07:30 AM - 08:30 AM
08:30 AM - 09:00 AM
This panel of securities litigation experts, practitioners, prosecutors and regulators will
review important trends in class action securities litigation. The panel will discuss the
trend observed in 2006 of declining numbers of securities lawsuits, changes in the
plaintiffs’ bar, issues arising in class action settlements, and important case law
developments.
09:00 AM - 10:30 AM
This panel will be composed of underwriters and professionals outside the industry who
have an expertise in the changing regulatory, legislative and accounting issues that will
affect the liability exposures of directors and officers of publicly traded companies in the
years ahead Particular topics to be addressed are changes arising under recent pension
legislation and recent changes in options accounting. The panel will also look at
potential changes to the Sarbanes-Oxley and other regulatory changes that could alter
the D&O underwriting environment.
10:45 AM - 12:15 PM
Keith M Thomas
Executive Vice President, Zurich Management Solutions Group
12:15 PM - 01:45 PM
John Degnan
Vice Chairman & Chief Administrative Officer, Chubb Corporation
This panel will consist of a mock exercise showing the various phases of a tough D&O
renewal. Brokers and underwriters will portray their real life roles at various points in
the renewal process. The exercise will show how the respective parties grapple with the
various issues that arise.
02:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Peter McKenna
President, Public Company Management Liability, AIG Executive Liability
Keith Martinsen
Executive Vice President, Carpenter Moore, A NASDAQ Company
Lori Marino
Senior Vice President, Valiant Insurance Company
This panel examines the increasing influence of private investor funding (private equity
investor, hedge funds and buy-out funds) on the public company landscape and how this
new investment environment can affect the liability exposures of directors and officers of
public companies. Among other things the panel will examine the conflicts of interests
that can arise in private equity led management buy outs and the claims that can follow.
The panel will also take a look at activist hedge funds and their increasing reliance on
litigation against management to achieve their investment objectives.
03:45 PM - 05:00 PM
05:30 PM - 07:30 PM
07:45 AM - 08:30 AM
08:30 AM - 09:00 AM
This panel will examine the increasing prevalence of board turmoil and the reasons
that boards may be becoming more divisive, including the increasing scrutiny
required by regulator reforms and the increasing presence of independent directors
whose agendas may not align with that of other board members or management.
The panel will also examine the reasons that have led a number of boards to remove
their companies’ CEOs. The panel will also discuss recent significant cases, such as
the H-P, scandal, where board tensions have led to D&O claims.
09:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Nell Minow
Editor and Co-Founder, The Corporate Library
Liz Smith
Assistant Vice President, Corporate Governance, Moody's Investor's Service
This panel of claims professionals and attorneys will discuss important issues in
D&O claims litigation, including the options backdating scandal, the rising number
of derivative lawsuits, issues arising in the bankruptcy context, and also discussing
possible new sources of claims (especially Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and SOX
Whistleblower). The panel will also discuss unique claims issues arising in the context of
private and nonprofit D&O policies.
10:45 AM - 12:15 PM
Kelly Geary
Senior Director of Claims, Professional Indemnity Agency
12:15 PM - 01:45 PM
This panel will examine the D&O exposures that can arise in jurisdictions outside the
United States, both for companies that are domiciled abroad or for domestic companies
that have subsidiaries or significant operations overseas. The panel will also examine the
liability exposures that can arise for companies who sell their shares on exchanges other
than the U. S based exchanges. The panel will also discuss important regulatory or other
constraints that affect the insurance transaction when there is an international element.
02:00 PM - 03:15 PM
Nilam Sharma
Partner, Insurance & Reinsurance Group, Crowell & Moring
This panel will consist of the senior managers of leading D&O insurers, who will be
asked to express their views on developing trends in the D&O liability insurance
industry. Panelists will comment on changes in the marketplace and insurance industry
that will be affecting the D&O business.
03:30 PM - 05:00 PM