At USLAW NETWORK’s annual meeting in Colorado Springs, the USLAW Board of Directors and Board of Directors’ Executive Committee were announced.  Franklin & Prokopik principal, Ami C. Dwyer of the firm’s Baltimore office and a member of the USLAW Executive Committee, was named Vice Chair.  Ami is very active in USLAW; she has served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for several years and is a past chair of both the Construction Law Committee and the Women’s Collection.  F&P is extremely pleased and proud that Ami has been honored with this new Vice Chair role.

USLAW is an international organization composed of nearly 100 independent, full practice firms with roots in civil litigation, including more than 6,000 attorneys covering the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. USLAW is comprised of highly rated law firms that are part of the NETWORK by invitation only. Member firms undergo a rigorous review process to insure outstanding quality of lawyers throughout the USLAW NETWORK. USLAW firms are experienced in commercial and business law, employment and labor law, litigation and other business-related areas of law. All firms have substantial trial experience. USLAW member firms provide legal representation to major corporations, insurance companies, and large and small businesses alike.

F&P principal Bert Randall presented on the Department of Labor’s (DOL) New Overtime Rule at the Maryland Motor Truck Association’s (MMTA) Annual Meeting last week.  The importance of the topic spans across industries, as the DOL’s “Final Rule” on overtime will affect an estimated 4.2 million workers.  Bert’s presentation provided key information including the various changes the rule entails and the steps for employers to take proactively to determine the best course of action in response.  The effective date of the Final Rule is December 1st, 2016.

The meeting took place on September 29th at Turf Valley in Elliott City and was followed by cocktails, a Chairman’s Banquet, awards and entertainment.  Additional topics covered were electronic logging devices, time management best practices, and an update on Maryland’s business climate from Maryland’s Department of Commerce Secretary, Mike Gill.

F&P’s Steve Marshall will be presenting next month at the 30th Annual Conference on Transportation Innovation and Cost Savings.  The conference will be held September 26, 2016 at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Canada.  Steve will speak on “When a Catastrophic Truck Accident Exceeds Insurance Coverage,” discussing the importance of excess insurance coverage in the event of catastrophic losses.

The Annual Conference on Transportation Innovation and Cost Savings is the original, largest and most prestigious one day educational and networking event for shippers and supply chain practitioners in North America. Over the past thirty years it has attracted manufacturers, carriers, intermediaries and distribution executives throughout North America to learn from each other as to the newest cutting edge innovations in logistics in the transportation community.  Attendees are updated on changing regulations in surface transport as well as freight forwarding and food safety.  The objective of the conference is to have each participant take away information which will assist them throughout the year in cost savings and connect with others to broaden their circle and influence.  Registration has grown to include many senior decision-makers within the logistics industry.  Visit http://transportconference.ca/ for additional information.

Franklin & Prokopik Counsel Attorneys Kiran Sharma Rosen and Imoh E. Akpan will serve as co-chairs for this year’s Fannie Angelos Program for Academic Excellence’s Annual Gala.  Now in its third year, the gala will feature a cocktail hour followed by dinner, drinks and dancing and will be held at the Belvedere Hotel on November 17.  It is anticipated that over 250 Maryland attorneys, judges, and other industry leaders will be attending this exciting celebration.

The Fannie Angelos Program is a collaboration between the UB School of Law, Maryland HBCUs and the Princeton Review. The program aims to help students score high on the LSAT, excel in law school and increase diversity in the legal profession.  It is comprised of two sub-programs: the Fanny Angelos Scholars, which elects eight juniors and seniors from Maryland historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) as Scholars, and the LSAT Award Program, which gives 80 students, including the 8 Scholars, a $1,399 LSAT award to take a 16-week Law School Admission Test (LSAT)Prep class.  To learn more about Fanny Angelos, visit http://law.ubalt.edu/admissions/diversity/baltimorescholars/index.cfm.

On June 14, 2016, F&P President Bert Randall will participate in a panel discussion titled “Ethical Dilemmas: Escaping your professional silo” at the Maryland Joint Task Force for Injured Workers’ Annual Conference.  The conference will take place at the Coppin State University’s Talon Center and is sponsored by Coppin State University’s College of Behavioral and Social Sciences and the International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals – Chesapeake.

The conference will aim to provide attendees with essential and practical information that is critical for Claims Adjusters, Nurse Case Managers, Vocational Counselors, Attorneys, Doctors, Therapists and other professionals working with injured workers.

The Joint Task Force on Rehabilitation for the Injured Worker was established in 1983 to provide an educational forum and promote better communication between professionals regarding rehabilitation services for the Maryland injured worker.  The purpose and goal of the Task Force is to identify the skills and knowledge that are needed to assist and equip professionals in providing successful services for Maryland injured workers. Conferences, workshops and written material (The Good Practice Manual and other educational materials) provide the forum to present this information.