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Philadelphia, PA, May 29, 2009 — Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney Litigation shareholder Howard D. Scher participated in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers' (IATL) China Program. Scher, a member of the organization's Board of Directors, served as an instructor at the program. Topics of his lectures included the Watergate scandal, the rule of law and commercial litigation.

Scher joined six fellow instructors, one of whom is IATL President Dennis R. Suplee, a commercial litigation attorney at Philadelphia's Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP.

Scher has been a member of the IATL for ten years and has been actively involved in Buchanan's China Practice since its formation.

The program kicked off in Hawaii, on Saturday, May 16, 2009, and ran through Friday, May 22. Following the program, the delegates spent time in individual "host" homes of IATL members who volunteered to serve as mentors to the delegates. This enabled the delegates to experience the day-to-day activities of their U.S.-based host and gain firsthand knowledge of the U.S. legal system.

The importance and influence of this program in China was illustrated in a letter sent by Wu Hao, Director General of China's Foreign Affairs Department, who wrote, "Such a long-term and broadly attended program as this one has never been seen in legal exchange activities with foreign countries. In 14 years, 127 young Chinese legal talents engaged in legal practice or teaching — especially officers engaged in legislation — have been trained in this program. They have come from 16 ministries of the Central Government and from more than 20 local provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government)."

About the IATL China Program

Organized and launched in 1994 by then Academy President Raymond J. Tam, the China Program is an ongoing effort that includes regular visits by some of the most respected attorneys in the United States. These visits include workshops, seminars and information exchanges with those in China charged with drafting new laws to help improve China's legal infrastructure. The Program also continues to bring Chinese lawyers and leaders to the United States so that they can experience firsthand U.S. courtrooms and trials in progress, among other activities that assist them in learning more about U.S.-based trial law.

About Scher

Howard Scher serves as co-managing shareholder of Buchanan's Philadelphia office. He has achieved victories in the prosecution and the defense of complex and sophisticated business litigation, including business torts, RICO, antitrust, franchise, intellectual property, securities, fraud, tax and accounting and class action. His experience extends to the prosecution and defense of state and federal court actions, as well as emergency injunctions, jury trials and appeals.