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Elected and Appointed

Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel announced that firm administrator Krista Hart was named president elect of the Philadelphia chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators.

Hart previously served as the organization's vice president of communications.

In her new role, Hart will continue to serve on the chapter's board of directors, preparing to assume the position of president to ensure continuity of leadership.

During her term, she will be responsible for assisting the president in fulfilling his or her duties and acting on behalf of the president when the president is unable to do so.

She will attend all social events and organization meetings and will communicate regularly with regional representatives and the ALA headquarters in order to keep the chapter's members apprised of all activities.

She also will ensure that members uphold the ALA's code of professional ethics.

As firm administrator, Hart assists Panitch Schwarze attorneys and staff with their workplace needs.

She manages the administrative operations of the firm, including supervising all non-attorney personnel, evaluating and managing the firm's operating and information systems, performing the firm's human resources administration, overseeing the firm's finance functions, performing marketing functions and client development activities, and evaluating, managing and supervising the facilities of the firm.

Hart holds a bachelor's degree in business management and marketing from the State University of New York at New Paltz and earned her Society for Human Resource Management certified professional certification in 2017.

Panitch Schwarze is an intellectual property boutique firm with attorneys that have experience across the sciences, in technologies and in branding ranging from semiconductors and computer software to household products and toys.

Events

The American Bankruptcy Institute is slated to host a series of webinars looking at the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act and the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 that went into effect Feb. 19.

The programs feature speakers looking at how the laws will create greater access to financial relief for consumers and small businesses seeking bankruptcy.

The program "Preference Update: SBRA's Due Diligence Requirement" is set to be held from 1 to 2:15 p.m. Wednesday.

Speakers will include Timothy J. McKeon of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo; U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Jerrold N. Poslusny of the District of New Jersey; Shane G. Ramsey of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough; and Bethany J. Rubis of ASK.

The program is hosted by the ABI young and new member committee.

The panel will discuss the Small Business Reorganization Act's requirement that a trustee (or debtor-in-possession) take into account a defendant's defenses before bringing an action.

This amendment, which is applicable in all cases, requires the plaintiff to engage in reasonable due diligence regarding a defendant's affirmative defenses before initiating a preference action.

The panel will discuss different approaches to satisfy the new requirement.

The webinar is free to attend, and CLE is available to members in qualifying states, including Pennsylvania.

Announcements

Attention young lawyers!

Send in your questions for a new Q&A advice column for the Young Lawyers page in The Legal.

A panel of experts from the law firm Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis will answer a few selected questions in each monthly column, advising young lawyers about their career, professional development, office politics, business development, pro bono work, relationships with mentors and colleagues, and so on.

Email your questions to [email protected].