Cox, professor of law at Duke University School of Law; and ¥ Donald C. Langevoort, professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center. Commentators include: ¥ Kathleen Clark, J.D., professor of law at Washington University School of Law; and ¥ Harvey J. Goldschmid, the Dwight Professor of Law at Columbia Law School and former general counsel to the SEC. The final panel, from 9 a.m.-noon Feb. 23, will compare the standards of conduct for lawyers and accountants, and include a discussion of multidisciplinary practices (MDPs). Though the American Bar Association (ABA) recently voted down a proposal to allow lawyers to take on nonlawyer partners, the issue of MDPs is lively and much-discussed among lawyers and other business professionals, namely accountants. In discussing the potential for MDPs to drastically alter the face of the practice of law in the United States, the panel will explore the operation of MDPs in many European countries. E. Thomas Sullivan, dean and William S. Pattee Professor of Law at the University of Minnesota Law School, will moderate this panel. Presenters include: ¥ Mary C. Daly, the Quinn Professor of Law at Fordham University School of Law, director of the Stein Institute of Law and Ethics and reporter, ABA Commission on Multidisciplinary Practice; and ¥ Burnele Venable Powell, dean and professor of law at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, chair of the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility Coordinating Council and member of the ABA Commission on Multidisciplinary Practice. Commentators include: ¥ Ronald J. Gilson, the Charles J. Meyers Professor of Law and Business at Stanford Law School; ¥ Walter L. Metcalfe Jr., chairman of Bryan Cave LLP; ¥ Richard Miller, general counsel of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; and ¥ Carol A. Needham, professor of law at Saint Louis University School of Law and member of the Missouri Bar Association Committee on Multidisciplinary Practice. Conference participants may receive up to 12 Missouri CLE credits, including up to 10.8 ethics credits. This symposium is an annual program of the Washington University Law Quarterly, which will publish the conference papers. The registration fee for the conference is $225, which covers the three conference panels and the Feb. 22 luncheon. To register, e-mail tmkaye@wulaw.wustl.edu or send a fax to the attention of Todd M. Kaye at 935-6493. For more information, visit law.wustl.edu or call 935-9003. |
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