Vermont Bar Journal, Vol. 40, No. 2 Vermont Bar Journal, Fall 2016, Vol. 42, No. 3 | Page 39

2015-2016 Sections and
Divisions Annual Report
APPELLATE LAW SECTION
By: David Boyd, Esq.
As a new addition to the VBA, the Appellate Section is busy planning for the upcoming year.  At the annual meeting in October, we will be hosting a CLE panel titled ‘Appellate v. Trial Advocacy – Tips and
Traps’ offering the diverse perspectives of
Hon. Geoffrey Crawford, Hon. Harold Eaton, and Hon. Marilyn Skoglund.  Through
future events, we look forward to informing and engaging the community on all aspects of appellate practice.
BANKRUPTCY LAW SECTION
By: Heather Cooper, Esq.
The Bankruptcy Section remained active throughout the year. The VBA Annual Bankruptcy Holiday CLE and Luncheon
was held on December 11, 2105 and was
well attended, as usual. The Bankruptcy Section recognized the accomplishments and contributions of Tom Hart, the
long standing Clerk of Court of the United
States Bankruptcy Court for the District of
Vermont at this event, in addition to other
Clerk’s Office staff who retired from service
effective December 31, 2015.
Members of the Bankruptcy Section contributed to CLE events including, but not
limited to: a joint presentation between the
Capital Region Bankruptcy Bar Association
and the VBA in March of 2015 on the Current Trends in Consumer and Commercial
Bankruptcies; presentations on bankruptcy
relief for family farmers at VBA’s Agricultural Law Day and at its mid-year Meeting in
March; homestead presentations at various
local county bar levels; and a seminar reviewing the New Official Bankruptcy Forms
that became effective December 1, 2015.
Our members have served on various task
forces reviewing topics including the implementation of the new forms, mediation
and Conduit Mortgage Payments and assisted the Court in reviewing and updating
its local rules.
In addition, in concert with the United
States Bankruptcy Court for the District
of Vermont, the Bankruptcy Section holds
regular Bench-Bar Brown Bag Lunch Meetings over the noon hour in either Rutland
or Burlington with access by phone to ensure statewide availability for all practitioners.
We are currently developing the topics
for the upcoming Bankruptcy Holiday CLE
and Luncheon which will take place on December 2, 2016 at the Essex Culinary Resort and Spa.
The Bankruptcy Section listserve is unwww.vtbar.org

der-utilized with respect to discussions,
questions, or topics for discussion. We
continue to encourage Section members
to utilize the listserve as there are many
people who are on the list willing to help
and to share.
BUSINESS ASSOCIATION LAW SECTION
By: Tom Moody, Esq.
The Business Law Section’s big accomplishment of 2016 was the drafting, introduction and passage of a comprehensive
rewrite of provisions of the Vermont Corporations Act governing mergers, conversions and domestications.  The legislation
was originally part of H. 574, and then was
passed as part of H. 868.  The relevant portions of H.868 are available through the
VBA. 
At the annual meeting, we are presenting a session that will explore the practical,
legal and ethical considerations of dealing
with enforcement authorities.  The segment
will include discussion of best practices for
how to deal with and respond to grand jury
and administrative subpoenas, search warrants, computer forensic evidence, interview and investigative requests, internal investigations, and practical tips for working
with and effectively dealing with enforcement authorities.
COLLABORATIVE LAW SECTION
By: Nanci Smith, Esq.
The Collaborative Law Section has been
keeping each other informed about interesting upcoming trainings out of state,
since the practice area is still in its infancy in Vermont