News Release
FOR RELEASE - February 10, 2011
Contact: Aaron Ellis, aellis@aapa-ports.org
703-706-4714

American Association of Port Authorities
Phone: (202) 792-4033
www.aapa-ports.org

AAPA to Feature Port Administration and Legal Issues Seminar in San Francisco, April 13-15

The biennial Port Administration and Legal Issues Seminar in San Francisco, April 13-15, sponsored by the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), will examine the latest trends, challenges and management strategies for port administrators, finance officers, attorneys, and real estate and risk managers. 

The association's 2½-day program will address current developments in port contracts and leasing; lease security and certificates of insurance; the Shipping Act and Federal Maritime Commission regulation; port insurance and risk management strategies; a wide range of employment issues; legal ethics, public records, recordkeeping, and electronically-stored information; and minimizing/avoiding liability in port construction projects.  It will also include an in-depth discussion of public financing and the issuance of bonds. 

"Western Hemisphere seaports, which collectively handle some 7.8 billion tons of cargo a year worth about $8.6 trillion, serve as crucial trade gateways and economic engines for the regions and nations they serve, while constantly working to minimize risk in everything from public financing, construction projects and leases, to employee relations," said Jean Godwin, AAPA's executive vice president and general counsel.  "The association's Law Review and Risk Management & Safety committees have developed an outstanding program of industry experts and interactive panel discussions that will cover an array of timely legal as well as finance, human resources and administrative issues facing ports today."

Confirmed conference speakers include (in alphabetical order):

• Kevin J. Connolly, Esq., Shareholder, Anderson Kill & Olick, P.C.
• Ken Cushine, Vice President and Principal, Frasca & Associates
• Daniel M. Deaton, Associate, Public Finance, Nixon Peabody LLP
• Katherine E. Flanagan, Esq., Managing Shareholder, Littler, Mendelson, P.C.
• Travis Gibbs, Partner, Public Finance, Nixon Peabody, LLP
• Cindi Heffernan, Managing Director, Hugh Wood, Inc.
• Paul M. Heylman, Esq., Partner, Saul Ewing LLP
• William J. Jackson, Esq., President, Jackson Gilmour & Dobbs, PC
• Michael R. Johnson, Senior Vice President, Hugh Wood Inc.
• John Longstreth, Esq., Partner, K&L Gates LLP
• Paul Marron, Esq., Principal, Marron Lawyers
• Heather M. McCloskey, Deputy City Attorney, Port of Los Angeles
• Kathryn McDermott, Deputy Executive Director, Port of Los Angeles
• Karl Pan, Chief Financial Officer, Port of Los Angeles
• Michael K. Reppe, Partner, Kutak Rock
• Steve Rice, Esq., Director of Litigation, Marron Lawyers 
• Thomas G. Schroeter, Associate General Counsel, Port of Houston Authority
• Jessica Soltz Rudd, Esq., Senior Director, Frasca & Associates, L.L.C.
• Jeffrey Stieb, Senior Legal Counsel, Maritime, Massachusetts Port Authority
• Tom Tanaka, Senior Port Counsel, Port of Seattle

WHO:	American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA)
WHAT:	Conference covering latest trends, challenges and management strategies for port administrators, finance officers, attorneys, and real estate and risk managers
WHEN:	April 13-15, 2011 (Day 1, 9:00 am - 4:45 p.m.; Day 2, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 pm; Day 3, 8:30 - 11:45 am)
WHERE	The Westin St. Francis Hotel, 335 Powell Street, San Francisco, CA
INFO:	More information about AAPA's Port Administration and Legal Issues Seminar is available at http://www.appa-ports.org/ (click on the "Programs & Events" tab) or by calling AAPA's Ed O'Connell at (703) 684-5700
MEDIA:	Credentialed journalists interested in covering the seminar for media purposes are asked to contact Aaron Ellis, aellis@aapa-ports.org, to obtain a media pass