Page 65 - FDCC Flyer Summer 2021

“virtual” number of people attend these sessions live while others watched them at their convenience whenever they wish, at any time, from wherever they are, after the sessions are posted on the FDCC On Demand page of the website. Our average attendance was approximately 49.5/event with just over 1,400 people attending these events every month.
It started when, shortly after the quarantine began, the human
side of the pandemic was brought into full focus as we all listened to quarantined FDCC International Member Carlo Francesco Galantini speaking to us live from his home in Milan, Italy and hearing the ambulance sirens passing by in
the background carrying people who had succumbed to the disease to the local hospital. In the weeks that followed, the number of people affected in the United States began increasing proportionately. And to think we had just been
all together and then left the fantastic Winter 2020 meeting
at the JW Marriott Camelback Resort a few weeks beforehand. But the resolve of our members was caused to shift to share our concerns, fears, questions, ideas, opportunities and ways in which
to keep firms and companies
open, Associates engaged, and exceeding the expectations of our clients and colleagues. One of
the larger attended virtual events engaged a number of law firm managing partners in an interactive discussion on the Paycheck Protection Program, addressing the issue of employee retentions, and compensation; and another was a fireside chat on Veterans Day 2020 with our very own General Michael
The FDCC has come through this recent period of uncertainty with a renewed strength of purpose, a solid and strengthened financial position, and a game plan that will continue to chart our progress and that of our members as the legal profession continues to evolve.
Neil reflecting on his leadership in the jungles of Vietnam and lifetime of service as a US Marine.
The Amicus and Public Policy Committee also came through
with several state, federal and
US Supreme Court amicus briefs and Comments filed with the Administrative Office of the US Courts and state bars on the issues of consolidation of dissimilar cases; third-party litigation funding; the imposition of punitive damages; in personam jurisdiction; summary judgment standards; pre-judgment interest awards; admissibility of expert witnesses; and application of the learned intermediary doctrine to medical devices. Rather than
just joining in with the comments of other organizations in a “me too” filing, the FDCC’s voice in advocating for our unique segment of the industry is being requested, heard and recognized.
The annual Corporate Counsel Symposium pivoted to an all virtual format and a decision was made to hold a special Insurance Industry Institute in an off-year so that members could be informed
and ask questions of industry professionals, regulators, legislators and colleagues on “what happens now?” Even the Winter 2020 meeting wentn virtual. All 3 events were offered with free Continuing Legal Education credits on interactive platforms, which never could have been accomplished without the valued and continued support of our Sponsors. There are many fascinating side stories which took place when our members decided to find ways in which
to ensure the value proposition
of the Federation was not just maintained but accelerated - not just on a professional basis, but on a personal one as well.
This frenetic activity also included a continuing emphasis on deepening our bench strength by nominating other defense and corporate counsel and industry professionals to become members. We similarly evolved in becoming more intentional in our recruiting efforts. This will ensure the composition of our membership is more diverse and reflective of the clients and boards we serve, and the judges and juries we appear in front of. 172 defense and corporate counsel and insurance industry professionals have been nominated since August 1, 2020, of which the Admissions Committee has so far already approved 119 new members, as noted Stacy Broman’s excellent article within this magazine. This brings the total membership of
the FDCC within the respective membership categories to the following numbers reflected in the following chart.
FDCC News
www.thefederation.org
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