Inaugural Business Law Symposium to Focus on White Collar Crime
From a lawyer who famously represents top rappers to a high-profile fraud case involving Silicon Valley, Stetson Law’s inaugural Business Law Review Symposium will be a day of compelling discussion. Taking place virtually Feb. 25, this year’s event is called “White Collar Crime: A Look into the Past, Present, and Future.”
The event will be a vibrant mix of academics and practitioners, providing a rare opportunity for practicing lawyers, scholars, and students to examine all aspects of law relating to white collar crime, from ethical questions to real-world examples.
“We are excited about the upcoming inaugural symposium of Stetson University College of Law’s Business Law Journal on an important topic in the news, white collar crime,” said Law Professor Ellen Podgor, Stetson’s Gary R. Trombley White Collar Crime Research Professor. “The Symposium provides a mix of presentations on topics for academics, students, and practitioners, in this key area of the law.”
Why White Collar Crime?
The term “white collar crime” is said to have been coined by sociologist Edwin Sutherland in 1939. The Federal Bureau of Investigation defines it as “characterized by deceit, concealment, or violation of trust” rather than violence or the threat of physical harm. It’s typically financially motivated – so while a victim might not suffer physical injury or death, they can experience financial ruin by no fault of their own.
“From insider trading to outright fraud, white collar crime costs investors and the markets billions of dollars, yet it is too seldom effectively prosecuted,” said Stetson Law Professor Joe Morrissey, the Business Law Review‘s faculty advisor.
He said one topic that’ll be up for discussion is a recent high-profile example of white collar crime: Elizabeth Holmes and the company she founded on false promises, Theranos. Although Theranos was dissolved in 2018, the Silicon Valley-based startup was once valued at $10 billion.
A Day of Fascinating Discussion
Morrissey will moderate a morning academic panel called “Investigation & Insider Trading.” A second academic panel, “Prosecution & Punishment for Corporate Officers,” will be moderated by visiting Professor Karen Woody.
The afternoon has two practitioner panels that will explore two key aspects of the white collar practice. The first will be a panel on discovery issues that considers recent congressional legislation, the Due Process Protection Act, and issues criminal defense lawyers face with white collar cases.
Unlike street crime, white collar crime investigations are typically document-driven and evidence is largely found in computers or corporate materials. Sifting through and organizing voluminous records can make discovery particularly challenging.
The second panel will examine ethical issues associated with white collar practice. The panel will offer their perspectives on some of the unique ethical landmines presented when representing a client in a corporate setting.
High-Profile Defense Attorneys to Speak
The day ends with a spirited conversation with practitioners Drew Findling and Marissa Goldberg, who will discuss the pre-trial issues that arise in handling a white collar case.
Findling is a high-profile Atlanta-based lawyer known for representing the likes of rappers Gucci Mane and Cardi B. A past president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, his practice, Findling Law Firm, P.C. focuses on state and federal criminal defense.
A partner at Findling Law, Goldberg has successfully represented clients in a range of high-profile and political cases, including a recent case involving Atlanta City Hall.
Organizers say they hope the event will raise interest in the legal dynamics of white-collar crime among the Stetson Law community.
“We hope that the information presented by our distinguished authors and panelists will provide opportunities for growth and inspiration,” said student Omar M. Hussein, editor of Stetson’s Business Law Journal.
See full schedule, speaker bios and more at the Stetson Business Law Review Symposium page.
Post date: Feb. 9, 2022
Media contact: Kate Bradshaw
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