Boston Bar Association Podcast Central

Sponsored by: Intellectual Property Law Section and Life Sciences Committee Beyond Business Methods: Assessing the Impact of Bilski on Life Sciences Inventions Charles Larsen, Ropes & Gray LLP, and Melissa Rones, Ropes & Gray LLP, will discuss the Federal Circuit's October 2008 clarification on the test for assessing the patentability of a process under section 101 in In re Bilski. Although the invention at issue in Bilski was a business method, this decision has implications that transcend technology area. Charles and Melissa will discuss the potential impact of Bilski on protecting life sciences inventions. Intellectual Property Law Section co-chairs: David McIntosh and Lee T. Gesmer
Life Sciences Committee co-chairs:David P. Halstead and Leslie  McDonell

Sponsored by: Corporate Law Committee Drafting Executive Compensation Disclosure for the 2009 Proxy Statement Mark A. Borges, Compensia, Inc. is coming from Washington DC to lead this timely discussion on drafting executive compensation disclosure. The 2009 proxy season promises to be the most challenging yet for executive compensation disclosure, as it marks the initial year for the full phase-in of the Summary Compensation Table. In addition, recent market volatility is having a dramatic impact on 2008 pay decisions, all of which must be justified in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis. Further, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, as well as the possibility of sweeping legislative reforms, has given investors renewed momentum for targeting companies with unpopular pay practices; placing greater emphasis on ensuring that you can adequately explain your compensation policies and decisions. The following disclosure-related topics will be discussed:

• Explaining incentive compensation arrangements: what the SEC Staff and shareholders' are looking for
• The five key topics to address in your Compensation Discussion
  and Analysis
• The impact of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act and its executive compensation standards on executive compensation practice and disclosure
• Severance and change-in-control disclosure: What's required and what's expected
• Disclosure practices in an uncertain environment anticipating what's around the corner