FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions (well, we ask them)
Who owns Mealey’s Conferences now?
Wait, what time is it? . . . Mealey’s Conferences was acquired by the former publisher of Mealey Publications on December 31, 2008. Rebranding the company as HB Litigation Conferences LLC, the new owner, Tom Hagy, 51, will continue the company’s focus on dynamic practice areas and working with top legal talent to educate and connect attendees at 24 conferences and 100 teleconferences each year.
Didn’t someone else just buy Mealey’s Conferences?
Tom Hagy acquired the business from Business Valuation Resources LLC, a highly respected publisher of information services for business valuation professionals, accountants, attorneys, and executives. David Foster, CEO of BVR, acquired Mealey’s Conferences from LexisNexis in July of 2008. Note: We have been called the Island of Misfit Toys of Legal Conferences, but take umbrage at such a characterization. Especially when our president says it.
Why was Mealey’s Conferences sold?
BVR sold the company because an anticipated strategic fit with the business valuation publisher, whose customers include attorneys too, was not materializing. The owner, David Foster, and Hagy, agreed that the two companies could work together as separate entities in the space where BV experts and attorneys work together. LexisNexis sold the business also due to a lack of strategic fit with its practice solutions strategy. Hagy and Lexis continue to work together on the growing LexisNexis Community Pages. We see both companies, LexisNexis and BVR, as strong allies in the information market and look forward to maintaining those relationships.
Where’s Mealey Publications?
Mealey Publications, which spawned Mealey Conferences, remains one of the top brand names owned by LexisNexis, along with the likes of Matthew Bender, Shepard’s, ChoicePoint, Seisnt, CourtLink and other strong names. The Mealey Publications newsroom is now part of the larger LexisNexis editorial operation. We continue to work with our good friends in the Mealey’s newsroom.
HB Litigation Conferences. Why H? Why B?
We borrowed the initials from Hagy and Boothe, but need to give them back so they don’t have to re-monogram their towels. Hagy has been Editor and Publisher of Mealey Publications Inc., Vice President of Litigation Content for LexisNexis, VP of Open Web Content at LexisNexis, and VP of the Specialized Information Publishers Association, or SIPA. Sharon Boothe has been the conference director since the group began in 1992, helping grow the business from one event to its current roster of 24 live events, 100 teleconferences, and a library of conference materials in text, audio and video formats. We wanted to call the company “Quattro” so we wouldn’t have to buy a new sign in front of the building, but the folks at Quattro, a direct response marketing company on the floor above us, just laughed nervously at the suggestion and backed out of the room in unison. They recently bought a pair of German Sheppards.
Will anything change?
Only if it makes us a better partner to people seeking legal education, networking and promotional opportunities. Or makes us taller. We plan to maintain the best of Mealey’s Conferences, while giving our speakers a greater marketing boost and our customers more options by delivering our conference content in a wider selection of media. That means expansion of audio-video Web content, custom programs, and periodicals based on the hundreds of speakers who present at the events each year. Oh, and Tom finally went out and bought a second belt.
Will anything remain the same?
Yes; our conference rooms will continue to be too cold.
What is HB Litigation Conferences’ mission?
Our mission is to make HB Litigation Conferences not only the premier provider of Insurance, Reinsurance, Mass Torts, Financial & Securities, Construction, and Professional Development conferences, teleconferences, multimedia products, and online CLE courses, but also one of the finest partners our chairs and speakers can have.
How do I keep up with what you’re doing?
Well, if you haven’t reported us for SPAM violations or blocked our emails, we try to keep folks posted that way; otherwise we consider our new Web site the best representation of what we are planning and what content we have that might be of interest to you.
What about the great Mealey’s staff?
Fortunately, all Mealey’s Conferences employees are staying on with HB Litigation Conferences, including Sharon Boothe, who has been the conference director since 1992. We are thrilled to still have Cyndy Noonan, who masterfully directs the conference operations and the myriad details that go with that. We are also still proud to have our stellar team comprising: Jaimee Taibi (program development); Kristi Savage (marketing & content development); Allison Emery (conference content & multimedia editing); Barbara Hammons (CLE accreditation management); Kathleen McFadden (office management); Helen “Brownie” Bokelman (sales); Jeanne Billings (business development and sponsorship); Heather Shanahan (program coordination).
What if I want to work with HB Litigation Conferences?
We want to hear from you. Call (484) 324-2755. Everyone here is friendly and will be delighted to help you or get you in touch with the right person. Tom Hagy’s email address is tom.hagy@litigationconferences. He’s friendly, unless he forgets to eat lunch. Then he’s kind of a troll.
Do HB Litigation Conferences programs earn CLE?
Absolutely. We enjoy accredited provider status, meaning our content is presumptively approved to earn credit, in 16 states. In addition, we make application for approval to 25 other state CLE Commissions. Accreditation of any course is always at the discretion of the Commission, however our content is exemplary.
Are your programs approved for CLE in New Jersey?
HB Litigation Conferences now enjoys accredited provider status in the state of New Jersey, meaning our programming is presumptively approved for CLE credit for NJ licensed attorneys. This approval encompasses live classroom format as well as “alternative verifiable learning” format such as webcasts, teleconferences, DVDs, and on-line offerings. With a wide array of topics encompassing everything from Chinese Drywall to Intellectual Property, HB is armed and ready to help you satisfy your new compliance requirement of 24 credits every two years. (Note: alternative learning credits are capped at 12). New Jersey has now joined New York, Pennsylvania, California, Texas, Virginia, and a host of others in recognizing HB Litigation Conferences as a premier provider of continuing legal education for their attorneys. Plan to join us soon and experience for yourself the quality of our offerings!
How are CLE credits tabulated?
Most states report on a 60-minute hour, awarding 1 CLE credit for every hour of educational content. A few states report on a 50-minute hour, awarding 1 CLE credit for every hour of instruction. In both instances, lunch, breaks, networking events, etc. are EXCLUDED from the tabulation of hours. On average, our live programs earn between 9-12 credits, our teleconferences earn approximately 1.5-2.0 credits, and our pre-recorded material varies by course.
Who reports the CLE earned?
That depends on your state(s) of license. A good majority of states will accept an attendance report from the sponsor. This report is required to bear your signature and bar number. HB Litigation Conferences reports to these states within thirty days of the program. Some states will only accept documentation directly from their attorney member. You will be provided with a certificate of attendance to document your participation and the number of credits earned, to be submitted with your compliance report.
What if I lose my forms?
First, there is a lot of yelling, followed by ear-pulling. Inevitably someone gets pushed. Harsh words are exchanged. Feelings are hurt. Birthday card lists are edited. Then we move on . . . When attending an HB Litigation Conferences program, be it a live conference or teleconference, you will be requested to sign a state specific attendance roster. This is our documentation of your participation. You will then be provided with a certificate of attendance. In the event you have signed the roster, we can simply send you a duplicate certificate. If you overlooked the CLE process in its entirety, we can verify your attendance through our registration documentation and help you report your credits in retrospect.
What if I have a CLE question not answered here?
HB Litigation Conferences is happy to assist you in any way. Feel free to contact our CLE Manager, Barbara Hammons, by phone at 610-312-3541, or via email barbara.hammons@litigationconferences.com. She will be able to address your specific concern, or provide an MCLE Commission contact for your particular state of license.
Special Needs
If you have any special needs, please contact us at 484-324-2755 x201 or cyndy.noonan@litigationconferences.com or at least three weeks prior to the conference to allow us time to make reasonable accommodations.
What are the technical requirements for attending via Webcast?
To view a Webcast, you need an internet connection and a PC or Mac computer with sound capability, a compatible Web browser (Internet Explorer or FireFox), and a media player (Windows Media Player or RealPlayer). Additionally, pop-ups need to be allowed, session cookies need to be allowed, and JavaScript needs to be enabled. You will also need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer since some of the ancillary materials are in PDF format. Prior to the Webcast, you will be emailed a set of instructions that will include a link to a Systems Test provided by the Webcasting company. As soon as you receive the instructions, perform the Systems Test to ensure that your system is compatible and updated prior to the Webcast. If you have any technical difficulties, give us a call and we’ll help you.
Cancellation Policy
Substitutions are welcome at any time, but HB Litigation Conferences reserves the right to publicly humiliate you by Photoshopping you into pirate garb on the internet. We cherish our right to snicker, roll our eyes, or make the classic nose-pinch gesture that calls into question your personal hygiene when your name comes up. Cancellations must be received in writing , preferably on wallboard in crayon, which in no way precludes us from performing the aforementioned antics the next time we see you or hear your name. OK. Just kidding (in case you couldn’t tell). We just hate it when you don’t come to our events. See HB Litigation Conferences’ cancellation policies below (really, watch how grown up we can be).
Cancellation Policy – Live Conferences
Substitutions are welcome at any time. Cancellations must be received in writing. Full refunds will be issued if cancellation requests are received three weeks before the event begins. Refunds, less a $100 administrative fee, will be issued if cancellation requests are received two weeks before the event begins. Registrants who cancel after the two-week date will forfeit their registration fee. HB Litigation Conferences reserves the right to cancel any of its programs. Speakers, sessions and times are subject to change. This cancellation policy does not apply to the Reinsurance Roundtable Conference. Please see the Reinsurance Roundtable Conference cancellation policy for details.
Cancellation Policy – Reinsurance Roundtable Conference
Substitutions are welcome at any time. Cancellations must be received in writing. Full refunds will be issued if cancellation requests are received 4 weeks before the event begins. Refunds, less an administrative fee equal to 50% of your registration fee, will be issued if cancellation requests are received 3 weeks before the event begins. Due to financial obligations incurred by HB Litigation Conferences LLC (HBLC), no refunds will be issued on cancellation requests within 2 weeks of the event. HBLC reserves the right to cancel any of its programs and will refund all registration fees paid. Speakers, sessions and times are subject to change.
Cancellation Policy – Teleconferences
You may cancel at anytime for a full refund, up until the teleconference starts. Substitutions are accepted prior to the teleconference. Registrations are transferable to another teleconference. Speakers, sessions, and times are subject to change. HB Litigation Conferences LLC reserves the right to cancel any of its programs. To cancel a registration or to arrange a substitute attendee, call us at 484-324-2755 x200.
Teleconference Pricing
The teleconference price includes CLE for one listener and is valid for only one phone line per firm/company location. Multiple attendees can listen in to the call on that one phone line for no additional charge (an additional CLE fee of $25 per additional listener will apply for those pursuing CLE credit). If more than one phone line is used, you will be billed after the teleconference $169 per each additional phone line used. Invoice must be paid in full to receive dial-in instructions for the teleconference.
