Wildfire risk is a clear and present danger, as made clear by the Palisades, Eaton and other recent wildfires that have spread into urban areas. Cal Fire is required by state law to assess wildfire hazard areas, and it has just released new maps that show a 168% increase since 2011 in the total area of California subject to high and very high wildfire hazards. Almost 1 in 10 Californians now live in those areas, including parts of Beverly Hills and nearby cities, and are subject to a gauntlet of special construction, land clearance and disclosure laws. Furthermore, property owners need to get insurance from insurance companies which want to reduce their fire risk, and which follow their own hazard maps and underwriting standards, not the state maps.

Our speakers, Don Schmitz, a land use consultant, and Michael Lynch, a casualty insurance broker respectively, will explain how fire maps and insurance requirements impact land use, construction, maintenance, and costs. The seminar will strive to help prepare attorneys to guide their clients in a complex and changing situation.

In this presentation, Stacy Monahan Tucker explores disability insurance claims amid layoffs, covering ERISA vs. non-ERISA policies, how terminations affect active or pending disability claims, and key considerations in severance agreements. In addition, the program will discuss whether employees can file claims after termination notices and the evidence required for success, as well as the feasibility of retroactive claims post-termination, including legal limitations. Attorneys will gain practical strategies to advise clients on protecting benefits while managing employer risks.

Join us for a dynamic CLE that unveils how integrating an appellate specialist into your trial team—early and strategically—can be the game-changer your case needs. This session explores the essential role appellate attorneys play throughout the litigation lifecycle and at trial. From shaping persuasive motions, preserving the record of your opponent’s errors at trial (and preventing yours), to crafting post-verdict strategies and navigating complex interim appellate interventions. Learn how appellate insight sharpens trial themes, strengthens records, and anticipates developments to maximize outcomes at every stage of litigation and trial.