The Convergence Law Institute uses a diverse
set of tools. Depending on the topic, the audience, and the situation, our capabilities
include:
Practicing Law
We are lawyers, and, working through Kamlet Shepherd Reichert LLP, we conduct
legal analysis and provide legal representation.
Amicus briefs
An effective amicus brief does not focus on the purely legal dimensions of
a case - that is the job of the parties. An amicus brief should put the controversy
in its context and explain why one party should win as a matter of good public
policy, leaving it to the party itself to argue why the law supports this result.
This truth has particular force in Supreme Court practice. Filing an amicus
brief at the certiorari stage is far more important than filing on the merits,
and at the cert stage the policy issues are absolutely crucial.
Comments to Regulatory Agencies
Many advocates regard a comment to an agency as the equivalent of a litigation
brief. This is error, because the rules of effectiveness are quite different.
James V. DeLong's article "How to Convince an Agency" has been used
as teaching material in courses at the Yale Law School and Carnegie Mellon School
of Management.
Testimony to Congressional Committees
CLI staff members are veteran witnesses before the U.S. Congress.
Analytic Policy Papers
CLI staff members have written on a broad array of public policy issues, and
are skilled at merging the legal/policy/economic/political dimensions of a problem
into a coherent analysis.
Public Advocacy and Outreach
CLI staff members are also experienced writers of opeds, journal articles, blogs,
e-zine comments, and short papers designed to drive home an argument. We have
participated in many panels, made speeches, appeared on numerous radio and television
programs, and been interviewed and quoted by reporters on numerous occasions.
We have lists of people interested in particular topics, which gives us an
ability to reach the various echo chambers that are important to debates over
policy.
Websites
We have created both the main Convergence Law Institute website and a subsidiary site, Intellectual Property Switchboard. These serve as vehicles for distributing our work and participating in public discussion.
Coalition Building with Think Tanks and Academia
We have worked extensively in and with think tanks and academicians, and can
use these connections to marshal support on particular issues.
Events
We can sponsor events of all kinds, ranging from brown bag lunches to full-dress
seminars and conferences.
International Expertise
International issues are crucial to most industries, and their importance
can only grow. Our recent travels include Brussels, Milan, Prague, Rio de Janiero,
Sao Paulo, Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Hanoi, Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lampur,
and Jakarta.
Areas of Substantive Expertise
We work on telecommunications; the internet; intellectual property policy,
including patent reform; competition law and policy; energy; financial regulation.
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