Chadbourne & Parke LLP to Hold Conference on Nanotechnology Law and Commerce

NEW YORK, Jan. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The international law firm of Chadbourne & Parke LLP will hold a forum called "Nanotechnology Law & Commerce: Business at One-Billionth of a Meter" on January 31 at Chadbourne's offices in New York.

Examining the fast-growing, interdisciplinary field of nanotechnology from a business and legal perspective, this event will bring together leading entrepreneurs, investors, insurers, regulators, academics, policymakers, corporate counsel and other stakeholders to share their insight and perspective on the various issues and forces most likely to shape global commerce in nanotechnology. The event begins at 1:00 p.m. and concludes at 6:00 p.m., followed by a reception.

Opening remarks will be provided by Chadbourne counsel George E. Pataki, the former Governor of New York. During his tenure, Gov. Pataki was instrumental in bringing a nanotechnology research center, and the first college of nanotechnology in the nation, to the State University of New York at Albany (SUNY-Albany).

"Nanotechnology, basically manipulating atoms and molecules at the level of 1 to 100 nanometers to make materials and products with novel physical properties, is the future and it is now," said Chadbourne litigation partner David L. Wallace, who organized and will chair the conference. "It offers enormous promise and challenge -- both commercially and legally. This event will bring together leaders to discuss the issues likely to animate nanotechnology's development and direction."

The meeting will draw on Chadbourne's experience in practice areas relevant to nanotechnology, including finance, products liability, litigation, intellectual property, insurance and reinsurance, energy and regulation, and environmental matters.

Speakers and panelists include:

Nanotechnology 101 - Dr. Alain E. Kaloyeros, VP & Chief Administrative Officer, College of Nanoscale Science & Engineering, SUNY-Albany.

Nanotechnology Health & Safety Issues - Dr. Stanley B. Field, Regional Chairman of Medicine, Atlantic Health Systems.

Nanotechnology Risk Perception - Professor Dan M. Kahan, Elizabeth K. Dollard Professor of Law & Deputy Dean, Yale Law School.

Nanoethics - Dr. Fritz Allhoff, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Western Michigan University.

    Panel Discussion -- Innovation:  The Nature and Dynamic of Pioneering R&D:

    Dr. John E. Kelly III, Senior VP & Director of Research, IBM Corporation
    Mr. Alan L. Crane, CEO Tempo Pharmaceuticals
    Dr. Ajay Royyuru, Senior Manager, Computational Biology Center, IBM
    Research
    Dr. Alain E. Kaloyeros, Professor of Physics, SUNY-Albany.

Panel Discussion -- Capital Investment: Financing and Underwriting Nanotechnology:

    Mr. William D. Lese, Managing Director, Braemer Energy Ventures
    Mr. Steven D. Knutson, Director of Emerging Issues, Zurich North America
    Dr. Tomas Kahn, VP and Head, Expert Team Life Sciences, Deutsche Bank
    Dr. Pradeep Haldar, Professor of Nanoengineering, SUNY-Albany.

Panel Discussion -- Law & Society: Public Policy, Politics and Litigation:

    Mr. John Barlow Weiner, Associate Chief Counsel, Office of Chief Counsel,
    FDA
    Dr. J. Clarence (Terry) Davies, Senior Advisor, Woodrow Wilson
    International Center Professor Aaron D. Twerski, Irwin & Jill Cohen
    Professor of Law, Brooklyn Law School
    Mr. William Ohlemeyer, VP & Associate General Counsel, Altria Group, Inc.
    Mr. Kent Jarrell, VP & Director, Litigation Communications, APCO Worldwide
    Mr. Michael M. Fancher, Associate Professor of Nanoeconomics, SUNY-Albany

About Chadbourne & Parke LLP

Chadbourne & Parke LLP, an international law firm headquartered in New York City, provides a full range of legal services, including mergers and acquisitions, securities, project finance, private funds, corporate finance, energy, communications and technology, commercial and products liability litigation, securities litigation and regulatory enforcement, special investigations and litigation, intellectual property, antitrust, domestic and international tax, insurance and reinsurance, environmental, real estate, bankruptcy and financial restructuring, employment law and ERISA, trusts and estates and government contract matters. Major geographical areas of concentration include Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and the CIS, the Middle East and Latin America. The Firm has offices in New York, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Houston, London (a multinational partnership), Moscow, St. Petersburg, Warsaw (a Polish partnership), Kyiv, Almaty, Dubai and Beijing. For additional information, visit www.chadbourne.com.