WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2012 — Discussions of recent high-profile trials, fraud and international corruption top the agenda of the 27th Annual National Institute on White Collar Crime hosted by the American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section on Feb. 29 – March 2, at the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami in Miami Beach, Fla.    

Judges, lawyers, law enforcement officials and corporate counsel from around the nation will address key sentencing issues, ethical pitfalls and blunders, creative investigative techniques, asset tracing and collection of evidence, and commodities in white collar crime.

U.S. Attorney Preetinder S. Bharara will be the keynote speaker for the E. Lawrence Barcella Jr. Memorial Address and luncheon at 12:30 p.m. on March 1. Bharara serves the Southern District of New York where he oversees a staff of 450 employees, including 200 assistant attorneys general. He is also chair of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee Subcommittee on White Collar Fraud.

Program highlights include:

“White Collar Basics: Sentencing in White Collar Cases” – Experts will examine sentencing issues that arise in white-collar cases, including current judicial reliance on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and its impact on plea bargaining and post-conviction sentences. Waivers of appeals of sentences and their enforceability as well as the general impact of the guidelines on the formulation of compliance programs will also be explored.
Feb. 29, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.

“Recent Trials” – Critical issues and strategies involved in several high-profile cases that took place over the past year, including, Farkas (bank fraud), Rajaratnam (insider trading) and Stevens (FDA), will be discussed. Panelists will look at topics such as the investigation, indictment and trial stages of these cases.
March 1, 9:15 – 10:45 a.m.

“Top 10 Reasons You’ll Wish You Had Become a Trust & Estates Lawyer: Ethical Pitfalls and Blunders in White Collar Practice” – A myriad of scenarios regarding professional quandaries faced by white-collar lawyers will be explored by panelists. They will provide advice for avoiding and resolving some of the most vexing and complex ethical dilemmas.
March 1, 2 – 3:15 p.m.

“Health Care Fraud and Abuse” – Issues in health care fraud investigation and prosecution, as well as the increased focus on individuals, will be examined during this session. Panelists will also discuss the complex interplay of federal and state criminal, civil and administrative tools and remedies—such as exclusion, deferred prosecution agreements and independent monitors.
March 2, 11:15 a.m. – 1 p.m.

A complete agenda and updated list of speakers can be found online.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

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