Dates: May 2021
Location: Hosted Online
The Steering Committee welcomes 48 highly qualified trial lawyers and senior in-house counsel, personally selected from across the United States, to discuss representing corporations and individuals in white-collar crime related matters.
Using candid, seminar-style discussions at this annual meeting, the group examines the most pressing issues faced in white-collar crime and enforcement, including internal investigations, trial tactics and war stories. Participants learn how others address these problems and identify practical solutions that can work for them.
This elite group, comprised of experts in the field, personally nominates all invitees and develops the Agenda, which forms the basis of our discussions.
EDWARD J. CASTAING, JR. graduated from Tulane Law School in 1971. He worked as an associate with Montgomery, Barnett, Brown, and Read (now Montgomery Barnett, L.L.P.) in the real estate and corporate section. Looking for the opportunity to become a trial attorney and, particularly, to work with the esteemed F. Irvin Dymond (1914-1998), Mr. Castaing joined the firm of Dymond and Crull in 1975. His present firm, Crull, Castaing & Lilly, Pan American Life Center, 601 Poydras Street, Suite 2323, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130, (504) 581-7700, is the successor to Mr. Dymond’s original firm.
Mr. Castaing has practiced extensively in the area of criminal law, personal injury, and commercial litigation. He has tried numerous federal white-collar criminal cases, state and federal drug offenses, and all other state criminal cases. Mr. Castaing has represented corporate and individual clients before federal grand juries, and many who faced federal investigations for fraud, criminal tax, environmental violations, antitrust and business crimes of all types. He successfully defended an attorney in the Government’s criminal case against former Governor Edwin Edwards, Commissioner of Insurance for the State of Louisiana, Jim Brown, and that attorney, in Baton Rouge (September 18 -October 11, 2000); and, another attorney, in the federal criminal tax prosecution against him, which was successfully defended in May 2005. Mr. Castaing was also the successful defense attorney in the celebrated first-degree murder case of State of Louisiana v. Anthony Keko, which was tried in Plaquemines Parish in 1993. The Keko trial and Mr. Castaing’s role in it were the subject of a British Broadcasting Corporation special, which aired on the Arts and Entertainment channel in the United States and England, and were also featured on the ABC Evening News, in an ABC News special program, and the CBS program, “60 Minutes”. Mr. Keko was set free.Mr. Castaing also represented a registered nurse arrested for four counts of second-degree murder in the highly publicized euthanasia investigation conducted by the Louisiana Attorney General following Hurricane Katrina, which involved allegations of euthanizing patients in Memorial Hospital while New Orleans was flooded. The State’s investigation was concluded without criminal charges.
Mr. Castaing has been a member of the adjunct faculty of Tulane Law School, teaching trial advocacy since the inception of the program in 1977, through the present. Since 2007, he has served as co-Director of the Trial Advocacy Program. He also has taught undergraduate pre-law and business law courses at the University of New Orleans and Tulane University. Mr. Castaing has lectured at the following CLE programs:
New Orleans Bar Association, 12/19/19, “Masters of the Courtroom –Closing Arguments”; Louisiana State Bar Association, 12/11/19, “CLE Unwrapped”; Louisiana State Bar Association, 11/17/18, “New York, New York”; Jefferson Bar Association, 3/29/17 –4/1/17, “30thAnnual CLE by the Sea”; Louisiana State Bar Association, 12/5/16, “Motions! Motions! Motions!”;11/17/12, “Business Crimes,” in New York, New York; Louisiana State Bar Association, 11/23/09, “Avoiding a White Collar Indictment”, New York, New York; Louisiana State Bar Association, 11/20/09, “Fraud: Commercial Litigation in the Criminal Context”; Jefferson Bar Association, “Avoiding Becoming a White-Collar Defendant”, 3/30/07; Jefferson Bar Association, “White Collar Crime”, 4/1/04; American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section, Environmental Crimes, Enforcement for Criminal and Civil Practitioners, 1/30/04; Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, “Defending Wiretaps, 12/5/03; National Business Institute, “Criminal Defense Litigation in Louisiana,” 3/14/97; and New Orleans Bar Association, “Evidence and Experts,” 12/23/96. He was a frequent guest speaker on the New Orleans Bar Association television program, “It’s the Law”.
Mr. Castaingorganized, chaired and has been the moderator for the Louisiana State Bar Association CLE Program, “White Collar Crime Symposium”, held in 2009-2020, and here in after and continuing, an annual in-depth seminar on white collar crime, featuring highly recognized experts in this field.
Mr. Castaing attended, and will attend, by invitation, the “Forum on Corporate Enforcement,” in 2012-2020, conducted by and for a limited number of federal white-collar defense counsel on the national level, and serves on the Planning Committee.
Mr. Castaing was a member of the Merit Selection Panel for U.S. Magistrate Judge, Nov. 1994-Jan., 1995; and, again, for the re-appointment of twootherU.S. Magistrate Judges, in 2014; as appointed by the Judges of the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Mr. Castaing is also a member, Advisory Board, VOA Comprehensive Sanction Center (Half-way House) from 1994-present.
Mr. Castaing is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. He has been AV rated by Martindale Hubbell since September 1983 and is recognized by Super Lawyers for white collar criminal defense, and by similar groups.
Mr. Castaing is a member of the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, American Association of Justice, Louisiana Association for Justice, The American Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, and New Orleans Bar Association.
Kristina is a graduate of the University of Toronto and is accredited as a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), a globally recognized badge of excellence in the meeting and event industry. Prior to joining Cambridge Forums, Kristina worked for the Toronto International Film Festival where she successfully planned and hosted events for high-level donors, corporate clients and film stars. Outside the office, Kristina is passionate about learning new things, being outdoors, trying new cuisines and exploring the world one country at a time.
Built on genuine interactions and long-lasting connections, the Forum is a unique opportunity for practical discussions between senior outside and in-house counsel considered the preeminent leaders in white-collar crime and enforcement.
“The Forum has evolved over these years from a wonderful and invigorating discussion of the cutting edge issues in our practice into a network of friends and confidantes. The high level of engagement produces a stimulating learning environment. I love this conference. It is the only one I truly enjoy and look forward to every year.”
Nanci Clarence Clarence Dyer & Cohen LLP San Francisco, CA"Highest and most sophisticated group of lawyers who defend corporations (and individuals) from governmental criminal investigations and parallel proceedings who network and exchange knowledge and ideas. The Forum helps inform my knowledge of the area in which I practice on a national basis and keeps me up to date. The distinguishing factor and what makes this group different and significant is that it is a small group so you have a chance to meet and talk to everyone. You also have the ability to ask questions and cross pollinate with others like yourself."
Pauline F. Hardin Jones Walker LLP New Orleans, LA"I have attended many conferences over the years, but the Forum is truly unique because it demands participation in a small group format and the content is rich and highly advanced. Best conference by far."
Joshua Levy Ropes & Gray LLP Boston, MA"The Forum is the best opportunity I know of to discuss recurring issues in my practice with others who have experience with these issues, and in a setting that is conducive to interaction with colleagues."
Shaun Clarke Smyser Kaplan & Veselka Houston, TXHear how our participants describe the practical benefits of our forums.
Senior Forum Director