MINUTES OF THE MEETING

OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS

December 19, 2007

 

 

 

A regular meeting of the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Nevada was convened on December 19, 2007 at the State Bar of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV at 9: 30 a.m.

 

The following members were in attendance:

Nancy Allf, President

Bruce Beesley, President-Elect

Kathleen England, Vice President

Rew Goodenow, Past President

Connie Akridge

Larry Digesti

Cam Ferenbach
Francis Flaherty

Dara Goldsmith

Elana Hatch

Gregg Kamer

Bridget Robb Peck

Bryan Scott

Bill Turner

John White

Robert Witek

 

By Phone:

James Bradshaw

Jasmine Mehta

 

State Bar Staff Present:

Rob Bare

David Clark

Kimberly Farmer

Marc Mersol

Gale Skala

 

Guest

Michael E. Buckley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.         CALL TO ORDER

 

The meeting was called to order by President Nancy Allf at 9:30 a.m. and a quorum was declared.

 

2.         CONSENT ITEMS

 

The Board of Governors agreed that item #6, Report of Fee Dispute Committee/ Clients’ Security Fund and #4, Report of Director of Operations and Education should be removed from the Consent Agenda. The following Consent Agenda items were accepted or approved unanimously, as follows:

 

Approval of Minutes of October 9, 2007

 

 

Report of Director of Admissions

 

 

Report of Director of Finance

 

 

Report of the Young Lawyer’s Section

 

Jasmine Mehta, chair of the Young Lawyers Section gave an update on the most recent events of the Young Lawyers Section.   Ms. Mehta requested that members of the Board give her five names of individuals they felt would make good leaders in the future.

 

 

3.         REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND EDUCATION

 

Christopher Boadt shared information concerning webcredenza.  The CLE committee will not meet until January 2008 at which time they will discuss teleconferencing.  The CLE committee will be meeting bi-monthly in 2008.  There was discussion about the Bridge the Gap (BTG) program and how it might be improved for the future.  Nancy Allf asked Chris to discuss the BTG programming at the committee meeting.  Mr. Boadt will also survey other bars and inquire about their BTG programs.

 

It was moved, seconded and approved to appoint Richard Williamson to the Nevada Lawyer Editorial Board commencing December 19, 2007 and ending June 2009.

 

4.         REPORT OF FEE DISPUTE COMMITTEE/CLIENTS’ SECURITY FUND

 

Dara Goldsmith would like the Clients’ Security Fund to provide the Board with a more detailed report listing that includes who the Fund has provided awards to and the names of the attorneys who have paid restitution.

 

It was moved, seconded and approved to reappoint Michael Navratil to the Fee Dispute Arbitration Committee, Las Vegas Panel A for an additional three-year term effective December 2007.

 

5.         FINANCE COMMITTEE PRESENTS 2008 BUDGET; INVESTMENT POLICY

 

Cam Ferenbach shared highlights of the 2008 budget and provided an overview of a table showing five-year dues projection. It was moved and seconded to approve the 2008 budget.

 

Mr. Ferenbach shared the three options presented regarding an investment policy for the State Bar funds. After much discussion, it was moved, seconded and approved to establish an investment committee.  This committee will work closely with the finance committee.  Dara Goldsmith and Connie Akridge volunteered to be on the committee.   Until further research is completed, it was moved, seconded and approved that the State Bar staff will be in charge of investing State Bar funds in certificates of deposit.  Kimberly Farmer is receiving quotes from insurance groups that will provide greater coverage for theft and negligence.

 

6.         COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

Midyear Meeting

Bruce Beesley shared the status on the Midyear meeting.  The meeting is scheduled for February 23, 2008, 10-4 pm in Las Vegas at the UNLV Boyd School of Law.  

 

Bylaws

Connie Akridge shared the highlights from the initial meeting of the Bylaws committee.  Ms. Akridge will report the progress of the committee at the January Board meeting.

 

Compensation Committee

Gregg Kamer shared the progress of the compensation committee and the results of their initial meeting with Fox Lawson and Associates. Mr. Kamer indicated that the committee should have a solid compensation plan in place by April.

 

7.         FORMATION OF REAL PROPERTY LAW SECTION

 

Michael Buckley presented the application requesting the formation of a Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Nevada.  It was moved, seconded and approved to grant the formation of a Real Property Law Section commencing January 2008.

 

8.         NEVADA LEGAL SERVICES BOARD ASSIGNMENTS

 

It was moved, seconded and approved to reappoint the following members to the Nevada Legal Service attorney Board for a two-year term commencing January 2008.

 

Clark County: Veronica Arechederra-Hall, Elizabeth J. Foley and Paul E. Larsen

Washoe County: Muriel R. Skelly, Alice Campos-Mercado

Rural Counties: David B. Lockie, Ernest Adler, James Sloan

 

It was moved, seconded and approved to appoint Charles Burcham to a two-year term as a Washoe County representative, Cam Ferenbach abstained from voting.

 

9.         REPORT ON NEVADA LAW FOUNDATION

 

The Board went into Executive Session.

 

10.       REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

 

Rate Search

David Clark updated the Board members on the status of Rate Search.  It was moved, seconded and approved to pay the latest invoice from Carmody and MacDonald.  It was noted that the State Bar will ask for a revised litigation budget from Carmody and MacDonald.

 

Special Admissions

Kimberly Farmer shared the history on the special admissions applicant process. Janette Bloom, Clerk of the Court, submitted proposed amendments to the present rule.

 

Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility

It was moved, seconded and approved to appoint Shelly Krohn as the chair of the Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility commencing January 2008 for a two-year term. Dara Goldsmith and Cam Ferenbach abstained.

 

It was moved, seconded and approved to expand the committee to the maximum number of 10 members as provided for in SCR 223.2.  Notices requesting applications from those seeking the position will appear in the Nevada Lawyer.  The Board expects to fill these vacant spots at the March 2008 Board of Governors meeting.

 

Review Journal Label Request

It was moved, seconded and approved to provide the Review Journal labels for purposes of using them to facilitate the Review Journal’s judicial evaluation as per our present policy and with the understanding that the State Bar is not underwriting or supporting the survey and that the expectation is the survey results will be reported in a fair and impartial manner.

 

Information to Members – Pakistan

Nancy Allf shared the highlights of this issue and the comments she received after the ABA notice was published in the e-newsletter.  Kathy England felt that the State Bar should have appropriate policies concerning what is published in the Nevada Lawyer and e-newsletter.  No action was taken.

 

ABA Model Court Rule on Provision of Legal Services Following Determination of Major Disaster

Rew Goodenow shared information on this issue. It was moved, seconded and approved for this issue to be tabled in order that Bar Counsel can look at this issue thoroughly and report to the Board at the January meeting.

 

11.       REPORT OF DEPUTY BAR COUNSEL

 

It was moved, seconded and approved to accept the proposed changes to the Mandatory Advertising Filing Form effective January 2008.

 

It was moved, seconded and approved to continue with the appointments of Noel Anschutz and Carrie Taylor on the Southern Nevada Disciplinary Board.

 

12.       REPORT OF BAR COUNSEL

 

It was moved, seconded and approved to appoint Alejandro Yanez as a laymember on the Southern Nevada Disciplinary Board.

 

It was moved, seconded and approved to appoint Jacob Hafter and Sigal Chattah to the Southern Nevada Disciplinary Board.

 

It was moved, seconded and approved to reappoint Kim Mandelbaum to the Southern Nevada Disciplinary Board effective December 2007 thru December 2010.

 

It was moved, seconded and approved to accept the resignations of Robert Earl McCarthy, Steven E. Scroggin and Laurie Brooks Buck.

 

13.       REPORT OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

 

Kimberly Farmer discussed her meeting with Justice Douglas concerning filling the position of Access to Justice Coordinator due to the resignation of Lynn Etkins.   Justice Douglas indicated that the position should remain with the State Bar under the current job description.

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business before the Board the meeting was adjourned at 3:00 p.m.