White Collar Talks: Upcoming 12th Annual Southeastern White Collar Crime Institute

In this White Collar Talks episode, ABA CJS Chair Nina Marino and program co-Chairs Joe Whitley and Brian McEvoy discussing the upcoming 12th Annual Southeastern White Collar Crime Institute in Braselton, GA, September 9-11th. 

For over a decade, the ABA Criminal Justice Section’s Southeastern White Collar Crime Institute has been the premier regional program for professionals engaged in the defense, prosecution, and adjudication of complex white collar criminal matters.

Throughout its history, the Institute has evolved to reflect shifting enforcement priorities and policy developments across federal law enforcement agencies. Programming has been carefully calibrated to address the most current issues in the field, aligned with the changing landscape over multiple administrations. The Institute continues to offer timely, practical insights into the latest developments and trends in the white collar space.

Register now at https://events.americanbar.org/event/64904c10-ce7d-4c3c-b15f-c31449a8e262/summary

Transcript

Speaker 3 0:11

Welcome everybody. Welcome to White Color Talks with Nina and Joe. I'm Nina Marino.

Speaker 0:55

And I'm Joe Whitley.

Speaker 3 0:57

And we have a special episode today. I have the pleasure of being the podcaster over by myself. Pleasure or pain, I'm not exactly sure, but I get to interview my um colleague Joe Whitley and my friend and colleague, well, both friends and colleagues, uh Brian MacAvoy, um, in connection with the upcoming and then very exciting Southeast White Collar Crime Institute. So um here we go. Joe, Brian, welcome to the show.

Speaker 1:32

Thank you, Nana. It's great to be a guest instead of a host.

Speaker 3 1:36

I know. It's kind of a it's a kind of a fun role we get to do every once in a while, you and me get to switch around our our roles. Um but we're gonna talk about your upcoming conference, which as you know, I've attended year after year and love, love, love, love. And everyone that goes love, love, loves. So let's uh let's let our audience know um what they're what they're in for. And uh Brian, give give us a hello so the audience really believes I have you on the show.

Speaker 1 2:08

Well, Nina, thank you and Joe for having me. It's always a pleasure. I'm a big fan of uh the podcast and happy to be here today.

Speaker 3 2:15

Great, great. All right, well, gentlemen, we've got another year of this incredible conference. How many years are we in now?

Speaker 2:24

This is our 12th year, and um it's hard to believe time has really flown by, uh, Brian, and we've uh, you know, different iterations of the program uh and the crowd keeps growing. We have a nice, uh always a nice full attendance, very intimate program. Um people get a chance to mix and mingle, network. It's a little bit of a different different type type of concept from the big program.

Speaker 3 2:52

Yeah, I totally agree. And um I I can certainly attest that anyone I have encouraged to attend has made it part of their annual rotation. And I really don't know anyone that went once and didn't go back. It's it's really it's really that good. What are we um what are we looking at this year? Anything different from years past?

Speaker 3:15

Yeah, I think so something I and Brian, you can touch on this, I know, because you and I both um you know have a background somewhat similar. Both of us were federal prosecutors, and but we do have cases sometimes in state court. Maybe you want to touch on this this uh sort of pre-panel we have.

Speaker 1 3:33

Sure. You know, uh each year, Nina, we've tried to expand in substance and and in time, really. And the program has has increased from a Thursday-Friday program to the last few years where we've had uh some programming and uh uh social event on the Wednesday night. This year it'll be Wednesday, September 9th, where we're kicking off with a district attorney's panel. As Joe mentioned, we'll do a dive into you know white-collar cases and investigations that are being conducted uh on the state level and have a really good group of state prosecutors joining for that panel.

Speaker 4:07

Right. Really delighted to have John Melvin, who's um a very senior assistant U.S. assistant district attorney rather uh from Gwinnett County moderating this panel. And uh it's just an all-star cast of um prosecutors in the Atlanta area primarily, but we thought it would be pretty representative of what may be happening around the country. Uh the question is, you know, as the the mandate for prosecution is not just limited to the federal level, but also um the colleagues that I had when I was a federal prosecutor, and then I was a state prosecutor for a little while earlier in my career. There's a lot of white-collar enforcement happening now at the state level, uh, right?

Speaker 1 4:52

Yeah, and you know, one person that's been, even though he's in private practice, is John Floyd, and he's sort of been the the godfather of some of these state RICO prosecutions as a special assistant attorney general. So we're uh happy to have him. And then from the defense side, Amanda Palmer at uh Garland Samuel and Loeb, who's got an incredibly successful practice, uh, much of which is in uh trials in state court.

Speaker 5:17

Okay, so this will be um a useful look at um maybe a trend. We'll see what happens. Uh the uh Trump administration is at year two, and uh we expect them to continue to focus on the things they've been focused on. We'll talk more about that later about another panel. But um delighted to have I hope uh people can come and enjoy this uh program, uh 5 30 to 6 30 on um Wednesday, September 9th. And then uh what we usually do is have uh a conference dinner, right, Brian?

Speaker 1 5:52

Yeah, and that's you know, one of the the great aspects of this program, Nina, is the collegiality and the social aspect, which we'll kick off with, as Joe said, our um conference welcome dinner at Chateau Alan on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Speaker 3 6:05

Yeah, I think it's really, really neat that you guys decided to open the kind of like a soft opening, I guess, with the district attorney's plenary uh talking about current trends in white collar crime, both at the state and local levels. Um unusual uh way to start a conference. And I think it's gonna be really, really engaging and it's a really nice way to kind of filter into the uh conference welcome dinner at the fabulous hotel. Let's just take a beat. And uh for those of you who have not attended this conference, uh Joe, Brian, can you can you tell uh those people a bit about Chateau Elon? Like where is it and what's it all about? And because it is a pretty unusual venue, and it's uh it's a beautiful venue. Tell us, just give us a little snapshot.

Speaker 6:56

It's a it's a short uh drive from the city of Atlanta proper, but you're uh in northeast of Atlanta on I-85, uh, off of it. It's a vineyard, actually, and um and a resort area, a spa. So all of those things are there and and available to people that attend you know in their spare time, you know, away from the conference. It's a great place. A golf, I think maybe two golf courses, right, Brian, there, and that um is available. So we encourage people that want to sort of expand their footprint of time in Georgia and it to come maybe a little earlier to the conference and stay a little later if they want to, uh, because uh it's just a great place to be, a very relaxing uh location. And uh we've been there now, this is our 12th year in the location, so we're very familiar with it. Um we want people that are coming to sign up now to get their room reservation in hand because it's really the it's really great to stay there in the facility and enjoy it. Um I can't, I think, and also just the service is uh has been great over the years. Our our initial dinner will be uh a lot of great food, uh along with great companionship and a conversation. And then uh leading on into the next day.

Speaker 3 8:15

Um Yeah, but wait, let me stop you one sec because you raise a really good point, Joe. Um, this venue for hotel accommodations invariably sells out. So uh, which is why you have to spill over uh hotels, but this is really the place to be. So I just I just want our our audience to know that uh if you're even remotely thinking about going, like grab your hotel room because um you won't be able to get it after that. I'm sorry to interrupt you, Joe. I I will plug my uh my uh husband and uh love partner, Richard Kaplan, who is going to play golf. Um and so he can uh report back at the conference dinner as to how you know golf was. But tell us now. Tell us about uh when the conference, I guess, sort of more officially opens. Would that be correct on Thursday, September 10th?

Speaker 9:08

Right. And I'll uh ask Brian to pick up the the gauntlet here in a moment, but uh really delighted we have a special uh opening. Uh Nina, with you obviously coming uh the current chair of the criminal justice section. Great to have you extend the welcome to everybody there and um looking forward to a great year for you as as chair of the section, president uh of the section. I wanted to yeah, so it's a great beginning. Uh usually uh Brian and I are both uh shy, right, Brian? And so we uh we worry about uh who's gonna make the opening comments, but I think both Brian and I will share that opportunity, and we want to get right to the program as quickly as we can, don't we, Brian?

Speaker 1 9:55

Yes, but I I do want to echo uh Joe's remarks, Nina, and and uh we are so fortunate and grateful to have your attendance and support, not only this year, but in years past, and it has really uh helped make it uh not only a special program, but kind of more of a national program. And so we're very grateful for all of the uh support from you and and the criminal justice section and the ABA.

Speaker 3 10:20

Well, entirely my pleasure. I feel like I get the good end of that stick. So um tell us about uh your first big panel. It looks like you've got a uh a huge plenary coming up.

Speaker 10:32

Right. Uh first panel is uh former uh United States attorneys, a plenary panel uh touching on significant national and regional uh developments. And uh this is a group that's been with us before. Um and I'm delighted that we'll have uh Jill Steinberg, who was U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Georgia, who's now at Equifax, moderating this panel, uh with Ryan Buchanan, who was U.S. attorney here in Atlanta, with Prem Escalana, who was U.S. attorney in Birmingham, Tina King, who was U.S. attorney in Charlotte, Peter Leary, who was U.S. attorney in Macon, and rounding that out with Henry Levet Lavenis, who was U.S. attorney in Nashville. So it's really uh an all-star cast of former U.S. attorneys who are now all in private practice or private business. And um I re remember being in government, uh, and it was often hard to talk about things in some detail and with with the kind of openness you want to have talk about it. And uh these are these people are not hindered by that. They're all uh great lawyers, and I think their observations really are meaningful to the audience about what's going on in Maine Justice and how you can take advantage of uh the the knowledge they give you will give you an advantage, I should say.

Speaker 1 11:57

Yeah, and I think you know, another advantage from having this type of uh geographic diversity on on the panel is that we'll get perspectives not only from Georgia, but in this case also from Alabama, North Carolina, um, and Tennessee. And so in the past, you know, we've we've somewhat been limited to sort of a Georgia perspective, and and this one has uh been expanded.

Speaker 12:18

Much more regional, uh and I think that's of a huge value because um I know our all of our practices we practice all around the United States um and overseas some of us that'll be attending. But I think uh, you know, just pick the phone up, for example, if you ever have anything in Macon or uh uh here in Atlanta or any of these cities where these uh lawyers are currently resident, they can give you the inside look of how the U.S. Attorney's Office in that location is is configured, set up, and how you might want to approach your representation of someone there or some corporate entity. But it's uh and all of the all of these uh presenters will be there at the program throughout the the the two day two or three days we have the program, and uh that's another really added benefit.

Speaker 3 13:14

Yeah, I totally agree. It's like uh it's like a uh an automatic resource. Um wow, what can we expect after that?

Speaker 13:22

Well, let me let me yield back to you, uh Brian, on this one, because you and I, all of us who practice in this uh discipline, white-collar criminal defense, really uh we want to be acquainted with and and know uh general counsels. And we're still rounding out this panel, but we're delighted to have this panel in place.

Speaker 1 13:44

Yeah, no, and I think this is a you know great lesson for for practitioners and um even those uh that are not in uh a general counsel's office, but you know, the uh importance of having an effective compliance program, um, even if we're not in the midst of ongoing litigation or uh an internal investigation, you know, this type of active compliance is something that I think all companies are interested in, and it's something that you know we can provide guidance on and uh are thrilled to have uh a great panel uh including um folks from UPS, the Home Depot, and and Wayne Sanderson Farms, which is uh right up there in Oakwood, Georgia.

Speaker 14:23

Right. And we we may uh as this uh program has been over years, uh we sometimes uh are building an airplane while we're flying it. And so we we may have uh have another a couple of one or more GCs joining us. And um these are really very busy people. And so moderating this panel will be Norm Brothers, who's the general counsel at UPS. And Norm has been uh a friend of the program for many years, and then also, as you mentioned, uh Wayne Farms, but also um Theresa Roseborough, who is the general counsel at Clone Depot. And we expect to have a couple of other GCs from Atlanta Atlanta or Georgia corporations uh on that panel.

Speaker 3 15:09

Wow, that is incredible, and you're 100% right. White colour practitioners are uh drawn like bees to honey to um, you know, general counsel uh individuals, panels, the fact that you get all these top-notch uh general counsels from you know these global organizations is is really just a tribute to the pull, uh, the respect and the command of this institute. Uh you touched upon this earlier, Joe. Uh, you know, now that we're in into the the uh second Trump administration, uh and you've got a panel on that, don't you?

Speaker 15:51

Right. We uh yeah, we call it why call it practice uh Trump uh 2.0. And it really is um uh you know, you can't look at one administration, uh Trump administration, and say, is it exactly the same? No, it's very different. And there's there's a lot of different focus um that this administration has uh put together. And so we'll be looking at the the current DOJ enforcement priorities, uh looking at SEC enforcement priorities. We'll be talking about um composition of the leadership that DA DOJ and how that's uh changed uh and changing by the minute because uh Todd Blanch uh is uh currently before the Senate for confirmation purposes. So for this panel, we are delighted to have again uh a number of people that are that are really uh comp competent in discussing uh what's going on at the department, people that are formally uh uh U.S. attorneys or formally uh you know somehow in government positions. And David Namias is going to be our moderator there, and David was uh U.S. attorney here in Atlanta, but also was Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court. So uh we're we're delighted that he's willing to do that, and he's currently a partner at Jones Day. Anything more to add on to about that panel? In other words, it's uh knowing knowing what justice is focused on might help you uh in representing your clients if they're not focused necessarily on your client's conduct. Um that's a good thing, you know, for the client, obviously. But we think this pro this panel will give people some insights that they wouldn't otherwise uh have uh from practicing, you know, just day-to-day practicing of white collar.

Speaker 3 17:45

Yeah, I I think everyone's always very interested in uh hearing the inside scoop on what's happening in the administration. So um I'm certainly looking forward to hearing that panel. You've um we skipped over the lunch, which I know you guys do a beautiful lunch. I assume it's gonna be um outside as it has been in years past.

Speaker 1 18:11

You know, that usually is sort of weather permitting, uh, but but there is a great, you know, terrace, as you mentioned, and yeah, they always do such a great job uh at that lunch, but yet it's um it that will be uh either in the atrium or or outside.

Speaker 3 18:25

Yeah, it's really beautiful.

Speaker 18:27

I would just say about the the the lunch. Um yeah this year we have it's it's open. And one thing that you know we all love to hear speakers, but sometimes uh it's hard to have a speaker and lunch going on at the same time.

Speaker 4 18:43

Right.

Speaker 18:43

So we want uh people to mix and mingle, uh you know, reconnect with uh old friends or make new friends, and this lunch is a is an opportunity for that to happen. And uh so it's a little bit, you know, out uh I guess asymmetric. You know, I mean everybody tries to squeeze in speakers in every space, but this year we decided let's just have lunch and uh have a conversation. So that's kind of how we're going with that.

Speaker 3 19:12

Uh that's I really yeah, I really, really like that. And and it it is indicative of all the uh social and networking opportunities that you build into this conference, which we'll talk about as we go through the rest of the agenda. Uh I do want to touch upon uh two panels that you're gonna have on this first day. You've got a uh False Claims Act panel, and you've also got a sanctions and export controls panel, two really hot button areas of practice in the white-collar discipline. Uh, can you either Joe, maybe Brian, tell tell us a little bit about those panels because they really are kind of edge.

Speaker 1 19:58

Yeah. The False Claims Act panel, as you mentioned, Nina, you know, the FCA litigation is something that does not seem to be uh going away. And we've got an incredible group to speak on uh that topic this year, moderated by Gabe Imperado, who is uh known to many and a longtime chair of the ABA's National Healthcare Fraud uh conference. Um and then we're also very pleased to be joined by Michael Granston now that he's in private practice. He has been a longtime supporter of our uh program. Um and so you know we've we've really got some great uh subject matter experts and are thrilled that uh that they're gonna be joining us to talk about FCA litigation. And then on the issue of sanction and export controls, Joe, I know that's something that you spend a lot of time with your practice.

Speaker 20:44

Yeah, that's definitely uh let me drop jump back on FCA False Claims Act and say that you know, we're if you're out there and thinking about your practice, where you should grow your practice, definitely the FCA area is one to look at because there's been a huge surge uh in Key Town False Claims Act case filings. And that's you those cases usually are pertinent too. They could be part of a criminal enforcement matter. So it's uh it is in terms of this administration a priority. Likewise, sanctions and export controls uh are a priority for this administration uh with all that's going on in the world right now. Uh certainly the uh conflict with Iran, uh conflict and uh Ukraine, uh continuing uh fear and conflicts around the world with countries like North Korea. Uh you know, those are all situations to where trade is is is uh impacted. And there are sanctions, of course, for trading with certain uh certain countries, but also certain items. You can't ship certain things to certain countries in the world. And it's a trap for the unwary. People who don't know that their company may be impacted by sanctions and export controls need to be be alert to this because you you could find yourself in harm's way and uh under investigation by the government. And uh this is something this administration takes seriously. So we uh were delighted to have Matt Axelrod, who is at Gibson Dunnow, but he was head of uh BIS at Commerce, moderating a panel of real all-stars in this practice area, uh who people who've been in government and people who are familiar with this uh sanctions and export control regime, uh something that uh every every lawyer practicing in White Collar needs to be a little bit familiar with this. And certainly if you get into a situation where you want to ask questions or have questions, again, all of these panelists and the moderator will be available you know post this presentation. But um it it's a tool and resource. The president has used tariffs, of course, for policy reasons to to make a point about fairness and trade. But this really goes beyond that to uh criminal the criminal shipment of weapons and things like that that shouldn't be shipped to certain countries, and uh it's worth uh attending.

Speaker 3 23:17

Wow, that that's fascinating. And I and I see following that, which is obviously pretty intense and interesting, you built in some uh networking and personal time. Have you guys done that before?

Speaker 23:32

Um it's been there, but I think we've characterized it uh more precisely. What what it uh now yeah, I think you may have mentioned that um uh golf. We talked about golf, so there is an opportunity for for that to happen. Um I my golf game is pretty much uh uh in in the in the in the history books at this point, but it it is something that a lot of people enjoy. So if you want to go to the driving range, uh you want to go uh to the spa, those types of things are available to you. There is uh uh an Olympic-sized swimming pool there if someone wants to take a swim or go work out.

Speaker 1 24:10

Well, and I think not coincidentally, Joe, the the bar probably also opens at 4 30.

Speaker 24:15

Yeah, right. So uh yeah, it bending one's elbow is uh welcome. And uh I do think a lot of a lot of great uh conversations and worthwhile uh meetings take place uh in the presence of alcohol. So uh that's something that uh there's even an Irish pub there uh at on the location, which I think is great. I I can't remember the name of it. Paddy's Paddy's, and then there's a uh a traditional bar on the inside of the main hotel, and uh just a couple of really nice locations to to huddle and get together and enjoy uh the time, a little bit of time leading up to the next part of the evening.

Speaker 3 24:54

Absolutely. I have uh made friends during this uh uh which which is now characterized as networking and personal time that uh have uh we'll be lifelong friends. So let's let's turn now. We're at the end of day one. And uh my favorite part of of the conference starts, which is this, not that everything else isn't great, but but this is so unique to this conference, this uh, you know, your your wine cheese reception followed by your incredible dinner, uh, which um is looks like it's in the Chateau Pavilion. Tell tell us about those events, those social events uh first day of the conference.

Speaker 1 25:39

Well, that has always been a big draw and component to this conference, as you mentioned, Nina, is you know, it's large enough to have sort of a critical mass of practitioners from all over the country, yet it's uh you know small enough to where you feel like you can sort of see everybody and and uh make connections or reconnect with uh some old colleagues. And it's really been a highlight of the event for the last you know 10 or 12 years that we've done it, starting with, as you mentioned, the reception on this beautiful lawn at Chateau Alan, followed by what you know I think is the highlight of the conference is the the conference dinner on on Thursday night, uh which is always uh in high demand and and um a really great event.

Speaker 26:21

Yeah, we're fingers are always crossed on the weather, but the uh the uh going outside, uh beautiful weather. We're kind of in the foothills of the uh smoky mountains of rolling, rolling countryside, lovely view of uh all the uh the vineyards, and uh so fingers are crossed at our outside event. Uh our wine and cheese reception will be fine. And then this event has grown so popular that we no longer hold it uh in a cask room inside of the winery. We have to move to a larger space. And um we have a part of the program historically has been uh Brian has identified someone to talk about a case they handle during the uh course of the year. Uh we may or may not have that again this year, but uh and we have people who come to the program, and uh this is the focal point of their visit. They want to come to the conference dinner. That's that's that's why they're that why they're coming. So it's uh it's uh exciting to, you know, I guess uh the colleagues you make at this conference are lifelong, lifelasting uh colleagues and acquaintances, and uh really can help build your business opportunities. So I think this is uh something people love to come to, just to see old friends too.

Speaker 3 27:41

Yeah. Oh, absolutely. Like I said, I lifelong friends and colleagues that I do business with and uh that I've met at this conference and keep in touch with throughout the year. As we move into day two, which is right September 11th, uh you uh you serve a lovely breakfast. You always do that. You do feed your attendees well at this conference, which I can tell you as an attendee is much appreciated. And a good breakfast after a wine and cheese reception and decadent dinner is always really needed. So thank you for that. Um I note that you're you're doing a uh uh Foreign Corrupt Practices Act panel, which is interesting because uh there's this perception that there is no longer Foreign Corrupt Practices Act uh matters. What's your take on that?

Speaker 28:38

Yeah, we uh we put together a panel uh which I call white collar pupere. Um and we we're seeing we still are seeing uh FCPA cases being made about by the department, and I think it's important to uh touch on that, but we also felt like Nina, given that there are the other these other areas of enforcement that the department's uh pushing, that we should sort of m mush all those together. And Margarita aka Mag Maggie O'Donnell, uh who heads up the uh the one of the leaders of the national Y Calla program is going to uh going to be uh doing that uh panel. And again, um I know we'll come back to this, we'll come back to this in a minute, but we'll come back to talk about the judges panel in a second. But anything else uh on this particular FCPA panel uh or our and other antitrust, we're gonna talk about that. We'll talk about prediction markets, uh the SEC coverage of that. So it'll it'll be a lot of different topics. State the enforcement activity from state attorneys general. So that's actually covered in one hour. Um we also are delighted to have Ross Dixon, who's at a law firm called Hickman and Rose, yeah, uh out of London. And uh so I I saw Ross uh at a program, I think it might have been the last program we had in uh big program we had. Uh and it he he's in San Diego. And uh said, Ross, please come to our program. Uh there's so much of this that would be of interest to you, but we'd love to have you speak. So a special shout out to Ross and and of course all the other great panelists. Anything else to talk about?

Speaker 1 30:26

No, I think that's you you hit the nail on the head, Joe. It'll be interesting to have uh sort of mixed disciplines in the one panel.

Speaker 3 30:33

Yeah, I think so too. I think I think it's gonna leave the audience want you know wanting for more, but it's uh it's a great idea. I don't think I've seen that done before. I think it's a great idea. And you are, of course, specifically hitting healthcare fraud given its proliferation in the southeast. So I'm happy to see that.

Speaker 30:54

Yeah, I'm so delighted to see um well I Brian, I've known Brian McAvoy since uh he was an assistant U.S. attorney, and he uh I had a client that might have done some things that weren't totally kosher, but uh Brian uh through through com conversations decided uh to not pursue that prosecution. So I've had a special place in my heart for Brian ever since. But uh then I and then I appreciated that Brian's focal point in his practice as a prosecutor, a lot of it was health care fraud. And then since then, you've been a leader uh at Baker Hostettler of their health care fraud practice. And so I was delighted that you're moderating this uh panel. Can you talk about that some?

Speaker 1 31:39

Well, thank you, Joe. Um, it you know, this is something um uh Nina, like uh a bad cold that just never seems to go away, right? And and uh healthcare fraud abuse enforcement is something that I think will continue to remain a priority for um state and federal uh law enforcement. And and we always have a great uh healthcare fraud discussion, and this year is is no different. Um joined by you know some great uh practitioners from Atlanta, um, and also Marisel Descalzo, who is uh like you, Nina, known nationwide for being uh a great lawyer, a great trial lawyer, and a great healthcare lawyer. So we're thrilled to have Maricel join. And then, of course, the head of uh Mafuku, Jim Mooney, um, who has been in that office for a long time and in this role for a couple of years. And so it yeah, it should really be a great way to close out the program.

Speaker 32:31

It's uh yeah, I think we, you know, when we put this program together, we have to pick and choose, and there's some things that are kind of constants that we always talk about, and healthcare fraud has stayed in that category of being constant because so much of the uh recoveries through Key TAM or false claims that casework uh in the billions of dollars for the Department of Justice comes from the healthcare fraud enforcement piece. Um one one thing I wanted to mention sort of uh beyond beyond that uh health care fraud topic is just sort of our plenary uh panel of judges that we have uh on the final day. Um we could talk a lot about the panel, but it's we've been really fortunate to have uh judges from the three districts in Georgia. Uh wow. We hope to expand from those three districts, but we have judges from all three uh judicial districts here in the state. And uh and and so in some years we've had judges from adjacent or nearby states, but I think it's a great representation, a good cross-section. And they judges have not been unafraid, Brian, to just talk about things that they want to see in their courtroom, how they like to see cases presented. Well, but can you to talk about what are your perspectives on that?

Speaker 1 33:47

I think that's right. And and from the middle district of Georgia, Judge Sands um has has been a huge uh supporter of the program and has has spoken for many years. And so, you know, I I think for him um it's a more comfortable environment where uh he has spoken freely, as you mentioned, which and he always gives great advice uh to practitioners. And then, of course, uh Judge Lisa Godby Wood uh from the Southern District of Georgia, who has appeared many times, and she is uh just such an excellent judge and person and and uh always provides great insight. And you know, from my perspective, I'm very fond of her because when she was the United States attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, I was her first hire as an assistant United States attorney. So um you have to even either give her the credit or the blame. Uh but very, very fortunate to have her be a participant as well.

Speaker 34:38

And I would add to that, uh, we're delighted that uh Chief Judge May from uh Atlanta from the Northern District will be there. She is uh, you know, I'd say all of the all of the judges are really comfortable in this environment. Uh it's I I think they they want to they they want to come back to the program. I you know, I don't I never never ever had anyone say, please invite me, but this is it whenever I we extend them an invitation, uh they're they are always accepting and uh and and want to talk about their perspectives from the bench on uh psychology criminal enforcement and defense. And uh they're not uh reticent to do that. And I think that's been really wonderful. And I just to add to that, uh the um the moderator is a former assistant U.S. attorney here in Atlanta, who's now a judge on the district court here in Atlanta, uh Steve Bremberg. And uh Steve always uh is uh very uh a very great good moderator and will uh turn that into a really exciting panel.

Speaker 3 35:45

Yeah, I mean, uh whenever anyone puts together uh a judge's panel, I mean the audience is riveted, and um it it's always been like that at at your conference. So I'm quite sure it will be again. Um everybody wants to hear what the judges think and as well they should. So listen, gentlemen, uh I cannot wait. Uh September cannot come quick enough. It's it's gonna be obviously fantastic. Um any closing remarks for our audience?

Speaker 36:20

Um I wish I had something really super profound to say. I I there's an expression I sometimes use, which is uh defeat as an orphan and victory has a thousand fathers or mothers. But I think it this is the kind of program where uh so many people contribute to it. So many people deserve credit. And I know in a moment or two you may be talking about some of those people with the ABA, but all a lot of a lot of a lot of hands all lifting this one vote. And uh it wouldn't be possible without the faculty and moderators. And also to thank our our regular our attendees. Uh please sign up, come to this program. We you will not be disappointed. Anything else?

Speaker 1 37:12

Uh yeah, and I just wanted to to add my thanks, Nina, and thank you you and Joe for having me on on today's podcast. And uh again, Nina, for your support and that of the ABA. And and also um, you know, just wanted to say that I I have really uh enjoyed doing this program uh with Joe for you know the last 12 plus years. I've I've known Joe even since before I was in AUSA. Um, you know, Joe's one of the first lawyers uh I met when I became a lawyer, and and he has been uh an incredible presence in Atlanta and a mentor to me. And doing this program every year is a real privilege.

Speaker 37:50

And and I should say likewise, I don't think we could have done it without one another, and uh it's been a great journey.

Speaker 3 37:57

Well, you're you're um you're quite right, Joe, that it does take lots of people to lift the boat. And uh some of the most prominent people lifting the boat are Jamie Campbell, Regina Ashman, Sarah Timothy, um Holly Hampton, also from your office, uh, who just do extraordinary work in putting this conference together. And we're always grateful to them and a special shout-out, thank you to them. Um but I I want to I want to make sure I don't end this podcast without recognizing that it is really uh your vision, Joe Whitley, and your vision, Ryan McAvoy, that started this incredible institute 12 years ago. And uh it's really a gift you give to the profession. So thank you. And with that, ladies and gentlemen, this has been White Collar Talks with Nina and Joe. I'm Nina Marino.

Speaker 39:02

And I'm Joe Whitley.

Speaker 3 39:04

Thanks, everybody.

Speaker 4 39:05

See you in Atlanta. Okay, that's a wrap. Great.

Speaker 39:14

All right. That was very good. Thank you, Nina. Great job. And pleasure.

Speaker 3 39:20

Pleasure, pleasure. I think that is really good. And uh really the the I'll tell you, I got messed up because the agenda on the criminal justice website is inaccurate, and I apologize for that. Um, but it is so