Robert
LeVine, JD
7320
5th Ave., NW
Phone: 941.725.0708
Curriculum Vitae
National Presenter, Continuing Legal Education 2012-ongoing
THE COMPLETE UCC
This one day program presents a comprehensive approach to the Uniform Commercial Code. Stressing the interconnected nature of the UCC in the flow of commercial transactions, the program sequentially links up Code sections in a manner which greatly facilitates learning and understanding. Drafting and litigation strategies are emphasized throughout.
Programs Delivered:
Minnesota CLE; North Carolina State Bar Association; Oregon State Bar Association; Illinois State Bar Association; Oklahoma State Bar Association; Missouri State Bar Association; Ohio State Bar Association; Cincinnati Bar Association; Columbus Bar Association; Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association; Manatee County Bar Association; American Bar Association [Testimonials below]
Adjunct Professor of Law, Stetson University College of Law 2002- 2014
Legal Consulting; Expert Witness 1977--ongoing
I began consulting in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale Florida shortly after accepting a full time position with the University of Miami School of Law in 1977. Areas of consultation were the Uniform Commercial Code and the Federal Regulation of Banking. After moving to California, I did Uniform Commercial Code consulting with law firms in Sacramento, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and the city of Orange. I also did consultation for the City of Santa Barbara on Uniform Commercial Code related matters.
I have recently consulted on cases in Missouri, Ohio, California and Florida, and am currently [2016] designated as an expert witness in cases in Ohio, Florida and California
Adjunct Professor of Law, Stetson University College of Law 2002- 2014
Subject matter: The Uniform Commercial Code, with an emphasis on a
systematic approach to Uniform Commercial Code problems dealing with Sales,
Leases, Movement, Storage and Secured Financing of goods. [Testimonials
available on request]
Presentations to California
County Bar Associations: 1993-1998
During this
time frame, I presented Continuing Legal Education Seminars throughout the
State of California on the Uniform Commercial Code. These presentations included a working
overview of the UCC, emphasizing the overall applicability of the UCC to
problem solving, litigation, and drafting, rather than an isolated section by
section methodology.
Seminars were
presented to the Santa Barbara, Ventura, Kern, Madera, Marin, San Mateo,
Orange, and San Diego County Bar Associations. In addition, seminars were
presented to a number of firms in house in Vtentura and throughout the City of
Los Angeles.
Presentation to Visiting Delegation of Attorneys from Mainland
China 1996
At the
request of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, a letter of credit
presentation was made to the first delegation of attorneys to visit the United
States from mainland China. This latter
presentation was made with the assistance of an interpreter.
Florida
State Bar Association Annual Convention: 1977
I presented
of Article 1 of the Uniform Commercial Code with a special emphasis on its
impact on all Articles of the UCC. In addition, the content and applicability
of Article 6 was also presented to the convention.
University
of Miami School of Law: Adjunct,
Assistant, Associate Professor
of Law 1975-1982
I began
teaching the Uniform Commercial Code at the University of Miami School of Law
shortly after graduation from the University of Chicago Law School of Law under
the direction of my former Professor of Law, Dean Soia Mentschikoff. At the time I became an adjunct, I was
practicing law with the Miami law firm of Shutts & Bowen. After a year and a half as an adjunct
professor, I accepted a position as an Assistant Professor of Law
teaching the Uniform Commercial Code and the Federal Regulation of
Banking. I became an Associate Professor
of Law upon the publication of The Uniform Commercial Code: An
Operational Translation, 1980 (Browning Publications, Atlanta , GA
Practice of
Law
Shutts & Bowen Miami Florida 1975-1977
I began
working with Shutts & Bowen upon graduation from law school in 1975,
creating and heading up the Uniform Commercial Code department. I reviewed and advised on all UCC related
matters throughout the firm from corporate to real estate, while actively
engaged in a full time litigation practice.
Publications
Within the Legal System
The Uniform Commercial Code
Made Easy Empowerment Publications, Bradenton Florida 2011)
This book utilizes a short story narrative to
guide readers through the text of the Uniform Commercial Code. The story
involves a young entrepreneur who, with the assistance and guidance of his
attorney, embark on a series of business ventures which provide a platform from
which to logically explain the meaning and interrelationships of the Uniform
Commercial Code. The book employs
numerous communication techniques unavailable in traditional methods of
teaching law, thereby opening a wide range of avenues to the brain with
increased learning efficiency. More
information on the book can be obtained at www.ucc-madeeasy.com and www.amazon.com.
Los Angeles
Daily Journal 1996-1997
During this
time period, I wrote a series of articles on the Uniform Commercial Code, for
the Los Angeles Daily Journal, the largest daily legal publication in the State
of California. Articles focused on a
comprehensive approach to Uniform Commercial Code related matters, as well as
the importance of Article 1 in all transactions governed by the UCC.
Education
University of
Chicago School of Law
Chicago,
Illinois
Degree: Juris
Doctor, 1975
University of
Illinois
Champaign-Urbana
Illinois
Major: Psychology/History
Degree: B.S,
1970
Testimonials for Continuing Legal Education
Cincinnati
Bar Association, October 2015
“Impressive
combination of knowledge and energy.
Love his passion.”
“Excellent –
the best!”
“Excellent.”
“Engaging,
useful information in clear format, great speaker.”
“Great
presentation. Broke down complex
concepts into usable info.”
“Spirited and
very knowledgeable, and fun to listen to.”
“Awesome!”
“Wow. Never thought you could cover the entire code
in one day – interesting too. Tells the story & ties it all together.”
“Very
engaging, incredible body of knowledge presented in a short time.”
“Engaging
& informative!”
“Robert was
great!”
“Great work
on a complex topic!”
“Terrific.”
Alabama
CLE October 2015
“Well
done! Mr. Levine is very engaging and knowledgeable”
“Speaker
was great and very enthusiastic about the topic!”
“Well
organized. Good presentation
“Great
presentation”
“It
was great”
“Very
good program”
“Excellent. He made it look easy to present not one, but
5, very interesting seminars on the UCC.
Thank you very much.”
“ He had to
present the entire UCC on his own and did a great job. Direct and with
pertinent slides; good advice.”
“I would
recommend this presenter to anyone.”
“This guy is
a machine.”
“Excellent presentation on a difficult topic.”
North
Carolina State Bar Association, December 2014
“Speaker was
engaging, charismatic, personable & obviously an expert in the field.
Slides were very thorough and it’s a real plus to get the speaker’s book as a
bonus.”
“Professor’s
knowledge of the UCC is fantastic! His charisma
makes his presentation of dry material exciting. Best CLE program I ever attended in 14yrs of
practice.”
“Most
interesting presentation of the UCC I ever attended.”
Oregon Bar Association, May 2014
“This was at
the top of all CLE’s I’ve attended“
“Outstanding
session; one of the best I’ve ever attended!”
“Best
presentation in years. 10.0 Bring him back soon!”
Illinois Bar Association, March 2014
“The [best
part was the] book the presenter wrote and the presenter's enthusiasm for the
topic.”
“Very
thorough information; the presenter clearly knew his subject matter”
“I liked the
cumulative overview of the inter-connected nature of the UCC”
Cincinnati Bar Association, December 2013
“Best CLE I
have ever attended.”
“Excellent
speaker; presentation was great. Would
highly recommend.”
“Amazing
presenter!”
Missouri Bar Association, April 2013
“One
of the best CLEs I've been too! Great speaker and good info!”
“It
was excellent. Robert Levine was very engaging.”
“Excellent
speaker, very knowledgeable, very enthusiastic, excellent printed materials.”
Columbus Bar Association, December 2012
“Easily the best CLE I have taken.”
“Amazingly knowledgeable and well spoken.”
“Excellent command of subject matter and presentation.”
The Uniform Commercial Code Made Easy
Author: Robert M. LeVine JD
ISBN # 978-0-615-308-35-7
The Uniform Commercial Code Made Easy marks the first time in the history
of legal education that a novel has been used as a vehicle for delivering the
content of a substantive body of law; in this case, a pervasive statutory
scheme—The Uniform Commercial Code, law in all fifty states. Mirroring the factual assumptions upon which
the UCC was drafted, The Uniform
Commercial Code Made Easy places
the application of these laws in concrete and interesting commercial settings
where they come to life. The format chosen allows for the creation of factual
settings through which a large number of UCC provisions can be processed in a
short amount of space. Logical reader questions are anticipated, and answered
through a variety of communication channels uniquely available to the format
chosen: dialogue, memoranda of law, texting and emails, are illustrative.
In addition to using these traditional devices
to convey content effectively, the delivery of communication through diverse
channels avoids overload and mental fatigue. This means the student does not
have to large blocks of time simply reading and understanding fact
patterns. The patterns chosen are
realistic, Code based, and easy to understand. This, coupled with the variety
of communication devices noted above, makes learning the UCC highly efficient,
and to greatest extent possible, enjoyable.
Testimonials
“I find The Uniform Commercial Code Made Easy extraordinarily useful
in making commercial law available to businessmen and students in business
schools of the country,… and as ancillary reading for law students. [Rob] made
it so simple.”
Soia Mentschikoff, Associate Chief
Reporter to the UCC; Consultant to the Permanent Editorial Board of the UCC; Dean,
University of Miami School of Law;
Professor of Law, University of Chicago, Harvard, Columbia
“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa
Claus! In this case he comes in the form of former University of Miami School
of Law professor Robert M. LeVine, who has made one of the most complicated
bodies of law in the United States—the Uniform Commercial Code—not only
comprehensible but entertaining.”
Thomas R. Schuck past national
president of the Federal Bar Association and a partner at Taft Stettinius &
Hollister LLP in Cincinnati; co-author
of Reutter’s Federal Employment Litigation, published by
Thomson/Reuter’s.
“I was amazed. I never thought it possible to make the UCC
interesting. But I was wrong. For once I had read a book that made me
understand the contents and interrelationships of the Code sections and at the
same time I enjoyed reading it.”
F. William Harvey, JD, Wharton MBA.
Former Financial Comptroller for Citibank International
“THIS BOOK BELONGS IN THE HANDS OF EVERY SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER IN AMERICA! In retrospect I realize how blindly I had journeyed
while establishing my practice/small business.
I depended on my bank, vendors and minor legal assistance to guide me
through the process. I would have been
so much better equipped with the wisdom and guidance of this easy to read and
understand book. I thoroughly enjoyed
the story format of Stephen’s business adventure!”
Kimberly Fabre, DDS, PA
Rob’s book is a unique quantity. It presents in understandable terms an area
of law which is of interest to every businessman….It is interesting, easy to
read, and substantively accurate. …You will sell a million copies.
John T. Gaubatz, Professor of Law,
University of Miami School of Law, JD Harvard; Co-Author, Federal Taxation of
Estates, Trusts and Gifts
Student Endorsements
“It’s true. The UCC is just as daunting as it looks, and
this book is the key to unlocking its mysteries. Infused with practicality, The
Uniform Commercial Code Made Easy combines every day transactions with
straightforward law, allowing students to not only navigate the UCC with ease,
but also develop a lasting understanding of the material. The Uniform
Commercial Code Made Easy’s revolutionary approach to the UCC has extensive
application both in and out of the classroom as a resource for professors and a
study aid for students. The Uniform Commercial Code Made Easy by LeVine was my
key to success in understanding the UCC, and enjoying it!”
Melissa Carroll
Stetson University
College of Law”
“A must read for
every law student…EVERY law student. I have never encountered a book on
such a complicated topic that has been such an enjoyable read. LeVine
takes the study of the UCC, the longest and most elaborate of the uniform acts,
and allows the reader to actually become a part of the learning process through
his interactive writing style. This is one book that will always be a
part of my collection.
Grant R.
Gillenwater
Stetson University College of Law”
As a law student, The
Uniform Commercial Code Made Easy is a welcomed deviation from the standard
law text. The book seamlessly guides the reader through advanced
UCC concepts all while remaining an entertaining read. Being able to
enjoy studying for an exam greatly enhanced my ability to absorb the information
presented.
Ian Ansley
Stetson University
College of Law”
After reading The Uniform Commercial Code Made Easy I
know this is really the best way to study the UCC. It turned a potentially dry
subject not only into something interesting, but allowed me to understand how
the UCC is applied in the real world. Looking at cases just gives snapshots of
how the UCC can work, but this book shows how it is commonly used and gives us
a glimpse of what law students can expect when dealing with the UCC in practice.
Preston Davis
Stetson University
College of Law”
This book is a highly effective and entertaining attempt by the
author, Robert Levine, to teach the UCC in a manner that is both contextually
realistic and legally accurate. If more books like this existed, other
"Code" based classes would be significantly better understood by
lawyers and business people alike. If you are a professor, make this book
required reading. If you are a student of the law, buy this book. It's worth
every penny.
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