The LL.M. Program in Agricultural & Food Law

David Grahn: Farm Policy & the Federal Budget

2012-01-26T12:09:00.000-06:00

And, this week - we were proud to host another top USDA official from Washington, D.C., our good friend David Grahn.

David serves at the USDA Office of General Counsel as Associate General Counsel for International Affairs, Food Assistance, Farm and Rural Programs. He represents the interests of a wide range of USDA entities: Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency / Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, Rural Development Agency, Rural Business Service, Rural Utilities Service, Foreign Agricultural Service, the Food and Nutrition Service, and the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.

David spent Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with our LL.M. class explaining complex aspects of agricultural policy development. Much of the class was devoted to understanding how the federal budget drives policy development and how administrative law can be used strategically to affect policy outcomes. It was a practical, real-world look at how agencies work, how political goals can best be met, and how money works in Washington.

As always, David offered support for our efforts to educate the our LL.M. candidates in the complex issues involving agricultural and food law and policy. His contribution to our efforts is invaluable. We are grateful for his support, and our candidates are delighted with the opportunity to learn from him.

A special note that is a testimony to David's professionalism - In order to avoid any possible conflict of interest or funding issue, David volunteers his time to the Program.

Janie Hipp Visits LL.M. Class

2012-01-21T16:45:00.002-06:00

We were delighted to host our alumnus, Janie Hipp last Friday. Janie serves as Senior Advisor for Tribal Affairs to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and is also the Director of the new USDA Office of Tribal Relations within the Office of the Secretary. Janie delivered a powerful message about her work with tribal members and the USDA's efforts to rebuild trust and encourage participation.

Just last month, Janie received special recognition for her liaison work with the nation's tribes at the Indian Agriculture Symposium, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

We are delighted to provide our LL.M. candidates the opportunity to learn from and interact with our alumni. Having our graduates in such high positions within the USDA is an honor and a tribute to the talented LL.M. candidates that go through our Program. We look forward to working with Janie on Program initiatives going forward.

The Role of Lawyers in the Food Movement

2012-01-18T09:29:00.000-06:00

Last month, Emily Broad Leib, Senior Clinical Fellow in the Health Law and Policy Clinic at Harvard Law School spoke at a TEDx forum on food policy.

Well-crafted food policy should fulfill a range of goals, including increasing access to healthy foods, improving economic development for small producers, reducing obesity and diet-related disease, and increasing food security.

Professor Leib discusses the role that lawyers (and law students) can play in developing food policy, and she references our LL.M. Program's role in training lawyers to do just that. Here is her excellent presentation -

Dean Leeds' Leadership Featured in Article

2012-01-11T10:56:00.002-06:00

I encourage everyone to check out the article that was just posted on our new Dean at the UA School of Law, Stacy Leeds. Dean Leeds' leadership has already been shown in the ideas and the energy that she brings to the LL.M. Program. This week she is teaching a condensed course, Doing Business in Indian Country that several of our LL.M. candidates are taking. Going forward, we hope to tackle some of the complex issues that arise in the merger of agricultural law, food law, and tribal law.

Great things in store . . .

Stacy Leeds – A Woman Who Leads the Way

Stacy Leeds knows what it is to be a leader and a mentor … she has been one her entire adult life. And if you spend some time talking with her, you will find that leadership is something that seems to come to her naturally. There is a confidence in the way she speaks that makes you realize this is someone who is used to speaking up and getting results.
These days she is speaking up plenty in her new position as dean of the University of Arkansas Law School in Fayetteville, a position she took on just six months ago. The school is one of only two law schools in the state of Arkansas, with a student population of approximately 445 students. As a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Leeds is the first female American Indian to head a law school. But even before this appointment, the 40-year-old single mother from Tahlequah was already a leader. . . .

LL.M. Program Benefits from Law Professor/LL.M. Candidates

2011-12-10T19:20:00.000-06:00

Both this academic year and last year in the LL.M. Program in Agricultural & Food Law, we have had the honor of hosting visiting scholars, law professors from other schools that attended the LL.M. Program as degree candidates.

Last year, Professor Tae Huan Keum came to study with us for his sabbatical from the Seoul National University in Korea. While in the Program, he researched and wrote an article on the regulation of U.S. beef and the risk of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE or "Made Cow" disease), a major issue in U.S. trade negotiations with South Korea. I recently received an email from him that referenced his "wonderful experience in Fayetteville" where he was able to "meet the issues of the American agriculture, smart students, enthusiastic professors, and the Razorback Football team. . . From the introduction to American agriculture to all the classes including Food, Farming, Sustainability, I was given new insights and was made to consider solutions to the problems of agriculture."

This year, we are proud to host Professor Martha Dragich, James S. Rollins Professor of Law at University of Missouri – Columbia School of Law. Her interest in food law and our food system led her to study with us, and she has provided a significant contribution to our studies so far this year. Her impressive publication record and her thoughtful approach to scholarship has led many of our young scholars to seek out her advice. And, the food she has prepared for the class has been amazing. Indeed, we met the "Slow Food Challenge" at Martha's house this fall! Martha is also a talented photographer, and she has allowed us to use her photos of produce at the Fayetteville Farmers Market on our brochures.

This year's class also includes Volha Samasuk, Senior Lecturer, Belarusian State University Law Department, Minsk, Belarus. Volha was interested in our program because of her work with international food safety and quality standards through the Belarus Food Safety Improvement Project of the International Finance Corporation in The World Bank Group. She has also been a fantastic contributor - sharing the world of Belaraus with us, and most recently, the secrets of Eastern European potato pancakes at the end of the semester party!

We are fortunate to have these professors with us. We hope that their example encourages others to take a year, or even just semester off to "return to school" and study with us. We can all learn from each other!

Cross-posted with Agricultural Law Blog.

UA School of Law Dean Leeds Appointed to Trust Commission

2011-12-07T11:00:00.001-06:00

The Arkansas Newswire posted an exciting announcement today about our Dean, Stacy Leeds:

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar named University of Arkansas School of Law Dean Stacy L. Leeds to a national commission that will undertake a forward-looking, comprehensive evaluation of the Interior Department’s trust management of nearly $4 billion in Native American trust funds. Leeds was one of five prominent American Indians named to the Secretarial Commission on Indian Trust Administration and Reform.

"This commission will play a key role in our ongoing efforts to empower Indian nations and strengthen nation-to-nation relationships," Salazar said in naming the appointees to the Secretarial Commission on Indian Trust Administration and Reform. “The five members each bring extensive experience and knowledge to the commission, and I look forward to their findings and recommendations for how we can fully meet our trust responsibilities to the First Americans.”

Leeds is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and the first American Indian woman to serve as dean of a law school. She has served as a judge for many tribes including the Cherokee Nation, where she was the only woman and youngest person to ever serve as a Supreme Court Justice. Before joining the University of Arkansas on July 1, she served as interim associate dean for academic affairs and as director of the Tribal Law and Government Center at the University of Kansas School of Law. Prior to joining Kansas, she was a professor and director of the Northern Plains Indian Law Center at the University of North Dakota School of Law.

The other members of the commission are:

Chair – Fawn R. Sharp is the current president of the Quinault Indian Nation, the current president of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, and a former administrative law judge for the state of Washington and governor of the Washington State Bar Association.
Peterson Zah, an established leader in Native American government and education circles, was the last chairman of the Navajo Tribal Council and the first elected president of the Navajo Nation.
Tex G. Hall, current chairman of Three Affiliated Tribes and past president of the National Congress of American Indians, is currently serving as chairman of the Inter Tribal Economic Alliance and is the chairman of the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen's Association.
Bob Anderson, an enrolled member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (Bois Forte Band), has six years of experience working at the Department of the Interior from 1995-2001 as associate solicitor for Indian affairs and as counselor to the secretary of the Interior on Indian law and natural resource issues. He is currently a professor of law and director of the Native American Law Center at the University of Washington, and holds a long-term appointment as the Oneida Nation Visiting Professor of Law at Harvard Law School.

The Interior Department selected the members after a public solicitation for nominations and, in consultation with trust beneficiaries, evaluated the candidates on the basis of their expertise and experience, including in government and trust, financial, asset and natural resource management. Members were selected in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act and they will serve without compensation.

Within 24 months, the commission is expected to complete a comprehensive evaluation of the Interior Department’s management and administration of the trust assets and offer recommendations of how to improve in the future.

Salazar’s announcement came in advance of the third White House Tribal Nations Conference on Friday, Dec. 2, at the Department of the Interior. The conference brought together leaders from the 565 federally recognized tribes to hear from President Obama and to build upon the administration’s commitment to strengthen the government-to-government relationship with tribal nations.

Salazar established the framework for the commission in a 2009 Secretarial Order, which addressed the department’s future responsibilities for trust management after the Cobell Settlement agreement set forth resolution of a class action lawsuit regarding the U.S. government's trust management and accounting of individual Native American trust accounts and resources. The Cobell Settlement will be effective when all appeals are resolved favorably.

Under federal law, the Department of Interior is responsible for managing 56 million surface acres and 57 million acres of subsurface mineral estates for 384,000 Individual Indian Money (IIM) accounts and about 2,900 tribal accounts. Tribal trust assets include land, timber, grazing, oil, gas and mineral resources. More information can be found at the Department of Interior website.

On trust lands, the department manages about $3.9 billion in trust funds and more than 109,000 leases. For fiscal year 2011, funds from leases, use permits, land sales and income from financial assets, totaling about $400 million, were collected for about 384,000 open IIM accounts. About $609 million was collected in fiscal year 2011 for about 2,900 tribal accounts. There are currently 156,596 individual Indian land allotments and more than 4.7 million fractionated interests.

Jason Foscolo Profiled by Good Food Jobs

2011-12-06T14:38:00.001-06:00

I am delighted to report that Jason Foscolo, one of our recent LL.M.s was just featured on the Gastrognomes Blog from Good Food Jobs.

Jason was in the LL.M. Program last year and since leaving Fayetteville has set up Jason Foscolo, LLC as a new food law practice focusing on the needs of the new agricultural and food businesses that make up our changing food system. Jason writes the Food Law Blog with many followers and tweets at @FoodLawAttorney, where he is self-described as: "Legal counsel for farmers and food entrepreneurs. Will work for food!"

Gastrognomes does a nice job describing the love of food that connected this well respected JAG attorney serving at the Pentagon to our LL.M. Program. He's got a great story. And, Jason fit in a nice plug for our Program.

I had the extraordinary opportunity to pursue an advanced degree in Agriculture and Food Law at the University of Arkansas School of Law, the only program of its kind in the United States. The program gave me a comprehensive understanding of the network of special laws that regulate almost every transaction in our food system.

Thanks, Jason.

I have actually been meaning to blog about one aspect of Jason's work - his work with veteran farmers - for some time, and this new acclaim reminded me that it was past time to do so.

Last August, Jason announced his affiliation with the Farmer Veteran Coalition, an amazing non-profit organization based in California. The FVC provides agricultural training as well as financial assistance to returning veterans so that they may build viable careers on our nation’s farms. Their mission is as straightforward as it is powerful. "The mission of the Farmer-Veteran Coalition is to mobilize veterans to feed America." Their work and the help that they provide to vets returning from Iraq or Afghanistan was highlighted in the New York Times article Helping Soldiers Trade Their Swords for Plowshares.

Jason participated in the Coalition’s veteran-farmer training in Philadelphia and presented on small business law, food safety regulations and food-born illness liability, farm labor laws, and the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. He described his experience as follows.

The vets I met with are still enormous assets for their country. They are creating jobs, strengthening rural communities, and growing great food. As they always have, they will succeed in this.

If you would like to donate or volunteer with the Farmer Veteran Coalition, click here for additional information.

We wish Jason great success with his practice. He really does have a "good food job."

David Lambert Visits Food, Farming, & Sustainability Class

2011-11-19T19:02:00.001-06:00

We were privileged to have a special guest visit the LL.M. Program last week. David Lambert was in Fayetteville as a guest of the Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences, and he offered to stop by the LL.M. Program to talk to our class. He has been an enthusiastic supporter of our efforts to link food, agriculture, and the law in a way that is helpful to the problems of hunger, environmental problems, and sustainability.

David is recognized internationally as an expert in global food security and the fight against world hunger. A native of Arkansas, David is principal of Lambert Associates, a Washington, D.C., public affairs consulting firm providing strategic policy advice to United Nation’s agencies, land-grant universities and the U.S. private sector on issues related to global food security, child nutrition, food safety and agricultural biotechnology. He also served as Foreign Agricultural Service Counselor to the U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies during the Clinton Administration.

During his visit to our class, David asked critical questions regarding the problems of global hunger. He presented the alarming statistics on the current condition of global food insecurity.

About one billion people are chronically hungry, with inadequate access to food and water
25,000 die of hunger and related causes each day; about nine million each year
A child dies of hunger every five seconds
More than one billion people live on less than $1 a day

He discussed why we should care about global hunger, what the root causes are, and what policies are needed to address the problems. And, he discussed the critical role that our LL.M. Program might play in developing the critical link between food, agriculture, and the rule of law. Only with the appropriate legal infrastructure and equitable laws that are uniformly enforced can we achieve solutions to the problem of global hunger.

David is an outspoken leader on global hunger issues, and we were honored to have him with us. His moving presentation, The Quest to End Hunger in Our Time: Can Political Will Catch Up with Our Core Values? is available on the Clinton School of Public Service website. The Journal of Food Law & Policy was pleased to publish his remarks from that presentation. They are available online courtesy of the Iowa State University Seed Science Center.

Bill Marler Teaches Food Safety Litigation Class

2011-11-19T14:51:00.001-06:00

This past week, we were pleased to welcome our distinguished visiting professor, Bill Marler for the condensed course that he teaches on Food Safety Litigation. The first two hours of his class were conducted as a public forum, with good attendance from the law school, others from the University of Arkansas, and the wider community.

An accomplished attorney and national food safety expert, William (Bill) Marler is recognized as the most prominent foodborne illness lawyer in America and a major force in food policy. His firm, Marler Clark has represented thousands of individuals in claims against food companies whose products have caused serious illness or death, securing over $600,000,000 for victims of E. coli, Salmonella, and other foodborne illnesses. He is the founder of the popular online newspaper, FoodSafetyNews, a blogger and tweeter with a large following, and a frequent commentator on food safety issues. Marler Clark is a sponsor of our Graduate Assistantship program, with Allie Condra serving as the 2011-12 Marler Clark Graduate Assistant.

Bill Marler was a strong proponent of the Food Safety Modernization Act that was signed into law in January of 2011. This was the first major reform of the Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) food safety regime in seventy years. It shifts the FDA focus from reactive to preventative, expands FDA powers to inspect and recall, establishes risk-based priorities, and addresses major weaknesses in import safety assurances. Bill advocated for the legislation, writing about the need for better consumer protection, testifying before Congress, and speaking to the media about the need for stronger food safety regulation. His public forum topic was, How the Food Safety Modernization Act Came About: Food Safety and Forces of Change.

As part of the condensed course, Bill brought popular author Jeff Benedict to Arkansas to talk to the class. Jeff is the author of the well received 2011 book, Poisoned: The True Story of the Deadly E. Coli Outbreak That Changed the Way Americans Eat. This book chronicles the historic Jack in the Box E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in 1993 and its impact on our food safety system. As one review notes, the book provides a "jarringly candid narrative of the fast-moving disaster drawing on access to key documents and exclusive interviews with the real-life characters at the center of the drama - the families whose children were infected, the Jack in the Box executives forced to answer for the tragedy, the physicians and scientists who identified E. coli as the culprit, and the legal teams on both sides of the historic lawsuits that ensued." Central to the story is the young lawyer, Bill Marler, who "staked his career on bringing the victims justice without compromise."

The LL.M. candidates truly enjoyed the class and the opportunity to get to know Bill and Jeff. They each did a great job in the classroom. Our appreciation is extended to them for providing such a fantastic experience to our class.

FCA General Counsel Charlie Rawls Presents to Class

2011-11-16T14:26:00.001-06:00

Our Food, Farming, & Sustainability class provides a survey of agricultural law, and one of the topics that we discuss is agricultural finance and credit. Part of that unit includes a study of the Farm Credit System, the unique nationwide network of cooperative lending institutions and related organizations. Farm Credit System lenders provide more than $160 billion in loans, leases, and related services to the agricultural community.

In addition to our readings, we were delighted to have an opportunity to learn first hand from Charlie Rawls, the Farm Credit Administration's General Counsel. The Farm Credit Administration is the independent federal agency that regulates the Farm Credit System. Having the opportunity to talk directly with FCA's general counsel was a tremendous opportunity for our LL.M. class.

Charlie Rawls has had an amazing career of leadership in agricultural law and policy. Before joining the FCA in March 2003, he was General Counsel and Vice-President for legal, tax, and accounting at the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. During the consideration of the 2002 farm bill, he served as the General Counsel of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. He served as General Counsel for the USDA from 1998 to 2001, and before that served as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. He also served as Counsel to the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Forests, Family Farms, and Energy; Associate General Counsel of the House Committee on Agriculture; and, Legislative Director and Administrative Assistant to Congressman Martin Lancaster.

Charlie delivered an excellent presentation to the class via live video conference. He provided information about the role that the FCA has in regulating the Farm Credit System and offered his perspectives on the remarkable success of the system. He also discussed the challenges going forward, including issues regarding farm land values, changes to federal farm policy, and changes to U.S. agriculture. He spoke specifically about the growing interest in local food systems and the increasing role that the Farm Credit System will likely play in financing the farmers involved. The class asked many excellent questions, producing a lively dialogue. Our appreciation is extended for this wonderful opportunity.

Professor Don Pedersen Returns to the LL.M. Classroom

2011-10-30T16:00:00.000-05:00

Professor Don Pedersen addressed the LL.M. class last Wednesday, delivering a fascinating lecture on the history of agricultural law as a legal discipline in the United States and the history of the LL.M. Program. Professor Pedersen served as the Director of the LL.M. Program in the early years and is credited with shaping the basic elements of the Program as it exists today.

We were pleased to also have another agricultural law leader in attendance - Professor David A. Myers from Valparaiso University School of Law was visiting the LL.M. Program. Professor Myers served as the Chair of the American Association of Law School's section on Agricultural Law and was one of the founders of the American Agricultural Law Association. He was delighted to reconnect with Don Pedersen and greatly enjoyed his lecture.

Prior to coming to the University of Arkansas, Don was already a recognized leader in agricultural law. He was a full professor at Capital University in Ohio and had been instrumental in the founding of the American Agricultural Law Association. When he was hired, he was already in the process of drafting an Agricultural Law casebook for West Publishing along with Law Professors Keith Meyer (University of Kansas), Norman Thorson (University of Nebraska), and John Davidson (University of South Dakota). That book was published in 1985 and was used extensively. Don subsequently published the West Nutshell on Agricultural Law with Keith Meyer of University of Kansas.

In 1987, Don and Dean Jake Looney worked with LL.M. alumnus Chuck Culver to obtain a grant to the law school for the creation of a National Agricultural Law Center. Don served as co-PI with Jake on this grant until his retirement in 1998.

Don received his B.A. from St. Olaf College in Minnesota and his J.D. from Northwestern University. He had practice experience in Minnesota and began his teaching career at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota.

During the years that he served as Director of the LL.M. Program, Don taught whatever courses were needed, and his expertise included Agricultural Finance & Credit, Forestry Law, Agricultural Labor Law, Agricultural History and Policy, and Agricultural International Transactions. His students knew him as a professor with very high expectations, an exceptionally strong work ethic, and a sense of professionalism that was the quintessential model for all.

Appreciation is extended to Don for all that he has done for agricultural law and for the LL.M. Program. We look forward to his return to the School of Law this Spring when an all-LL.M. alumni reunion is planned. More later on this exciting event!

American Agricultural Law Association Symposium

2011-10-23T17:00:00.000-05:00

We just got back from a wonderful trip to Austin, Texas for the annual educational symposium of the American Agricultural Law Association (AALA).

The LL.M. Program has always had a close relationship with the AALA, and our alumni and faculty continue to play an important role. Again this year, we were very well represented - with a total conference attendance of over two hundred, twenty alumni from our LL.M. Program were registered and six were presenters.

Two alumni from our first graduating class, Terry Centner (Professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Georgia) and Linda Grim McCormick (Senior Division Manager at Jewels by Park Lane and Editor of the Ag Law Update) were there, and we began plans for an alumni reunion this coming Spring. Stay tuned! We hope to schedule it when Neil Hamilton is with us teaching his Spring course. Neil was recruited by then LL.M. Program Director Jake Looney as the first professor hired to teach in the new LL.M. Program.

We were pleased to see two of our alumni from the USDA - Janie Simms Hipp and Brandon Willis. Janie serves as Senior Advisor for Tribal Affairs to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and is also the Director of the new USDA Office of Tribal Relations within the Office of the Secretary. Janie spoke on two program panels - one on Beginning Farmers and another on settlement of the longstanding USDA Discrimination cases. Brandon is the Senior Advisor to Secretary Vilsack on farm programs, and he spoke on Beginning Farmer issues and USDA farm programs.

Nine of our LL.M. candidates attended the conference and displayed poster presentations on special topics of interest. They were involved in all the sessions, asking questions, meeting speakers and other attendees, and representing our program well.

Three of our Visiting Professors were in attendance. Neil Hamilton was there with a large group of his Drake students. He organized and moderated two sessions at the conference. Phil Kunkel, Gray Plant Mooty, Minneapolis, MN received the association's highest honor, the Distinguished Service award, and David Grahn, Associate General Counsel, USDA received the Excellence in Agriculture Award. All three of these impressive professors will be with us this Spring teaching condensed courses.

I am also pleased to report that I was awarded the association's 2011 Professional Scholarship Award for my article, A Reconsideration of Agricultural Law: A Call for the Law of Food, Farming, and Sustainability, 34 WM & MARY J. ENVTL L. & POL'Y REV. 935 (2010).

LL.M. Trip to the National Food Policy Conference

2011-10-08T15:16:00.001-05:00

For 34 years, the National Food Policy Conference has been a Washington institution and a unique collaboration between consumer advocates, the food industry and government. The conference, October 3 and 4 in Washington, D.C., is coordinated by the Consumer Federation of America. CFA’s Media Partner for the conference is The Food Institute Report.

I attended this year's National Food Policy Conference with four of this year's LL.M. candidates, Professor Martha Dragich, Alli Condra, Gina Cucurullo, and Cathy Franck. I speak for all of us in saying that this was a tremendous opportunity.

The conference explored an array of important food policy issues facing consumers and the food industry. Consumer food priorities and trends; government food programs; budget cutbacks, food safety concerns, and the federal farm programs were all topics of discussion. Speakers included USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, Director of the CDC, Thomas Frieden, Former USDA Secretary Dan Glickman, Chef Jose Andres, and many others. It was a particular delight to see fellow-Arkansan Carol Tucker Foreman Carol Tucker Foreman, a leading national voice on food policy and Distinguished Fellow at the Food Policy Institute of the Consumer Federation of America.

The LL.M. Program, in conjunction with the School of Law's Journal staff were pleased to extend an offer to the speakers to publish their conference remarks in the Journal of Food Law & Policy, and we look forward to working with these distinguished presenters on their articles.

Special thanks goes out to Chris Waldrop, the Director of the Food Policy Institute at the Consumer Federation of America for organizing such a wonderful conference, facilitating our publication offer, and assisting us with student scholarships. Thanks as well to our friend and distinguished UA alumnus, David Lambert. David was wonderful in introducing us to speakers and colleagues and helping us to spread the word about the LL.M. Program and the Journal of Food Law & Policy. It was truly a wonderful event.

Pictured above is our group at the conference, from left to right, Gina Cucurullo, Martha Dragich, Cathy Franck, Alli Condra, and me, Susan Schneider

Chris Saunders Awarded Henry Law Firm Assistantship

2011-09-28T22:52:00.000-05:00

The Henry Law Firm in Fayetteville, Arkansas has a primary focus on intellectual property and agricultural law, offering extensive patent, trademark and copyright protection services.

The firm is led by Mark Murphey Henry, a Registered Patent Attorney. Mark is an alumnus of the University of Arkansas School of Law, receiving his J.D., with honors and his LL.M. degree in Agricultural Law. Mark is admitted to practice in six states - Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky, and Missouri and was recently featured in the SuperLawyers Mid-South edition. He has been recognized for his leadership and innovation in intellectual property law and for his pro bono work as well. He is a popular adjunct in the LL.M. program teaching Agricultural Biotechnology each Spring semester. This is the first year that the Henry Law Firm has participated in our graduate assistantship program, and we are delighted to include them.

Chris Saunders is the recipient of the Henry Law Firm Graduate Assistantship. Chris received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from North Carolina State University. He received his J.D. degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 2011. He co-authored a presentation at 2010 American Agricultural Law Association Symposium, Solar Energy: Is It Really A Bright Idea for Farmers? with Ray Starling, General Counsel, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. His professional experience includes work with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services.

Congratulations, Chris, and our appreciation to The Henry Law Firm!

Kristy Boehler Awarded Bassett Law Firm Graduate Assistantship

2011-09-26T19:30:00.000-05:00

We are pleased to announce the 2011-12 public/private partnerships that connect the LL.M. Program with leaders in the food and agricultural law communities. This partnership allows us to offer three graduate assistantships, matching our candidates with law firms and agencies working on the cutting edge of our food system.

Three distinguished law firms, Bassett Law Firm LLP, the Marler Clark Law Firm, and the Henry Law FIrm are our partners in the program this year, and their participation is indeed an honor for us. This post announces the Bassett Law Firm Graduate Assistantship.

Bassett Law Firm LLP, located in Fayetteville, serves clients in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. Since the firm’s founding in October 1981 by the late Bill Bassett and his two sons, Woody and Tod, Bassett Law Firm LLP has enjoyed many accomplishments and sustained growth. The foundation of the firm has been and remains its commitment to the service of its clients, the profession, and the community.

Included in a wide range of community service, Bassett Law Firm LLP has been a particular friend to the University of Arkansas School of Law. The firm annually sponsors the Trial Advocacy scholarship prize to a J.D. student selected by the law faculty. And, thanks to a generous $100,000 gift from the firm, the law school is proud to have its premier W.W. Bassett, Jr. Classroom.

Agricultural Law is a significant practice area for Bassett Law Firm LLP. Partner, Vince Chadick and firm attorney, K.C. Tucker are both graduates of the LL.M. Program in Agricultural Law. A number of LL.M. candidates have clerked at the firm. Vince Chadick is a popular adjunct professor in the LL.M. Program, teaching Regulation of Livestock Sales each fall.

Kristy Boehler is the recipient of the 2011-12 Bassett Law Firm Graduate Assistantship. Kristy is an Arkansas native who received her B.A., cum laude, from Drake University, with majors in Political Science and Law, as well as Politics and Society. She returned to Arkansas to attend the University of Arkansas School of Law, and she received her J.D. degree last Spring, graduating summa cum laude and as the 3rd highest in her class.

In law school, Kristy was a member of the Arkansas Law Review, and she authored the article, Poultry Growers in Arkansas: Agents or Independent Contractors? published at 63 Ark. L. Rev. 849 (2010).

Congratulations to Krisy, and our thanks to the Bassett Law Firm.

Alli Condra Awarded Marler Clark Graduate Assistantship

2011-09-25T16:07:00.003-05:00

Marler Clark is recognized as the nation’s foremost law firm representing victims of foodborne illness. Since 1998, Marler Clark attorneys have been involved in almost all of the major food poisoning cases in the U.S., representing victims of Campylobacter, E. coli O157:H7, Hepatitis A, Listeria, Norovirus, Salmonella, and Shigella outbreaks across the country.

Bill Marler, one of the founders of Marler Clark is an internationally recognized leader in food safety. Bill has been a tireless supporter of the reform of our food safety laws, through frequent media interviews, the very popular Marler Blog, his active Twitter feed, @bmarler and his "Put a Trial Lawyer Out of Business" campaign. He was instrumental to the passage of the Food Safety Modernization Act and for the USDA's recent declaration of additional E. coli pathogens as adulterants. His start in food safety litigation is chronicled in the new book, Poisoned: The True Story of the Deadly E.Coli Outbreak That Changed the Way Americans Eat.

Bill Marler and Marler Clark are the founders of the acclaimed online national daily newspaper, Food Safety News, that reports on food safety, food law, and related issues. The Marler Clark Graduate Assistantship provides writing experience with Food Safety News.

Bill will be teaching Food Safety Litigation in the LL.M. Program this Fall. His generous contribution to the LL.M. Program also provides general support to our graduate assistantship program and to the LL.M. Program.

Alli Condra is the 2011-12 recipient of the Marler Clark Graduate Assistantship. Alli is a native of California and received her B.A. degree from California Lutheran University, majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Pre-Naturopathic Medicine. After graduating from CLU, Alli moved to Mexico City for a year to work with migrants and refugees at a non-profit, Sin Fronteras. While there, Alli studied food security among the migrants and refugees with the hopes of increasing funding for food from the United Nations High Commission on Refugees. She attended Drake University Law School and obtained her J.D. degree last spring with High Honors. She was awarded a Certificate in Food & Agricultural Law. Alli was the winner of 2011 Journal of Environmental Law & Litigation Writing Competition from the University of Oregon School of Law. As part of her assistantship duties, Alli has already published two articles on Food Safety News, FDA Import Alerts: A Primer, and Harvard Steps Up to the Healthy Eating Plate.

Our congratulations to Alli, and our thanks to Bill Marler and to Marler Clark.

Video Conference with Senior USDA Official, Brandon Willis

2011-09-23T11:54:00.000-05:00

This morning, our Food, Farming, & Sustainability class had the opportunity to hear from one of our alumni, Brandon Willis via digital video conference. Since attending the LL.M. Program, Brandon has had a distinguished career in Washington, D.C. He served as the Agriculture Legislative Assistant for U.S. Senator Max Baucus (2006-2009) and during that time drafted floor statements on agricultural issues and worked closely on legislation – including the 2008 Farm Bill, with a particular focus on the livestock disaster programs. He also drafted legislation that supported the use of existing conservation programs to help fight the declining population of pollinators.

Brandon then served as a confidential assistant in USDA’s Office of the Undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services. He was elevated to the position of Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs (DAFP), overseeing all FSA programs under the Production Emergencies and Compliance Division (PECD), Conservation and Environmental Programs Division (CEPD), and Price Support Division (PSD).

Brandon recently accepted the position of Special Advisor to USDA Secretary Vilsack on farm programs and crop insurance issues.

The class had an opportunity to talk with Brandon about farm policy, current issues regarding the budget deficit and cuts to farm programs, and the 2012 Farm Bill. He did a great job explaining the programs and the current political climate to the class.

Our thanks is extended to Brandon for doing a great job!

Meeting the Slow Food Value Meal Challenge

2011-09-18T17:50:00.003-05:00

In response to a lack of access to fresh fruits and vegetables, people eating more fast food than home-cooked meals, and increasing rates of diet-related disease, Slow Food USA launched The $5 Challenge campaign. The organization, a national non-profit working for good, clean and fair food for all, is encouraging people across the country to cook slow food that costs no more than five dollars per person. Slow food – the opposite of fast food – is food that is good for those who eat it, good for farmers and workers, and good for the planet.
“Slow food shouldn’t have to cost more than fast food. It’s time we take back the ‘Value Meal,’” said Josh Viertel, president of Slow Food USA.On Sept. 17, the campaign will launch with a Day of Action where people can attend any one of the hundreds of slow food gatherings nationwide. To participate in The $5 Challenge, all one has to do is pledge to cook a slow food meal for five dollars or less, or attend a local event.

I am pleased to report that thanks to Martha Dragich, Visiting Scholar and LL.M. Candidate, the LL.M. program met the Slow Food Value Meal Challenge last Saturday with a wonderful meal. It was a delightful gathering and a great opportunity for us all to get to know one another better, to enjoy good local food, and to prove that preparing and eating good food together can be enjoyable AND very affordable.

Martha prepared a menu for us, indicating not only what she was serving but what the ingredients were and where all the food was sourced. It was delicious!!

Tomato-Braised Spareribs & Sausages
Spareribs & Sweet Apple Sausages: Mason Creek Farm; Onions & Carrots: Fayetteville Farmers’ Market vendors; San Marzano tomatoes (canned): grown in the USA!
Polenta
Polenta: Ozark Natural Foods (bulk, organic)
Italian-Style Chickpeas
Chickpeas: Ozark Natural Foods (bulk, organic); onions & tomatoes: Fayetteville Farmers’ Market vendors; garlic (organic): Chert Hollow Farm (Columbia, MO); herbs: my patio (Columbia, MO)
Braised Swiss Chard (and a bit of savoy cabbage)
Chard (organic) & onion: Fayetteville Farmers’ Market vendors; garlic & savoy cabbage (both organic): Chert Hollow Farm (Columbia, MO)
Parmigiano Reggiano & Pecorino Romano (optional)
Imported from Italy, via World Harvest Foods (Columbia, MO)
Olive Oil Cake with Sauteed Apples & Pears
Cornmeal: War Eagle Mill (organic); eggs & pears (both organic): JJR Family Farm (Columbia, MO); honey: Bonne Femme Honey Farm (Columbia, MO); apples: Binder’s Apple & Berry Farm (Columbia, MO); milk (organic): Green Hills Dairy (MO); flour, sugar, & baking powder: Big Food companies; olive oil: Sicily.

Here are some of Martha's favorite strategies for preparing an affordable, yet delicious meal:

1. Eliminate one course (usually either appetizer or dessert).

2. Plan for reasonable portion sizes.

3. Use meat sparingly.

4. Use grains and beans to make the meal substantial.

5. Cook simply, using a small number of top-quality ingredients.

6. Learn how to get the most flavor from each ingredient.

7. Use strongly flavored ingredients, in small amounts.

8. Use all parts of each ingredient.

9. Use what you have on hand (staples, leftovers, foods you have preserved, etc.).

10. Buy in bulk (rather than in packages), and buy raw ingredients rather than partially-prepared foods.

Here are some photos from the event, including help with preparation of the meal from LL.M. candidates, Volha Samasiuk, Alli Condra, Ashley Newhall, and Gina Cucurullo.

Rural Friendship Development Day

2011-09-17T17:35:00.000-05:00

A number of the LL.M. candidates participated in a local event last week, Rural Friendship Development Day. The event began with breakfast at Farm Bureau Insurance followed by a series of speakers who addressed our local food system. Included were representatives from Wal-mart's local food initiative, Harps, a regional employee-owned grocery store chain, and Ozark Natural Foods, the local food cooperative. Each discussed how locally grown fresh produce is bought and marketed in their stores, and the impact of this on our community. Participants then toured two area farms Cobblestone Project Farm and MWD Farms. The Cobblestone Project Farm in Fayetteville is a special initiative designed to use agriculture to help the under-resourced in Northwest Arkansas by focusing on Hunger Relief, Education, Economic Development, Community, Food Production and Sustainability. MWD Farms in Prairie Grove is a local family farm that now markets its produce through Walmart.

The LL.M. candidates thoroughly enjoyed the event and came back with many interesting issues to discuss.

As most of our LL.M. candidates come from out of state, we are always pleased to have opportunities for them to learn more about our community. We are proud, and they are sometimes surprised at all that Fayetteville has to offer. Special thanks to Julianne Darnell, the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce Manager of Communications for her efforts in organizing the event.

Agricultural Law Around the World

2011-09-11T10:41:00.000-05:00

In past classes, we have been discussing family farming, industrialized production, and agrarianism in the context of the historical development of our agricultural sector and our food system. Concerns regarding sustainability, global food production, and natural resource consumption informed our understanding of the issues. The LL.M. candidates have raised many important points, debated the issues, and we have had some wonderful class discussions.

On Friday, we had a special treat - our two candidates with their law degrees outside of the United States gave us presentations on agriculture in their home countries.

Mirriam Kutha (Kalowa) presented on agriculture in Malawi. Mirriam obtained her LL.B., with Honors, Upper Second Class, from the University of Malawi. Her professional experience includes: Assistant Lecturer in Law, University of Malawi; Senior Resident Magistrate, Malawi; Internships include work with the Malawi Human Rights Commission and the Ministry of Justice (Legal Aid Dept.) Her dissertation was titled The Effects of the Proposed Amendments to Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code in Relation to Sexual Offenses. She is a past president of the Women’s Lawyers Association of Malawi.

As Mirriam told the class, The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa bordered by Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique. One geographic feature is its large and beautiful Lake Malawi. Mirriam's excellent presentation included information about farming in Malawi, the absence of modern technology, and recent struggles to maintain food security. Of particular interest was her discussion of Malawi's divergence from internationally imposed goals focusing on export markets, to instead focus on domestic food security.

Volha Samasiuk presented on agriculture in her home country of Belarus. Volha received her Diploma in Law with a specialization in Economic Law, and her Doctor of Philosophy in Law from Belarusian State University. Her professional experience includes: Senior Lecturer, Belarusian State University Law Department, Minsk, Belarus (Civil Law, Intellectual Property Law); Legal Consultant, Belarus Food Safety Improvement Project, International Finance Corporation, The World Bank Group; Legal Editor and Member of the Editorial Board, JurSpectr LLC, Minsk, Belarus; Visiting Scholar, University of Washington School of Law; and Curriculum Research Fellow, Central European University, Budapest, Hungary.

Belarus is a country in Eastern Europe bordering Russia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine. A former member state of the U.S.S.R., the government of Belarus continues to hold significant economic control. Volha discussed the three different farming systems - the collectively held land farmed according to government production goals, the small family farm sector, and the private plots farmed by many citizens. She also discussed the many acres of agricultural land that is still contaminated as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear explosion in Ukraine in 1986.

Appreciation is extended to Mirriam and Volha for doing such a good job teaching us a little about Malawi and Belarus. We hope that this will be the first of many opportunities for us to learn from them.

Professor Kelley's International Law Work Noted

2011-09-07T06:40:00.000-05:00

On Today's University of Arkansas Newswire, an article by Andy Albertson:

Christopher Kelley, a law professor at the University of Arkansas who recently returned from his Fulbright Fellowship in Moldova, was named vice-chair of the American Bar Association Section of International Law's International Legal Education and Specialist Certification Committee, effective Sept. 1. Kelley also became the immediate past co-chair of the ABA Section of International Law Russia/Eurasia Committee after serving for three years as a committee co-chair.

"Professor Kelley's work is consistent with the proud University of Arkansas tradition of international outreach, in the spirit of Senator Fulbright's vision," said Stacy L. Leeds, dean of the School of Law. “His leadership within the ABA and his series of digital video conferences bring remarkable opportunities for our students and faculty not only to share what the School of Law has to offer, but to build the international experience vital for success in an increasingly global law community.”

Kelley, who also was a Fulbright Scholar in Ukraine in 2005, has a role in several upcoming conferences related to international law. He will serve as conference deputy co-chair for the ABA Section of International Law's Third Annual Conference on the Resolution of CIS-Related Business Disputes to be held in Moscow, Russian Federation, on Sept. 12.

On Sept. 30, he will make a presentation on effects on transnational law practice of anti-corruption initiatives such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the new U.K. anti-bribery law at the Conference on the Globalization of Law Practice sponsored by Vytautus Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania.

Two weeks later, Kelley will serve as the moderator for a panel on Legal Employment in a Recessionary Economy: The Needs of Employers and Prospects for Transnational Lawyers at the ABA Section of International Law fall meeting in Dublin, Ireland.

At the School of Law, Kelley will continue to teach courses this semester via digital video conferencing to law students at Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv, Ukraine, and at the Law Faculty of Moldova State University in Chisinau, Moldova. He also is planning to teach students at the Institute of International Relations of Moldova through digital video conferencing.

And, yes, Professor Kelley continues to teach in the LL.M. Program! This semester he is teaching Agriculture & the Environment. In addition to covering U.S. environmental law, he is able to weave his international perspectives and expertise into a consideration of the global sustainability issues associated with agricultural production. He also teaches Administrative Law in the J.D. Program.

Neil Hamilton Teaches Introductory LL.M. Course

2011-08-25T11:03:00.002-05:00

Each year, we are pleased to welcome Professor Neil Hamilton as our first visiting professor, teaching our orientation course in the LL.M. Program, An Introduction to the Law of Food and Agriculture. He will be with us Thursday-Saturday this week, ending his visit with a trip to the Fayetteville Farmers Market.

Professor Hamilton is a long-time friend and colleague, and he was instrumental in the founding of our LL.M. Program, serving as one of our first professors in 1981. He is now the the Dwight D. Opperman Chair of Law at the Drake University School of Law and the Director of the Drake Agricultural Law Center. He is recognized as one of the nation's most respected agricultural law scholars, with particular expertise in sustainable agriculture and the local food movement. The readings for the class include his latest article, Moving Toward Food Democracy: Better Food, New Farmers, and the Myth of Feeding the World appears at 16 Drake J. Agric. L. 117 (2011).

Here are some photos of class today -

Welcome to the LL.M. Class of 2012!

2011-08-20T15:03:00.003-05:00

We are delighted to welcome our new class of LL.M. candidates. This year, they again come from diverse backgrounds and locations, united by their interest in the laws and policies that affect agricultural production and our overall food system. Members of the LL.M. Class of 2012 have law degrees from the University of Minnesota, the University of North Carolina, Drake University, the University of Kentucky, the University of North Carolina Central, Texas Tech University, Golden Gate University, the University of Arkansas, Belarusian State University, and the University of Malawi. They come from Arkansas, California, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Texas, North Carolina, Washington, Belarus, and Malawi. And, they include two law professors, a couple of experienced attorneys, and some very impressive recent law graduates.

Here are short bios of the class - I am sure everyone will agree that we will have a great year working with them! Watch future posts for photos.

J. Grant Ballard
B.S., cum laude, University of Arkansas (Agribusiness, Environmental Science minor)
J.D., University of Arkansas School of Law
Member, Journal of Food Law & Policy; Recipient of 2010 Pro Bono Service Award
Professional experience includes: Clerkship with Taylor Law Partners LLP, Fayetteville

Kristy Boehler
B.A., cum laude, Drake University (Political Science and Law, Politics and Society)
J.D., summa cum laude, University of Arkansas School of Law
Member, Arkansas Law Review; Authored, Poultry Growers in Arkansas: Agents or Independent Contractors? 63 Ark. L. Rev. 849 (2010)
Professional experience includes: Clerkship with Bassett Law Firm

Ashley Newhall-Caballero
B.S., magna cum laude, Arizona State University (Business Finance)
J.D., Texas Tech University School of Law
Professional experience includes: Internship, Padfield & Stout, LLP; Management Analyst, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University

Allison Condra
B.A., California Lutheran University (Interdisciplinary Studies in Pre-Naturopathic Medicine)
J.D., High Honors, Drake University Law School; Certificate in Food & Agricultural Law
Winner of the 2011 J. Envtl. L. & Litg. Writing Competition (Univ. of Oregon)
Professional experience includes: Internship, Iowa Attorney General’s Office; Research Assistant to Professor Neil Hamilton; Farmers Market Outreach Assistant, Buy Fresh Buy Local, Drake University Agricultural Law Center; Policy Consultant, USDA Farm Service Agency

Regina Cucurullo
B.A., magna cum laude, North Carolina State University (Political Science, Criminology minor)
J.D., magna cum laude, North Carolina Central University School of Law
Member, North Carolina Center University Law Review
Recipient 2011 Pro Bono Service Award
International Nutrition and Health Study Abroad Program, Leysin, Switzerland
Professional experience includes: Internship, North Carolina Attorney General’s office; Judicial Internship, The Hon. Tara J. Fentress, Associate Judge, District of Columbia Superior Court

Vade Donaldson
B.A., Seattle University (Literature)
J.D., Golden Gate University School of Law
Public Interest Law Scholar; Public Interest Specialty Certification; Dean’s Service Award
Professional experience includes: Public Defender, Society of Counsel Representing Accused Persons, Seattle, WA; Attorney I, Suquamish Tribe; Attorney, Snohomish County Public Defender Association
Admitted to practice law in Washington State and before the Suquamish Tribe

Martha Dragich
B.A., University of Minnesota (Linguistics)
M.A., University of Minnesota (Library Science)
J.D., University of Minnesota Law School
Serving as the James S. Rollins Professor of Law at University of Missouri – Columbia School of Law and joining the class as an LL.M. Candidate and Visiting Scholar
Recent publications include: Uniformity, Inferiority, and the Law of the Circuit Doctrine, 56 Loyola L. Rev. 535 (2010).

Cathy Franck
B.A., Brown University (English)
J.D., University of Kentucky College of Law
Professional experience includes: Agricultural & Food Law Policy Researcher; Licensed Realtor, Kentucky Select Properties; Public Relations/Marketing Director, Humana Inc.
Recent Presentations: Food & Agriculture: The Law and Policy of a Sustainable Food System; Environmental Law for Lending Institutions and Real Estate Transactions
Admitted to practice law in Kentucky

Elizabeth Mashie Gunsaulis
B.A., Boston University (Political Science)
J.D., University of Arkansas School of Law
Professional experience includes: Clerkship, Benson & Wood Law Firm, Fayetteville, AR; Corporate Externship, Tyson Foods; Judicial Externship, Judge Robin Green, Benton County, AR

Judd Jensen
B.S., Concordia College (Biology; Chemistry and History minors)
J.D., High Honors, Drake University Law School; Certificate in Food & Agricultural Law
Professional experience includes: Legal Clerkship, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition; Legal Clerkship, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Ames, Iowa; Legal Internship, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Air Quality Legal Division; Energy Program Internship, Iowa Environmental Council; Quality Assurance Technician, Johanna Beverage Company, Spokane, WA

Mirriam Kutha (Kalowa)
LL.B., with Honors, Upper Second Class, University of Malawi
Professional experience includes: Assistant Lecturer in Law, University of Malawi; Senior Resident Magistrate, Malawi; Internships include work with the Malawi Human Rights Commission and the Ministry of Justice (Legal Aid Dept.)
Dissertation: The Effects of the Proposed Amendments to Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code in Relation to Sexual Offenses
President, Women’s Lawyers Association of Malawi

Volha Samasiuk
Diploma in Law, Belarusian State University (Specialization in Economic Law)
Doctor of Philosophy in Law, Belarusian State University
Professional experience includes: Senior Lecturer, Belarusian State University Law Department, Minsk, Belarus (Civil Law, Intellectual Property Law); Legal Consultant, Belarus Food Safety Improvement Project, International Finance Corporation, The World Bank Group; Legal Editor and Member of the Editorial Board, JurSpectr LLC, Minsk, Belarus; Visiting Scholar, University of Washington School of Law; Curriculum Research Fellow, Central European University, Budapest, Hungary

S. Chris Saunders
B.S., North Carolina State University (Chemical Engineering)
B.S., North Carolina State University (English) (Ben Franklin Scholars Dual Degree Program)
J.D., University of North Carolina School of Law
Co-authored presentation at 2010 American Agricultural Law Association Symposium, Solar Energy: Is It Really A Bright Idea for Farmers? (with Ray Starling, General Counsel, North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services)
Professional experience includes: Legal Internship, North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services; Legal Internship, Currituck County Attorney’s Office; Legal Intern, Intellectual Property/Technology Law

Our Korean Friend and Colleague

2011-07-28T09:31:00.005-05:00

Last year, about this time, we met Professor Tae Huan Keum when he first arrived in Fayetteville. He had chosen to attend the LL.M. Program as a degree candidate for his sabbatical project. Professor Keum came to us with a distinguished record. He serves as a Law Professor, teaching Administrative Law and Agricultural Law in the College of Law at Yeunganam University in the Republic of Korea. Professor Keum earned his LL.B. degree, an LL.M. degree in Administrative Law, and an LL.D. degree in Administrative Law from Seoul National University, Republic of Korea. He has an excellent publication record, with a number of articles on American law topics.

We thoroughly enjoyed Professor Keum's contribution to the LL.M. Program. He did extremely well in all of his coursework, and he completed his thesis this summer, drafting a comprehensive review of the controversy involving U.S. beef trade with Korea and BSE concerns. His hard work, professionalism, and dedication to learning was an inspiration to us all.

Last night I received a wonderful email from our friend, Professor Keum. He reports that he is now back in Korea, settling back into his life as a law professor. He thanks everyone for "one year's wonderful experience in Fayetteville" and notes that he was introduced to "American agriculture, smart students, enthusiastic professors, and the Razorback Football team. . . . From the Introduction to the Law of Food Agriculture class to all the classes including Food, Farming, and Sustainability, I was given new insights and was made to consider what the solution is for the problems of agriculture."

Professor Keum will soon be working on a book on Agriculture Law in Korea, and this October, he will be presenting on a “comparison between Korean agriculture and American agriculture” at an academic conference.

Professor Keum thanked all of the "smart colleagues" in his classes for their great kindness in helping him with translation issues. And, he concluded, "I can say my sabbatical was wonderful, and I enjoyed it. I am looking forward to seeing you in Korea and repaying your kindness." What a wonderful gift he gave to our Program - we now all have a distinguished friend in Korea.

LL.M. Classes Set for Fall 2011

2011-07-18T14:12:00.002-05:00

Classes in the LL.M. Program in Agricultural & Food Law begin the week of August 22 and extend through December 2.

We will be welcoming the class of 2012 with an orientation session on August 22 and are planning a dinner with our friend and distinguished visitor, Professor Neil Hamilton, on Wednesday or Thursday night of that week. We have a great class of LL.M. candidates enrolled (bio's will be posted soon), and we are looking forward to a great Fall semester.

Here is a list of our fall specialized courses:

Introduction to the Law of Food & Agriculture (1 credit condensed course)
August 25-27 (note this includes a Saturday a.m. session at the Fayetteville Farmers’ Market)
This special orientation course provides an overview of the legal and policy issues presented by the production of food and fiber, including a discussion of structural changes in agriculture, sustainability issues, and trends in direct marketing and consumer interest. This course is taught by Visiting Professor Neil Hamilton.

Agriculture & the Environment (3 credit full semester course)
Tuesday and Thursday, 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Agriculture is increasingly criticized for its impact on the environment. This course examines the tensions between the desire to produce food and fiber efficiently and concern for the protection of natural resources. The application of the major federal environmental statutes to agricultural operations will be presented, with discussion of the exemptions for agriculture and the impact of industrialized agricultural production. Sustainability, ethical considerations and international environmental issues are woven into the course. This course is taught by Professor Christopher Kelley.

Food Law & Policy (2 credit full semester course)
Tuesday and Thursday, 11:00-11:50 a.m.
This course examines the network of U.S. federal laws that govern food safety and food labeling and considers how well this network works to protect American consumers. An overview of regulation by both the Food & Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture is provided. Policy considerations are discussed in light of current criticisms of our food system. Current issues in the news are integrated into a study of the legal framework. This course is taught by Professor Susan Schneider.

Food, Farming & Sustainability (3 credit full semester course)
Wednesday and Friday, 9:15-10:30 a.m.
This course is adapted from the casebook by the same name authored by Professor Schneider. It consists of a mix of traditional lecture/discussion and special presentations. The course is designed to provide an issues-based introduction to a wide range of complex topics that make up the body of agricultural law. The course is divided into discreet units designed to introduce some of the critical legal issues facing the industry and consumers today. This course is taught by Professor Susan Schneider, with a number of distinguished guest lecturers. Special arrangements for different class times will sometimes be needed to accommodate these lecturers.

Regulation of Livestock Sales (1 credit full semester course)
Friday, 11:00-11:50 a.m.
This course examines livestock and poultry sales with a particular focus on the regulation of sales under the Packers & Stockyards Act. The prohibition against unfair practices and the controversy regarding the definition of this phrase, mandatory price reporting, industry concentration, anti-trust issues, and the recently proposed GIPSA rules are all discussed. This course is taught by Professor Vince Chadick.

Selected Issues in Food Law (1 credit full semester course)
Wednesday, 11:00-11:50 a.m.
This course explores current issues of food law with a different topic presented each week. Each student in the class will work with Professor Schneider to select and present on a topic of particular interest to them. Topics chosen in previous sessions have included the use of the term “grass fed” in meat labeling, the regulation of pet food, government efforts to address the obesity problem, the regulation of bottled water and humane animal slaughter laws. This course is taught by Professor Susan Schneider. Class times may vary to accommodate student presentations.

Unsafe Food: Policy and Litigation (1 credit condensed course)
Week of November 14
This condensed course was designed and is taught by nationally recognized trial lawyer, Bill Marler, founding partner of the law firm of Marler Clark based in Seattle, Washington. It focuses on a study of actual cases of serious foodborne illness and the litigation brought on behalf of victims.

Celebrating the Fayetteville Farmers Market

2011-07-03T11:03:00.001-05:00

Northwest Arkansas is home to many farmers' markets, but none can top the very popular Fayetteville Farmers' Market on the town square. This year, it's open from April 2nd - November 19th; on Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

I took the photo to the left yesterday. I happily purchased fresh blueberries, peaches, lettuce, cabbage, cucumbers, zucchini, arugula, summer squash, new potatoes, green beans, and a lovely potted lavender plant.

For the last 37 years, the downtown square market has offered the finest in locally produced vegetables, fruits, flowers, plants, meats, baked goods, honey, eggs, jams, crafts, and fine art from the 4 county area. . . . [E]ach market day is a feast for the eyes, ears and palate, with a riot of color, aromas, and sounds. Known as the “Crown Jewel of Fayetteville,” the Saturday market is alive with street performers, tourists, and the residents of Northwest Arkansas visiting with over 60 vendors around the beautiful square gardens.

For animal lovers, there is a special recent addition to the festivities. Fayetteville Animal Shelter volunteers walk dogs from the animal shelter, each wearing little "adopt me" vests - with many happy results!

A couple years ago when LL.M. alumnus, Andrew Hopper was with us, Andrew did a podcast of a trip to the market. You can listen to it via the link on our About Northwest Arkansas on the LL.M. Program website.

We will be visiting the downtown Farmers Market and interviewing vendors as part of our orientation class for the new LL.M. candidates, An Introduction to the Law of Food & Agriculture taught by our good friend and distinguished Visiting Professor, Neil Hamilton.

Another Book Gives Tribute to Bill Marler

2011-06-22T15:49:00.001-05:00

Last week, I tweeted about Poison, the book that describes the 1993 E. coli outbreak and features the story of one of our Visiting Professors, Bill Marler as the attorney for the victims.

Another book that credits Bill, Denis Stearns, and the Marler Clark firm was just released. Ben Hewitt published “Making Supper Safe: One Man's Quest to Learn the Truth about Food Safety.”

Quoting from Hewitt's book:

It is safe to say that Marler Clark is the most prominent and successful foodborne-illness litigation firm in the world, and it is safe to say that Bill Marler is the most experienced and knowledgeable foodborne-illness attorney at his firm. Ergo, and no one I’ve spoken with disputes this, Bill Marler is the leading foodborne-illness litigator on earth. If you are sickened by a pathogenic bacteria in food, believe that you can prove your case, and furthermore would like to be handsomely compensated for your suffering, you should probably give bill a call.

Bill Marler's comment on his Food Poison Journal blog: "Honestly, it is sad to say - and, why you need to read these books - that a lawyer can become the - "leading foodborne-illness litigator on earth.'"

There will be lots to talk about when Bill returns to Fayetteville this fall to teach our food safety litigation condensed course.

Work of Visiting Professor, Bill Marler Featured in New Book: Poisoned

2011-06-19T12:45:00.000-05:00

For the past two years, the LL.M. Program in Agricultural & Food Law has been honored to have nationally recognized food safety attorney, Bill Marler, associated with our food safety studies.

Last year, Bill and his partner at Marler Clark, Denis Stearns, offered a special condensed course, Unsafe Foods & Product Liability, and we are delighted to announce that we will again be able to offer this excellent class this coming fall semester.

Bill's current work in advocating for improved food safety in the U.S. and abroad is frequently in the media. He is often credited with aiding in the passage of the Food Safety Modernization Act, as his advocacy for food safety reform and greater FDA accountability has been well documented. He has been warning of the dangers of new deadly strains of E. coli for years, petitioning the USDA for additional testing long before the recent outbreak in Germany. His online newspaper, Food Safety News, is the go-to source of current food safety news and information, and he actively maintains a number of informative food safety blogs, including the Marler Blog. He is a regular face on Twitter - that is actually how I first met him. Just this morning he tweeted and blogged about a new case that Marler Clark is bringing on behalf of the family of an Ohio woman who died of Salmonella poisoning.

How did Bill Marler become such a force majeure in food safety law? When did we first begin to worry about E. Coli outbreaks and begin to recraft our food safety system? A new book tells the story.

Poisoned, The True Story of the Deadly E. Coli Outbreak That Changed the Way Americans Eat by Jeff Benedict was released last month, and it has received excellent reviews. The book tells the story of the 1993 E. coli outbreak at the Seattle, Washington Jack in the Box fast food hamburger restaurant. Seven-hundred and fifty children were poisoned and four died.

Before that tragic incident, few in the public had ever even heard of E. coli, the CDC did not list is as a reportable disease, and only a few food scientists and public health officials recognized its risk. Afterwards, there were Congressional hearings, a change in USDA inspection regulations, and a new awareness among consumers.

Bill Marler was the young attorney who sued Jack in the Box, and that case gave rise to Marler Clark as the nation's first law firm dedicated to representing victims of serious food borne illness. Poisoned is the story of the victims of the Jack in the Box food poisoning outbreak, but it is also the story of Bill Marler and the beginnings of a passion for food safety that would become his life's work. It is a fascinating and compelling read. For consumers, it is eye-opening and thought provoking. For our LL.M. candidates and our alumni who have had a chance to meet Bill Marler, it is a reminder that we are very fortunate to have him on our faculty.

Congratulations to the LL.M. Class of 2011

2011-06-04T19:40:00.000-05:00

The LL.M. class of 2011 was our largest class, with nineteen candidates from nine different states and three foreign countries. They were a fantastic group, diverse in perspective, but united in their interest in learning the complex laws associated with agricultural production and our overall food system. We will miss having them with us, but are proud to welcome them into the ranks of our alumni. Here are some pictures of our celebratory dinner and a few from graduation. I will post more as they come in. And, I will be posting in the coming days about some of the interesting work that these extraordinary attorneys will be doing with their specialized education. Congratulations, all!

Dinner at the GreenHouse Grille

Rich and Jackie Burnett and future LL.M. candidate, Spencer.

After dinner pictures

Kerri Boling receives her hooding from Professor Mary Beth Matthews

Maxim Gubarev walks across the stage to receive his LL.M. diploma

Dean Nance and I congratulate Ben Thomas

Allison Waldrip receiving her degree from her father, Mark Waldrip, an alumnus of the US School of Law and a current member of the UA Board of Trustees

Alexandra Gaintseva & Maxim Gubarev with me after the ceremony

Stacy Leeds Appointed Dean of the UA School of Law

2011-05-29T14:36:00.002-05:00

We are pleased to welcome Stacy Leeds as the new Dean of the School of Law. Professor Leeds currently serves as interim Associate Dean, Professor of Law and Director of the Tribal Law & Government Center at the University of Kansas School of Law.

Dean Leeds is pictured here addressing the crowd at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law’s 10th Anniversary Women and the Law Conference in San Diego last February. The 2011 conference focused on the theme of “Gender Justice and Indian Sovereignty: Native American Women and the Law. Dean Leeds was featured as the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lecturer and delivered a presentation entitled “Resistance, Resilience, and Reconciliation: Reflections on Native American Women and the Law.”

“We are honored to welcome Dean Leeds to the University of Arkansas,” said G. David Gearhart, university chancellor. “As a nationally recognized scholar, judge and administrator, she is the ideal person to guide our law school to unprecedented heights.” Dean Leeds will begin her service at the University of Arkansas July 1, 2011.

Dean Leeds has focused her teaching and extensive research on property, natural resources and American Indian law. Prior to joining the University of Kansas School of Law faculty, she was a professor and director of the Northern Plains Indian Law Center at the University of North Dakota School of Law. She began her career of teaching law at the University of Wisconsin School of Law, where she served as a William H. Hastie Fellow. She received her master of laws degree from the University of Wisconsin, her juris doctor from the University of Tulsa, her master of business administration from the University of Tennessee and her bachelor of arts degree from Washington University in St. Louis.

Among her many honors, Dean Leeds was awarded the prestigious Fletcher Fellowship to support her work on tribal sovereignty and citizenship issues. As a Fletcher Fellow, she was named a nonresident fellow of the W.E.B. DuBois Institute at Harvard University during the 2008-09 academic year. In addition, she has served as a judge for many tribes including the Cherokee Nation, where she was the only woman and youngest person to ever serve as a Supreme Court Justice.

Dean Leeds, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, becomes the first American Indian woman to serve as dean of a law school.

Visitor from Walmart: Don Wiseman

2011-05-01T09:46:00.001-05:00

We were honored to have Don Wiseman, Senior Associate General Counsel at Walmart to visit our last class of the semester and share his perspectives on careers in agricultural and food law.

Don has practiced law for more than 30 years, most often with a focus on agricultural and food law issues. He now serves as Senior Associate General Counsel at Walmart and is the Company's subject matter legal expert for food safety and regulatory compliance, as well as consumer product safety and compliance.

Prior to joining Walmart, from 2003 through 2007, Don served as the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Swift Foods Company of Greeley, Colorado, the world's third largest fresh beef and pork processor. From 1991 to 2003, he was the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Memphis-based Perkins Restaurants, the operator and franchisor of the 500-unit Perkins Restaurant and Bakery chain. Prior to that, he was a partner in the Memphis, TN firm of Waring Cox, where he practiced securities and corporate law, including CFTC practice for futures trading merchants.

Don is an avid skier and trout fisherman, and an occasional helicopter pilot. He is licensed in Tennessee and Colorado.

Don gave the class an interesting look at the myriad of professional opportunities available in food and agricultural law and discussed his work at the largest food retailer in the world. Our appreciation is extended to Don for his support of our program and his willingness to share his expertise with our class.

Derek Miller Presents on Nutrition Programs

2011-04-27T18:42:00.002-05:00

Last Thursday, we were very fortunate to have Derek Miller teach a class on the USDA Nutrition Programs. Derek's presentation was part of our Food, Farming & Sustainability class, a course that explores the complex range of agricultural and food law issues, surveying a different issue each week. Derek appear via live digital video conference from Washington, D.C.

Derek's special expertise in the nutrition programs comes as a result of years of dedicated service in Washington, including significant work on recent farm bills. He serves as legislative director for U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Prior to serving as Harkin's legislative director, Derek served as senior professional staff member on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, where he was responsible for food and nutrition policy, including federally administered food assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) among others. Prior to working on the Senate Agriculture Committee, Miller worked for Congresswoman Eva Clayton (D-NC).

The class provided an overview of the major federal food assistance programs, including the SNAP Program (formerly the Food Stamp Program) and the child nutrition programs (school lunch, school breakfast, and WIC). As the number of Americans that slip below the poverty level increases, these programs provide a critical safety net for families and in particular for children. Woven into the discussion of the statutory framework of these programs, are the complex policy issues related to poverty, changing attitudes toward nutrition, local sourcing of food, and the impact of lobbying efforts. The LL.M. candidates thoroughly enjoyed the presentation and the opportunity to ask Derek questions about the programs. In fact, we all lingered well after class to continue the discussion with Derek.

We are very grateful to Derek for his fantastic presentation and have already invited him back to teach a session in our Food Law & Policy class next fall. Appreciation is also extended to our alumna, Amy Lowenthal, for helping to connect us to Derek. Amy served with Derek on the Senate Agriculture Committee.

LL.M. Alumna Margie Alsbrook Presents at Hamline Food Law Conference

2011-04-24T14:35:00.006-05:00

On April 15, Hamline University School of Law in Minnesota hosted a symposium, Sourcing Food: Finding Common Ground in an Age of Agricultural Competition and Conglomeration organized by the Hamline Journal of Public Law & Policy.

The LL.M. Program was well represented, as one of the six featured speakers was our alumna, Margie Alsbrook. She presented on the topic, From Test Tubes to Tongues: Regulatory Issues Related to Genetically Engineered Animals in the Food Supply and will be be publishing a related article in the fall edition of Journal. She served on their expert panel that concluded the symposium.

Margie reports that it was a really interesting day and Katrina Knutson, the Symposium Editor, "did an absolutely fabulous job. All of the speakers were very impressed with her professionalism and the event as a whole."

Margie's previous article on genetically modified and genetically engineered animals in the food supply was published by the Drake Journal of Agricultural Law in 2008. She was also the founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Food Law & Policy while she was a law student, and is currently working on a book for Springer Publishing with fellow LL.M. alumnus Erimar von der Osten. Margie has her own legal practice, Alsbrook Legal Services where she works on a variety of food & agricultural law topics as well as with local businesses & entrepreneurs.

USDA Senior Legal Advisor Stephanie Smith Addresses Class

2011-04-03T12:01:00.001-05:00

Our Food, Farming, & Sustainability class has been focusing on agricultural cooperatives, and we were delighted to have USDA cooperatives attorney Stephanie Mari Smith conduct a fascinating video conference with the class from Washington D.C.

Stephanie is the Senior Legal Adviser on Tax, Legal and Policy in the Rural Business Services and Cooperative Programs of the USDA Rural Development Agency where she advises policymakers, agricultural producers, and stakeholders on the legal and tax structures of cooperative development. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Smith has worked in the corporate, academic, public and private sectors with a primary focus on affordable housing law. She has also gained expertise in finance while representing various financial institutions, large-scale developers and investors at national law firms.

Stephanie taught affordable housing law at the University of Michigan Law School- Legal Assistance for Urban Communities Clinic in Ann Arbor, Michigan as an adjunct clinical assistant professor. Ms. Smith has also worked at the Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency in Trenton, New Jersey where she was a senior underwriter for the Multi-Family Lending Department. She was in private practice for several years with offices in Newark and Trenton, where she represented residential, commercial and retail development clients.

Stephanie earned a B.A. at Howard University, a J.D. at Rutgers University School of Law, and Certification from the Harvard Divinity School- Summer Leadership Institute for Leaders in the Affordable Housing Industry. She is currently attending Georgetown University Law Center in the pursuit of a LL.M. in International Business and Economics with an emphasis in International Taxation. Ms. Smith has written various articles on the business practices of cooperatives and the affordable housing industry in peer-reviewed law journals and magazines; and has spoken in various venues about the role of the development attorney in the affordable housing industry. She is currently Group Chair of the Residential, Multi-Family and Special Use Group and Co-Vice-Chair of the Membership Committee of the ABA’s Real Property Section. She also serves as the ABA Real Property Section’s Liaison to the ABA Affordable Housing Forum.

Our appreciation is extended to Stephanie and to the USDA for this informative and interesting discussion. I first met Stephanie when we both participated in an Agile Agriculture conference sponsored by the Center for Applied Sustainability. We hope that this is just the first of our efforts to link her to our LL.M. Program.

In preparation for the video conference, the LL.M. candidates reviewed the video presentations and course materials prepared by recognized cooperatives attorney, Dr. James Baarda. Dr. Baarda prepared extensive materials on agricultural cooperatives and donated them to us for educational use. They are posted on our website as part of our cooperative law project, currently under development. This project is supported by the Arkansas Electric Cooperatives Corporation through the Leatherman Scholarship, named on behalf of Leland Leatherman, a leader in rural electric cooperatives law. Next week, each of the LL.M. candidates will report on an agricultural or food cooperative that they have researched.

For more information on USDA's work with agricultural cooperatives, visit their cooperatives website and follow developments through the Rural Cooperatives magazine.

Maureen Kelly Moseman to Speak on Biofuels Issues

2011-03-26T15:19:00.001-05:00

I am pleased to announce that Maureen Kelly Moseman will be coming to Fayetteville this week to address the LL.M. class on biofuels issues.

Maureen brings a wealth of experience in agricultural law & policy to the classroom. She currently runs Moseman & Associates, LLC, representing clients before federal agencies on legislative and regulatory issues. She has successfully assisted her clients in obtaining funding from the USDA, the U.S. AID, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Geological Survey.

Her clients in this position and in her past work have included major universities, a major dairy trade association, a major fruit and vegetable association, the United Soybean Board, and a consortium of historically black agricultural colleges.

During the Clinton administration, Maureen held several key agricultural policy posts - Special Assistant to the Under Secretary for Food Safety, Special Assistant to the Administrator of the Cooperative Research, Education, and Extension Service, Legislative Director for the Under Secretary for Research, Education, Economics, and Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary for Marketing an Regulatory Programs.

Maureen is a past member of the Board of Directors of the American Agricultural Law Association (AALA), and she served as AALA President from 2008-09. She organized and presided over the very successful AALA conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2008. She is a graduate of Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota with a degree in Economics and a magna cum laude graduate of William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Maureen will be our featured speaker in Food, Farming, & Sustainability on Tuesday, March 28 and will also meet with the class to discuss and provide advice regarding career decisions.

Alumni Update: Alison Peck

2011-03-13T16:34:00.000-05:00

As a blogger on the Agricultural Law blog, part of the Jurisdynamics Network of legal blogs, I have been reporting on agricultural and food law initiatives at law schools.

The first post described the ongoing work at Harvard, Food and Agriculture Work at Law Schools: Harvard Law, and future posts will highlight UCLA, Stanford, and others.

Today, I posted on the exciting work that one of our alumni is doing at the University of West Virginia College of Law, West Virginia College of Law: Agricultural Initiatives. I would like to repost some of that information here, along with some special alumni news.

Alison Peck teaches courses related to the question of how the law can guide sustainable development, particularly with relation to global food production and distribution. Her courses include Agriculture & Rural Land Use, Natural Resources, International Environmental Law, International Trade Law, Property, and a seminar in Sustainable Development. These courses will eventually be part of the WVU College of Law's new Energy and Sustainability Law Program and Center.

Before Alison joined the West Virginia faculty, she developed and taught an excellent seminar in Sustainable Agriculture in our LL.M. Program.

Working together with West Virginia's Future Farmers of America (FFA), Alison and her colleague, Professor Grace Wigal have established the first annual Agricultural Law Moot Court Competition for West Virginia high schools students. Through the program, FFA students will have an opportunity to practice their advocacy skills with the help of law faculty and students in Alison's Agriculture & Rural Land Use class. They will argue before state court judges. This year's problem focuses on the prospect of greenhouse gas regulation of agriculture.

Alison is recognized for her scholarship on the issue of agricultural biotechnology. She has published a number of scholarly articles and legal updates relating to international trade in agricultural products, especially agricultural plant biotechnology. She was a featured guest relating to these issues on Chicago Public Radio's "Worldview," and have commented on these issues for publications such as New York Times/Greenwire and Science magazine.

Alison's current research focuses on a recent trend in contemporary political rhetoric about regulation of food consumer choices to reduce obesity costs. Opponents to such measure evoke founding principles of U.S. constitutional democracy, the founding fathers, and events such as the Boston Tea party. The article reviews the history of the non-importation and non-consumption agreements of the pre-Revolutionary era and argues that this movement was motivated by many of the same concerns that animate modern food policy: rising shared social costs resulting from ostensiby "private" consumption choices.

This summer, Alison will teach in WVU College of Law's Brazil Study Abroad program. She plans to lead students in discussion relating to issues affecting Brazil and the Amazon River, including deforestation, climate change, biodiversity conservation, bioprospecting/biopiracy, benefit sharing, and compulsory licensing of pharmaceuticals. At Centro Universitario Vila Velha, she will lecture to Brazilian and U.S. law students about the Brazil-U.S. trade wars over cotton and ethanol subsidies.

Alison's upcoming trip to Brazil has a delightful personal twist. Centro Universitario Vila Velha is the alma mater of another of our alumni, Regina Leal de Oliveira, who was a classmate of Alison's. The two will reunite in Vittoria, and Alison will also be visiting her and her husband James, an Arkansas native in Sao Paolo before returning to the U.S.

Thanks for keeping us up to date on your work, Alison.

Nationally Recognized Water Law Professor James Corbridge Visits LL.M. Program

2011-03-08T09:15:00.001-06:00

We had a special guest lecturing in the LL.M. Program yesterday as part of our Food, Farming, & Sustainability class. Professor of Law Emeritus and Chancellor Emeritus at the University of Colorado Boulder, James Corbridge, Jr. presented on issues of Water Law and Agricultural Water Use.

Professor Corbridge is a widely recognized scholar in water law and natural resources law, with numerous publications including Vranesh's Colorado Water Law, 2001, 2003, and 2005 Supplements, Univ. of Colorado Press (with T. Rice and S. Corbridge); and, Water Resources Management: A Casebook in Law and Public Policy (Fifth ed.) (with A.d. Tarlock and D. Getches) (2002).

Professor Corbridge serves on the Advisory Board of the Journal of International Law; the Advisory Board of the Denver University Water Law Review; and serves on the Board of Directors of the Natural Resources Law Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder. In addition, he is a Member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee of the Grand Lake Watershed Alliance Foundation.

Professor Corbridge received his A.B. degree from Brown University and his L.L. B. degree from Yale Law School. He is now retired from full time teaching and lives in Oklahoma where he continues to be active with water law issues.

The LL.M. class had the opportunity to learn basic principles of water law in the context of current and critical water resource issues. Topics of discussion included conflicts between municipal and agricultural water use, the sale of water rights, unsustainable use of aquifer resources, and conservation efforts.

After class, I had the opportunity to have lunch with Professor Corbridge and discuss our LL.M. curriculum with him. We hope to add him to our list of distinguished visitors with a full credit Water Law & Agriculture course next year.

New Journal of Arkansas Foodways

2011-03-02T08:58:00.001-06:00

This just in from the University of Arkansas Newswire - great to hear that our interest in food culture is shared with many others on campus!

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas Libraries’ special collections department is launching a new journal, titled Arkansauce: The Journal of Arkansas Foodways. John G. and Dora J. Ragsdale of Little Rock, long-time supporters of Special Collections and Arkansas history, are endowing this project. The journal explores food history, customs and traditions in the Natural State. Rex Nelson, veteran journalist and author of Rex Nelson’s Southern Fried blog (“Ruminations on barbeque, politicking, football, frog gigging, trotlining, blues playing, horse racing, boxing, bird hunting, movie watching, crappie eating and other major issues of the day”) is guest editor for the inaugural issue.

Arkansauce is a mix of popular and semi-scholarly articles, heavily illustrated with original documents, drawings and photographs. It focuses on topics such as food history, nutrition, cooking, customs, table manners, chefs, food producers and production, restaurants, cookbooks, recipes, menus for both ordinary and special occasions, the culinary heritage of minority groups, immigrants, and specific geographic regions of Arkansas, as well as food-related poetry, mythology, and literature. Diane Worrell is managing editor, assisted by editorial board members Tom W. Dillard and Timothy G. Nutt.

Dillard, head of the University of Arkansas Libraries’ special collections department, said, “Arkansas offers a fertile field for inquiry into food — its history, traditions, folklore, and its current culinary scene too. I hope Arkansauce will serve to focus that inquiry.”

Contents of the first issue include an essay by Rex Nelson defining Arkansas cuisine; John J. Ragsdale’s description of foods his family ate during the Great Depression; an article by Michael B. Dougan about beans in Arkansas history; and Kane Webb’s discourse on Arkansas barbecue. Additionally, Tom DeBlack describes his favorite Arkansas Delta eateries; Trey Berry writes about the social role of small town mom and pop hamburger joints; Kat Robinson explores the cooking of fried green tomatoes; Louise Terzia discusses blackberry cobbler; and Ray Wittenberg describes his favorite pie shop in DeValls Bluff.

The journal also contains food-related pieces from manuscript collections and cookbooks held by the special collections department, such as a description of the oldest cookbook (1924) in special collections; a menu from a 1948 Hot Springs victory dinner celebrating Sid McMath’s gubernatorial victory; and a recipe for cooking steak by Charles J. Finger, a Fayetteville author and adventurer who died in 1941. The department is expanding its collection of foodways materials by seeking donations of Arkansas menus and other food-related items.

The journal will initially be distributed free of charge and published annually. To request a copy, send an email to verobert@uark.edu. To donate materials or obtain further information, call the special collections department at 479-575-5577.

Phil Kunkel Returns to Teach Contracting Class

2011-02-23T19:20:00.000-06:00

We are pleased to announce that commercial law expert, Philip Kunkel of the law firm of Gray Plant Mooty based in Minnesota, will be returning next month to teach his popular course, Field to Table: The Use (and Occasional Abuse) of Marketing Contracts and Production Contracts in Agriculture. Phil's knowledge and experience in the area of agricultural contracting is unsurpassed, and in this course he integrates caselaw, regulatory law, and policy with real world examples of contracting disputes. Included in the course materials are examples of contracts used in a variety of agricultural sectors, from hog production to grapes for wine production, as well as selected comments to the proposed new GIPSA rules. The course is a perfect follow-up to our Regulation of Livestock Sales class taught by Vince Chadick in the Fall.

Fayetteville Featured in National Television Broadcast

2011-02-21T19:33:00.000-06:00

Bill Marler Receives Professional Achievement Award

2011-02-12T22:06:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to our Visiting Professor, Bill Marler! Professor Marler has been awarded Seattle University's Professional Achievement Award, an award given in recognition of "exceptional achievement in the professional arena."

This week is clearly evidence of that exceptional achievement. Bill first attended a mediation in the E. coli O157:H7 case of Linda Rivera in San Francisco. Linda has been hospitalized since May of 2009. Her tragic story was told in the Washington Post story, This Woman Might Die From Eating Cookie Dough: Severe Case Gives Context to the Issue of Food Safety.

After the mediation, Bill flew to Washington D.C. for a meeting with the U.S. Justice Department to discuss the status of the federal prosecution of Stewart Parnell, President of Peanut Corporation of America, the company that shipped contaminated peanut butter, resulting in the 700 reported illnesses and 9 deaths. A press conference with clients followed the meeting. See, Where is the Accountability?

Then, Bill delivered the keynote address to the Government Accountability Program's Whistleblower Conference, Employee Rights and the Food Safety Modernization Act.

Meanwhile, Bill continued frequent activity on his @bmarler Twitter account and the Marler Blog. On the blog this evening, he reported that it was "good to fly home in time to watch my daughter Sydney’s soccer match." He also reported on the letter waiting for him from the President of Seattle University advising him of the award.

We are honored to have Bill associated with our Program as one of our Visiting Professors, and we are pleased to have his support for our food law work in the LL.M. Program. Again, Congratulations!

Record Breaking Snow Fall Shuts Down UA - But Not the LL.M. Program!

2011-02-09T15:11:00.002-06:00

Well, perhaps the title to this post is a little sensational. The entire University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, including the LL.M. Program is closed for today. We received a record-breaking amount of snow - more snow in 4 hours this morning than we usually receive in 3 years, hence a snow day.

However, the recent winter storms have been a great opportunity for those of us in the LL.M. Program to continue our experimentation with distance technology, and it is that technology that will help keep us on schedule. It also allows me an opportunity to post about our use of technology in the classroom and to highlight a new development.

We already use live digital video conferences to bring the best legal experts that we can into our classes for special lectures. Last semester, we conferenced with two former visiting professors, LL.M. alumnus, Doug O'Brien, who was serving as USDA Senior Advisor to Secretary Glickman, and long time friend and supporter, David Grahn, Associate General Counsel for Rural Development at the USDA. And, we brought new experts into our classroom with video conferences with Charles Rawls, General Counsel for Farm Credit System and Randi Roth, Court Appointed Monitor in the landmark discrimination case of Pigford v. Glickman.

We use video resources such as FORAtv and news video clips in our regular classes. And, we have a course called Agricultural Perspectives that uses documentaries to review and debate agricultural policy and perspectives. In that class, we consider documentaries as far reaching as Guns, Germs, & Steel and Oh, Freedom After While to debate farm policy and our food system.

But, our newest technological resource is the ability to record a classroom presentation from home, using the law school's Echo Classroom Capture system. This allows me to record a PowerPoint presentation with audio for the class. As I live in the Ozark Mountains, just south of Fayetteville, and we received about 16 inches of snow this morning, that is how we will keep on schedule for tomorrow's Agricultural Labor class. That's a view from my desk pictured above. Later today, I will record a presentation for our class on the National Labor Relations Act and its exclusion of agricultural laborers from its protections. I will email it to the class, and they can watch from the comfort and safety of their homes. My appreciation is extended to our Library Director, Randy Thompson and our IT Echo expert, Bob Wheeler for their help in making this possible.

By the way, this snowy weather is not supposed to last long - our weatherman has forecast 58 degrees by Monday. The winter weather that reminds me of my home state of Minnesota will last for a few more days, and then it's back to "normal."

News from the Class of 2011

2011-02-03T11:26:00.008-06:00

We always keep our LL.M. candidates quite busy with their academic work. Our alumni will attest to this!

But, this year's class has somehow found time for a wide variety of activities outside of the classroom. They are an energetic and eclectic group. Here are just a few examples. More to be posted later . . . it is hard to keep up with them!

Marie David is a consultant for the Gates Foundation. Her task is to identify opportunities for small scale African farmers to increase their income through improved market access. The goal of the project is to triple the income of 150 million farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Claire Mitchell writes for Food Safety News. Her articles can be found on her author page. She also volunteers at Habitat for Humanity here in Fayetteville.

Dorian Slaybod is a DJ at the UA campus student radio station, KXUA, 88.3 FM and also serves as Music Director. He compiled podcasts of his shows on a blog, The Essential with D.Marley, where he promises to play" all the songs you love, but just haven't heard yet." Dorian also blogs on agricultural labor issues in the news on his Agricultural Labor blog.

Allison Waldrip writes for the agricultural law blog sponsored by the National Agricultural Law Center and the American Agricultural Law Association. And, she is a very talented vocalist, performing for the Razorback athletics events, singing the national anthem before games.

Lauren Medoff has written articles for the Agricultural Law Update, the newsletter of the American Agricultural Law Association and just started a new blog will alert readers to new food law developments, Food Law & Policy.

Jason Foscolo has a forthcoming article in the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems and Community Development. He is doing pro bono consulting with local farmers as well as participating in the Town of Fayetteville Environmental Subcommittee on sustainable agriculture. Jason also volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Arkansas. Jason and David Jackson were both invited to present at the Annual Conference of the Agricultural History Society in Illinois. The conference topic: Quality versus Quantity: Competing Visions of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Life.

We have all learned a great deal from our international candidates - Professor Tae Huan Keum from The Republic of Korea, and Alexandra Gaintseva and Maxim Gubarev from Russia.

And then there was the kickball team last fall . . . not everyone was up to that particular challenge, but those participating had a lot of fun. We are all having a lot of fun with this class! Bios of the full class are posted at Introduction to the Class of 2011.

The Pickle Project

2011-01-28T12:32:00.000-06:00

I just learned about a unique food, agriculture, and culture project that showcases the universality of our interest in food, agriculture, and sustainability.

It does not involve our alumni, at least yet, but it comes to me through Professor Kelley's link to the Fulbright Scholar community. And, I just contacted the women involved so I can make a connection for our Program.

The Pickle Project was spearheaded by two Fulbright Research Fellows, Sarah Crow and Linda Norris. Both had the opportunity to live in Ukraine, a fascinating country with rich food and agricultural traditions. Building upon their experiences, Sarah and Linda have developed the project as a "multifaceted effort that observes Ukrainian foodways and traditions, using them as a lens for exploring sustainability, community and change."

This is how they describe their work:

The recent designation of several foods and food practices by UNESCO as “intangible cultural heritage of humanity” illustrates a growing recognition of the importance of food and food systems. For food is not merely a commodity but also a symbol of identity and a direct reflection of the human condition and our natural environment. As noted food scholar Marion Nestle suggests, food makes abstractions real and the political personal (2009). This arena of research is underdeveloped in Ukraine, a nation, landscape and culture with an intimate and rich history related to food production, scarcity, diversity and identity.

The Pickle Project ventures to illuminate those connections in contemporary Ukraine, through personal stories, profiles and recipes, and share them with diverse audiences using multiple vehicles. These include social media, The Pickle Project blog, Twitter (you can follow us @PickleProject) and Facebook networks but also through the development of innovative traveling exhibitions and programs, that would tour the United States and Ukraine. This suite of methods is designed to stimulate community conversations about the interesting and increasingly relevant issues of food, culture and sustainability.

Professor Kelley was a Fulbright Scholar in Ukraine five years ago, and his experiences there led to rich connections with this fascinating country and its wonderful people. From my visits and our Ukrainian friends, I can attest to the intimate connections and the culture associated with Ukrainian food. Sarah and Linda may really be on to something here - particularly, as Ukraine's rich agricultural land comes under increased pressure for foreign control.

In addition to following the links above, check out their Kickstarter page. They are raising funds for the project and are close to their goal - although they have a February 1 deadline. I just became a supporter, and on behalf of our program, I will reach out to Sarah and Linda. Watch for further updates!

Visiting Professor Allen Olson to Teach Federal Farm Programs Classes

2011-01-21T13:40:00.000-06:00

We are delighted to welcome back Allen Olson to serve as one of our Visiting Professors in the LL.M. Program. He will be teaching two courses involving Federal Farm Programs, beginning this week with two days of intense instruction. His classes will continue throughout the semester through digital video conferenced lectures and other distance technology, wrapping up with another in-person visit in April.

With over 30 years of experience as a practicing lawyer, most often representing farmers and agribusinesses, Allen brings a wealth of practical legal training to his teaching. And, as an experienced lecturer and former professor in the LL.M. Program, it will be wonderful for us to have him back in our classroom. He taught in the LL.M. Program when he served as an attorney with the National Agricultural Law Center from 1996-1998.

Allen received his B.A. from Cornell University in 1971, his J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1974, and his LL.M. in Agricultural Law from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1996. He has practiced law in Virginia, Nebraska and Georgia.

He serves on the Board of Directors of the American Agricultural Law Association and is a past Chair of the Agriculture Law Section of the Georgia State Bar. He is the author of numerous articles on agricultural law topics and is a frequent legal conference speaker.

Allen has a successful agricultural law practice in Georgia. His legal work is concentrated on agricultural law matters, including federal farm programs, payment limitations, USDA administrative appeals, crop insurance litigation, conservation easements, farm business planning, and other matters affecting farmers and related agricultural businesses.

In his free time, he enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, including mule riding (in show competition) and donkey hikes. He is pictured below (left) with friends on a recent donkey hike in New Mexico.

Professor Kelley Begins Fulbright Position in Moldova

2011-01-20T13:08:00.001-06:00

While we will miss him in the LL.M. Program this spring, we are honored to announce that Professor Christopher Kelley will be a Fulbright Scholar in Chisinau, Moldova during this semester. He will be back next summer.

Professor Kelley teaches in the areas of economic and environmental regulation of agriculture in the LL.M. Program and teaches Administrative Law and the Rule of Law Colloquium in the UA J.D. Program. He will be on leave this semester, serving as a Fulbright Scholar in Moldova. He will continue to be involved with the LL.M. candidates and keep us abreast of his work through email and digital video conference (DVCs). We have plans for two DVCs with him in our Food, Farming & Sustainability class.

Professor Kelley is well recognized for his work in Eastern Europe. In 2005, he received his first Fulbright award, teaching in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Since then, he has traveled frequently to Ukraine and has lectured at nearly a dozen Ukrainian universities. In 2009 and 2010, he traveled to Minsk, Belarus, where he taught a condensed course at Belarusian State University.

With the assistance of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, Professor Kelley has coordinated numerous digital video conferences between law students and law professors in Ukraine and professors and students in Arkansas. This fall, his Agriculture & the Environment class in the LL.M. Program held a DVC with law students in Ukraine to discuss environmental issues related to agriculture in both countries.

Professor Kelley has also developed expertise in the instruction of U.S. legal writing to international students. He teaches law students at the prestigious Kyiv Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv, Ukraine and at Moldova State University using the DVC technology. In addition, he teaches an annual U.S. legal writing seminar at the Inyurpolis law firm in Kharkiv, where he is a consultant. He has also held legal writing workshops with law firms in Belarus.

Professor Kelley serves as Co-Chair of the Russia/Eurasia Committee of the American Bar Association Section of International Law. He serves on the steering committees for the Section's dispute resolution conferences in Moscow, Russia. He also participated in both of the World Justice Forums in Vienna, Austria, sponsored by the World Justice Project. And he was a delegate on the American Bar Association Section of International Law's International Legal Exchange (ILEX) program in Australia and New Zealand in 2010. He currently serves on the planning committee for the ILEX program in Jordan and Lebanon in 2011. He is also a member of the International Bar Association.

Professor Kelley left for Moldova last week, and we will do periodic posts to the blog to update friends and alumni on his activities.

Food, Farming & Sustainability

2011-01-07T17:53:00.003-06:00

I am pleased to announce that my new casebook, Food, Farming & Sustainability: Readings in Agricultural Law, has been published by Carolina Press. I even found it posted on Amazon today.

It is my hope that this casebook will encourage more law professors to teach, and more law students to enroll in, courses that explore our agricultural laws and the policies surrounding our food system. And, as it attempts to honestly address some of the conflicts between traditional agriculture and current food policy advocates, I hope that it educates both sides of the debate, leads to a better understanding, and helps to produce agricultural lawyers prepared to confront issues of sustainability.

Here is the description of the book, as provided on the back cover:

Agricultural law is the study of the unique network of laws that apply to the production, marketing, and sale of agricultural products—the food we eat, the natural fibers we wear, and increasingly, the bio-fuels that run our vehicles.

Traditionally, agriculture has been favored with exemptions, exceptions, and special rules that reflect the uniqueness and the political power of the industry. In recent years, the study of agricultural law has expanded beyond its traditional scope to include issues of food safety and sustainability. Popular interest in agriculture has increased as consumers seek to know more about their food and where it comes from.

This book provides an issues-based study of these complex topics. It is divided into units designed to introduce some of the critical legal issues facing the industry and consumers today including: federal farm programs, the structure of farms and industrialized agriculture, environmental concerns, migrant labor issues, farm animal welfare, agricultural commercial law, and other topics. The book provides a mix of readings in law and policy. From its initial discussion of “agricultural exceptionalism” to its concluding remarks on the future of our food system, the book is certain to spark thoughtful dialogue.

The book is "[d]edicated to my grandparents and my parents, for affording me the great opportunity to be raised on a family farm; to my sister and her family for the care that they provide in preserving that farm; to my husband and colleague, Christopher Kelley for his inspiration and dedication to excellence; and to all of our past and future students in the LL.M. Program in Agricultural & Food Law at the University of Arkansas School of Law."

Particular thanks is extended to this year's and last year's class of LL.M. candidates for their patience and support while I worked on the book. Their energy and their interest in agricultural and food law was very inspiring!

An Inside Look at the FDA and the Regulation of Food

2010-12-06T20:16:00.000-06:00

Last Thursday, for the last class session of our Food Law & Policy class, we were delighted to welcome attorney Jason Saspin. Jason is Of Counsel with the Polsinelli Shughart law firm, officed in Denver Colorado. He serves as a member of the firm's Life Sciences group, leading its FDA practice.

Formerly Associate Chief Counsel in the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Chief Counsel, Washington, D.C., Jason advised the FDA in enforcement actions, negotiated with the affected industry, provided technical assistance on pending legislation, assisted in litigation and audits, and served as counsel to the Deputy Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs in the Office of Regulatory Affairs (the enforcement arm of the FDA).

While at the FDA, Jason participated in several significant regulatory actions including the agency's promulgation of rules and guidance regarding fresh produce and nutritional labeling and the expansion of cooperation between federal and state regulatory authorities in enforcement and regulatory actions.

Before joining the FDA, Jason served as a Maryland Assistant Attorney General, representing and advising the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Maryland Health Care Commission and the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission.

Jason is a co-author of the Model State Emergency Health Powers Act and author of publications on public health law and preparedness, international trade and health, litigation and public health, vaccine policy, and SARS. A former Assistant Scientist in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, he served as faculty in Johns Hopkins' Center for Public Health Preparedness and Centers for Environmental Health Tracking and Practice and in the Georgetown and Johns Hopkins Universities' Center for Law and the Public’s Health. He is a graduate of Williams College, the University of Michigan Law School and Johns Hopkins University.

He delivered a fascinating presentation on the "personality" of the FDA as a federal agency.

We were also delighted to welcome two distinguished guests to the class from Wal-Mart, Don Wiseman, Associate General Counsel, and Mike Sostrin Sr. Manager-Food Safety Recalls. We enjoyed their participation in the class and hope to have them back with us again next semester to provide the retail perspective to the important food law issues that we discuss. Pictured left are Mike and Don talking to LL.M. candidate, Kerri Boling after the class.

Food Imports and Customs Class

2010-12-05T22:46:00.000-06:00

On December 1, LL.M. candidate, David Jackson, prepared and delivered a special presentation to the Food Law & Policy class, An Overview of the Law Regarding Imported Foods. It was an excellent presentation and was well received by the class.

David is an experienced international trade attorney, admitted to practice law in Missouri and before the Court of International Trade. He also passed the Customs Broker examination, license application pending. Before coming to the LL.M. Program, he practiced with the law firm of Miller and Company in Kansas City, Missouri. David received his B.A. from George Mason University and his J.D. from the University of Kansas. During law school, David received the CALI Award for Excellence in Advanced International Trade and interned as an International Trade Assistant at the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. He co-authored a book chapter, Toward Equal Human Dignity in Free Trade Agreements, with international law scholar, Professor Raj Bhala, Rice Distinguished Professor, University of Kansas School of Law.

Ron McCormick Speaks on Wal-Mart Heritage & Sustainability Programs

2010-11-17T12:49:00.000-06:00

We were pleased to host Ron McCormick, Senior Director for Local & Sustainable Produce Sourcing at Wal-Mart for a presentation in our Food, Farming & Sustainability course this morning.

Mr. McCormick is one of the architects of Wal-Mart's Heritage Agriculture program, a program that seeks to reintroduce specialty crop agriculture to areas where it once was located, but has since been displaced. Heritage Agriculture is key to Wal-Mart's goal of connecting directly with farmers and to sell more locally sources fruits and vegetables. Mr. McCormick delivered an interesting and informative presentation about Wal-Mart's local sourcing initiatives, their link to sustainability, and the key partnerships envisioned between retailers and producers. He stressed his belief that there was a window of opportunity for a new agriculture to be created and built into our food system, and that the actions we take now will be critical to having a sustainable food system in the future. The LL.M. candidates asked many questions and continued to engage in discussion with him long after class ended. Our appreciation is extended to Mr. McCormick - it was a great class that discussed many important and very timely topics.

David Grahn Teaches Class on Crop Insurance

2010-11-16T11:08:00.000-06:00

USDA attorney and long time friend of the LL.M. Program, David Grahn video-conferenced with the LL.M. class last week, providing them with an effective and informative introduction to the complexities of federal crop insurance.

David is the Associate General Counsel for Rural Development at the USDA. He is responsible for the legal advice provided by the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation/Risk Management Agency, as well as the Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Utilities Service, and the Farm Loan Programs of the Farm Service Agency. From 1996 through 2002, David was the Assistant General Counsel for Legislation responsible for the drafting and reviewing of legislation and the reviewing of Congressional testimony that affected USDA agencies. He was detailed to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Nutrition during Congress' consideration of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996. From 1992 through 1995, David served as a Confidential Assistant to the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency. Mr. Grahn is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School and Carleton College.

We greatly appreciate David's involvement in the LL.M. Program. He is one of our most popular visiting professors, and it is always great to have him in the classroom.

As one of the LL.M. candidates wrote to me at the end of last week, "it's wonderful to get to interact with accomplished, motivating people who can give us personal insight into the various policy and legal issues that are the subjects of our studies. This strength is a great asset to the program and I want you to know how enriching our conversations with Mr. Grahn and Mr. Rawls were."

From the Roots of Our Past Grow the Promises of Tomorrow

2010-11-13T10:44:00.001-06:00

Check out the recent message on the USDA blog posted by LL.M. Alumnus Janie Simms Hipp, Native American Role Model Addresses USDA Employees about Global Unity Through Diversity. Janie serves as the Senior Advisor for Tribal Affairs at the USDA. Her post describes the activities associated with the National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month ceremony, "From the Roots of Our Past Grow the Promises of Tomorrow," held in Washington, DC, Tuesday, November 9, 2010. Janie highlighted the address given by Billy Mills, 1964 Olympic Gold Medalist and the inspirational words that he spoke, including, “Build a better America and in doing so, build a better world. Global unity through diversity, the future of humankind.” I encourage everyone to check out the blog post to learn more about the ceremony, Billy Mills' insprirational life, and his presentation. Our thanks to Janie for posting the message.

Conference with Charles Rawls, FCA General Counsel

2010-11-11T18:58:00.000-06:00

On Wednesday, November 10, we were delighted to have the opportunity to do a live video conference with the Farm Credit Administration's General Counsel, Charles Rawls. This conference was the highlight of our study of the Farm Credit System, the unique nationwide network of cooperative lending institutions and related organizations. Farm Credit System lenders provide more than $160 billion in loans, leases, and related services to the agricultural community. The Farm Credit Administration is the independent federal agency that regulates the system. Having the opportunity to talk directly with FCA's general counsel was a tremendous opportunity for our LL.M. class.

Mr. Rawls has had an unparalleled career of leadership in agricultural law and policy. Before joining the FCA in March 2003, he was General Counsel and Vice-President for legal, tax, and accounting at the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. During the consideration of the 2002 farm bill, he served as the General Counsel of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. He served as General Counsel for the USDA from 1998 to 2001, and before that served as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. He also served as Counsel to the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Forests, Family Farms, and Energy; Associate General Counsel of the House Committee on Agriculture; and, Legislative Director and Administrative Assistant to Congressman Martin Lancaster.

Mr. Rawls delivered an excellent presentation that included comments regarding the financial crisis, our overall economic environment and the agricultural economy. He then presented specific information about the role of the Farm Credit System in serving the agricultural community and took a questions from the audience. His presentation was well-received and informative. We appreciate Mr. Rawls' willingness to video conference with us, and we hope that it will be the first of a number of connections with the Program.

Unsafe Food Litigation Class: Bill Marler

2010-11-06T22:32:00.001-05:00

We were delighted to host Bill Marler for the second part of our condensed course in the LL.M. Program, Unsafe Food & Products Liability. The course was team taught by Denis Stearns and Bill Marler, both partners in the Seattle based firm, Marler Clark.

Professor Marler is an accomplished personal injury lawyer and national expert in foodborne illness litigation. He and his partners at Marler Clark have represented thousands of individuals in claims against food companies whose contaminated products have caused serious injury and death. Professor Marler has been a major force in food safety policy in the United States and abroad through his advocacy for more effective food regulation. He is one of the founders of Outbreak, a nonprofit consulting group dedicated to food safety advocacy. And, Marler Clark also founded and supports the popular online daily newspaper, the Food Safety News.

Professor Marler began his class with a public presentation on foodborne illness litigation. His sessions with the LL.M. class focused on actual cases of serious food borne illnesses, with the class evaluating the cases and the discussing damages. It was a great opportunity for the LL.M. candidates to not only explore the law, but its applicability to real life situations.

We all enjoyed having Bill with us for a couple of days and have already invited him back for next year!

Unsafe Food Class: Day One with Denis Stearns

2010-11-02T20:01:00.001-05:00

We were delighted to host Professor Denis Stearns today, teaching a full day of product liability law in the context of foodborne illness litigation. Professor Stearns is a partner in the nationally acclaimed Marler Clark food safety firm and was the first at bat in our tag-team Marler Clark class, Unsafe Food & Product Liability. He did a fantastic job - bringing the class through the history of product liability law and then introducing the legal concepts essential to foodborne illness litigation.

Tomorrow, we welcome Bill Marler who will begin his teaching with a presentation that is open to the public, from 9:00 - 11:00. The Unsafe Food & Products Liability class is a great opportunity for our LL.M. candidates to learn from two of the best food safety litigators in the country.

Alumni in the News: Janie Hipp

2010-10-31T20:10:00.000-05:00

Janie Hipp was recently featured for her work leading the Office of Tribal Relations at the USDA in the article, A Face for the USDA in Indian Country by Brenda Austin, Indian Country Today, October 24, 2010.

In the article, Janie talks about the work that the USDA is doing, working with other offices throughout the federal government "to coordinate services and offer a more effective tribal consultation process. Re-drafting consultation practices and policies and offering training and support to senior managers in the 17 agencies of the USDA is helping to streamline information sharing and target which programs within the USDA might best meet a tribe’s need."

“We are working hard to make tribal governments more familiar with the full array of programs offered by the USDA’s 17 agencies,” Hipp said. “For example, Rural Development has an unbelievable amount of programs tribal governments should, and I hope, will access more in the coming years. In the area of housing there are probably 40 different funding lines for rural housing alone. While HUD is terribly important for Indian country, a lot of times USDA’s programs might not be thought of first, or are overlooked.”

We are proud of the work Janie is doing and appreciate the support she has shown to the LL.M. Program.

Monitor in Pigford Litigation Addresses LL.M. Class

2010-10-27T18:10:00.004-05:00

Randi Roth, Court-appointed Monitor in the landmark race discrimination case against the United States Department of Agriculture, Pigford v. Glickman, addressed the LL.M. class in our Food, Farming, & Sustainability course.

In the Pigford case, a class of approximately 22,000 African-American farmers sued the USDA, alleging race discrimination in the administration of federal agricultural credit programs. The settlement provided for individual consideration of each of the discrimination claims of the 22,000+ class members, and at this time over $1 billion has been paid out on behalf of those class members who have prevailed. As Monitor, Randi works as an agent and officer of the court, issuing decisions regarding appeals of claim determinations, helping the class members and the government solve problems regarding implementation of the settlement, overseeing the operations of a toll-free phone line for information about the settlement, and reporting to the court about the good faith implementation of the settlement. Randi is now overseeing the final stages of the settlement. Information about all aspects of the monitor's role and the history of the case can be found on the monitor's website.

Randi spoke to the class in an hour long live video conference. The LL.M. candidates gained a deeper understanding of the Pigford case and the complex role of the monitor in the implementation of the settlement. Appreciation is extended to Randi for an excellent presentation.

Randi now serves as Executive Director Otto Bremer Foundation in St. Paul, Minnesota. She received her B.A. from Yale University and her J.D. from Northwestern University. She began work as a legal aid attorney on Chicago’s south side at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago and left to join the newly formed Farmers Legal Action Group, Inc. (FLAG) where she served as a staff attorney. She served as FLAG’s executive director from 1993 to 2003.

Additional Highlights from DC Trip

2010-10-19T18:17:00.006-05:00

Other news from the trip to Washington D.C. taken by LL.M. candidates Lauren Medoff, Claire Mitchell, and Allison Waldrip.

On Wednesday night, Claire had dinner at the St. Regis Hotel with Michelle Greenhalgh and Helena Bottemiller, contributing authors for Food Safety News; and Suzanne Schreck, Food Safety News Web Producer and contributing author. This was the first chance for Claire to meet her colleagues at Food Safety News in person. She was delighted that Bill Marler, of Marler Clark joined the group, and she was able to thank him in person for the Marler Clark Graduate Assistantship award. Others in attendance at this high-powered dinner included Colin Caywood, an associate with the Marler Clark firm, and Eddie Kohan, creator of the Obama Foodorama blog.

On Thursday Lauren, Claire, and Allison visited the USDA where they met with LL.M. alumna Janie Simms-Hipp for almost an hour. Janie serves as Senior Advisor for Tribal Affairs to USDA Secretary Vilsack and also directs the USDA Office of Tribal Relations. Doug O'Brien, another alum and another of Secretary Vilsack's Senior Advisors stopped by to say hello and welcome them to the USDA. Another of our distinguished alumni, Brett Offutt was also able to join the group. Brett serves as Director of the Policy and Litigation Division of the Packers and Stockyards Program. Lauren returned to USDA on Friday to meet with another GIPSA alum, Cara McCarthy. Cara serves as a Legal Specialist with USDA GIPSA.

Thanks to all that made this trip so rewarding.

LL.M. Candidates at the National Food Policy Conference

2010-10-16T15:48:00.014-05:00

Earlier this fall, three of our current LL.M. candidates, Lauren Medoff, Claire Mitchell, and Allison Waldrip went to Washington, D.C. to attend the 33rd Annual National Food Policy Conference sponsored jointly by the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Consumer Federation of America. The theme was “Improving Child Nutrition: New Challenges and Opportunities.” Lauren, Claire, and Allison reported that they thoroughly enjoyed the excellent conference and the opportunity to meet so many food policy leaders.

Samuel D. Kass, Senior Policy Advisor, Healthy Food Initiatives and Assistant White House Chef at The White House delivered the morning keynote address.

Joe W. Thompson, Arkansas Surgeon General and Director of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity was the luncheon keynote speaker. It was wonderful to have Arkansas so well represented.

Pictured above, from left to right are Allison, Claire, Samuel Kass, General Joe Thompson, and Lauren.

The candidates also enjoyed meeting the Honorable Representative Marcia Fudge, a Congresswoman recognized for her awareness of the childhood obesity problem. Pictured below are Claire, Allison, Representative Fudge, and Lauren.

Other highlights of the conference included the first public address by newly confirmed USDA FSIS Under Secretary for Food Safety, Dr. Elisabeth Hagen. Dr. Hagen outlined the USDA's vision on modernizing the Department's food safety efforts on behalf of consumers. Among the issues addressed were the pathogens not currently addressed by our testing and regulation, problems with traceback of foodborne illness, inconsistent enforcement of animal welfare standards, and efforts to move from a reactive system of food safety to a pro-active preventative system.

Dr. Hagen was introduced by renowned food safety advocate and Arkansas native, Carol Tucker Foreman,and the LL.M. candidates were delighted to have the opportunity to meet her.

The USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, Janey Thornton, also addressed the conference and spoke about her role in overseeing the 15 federal nutrition programs administered by the USDA.

Special thanks goes out to Christopher Waldrop, Director, Food Policy Institute, Consumer Federation of America for his work in organizing the conference and his help in getting our LL.M. candidates to the conference.

Report from the AALA Conference

2010-10-11T10:54:00.005-05:00

I just got home from the annual Agricultural Law Association (AALA) Conference, held this year in Omaha, Nebraska. It was a great conference, and I wanted to post about the event for those of you who could not attend. We had wonderful representation for the LL.M. Program, with current candidates and alumni all participating in impressive numbers.

I am very pleased to report that I received this year's AALA Distinguished Service award. The distinguished service award is given to a member of the AALA that demonstrates “sustained excellence” in contributing to the development of agricultural law, the professional development of agricultural law practitioners, a “better understanding of the law by rural citizens;” and “other noteworthy service reflecting the commonly understood ideals and purposes of the AALA.” It was such a honor - I was very touched by the award.

This year the AALA Board created a new award for Excellence in Agricultural Law. This award is given to recognize AALA members for outstanding contributions to the legal profession and the agricultural community. LL.M. alumnus and Director of the National Center for Agricultural Law, Harrison Pittman was the award winner in the academic category. Harrison was recognized for his work with the National Center and the collaborations he has fostered between the National Center and the AALA, including the Agricultural and Food Law blog and the Agricultural Law listserv. Congratulations, Harrison.

LL.M. Alumna, Anne (Beth) Crocker, counsel for the South Carolina Department of Agriculture was elected to the AALA Board of Directors for a three year term beginning this fall. Alumnus Allen Olson, a practicing attorney from Albany Georgia and Visiting Professor for the LL.M. Program was elected to the AALA Board last year, so now serves in the second year of his three year term. It is wonderful to have such excellent representation on the board.

LL.M. alumni who presented at the conference included:

Terry Centner, Professor, University of Georgia

CAFO Issues in the Courts and the EPA

Anne (Beth Crocker), counsel for the South Carolina Department of Agriculture

Food Safety: State Initiatives in South Carolina

Anne Hazlett, Minority Counsel, U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee,

Farm Bill of the Future: Issues and Consensus Building

Martha Noble, Senior Policy Associate, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

Food Safety Legislation: Small Farms and Direct Marketing Issues
Agriculture and Forestry in Land Use Regulation

Jeffrey Peterson, shareholder, Gray, Plant, Mooty, PA St. Cloud, MN

Agricultural Bankruptcy Update

Ross Pifer, Director, The Agricultural Law Resource & Reference Center, Penn State Dickinson School of Law

The Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Rush

Harrison Pittman, Director of the National Center for Agricultural Law

Natural Gas, Wind & Solar Energy
Farm Bill of the Future

Michael T. Roberts, Special Counsel, Roll, International; Director, Center for Integrity in the Food Industry

Issues in Corporate Food Safety; Corporate Sustainability

Susan Schneider, Professor and Director, LL.M. in Agricultural & Food Law

New Developments in Food Law
Food Safety: New Concerns & Increased Regulation
Crop Insurance Issues

Jennifer Williams Zwaggerman, Associate, Faegre & Benson, Visiting Scholar, Drake University School of Law

Food Safety: Egg Contamination and a New Regulatory Framework

Visiting Professor Neil Hamilton, Professor, Drake University School of Law and Director, Drake Agricultural Law Center, presented the Annual Update on Issues of Food, Energy, and New Farmers and moderated the panel on Sustainability, Organic Production and Energy.

Visiting Professor David Grahn, USDA Office of General Counsel, spoke on Crop Insurance Issues, presenting an overview of the complex federal crop insurance program and highlighting new issues.

Sixteen of this year’s class of LL.M. candidates were in attendance as were many alumni including:

Joel Cape, Frilot LLC, New Orleans, Louisiana

Elizabeth (Springstein) Rumley, National Center for Agricultural Law

Rusty Rumley, National Center for Agricultural Law

Craig Raysor, USDA, GIPSA, Denver, Colorado

Cara McCarthy, USDA, GIPSA, Washington, D.C.

Harrison Pittman, National Center for Agricultural Law

Beth Crocker, South Carolina Dept of Agriculture

Brett Offutt, USDA GIPSA, Washington, D.C.

Kurt Olson, Miller Law Firm, Decorah, Iowa

Michael Roberts, Roll, International, Los Angeles, California

Jeff Feirick, Clemons Family Corporation, Hatfield, Pennsylvania

Anne Hazlett, Senate Ag Committee, Washington, D.C.

Jeff Peterson, Gray, Plant, Mooty, PA, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Martha Noble, National Sustainable Agricultural Coalition, Washington, D.C.

Terry Centner, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia

Teena Gunter, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Michael Knipe, USDA Office of General Counsel

Jennifer Zwaggerman, Faegre & Benson

Ross Pifer, Penn State Dickinson School of Law, State College, Pennsylvania

It was wonderful to see friends, colleagues, meet new students, and catch up with our alumni. My only regret was not having more time to catch up with some of our alumni. With record attendance at the conference and over 50 students in attendance, quite of few of whom wanted to talk to us about the LL.M. Program, it was a very busy time! If I missed anyone in my list - please let me know so I can update and correct! And, if anyone took pictures at the conference, please send them in for posting. Robert Achenbach sent me the award picture. That's me with Jesse Richardson, practicing attorney and Associate Professor, Virginia Tech, chair of the AALA Awards Committee and newly elected AALA Board member.

Next year's conference will be October 22-23 in Austin, Texas. I hope to see you all there!

Alumni Friends Connecting in D.C.

2010-09-27T10:52:00.006-05:00

Pictured here, left to right, are Jennifer Fiser and Ulyana Korzhevych. Jennifer, from Arkansas and Ulyana, from Lyiv, Ukraine met each other and became friends during their LL.M. studies 2008-09. We are now pleased to report that they have re-connected in Washington, D.C.

Jennifer just began her new position at USDA, where she serves as Agricultural Program Specialist with Farm Service Agency in the Production, Emergencies, and Compliance Division. Ulyana is interning for the White and Case international law firm in Washington, D.C., serving as an International Lawyer.

The picture was taken at the annual Adams Morgan Day festival in Washington, D.C. There, Jennifer was able to introduce Ulyana to "fried American street food (kettle chips, to be exact)." It was also reported that they had mini donuts on a stick that were "wonderful." Nice to see our hardworking D.C. alums having some fun on the weekend!

LL.M. Alumni and GIPSA Rules

2010-09-24T14:00:00.009-05:00

Last week, our alumni at the National Center for Agricultural Law held the first in a series of workshops for poultry and livestock producers on the new rules proposed by the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA).

Center Director, H arrison Pittman and Staff Attorneys Elizabeth Rumley, Shannon Mirus, and Rusty Rumley provided an overview of the proposed rule and described regulatory changes that would affect Arkansas poultry and livestock producers. In addition, they reviewed the GIPSA rulemaking process and explained how to submit comments to the proposed rules. The session was well attended and ended with a question and answer session. Two more workshops will be held here in Arkansas and a webinar available nationally will be held on October 14. For information visit the Center's website or contact Beth at erumley@uark.edu.

LL.M. Program alumni have been deeply involved in all sides of the issues raised by the GIPSA proposed rule. At the USDA/Department of Justice sponsored Competition Workshop in Colorado in August, it was almost an alumni reunion. We received reports that the following alumni were all in attendance:

Craig Raysor, Investigative Attorney, USDA GIPSA
Brett Offutt, Director, Policy and Litigation Division, Packers and Stockyards Program, USDA GIPSA
Doug O'Brien, Special Advisor to USDA Secretary Vilsack
Chuck Munson, Assistant Attorney General, Office of Consumer Protection, Montana Attorney General's Office
Jennifer (Williams) Zwagerman, Associate Attorney, Faegre & Benson; 2010-11 Faegre & Benson Visiting Scholar at Drake University Law School
Anne Hazlett, Minority Council, U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee
Allie Devine, Vice President and General Counsel, Kansas Livestock Association
Jack Jenson, Legal Specialist for GIPSA.

It was reported to us that Visiting Professor Phil Kunkel with the law firm of Gray Plant Mooty based in Minnesota was also at the workshop and visited with some of our alums. Not in attendance, but very involved in the rulemaking process was Cara McCarthy, Legal Specialist for GIPSA in Washington, D.C.

Let us know if we missed anyone!

LL.M. Program Highlighted in Food Safety News

2010-09-16T11:56:00.001-05:00

Agricultural law as a discipline and the LL.M. Program in Agricultural & Food Law are featured in a headline article, Learning the Law From Farm to Fork, on Food Safety News today. The article was written by Claire Mitchell, a current LL.M. candidate and the recipient of the Marler Clark Graduate Assistantship in the LL.M. Program.

Claire Mitchell Named Marler Clark Graduate Assistant

2010-09-12T09:15:00.009-05:00

We are pleased to announce that LL.M. Candidate Claire Mitchell has been selected as the recipient of the Marler Clark Graduate Assistantship, part of our new public/private partnership.

The public/private partnership graduate assistant program allows us to partner with leaders in the food and agricultural legal communities, matching our candidates with firms and agencies working on the cutting edge of our food system. The participation of Marler Clark L.L.P., P.C. located in Seattle, Washington is indeed an honor for us.

Claire received her J.D. degree from Hofstra University with a concentration in Energy and the Environment. She received her B.A., majoring in English, from Villanova University, magna cum laude. During law school, Claire served as Articles Editor, for the Hofstra Labor & Employment Law Journal, was elected President of the Legal Emergency Aid Project and elected Treasurer of Hofstra Law Women. She also served as Program Coordinator for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and Editorial Assistant for BAR/BRI Bar Review. She was awarded a Certificate in Mediation Skills, approved by the New York State Office of Court Administration.

Claire has clerking experience in private practice and internships with Nassau County Supreme Court and Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. She co-authored the article, Who’s Your Daddy: A Proposal for Paid Family Leave to Promote the Growth of Families, is published at 27 HOFSTRA LABOR & EMP L.J. 199 (2010).

Among Claire's duties as a Graduate Assistant for Marler Clark will be writing for the Food Safety News, the daily Web-based newspaper dedicated to reporting on issues surrounding food safety presented by Marler Clark.

Richard Flournoy Named Bassett Law Firm LLP Graduate Assistant

2010-09-10T12:29:00.002-05:00

We are pleased to announce that LL.M. Candidate, Richard Flournoy has been selected as the recipient of the Bassett Law Firm LLP Graduate Assistantship, part of our new public/private partnership.

The public/private partnership graduate assistant program allows us to partner with leaders in the food and agricultural legal communities, matching our candidates with firms and agencies working on the cutting edge of our food system. The participation of Bassett Law Firm LLP in this program is indeed an honor for us.

Richard received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Georgia, cum laude and his J.D. from Mercer University, cum laude. He had a distinguished record in law school, serving as a member of the Mercer Law Review and receiving the Mercer Law Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement in Legal Writing. In addition he received CALI Awards for Excellence in both Legal Writing and in Commercial Transactions. Richard served as the Secretary of the Mercer Environmental Law Society. He interned for the Agricultural Liaison to the Governor of Georgia and clerked with several Georgia law firms. And, he served as Campaign Intern for Gary Black for Agriculture in the election race for Commissioner of Agriculture in Georgia.

Congratulations, Richard!

New Public/Private Assistantship Program Announced

2010-08-30T13:18:00.010-05:00

We are pleased to announce a new public/private partnership that connects the LL.M. Program with leaders in the food and agricultural legal communities. This partnership allows us to offer two new graduate assistantships, matching our candidates with law firms and agencies working on the cutting edge of our food system.

Two distinguished law firms, Bassett Law Firm LLP and the Marler Clark Law Firm are our first partners in this program, and their participation is indeed an honor for us.

Bassett Law Firm LLP, located in Fayetteville, serves clients in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. Since the firm’s founding in October 1981 by the late Bill Bassett and his two sons, Woody and Tod, Bassett Law Firm LLP has enjoyed many accomplishments and sustained growth. The foundation of the firm has been and remains its commitment to the service of its clients, the profession, and the community.

In 2005, Bassett Law Firm LLP was included, for the third time, in Corporate Counsel magazine’s list of “Who Represents America’s Biggest Companies?” In 2006, Small Firm Business included Bassett Law Firm LLP in the publication’s recognition of “Small Firms with Fortune 250 Clients.” The Bassett Law Firm LLP was recently selected by CitiScapes Metro Monthly as the area’s “best law firm” in the periodical’s “Best of Northwest Arkansas” edition. And, in 2009 the United States Department of Defense recognized Bassett Law Firm LLP as one of only three employers in Arkansas to receive the “Pro Patria” award for the most exceptional support of employees who serve in the National Guard or Reserve.

Included in a wide range of community service, Bassett Law Firm LLP has been a particular friend to the University of Arkansas School of Law. The firm annually sponsors the Trial Advocacy scholarship prize to a J.D. student selected by the law faculty. And, thanks to a generous $100,000 gift from the firm, the law school is proud to have its premier W.W. Bassett, Jr. Classroom.

Agricultural Law is a significant practice area for Bassett Law Firm LLP. Partner, Vince Chadick and firm attorney, K.C. Tucker are both graduates of the LL.M. Program in Agricultural Law. A number of LL.M. candidates have clerked at the firm. Vince Chadick is a popular adjunct professor in the LL.M. Program, teaching Regulation of Livestock Sales each fall.

Bassett Law Firm has agreed to participate in the assistantship program for both semesters of this year.

Marler Clark is often recognized as the nation’s foremost law firm representing victims of foodborne illness. Since 1998, Marler Clark attorneys have been involved in almost all of the major food poisoning cases in the U.S., representing victims of Campylobacter, E. coli O157:H7, Hepatitis A, Listeria, Norovirus, Salmonella, and Shigella outbreaks across the country.

In addition to their work on behalf of victims in the courtroom, Bill Marler, Bruce Clark, and Denis Stearns formed OutBreak, Inc., the nonprofit, consulting arm of the firm. OutBreak was founded with the "radical notion that the same lawyers who sue on behalf of victims of foodborne illness are best suited to help responsible companies with their food safety challenges." The attorneys travel several days a month, giving speeches to and consulting with food-industry groups and environmental health agencies.

Marler Clark also founded Food Safety News, the acclaimed online national daily newspaper reporting on food safety and related issues.

Bill Marler has been a tireless supporter of the reform of our food safety laws, through frequent media interviews, the very popular Marler Blog, his active Twitter feed, and his "Put a Trial Lawyer Out of Business" campaign.

Denis Stearns is a frequent author and speaker on a wide variety of topics related to food, law, economics, and policy, and is the author of two book-chapters, a law journal article, and numerous other articles, essays, and opinion pieces. His most recent article, ON (CR)EDIBILITY: Why Food in the U.S. May Never Be Safe, is soon to be published in the Stanford Law & Policy Review. He also has published with School of Law's Journal of Food Law & Policy.

Bill Marler and Denis Stearns will co-teach a condensed course on food safety liability this November. Marler Clark will participate in the assistantship program during the Fall semester 2010.

We are delighted to partner with these leaders in the legal community and are grateful for their support. Our appreciation is also extended to the Graduate School at the University of Arkansas, former Dean of the Graduate School, Dean Collis Geren, Associate Dean Patricia Koski, and Dean of the University of Arkansas School of Law, Cynthia Nance.

On the personal side . . .

2010-08-29T20:07:00.006-05:00

Just had to post a couple of pictures that I received from our alumni. Above is the birth announcement for Ignacio - the beautiful new son of Liliana Reyes Botaro and her husband Ricardo Molano León. Liliana was in the LL.M. Program last year and is continuing work on her thesis.

And, below - two of our wonderful alumni in D.C., Cara McCarthy who works at USDA GIPSA and Amy Lowenthal, who works in the USDA Office of the Inspector General. That handsome young man in the middle is Amy and her husband Don's son, Gabriel.

2010 Fall Semester Courses

2010-08-29T13:03:00.008-05:00

Last week, the LL.M. candidates completed their condensed course with Professor Hamilton, the Introduction to the Law of Food & Agriculture. This week, the regularly scheduled fall semester classes begin. These classes are described as follows:

Agriculture & the Environment
This course has always been one of our core courses in the curriculum. It examines the tensions between the desire to produce food and fiber efficiently and the concern for the protection of natural resources. Agriculture is increasingly criticized for its impact on the environment. This impact and its regulation will be discussed and debated. The application of the major federal environmental statutes to agricultural operations will be presented, with discussion of the exemptions for agriculture and the impact of industrialized agricultural production on environmental regulation. Professor Christopher Kelley, a tenured professor at the University of Arkansas School of Law has taught this course and related environmental courses since joining the faculty. Professor Kelley has taught agricultural law, natural resources law, forestry law and related subjects in a number of settings including the University of North Dakota School of Law, the University of South Dakota School of Law, the William Mitchell College of Law, and at the Drake University School of Law Summer Agricultural Law Institute. He has practiced agricultural law at large law firms in Washington, D.C., and Minneapolis, Minnesota, and with small firms in Fargo, North Dakota and Camilla, Georgia.

Food Law & Policy
This course examines the network of laws that govern food safety and food labeling and considers how well this network works to protect and advise American consumers. It considers the regulation of food by the Food & Drug Administration and by the US Department of Agriculture, weaving policy issues into the discussion of the U.S. food system. Professor Schneider is a tenured professor at the University of Arkansas School of Law and has served as Director of the LL.M. Program since 2000. She began teaching this course in 2007, shifting her research focus and her presentations to the area of food law and policy. She has practiced and taught agricultural and food law for all of her legal career, teaching at William Mitchell College of Law and at the Drake University Summer Agricultural Law Institute and practicing with firms in Minnesota, North Dakota and Washington, D.C.

Regulation of Livestock Sales
This course examines the Packers & Stockyards Act, with a focus on the prohibition of unfair practices, industry consolidation and antitrust concerns, mandatory price reporting, and the protections provided for livestock marketing. Professor Vince Chadick has taught this course for several years , successfully weaving his practice experience into the classroom. He is a very popular adjunct professor at the University of Arkansas School of Law and a shareholder in the Bassett Law Firm in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He holds his LL.M. in Agricultural Law and practices in the areas of agricultural, environmental, business, and commercial law. He was one of the attorneys involved in the landmark case brought by the state of Oklahoma against Arkansas poultry processors for the contamination of waters flowing into Oklahoma from Northwest Arkansas, spending much of last fall and early winter in trial. The parties are still awaiting a decision.

Food, Farming & Sustainability
This new 3 credit course will be adapted from the casebook by the same name, in publication with Carolina Press and authored by the instructor, Professor Schneider. It will consist of one hour of traditional lecture/discussion and two hours of special presentations each week. The course is designed to provide an issues-based study of some of the complex topics that make up the body of agricultural law. It will be divided into discreet units designed to introduce some of the critical legal issues facing the industry and consumers today. Agricultural commercial law, environmental law, federal farm policy, labor law, food labeling, farm animal welfare, the global food system and other topics will be included, each presented in the context of a current issue. The course will provide a mix of law and policy, and it is designed to spark thoughtful dialogue.

Independent Research/Readings in Agricultural & Food Law
This independent study course offers LL.M. candidates an opportunity to explore an area of interest or a particular reading that is not addressed elsewhere in the curriculum. One popular approach is to select one or more books on a food or agricultural law topic for study, with an oral and written book review required. Professor Schneider approves all plans of study and provides guidance throughout the semester.

In addition to our regularly scheduled semester courses, we are delighted to add a new condensed course to our Fall line up. The week of November 2, we will offer Unsafe Food & Product Liability. This new condensed course will be structured on a recent publication, Contaminated Fresh Produce and Product Liability. It will begin with an historical overview to show how product liability law (especially strict liability) developed, highlighting early cases involving defective food. It will pivot into political, economic, and regulatory issues, using a case-study approach derived from real cases and clients. The course will be team-taught by nationally recognized trial lawyers, Bill Marler and Denis Stearns with the firm of Marler Clark in Seattle, Washington. Bill Marler visited the LL.M. Program last fall, speaking to a packed audience regarding his experiences representing the victims of food borne illness. We are delighted to welcome him back with his partner, Denis Stearns who has published extensively on food safety issues and teaches and lectures at several other schools including UCS and Michigan State.

Thank you to our Friends

2010-08-26T18:47:00.006-05:00

Today we finished up the first class of the new semester - a condensed course called An Introduction to the Law of Food & Agriculture taught by Professor Neil Hamilton. Professor Hamilton has taught this introductory class for us for a number of years, and it is always a good way to start off the year. This year, it seemed to go exceptionally well - we have a great group of new LL.M. candidates that really appreciated the special opportunity presented by Neil's visit.

Although most readers of this blog will know Neil - check out the wonderful article about him that was posted in a recent Des Moines magazine, Hamilton. As noted in the article, he is "one of the world’s preeminent experts on sustainable agriculture."

This year Neil was particularly energized and yet very reflective as he kicked off his sabbatical year with his visit to Arkansas. The class was a great success - with lots of good discussion and a fast-paced overview of some of the biggest issues in agricultural law.

This afternoon, we were delighted to have a special visitor - LL.M. alumna Janie Simms Hipp was in town and stopped by to welcome the new class. Janie delivered an inspiring call to action regarding the legal needs in rural America and discussed her work with Native Americans. Janie, a member of the Chickasaw tribe and a long time advocate on behalf of family farmers, now serves as Senior Advisor for Tribal Affairs to USDA Secretary Vilsack and also directs the USDA Office of Tribal Relations. We are grateful for Janie's continued support for the Program and hope that she will visit whenever she has a chance to come home to Arkansas. The LL.M. candidates are already making plans to visit her in D.C.

A great week to start off an exciting new year!

Introducing the LL.M. Class of 2011

2010-08-25T13:29:00.000-05:00

This fall, we welcome the largest LL.M. class ever, with an enrollment of nineteen candidates - seventeen new LL.M. candidates and two returning part-time candidates - in a class composed of a mix of experienced attorneys and recent law graduates.

Our experienced attorneys have professional experience that includes leadership at Wal-Mart as Sustainable Development Director, Judge Advocate service at the Pentagon, service as an FAA Regional Environmental Counsel, and international trade experience as a practicing attorney. We also welcome a professor of law from Yeunganam University in the Republic of Korea.

Our recent law graduates obtained their degrees from the University of Iowa, Ohio State University, Washington University, the University of Oregon, Hofstra University, the University of Miami, Mercer University, Novgorod State University in Novgorod, Russia, and our own University of Arkansas School of Law.

Brief biographies of the incoming class are provided below.

Kimberly Arnao
J.D. Pace University School of Law, cum laude, Certificate of Specialty, Environmental Law
B.A., Rutgers College (Biology, Natural Resource Management)
Admitted to practice, Ohio
Former Regional Environmental Counsel, Federal Aviation Administration, Southern Region
Other professional experience includes service as Deputy Regional Environmental Counsel, U.S. Air Force; Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, United States Air Force
Recipient of Commendation, Achievement, and Meritorious Service medals, U.S. Air Force.

Kerri Boling
J.D., University of Arkansas School of Law
B.S., University of Arkansas (Agriculture/Agricultural Business)
Served as a law clerk in the Legal Department of Tyson Foods; Clerked for Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Jim Gunter; Clerked for the USDA Office of General Counsel in Kansas City
Research Assistant, National Center for Agricultural Law
Co-authored the first Arkansas Beef Audit Report for the Arkansas Beef Council; authored case summaries published on the National Agricultural Law Center’s website; contributor to Arkansas Cattle Business Magazine.

Richard Burnett
J.D., University of Oregon
B.S., Brigham Young University (Agronomy/Environmental Science)
M.S., Agronomy, Brigham Young University
Graduate Teaching Fellow, Department of Biology, University of Oregon
Co-author, The Great Tikal Earthwork Revisited, 32 JOURNAL OF FIELD ARCHAEOLOGY 41 (2007); Final Report: Re-evaluation of the Earthworks at Tikal, Guatemala: Phase 2, National Science Foundation (2007)
Thesis: Stable Carbon Isotope Evidence of Ancient Maya Agriculture at Tikal, Guatemala.

Marie David
LL.B., University of Benin, Benin, Nigeria
Barrister-at-Law, Nigerian Law School, Lagos, Nigeria
Georgia Institute of Real Estate, Atlanta Georgia
Certificate in Computer Training/Development, DeKalb, Georgia
Former Director of Sustainability, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.; previous positions with Wal-Mart include, Director of Social Responsibility, Social Responsibility Manager, Project Specialist for Global Supply Chain Management
Prior Experience includes Consultant, eBusiness Solutions, General Electric Power Systems; and Product Development Manager & Senior Technical Analyst, United States Advanced Network.

Richard Flournoy
J.D., Mercer University, cum laude
B.A., University of Georgia, cum laude (Political Science)
Member, Mercer Law Review
Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement in Legal Writing; CALI Awards for Excellence in Legal Writing and in Commercial Transactions;
Secretary, Mercer Environmental Law Society
Internship as Agricultural Liaison to the Governor of Georgia; Private practice legal clerkships; Campaign Intern, Gary Black for Agriculture.

Jason Foscolo
J.D. Pace University Law School
B.A., Fordham University (History)
Admitted to practice law, New York
Former Deputy Branch Head, Judge Advocate Support, Marine Corps, Pentagon
Prior experience includes service as Deputy Station Judge Advocate, Defense Counsel Marine Corp Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan
Author of a recurring professional responsibility column in weekly JAG publication
Former staff attorney, Sullivan & Cromwell, New York.

Alexandra Gainsteva
Law degree from Novgorod State University in Novgorod, Russia
Professional Communications Translator, Novgorod State University
Study at UA School of Law as visiting scholar, 2009-2010
Former Legal Counsel, Novgorod Regional Social Organization (“Consumers Union”); Internships with Federal Registration Service of Russian Federation and Dept of Home Affairs, Novgorod Region
Admitted to practice law in Russia.

Maxim Gubarev
Law degree from Novgorod State University in Novgorod, Russia
Russian-American Summer Law School in Saint-Petersburg; Jessup Jessup Moot Court Competition, Russian national rounds; Prometheus program at the University of Tartu (Estonia), studying European law, policies and international relations
Study at UA School of Law as visiting scholar, 2008-2009
Internships with Export-Import customs brokerage firm in Novgorod, dealing with Russian Customs Service and at the Russian largest retail company - "Thunder" Ltd., working for the department of Analysis and Investigations (Novgorod branch)
Recipient of the Russia-U.S. Legal Education Foundation and Oxford-Russia Fund academic grants
Admitted to practice law in Russia
Authored Responsibility of Transnational Corporations for Human Rights Violations for the International Legal Conference, Novgorod State University.

David Jackson
J.D., University of Kansas
B.A., George Mason University (English)
Former practicing attorney, Miller and Company, P.C
Admitted to the Missouri Bar and the Court of International Trade Bar; Passed Customs Broker Examination (license application pending)
CALI Award for Excellence in Advanced International Trade; International Trade Assistant, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service
Co-authored book chapter, Toward Equal Human Dignity in Free Trade Agreements, with international law scholar, Professor Raj Bhala, Rice Distinguished Professor, University of Kansas School of Law
Other professional experience includes: University Professor, Department of Management and Economics, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing, People’s Republic of China (teaching oral communication and written composition); RBL Investigator and Certified Information Systems Security Professional.

Tae Huan Keum (attending the LL.M. Program on his sabbatical)
Law Professor (Administrative Law, Agricultural Law), College of Law, Yeunganam University
LL.B., Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
LL.M., Administrative Law, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
LL.D., Administrative Law, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
Admitted to practice law, Republic of Korea
Publications include, The WTO Case Against U.S. Subsidies on Upland Cotton (2009); The Meaning of the U.S. Supreme Court Decision, Lingle v. Chevron (2008); Advocate for the Agriculture and Agriculture Law (2007); The Reviewability of Rule in Korea, China and Japan (2007); The Text and Intent in Interpretation of Administrative Law (2007); The Historical Transition of Management Subjects of Agricultural Water & Water Rights (2007); The Substantial Evidence Test in the Federal Administrative Procedure Act (2007); LEGAL ISSUES IN EVERYDAY LIFE (2006); ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS (coauthor) (2005).

Lauren Medoff
J.D., University of Miami, cum laude
B.A., University of Florida, cum laude (Psychology)
B.S., University of Florida, cum laude (Criminology)
Intern and clerkship experience: Service as a Federal Certified Legal Intern with the U.S. Attorney’s Office involving food safety and criminal liability issues; Private practice clerkships; Internships with the Children & Youth Law Clinic and with the Florida Fifteenth Judicial Circuit
Co-chair of the University of Miami School of Law School Ambassadors; Inter-club Counsel member; 2009 Orientation Committee Leader.

David Milender
J.D., University of Iowa B.A. (Political Science)
Purdue University (Political Science), Highest Distinction, Phi Beta Kappa
Clinical and internship experience: Prosecutor Intern, Muscatine County Attorney’s Office, Legal Clinic (Law & Policy in Action and Immigration Program); Lake County State Attorney’s Office
Justice, Student Judicial Court
Other professional experience: Supervisor/Project Coordinator, Kleffmann Group (supervised collection of agricultural market data).

Claire Mitchell
J.D., Hofstra University, Concentration in Energy and the Environment
B.A. Villanova University, magna cum laude
Certificate in Mediation Skills approved by the New York State Office of Court Administration
Articles Editor, HOFSTRA LABOR & EMPLOYMENT LAW JOURNAL
President, Legal Emergency Aid Project; Treasurer, Hofstra Law Women; Program Coordinator, National Institute for Trial Advocacy
Clerking experience in private practice and internships with Nassau County Supreme Court and Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office;
Editorial Assistant for BAR/BRI Bar Review
Authored Who’s Your Daddy: A Proposal for Paid Family Leave to Promote the Growth of Families, 27 HOFSTRA LABOR & EMP L.J. 199 (2010).

Kathryn Peters
J.D., University of Oregon
B.A., University of Oregon (Accounting)
University of Oregon Award of Excellence 2007-2010;
Clinical experience, serving as a volunteer, intern and extern for the Lane County Legal Aid and Advocacy Center and externing with the Small Business Clinic
Research Assistant, Professor Nancy Shurtz
Authored Creating an Urban Agricultural Revolution, J. ENVTL. L. LITIG. (forthcoming 2010)
Other professional experience includes ownership of Dark Hollow, a natural fiber clothing line, with responsibility for design, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution, as well as all aspects of financial accounting; and, service as a Licensed Tax Preparer, H&R Block.

Jeremy Pyle
J.D., University of Oregon School of Law
B.A., DePauw University (Political Science)
Executive Editor, JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW & LITIGATION
Editor-in-Chief, WESTERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW UPDATE
Clerkship experience at the Western Environmental Law Center, the Oregon Department of Justice, and Cascadia Wildlands; Internship with Oregon State Representative Jules Kopel Bailey
Organizer, Public Interest Environmental Law Conference
Officer, Land Air Water.

Dorian Slaybod
J.D., Moritz College of Law, The Ohio State University
B.A., The Ohio State University (Sociology)
Managing Editor, OHIO STATE JOURNAL ON DISPUTE RESOLUTION
President of the Environmental Law Society, the American Constitution Society, and the Jewish Law Students Association
Legal internship experience with Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Ohio Governor’s office, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office (working with the Alternative Energy Task Force), the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, and with a private law firm
Legal clerkship experience in agricultural labor law with the Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (Migrant Farmworker Program); and with a private law firm (working in civil rights and employment discrimination litigation)
Authored A Lack of Consensus: The World’s Conflicting Policies on Biofuels and The Obama Administration’s Stance on Biofuels, both published in the ABA Ag Management Committee Newsletter; Contributor, ABA YEAR IN REVIEW, Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources 2008 and 2009 Annual Reports.

Stacey Sturner
J.D., University of Arkansas School of Law
B.A., University of Texas (Government)
Current position as staff member, Northwest Arkansas Council
Former Legislative Assistant to Senator Dale Bumpers, Washington, D.C.; Legislative Affairs, Internal Revenue Service, Washington, D.C.

Benjamin Thomas
J.D., Washington University School of Law
B.A., Austin College (English Literature, German)
Member, WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF LAW & POLICY
Recipient, Scholar in Law Award
Vice President, Women’s Issues, Support & Education
Participant in the Congressional and Administrative Law Clinic, Federal Trade Commission, Office of Chairman Leibowitz
Steiger Fellow, New Mexico Attorney General’s Office, Antitrust Division
Internship with Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, Inc.
Authored Note: Fifth Circuit Interpretation of the Packers & Stockyards Act in Wheeler v. Pilgrim’s Pride: Finally Giving Farmers a Chance
Other professional experience includes: Manager of Farm Services, J.B. Thomas Enterprises, Inc. and service as an English Language Teaching Assistant for the Austrian-American Fulbright Commission in Rankweil, Austria.

Allison Waldrip
J.D., University of Arkansas School of Law
B.A. (English Literature/Broadcast Journalism) University of Arkansas, cum laude
Numerous oral advocacy awards including Best Oral Advocate, National Moot Court Competition; member of the First Place Team, National Moot Court Competition; Best Oralist, Ben J. Altheimer Moot Court Competition; member of the First Place Team William H. Sutton Barrister’s Union Trial Competition
Clerkship experience in private practice
Served as Assistant to the Director of Communications, Dean’s Office, Univ. of Arkansas School of Law
Former News Anchor & Station Manager, University of Arkansas Television.

LL.M Alumni Speak at National Ag Law Conference

2010-08-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

The law firm of Faegre & Benson LLP held a major conference July 28 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This Food, Agriculture & Biofuels National Conference focused on"Agricultural Production to Food Consumption: Meeting the Challenges for Sustainable Success." It was designed for "senior industry leaders, including executives, senior representatives, and lawyers," and there were over two hundred attendees.

The LL.M. Program was well represented. Professor Christopher Kelley delivered a presentation on agriculture & the environment. Another alumnus, Professor Alison Peck from the University of West Virginia School of Law, spoke on agricultural biotechnology. Faegre & Benson Attorney, Jennie Williams Zwaggerman was one of the conference organizers and moderated the food labeling session.

Jennie Zwagerman Chosen as Visiting Scholar

2010-06-28T18:10:00.003-05:00

We are very pleased to announce that LL.M. alumna Jennie Williams Zwagerman has been appointed as Visiting Scholar at Drake University School of Law. Her appointment is the first for a new partnership between the law firm where she practices, Faegre & Benson, and Drake University's Agricultural Law Center.

Zwagerman is uniquely qualified for this appointment given her practice in the arena of food, agriculture and agribusiness litigation in the Des Moines office of Faegre & Benson, a respected 475-attorney firm with a well recognized practice group in food, agriculture and biofuels. Jennie received her law degree from Drake University Law School, studying under Professor Neil Hamilton, and her LL.M. degree in Agricultural & Food Law from the University of Arkansas School of Law. During her visiting scholar year, Jennie will continue as a member of the litigation practice at Faegre & Benson, but will be in residence at the law school teaching agricultural and food law courses. Congratulations, Jennie - we are confident that you will do an excellent job.

Alumni Update: Amy Lowenthal

2010-06-16T08:39:00.010-05:00

Amy Lowenthal recently left her position as Majority Counsel for the Senate Agriculture Committee to accept the position of Assistant Counsel to the Inspector General at USDA. In her new position, Amy is in charge of legislative and regulatory review for OIG. In this critical role, she analyzes and provides guidance on proposed legislation and regulations of interest to the Inspector General. She also provides OIG Auditors and Investigators with a congressional/policy perspective on emerging issues in agriculture. Congratulations, Amy, on a wonderful new opportunity!

P.S. When I asked Amy for a photograph to post along with this announcement, she suggested a picture of her son Gabriel. While I did eventually convince her to submit a picture of herself, I thought everyone would also enjoy the picture of little Gabriel!

Congratulations to LL.M. Candidate Courtney Henry

2010-05-21T12:23:00.003-05:00

On Tuesday, May 18, LL.M. Candidate Courtney Henry was elected to serve as a Justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court. Courtney is the wife of LL.M. alumnus Mark Henry who has a successful agricultural law practice here in Fayetteville and also serves as one of our adjunct professors. We are very proud of Courtney and are confident she will make a great Supreme Court Justice. While we don't anticipate that Courney will have time to complete her LL.M. degree in the near future, our loss is Arkansas' gain. Congratulations.

Congratulations to the Class of 2010

2010-05-20T12:36:00.003-05:00

Last Saturday was graduation for the University of Arkansas School of Law and for our LL.M. candidates. It was a delightful ceremony. We are so proud of the hard work of this year's LL.M. candidates - it was truly a great class. Two of our candidates, Baylen Linnekin and Walt McCarter were able to complete not only their coursework but their thesis during the school year. The rest of the class is expected to complete work on their articles over the summer. We anticipate a 100% graduation rate from this excellent group of attorneys.

And, as the class of 2010 graduates, preparation for the class of 2011 carries us forward. Several of the new candidates have already visited Fayetteville to find apartments and explore their new community. More on the new class in a subsequent post - but it looks to be one of our largest classes ever. Fourteen are now enrolled, and we are still receiving applications from qualified attorneys.

Living on Earth: Round Up Ready Alfalfa

2010-05-01T16:30:00.013-05:00

Earlier this week, I received an email from Jessica Ilyse Smith, journalist and producer of the Public Radio International show, Living on Earth. Jessica got my email address as a result of my participation in the Agricultural Law blog, part of the Jurisdynamics network of legal blogs.

Jessica was working on a story about the case of Monsanto Co. v Geertson Seed Farms and wanted an overview of the case and its implications. I was honored to oblige, and you can listen to the program, now available on the Living on Earth website under the Judging Biotech Seeds heading. I just completed a companion post on Agricultural Law that describes the case. It involves the commercial sale and planting of genetically engineered alfalfa seed.

Living on Earth is commended for reporting on this important case.

Professor Kelley Lectures in Belarus

2010-05-01T11:36:00.004-05:00

Professor Christopher Kelley will lecture on legal writing in English at the Law Faculty of Belarusian State University in Minsk, Belarus, on May 5, 6, and 7. He was invited to lecture at the University while he was in Minsk in December leading a workshop in legal writing at the Vlasova Mikhel & Partners Law Firm in Minsk. His May lectures are being coordinated by Maria Yurieva, an attorney with the Sorainen Law Firm in Minsk. Sorainen is a regional law firm with offices in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Belarus.

Phil Kunkel Delivers Successful Class on Contracting

2010-04-19T08:51:00.008-05:00

Last week, we had record attendance for our new class, Field to Table: The Use (and Occasional Abuse) of Marketing Contracts and Production Contracts in Agriculture taught by commercial law expert, Philip Kunkel of the law firm of Gray Plant Mooty based in Minnesota. In addition to our LL.M. candidates and a J.D. student, we were delighted to host a number of returning alumni. They attended the class for CLE credit, and it was a great opportunity for them to reconnect with old friends.

The class was very well received. Phil's knowledge and experience in the area of agricultural contracting was impressive, and he successfully integrated caselaw, regulatory law, and policy with real world examples of contracting disputes. Included in the course materials were examples of contracts used in a variety of agricultural sectors, from hog production to grapes for wine production.

The timeliness of the class was evidenced by the publication of a Washington Post article on agricultural contracting, published the first day of the class, Meat, Poultry Industries Await New Antitrust Rules. And, one of our alumni in the class was Brett Offutt, one of the authors of the new rules, which are now in the hand of the Secretary of Agriculture. Brett serves as Policy and Litigation Director for the USDA GIPSA's Packers and Stockyards Administration. Despite a good deal of friendly banter between Phil and Brett, Brett was able to return to D.C. without having divulged any of the secrets of yet-to-be announced proposed regulations.

We were also delighted to be able to introduce Phil to Archie Schaffer, Tyson Foods’ Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs. Phil reconnected with friend and colleague Nate Hodne, VP Associate General Counsel & Assistant Secretary, Tyson Foods and met UA School of Law alumna Christine Daugherty, Senior Counsel at Tyson.

The contracting course provides an example of our commitment to study the full spectrum of law and policy from "from farm to fork" - from the perspective of the farmer, the processor, the retailer, and the consumer. Our appreciation is extended to Phil for the time and effort he put into the making the course such a success. And, our thanks as well to LL.M. alumnus, Jeff Peterson who is also a principal at Gray Plant Mooty for helping Phil to prepare the excellent course materials and presentations.

David Grahn to Return for Ag Policy / Budget Lectures

2010-03-30T20:44:00.004-05:00

We are delighted to announce that David Grahn, Associate General Counsel for Rural Dev't at USDA will return to lecture on Agricultural Policy and the Federal Budget Rules on April 5-6. David taught this subject for us last year and the LL.M. candidates raved about how much they learned about the federal budgetary process and agricultural policy. David delivers a fast paced and real world explanation of how things work inside the Beltway, how budgetary rules often drive policy decisions, and how policymakers need to understand the process in order to advance their causes.

David is the Associate General Counsel for Rural Development at the United States Department of Agriculture. Mr. Grahn is responsible for the legal advice provided by the Office of the General Counsel to the Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Utilities Service, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation/Risk Management Agency, and the Farm Loan Programs of the Farm Service Agency. From 1996 through 2002, he was the Assistant General Counsel for Legislation responsible for the drafting and reviewing of legislation and the reviewing of Congressional testimony that affected agencies of the Department of Agriculture. He was detailed to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Nutrition during Congress' consideration of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996. From 1992 through 1995, David served as a Confidential Assistant to the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency. Mr. Grahn is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School and Carleton College.

We are grateful for David's willingness to come to Arkansas to deliver this critical information. In order to avoid any conflict of interest or funding issues, David volunteers his time to the Program. His course represents a unique and very valuable opportunity for our candidates, and we are very grateful for his participation.

Phil Kunkel To Teach Agricultural Contracting Class

2010-03-23T09:24:00.001-05:00

We are delighted to announce the addition of a new Visiting Professor to our ranks. Nationally recognized agricultural and commercial law attorney Phillip Kunkel will be with us April 14-16 teaching a new condensed course, From Field to Table: The Use (and Occasional Abuse) of Marketing Contracts and Production Contracts in Agriculture.

Phil Kunkel has represented clients in agricultural law matters throughout his distinguished career, from his early work representing farmers during the farm crisis of the 1980’s to his current work involving agribusiness. He is a past president and board member of the American Agricultural Law Association (AALA) and is a popular speaker at the AALA conference each year. He has taught Agricultural Law at William Mitchell College of Law and is a frequent CLE lecturer on commercial financing, UCC, renewable energy, financial workouts, and bankruptcy.

Phil is a principal at the law firm of Gray Plant Mooty in St. Cloud and Minneapolis. He concentrates his current practice in commercial financing, project financing, and workouts and bankruptcy.

In his practice, he has represented senior lenders in more than 25 alternative energy financings totaling more than 1.75 billion; represented an administrative agent in a $400 million syndicated revolving credit facility for a multi-state integrated agricultural producer; represented an administrative agent in a $175 million syndicated financing for an agricultural processing facility in Missouri; and served as the Chapter 11 trustee and represented bankruptcy trustees in $30 million check kiting and $350 million Ponzi scheme cases in Minnesota and Missouri.

Phil’s recent publications include co-authoring the "Farm Legal Series," published by the University of Minnesota Extension Service (2009); and co-authoring the BUSINESS WORKOUTS MANUAL (West Publishing).

Phil received his J.D. cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School, and his B.S. from Johnʼs University in Minnesota.

For more information about the course, please contact Susan Schneider at sschneid@uark.edu.

Professor Don Pedersen Addresses LL.M. Class

2010-03-20T18:51:00.008-05:00

On Thursday, March 11, we were delighted to welcome agricultural law scholar, Professor Don Pedersen back to the LL.M. classroom. Professor Pedersen served as the Director of the LL.M. Program in the early years and is credited with shaping the basic elements of the Program as it exists today.

Prior to coming to the University of Arkansas, Don was already a recognized leader in agricultural law. He was a full professor at Capital University in Ohio and had been instrumental in the founding of the American Agricultural Law Association. When he was hired, he was already in the process of drafting an Agricultural Law casebook for West Publishing along with Law Professors Keith Meyer (University of Kansas), Norman Thorson (University of Nebraska), and John Davidson (University of South Dakota). That book was published in 1985 and was used extensively. Don subsequently published the West Nutshell on Agricultural Law with Keith Meyer of University of Kansas.

In 1987, Don and Dean Jake Looney worked with LL.M. alumnus Chuck Culver to obtain a grant to the law school for the creation of a National Agricultural Law Center. Don served as co-PI with Jake on this grant until his retirement in 1998.

Don received his B.A. from St. Olaf College in Minnesota and his J.D. from Northwestern University. He had practice experience in Minnesota and began his teaching career at William Mitchell College of Law.

During the years that he served as Director of the LL.M. Program, Don taught whatever courses were needed, and his expertise included Agricultural Finance & Credit, Forestry Law, Agricultural Labor Law, Agricultural History and Policy, and Agricultural International Transactions. His students knew him as a professor with very high expectations, an exceptionally strong work ethic, and a sense of professionalism that was the quintessential model for all.

Don's lecture to this year's LL.M. class was a survey of the development of agricultural law as a unique discipline. Weaved into the discussion was the development of U.S. agricultural policy and the history of the LL.M. Program. It was a fascinating class, and one that we hope is repeated next fall and expanded for the next class of LL.M. candidates. Appreciation is extended to Don for all that he has done for agricultural law and for the LL.M. Program.

Presentation to the Arkansas Bar Association

2010-03-12T21:05:00.002-06:00

The Arkansas Bar Association Law Schools Committee visited the law school today, and the Dean asked me to deliver a presentation to them about our work in the LL.M. Program. Here is the slide show I presented: PowerPoint Slideshow to AR Bar Association.

International Perspectives - Rule of Law Class

2010-03-10T20:02:00.005-06:00

Professor Christopher Kelley hosted a digital video conference with students and lawyers in Ukraine, New York City and the University of Arkansas as part of his Rule of Law colloquium this week.

The conference featured Jim Walden, a litigation partner in the Gibson Dunn New York City office. Walden, who is the co-chair of the firm’s White Collar Defense and Investigations Group, led a discussion of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Law students and faculty in Kyiv, Ukraine, took part in this innovative three-way video-conference.

Allen Olson to Deliver Lecture on Crop Insurance

2010-02-13T20:30:00.003-06:00

We are delighted to announce that LL.M. Alumnus Allen Olson will be lecturing to the Government Regulation of Agriculture class on Monday, providing an introduction to federal crop insurance and disaster assistance. With over 30 years of experience as a practicing lawyer, much of it involved in representing farmers and agribusinesses, plus prior teaching experience in the LL.M. Program, we are delighted to have Allen back via live video-conferenced discussion.

Allen received his B.A. from Cornell University in 1971, his J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1974, and his LL.M. in Agricultural Law from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1996. He has practiced law in Virginia, Nebraska and Georgia.

Allen was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the American Agricultural Law Association and is a past Chair of the Agriculture Law Section of the Georgia State Bar. He is the author of numerous articles on agricultural law topics and is a frequent speaker.

Allen recently opened his own law office in Albany, Georgia. His practice is concentrated on agricultural law matters, including federal farm programs, payment limitations, USDA administrative appeals, crop insurance litigation, conservation easements, farm business planning, and other matters affecting farmers and related agricultural businesses.

Professor Kelley on ILEX Trip

2010-02-05T09:57:00.005-06:00

Professor Kelley left today on the ABA International Legal Exchange (ILEX) Briefing Trip to Australia and New Zealand. Leading the U.S. delegation is Glenn P. Hendrix, ABA International Section chair. Twenty six attorneys were selected and are participating in the trip, including the Honorable Justice Antonin Scalia. The exchange runs from February 7-12.

Professor Kelley Featured in UA Law News

2010-02-04T23:16:00.000-06:00

The University of Arkansas' new website includes a feature article describing some of the international work undertaken by Professor Kelley last fall, Christopher Kelley: The World Justice Forum, Ukraine, and Belarus. He is pictured at the World Justice Forum in Vienna.

Rural Lands, Rural Livelihoods Class Feb. 6-8

2010-01-29T10:27:00.005-06:00

Our good friend, Professor Neil Hamilton will be back in Fayetteville next week to teach his condensed course, Rural Lands, Rural Livelihoods.

Professor Hamilton is the Dwight D. Opperman Chair of Law at the Drake University School of Law in Des Moines, Iowa and also serves as the Director of the Drake Agricultural Law Center. He is a well recognized leader in the study of agricultural law and its part in our food system and is a regular visiting professor in the LL.M. Program.

Rural Lands, Rural Livelihoods will involve the study of a variety of rural economic development initiatives, including the legal issues surrounding the rapidly expanding wind energy industry.

Given Professor Hamilton's close connection with USDA Secretary Vilsack and Professor Hamilton's attendance at the recent climate change summit in Copenhagen, the course will involve a host of current issues.

2010-01-28T20:34:00.004-06:00

Today in Agricultural Perspectives, we watched The People in Pictures, an Iowa Public Television pictorial essay of photos of Iowa farm families during the time period of the Great Depression and into the early postwar years. The photos were taken by Iowa photographer Pete Wettach who took nearly 50,000 photos of rural America. The documentary includes interviews with the people pictured in the photos, as they reminisce about their childhood days on their farms.

The photos and the stories always remind me of my farm in Minnesota and the stories my parents passed on.

The reading assignment for class was an excerpt from the book American Dreams, Rural Realities: Family Farms in Crisis, by Peggy Barlett.

Agricultural Bankruptcy Class

2010-01-27T19:19:00.002-06:00

It is estimated that at any given time, about 25% of the farming community may be experiencing financial distress, often as a result of natural disasters or economic conditions beyond the farmer's control. And, as many farm families do not have access to affordable health care, farm accidents or health emergencies are a continual worry.

While risk management strategies can help, agricultural bankruptcy is an important legal tool that may be able to save a farm family from financial crisis. In the LL.M. Program each year, we offer a course in Agricultural Bankruptcy that covers both Chapter 12 reorganization and Chapter 7 liquidation. As farmers are often treated differently in bankruptcy, and as only family farmers and family fisherman are eligible for Chapter 12 relief, these important subjects are often omitted from law school classes.

In our Agricultural Bankruptcy class this week, we discussed the excellent materials published by the National Consumer Law Center. It is my privilege to contribute the chapter on farm bankruptcy to their Consumer Bankruptcy Law & Practice Guide.

Dr. King and the Study of Agricultural Law

2010-01-18T10:37:00.007-06:00

In recognition of this day in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I would like to make note of our efforts in the LL.M. Program in Agricultural & Food Law to recognize the role that race, diversity, gender, and ethnicity have played in the development of American agriculture. While we celebrate the success of American agriculture and its unparalleled productivity, we take time to recognize that like many aspects of society, American agriculture also includes a story of great injustice and discrimination.

As Dr. King noted, “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.”

In Agricultural Perspectives, we begin our study with a look at slavery in America and just last week, we viewed excerpts from Africans in America, America’s Journey Through Slavery. This week, we will view another award-winning documentary, Oh Freedom After While, the difficult yet inspiring story of poor black and white sharecroppers coming together to try to improve their lives.

And, we will view the documentary, Homecoming, about African American farming today, considering the words of Dr. King,

“I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood.”

Last semester in Agricultural Finance & Credit, we studied past and present discrimination in agricultural lending, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and the ongoing struggles of African American farmers as evidenced in the Pigford litigation. Also addressed were the struggles of Native American farmers in the Keepseagle case, Hispanic farmers in the Garcia case; and women farmers in the Love case.

Again, we are mindful of Dr. King’s words,

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

As noted in a previous post, Professor Lisa Pruitt spoke to the Emerging Issues in Food Law class on the importance of rural women in providing food for their families worldwide and the impact of the CEDAW on the rights of women.

In Agricultural Labor Law, we address the law and policy of our use of migrant agricultural labor, and our study begins with the book With These Hands: The Hidden World of Migrant Farmworkers Today. Our class project will be to revise, edit, and post our course materials to encourage others to study this special area of employment law.

In recognizing both the diversity in agriculture and the injustice experienced by those with the least power, we can move forward to create a food system that reflects the goals espoused by Dr. King.

"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity."

Spring 2010 Classes Begin

2010-01-13T12:36:00.003-06:00

This week marks the beginning of Spring 2010 semester classes. Here are the descriptions of the courses we are offering this semester:

Government Regulation of Agriculture
This course analyzes federal domestic commodity programs, including payment eligibility and limitation rules; the USDA National Appeals Division (NAD) administrative appeals process; the judicial review of USDA NAD determinations; the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act; the USDA formal administrative adjudication process; federal marketing orders for milk, fruit, vegetables, specialty crops and nuts; and introduces the Federal Tort Claims Act and the Equal Access to Justice Act as applied to agricultural litigation. Incorporated in the course at various points will be basic principles of federal administrative law. This year, Agricultural Policy Making and the Impact of the Federal Budget and Crop Insurance/Disaster Assistance will be folded into this important look at federal agricultural policy.

Rural Lands - Rural Livelihoods
Rural development initiatives are distinct from the typical farm programs. This course considers innovative opportunites for farmers and other rural residents to explore innovative ways to stabilize and strengthen their rural communities. Included will be a study of some of the legal issues presented by wind farming.

Agricultural Bankruptcy
This course examines bankruptcy law as applied to agricultural operations, including Chapter 12 - Family Farmer Reorganization.

Agricultural Perspectives
Agriculture has a rich and varied history, and today’s issues are often best understood in the context of this history. This course examines a wide range of social and economic issues, considering their origin and how history is reflected in today’s policies. Topics considered include agrarianism, land tenancy issues, slavery, farm structure, early farm activism, the Dust Bowl, migrant farm labor, and issues involving the global food system.

Selected Issues in Food Law
This course explores current issues of food law selected by the students in the class, with a different topic presented each week. Legal and policy issues are presented and debated. Topics chosen in previous sessions have included the use of the term “grass fed” in meat labeling, hunger and the right to food as a human right, government efforts to address the obesity problem, the regulation of bottled water, and the use of the labeling term “natural.”

Agricultural Labor Law
This survey course examines the legal, social, and economic issues that arise from the extensive use of migrant labor in U.S. agricultural operations. This complex issue is analyzed from many perspectives. Discussion topics include agricultural exemptions from labor laws, the Migrant & Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, and agriculture’s reliance on undocumented alien workers.

Biotechnology & Agriculture
Developments in agricultural biotechnology offer exciting opportunities but also raise concerns. This course examines laws governing biotechnology as applied to agriculture, combined with a discussion of the farm policy impact and analysis of regulations controlling the use of biotechnology in agriculture and whether these regulations have kept up with scientific developments.

Advanced Agricultural Commercial Law
This new course will be a practical exploration of commercial and contract law issues and how they impact agri-business decision making. It will begin with an overview of UCC Article 2 issues including bailments, consignments and forward contracting. It will then turn to some of the special problems associated with livestock marketing contracts; grain marketing contracts; and production contracts. It will conclude with a discussion of some of the unique contractual issues that arise including wine grapes and a consideration of Renewable Energy Feedstock Contracts.

Professor Schneider at AALS Conference

2010-01-04T14:57:00.006-06:00

Later this week, I will attend the American Association of Law School's Annual Meeting in New Orleans. In addition to attending the Agricultural Law section meeting, I will participate in an Open Source Forum on Food Law & Values. Check out the program posting on the Agricultural Law blog. My presentation will discuss the intersection of agricultural law and food law as well as the agricultural law policy implications of an increased focus on food systems.

Several "friends of the LL.M. Program" will also be involved. Visiting Professor Neil Hamilton will present the perspectives of the Obama/Vilsack administration. LL.M. Alumna, Marne Coit will speak on local food systems and sustainability. And, Dean Jim Chen will discuss regulation of genetically modified foods.

UA's Dr. Jon Johnson Named to List of Most Influential in Business Ethics

2010-01-04T13:10:00.006-06:00

We are pleased to report that Dr. Jon Johnson was named to Ethisphere’s list of 2009’s 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics. Dr. Johnson serves as Executive Director of the UA Applied Sustainability Center, as Co-Director of the Sustainability Consortium, and he is the Walton Professor of Sustainability at the UA Walton College of Business. Dr. Johnson's colleague as Co-Director of the Consortium, Dr. Jay Golden of Arizona State University was also named.

Dr. Johnson addressed the LL.M. class Fall Semester on Applied Sustainability Issues.

From Ethisphere:

The list represents those that had significant impact in the realm of business ethics over the course of the year.

These individuals represent eight distinct categories; Government and Regulatory; Business Leadership; Non-Government Organization (NGO); Design and Sustainability; Media and Whistleblowers; Thought Leadership; Corporate Culture; and Investment and Research.

Congratulations to Dr. Johnson for this prestigious recognition.

South Carolina Local Foods Workshop - Jan. 29

2010-01-03T14:50:00.003-06:00

This announcement came in from our alumna Beth Crocker who serves as Counsel for the South Carolina Department of Agriculture. Beth has been instrumental in South Carolina's impressive local foods campaign. That's Beth and one of her dogs, Jake pictured at left.

Sustainable South Carolina
Local Food Systems Workshop
January 29, 2010
8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Hilton Columbia Center
924 Senate Street
Columbia, South Carolina

Currently the demand for locally-produced foods in South Carolina is much greater than the supply, creating tremendous economic opportunities for local farms and markets and also consumers interested in a more healthy diet. This workshop will address local food policies in South Carolina from farm to fork, looking at all aspects of food policy in South Carolina including sustainable production, distribution and consumption trends and why a sustainable food system is advantageous to South Carolina. The goal of the workshop is to explore challenges and opportunities leading to the development of sustainable food systems for South Carolina, including key economic, environmental, food distribution and health aspects that are critical to sustainable, local food systems. The result of this workshop will be a set of written guiding principles for achieving a more sustainable, local food system in South Carolina.

The registration deadline is January 8, 2010. More information and registration details can be found on the South Carolina Department of Agriculture Food Policy Counsel website.

Applied Sustainability Presentations

2009-12-21T12:58:00.003-06:00

Part-time LL.M. candidate Marie David, Director of Sustainability at Wal-Mart and Dr. Jon Johnson, Executive Director of the Applied Sustainability Center, and the Walton Professor of Sustainability at the UA Walton College of Business joined in a presentation on sustainability initiatives and life cycle analysis in the food industry. Marie presented a PowerPoint presentation on Wal-Mart's sustainability efforts, and Dr. Johnson discussed the work of the Center for Applied Sustainability and the new Sustainability Consortium.

The Sustainability Consortium is an independent group of scientists and engineers from leading academic research institutions around the world who engage with other leading researchers from the NGO, Governmental and Industrial sectors. The primary function is to develop the science to support the indexing of consumer products throughout all phases of the products life.

The consortium is jointly administered by the University of Arkansas and the Arizona State University. Dr. Johnson serves as co-director along with Arizona State University's Dr. Jay Golden.

"The Sustainability Consortium develops transparent methodologies, tools and strategies to drive a new generation of products and supply networks that address environmental, social and economic imperatives. The Consortium advocates for a transparent process and system, not individuals or organizations."

Professor Lisa Pruitt Speaks on Rural Issues

2009-12-20T11:13:00.001-06:00

Special Presentations: Rural-urban Identity Issues / CEDAW and Rural Women

Professor Lisa Pr uitt, of U.C. Davis School of Law delivered two presentations, the first on rural-urban identity issues in the context of recent political divisions. The second involved rural women in developing countries and their role in food production. The latter presentation focused on her recent article, Migration, Development & the Promise of CEDAW for Rural Women, on Art.14 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, published in the MICHIGAN JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL LAW. Professor Pruitt is an alumna of the University of Arkansas School of Law and was Editor-in-Chief of the Arkansas Law Review.

Professor Lisa Pruitt's career spans the globe, literally and figuratively. Before joining the UC Davis law faculty in 1999, she worked abroad for almost a decade in settings ranging from international organizations to private practice. Pruitt worked with lawyers in more than 30 countries, negotiating cultural conflicts in several arenas. It is not surprising that a common theme of her research interests is how law and legal institutions manage and respond to cultural difference and cultural change.

Professor Pruitt's work in rural studies, integrating the law and rural culture connects her to our work in agricultural and food law. She has been a great friend to the LL.M. Program and serves as a great inspiration to us. Be sure to follow her Legal Ruralism blog.

Making New Connections

2009-12-07T19:50:00.005-06:00

Professor Christopher Kelley leaves tomorrow for the Republic of Belarus to teach a short course in Legal Writing in English at the Vlasova Mikhel & Partners law firm in Minsk, Belarus at the invitation of one of the partners, Alexey Anischenko. The firm was first established in 1990 by Lilia Vlasova and Natalia Kozyrenko as the first private practice law firm in the Republic of Belarus.

The firm now employs more than 20 lawyers. It has been recognized by the Ministry of Justice as one of the "best law firms in Belarus" for three consecutive years and it holds the international top ranking from both Chambers and Partners and IFLR 1000.

Vlasova Mikhel & Partners is part of "The CIS Leading Counsel Network (LCN), a professional network of nine leading law firms across the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) economic region offering clients integrated multijurisdictional legal advice. This network brings together law firms in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Turkmenistan and Ukraine, and "aims to combine highest international professional standards with a unique local insight in the regions, which are increasingly attracting international investments."

Anne Hazlett Accepts Position as Minority Counsel, Senate Ag Committee

2009-11-07T14:16:00.007-06:00

LL.M. Alumnae, Anne Hazlett recently returned to Washington, D.C. to accept the position of Minority Counsel with the Senate Agriculture Committee. Anne previously served Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. Anne is pictured here on a recent farm visit.

Anne is a graduate of Kansas State University, has her law degree from Indiana University, and she earned her LL.M. in Agricultural Law with us. Since that time, Anne has worked in a number of critical agricultural law positions including serving as counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committee, previous work as minority counsel to the Senate Agriculture Committee, and serving as Chief of Staff to Indiana Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman.
Congratulations, Anne!

Prof. Kelley To Attend World Justice Forum in Vienna

2009-11-05T07:21:00.004-06:00

Professor Christopher Kelley has been invited to participate in the second World Justice Forum to be held next week in Vienna, Austria. As noted on the Forum's website, "[p]rominent leaders from around the world will gather at this multidisciplinary invitation-only event to develop collaborative actions to strengthen the rule of law."

The World Justice Forum is "a global gathering at which prominent leaders from all parts of the world and a variety of disciplines come together to articulate how the rule of law affects their disciplines and regions and to develop collaborative actions to strengthen the rule of law." It is the largest international event hosted by the World Justice Project.

The World Justice Project is based on two complementary premises:

First, the rule of law is the foundation for communities of opportunity and equity; and
Second, multidisciplinary collaboration is the most effective way to advance the rule of law.Its stated mission is to lead a global, multidisciplinary effort to strengthen the rule of law for the development of communities of opportunity and equity.

To view a draft agenda for the 2009 World Justice Forum, click here. More posts to come, and hopefully some pictures from the Forum.