Virginia Live CLE Bundle 2021

In both trial and appellate courts, judges possess the authority to issue decisions sua sponte, meaning on their initiative, without a motion or briefing from the parties. While sometimes procedurally necessary, these unprompted rulings can significantly alter the trajectory of a case, catch counsel off guard, and present complex challenges on review.

This course equips attorneys with a comprehensive understanding of sua sponte decisions, including what they are, when courts may issue them, and the procedural and substantive rules that govern them. Participants will explore strategic approaches to minimize the risk of adverse sua sponte rulings and gain practical tools to respond when such decisions occur effectively.

Designed for both new and experienced practitioners, this program is especially valuable for appellate attorneys and litigators seeking to sharpen their procedural skills and anticipate judicial action outside the bounds of party-driven litigation.

Learning Objectives:

1. Evaluate what a sua sponte decision is and how to identify when one has been issued. 
2. Assess preventative measures to avoid a sua sponte decision.
3. Examine options to respond to a sua sponte decision, particularly in an administrative law context.

Ongoing legislative and litigation battles, now in more than twenty states, are occurring over the use of ESG (environmental social governance) investment criteria for government funds, contracts, and pensions along with attempts to establish corporate disclosure requirements where ESG factors inform business choices. On one side stand ESG advocates who factor variables such as climate change into investment screens and supply chain decision-making. Their alleged ultimate goal is to mitigate the risks associated with environmental harm downstream and to create sustainable revenue flows. On the other hand, opponents view ESG investment risk screens as boycotts against specific industrial sectors such as nonrenewable energy. Both sides perceive the other as favoring undemocratic and unlawful constraints on free trade. Familiarity with the growing body of legislation and case law is increasingly necessary to effectively advise corporate clients and government entities.

ESG strategies such as divestment from the fossil fuel industry when required in negative investment screens for stock portfolios, partnership agreements, or government contracting have become associated with mitigating risks and enhancing corporate efficiencies on the one hand and targeted boycotts against excluded industries on the other. This has led to a raft of legislation across the country either strengthening ESG requirements such as in Oregon or laws that seek to undo ESG commitments such as in Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Idaho, and Utah. The latter often proceed by conditioning government contract awards on the removal of ESG scores thereby effectively banning the use of ESG criteria by recipients. Likewise, litigation is percolating in multiple states such as Oklahoma, Utah, Maryland, Texas, Louisiana, West Virginia, and Wisconsin asserting that government attempts to allow or require ESG factors in investment decision-making is ultra vires in contravention of federal law and free market principles.

This course is suitable to attorneys at any stage in their career who seek to better understand the burgeoning controversy regarding incorporating ESG risk factors into government contracts and corporate investment decision-making.

Learning Objectives:

• Review the origins and expanding meaning of “ESG” (i.e., “environmental social governance”) including the ongoing debate over whether ESG represents a threat to free market principles via the move away from shareholder theory to stakeholder theory
• Evaluate recent trends marked by legislation introduced in 37 states in 2023 to either prevent or encourage companies to consider ESG risk factors such as climate change preparedness and diversity of management/workforce in investment decisions along with litigation by investors directly against corporations
• Analyze the practical challenges of creating positive or negative investment screens for particular categories of stocks held in portfolios such as for those in the energy sector
• Comparatively assess controversies over ESG (environmental, social, governance) on the one hand and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) on the other
• Analyze multiple cases across at least seven states in the past two years seeking to prevent retirement plan administrators from considering ESG factors when making investments on behalf of plan beneficiaries
• Forecast the efficacy of legislation and/or litigation whether favoring or disfavoring ESG criteria in changing actual corporate practices

Course Time Schedule:

Eastern Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Central Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Mountain Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Pacific Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Alaska Time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Hawaii-Aleutian Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

This course is also being presented on the following dates:

Friday, December 26, 2025
Monday, December 29, 2025

This course will break down the steps of the transaction and provide attendees with a foundation in business acquisitions from a legal perspective. Attendees will learn about common problems that arise during various phases of the transaction, such as pending litigation, outstanding tax liabilities, obtaining regulatory consents, and other requirements. 

Effectively guiding clients through the sale or acquisition is essential to providing the best service possible. It can help enhance the value of a sale, get the best value on a purchase, limit liability, and comply with local laws and regulations. 

This program is appropriate for transactional attorneys. After completing this program, attendees will know how to draft effective acquisition and sale agreements, the difference between asset and stock sales and acquisitions, the elements of due diligence, bill of sale, corporate resolutions, and other documents necessary to complete the transactions.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the steps of a business acquisition
• Identify documents required to complete business acquisitions
• Detect potential liability exposure in the transaction
• Apply the facts learned during due diligence to effectively draft transaction documents

Course Time Schedule:

Eastern Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Central Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Mountain Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Pacific Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Alaska Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Hawaii-Aleutian Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

This course is also being presented on the following dates:

Saturday, December 27, 2025

In this interactive seminar, attendees will review decisions by the United States Supreme Court concerning police stops of motor vehicles. Discussion areas include the legal standards for stopping cars, police pursuits, and the lawful duration of traffic stops. The course will also cover special considerations with DWI checkpoints and whether Miranda warnings must be read to motorists. 

Identifying common issues surrounding vehicle stops by law enforcement is a key skill for prosecutors and defense attorneys nationwide. By understanding the constitutional standards for vehicle stops and searches, attorneys may become better equipped to represent their clients in criminal proceedings. 

This course is designed for attorneys who litigate criminal cases at all levels and for attorneys interested in constitutional law and criminal procedure issues. 

Learning Objectives: 

• Identify the legal standards for stopping vehicles, including stops at no suspicion and reasonable suspicion
• Recognize the objective standard for stopping motorists
• Identify the requirements of a lawful traffic/DWI checkpoint
• Explain the law of police pursuits, including exigent circumstances
• Explore whether Miranda warnings must be administered to vehicle occupants

Course Time Schedule:

Eastern Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Central Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Mountain Time: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Pacific Time: 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Alaska Time: 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Hawaii-Aleutian Time: 6:00 AM - 7:00 AM

This course is also being presented on the following dates:

Saturday, December 20, 2025