Every summer, U.S. coal company CEOs meet up in Bristol, Virginia to discuss the future of their industry, mingling with major institutional investors and invited political guests. The Coal & Investment Leadership Forum held its eight annual event from June 2-4, 2019. A copy of the agenda and guest list for this year's event, which was closed to the press, was obtained by Documented.

According to the agenda, speaking to the investors, and senior coal industry execs, Rudy Giuliani, personal lawyer to President Donald Trump, gave remarks after dinner on the second day. No further details were given on what he spoke about.

Giuliani joined President Trump's legal team on April 19, 2018, resigning his position at the law firm of Greenberg Traurig the following month to devote himself full time to defending Trump. "In light of the pressing demands of the Mueller investigation, I believe it is in everyone's best interest that I make it a permanent resignation. This way, my sole concentration can be on this critically important matter for our country," Giuliani said on May 10, 2019, reported by CNN.

The event was held at the Olde Farm in Bristol, Virginia, an exclusive golf resort owned by Jim McGlothlin of United Coal Company. The club holds an annual Blue-Gray Tournament, "featuring three days of Ryder Cup- style competition with a Civil War theme." "It has become our most cherished tradition," McGlothlin told Links Magazine.

Chris Horner, a well known climate change denier who has spoken at this event in previous years, gave a presentation with the somewhat vague title of "Legal Status". It was revealed in 2016 in bankruptcy filings for coal company Alpha Natural Resources, that Horner was being paid by the company for services as "Regulatory Counsel".

The forum was heavy on social time, with a small number of sessions - just six of them over three days - broken up with golf, fly fishing, cocktails, and meals.

Attendees from the coal industry included:

• Jimmy Brock, President and CEO at CONSOL Energy, Inc.
• James Bunn, President at Central Coal Co.
• Lois Clarke, Vice Chair at The United Company
• Joe Craft, President, and CEO at Alliance Resource Partners LP Chairman
• George Dethlefsen, CEO at Corsa Coal
• Nathaniel Drummond CCO/President at Drummond Co., Inc.
• John Eaves, CEO at Arch Coal, Inc.
• Martin Kent, COO at The United Company President
• Jim McGlothlin, Chairman & CEO at The United Company
• Mitch Potter, CEO at Blackhawk Mining LLC
• Alan Shaw, EVP and CMO at Norfolk Southern Corporation
• Ernie Thrasher, CEO at Xcoal Energy & Resources
• Mike Tracy, CEO at Drummond Co., Inc.
• Michael Zervos, CEO at Mission Coal

Representatives from the banking and investment sectors:

• Matthew Giugliano, Senior Vice President at UBS
• Heather Molin, Senior Vice President at UBS
• David Hammond, Partner at Goldman Sachs
• Andrew Timbers, Vice President at Goldman Sachs
• Ralph Hymer, COO at Nelson Brothers, Inc.
• Kerry McKeon, Managing Director at Stifel
• Douglas Pierson, Managing Director at Credit Suisse
• Robert Theiss, Vice Chairman at Rockefeller Capital Management