The conference will prioritize presentations that showcase construction projects while focusing on important legal issues, novel approaches to dispute resolution, trends in the construction industry, and/or innovative methodologies and techniques of construction.
Please tell the Abstract Committee if your session will feature any of the following (check all that apply):
Presenting at the SCL NA Conference in 2025 is subject to the terms and conditions as set out below as well as any further terms included in the SCL NA Speakers Agreement and at the discretion of the SCL NA Conference Committee.
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Selection not guaranteed. Your submission will be submitted to the SCL NA Abstract Committee for consideration. The Abstract Committee reviews numerous highly-qualified submissions and selects based on several factors in view of the conference as a whole. Submitters understand that selection is highly-competitive and is not guaranteed.
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Fees/costs. All selected presenters will be required to pay the presenter discounted registration fee of $675. Presenters must register and pay the registration fee when they accept SCL NA selection. We receive many outstanding abstract submissions each year and must select only a limited number from a pool of highly-esteemed practitioners, consultants, in-house, and industry professionals. For this reason, failure to register when selected may result in deselection of some or all of the panel so that we can ensure the opportunity for another presenter or presenters to fill the position.All presenters are also responsible for their own travel/hotel and conference expenses.
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Diversity in presentation. We will prioritize presentations with speaker diversity, occupational diversity, and diversity of subject matter. Occupational diversity means a panel with representation across industry participants, including external counsel, in-house counsel, company executive leadership, claims consultants, and project leadership, including project directors as well as contract, supply chain, and project control managers. Presentations must be original for SCL NA conference and not previously presented at other conferences or events.
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Presenters may only serve on one panel. Presenters may submit for more than one panel; however, presenters may only serve on one selected panel. The Abstract Committee will not disqualify any panel because a presenter is also a presenter on another selected panel; however the presenter will be required by SCL NA to choose only one panel to serve on.
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Moderator required for panels of 3 or more. Any panel with 3 or more members must have a moderator. The SCL NA heavily favors panels, but single presenters will be considered.
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Panelist changes discouraged and require SCL NA approval. Because of time required for preparation of marketing materials and the whole-conference dynamics in selection, please note no additional panel members can be added after abstract submission except with written agreement of the SCL NA. If a selected panel member is unable to participate, SCL NA reserves the right to approve or deny any proposed replacements. If panel dynamic changes considerably after selection, SCL NA reserves the right to deselect the panel and identify a substitute panel.
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Draft presentations by April 15, 2025; final presentation by June 16, 2025. SCL NA requires presenters to submit draft presentation materials for review no later than April 15, 2025. The conference presentation materials must correspond with the presenter’s abstract submission. Because of the many considerations in selection a particular abstract, presentation materials that do not correspond to the abstract submission may be subject to deselection by SCL NA. SCL NA program coordinators will provide panelists with content review comments and recommendations. Final presentation materials are required no later than June 16, 2025. The presentation must be able to satisfy multi-state and province continuing legal education accreditation and must conform to the SCL NA branding and guidelines.
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No commercial presentations. Presentations are to engage and inform the audience. Presentations of a commercial nature are strictly prohibited. No company logos are permitted on presentation materials. Presentations are not an opportunity to promote your company’s services. In the sole discretion of SCL NA, presenters who violate this principle will be prohibited from future selection at subsequent conferences. SCL NA provides numerous sponsorship opportunities for the many high-caliber companies that participate in, attend, and support the SCL NA Annual Conference. Sponsorship offers the greatest opportunity for companies to showcase their services in the appropriate setting.
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Permission to discuss projects and issues. Presenters must not be prevented by confidentiality (e.g., contractual obligations, ethical requirements, legal orders, or otherwise) from discussing the project they propose in their abstract submission. As the conference aims to celebrate and showcase interesting legal and construction approaches, presenters are encouraged to include a knowledgeable representative on their panel with permission to discuss the legal issue, strategy, or methodology which they view as being a "golden opportunity" or "new frontier". Alternatively, presenters must ensure that they have appropriate written waivers/authority to discuss the project, or they must ensure their panel discusses only public record information.
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Commitment to meet deadlines. If selected, presenters agreed to adhere to all deadlines, including those for submitting the draft and final presentation. Presenters understand that failure to meet conference deadlines may necessitate deselection.
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Speaker Agreement required. All selected presenters (including any moderator) are required to sign a Speaker's Agreement which includes granting the SCL NA a nonexclusive license to the copyright of written materials (presentations) and may include permission to record (audio/video) the session. The Speakers Agreement will also include terms from this application, as applicable.
