CLEs You Actually Want to Hear

Building on the medical framework established in Part 1, this session turns to the practical realities of preparing and presenting expert testimony on cognitive impairment and capacity in the courtroom. Sarah N. Mourra, M.D. and David W. Trader, M.D. return with moderator Judge David J. Cowan to address how experts analyze medical records, structure written reports versus providing oral testimony, and scope their opinions appropriately. The panel explores the critical distinctions between testamentary and contractual capacity, the risks of straying into areas of undue influence or elder abuse that may be beyond their expertise, and how the Sanchez decision affects an expert's ability to evaluate a treating physician's conclusions without personally examining the patient. The discussion also covers what lawyers often overlook when working with a medical expert and what to look for when assessing the other side's expert on cognitive issues. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

Elinor Haddad, USC Gould School of Law student and Executive Postscript Editor of the Southern California Law Review, presents her award-winning article on the legal gaps leaving child social media influencers unprotected. Kidfluencers operate at the center of a billion-dollar economy with no working hour limits, no permit requirements, and no meaningful privacy rights standing between them and the adults profiting from their content. Using the Piper Rockelle lawsuit as a case study, this program examines the limits of existing law, including the FLSA, the Coogan Law, and COPPA, alongside recent state legislation and the case for a federal response placing enforcement responsibility on social media platforms. The Rule of Law Writing Competition encourages law students to integrate Rule of Law concepts into their writings. Papers may be on any topic either directly discussing an aspect of the Rule of Law, demonstrating how the Rule of Law affected the topic, defining the Rule of Law, criticizing the Rule of Law, or demonstrating the economic social or political effects of the Rule of Law. 100% of proceeds from this program will be donated to the Beverly Hills Bar Foundation. The Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity is the community arm of the Beverly Hills Bar Association with direct impact in promoting equal access to justice, community service and law-related education. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

Timing is one of the most underused tools in deposition practice. This program shows trial lawyers how to use the seven-hour rule, the order of depositions, and the pacing within each session to gain strategic advantage. From "jack-rabbiting" through testimony to knowing when to slow down and ask for more time to prepare, attendees will learn how the right deposition at the right time can shape the outcome of a trial — or drive a favorable settlement. The program also covers the rules that govern when, and how, courts will limit deposition questioning, and the consequences when deposition limits are exceeded or violated. By the end of the hour, participants will have a working framework for deciding which deposition to take first, how long it should run, and how to respond when opposing counsel pushes the rules. Taught by Pavel Kolmogorov, Michael J. Carrozzo, and Henry Nikogosyan, Kolmogorov Law, the program is designed for litigators who want a practical, rule-based approach to deposition strategy. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

International Family Law examines how family law disputes are handled across different legal systems, cultures, and jurisdictions. Through in-depth conversations with leading international practitioners, the series explores forum selection, property and support regimes, child custody, enforcement challenges, and conflicts of law, with each discussion grounded in practical comparisons to California family law.In this episode, Alessandro Gravante of Giambrone & Partners and Marzia B. Ghigliazza of Studio Legale Internazionale Ghigliazza-Rugani explore international family law disputes between Italy and the United States. The conversation covers forum selection and the role of EU instruments including Brussels II-ter, international child abduction and Hague Convention proceedings, child custody standards and the recognition of U.S. custody orders, international relocation, marital property regimes and financial claims, support obligations, and the enforcement of California judgments in Italy. Alphonse Provinziano of Provinziano & Associates moderates the conversation by drawing comparisons to California law, highlighting jurisdictional contrasts shaped by EU frameworks, and probing practical enforcement considerations across borders.

In litigation, “wait and see” is not a strategy. Should a trial judge enter an erroneous adverse ruling that prejudicially affects your client, you should have a ready plan and be prepared to implement it immediately to preserve an appellate challenge. This need for quick action arises because, with limited exceptions, appellate courts will not consider issues raised for the first time on appeal. We will tackle the steps required to preserve state court error for appellate review and identify some contexts that call for attention and scrutiny at the trial level. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

Christopher C. Melcher, partner at Walzer Melcher & Yoda LLP, Hon. Joshua D. Wayser of LASC, and Anthony Storm, founding partner at Storm Palyan LLP, will examine how mediation can work in family law cases where the financial stakes are high and the issues are genuinely complicated. Melcher and Storm will draw on their litigation and settlement experience to address the structural and strategic challenges these cases present, from business valuations and complex asset divisions to the dynamics that push parties toward or away from resolution. Judge Wayser will offer a judicial perspective on what courts are looking for, how mediators and counsel can better prepare their clients, and where the process tends to break down. Attorneys will leave with a clearer framework for assessing when mediation is the right path, how to position a complex financial case for settlement, and what it takes to get sophisticated parties to the table and keep them there. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

Mary-Christine (M.C.) Sungaila, a partner in the Complex Appellate Litigation Group and Space Law & Policy professor at LMU Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, will provide a foundational overview of the international and domestic legal frameworks governing outer space activity. Drawing on the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 and U.S. commercial space laws, she will cover core principles -- from state liability and private actor oversight to resource mining, orbital debris, and conflict resolution -- and flag the open legal questions that remain unsettled as commercial space activity accelerates. Attorneys will leave with a practical grounding in how space law works today and where the gaps are. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

Workers’ compensation issues come up more often than you think, even if you don’t practice in workers’ comp. Join Alex McKay of NorCal Advocates, for a practical, straightforward overview of the California workers’ compensation system. Understanding how California workers’ compensation works can help you spot issues, avoid missteps, and better advise clients (and yourself). Whether you represent clients in personal injury, employment, business litigation/transactions, construction, civil litigation, etc. or you run your own firm with employees, this CLE offers practical value for attorneys at every level. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

The newest provisions to the Brown Act aim to modernize teleconferencing options and expand public access to government meetings. Kelly Doyle, Attorney at Cole Huber LLP, reviews the latest updates to the Brown Act under SB 707, with a focus on adapting meeting practices to fulfill the newest legal requirements. Participants will leave with an understanding of best practices for hybrid meetings, policies to handle disruptions, and expanded language access provisions.