Events 2009

In this section you will find event information for BCLB events completed in 2008 – 2009 academic year.

December 1, 2009
Business & Ethics: Lessons from the Global Economic Crisis
Richard Buxbaum, David Vogel, Ernesto Dal Bó & Christopher Kutz

A clear lesson from the global economic meltdown is that corporate governance and ethics matter. Less clear are the steps to improving how financial firms operate. A panel of UC Berkeley professors explored and responded to questions such as: How should executives incorporate potential global and long term impacts into their business decisions? Can corporate governance structures and rules be improved to provide meaningful oversight and socially favorable incentives to financial firm leaders? Are the recent announcements of bonuses to financial executives a sign of economic recovery or continued ethical lapses?

Co-sponsored by the UC Berkeley Center on Institutions and Governance (IGOV)

October 28, 2009
Global Financial & Economic Crisis: Global Unemployment

Despite recent upticks in the economy, the U.S. and worldwide employment picture continues to be bleak. Are we facing a “jobless recovery?” Did the international economic collapse in 2008-09 alter the labor market permanently? UC Berkeley scholars answered these questions, explored the role of international organizations such as the G20 in addressing them, and offered proposals to prevent protectionism and promote a global solution. Panelist included: John Quigley, Dept. of Economics; Brad DeLong, Dept. of Economics; David Card, Dept. of Economics; and Andrew Rose, Haas School of Business.

Co-sponsored by the UC Berkeley Center on Institutions and Governance (IGOV).

October 10, 2009
Rebuilding the U.S. Financial System: The Causes, Consequences and the Regulatory Responses to the Credit Crisis

BCBLE sponsored a panel at the Alumni Reunion Weekend event on October 10th. Panelists explored the prospects for preserving stability while promoting healthy innovation in the financial sector.

Panelists: Eric Talley, Professor, Faculty Director of BCLB; Michael Halloran ’63, Partner, Kilpatrick Stockton LLP; Nancy Wallace, Professor, California Chair of Real Estate and Urban Economics, Co-Chair, Fisher Center for Real Estate and Urban Economics, HAAS School of Business.

To view Professor Wallace’s powerpoint click here.

September 9, 2009
Legal Reform in China: The Domestic Debate
Thomas Kellogg, Open Society Institute & Soros Foundation

Many assumed that China would, as it grows more prosperous, embrace the rule of law, even as it maintains a go-slow approach on political reform. But in March 2008, the Communist Party renewed its support for “socialist legality,” highlighting the role of the Party in the judicial process and explicitly rejecting Western-style legal reforms. Some Chinese critics of the new policy have called for an embrace of global values and renewed efforts to construct independent legal institutions free from Party influence. Others advocate wide-ranging, wholesale structural reforms based on the Western constitutional model.  Still others eschew specific policy proposals and instead offer a nationalist critique of Western governments’ interactions with China.

This ongoing internal debate is vitally important: its outcome will help determine China’s reform path. Those seeking to better understand where China is going need to look closely not just at the ever-growing thicket of new laws and regulations issued by the State, but also at what both the government and its well-meaning critics are saying about the future of political and legal reform in China.

Co-sponsored with the Center for Chinese Studies

July 30, 2009
Law, Financial Crisis, and Systemic Risk with Eric Talley

Alumni and students were invited to attend an evening reception with Professor Eric Talley on Thursday, July 30, at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in Palo Alto. Prof. Talley discussed law and risk regulation as part of his work with the Congressional Oversight Panel assessing the Treasury’s bank stress tests.

June 18-20, 2009
2009 Conference of The International Society for New Institutional Economics

BCLB co-sponsored the 2009 Conference of The International Society for New Institutional Economics (ISNIE) held at Haas School of Business, June 18-20. For additional information you can vsit the ISNIE website.

April 3, 2009
Good Faith Is a State of Mind
Professor Samuel W. Buell, Washington University in St. Louis

To listen to an audio recording of this event click here.

Samuel Buell’s writing and teaching focus on criminal law and on the regulatory state, particularly regulation of activity in corporations and financial markets. Mr. Buell is a former federal prosecutor who worked on the Enron prosecution. He frequently comments on white collar crime and federal criminal law in the media.

Co-sponsored with the Berkeley Center for Criminal Justice.

March 31, 2009
Re-Regulating Wall Street
Harvey Rowen ’67, Starmont Asset Management

The collapse of financial services giants such as Lehman Brothers, Citigroup and AIG has focused attention on the legal framework governing this industry. While multiple federal agencies regulate financial institutions and markets, no agency is responsible for understanding or containing risks affecting the financial system as a whole. Harvey Rowen drew on his experience as a federal regulator, bank CEO and asset manager to review Congress’ and the Obama Administration’s proposed regulatory overhaul of the financial services industry and comment on the prospects of those changes restoring confidence in our financial markets. Mr. Rowen is the president of Starmont Asset Management, an independent wealth management firm, and is the former chief executive officer of the Merrill Lynch Bank and Trust Company and of the Charles Schwab Trust Company. Earlier in his career he served in the general counsel’s Office of the SEC and as counsel to the House Commerce Committee.

You can find a commentary by Harvey Rowen on “Re-Regulating Wall Street” at this link.

March 18, 2009
Global Financial & Economic Crisis: What Should the G20 Do?

In April, leaders from the G20 countries that represent 85% of the global economy meet to develop a coordinated response to the worldwide economic and financial collapse. What actions can G20 leaders take to stem the tsunami washing over the world economy? How will these leaders find common solutions to this international disaster? Our distinguished panel of UC Berkeley economists gathered to discuss these questions and identify answers. Panelists included Aaron Edlin, Berkeley Law; Barry Eichengreen, Dept. of Economics; Maurice Obstfeld, Dept. of Economics; Pierre Olivier Gourinchas, Dept. of Economics; and Andrew Rose, Haas School of Business.

March 9, 2009
Civility Matters!

Honorable Judge Kenneth Burr, Alameda County Superior Court, John Drath, Drath, Clifford, Murphy & Hagen, and Richard Schoenberger, Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Shoenberger
This event was presented by the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Does civility in the legal profession matter?  What happens when lawyers, especially young or inexperienced lawyers, are confronted with rudeness and bad behavior by their opponents?  Join Judge Kenneth Burr, John Drath, defense attorney and Richard Schoenberger, plaintiffs’ attorney, for hands-on advice, guidance and practical examples for both inside and outside the courtroom.  Concerned that attempts at civility might give your adversaries an advantage?  These legal experts discussed how civility, integrity and professionalism can create distinct advantages — not the opposite. Legal Ethics CLE credit available.

February 24, 2009
The Uncertain Future of Chinese Law Reform
Professor Stanley Lubman, University of California, Berkeley

China’s legal system has come a long way.  Economic reform has driven legal reform: formal legislation now provides a framework for the organization of the Chinese government, and judicial institutions have been reconstructed in the wake of the Cultural Revolution.  But the courts are inadequately professionalized, often favor local interests, and corruption is widespread.  For the Chinese leadership maintaining power trumps the rule of law.  Rights-consciousness is growing in Chinese society, but political reform is needed to accelerate legal reform. Prof. Lubman discussed the quiet progress being made in regards to developing laws to control administrative arbitrariness, professionalizing the judicial system, and reducing the impact of “local protectionism.”

This event was co-sponsored with the Center for Chinese Studies.

February 18, 2009
Good Bank Bad Bank: Increasing Credit Liquidity, Stemming Foreclosures and Supporting the Economy

Experts in economics, business, and public policy examined the impact of the Treasury Department’s Financial Stability Plan. Supporters say the plan will infuse cash into credit markets and stem foreclosures by expanding financial capital and removing toxic assets. Panelists evaluated pricing strategies for bank assets, proposals to stem foreclosures and the risk the FSP presents to taxpayers. Panelists included John M. Quigley, Dept. of Economics; Paul Milgrom, Stanford University; James A. Wilcox, Haas School of Business; Dwight Jaffee, Haas School of Business; and Nancy Wallace, Haas School of Business.