IMLA

2025 Employment Law Program
2025-05-29 08:00 - 2025-05-30 17:00 (America/New_York)
Employment Law Program
May 29-30, 2025
Virtual

False Claims Webinar
2025-06-03 13:00 - 14:00
Navigating the False Claims Act: Compliance and Litigation
On January 21, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order entitled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” (the EO). In that EO, the head of every agency was directed to include a term requiring any party to a contract or grant with the federal government certify that it does not “operate any programs promoting DEI that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws” and the grantee must agree that its “compliance in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws is material to the government’s payment decision” for the purposes of the False Claims Act. This webinar will explore legal issues surrounding the False Claims Act.
Key topics include:

Overview of the Executive Order (EO) and its implications
The False Claims Act (FCA) and its role in enforcement actions
Authority interpreting materiality requirements in similar contexts
The Baltimore case and its latest developments
Legal challenges to implementation and potential defenses
Historical support for similar programs in federal legislation, regulations, and court decisions

Speaker: Scott Crouch

DEI Working Group Call
2025-06-04 15:00 - 16:00
If you care to take part in this call, please email amorris@imla.org.

Ethics Webinar
2025-06-05 13:00 - 14:00
Ethics of Good Governance: Europe’s 12 Principles of Good Democratic Governance as Applied in the U.S.
American cities can adopt a fresh perspective on evaluating their overall performance by considering Europe’s 12 Principles of Good Democratic Governance. As municipal attorneys, understanding these principles can enhance ethical standards and further democracy at the local level. This webinar will explore how these principles align with the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and their application in governance. Key topics include:

Responsiveness: ABA Model Rule 1.4
Efficiency & Effectiveness: ABA Model Rule 1.15
Openness & Transparency: ABA Model Rule 1.6
Rule of Law: ABA Model Rules – Preamble
Ethical Conduct: ABA Model Rule 1.7
Competence & Capacity: ABA Model Rule 1.1
Innovation & Openness to Change: ABA Ethics Ops. 477R & 495

Speaker: Alan Bojorquez

Homelessness Working Group Call
2025-06-05 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-07-03 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-08-07 14:00 - 15:00
If you care to take part in this call, please email cstorer@imla.org.

Federal Funding Call
2025-06-05 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-06-19 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-03 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-17 15:00 - 16:00

Early Bird Rates for the Annual Conference End
2025-06-06
2025 IMLA 90th Annual Conference
New Orleans, Louisiana: Wednesday, Friday, October 17 – Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Hilton New Orleans Riverside
Click here to learn more about the conference.

Immigration Working Group Call
2025-06-11 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-06-25 14:00 - 15:00

World Cup Working Group Call
2025-06-11 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-07-09 14:00 - 15:00

Airport Law Webinar
2025-06-12 13:00 - 14:00
Navigating Changes to Nondiscrimination and Immigration Enforcement Requirements In Revised FAA Grant Agreement Template and Airport Sponsor Grant Assurances
FAA’s recent revisions to the Airport Sponsor Grant Assurances and grant agreement template form have raised questions from recipients of FAA grant funding regarding the legal implications of entering into new FAA grant agreements and potential retroactivity of the new requirements. Some of the recent changes appear to be designed to implement provisions of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, and can be understood by reference to the Act. However, several changes to the requirements regarding immigration laws and nondiscrimination laws are confusingly worded and may conflict with local, state, and federal laws and policies, in particular municipal and state DEI and sanctuary laws and policies.
This program, Presented by Slone Isselhard and Kirsten Crawford of Kaplan Kirsch LLP, will provide an overview of the changes to immigration and DEI laws and policies in the new FAA grant agreement template and Grant Assurances and the legal implications of such changes, particularly in light of the April 24, 2025 letter to DOT grant recipients issued by Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy. The discussion will include how “illegal DEI” and “cooperation” with ICE may be interpreted, the current state of the law on DEI and sanctuary laws and policies, and how grant recipients have challenged these and similar grant conditions during the Trump administration’s current and preceding term for violation of the U.S. Constitution and Administrative Procedures Act.
Speaker: Kirsten Crawford & Slone Isselhard

Land Use Webinar
2025-06-24 13:00 - 14:00
Land Use Law 101
Join experienced land use and local government law practitioner David Warner in this webinar as he explores property rights, regulation of private property, planning, zoning, subdivisions and other modern legal issues in land use law. For those new to land use law, this is a primer on the up-to-date basics you need to know to spot issues and to determine the appropriate course of action. For the experienced practitioner, this presentation not only serves as a refresher course, but also includes new points of law that have developed in recent years, which impact the basics.
Speaker: David Warner

2025 Construction Law Program
2025-06-26 08:30 - 18:30
Construction Law Program
Thursday, June 26, 2025
Providence, Rhode Island
City of Providence Law Department at 444 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903
Join us at IMLA’s Construction Law Program for a day of sessions designed to earn CLE credits and enhance your expertise in construction law. Enjoy a continental breakfast, refreshments during breaks, lunch, and a closing reception as part of this program. Hosted at the City of Providence Law Department, this is an opportunity to connect with peers and gain valuable knowledge!
Bonus: All program registrants will receive access to a free ethics CLE webinar that IMLA will be hosting.

Code Enforcement Working Group Call
2025-06-30 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-28 15:00 - 16:00

Affordable Housing Webinar
2025-07-01 13:00 - 14:00
Accessory Dwelling Units: The Key to Unlocking Affordable Housing
This webinar focuses on Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) policy in Denton and Texas, with comparative insights from other states to highlight varying regulatory approaches and outcomes. Topics include the benefits and potential drawbacks of promoting ADU development, as well as impacts on neighborhoods, infrastructure, and housing affordability. The session also examines community sentiment, infill development opportunities, and trends in actual ADU construction by homeowners.
This presentation addresses both practical and legal considerations related to ADU implementation.
Speaker: Hilary McMahon

Construction Law Webinar
2025-07-08 13:00 - 14:00
Land Use, Zoning, and Affordable Housing: Current Policy and Practice
The affordability, availability, and accessibility of housing remains a critical issue across the US. New England states have not been spared in this equation. Recent state legislative action indicates an appetite for change which could spur long-needed construction and development. In this session, leading experts will discuss: the successes and challenges of state-level zoning requirements, balancing local and state control and the impact of state control on home rule, and the potential for federal action. Other state-level efforts for the planning and financing needed to activate housing choice will also be discussed.
Speaker: Katie Hodgon, Donna Brewer & Jennifer Raitt

Voting Rights Webinar
2025-07-10 13:00 - 14:00
Proof of Citizenship and Other Election Proposals Impacting Voter Access
This webinar examines key aspects of voting access and election administration in Arizona, focusing on proof of citizenship requirements and proposed changes to early voting procedures. The session will provide an overview of how Arizona enforces citizenship verification for voter registration, contrasted with current federal legislation and legal standards. It will also explore legislative proposals aimed at reducing the early voting period to expedite election result reporting, alongside concerns raised by voter rights advocates about potential disenfranchisement.
Speaker: Christina Werther

Grant Terminations and DEI Webinar
2025-07-15 13:00 - 14:00
Navigating the New Legal Landscape in President Trump’s Second Term: DEI, Federal Funding, and Litigation Related to Contract and Grant Termination
The second Trump administration has ushered in sweeping changes to federal policy on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), fundamentally altering the compliance landscape for municipalities, public agencies, and their partners. Through a series of executive orders, the administration has mandated the termination of DEI-related programs, contracts, and grants, and has introduced new certification requirements tying federal funding to strict compliance with anti-discrimination laws as interpreted by the current administration. These actions have triggered a wave of litigation, with courts across the country grappling with constitutional, statutory, and administrative challenges to the mass termination of federal funding and the imposition of new contract conditions.
This webinar will provide municipal lawyers with an overview of:

The key executive orders driving the rollback of DEI initiatives, including the termination of “equity-related” grants and contracts, and the new requirements for DEI certifications in federal agreements.
The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Fraud Initiative and the increased use of the False Claims Act to investigate and potentially penalize entities alleged to be in violation of the administration’s interpretation of civil rights laws.
Recent federal grant and contract terminations and the resulting legal challenges to the validity of these executive actions under the Administrative Procedure Act, including an overview of key cases.
The jurisdictional complexities of challenging federal grant and contract terminations, including the interplay between district courts and the Court of Federal Claims, and the implications for seeking injunctive or monetary relief.
Practical impacts for municipalities, including the risk of funding loss, program disruption, and increased litigation exposure, as well as strategies for compliance, risk mitigation, and advocacy.

Attendees will gain timely insights into the current and emerging legal risks associated with DEI programming and federal funding, as well as contract and grant termination litigation and related best practices for those navigating this rapidly changing environment. The session will be especially valuable for municipal attorneys advising on federal grants, contracts, civil rights compliance, and public policy.
Speaker: Dominique Casimir & Sara Gerber

Artificial Intelligence Webinar – Free Live For IMLA Members
2025-07-17 13:00 - 14:00
Ethical Legal Research with Generative AI

Sponsored by LexisNexis.
CLE available to Kitchen Sink Subscribers and in some cases to others but fees may apply.
This CLE presentation is for legal professionals who want a better understanding of the intersection between generative AI and legal ethics. Beginning with a foundational overview of AI and its generative capabilities, participants will explore the ethical implications as outlined by the American Bar Association (ABA) model rules. Key topics include maintaining competency (Rule 1.1), ensuring confidentiality (Rule 1.6), and effective supervision (Rule 5.1) in the context of AI use.
The course will also address potential sanctions for unethical AI practices and provide insights into the application of AI in legal research tools, emphasizing ethical principles and considerations. Participants will engage in discussions on specific ethical issues such as AI hallucinations, supervisory concerns, and confidentiality challenges.
The course concludes with a review of ethical AI use policies within law firms and an open discussion to consolidate learning and address participant queries. This course is designed to equip legal professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to ethically integrate AI into their practice.
After completing this course, you will:

Have a better understanding of Extractive and Generative AI
Be familiar with legal use cases for AI
Know how the ABA model rules are being applied to AI
Be able to draft an ethical law firm AI use policy
Be prepared to protect client data and work quality while taking advantage of AI

Speaker: Lisa Richardson

Small/Rural Communities Working Group Call
2025-07-21 14:00 - 15:00

2025 Section 1983 Program
2025-07-24 08:00 - 2025-07-25 17:00
Section 1983 Program
July 24-25, 2025
Virtual

LGLC Supreme Court Review for Local Governments: 2024-2025 - This is not an IMLA Webinar
2025-07-28 13:00 - 14:00
Supreme Court Review for Local Governments: 2024-2025

This is NOT an IMLA webinar and CLE will not be offered.
Kitchen Sink Subscribers will need to register for this program, it will not be automatically sent.
Hosted by the Local Government Legal Center (LGLC), join legal experts in a discussion of the Supreme Court’s important decisions of the term impacting local governments. The Supreme Court heard several monumental cases this Term, including cases related to:

Public safety. These include regulations pertaining to “ghost guns” and law enforcement’s use of force and the “moment of threat” doctrine
The environment. These include the Clean Water Act and NPDES permit requirements as well as requirements under NEPA.
Employment law. These include majority group discrimination, FLSA claims, and claims relating to post-employment retiree benefits.
Nationwide or universal injunctions (which has direct implications for current litigation regarding grant funding and grant conditions)

The LGLC is a coalition of national local government organizations formed in 2023 by the National Association of Counties (NACo), National League of Cities (NLC) and International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA) to provide education to local governments regarding the Supreme Court and its impact on local governments and local officials and to advocate for local government positions at the Supreme Court in appropriate cases. Visit the Local Government Legal Center to learn more.
Speaker: Luke McCloud & Amanda Karras

Municipal Finance Webinar
2025-08-05 13:00 - 14:00
Fundamentals of Municipal Finance and Borrowing
Municipal attorneys are often asked, “Can we do this?”, when “this” relates to getting, spending, and borrowing money by their municipal clients. This session will consider the essential legal issues attendant to that question. We will discuss basic constitutional issues like public purpose, corporate purpose, and lending of the public credit; the theoretical distinction between taxes and fees; the legal ramifications of that distinction; and other limitations on the ways that municipalities can get and spend money. We will also briefly consider the role and types of municipal borrowing. Because the laws vary widely from state to state, the session will focus on issue spotting and general questions that the municipal attorney should consider when asked financial questions.
Speaker: Eric Shytle
