Essentials of Contracts in Virginia

Transactional lawyers have as many specialties as there are areas of law, but have at least two things in common: a necessary mastery of contracts, and a dislike of litigation (something has gone wrong …). Using borrowed examples and hoping for the best, it is possible to get by, but isn’t it better to understand the essentials of the law of contracts completely? And while no one relishes repeating first-year contract law, spending just two hours refreshing your knowledge may be enough.

Carrie O’Malley and Mark Loftis are recognized throughout the state for their expertise in this area. With decades of experience between them, they’ve literally written the book on these topics: the written materials for the seminar will be the chapters they authored for the Virginia CLE^® handbook Contract Law in Virginia (upcoming 2019 edition). Both are dynamic and engaging speakers, and have successfully presented many seminars related to contracts and contract law. If you’re new to this practice area, or are an old hand, you’re bound to learn something new and useful.

Among the topics they’ll discuss will be:

• Formation of Contracts
  • Mutual assent
  • Mechanics of assent: Offer and acceptance
  • Consideration
  • Contracts without consideration
  • Seal and other Virginia formalities
• Miscellaneous
  • Statute of Frauds
  • Parol evidence rule
  • Assignment of rights
  • Delegation of duties
  • Drafting techniques
• Remedies for Breach of Contract
  • Election of remedies
  • Damages
  • Contractual provisions limiting or waiving rights
  • Specific performance
  • Injunctions
  • Rescission
  • Restitution
  • Reformation
  • Declaratory judgments
  • Indemnity

Cancellation Policy: Cancellation/transfer requests will be honored until 5:00 p.m. the day preceding the seminar. You will, however, be charged $40 if you cancel or transfer your registration to a different seminar after the link to the materials has been e-mailed by Virginia CLE.

Full refunds or transfers are available up to two days after a webcast in the unlikely event that you experience technical difficulties.

Inclement Weather Policy and Updates.

COURSE SCHEDULE (August 6) (Eastern Time)

• Sign-in for live seminar attendees in Charlottesville begins at 11:30 a.m.
• Q&A will be handled via chat room for Webcast attendees.
• Q&A will be handled via e-mail for telephone seminar attendees.

COURSE SCHEDULE (August 20) (Eastern Time)

• Q&A will be handled via chat room for Webcast attendees.
• Q&A will be handled via e-mail for telephone seminar attendees.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Mark D. Loftis, Woods Rogers PLC / Roanoke
As chairman of his firm’s Litigation Section, Mark Loftis practices primarily in the areas of product liability, commercial litigation, and insurance coverage litigation. He has extensive experience representing product manufacturers, product retailers, and utility companies in litigation matters in both state and federal courts. He frequently writes and lectures on warranty, contract, and technology law issues. Mr. Loftis has served as president of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, the leading statewide bar organization for attorneys dedicated to the defense of civil actions, and is a Fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation. An experienced trial lawyer who has tried numerous cases to verdict, Mr. Loftis also is listed in Best Lawyers in America and by Chambers & Partners as one of Virginia’s leading commercial litigators. He is a graduate of Georgetown University and received his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. His pro bono work includes serving as the chancellor of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia.

Carrie Hallberg O'Malley, Hirschler Fleisher, P.C. / Fredericksburg
Carrie H. O’Malley began her practice in the firm’s Hirschler Fleischer’s Commercial Real Estate and Finance Section in the fall of 1996.  With over 20 years of legal and business experience in commercial real estate transactions, Ms. O’Malley concentrates her practice on complex real estate acquisitions, sales, financings and securitizations; loan portfolio acquisitions, sales, and servicing transactions; commercial leasing matters, §1031 like-kind exchanges; loan workouts; defeasances and telecommunications law.  Ms. O’Malley received her law degree from the T.C. Williams School of Law and her Master’s in Business Administration from the Richard S. Reynolds Graduate School of Business at the University of Richmond (a four-year joint degree program), which she completed after only three years of study.  Ms. O’Malley has been recognized among the “Legal Elite” by Virginia Business magazine (2006–2011, 2013–2014) and has been named a “Legal Rising Star” by Law & Politics (2007 and 2009). In 2009, she received the Women of Distinction Award in Law from the Girl Scout Commonwealth Council of Virginia, and in 2010 she was selected by Virginia Lawyers Media as one of the “Influential Women of Virginia.”