Is the Code Exploding or Imploding?

Center for Business Law Conference

Cosponsored by the Massachusetts Bar Association

Thursday, February 16, 2012

New England Law | Boston, Cherry Room
Conference, 12:30-5:30 p.m.; Social Hour, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Is the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) meeting today’s finance and technology needs? A Center for Business Law conference, Is the Code Exploding or Imploding?, featured leading national authorities on current issues bearing upon the scope of the UCC’s Article 2 (Sales) and the application of Article 9 (Secured Transactions), especially as the latter relates to the foreclosure crisis. The panelists also discussed related bodies of law, including the American Law Institute’s Principles of the Law of Software Contracts.

“In recent years, after failed attempts to adopt a revised Article 2, some students of the UCC doubt whether it can adequately serve current and future societal needs,” says Professor Gary Monserud. “In view of the explosion of issues arising from advancing technology and controversies about financing, some wonder whether it might in some sense ‘blow up.’ We are pleased to have offered the Northeast region this exploration of the issues that have brought us to this point.”

"This conference brought together students, academics, and practitioners to explore current issues about the scope of the code," said MBA Business Law Section Council Chair Francis C. Morrissey.

For more information please e-mail jessica.m.alfano@nesl.edu.

Article 2 panel

Attempts to revise Article 2, contracts for the development and transfer of software, bankruptcy claims, and defining electricity as a “good.”

Speakers:

Professor Jean Braucher

Jean Braucher, Roger C. Henderson Professor of Law, University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law

Professor William Henning

William H. Henning, Distinguished Professor of Law, University of Alabama School of Law

Dean Maureen O'Rourke

Maureen A. O’Rourke, dean, Boston University School of Law

David Reier

David J. Reier, partner, Corporate Department, Posternak, Blankstein & Lund LLP, Boston

Article 9 panel

Recent amendments to Article 9, recent commentary issued by the Permanent Editorial Board for the Uniform Commercial Code, and the intersection of Articles 9 and 3 with real property law pertaining to foreclosures.

Speakers:

Professor Neil Cohen

Neil B. Cohen, Jeffrey D. Forchelli Professor of Law, Brooklyn Law School

Thomas Cox, attorney

Thomas A. Cox, attorney, of Portland, Maine, credited with exposing the foreclosure “robo signing” scandal

Professor Hillinger

Ingrid Michelsen Hillinger, professor of law, Boston College Law School

Edwin Smith

Edwin E. Smith, partner, Bingham McCutchen LLP, Boston, and co-chair, Financial Services Area

Please click here for speaker bios.