Brief Encounters

D.C. Bar Communities Office

Listen in for exclusive interviews and conversations with D.C. Bar members and guests about hot topics! To learn more about D.C. Bar Communities, join a community, and/or register for upcoming programs, visit www.dcbar.org/communities Presented by the D.C. Bar Communities Podcast Network. Other network channels include "The Tea on International Arbitration" with the D.C. Bar International Law Community (anchor.fm/DCBarTea) and "Let's Brief It" with the D.C. Bar Law Student Community (anchor.fm/DCLSC). Theme Music: "If" by Broke for Free

  1. 3D AGO

    Securities Regulation and Enforcement Series: Redefining Retirement: New Rules, New Opportunities

    In this Season 3 episode, co-hosts A. Valerie Mirko, Partner at Armstrong Teasdale LLP and leader of the firm’s Securities Regulation and Litigation Practice, and William Nelson, Director of Public Policy and Associate General Counsel at the Investment Adviser Association, are joined by Kendra Isaacson, Partner at Mindset, for an in-depth discussion of major policy developments reshaping retirement savings. Kendra is a leading voice on retirement policy, bringing deep experience from her time as Pensions Policy Director for the Senate HELP Committee, at the Department of Labor, and in the private sector. During this episode, she breaks down the DOL’s proposal to expand use of alternative investments in certain retirement accounts, exploring the regulatory rationale, potential benefits, and compliance considerations. The conversation also covers broader efforts to expand access to retirement savings, including recently introduced federal legislation and the Administration’s newly announced IRA marketplace. Together, Valerie, William and Kendra examine how these initiatives could alter the retirement landscape for investors, advisers, and plan sponsors. This episode is a must-listen for securities lawyers, compliance professionals, regulators, and anyone navigating today’s rapidly evolving regulatory landscape. Recent Past Episodes of this Series: A New Enforcement Era and the Potential Coming Wave of SEC Rulemaking (4/22/2026) ⁠Congress Puts the SROs Under the Microscope: SEC Oversight, Transparency, and Reform⁠ (3/18/2026) ⁠⁠Congress Puts the SEC Under the Microscope: Accountability, Due Process, and Reform⁠⁠ (2/11/2026) ⁠⁠⁠A Study in Contrasts: Innovation and Crypto versus the Crypto Fraud Landscape⁠⁠⁠ (1/21/2026) ⁠⁠⁠⁠A Year of Change, Challenges, and What Comes Next⁠⁠⁠⁠ (12/17/2025) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠When Washington Stops: What the 2025 Shutdown Means for the SEC and Congress Going Forward⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (11/19/2025) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The SEC’s New Direction: Enforcement and Governance in Focus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (10/22/25) Please note, the positions and opinions expressed by the speakers are strictly their own, and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, nor those of the D.C. Bar, its Board of Governors or co-sponsoring Communities and organizations.

    25 min

  2. MAY 6

    The 0.1 Reset: Why Breath is the Attorney’s Most Underutilized Tool

    Breathwork expert Lauren Watkins from Breath is Medicine joins the D.C. Bar's Lawyer Well-Being Community to bridge the gap between high-stakes legal advocacy and physiological regulation. She shares simple, science-backed breathing techniques designed to help attorneys handle intensity, regulate their state, and reclaim mental clarity without leaving their desks. Want more well-being content? Join us for our remote program, the Annual Well-Being Summit TOMORROW, May 7! It's Free! Please note, the positions and opinions expressed by the speakers are strictly their own, and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, nor those of the D.C. Bar, its Board of Governors or co-sponsoring Communities and organizations.

    21 min

  3. APR 29

    DC LAW DAY: Democracy and Dialogue - A Consul General’s Perspective on the Rule of Law

    To mark this D.C. Law Day on May 1, Brief Encounters, the podcast of the D.C. Bar Communities Office, features a conversation between Tamara Kraljic, Counsel at Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP and incoming Treasurer of the Women’s Bar Association of D.C., and Dr. Annette Weerth, Consul General and Legal Adviser at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Washington, D.C. In this episode, they explore what diplomacy looks like beyond treaties and formal channels—from fostering transatlantic legal dialogue and engaging with lawyers, courts, and civil society, to convening candid, small circle discussions on accountability, judicial independence, and the rule of law. Dr. Weerth also reflects on the importance of sub national and informal diplomacy in times when traditional diplomatic pathways might be tested, and on the essential role lawyers and law play in supporting democratic institutions, peace and stability both domestically and across borders. Please note, the positions and opinions expressed by the speakers are strictly their own, and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, nor those of the D.C. Bar, its Board of Governors or co-sponsoring Communities and organizations.

    37 min

  4. APR 22

    Securities Regulation and Enforcement Series: A New Enforcement Era and the Potential Coming Wave of SEC Rulemaking

    In this Season 3 episode, co-hosts Valerie Mirko, Partner at Armstrong Teasdale LLP and leader of the firm’s Securities Regulation and Litigation Practice, and William Nelson, Director of Public Policy and Associate General Counsel at the Investment Adviser Association, break down a timely set of regulatory and legislative developments shaping today’s securities landscape. Valerie and William discuss the recent appointment of David Woodcock as the SEC’s Director of Enforcement and how he is expected to continue Chairman Atkins’s focus on investor harm. Valerie also notes that, despite a recent lull in rulemaking and few open meetings, there could be an “Atkins avalanche” of regulatory activity, with as many as two dozen rules proposed during his tenure. They further explore Chairman Atkins’s recent speeches, in which he has suggested the SEC may codify certain existing no-action guidance through formal rulemaking. William also previews next month’s episode, which will cover the Department of Labor’s recent rule that could allow retirement plans to invest more heavily in alternative assets such as private equity and digital assets. This episode is a must-listen for securities lawyers, compliance professionals, regulators, and anyone navigating today’s rapidly evolving regulatory landscape. Recent Past Episodes of this Series: Congress Puts the SROs Under the Microscope: SEC Oversight, Transparency, and Reform (3/18/2026) ⁠Congress Puts the SEC Under the Microscope: Accountability, Due Process, and Reform⁠ (2/11/2026) ⁠⁠A Study in Contrasts: Innovation and Crypto versus the Crypto Fraud Landscape⁠⁠ (1/21/2026) ⁠⁠⁠A Year of Change, Challenges, and What Comes Next⁠⁠⁠ (12/17/2025) ⁠⁠⁠⁠When Washington Stops: What the 2025 Shutdown Means for the SEC and Congress Going Forward⁠⁠⁠⁠ (11/19/2025) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The SEC’s New Direction: Enforcement and Governance in Focus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (10/22/25) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠From Memecoins to Custody: What Firms Need to Know About Crypto⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (9/24/25) Please note, the positions and opinions expressed by the speakers are strictly their own, and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, nor those of the D.C. Bar, its Board of Governors or co-sponsoring Communities and organizations.

    19 min

  5. APR 15

    A Trajectory of U.S. Immigration at the Intersection of Immigration Policy and Rule of Law

    In this episode of Brief Encounters, host Joyce Williams is joined by former Appellate Immigration Judge Andrea Sáenz and former Immigration Judge Anam Rahman Petit for a timely conversation on U.S. immigration law at the intersection of policy and the rule of law. Together, they unpack judicial independence, detention and adjudication, and the shifting boundaries of asylum—offering an insider’s view of how these legal frameworks shape due process, access to protection, and the future of the immigration system. Please note, the positions and opinions expressed by the speakers are strictly their own, and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, nor those of the D.C. Bar, its Board of Governors or co-sponsoring Communities and organizations.

    34 min

  6. APR 8

    When Climate Change Hits Property Insurance Coverage: A Conversation with Alice Hill

    In this episode of Brief Encounters, Christina Bonanni, Counsel at Clean Energy Counsel interviews Alice C. Hill, the David M. Rubenstein Senior Fellow for Energy and Environment at the Council on Foreign Relations about the growing strain climate change is placing on the insurance market. Alice explains that the increasing frequency and severity of disasters, such as wildfires, floods, and storms, are making it more difficult for insurers to accurately price risk, leading to higher premiums, reduced coverage, or complete withdrawal from high-risk areas. These challenges are reshaping the property insurance landscape and raising fundamental questions about the long-term viability of traditional risk-spreading models. But with heightened awareness comes an opportunity to learn, innovate, and build resilience, starting at the community level and scaling upward, ultimately positioning society to not only respond to climate risks but to shape a more sustainable and prepared future. Please note, the positions and opinions expressed by the speakers are strictly their own, and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, nor those of the D.C. Bar, its Board of Governors or co-sponsoring Communities and organizations.

    38 min

  7. MAR 25

    A “Humanitarian” Gesture?:  Deserving and Undeserving Migrants Under India’s Amended Citizenship Law

    Join the leadership of the Subcommittee on Human Rights and Immigration (part of the D.C. Bar International Law Community) for a timely discussion of India’s Citizenship Amendment Act (the CAA), a law that expressly conditions migrants’ access to citizenship rights on their religious affiliation. Implemented in March 2024, the CAA threatens the country’s longstanding commitment to secularism and equality under the Indian Constitution. The law also magnifies existing tensions between religious communities through rendering certain individuals (primarily Muslims) legal and societal outsiders, or--to quote the law’s architects and supporters--“infiltrators.” To date, more than 200 constitutional challenges to the law are pending before India’s Supreme Court. Our guests are Aashish Yadav, a legal scholar who has published widely on citizenship and the related topic of statelessness in India, and Ankita M. Kumar, a journalist and documentary filmmaker whose short documentary, Far From Home, centers on an Afghan Muslim woman and her family who fled Afghanistan in early 2021 only to find themselves ineligible to naturalize in India or obtain resettlement in a third country. Resources:  "A new immigration law reflects India’s rising paranoia over the ‘undesirable outsider”’, Aashish Yadav with Angshuman Choudhury (The Indian Express, 23 May 2025)"CAA will not help persecuted Hindus, Sikhs from neighbouring countries", Aashish Yadav with Mohsin Alam Bhat (The Indian Express, 22 March 2024)"On the verge: Revocation and denial of citizenship in India", Aashish Yadav with Mohsin Alam Bhat (Emilien Fargues and Iseult Honohan (eds), Revocation of Citizenship: The New Policies of Conditional Membership, EUI Working Papers) ‘Seeking Refuge: The Story of Two Women I Know’, Ankita Kumar (Winner of the AFPC's Professional Excellence Award)Afghan Refugee Doc ‘Far From Home’ Adds Indian Thespian Naseeruddin Shah as Executive Producer in Oscar Push (Variety) Director Ankita Kumar on new documentary 'Far From Home' (The Afghanistan Project Podcast) "The Story Behind Far From Home Will Surprise You!" (American Documentary Film Festival)  Far From Home: Shedding Light On The Unseen Lives Of Afghan Refugees In India (Outlook India) Aashish Yadav is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Australia at the Melbourne Law School’s Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness focusing on nationality in the context of displacement caused by climate change disasters.  Aashish previously served as an Assistant Professor and Assistant Director of the Centre for Public Interest Law at the Jindal Global Law School in India, where he led India’s first clinic on statelessness.   Ankita M. Kumar is an Indian-origin journalist and documentary filmmaker based in the U.S.  She is the recipient of the SF Press Club award and the Professional Excellence Award from the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents (AFPC-USA). Her first film, Far from Home, a short documentary about Afghan refugees in India, has screened at the Academy award-qualifying American Documentary and Animation Film Festival and the Tasveer Film Festival.  Ankita is the founder of Akiray Pictures, a San Francisco-based production company.   Please note, the positions and opinions expressed by the speakers are strictly their own, and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, nor those of the D.C. Bar, its Board of Governors or co-sponsoring Communities and organizations.

    44 min

  8. MAR 18

    Securities Regulation and Enforcement Series – Congress Puts the SROs Under the Microscope: SEC Oversight, Transparency, and Reform

    In this Season 3 episode, co-hosts Valerie Mirko, Partner at Armstrong Teasdale LLP and leader of the firm’s Securities Regulation and Litigation Practice, and William Nelson, Director of Public Policy and Associate General Counsel at the Investment Adviser Association, break down a timely set of regulatory and legislative developments shaping today’s securities landscape. The episode celebrates Valerie recently testifying before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets at the March 5, 2026 hearing titled The Role of Self-Regulatory Organizations in U.S. Markets: Examining FINRA and the MSRB. The hearing explored the governance, accountability, and enforcement practices of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB), as well as broader questions about the effectiveness of the self-regulatory organization (SRO) framework. In her written testimony, Valerie outlined ten recommendations for reform, including strengthening SEC and board oversight of SRO governance, addressing fairness and due process concerns, eliminating inefficiencies and regulatory duplication, improving the SRO rulemaking process, and correcting weaknesses in FINRA’s arbitration system. Because SROs exercise significant delegated regulatory authority from the SEC, strong Commission oversight is essential to ensure accountability, transparency, and fairness in how that authority is exercised. In her oral testimony, Valerie specifically emphasized the importance of this delegated authority framework and the need for robust SEC oversight to ensure SROs remain accountable to the public interest. Valerie also spoke at length about due process and enforcement issues, as well as delegated authority in the securities industry. Valerie’s testimony builds on earlier thought leadership, including a white paper and supplemental letter she co-authored with Peter Chan on behalf of the Financial Services Institute recommending steps the SEC could take to prevent regulation by enforcement. Valerie and William also chat about some of the nuances of Congressional testimony generally and this hearing in particular. This episode is a must-listen for securities lawyers, compliance professionals, regulators, and anyone navigating today’s rapidly evolving regulatory landscape. Recent Past Episodes of this Series: Congress Puts the SEC Under the Microscope: Accountability, Due Process, and Reform (2/11/2026) ⁠A Study in Contrasts: Innovation and Crypto versus the Crypto Fraud Landscape⁠ (1/21/2026) ⁠⁠A Year of Change, Challenges, and What Comes Next⁠⁠ (12/17/2025) ⁠⁠⁠When Washington Stops: What the 2025 Shutdown Means for the SEC and Congress Going Forward⁠⁠⁠ (11/19/2025) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The SEC’s New Direction: Enforcement and Governance in Focus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (10/22/25) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠From Memecoins to Custody: What Firms Need to Know About Crypto⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (9/24/25) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Corp Fin in Flux: What the SEC’s Latest Moves Mean for Issuers and Investors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (8/13/25) Please note, the positions and opinions expressed by the speakers are strictly their own, and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, nor those of the D.C. Bar, its Board of Governors or co-sponsoring Communities and organizations.

    25 min
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4.8
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Listen in for exclusive interviews and conversations with D.C. Bar members and guests about hot topics! To learn more about D.C. Bar Communities, join a community, and/or register for upcoming programs, visit www.dcbar.org/communities Presented by the D.C. Bar Communities Podcast Network. Other network channels include "The Tea on International Arbitration" with the D.C. Bar International Law Community (anchor.fm/DCBarTea) and "Let's Brief It" with the D.C. Bar Law Student Community (anchor.fm/DCLSC). Theme Music: "If" by Broke for Free

Information

  • Creator
    D.C. Bar Communities Office
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    156
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © D.C. Bar Communities Office
  • Show Website
    Brief Encounters

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