June 21, 2010

2010 American College of Environmental Lawyers Annual Meeting

Posted on June 21, 2010 by Rachael Bunday

Houston, TX

October 21 to 23, 2010

 The American College of Environmental Lawyers is having its Annual Meeting in Houston, Texas, October 21-23, 2010 at the law offices of Vinson & Elkins. You may register and pay conference fees below.  Please note that dress attire is business casual.

Hotel

We have reserved a block of  85 rooms at the Hilton Americas – Houston (713) 739-8000.  Please make sure to mention you are with the American College of Environmental Lawyers to get our discounted rate of $129 for a single or double room.

Agenda


THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21

6:00 p.m. –  Welcome Reception with plentiful hors d’oeuvres hosted by Vinson & Elkins at The Grove at Discovery Green, across from The Hilton Americas. Open to College members and their spouses/significant others.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22

7:30 a.m. – Breakfast in the Vinson & Elkins Courtroom on the 24th Floor

9:00 – President’s welcome and announcements

9:15 – Keynote speaker: John Hofmeister — Founder and Chief Executive, Citizens for Affordable Energy, Washington, D.C. and author of “Why We Hate the Oil Companies: Straight Talk from an Energy Insider;” former President, Shell Oil Company, Houston, TX (retired 2008).

10:00 – Break

10:15 – Business meeting, including election of officers and induction of new Fellows and installation of new President

10:45 – Third annual “around the room” introductions of ACOEL Fellows

12:30 – Lunch and Committee Meetings, 26th Floor Conference Center. Fellows who are not currently assigned to a committee, please self-select and join one. 

Policy Committee – 26C

Membership Committee – 26D

Programs Committee – 26G

Website Committee – 26H

Afternoon Plenary Sessions in the Courtroom

2:00 p.m. – Pending Actions Concerning the Gulf Oil Spill

Panelists: Bradley Marten, Marten Law Group

John Cruden, U.S. Dept. of Justice

James Bruen, Farella Braun + Martel

3:00 p.m. – Break

3:15 – 5:00 pm –  Imagining the Future of the College: An Open, Free-Wheeling Discussion on Mission, Direction and Expectations 

                       *chaired by Jeff Thaler and Carol Dinkins, with participation by all

Evening

Dinner:   Choose from several venues previously announced for no-host groups. 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23

Morning Concurrent Sessions (26th Floor Conference Center)

10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

  • Session A (26C): Climate Change Update, and the Resurgence of Common Law Nuisance in Climate Change Cases.

Format: Panel discussion with participation of attendees.

Panelists:

Michael B. Gerrard,  Center for Climate Change Law,Columbia University Law School

                        Pamela M. Giblin, Baker Botts

                        R. Kinnan Goleman, KG Strategies

Moderator: Karen Crawford, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough 

  • Session B (26D): In the Wake of Burlington Northern: Private Party and Government Responses, and Case Law Developments

Format: Panel discussion with participation of attendees.

Panelists:

Carol E. Dinkins, Vinson & Elkins

Theodore L. Garrett, Covington & Burling

William H. Hyatt, Jr., K&L Gates

Moderator: David B. Farer, Farer Fersko

 11:30 – Adjornment of 2010 Annual Meeting

Afternoon and Evening

Excursion Options:

1:30 pm – Travel on your own by taxi to meet at The Menil Collection, 1515 Sul Ross Street, Houston, TX 77006, for an overview by Emily Todd, Deputy Director, followed by guided tour of campus.

or

Travel on the Main Street light rail to the Museum District and Hermann Park, where you will find close by:

Houston Museum of Natural Science with butterfly house, planetarium and energy hall, and gem and mineral collection.
Houston Museum of Fine Arts
Contemporary Arts Museum
Holocaust Museum
Japanese Tea Garden
Houston Rose Garden at Hermann Park
Houston Zoo

6:00 – 8:00 pm:

Dinner and private cruise of the Houston Ship Channel on the Houston Port Authority’s Sam Houston. Mexican flood catered by Ninfa’s with beer, wine and margaritas. Travel by taxi to 7300 Clinton Drive, Houston, TX 77020; look for Gate 8. Please arrive no later than 5:30 pm at the Visitors Pavilion for boarding. 
 Optional Evening Outing The College has booked a ride on the Sam Houston Boat Tour  from 6-8pm for all members and their guests. Heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine will be served. Please RSVP to Carol Dinkins (cdinkins@velaw.com) if you plan on attending. There will be modest fee for food and drink – more details to follow. See below for more information about the boat tour. ____________________________ 

Get ready for an unforgettably spectacular waterborne tour of one of the busiest ports in the world aboard the Port of Houston Authority’s free public tour boat! 

Named for the legendary military commander who led the fight for Texas independence from Mexico and later statehood, the M/V Sam Houston offers free leisurely 90-minute round-trip cruises along the Houston Ship Channel.

Embarking from the port’s Sam Houston Pavilion, visiting sightseers can enjoy passing views of international cargo vessels, and operations at the port’s Turning Basin Terminal. Measuring 95 feet in length and 24 feet in width, the boat carries a maximum capacity of 90 passengers with air-conditioned lounge seating and additional standing room on the boat’s rear deck.

The M/V Sam Houston has been operating as the Port Authority’s public tour vessel since its inaugural voyage on July. 30, 1958. By 1979, a total of 1 million passengers had taken the tour.

 ____________________________________________________________________

Conference Registration Fees and Payment

The meeting fee this year is $275 per person. You may use the PayPal button below to pay your conference fees or, if you prefer, you may mail a check to: 

Bob Whetzel

Richards Layton & Finger

One Rodney Square

P.O. Box 551

Wilmington, DE 19899 


THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21

Tags: Conferences and Events

Conferences and Events

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