Fannie Mae has appointed Brian P. Brooks, 45, as executive vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary effective Nov. 10.

Brooks was vice chairman and chief legal officer at OneWest Bank before his Fannie Mae appointment.

Prior to OneWest Bank, Brooks was a managing partner at the global law firm O’Melveny & Myers where he led an office of more than 150 attorneys and played a lead role in crafting the banking industry’s response to the 2010-2011 foreclosure crisis, Fannie Mae reports in a release.

Brooks received his law degree with honors from the University of Chicago, and holds a BA in Government from Harvard University from which he graduated cum laude.

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Recent headlines show that corporate management and general counsel should have policies in place to root out potential employee wrongdoing and to do so quickly, reports JDSupra Business Business Advisor.

It is most important for companies to have clear procedures for reporting wrongdoing, JDSupra says on its website.

“No company can take steps to investigate or manage improprieties it knows nothing about. Every company should have written procedures and periodic training on internal reporting procedures. Employees should understand the personnel to whom issues should be raised, and they should be encouraged to speak up when they have concerns about malfeasance. Often, it is necessary to have both a separate department tasked with handling these concerns as well as a clear chain of command within each department,” JDSupra continues.

Read the story.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that a senior Deutsche Bank lawyer, Calogero Gambino, has died of an apparent suicide in New York.

Gambino was an associate general counsel, a managing director and the German bank for 11 years.

Police says his wife found him on Oct. 20 hanging by the neck from a stairway banister. New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner spokeswoman Julie Bolcer said the cause of death is hanging and manner of death is suicide.

On behalf of Deutsche, Gambino had been negotiating in an investigation into manipulation of the London interbank offered rate, or Libor, as well as in investigations into manipulation of currencies markets.

Read the story.

As a part of its Digital Energy Technology Webcast Series, National Instruments has posted a complimentary webinar on what’s wrong with the embedded systems design process for the smart grid.

On its website, the company says the webinar shows how NI R&D teams are eliminating the most important bottlenecks in the development process. It also shows how to apply new tools and technologies from NI to tackle these challenges head on.

Presenters are Owen Golden—Vice President, Global Energy Segment, NI; Brian MacCleery—Principal Product Manager for Clean Energy, NI; and Dr. James Truchard—President, CEO, and Cofounder, NI.

Watch the webinar.

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers has posted a complimentary webinar on new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) technology.

The ASME says on its website that some experts believe that the U.S. is in the middle of an energy revolution due to advances in the production of natural gas. But up to now, the effects of that revolution has been limited because natural gas is hard to store and transport globally, like oil or distribute as a transport fuel, like gasoline. Now companies are working to build plants in the U.S. that can turn natural gas into a liquid to export and others are developing new LNG dispensing technology for engines to use liquefied natural gas instead of gasoline or diesel.

George Hu, Technology Manager LNG at Technip USA, and Justin Capouch, LNG Technology Manager at CB&I, are presenters for this live webinar about these technologies and how they could deliver American shale gas to the world.

Watch the on-demand webinar.

Aronson & Company has posted a free webinar on the finer points of ethics as they relate to government contracts.

It’s important for government contractors to conduct themselves with the highest degree of integrity and honesty, Aronson says.

Contracts should maintain a written code of business ethics & conduct, an employee ethics & compliance training program, an employee ethics & compliance training program and an internal control system.

The webinar also covers a wide array of compliance requirements.

Presenters are Thomas Marcinko, Principal Consultant, and Jacob Blass, President of Ethical Advocate.

Watch the webinar.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology presents a free on-demand webinar processes used in securing patents.

On its website, NIST says that, given the high costs around intellectual property procurement, this webinar is focused on providing some basic tools of the trade when pursuing DIY intellectual property protection.

Experienced individuals who have endeavored in the art of “Pro Se” and learn when to seek the guidance and help of legal expertise make the presentations in the webinar.

The slide sets are available here and here.

Watch the on-demand webinar.

SC&H Group and Red Team Consulting have launched a three-part, on-demand webinar series that aims to guide government contractors through the changing procurement landscape.

The first webinar in the series, “Effective Capture Strategies for Federal Government Procurements,” is available on-demand now.

This webinar focuses on the capture management process, including covering bid/no-bid strategies, understanding the competition, and how contractors can best position themselves.

On its website, SC&G says government contractors are continually challenged with developing the right contract capture and pricing strategies that will effectively allow them to grow their businesses in today’s austere budget climate.

Watch the on-demand webinar.

Haynes and Boone has posted the audio of a recent webinar on investing in real estate in Mexico.

The topics covered include CKDs (Capital Development Certificates) and Mexican REITs (FIBRAS) and how they have fueled the real estate market in Mexico; opportunities that these investment vehicles represent for domestic and international investors; legal developments impacting the real estate industry including constitutional reform on restrictions on foreign ownerships of land; and impact of structural reforms and government infrastructure plans on the real estate industry in Mexico (energy reform), including its impact on land ownership and on Agrarian laws (Ejido).

The moderator is Haynes and Boone partner Michael McCarthy. Panelists are Luis F. Moreno Trevino and Antonio Diez de Bonilla Martinez.

Listen to the recorded discussion.

The Center for Resource Solutions has posted a free webinar that explains how existing renewable energy certificate (REC) tracking systems can be used as an integral part of state compliance for the EPA’s Clean Power Plan.

On its website, the Center says that REC tracking systems, together with state policies designed to increase the production and use of renewable electricity, will be critical to states looking to use renewable energy like wind and solar to reduce the carbon intensity of their power sector. This presentation is intended for air and electricity regulators, as well as renewable energy advocates that are interested in participating in the Clean Air Act Section 111(d) comment period.

Exari Systems has posted a free webinar on contract lifecycle management (CLM) and how it can help a business.

The webinar discusses what CLM really means,the common problems resulting from poor contract management practices, the key components of a comprehensive CLM solution and why they are necessary, and what to look for when deciding how to address your organization’s contract management challenges.

The speaker for the webinar is Grant Ramsey, Vice President – Global Solutions, Exari Systems.

The webinar lasts 30 minutes.

Register to receive a link to the recorded webinar.

eTERA Consulting will discuss its All1ance One in the company’s Tech Talk Tuesday webinar on Nov. 18, beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern time.

All1ance One is a win/win: a win for our partners and their clients, eTERA says. Partners have the ability to expand their business, win more clients and increase revenue. Corporate legal departments, law firms and government agencies alike can benefit by offering eTERA’s enhanced eDiscovery services that span across the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (“EDRM”).

In this complimentary one-hour presentation, attendees will learn firsthand about the benefits of being an All1ance One partner including:

◾New Revenue Resources
◾Ability to provide eDiscovery services to clients
◾Robust and secure eDiscovery infrastructure with no investment required
◾Strong award winning partner with financial stability, national recognition and global footprint
◾Continuing training and education
◾Dedicated point of contact
◾Ability to provide eDiscovery services to clients
◾Access to data and technology management subject matter experts
◾Access to Gartner Group Magic Quadrant Technologies
◾Ongoing marketing and sales support
◾Customized onboarding program including “go-to” market strategies

The speaker will be Mary McGinness, All1ance One Manager.

As eTERA’s All1ance One Manager, Mary McGinness is responsible for leading the partnership program in the US and overseas. She focuses on the identification, development, management, and executive relationships of eTERA’s network of partners and clients. Her responsibilities enable all parties to expand their client service offerings to corporate legal departments and law firms, collaborate effectively on opportunities, and create synergy that allows for future revenue growth.

Register for the event.

Penn State Extension has posted an on-demand webinar on how processing of natural gas affects income streams to mineral rights owners, particularly in the Marcellus Shale area.

The discussion covers wet gas and dry gas production, condensate, natural gas processing plants, natural gas liquids (NQLs), petrochemical integration, the absorption process and related technology.

The presentation is a part of the Penn State University Cooperative Extension Shale Webinar Series.

The speaker is Steven M. Karabin, PNGE, RL, President and CEO, The Rhino Group. Matt Henderson is the moderator.

Watch the recorded webinar and see the presentation slides.

Littler Mendelson will present a free webinar on employer responsibility requirements imposed by the Affordable Care Act.

The webinar will be Tuesday, Dec. 16, beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern time.

On its website, the firm says that in 2015, employers with 100 or more full-time employees will be required to comply with the employer responsibility requirements imposed by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

In this webinar, Littler attorneys will review these pay or play rules, and will discuss what is in store for employers beyond 2015. From the phasing out of transitional relief to the Cadillac tax, presenters will explain how employers should continue preparing for what the ACA has in store for years to come.

Register for the webinar.

Symantec will present a seminar in four cities in November on the challenges of information governance.

Today’s era of technology evolution and explosive data growth combine to present new and unique challenges for organizations across the globe and for legal departments in particular, Symantec says. Too commonly, key stakeholders such as the CISO, CIO, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer operate independently which leaves many organizations spiraling into a cycle of dysfunctional behavior that includes responding to each new crisis on a case by case basis instead of preventing the crisis from occurring in the first place.

Topics discussed will include:
• The intersection between law and technology
• Data breach and data security risks and rewards
• eDiscovery, archiving and record retention planning
• Regulatory compliance

“Please join us for lunch and learn more. Register today for a chance to win a Go Pro HD Hero3 White Edition,” said a Symantec representative.

Register for the event.

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP will present a complimentary webinar on how to conduct investigations into complaints of sexual assault and other civil rights violations in educational institutions.

The webinar will be Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 1 p.m. Eastern time.

On its website, the firm says that, for colleges, universities and school districts, mishandling sexual assault or harassment investigations can jeopardize student safety and lead to government scrutiny and public relations nightmares. The pressures faced by schools to get these investigations right are mounting as media attention grows.

Hinshaw partner Lora Zimmer, a trained Title IX investigator, will lead the webinar.

The program will cover:

• Title IX overview
• Best practices for handling civil rights investigations
• Standards of proof
• Interview skills
• Patterns of behavior of victims and offenders
• Confidentiality issues

Register for the webinar.

The Praticising Law Institute offers a free on-demand webinar designed to help practitioners improve their ability to counsel homeowners in financial distress.

The webinar, lasting 3.25 hours, provides an overview of the financial issues homeowners may face after a foreclosure, short sale or loan modification, including including tax and credit consequences.

On its website, PLI says tax experts explain the fundamentals of how cancelled mortgage debt is treated under state and federal tax law, and provide insights into changes in tax law that may take effect soon.  Practitioners will discuss what types of personal liability homeowners may still face following a foreclosure, short sale or deed-in-lieu, and will use case examples to illustrate the credit impact of various forms of mortgage delinquency resolution.

Panelists also outline legal strategies for addressing these issues through bankruptcy, fair debt collections and fair credit reporting claims, PLI says.

Watch the on-demand webinar.

Bloomberg New Energy Finance has posted a white paper on fossil fuel divestment, “a concept that can reflect various societal or practical considerations. Environmental concerns, moral and ethical stances, concerns about asset stranding, and portfolio diversification are all potential rationales.”

On its website, Bloomberg New Energy Finance says the white paper “explores the motivations behind fossil fuel divestment, the scale of existing fossil fuel investments, and potential alternatives for investment re-allocated from oil, gas, and coal stocks.”

Divesting from fossil fuels does not equate to investing in renewables, according to the white paper. “Clean energy will attract $5.5trn in investment between now and 2030, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, but not every dollar will be suitable for every institution. Projects, public equities, YieldCos and green bonds offer stability, growth, and yield, but not all in one package,” it says.

Read the white paper.

EY will present an analysis of U.S. midterm elections as the results may affect the nation’s energy policy. The webinar will be Thursday, Nov. 6, at 11 a.m. Eastern time.

The midterm elections this year are on Nov. 4, and many key seats are in contention, including control of the U.S. Senate. The changes in some of these hotly contested races may have long-term impacts on US energy policy, EY says on its website.

EY’s Washington Council EY will give a post-election analysis and share their insights on tax legislation and tax reform.

Panelists will be Donna Steele Flynn, Tim Urban and Jeff Petrich. The moderator will be Deborah Byers.

Register for the webinar.

What if you had to return all the revenue you received from every customer in California for the last several years? A class action litigation alert from DLA Piper discusses the California Automatic Renewal Law, which applies to most individual consumer contracts that include an automatic renewal feature and for which the consumer authorizes a recurring automatic charge to the consumer’s credit card or bank account for the purchase of services, memberships, subscriptions or other products.

According to the alert, “in the event of non-compliance with the law, all services rendered by a merchant to an individual California consumer ‘shall for all purposes be deemed an unconditional gift to the consumer.’ ”

The alert, written by Paul J. Hall, Isabelle Ord and Alec Cierny, says, “The law creates a higher legal standard that the automatic renewal terms and cancellation rights be disclosed in a more conspicuous manner than the rest of the contract.  The law applies to contracts entered into by any consumer in California regardless of the location of the company.  Recent class action lawsuits allege that several national companies with consumer-interfacing websites are not in compliance with the enhanced disclosure requirements of the Automatic Renewal Law.”

Read the alert here.