menu

Program

8:00 to 8:30
SIGN UP & BREAKFAST
(French breakfast, courtesy of French American Bar Association)
8:30 to 8:40
WELCOME, INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY
8:45 to 9:45
PANEL I: MINE IS MINE, YOURS IS MINE: Social and Legal Complexities in Premarital Relationships
Speakers, Legal Systems, Jurisdictions: David Yamamoto, Esq., Civil Law (Germanic), Japan (Asia); Elie Seyedian, Esq., Civil Law (Napoleonic), France (Europe); Amaka Akudinobi, Esq., Sharia Law, Nigeria (Africa); Diana L. Martinez, Esq., Mixed Legal Systems (Latin America)
Moderator: Steve Zand, Esq., CFLS
9:45 to 10:00
BREAK
10:00 to 11:00
PANEL II: FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE, FOR RICHER, FOR POORER: Marriage Law and Customs Around the Globe
Speakers, Legal Systems, Jurisdictions: Mauricio Leon de la Barra, Esq., Civil Law, Mexico (Latin America); Warren R. Shiell, Esq. CFLS, Common Law, U.K. (Europe); Anne Mmeje, Esq., Customary Marriage, Nigeria (Africa); Kelly Chang Rickert, Esq., Socialist Law, China/Taiwan (Asia)
Moderator: Seth Kramer, Esq. CFLS
11:15 to 12:15
PANEL III: SHARPENING THE CULTURAL LENS: Power, privilege and intersectionality of identity in marriage and divorce
Speakers: Dr. Linda Bortell, Psy. D.; Dr. Paula Bruce, Ph. D.; Dr. Indushree Rajan, Ph. D.
Moderator: Dr. Gitu Bhatia, Psy. D.
12:15 to 13:15
LUNCH BREAK
(Traditional Iranian dishes, courtesy of Iranian American Lawyers Association)
12:30 to 13:30
LUNCH WITH YOUR FAMILY LAW JUDGE: Q&A with Judges of Diverse Ethnicities, Faith, Gender, Race.
Participants: Hon. Christine Byrd, Judge Los Angeles Superior Court; Hon. Patrick A. Cathcart, Judge Los Angeles Superior Court; Hon. Mark A. Juhas, Judge Los Angeles Superior Court; Hon. Maren E. Nelson, Supervising Judge, Family Law Division, Los Angeles Superior Court; Hon. Amy M. Pellman, Judge Los Angeles Superior Court; Hon. Ashley Tabbador, Immigration Judge, Los Angeles (Personal Capacity); Hon. Shirley Watkins, Judge Los Angeles Superior Court
Moderators: Hon. Michael J. Convey, Judge, Los Angeles County Superior Court; Laurel B. Brauer, Esq., CFLS; Steven G. Hittelman, Esq., CFLS; Abbas Hadjian, Esq., CFLS
13:30 to 13:45
BREAK
13:45 to 14:45
PANEL IV: LEADERS, FOLLOWERS, PARTNERS: Marital Rights and Duties Around the Globe
Speakers, Legal Systems, Jurisdictions: Merlyn N. Hernandez, Esq. CFLS, Civil Law, Mexico (Latin America); Hugh John Gibson, Esq., Common Law, Ireland (Europe); Noelle M. Halaby, Esq. CFLS, Sharia Law, Lebanon (M.E./Asia); Alex Grager, Esq., Socialist Law, Russia/Soviet Union (Eurasia)
Moderator: Robert C. Brandt, Esq. CFLS; AAML, IAFL
14:45 to 15:00
Break
15:00 to 16:00
PANEL V: UNTYING THE KNOTS: Divorce Law and Procedure Across Cultural, Political, Religious and Legal Borders
Speakers, Legal Systems, Jurisdictions: Jinna Kang, Esq. CFLS, Civil Law, South Korea (Asia); Jaya Kumar, Esq., Common Law, India (Asia); Donna Echiverri, Mixed Legal Systems, Philippines (Asia); Maria Hamar, Esq., Socialist Law, Cuba (Latin America).
Moderator: Lynette Berg Robe, Esq., CFLSM
16:00
CLOSING