Tal Finney continues to serve as a formal Advisor to the Executive Committee of the Environmental Section of the California State Bar.  In that capacity, Tal assisted in the organization of and participated in the Environmental Section of the California State Bar’s Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite and Contaminated Sites Environmental Roundtables. 

In connection with our energy practice, Tal participated in the Arctic Energy Summit, a technology conference in Anchorage, Alaska that brought together more than 300 researchers, academics, government leaders, industry representatives and residents from 14 countries for presentations of technical papers on significant Arctic energy research, panel discussions and keynote addresses on major policy areas of concern and interest.

Tal also presented at and moderated a panel on the development of geothermal energy policy at the International Renewable Energy Conference in Washington, D.C.

In September 2007, Tom Vandenburg spoke at the 2007 Annual Conference of the American Public Works Association in San Antonio, Texas.  In January 2008, Tom’s presentation was showcased as part of APWA’s live Webcast Series entitled “The Best from the San Antonio Congress.”

In April 2008, Tom was also an invited speaker at the 23rd International Conference on Solid Waste Management and Technology, sponsored by Widener University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Tom’s presentation was entitled “Proper Disposal of Pharmaceuticals:  What Every Solid Waste Manager Should Know.

Tom Vandenburg was invited to speak on “Emerged and Emerging Contaminants in Groundwater Systems” at the Mealeys Water Contamination Conference, and on “Trends in Perc-Related Litigation in California” at a meeting of the California Water Environmental Association.

The Monterey Park Environmental Commission, chaired by Tom Vandenburg, hosted an environmental symposium on water and transportation issues.  Hillary Arrow Booth was a featured panelist speaking on the environmental effects associated with the movement of goods in and through Southern California. 

Tom Vandenburg was also a featured speaker on perchlorate litigation at the “Perchlorate: Progress Toward Understanding and Cleanup” Symposium presented by the Groundwater Resources Association of California.  This Symposium is widely viewed as the most important perchlorate conference of the year in California.  In addition to Mr. Vandenburg’s presentation, the Symposium featured presentations by regulators from the California State Water Resources Control Board and the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board as well as presentations by researchers from UC Berkeley, UC Riverside, Texas Tech University, and the University of Georgia.  As a result of this conference, Tom was invited to address perchlorate litigation before the California-Nevada Section of the American Water Works Association at its conference in Burlingame, California.

Hillary Arrow Booth moderated a panel presentation titled “Regulating Environmental Correctness: Transportation Industry is the Next Target” at the annual Transportation Lawyers’ Conference.  The panel focused on diesel emissions, explaining the relevant current and anticipated federal regulations and potential state regulations along with potential preemption challenges to state regulations.

Hillary also participated on a panel of leading transportation attorneys at the annual Transportation & Logistics Council Conference.  Hillary focused her presentation on the limitation of liability clause often found in transportation contracts and the requirements for enforcement of such clauses.

The Firm continued to play a leading role at the State Bar Environmental Section’s annual Yosemite Conference, considered the preeminent environmental law conference in California.  At the Yosemite Conference, Tom Vandenburg moderated a panel that discussed naturally occurring asbestos and perchlorate, focusing on current regulations and strategies for representing clients faced with regulatory enforcement.  Hillary Booth also participated in a panel that discussed the challenges in regulating diesel emissions in and around the port areas of California.  Hillary focused her presentation on the effects of existing or proposed regulations on the trucking industry. 

John Lawrence and Matthew Bures addressed business and employment litigation issues at a symposium sponsored by Asian American Economic Development Enterprises, Inc. 

Jason Booth spoke at the California Stormwater Quality Association annual conference in September 2006 on the issue of: “Dispelling the Pipe Dream: Why Numeric Limits are Unnecessary, Unwise, and Unenforceable in California.”