The Western New York chapter of ARMA International will host a seminar Sept. 13 designed to educate business leaders, information and compliance professionals, attorneys and others about the recently released Generally Accepted Recordkeeping Principles (GARP). The principles offer  guidance to companies on proper handling, storage and legally accepted disposal of business records, including email and other electronic files. The current president of ARMA International, Galina Datskovsky, will lead the seminar at the Clarion Hotel, 8250 Park Road, Batavia. It begins at noon (registration at 11:30 a.m.).  Lunch is included in the registration fee. Cost is $15 for chapter members, $20 for non-members and $10 for students. Datskovsky is senior vice president of Information Governance at Autonomy and president of ARMA International. She previously was senior vice president of architecture at CA Technologies and general manager of the Information Governance Business Unit.

For reservations, contact Diane Reed at DReed@dncinc.com or call 716-858-5996. The deadline to register is Sept. 8.

Freedom of Information CLE

The New York State Bar Association is offering a webinar on the intricacies of the Freedom of Information Act and open meeting law from 9 a.m. to noon, Sept. 14. Speaker is Robert Freeman, executive director of the New York State Committee on Open Government. He has addressed numerous government-related organizations, bar associations and media groups and has lectured at various colleges and universities. A speaker on open government laws and concepts in the United States, Canada, the Far East, Latin America and Eastern Europe, Freeman also has taught the only course in an American law school on public access to government information.

Attendees can earn 3.0 MCLE credit hours.

For more information or to register, go to: www.nysba.org/FOIL or call 1-800-582-2452

Cross Border CLE, Sept. 14

Thomas Popek, an attorney with Phillips Lytle LLP, will participate in a webinar titled "IP & Digital Media - Strategies for Cross-Border Issues" on Sept. 14. Presented by the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service, the session will provide information on successful cross-border negotiation of digital media, software and other intellectual property licensing arrangements. Popek focuses his practice on domestic and international development, acquisition, protection and commercialization of intellectual property. He also is a frequent lecturer in the United States and Canada.

Damon attorney to speak at national seminar

On Sept. 15, Damon Morey attorney Patrick Curran will speak at the DRI Nursing Home/ALF Litigation Seminar in Boston. His presentation will focus on class actions against long-term-care providers. He will provide a survey of the jurisdictions in which the class-action approach is being pursued; plaintiff strategies for obtaining class certification; and innovative suggestions for defending the class-action case. The event will run Sept. 15-16 at the Boston Marriott at Copley Place. Other topics include: Developments in Long-Term Care Litigation, Health Care Reform and Long-Term Care, and Liability Insurance. Curran is a senior partner at Damon Morey LLP, practicing in the firm's litigation department. He has defended matters involving medical malpractice, trucking and motor vehicle accidents, product liability, municipal liability, construction accidents, nursing home claims and general negligence litigation.

Paralegal dinner, Sept. 20

The Western New York Paralegal Association will hold its annual kick-off dinner Sept. 20 at Vino's Italian Restaurant, 1652 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. Cocktails and registration for the dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m., with a buffet dinner to follow at 6 p.m. The guest speaker for the evening will be Jeremiah McCarthy, U.S. Magistrate Judge. Cost is $25 per person. RSVP by Sept. 9 to: WNYPA, P.O. Box 207, Niagara Square Station, Buffalo, N.Y. 14201, Attn: G. Galfo. For more information about this or future WNYPA events, visit www.wnyparalegals.org.

— Compiled by Matt Chandler