F. Hodge O'Neal Corporate and Securities Law Symposium
Forum 3 · February 22-23, 2002
· David Becker
On February 22-23, 2002, a Weidenbaum Center Forum program on corporate
and securities regulation was held at the Anheuser-Busch Law School at
Washington University. This program was co-sponsored by the Washington
University School of Law. The program featured current and former government
officials, industry leaders, and prominent scholars. The keynote speech
was given by David Becker, General Counsel, U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission. For more information, contact Melinda Warren.
Video of the conference may be accessed from this page. The video is
streamed in RealNetworks format.
Choose a keynote address or panel topic, or scroll down.
Keynote Speaker: David
Becker, General Counsel, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Panel I: Conflicts of Interest
in Accounting & Consulting
Panel II: Conflicts of
Interest for Lawyers
Panel III: Multidisciplinary
Practices
Keynote Speech: David
Becker, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
The General Counsel for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission delivered
the keynote speech on, "Current Issues at the SEC."
Video
Panel I: Conflicts of
Interest in Accounting & Consulting
The first panel explored conflicts of interests in the world
of accounting and consulting, as illustrated by the recent collapse of Enron
Corporation. The last several years has seen the business of the traditional
accounting firm expand significantly in the area of management consulting
to the point where, in many instances, consulting revenues equal or outpace
accounting revenues. The SEC recently revised Rule 2-01 of Regulation SX,
which addresses auditor independence. While various initiatives in this
area have led to some breakups of major accounting and consulting firms,
many firms continue to operate in this controversial manner.
MODERATOR
Joel Seligman is
a Dean and Ethan A. H. Shepley University Professor at Washington University
in St. Louis
Video
PRESENTERS
William T. Allen is
a Professor of Law at New York University School of Law; Clinical Professor
of Business at New York Leonard N. Stern School of Business; Former Chancellor
of the Delaware Court of Chancery; Of Counsel, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen
and Katz
Video
Bevis Longstreth of
Counsel, Debevoise & Plimpton; Former Commissioner, U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission
Video
COMMENTATORS
John H. Biggs is
the Chairman, President, and CEO of TIAA-CREF; Trustee, Washington University
in St. Louis
Video
Nicholas Dopuch is
the Hubert C. and Dorothy R. Moog Professor of Accounting at the John M.
Olin School of Business at Washington University
Video
Shaun F. O'Malley is
a Former Chair of Price Waterhouse (now PriceWaterhouseCoopers)
Video
Lynn Turner is
a Former Chief Accountant of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Video
Panel Discussion by
the participants
Video
Panel II: Conflicts
of Interest for Lawyers
The second panel focused on conflicts of interest for lawyers
and law firms in two distinct contexts: (1) lawyers serving on corporate
boards of directors, and (2) law firms taking equity interests in clients
in exchange for legal services. The former topic has long been the topic
of active debate as lawyer-board members are invariably confronted with
conflicts of interest due to their unique position. The latter topic has
received increased attention in recent years as this practice has spread
thoroughout the country, most commonly with law firms providing legal services
(and even office space) to technology startups with little or no cash in
exchange for equity stakes in those clients.
MODERATOR
Peter A. Joy is
a Professor of Law at the Washington University School of Law
Video
PRESENTERS
James D. Cox is
a Professor of Law at the Duke University School of Law
Video
Donald C. Langevoort is
a Professor of Law at the Georgetown University Law Center
Video
COMMENTATORS
Kathleen Clark is
a Professor of Law at the Washington University School of Law
Video
Harvey J. Goldschmid is
the Dwight Professor of Law at Columbia Law School; Former General Counsel
at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Video
Panel Discussion by
the participants
Video
Panel III: Multidisciplinary
Practices
The final panel compared the standards of conduct for lawyers
and accountants, and included a discussion of multidisciplinary practices
(MDP's). Though the American Bar Association recently voted down a proposal
to allow lawyers to take on non-lawyer partners, the issue of MDP's is
a lively and much-discussed one amongst lawyers and other business professionals,
namely accountants. In discussing the potential for MDP's to drastically
alter the face of the practice of law in the United States, the panel will
explore the operation of MDP's in many European countries.
MODERATOR
E. Thomas Sullivan is
a Dean and William S. Pattee Professor of Law at the University of Minnesota
Law School
PRESENTERS
Mary C. Daly is
the Quinn Professor of Law at Fordham University School of Law; Director
of the Stein Institute of Law and Ethics; Reporter for the ABA Commission
on Multidisciplinary Practice
Video
Burnele Venable Powell is
a Dean and Professor of Law at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School
of Law; Chair of the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility Coordinating
Council; Member of the ABA Commission on Multidisciplinary Practice
Video
COMMENTATORS
Ronald J. Gilson is
the Charles J. Meyers Professor of Law and Business at Stanford Law School
Video
Walter L. Metcalfe, Jr. is
the Chairman of Bryan Cave LLP
Video
Richard Miller is
the General Counsel for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Video
Carol A. Needham is
a Professor of Law at the St. Louis University School of Law; Member of
the Missouri Bar Association Committee on Multidisciplinary Practice
Video
Panel Discussion by
the participants
Video |
