Ohio Ag Law Symposium addresses growing area of law practice

Supreme Court Justice Paul Pfeifer will speak at the third annual Ohio Agricultural Law Symposium, sponsored by Ohio State University and the Ohio State Bar Association.

"More and more attorneys are recognizing the need to obtain expertise in the laws that affect food and agricultural production," says Peggy Hall of Ohio State’s Agricultural and Resource Law Program. The program will take place on Friday, Sept. 17, 2010, at the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center on Ohio State’s campus in Columbus. "Attorneys can come for the legal education and stay for the Ohio football battle," Hall said. Ohio State plays at home against Ohio University on Sept. 18.

Pfeifer headlines the symposium. Pfeifer, who grew up on a farm and is still involved in farming, will provide an update on Ohio court cases that relate to agriculture. Joining him on the program will be Jesse Richardson, a professor at Virginia Tech and research and policy adviser to the Water Resources Council in Washington, D.C., who will cover current issues in water law.

"Water use and water rights have increasing relevance to Ohio agriculture," Hall said. "Professor Richardson’s knowledge will prepare us for the water conflicts we’re facing in Ohio."

Energy production is another current issue on the agenda. Duane Siekman, CEO of the Ohio Corn Growers and Ohio Wheat Growers associations, will summarize current trends in energy production and discuss implications for Ohio agriculture. Tony Logan, state director for U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, will review rural development programs and initiatives.

The symposium will also help attorneys understand legal needs in the growing areas of local food production and sustainable agriculture. Jill Clark of Ohio State’s Center for Farmland Policy Innovation will share an overview of the local food and farming landscape in Ohio.

Rounding out the program will be a session on identifying and proving damages in agricultural litigation with David Pennington and Robert Moore of Wright Law Company, LPA; a panel discussion on building an agricultural law practice with David Pryor of Gallagher Gams Pryor Tallan and Littrell, LLP and Greg Flax of Baker and Hostetler, LLP;and a second session by Richardson on ethical issues when working with farm families. Ohio State’s Peggy Hall, director of the Agricultural and Resource Law Program, will wrap up the day with a summary of legal issues raised by undercover operations on the farm.

Law students may apply for a scholarship to attend the symposium at no cost through Ohio State’s Paul L. Wright Endowment Fund in Agricultural Law.

For more information, visit http://ebiz.ohiobar.org/pd.asp?pid12257 or contact Peggy Hall at aglaw@osu.edu.