The New York State Bar Association announced three Continuing Learning Education programs available this month. The programs are available to members of the Bar, as well as nonmembers, and student rates are available. For more information, call 800-582-2452.

• 2010 Update on Construction Site Accidents, Dec. 10, 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

The first half of the seminar will provide an overview of the case law, statutes and regulations governing construction site accidents. There also will be a discussion concerning the most important aspects of the relationship between and among the carriers and the insured. The second half will feature presentations about strategic, evidentiary and tactical concerns and will provide live demonstrations of critical components of a trial involving a labor law case. Panelists will offer advice on jury selection, opening and closing statements, cross-examination and trial strategies.

Location: Holiday Inn Amherst, 1881 Niagara Falls Blvd.

Credits: 7.0 MCLE (5.0 Skills, 2.0 Professional Practice)

Cost: members $165, nonmembers $250, students $60

• Health Law Section Webinar Series, Session 2: Major Regulatory Issues To Consider

Dec. 13, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

The second presentation in a five-part series sponsored by the Health Law Section of the New York State Bar Association will address major health regulatory issues present in different types of health-care provider transactions. The speakers will discuss fraud and abuse, licensure, antitrust and other relevant regulatory issues.

Location: Your desktop

Credits: 1.0 MCLE

Cost: NYSBA Health Law Section members $45, Bar members $75, nonmembers $90

• Financial Management - Webcast

Dec. 14, noon to 1 p.m.

Effective financial management is fundamental to a law firm's success. Barry Jackson and Teresa Schiller will provide information on the basics of running a firm from a financial perspective.

It is part of a series of monthly programs based on "Best Practices in Legal Management," a recent publication of the New York State Bar Association and the Association of Legal Administrators, New York City chapter.

Program topics include: Billing Practices; Alternative Billing; Collections and Accounts Receivable; Accounting for Time; Controlling Expenses; Financial Reporting and Benchmarking; and Insurance.

Location: Your desktop

Credits: 1.0 MCLE (1.0 Law Practice Management)

Cost: members $55, nonmembers $95

Nixon Peabody expands overseas practice

Nixon Peabody LLP has expanded its presence in Asia and announced a new office and a strategic association with Hong Kong law firm Cheng Wong Lam & Partners.

The affiliation will provide clients with expanded legal services in Asia.

Cheng Wong Lam & Partners is an independent law firm founded in 2002 that advises clients on matters such as inbound and outbound investments, transactions and legal disputes involving Mainland China.

Hong Kong is the location of Nixon Peabody's second office in Asia. It entered the China market in 2008 and currently has an office in Shanghai.

Buff State to Host Regional Mock Trial Tournament

Buffalo State College will host the American Mock Trial Association's 2011 Great Lakes Regional Tournament Feb. 26-27.

The competition will see schools from Western and Central New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio compete to win a bid for the American Mock Trial Association's National Championship Tournament in May. Participating will be 24 to 28 teams consisting of eight to 10 students each.

The competition will have four rounds, two on each day. Each trial will have two to three judges. The presiding judge will rule on objections and evidentiary procedure, and scoring judges will rate the performance of the student attorneys and witnesses.

"This is an exciting opportunity for Buffalo State," said Jon Lines, political science lecturer at the college and regional tournament director.

"We look forward to bringing together Western New York's legal community with the more than 200 student attorneys and witnesses who will be competing on campus that weekend."

The college is seeking local judges, attorneys, advanced law students and other members of the legal profession to volunteer as trial judges. CLE credits will be available to eligible attorneys. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, with a reception for volunteer judges set for the Friday before the tournament.

For more information, visit the tournament's website at www.greatlakesmocktrial.webs.com or contact Jon Lines at (716) 465-1327.

Work of two Phillips attorneys published

Kenneth Manning and James Grasso, partners in Phillips Lytle LLP, Buffalo, recently had work published in statewide publications.

Manning, a corporate litigator, co-wrote a report titled "Summary of New York State Class Actions in 2009." It was published in the New York State Bar Association's summer 2010 edition of the Torts Insurance & Compensation Law Section Journal. He also serves on the Dean's Advisory Committee of the University at Buffalo Law School.

Grasso, a labor and employment attorney, wrote an article titled "Employment Law Update" that was published in the New York State Bar Association's New York Business Law Journal. The article, one of several by Grasso in recent years, outlines recently enacted provisions of federal employment law.

Compiled by Matt Chandler