Nicholas Wapshott's book examines the vastly divergent economic philosophies of John Maynard Keynes and Friedrich von Hayek. Messrs. Keynes and Hayek studied the normal course of the capitalist business cycle, especially after World War I, but reached radically different opinions about the role governments should play in regulating and ameliorating the effects of the business cycle. These two gentlemen, two of the most influential economic thinkers of the 20th Century, participated in on-going debates about the respective merits of their own philosophies and the demerits of the other's philosophies. Mr. Wapshott examines these debates and expounds on them in this podcast. Featuring Mr. Nicholas Wapshott, Author of Keynes vs. Hayek: The Clash that Defined Modern Economics, and Mr. James A. Haynes of the Professional Responsibility & Legal Education Practice Group Executive Committee and the Baltimore Lawyers Chapter.

Much has been written lately about companies’ unwillingness to invest or create new jobs in California. 2010 was the first census in which California did not add a member of Congress. Other states, including Texas, are seeing large influxes of new jobs and people. Some have suggested that California law (as passed by the legislature and as made by the courts) contributes to a negative business climate that discourages investment and job creation. This panel will look at California laws involving employment issues, tort liability, and environmental regulation and compare California’s approach to those of other states, including Texas to determine whether the law has become an impediment to job creation in California. This panel was featured at the Sixth Annual Western Conference on January 28, 2012. Featuring Mr. William J. Emanuel of Littler Mendelson PC; Mr. Jed Kolko of Trulia; Mr. H. Scott Leviant of Spiro Moss LLP; Mr. David A. Schwarz of Irell & Manella LLP; Ms. Kate Comerford Todd of the National Chamber Litigation Center; and Judge Carlos T. Bea of the  U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit as the moderator. Introduction by Mr. Leonard A. Leo, Executive Vice President of The Federalist Society.

The Federalist Society's Facutly Division hosted this panel on "Public Sector Unions" on Friday, January 6, 2012, during the 14th Annual Faculty Conference. Speakers included Prof. Samuel Estreicher of New York University School of Law; Prof. John McGinnis of Northwestern University School of Law; Prof. Joseph Slater of the University of Toledo College of Law; and Prof. James Lindgren of Northwestern University School of Law as the moderator.

There are two primary trends guiding contemporary labor and employment law. The first is the recognition and incorporation of technology into existing law. Labor law has led the way with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB or Board)’s increased focus on social media firings. The second is increased fairness measures at the expense of legal certainty. Employment law has led the way here, with recent regulations interpreting the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA) as well as judicial expansion of Title VII to include discrimination based on sexual orientation. [Read more!]