U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform Names IADC as 2017 Outstanding Alliance Award Winner
The International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) has been named the 2017 Outstanding Alliance Award recipient by the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR).
The award recognizes the IADC’s collaboration with ILR on reform issues that are central to ILR’s program abroad, such as third-party litigation funding transparency and class action reform in Canada. The IADC also was honored for its work as a valuable partner with ILR on reform issues in the United States, including preventing the expansion of class actions in the states and addressing regulation through litigation.
“The IADC is tremendously honored to be recognized by the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform for its collaboration with ILR on many critical areas of legal reform in the United States and around the world,” said Andrew Kopon Jr., IADC President and a founding member of Kopon Airdo, LLC in Chicago. “We are grateful to the leadership of ILR for the opportunity to work together and to provide an important avenue for the IADC’s 2,500-plus members to contribute to these efforts in meaningful ways.”
In a release, the association said:
The Outstanding Alliance Award is part of ILR’s Annual Legal Reform Awards that honor individuals and organizations whose outstanding work in partnership with ILR has contributed to making the United States and key foreign civil justice systems simpler, fairer, and more efficient for all. The IADC and its leadership were formally recognized at ILR’s 18th Annual Legal Reform Summit on Oct. 25 in Washington, D.C.
“Receiving ILR’s Outstanding Alliance Award demonstrates that the IADC has emerged as a valuable partner and strong voice for reforms that seek to improve civil justice systems,” said Mark Behrens, chair of the IADC’s Civil Justice Response Committee and co-chair of the Public Policy Group at Shook Hardy & Bacon in Washington, D.C.
The following are among the IADC’s recent legal reform initiatives on which it has partnered with ILR:
Opposed the proposed adoption of a rule to permit a class action procedure in Mississippi’s state court system;
Supported requiring disclosure of third-party litigation funding at the outset of a lawsuit, specifically joining ILR’s petition proposing an amendment to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to require disclosure;
Opposed the proposed American Bar Association (ABA) resolution attacking restrictions on punitive damages for manufacturers of FDA-approved drugs and devices, specifically leading a coalition of opposition that included all leading national organizations for lawyers who primarily represent civil defendants (the ABA did not move forward with the proposed resolution); and
Provided expert input into the ILR’s consideration of the options for meaningful class action reform in Canada.
“The IADC’s alliance with ILR is another example of a highly successful IADC program that benefits our in-house counsel, insurance executive, and outside lawyer members in the United States, Canada, and abroad and also helps the IADC attract the best and brightest defense lawyers from around the globe to support these advocacy efforts,” said Gordon McKee, an IADC Board member and a partner with Blake, Cassels & Graydon, LLP, in Toronto, who leads the IADC’s efforts on Canadian class action reform.
According to Kopon, the IADC’s partnership with ILR has been highly successful, with the IADC consulting for ILR on numerous matters, and ILR leaders supporting multiple IADC initiatives. ILR President Lisa Rickard has spoken at several IADC events, including its domestic and international Corporate Counsel College education programs.
“The IADC looks forward to continuing to support ILR in the furtherance of legal reform in many areas in the coming year,” Kopon said.
ILR, which is a separately incorporated affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is the country’s most influential and successful advocate for civil justice reform in the United States and abroad. ILR conducts cutting-edge research, advances pragmatic solutions and advocates for those solutions with Congress, state legislatures, federal regulators, international policymakers and the courts to effect meaningful change. To read more about ILR, visit http://www.instituteforlegalreform.com.