Cancellation Policy: No refunds will be issued for seminar cancellations received after Friday, October 2 , 2020 by 5:00 pm or for no shows.
All qualified refunds will be sent on or shortly after October 10, 2020.

RSVP by noon on Monday, October 5, 2020

Program Schedule

9:00 am - 9:05 am - Opening Remarks
Brit Suttell, PACBA Board President
Barron & Newburger P.C.

9:05 am - 10:05 am - Hot Topics in Consumer Litigation for 2020 
(1 Substantive Credit)
Presenter: Jason G. Wehrle, Esquire
Managing Partner Western Pennsylvania Office
Mintzer Sarowitz Zeris Ledva & Meyers, LLP

Jason Wehrle is the Managing Partner of the Western Pennsylvania office of Mintzer, Sarowitz, Zeris, Ledva & Meyers.  He concentrates his practice in commercial litigation, consumer litigation defense and professional liability defense.

Jason has lectured extensively on a variety of legal issues at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and for various credit and debt collection industry organizations. His broad practice experience includes commercial litigation, complex civil and construction litigation, real estate and commercial bankruptcy law, professional liability actions, including claims against attorneys and accountants, as well as director and officer liability claims. Other clients include debt collection agencies and debt buyers in matters arising from the application of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act and Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

Jason also has significant experience in handling diverse commercial matters such as restrictive covenant claims, unfair trade practices and wage payment and collection law claims. Additionally, he counsels businesses and professionals on implementation of compliance and risk management programs or other measures to help avoid, or at least limit, potential exposure to litigation.

10:05 am - 10:10 am - Break

10:10 am - 11:10 am - What’s Been Going on at the CFPB-Besides the Final Rules 
(1 Substantive Credit)
Presenter:  Joann Needleman, Esquire
Member; Leader Consumer Financial Services Regulatory & Compliance Practice Group
Clark Hill, PLC

Joann Needleman, Leader of the firm's Consumer Financial Services Regulatory & Compliance Practice Group, serves as a navigator to her clients seeking advice and guidance in the complex regulatory environment facing the financial services industry. She provides counsel, consultation, and litigation services to a wide array of financial institutions, law firms, credit reporting agencies, as well as venture capital firms looking to invest in the fin-tech space. A former member of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) Consumer Advisory Board.

Joann is the host of the podcast "Credit Ecosystem to Go: Curbside Thought Leadership for Financial Services." She is frequently quoted in American Banker and the Wall Street Journal for her insight of the CFPB. Joann is the immediate past President of the Board of Directors of the National Creditors Bar Association (NCBA).

11:10 am - 11:15 am - Break

11:15 am - 12:15 pm - Collecting from Clients:  Fee Agreements and AR Management for Debt Collectors 
(1 Ethics Credit)
Presenter:  James Valecko, Esquire
Managing Partner Pittsburgh Office
Weltman, Weinberg & Reis, Co., L.P.A

James "Jim" P. Valecko is a Shareholder who manages the firm’s Pittsburgh office. He practices in commercial collections and consumer bankruptcy, and has been a panel speaker for various professional groups on topics related to creditors’ rights, collections and bankruptcy. He is AV® Preeminent™ Rated by Marindale-Hubbell, its highest available rating for legal ability and professional ethics. He is a member of the Washington County Bar Association.

Mr. Valecko received his J.D. mangna cum laude and Order of the Coif from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law, and a B.A. summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa in political science and English from Washington & Jefferson College. He is licensed in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and previously in Illinois (currently inactive), and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District for the Northern District of Ohio; the Northern District of Ohio; the Northern District of Illinois; and the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Pennsylvania.

12:15 pm - 1:15 pm - Lunch

1:15 pm - 2:15 pm - A Bankruptcy Storm May be Brewing; What to know and how to prepare?  
(1 Substantive Credit)
Presenter:  Keri Ebeck, Esquire
Partner
Bernstein Buckley

Keri Ebeck is a partner in the Bankruptcy & Restructuring practice group of Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a Partner, she handles commercial, consumer, and real estate bankruptcy matters, as well as she is the co-manager of the bankruptcy group.  Keri is the past Chair of the Allegheny County Bar Association Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section, which is responsible for studying bankruptcy and commercial law and informing its members of proposed changes to related legislation. Keri is currently servicing as the Vice Chair of the Finance and Investment Committees for the Allegheny County Bar Association.

A member of the American Legal & Financial Network (ALFN), Keri was awarded the 2017 JPEG: Picture the Future Award, which recognizes stand-out young professionals for their achievements and commitment to the mortgage servicing industry. She is a member of the ALFN’s Bankruptcy and Women in Legal Leadership Committees and is a member of Legal League 100.

Keri is also a member and the finance committee chair of the Judith K. Fitzgerald Western Pennsylvania Bankruptcy American Inn of Court and a member of the Turnaround Management Association. She is licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Pennsylvania; the U.S. District Court of New Jersey; the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio; the U.S. District Courts of Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana; the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas; the Third Circuit Court of Appeals; and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Keri has spoken on bankruptcy and collection topics nationally at the ALFN Answers annual conference as well as ALFN’s Bankruptcy conference since 2013. Keri also speaks, plans sessions and moderates regularly for the Allegheny County Bar Association, NBI and Pennsylvania Bar Institute on bankruptcy, collections and repossessions. Keri has also presented several on site client seminars as well as hosted webinars for clients, prospective clients and industry representatives on bankruptcy and collections. Keri was recently recognized in the 2020 edition of Pennsylvania Best Lawyers for Bankruptcy and 2020 Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers List.

Keri is an active volunteer with Make-A-Wish Foundation, Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia Chapter.

2:15 pm - 2:20 pm - Break