Vermont (VT) Business Law CLE Course Catalog

In the next installment of this popular series, grab a beer and a box of Cracker Jack as Peter Afrasiabi walks you through the unique legal position that America’s pastime occupies in the United States. From the first pitch -- when the Supreme Court initially conferred regulatory immunity upon the sport – through to what may be the final out – more recent decisions such as NCAA v. Alston that have opened the door for amateur athletes to profit from their names and likenesses, Peter will make you a legal expert on baseball in nine innings or less.

What would your company do if it ran out of water? For many reasons -- including climate change and population growth -- this is not merely a hypothetical but a real risk that your company needs to assess and manage. This program provides the guidance you need to evaluate and address the water risks your company faces while suggesting ways your company may be able to transform water risks into business opportunities. In the United States, cannabis is growing faster than any other industry and is expected to generate over $20 billion by 2020. But investing in cannabis, or doing business with companies involved in cannabis production or distribution, comes with substantial legal and other risks. This program offers practical advice to avoid the most common pitfalls when companies choose to invest in cannabis or do business with companies in that industry.

In the next installment of this popular series, Peter Afrasiabi asks a simple question: Are you ready for some football? For more than 150 years, the game of football has occupied a unique position in the United States in terms of the legal regime that governs teams and the leagues in which they play. Peter discusses the antitrust decisions and other key developments that have allowed American football to become the global powerhouse it is today.

Given the massive amount of dollars being poured into ESG funds and the SEC’s renewed focus on both the funds and the companies in the funds, there is no time like the present for companies to engage in an assessment of their climate risks and how these risks and the status of the companies’ ESG goals are being relayed to investors.

In house counsel plays a crucial role in modern business operations, especially in uncertain times. When considering opportunities for mergers or acquisitions in this risky market, the GC should be ready to take the lead on strategy and planning in order for success. This session will teach you how to protect your company against potential risks involved in M&A.

Chapter 11 doesn’t work for every corporate liquidation. This panel of experts will discuss other ways a corporation can be liquidated, including out-of-court liquidations, receiverships, ABCs, the Delaware Dissolution Statute and chapter 7.

The Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 was heralded as one of the most important pieces of bankruptcy legislation passed since BAPCPA in 2005. Has the SBRA been widely and effectively used? What important current case law issues exist? Is the SBRA here to stay? Will the $7.5 million debt limit be a permanent change? The panelists will explore these questions and more.

Successful chapter 11 cases require financing from the start. This panel will discuss financing a chapter 11 case from day one through the reorganization plan’s effective date, focusing on complex cash collateral/DIPI financing and exit financing issues.

Many businesses thrived and grew during the COVID-19 pandemic, while others died on the vine. How do you understand the value of distressed businesses in a post-COVID-19 world? This panel will explore how to evaluate post-COVID-19 business plans and tax strategies to enhance and preserve value.