Thanks to Silicon Valley and our new intangible economy, Intellectual Property (IP) law is now on everybody’s 24 hour news cycle. Even small to medium businesses have everyday IP issues that must be identified and addressed - either in terms of minimizing their risk of infringement claims or maximizing the value of their own IP.

Although there are over a dozen highly relevant and probative questions you could ask, this program is designed to present 10 solid questions that every business must answer. Mark reviews these ten questions to highlight the most pressing IP issues faced by businesses today so you can help minimize their risk and maximize the value of their intangible assets. Mark will start by providing a brief recap of copyrights, trademarks, patents & trade secrets. He then goes into deep discussion on comprehensive IP audits, vetting new hires, buying company domain names, reviewing marketing materials, registering trademarks with the state & USPTO, recording copyrights & trademarks with U.S. Customs, establishing & implementing a trade secret protection plan and getting licenses for images & videos on the company website.

Mark Reichenthal practices in the areas of Intellectual Property, licensing, new media, entertainment law and book publishing. Prior to joining Branfman Mayfield Bustarde Reichenthal, Mark was a Senior Counsel at Wiley Publishing - the publisher of the famous "For Dummies" series.

If you are a trial attorney you have inevitably been forced to deal with difficult witnesses and hostile attorneys at some point in your legal career. Problem witnesses can take many forms - the dishonest witness, the evasive witness, the hostile witness- the witness that doesn't remember what they had for breakfast. All too often, witnesses try to frustrate the discovery process - and depositions in particular - by their obstructive and abusive behavior. And we all have stories about hostile or bullying opposing counsel.

This CLE course examines strategies to effectively depose some common difficult witnesses and also provides tips on how to deal with difficult attorneys during the deposition process. Join trial attorney Roy Comer as he discusses the hostile witness, the basics of questioning, dealing with the problem witness, the forgetful or unsure witness, the dishonest witness and the obstructing lawyer. Further topics covered by Mr. Comer include controlling the deposition, what doesn't work, the goal of the deposition, the form of questioning, the 4 step process for dealing with the evasive witness, videotaping depositions, looking for visual clues, asking more, quickening the pace, the Duty of Candor, the bullying lawyer, the law is your friend, talking to the witness, the improperly objecting attorney, the lawyer that wants to go off the record all the time, the condescending lawyer and the "I'll fix it later lawyer."

For over thirty-five years Roy L. Comer has been dedicated to handling damage cases, including catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases arising from automobile, truck, motorcycle, medical negligence, defective products, and dangerous premises claims. In addition, Mr. Comer has represented individuals and medium-sized businesses in real estate, landlord-tenant, insurance and contract disputes. Defending these types of claims has provided Mr. Comer with further insight into how insurance companies approach these claims. Mr. Comer's clients depend on his broad experience, coupled with the highest legal, professional and emphatic standards.

The person most qualified (PMQ) deposition is a powerful discovery tool or - or a headache of a lifetime - depending what side of the litigation you're on. Whether you are pursuing remedies against a business entity or defending a corporation, how you plan and prepare for the PMQ deposition will ultimately determine the success you achieve for your client. With all of the possible traps, do you know how to effectively take, defend, and prepare for the PMQ deposition?

In this CLE course, veteran civil litigator Roy Comer provides practical tips and advice for your next PMQ deposition. When you complete this course you will know how to: indentify what makes a person most qualified, prepare the notice, respond & object to the notice, select the PMQ witness, prepare the PMQ witness, prepare the testimony, take the deposition, spot common traps and defend the PMQ deposition. Deposing the person most qualified is drastically different than the standard lay witness deposition and since party admissions are admissible against the company or entity, PMQ depositions can produce valuable testimony that can greatly aid settlement or sway the jury at trial.

For over 30 years Roy L. Comer has been dedicated to handling damage cases, including catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases arising from automobile, truck, motorcycle, medical negligence, defective products, and dangerous premises claims.

By now I think that most of us are aware of the substance abuse issues that many lawyers face. Beyond mandatory CLE courses and aspirational ABA Pledges, what can be done to help solve the problem?

Janet Sobel has put words to action and she has a plan. A plan to spread the word about the stress and anxiety many lawyers deal with on a daily basis – and a path to bring wellness to the profession. Janet will mainly address the following issues: helping new lawyers, the ABA 7-Point Well-Being Pledge, the five obstacles to overcoming substance abuse issues, common sense solutions and substance abuse resources. She will also talk about the ethical duty of competence, getting law schools & bar associations to listen, the town crier, two prongs to competence, removing the stigma, the lack of mentoring, the wellness newsletter and how the profession benefits from wellness.

Once a big firm litigator, Janet Sobel has provided limited scope “counseling-at-law” for almost twenty years. A natural problem solver and former teacher, Janet speaks and writes about curing lawyer malaise.

Even the most lucrative sale of investment property includes one major downside - taxes. But what if you don't sell the property and you exchange it instead? A properly structured 1031 exchange allows an investor to sell an investment property and reinvest the proceeds in a new property while deferring all capital gains taxes. But like anything having to do with the tax code, properly structuring and completing a 1031 exchange is an incredibly complex process wrought with pitfalls.

This CLE course provides practitioners with a comprehensive review of IRC 1031 tax deferred exchanges and the real estate transactions that utilize this tax deferral strategy. A 1031 expert, attorney J. Paul Spring will mainly cover the history of 1031 tax deferred exchanges, the reasons for employing IRC 1031 and key requirements when structuring the 1031 exchange. This course will also address the following topics: the Starker Exchange, key benefits of the 1031 exchange, REITs, 1031 investment property converted to a primary residence, exceptions, the like kind requirement, leases & options, types of 1031 exchanges, sales contract language, the equal or greater value requirement, flipping properties, the timing of transactions, identifying the replacement property, related properties and reverse exchanges. In addition to discussing the legal requirements of the 1031 exchange, Mr. Spring also discusses number practical considerations that arise in these complex transactions.

Mr. Spring has been a practicing attorney in California for more than thirty years, specializing in real estate, title insurance, business law, tax-deferred exchanges, trust law and short-sale transactions. He is currently the President of Investment Capital Resources.

Entrepreneurs and inventors often come up with great ideas that they think will be the next great product at home in the United States and around the world. But patenting that Green Bay Packer cheese head beer coolie hat in Germany might not be the best idea - no matter how great your client thinks it will sell.

In this CLE program, Eric Hanscom and Greg Sach highlight key legal and practical points about seeking patent protection in the EU. Eric and Greg will mainly discuss the U.S. patent system, the EU patent system and common pitfalls when seeking patent protection in the EU. Additional subjects covered: the three types of U.S. patents, provisional patent applications in the U.S. & Europe, comparing the cost of U.S. vs. European patents, popular validations in Europe, the unitary patent, typical EPO examination procedures, costs & timelines, added subject matter, intermediate generalizations, novelty & the two categories of prior art, the inventive step, patent ineligible subject matter, methods for treatment and the number of claims.

Eric Hanscom is actively involved in overseeing litigation, contract negotiation and customs issues around the globe over matters ranging from patent and trademark infringement to breach of contract. With over 14 years of experience in the patent profession, Greg Sach has expertise in drafting, prosecution and appeal proceedings for the European Patent Office and he also handles patent applications before the UK and Germany.

The globalization of the economy has created countless opportunities for foreign investment into the United States. This can be foreign investment in U.S. real estate & businesses and even foreign individuals looking to immigrate to the U.S. and bring assets with them.

A true master of his craft, Jacob Stein will explain the nuances & tax ramifications of these transactions, with particular emphasis on how to structure transactions for real estate and cross border joint ventures. Jacob will mainly address selecting the appropriate corporate structure, taxation issues with inboud transactions and transfer tax considerations. Further topics discussed: direct investment, LLCs, U.S. based corporations, foreign corporations investing in the U.S., FDAP Income (Fixed Determinable, Annual or Periodic), Effectively Connected Income (ECI), Branch Profits Tax, Capital Gains, Estate & Gift Tax and pre-integrated tax planning.

A partner with the Aliant law firm in Los Angeles, Jacob Stein focuses on asset & income protection, in addition to International Tax issues. He has represented over a thousand clients, from Forbes 400 families to Internet entrepreneurs.

The issues that professional athletes face on a daily basis are very unique compared to the rest of society because athletes have a different career length and economic situation than most people. In addition, professional athletes have a different mindset than the average person when it comes to dealing with business and personal issues. This presentation is for sports law lawyers, estate planning attorneys, criminal defense attorneys, family lawyers and any other lawyer that is looking to assist and counsel with athlete clients.

To learn more about representing athlete clients join attorney and sports agent Brandon Leopoldus as he introduces you to the mindset of the professional athlete, helps you as an attorney provide increased value to your athlete clients and discusses how you can give the best possible service to your athlete clients. The main topics addressed include 12 key stats & insights about professional athlete clients, knowing the client's mindset, understanding the client's needs, coaching your athlete client and building your team. Additional issues presented include invincibility, trusting without reason, rewarding risk, collecting solutions, focusing on the result, keeping your quarterback safe, making your athlete client part of the team, being a lawyer - not a fan, being yourself and finding your niche. This presentation is for sports law lawyers, estate planning attorneys, criminal defense attorneys, family lawyers and any other lawyer that is looking to assist and counsel with athlete clients.

After completing a career as a minor league baseball umpire, Brandon Leopoldus worked in the front office of the Mountain Collegiate Baseball League as the Director of Baseball Operations, before attending Thomas Jefferson School of Law and working for Mandalay Sports. An attorney, mediator and sports agent, Brandon works with his clients' teams of agents, managers, accountants, and other professionals to craft unique legal strategies to safeguard the client's assets and interests. He focuses on developing the best legal game plan for his clients while keeping their information in confidence, with respect, and confidentially.

If you're like many attorneys and firms, you utilize numerous online resources to provide legal information to the public and advertise your services to potential clients. However, while numerous firms and attorneys rely on websites and social media to grow their businesses, some don't give a second thought to the fact that their online activities could run afoul of the ethical rules. Facebook, Twitter, Quora, AVVO, LinkedIn, law firm websites and other social media platforms all pose significant ethical risks for lawyers who may be inappropriately or even inadvertently advertising to or soliciting clients.

In this course, attorney Ken Matejka points out the ethical issues created by your online content and shows you how to fulfill your ethical duties when advertising and offering legal information on your law firm website, social media websites and other online resources like LinkedIn and Yelp. The five main topics that Ken discusses include false & misleading communications, solicitations, required disclaimers, privacy policies and eliciting online reviews. Further issues covered in this course include legal information/legal advice, case results, specialists, guarantees, establishing the attorney-client relationship online, online Q & A websites, contingency fees & costs, ABA Formal Opinion No. 10-457, recommended elements for a valid disclaimer, recommended placement for disclaimers, unencrypted email and the attorney-client privilege and the integrity of the profession.

Ken Matejka, President, LegalPPC, Inc., Internet Services for the Legal Profession Ken Matejka is a California attorney and a former member of the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Lawyer Referral and Information Services. For seventeen years, he worked at the Lawyer Referral and Information Service of the Bar Association of San Francisco and in 2006, co-founded LegalPPC, an Internet Services Company dedicated to helping lawyers and lawyer referral services get more clients from Google. Ken has been a regular presenter at events like the ABA's Annual LRIS Workshop and for attorneys across California on the topic of online visibility and lead generation for the solo practitioner's law practice. LegalPPC currently provides Internet services to about 20 bar associations and a large number of law firms nationwide.

You don’t have to have an LLM in tax to help your business clients with tax issues. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Being able to spot tax issues and help your business clients identify and manage risk can save them thousands of dollars and keep them in business.

In this tax crash course Sam Brotman details how you can help the businesses you counsel spot tax issues before they become major headaches. Sam will mainly cover the following topics: the difference between an accountant & an attorney, dealing with income tax audits, how to defend your clients against IRS audits, what to expect during a payroll tax audit and sales & use tax audits. In addition Sam will also address the main pitfalls that create tax problems, common myths, why people get audited, DIF & UI DIF scores, the 4 types of audits (matching, correspondence, office & field), statutes of limitations, audit red flags, substantiation & legal issue audits, how to conduct the pre-audit, the IRS Appeals Process, the EDD, the general ledger, independent contractor issues, methods of testing, sampling, the pre-audit plan and common traps.

Samuel D. Brotman is the founder of Brotman Law. His practice primarily centers on all aspects of tax litigation and criminal & civil tax controversies. Although a strong proponent of early stage tax resolution, Sam's practice is uniquely tailored to assist clients in all phases of their tax controversy from administrative resolution of the lawsuit.

In a recent case, a U.S. Magistrate Judge sanctioned an attorney for telling opposing counsel it wasn’t “becoming of a woman” to raise her voice during a contentious deposition. Yes, we have made strides when it comes to creating a level playing field for women in the legal profession… but there is still a long way to go.

In this lively and thought-provoking program, Andrea S. Kramer and Alton B. Harris discuss how gender bias can prevent law firms and legal organizations from achieving their desired diversity goals. In this incredibly insightful and practical discussion Andie and Al will mainly address gender disparity in achievement in the legal profession, why gender disparity exists in law firms, ending the gender disparity in law firms and what attorneys can do. The following topics are also covered: ABA Model Rule 8.4(g), state bar professional responsibility rules, the Muller-Lyer Illusion, communal & agentic stereotypes, the Goldilocks dilemma, the moral & business rationale for creating diversity, affinity bias, unconscious bias, being proactive, impression management and what male lawyers can do to be a part of the solution. Finally, Andie and Al provide specific action steps for addressing implicit biases and creating policies and procedures that can prevent bias from influencing decisions inside the firm.

Andrea S. Kramer is an attorney and a partner in the international law firm of McDermott Will & Emery, LLP. The managing partner in the Chicago office of Nixon Peabody, Al is a frequent writer and lecturer on the financial markets, financial regulation, corporate governance and diversity in the legal profession.

At this point, most attorneys are aware of the increased rates of substance abuse amongst lawyers and the link between abuse & addiction and diminished competence & disciplinary issues. But what about treatment options - is there anything to consider aside from the normal 12 step programs like AA?

In this CLE program, psychologist Tom Horvath will mainly analyze some of the most current studies and research on the subject as he discusses the evolution of addiction treatment and provides options for treatment including self-care. The main studies addressed include The ABA Report of the National Task Force On Lawyer Well-Being, The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs & Health and the DSM–5. Additional topics covered: the Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP), the power of language, problems with most U.S. treatments, sources of pleasure, self-control, the cost-benefit analysis of addictive behavior, self-treatment 101, coping with craving and why addiction is NOT a disease.

Dr. Tom Horvath, founder of Practical Recovery, is an internationally recognized expert on addiction treatment. He has been president of SMART Recovery for almost 20 years - SMART Recovery is the largest of the non-12-step mutual help groups. He is the author of Sex, Drugs, Gambling & Chocolate: A Workbook for Overcoming Addictions.

Advance care planning has become a hot button topic as the current pandemic sweeps through every corner of our country. You might have clients and family members that are reaching out with questions - and you yourself may even need to consider these issues.

Clients in all stages of life often come to attorneys for council on advance care and end of life care planning. In this CLE program, healthcare attorney & nurse Renee Mallet will provide attorneys with an overview on the issues and key terminology so they can help their clients choose the best options for them and their families. Among the main topics discussed are living wills, durable power of attorneys for healthcare, do not resuscitate orders and palliative care. These key subjects will also be addressed: terminal conditions, legal competence, CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), ventilator as emergency support, artificial nutrition & hydration, pregnant clients, cardiac & respiratory arrest, dialysis, forms & templates, proper notification and conversation starters to get the discussion going.

Renee is both a nurse and attorney. She presently works for Cardinal Health in the Ethics and Compliance Department serving as a subject matter expert on various laws and regulations and company ethical standards, from HIPPA to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

When Pierre DuPont engaged in his classic “Freeze Transaction” in the 1930’s, he was able to freeze the value of $15 million worth of stock that was eventually sold for $500 million by his children. But this was a risky transaction predicated upon one massive gamble – that the value of the DuPont Corporation would continue to increase.

Today, you can help your clients with advanced asset and tax planning with much more security by using irrevocable trusts. Attorney Jacob Stein, a true master of his craft, will dispel myths about irrevocable trusts and show you how they are commonly deployed in estate & income tax planning. Jacob will address the following topics: modern drafting practice, trust protectors & retaining control, the trust as an agreement, trusts & the two bundles of rights, revoking the trust, retaining the power to control & amend the trust, appointing the trust protector, defining the power given to the trust protector, Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts (IDGT), state tax planning, DINGs & WINGs.

Jacob Stein is a partner with the law firm Aliant, LLP, in Los Angeles, California. A prolific writer and speaker, Mr. Stein has represented over a thousand clients, from Forbes 400 families to Internet entrepreneurs. He focuses on asset & income protection, in addition to International Tax issues.

From a gang member, to an incredibly successful trial lawyer… to a full blown alcoholic. This is the story of Gary Gwilliam. Gary shares his story and his wisdom with you so you can avoid the same path that he - and thousands of other lawyers - ended up going down. The path to alcoholism and substance abuse.

How does Gary’s story end? Well, the story hasn’t ended yet. At 80 years old, Gary is still an taking on complex multi-million dollar civil litigation cases. In this heartfelt presentation Gary will mainly talk to you about how lawyers start drinking, the Sandy Staples case & dealing with loss, burnout & intervention and lessons from losing the big case. Gary also addresses our win-at-all-costs culture, the shame & guilt of losing, resources for attorneys, The Soul of the Law, how we become objectified because of our legal training, taking care of yourself, how to get better balance, how to achieve peak performance and learning to forgive.

Gary Gwilliam is considered one of the best consumer trial attorneys in the state. He has tried 150 jury cases, of which more than 100 were personal injury cases. He has also spent the last 30 years trying to help attorneys facing substance abuse issues.

Substance abuse and depression are two of the main contributors that affect an attorney's competence to practice law and lead to high rates of suicide among lawyers. Attorneys are nearly twice as likely to have problems with drugs & alcohol and are nearly four times more likely to suffer from depression when compared to the general population. In fact, the depression rate in the legal profession is the highest among all professions and over 50% of all discipline cases involve an underlying substance abuse issue.

In this course, Richard P. Carlton presents an overview of the connection between substance abuse, depression and an attorney's competence to practice law. The main topics discussed include the law as a high risk profession, substance abuse & depression disorders, personality traits of attorneys, methods to cope with the stress & the mental challenges of the legal profession and managing the expectations of clients. Further issues presented and discussed include brain chemistry, depression, traits of pre-law students & the effects of law school, lawyers as pessimists, thinking like a lawyer, resources & assistance for attorneys, the stress response, negativity bias, fear & negativity, mindfulness, the pace of life for attorneys and time shifting.

Richard P. Carlton, MPH, is the Acting Director of the Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) of the State Bar of California and has been addressing mental health and disability concerns in the legal profession for over twenty-five years. A licensed attorney in California, Jason Castillo actively participated in this course.

Despite being armed with information on buy-and-holds, asset allocation, diversification and target terms, the overriding investment management problem that plagues many attorneys can be summed up by the eternal question: “What do I buy?”

As attorneys we are high-achievers and problem-solvers - we meet challenges and find creative solutions for our clients on a daily basis. However, we’re not Warren Buffet when it comes to investing for retirement. A Registered Investment Adviser, Ric Lager works with attorneys and law firms to help maximize the value of their retirement investments. In this CLE he will primarily address: selecting a plan, simple IRAs vs. SEPs vs. individual 401(k) plans, the challenges legal professionals face when investing and 401(k) management pitfalls & practice points. He will also cover common decision-making points, SPIVA & mutual fund analysis tools, tracking stats & results, statistical lessons from March Madness, ranking portfolios, 401(k) fees, portfolio rebalancing, insurance and the cost of bad investments.

Ric Lager is president of Lager & Company, Inc. For the last fifteen years Lager & Company, Inc. has specialized in advising retirement plan participants to maximize the value of their retirement investments.

For patent prosecution, patent prior art research is an essential requirement and one of the critical first steps in the prosecution process. Prior art research should be concluded early on in the process before time and money are expended on the construction of the patent and the application. Prior art research will identify those patent publications that may prevent the innovation in question from being patented and can provide a type of road map in the early stages of development that can assist in providing work arounds of the prior art that will allow the innovation to be patented or used freely in the market.

In this CLE course Intellectual Property attorneys Alan Kendrick and Eric Hanscom provide an excellent practical discussion about the best practices when conducing a patent prior art search. Alan and Eric mainly address the main goal, types & scope of prior art research and patent publication prior art research. Additional topics covered: patent prosecution, freedom to operate, FTO Research, state of the art research, patentability search, invalidity research, patent landscape research, whitespace analysis, non-patent publication research, discussions with the inventor, strategy development, qualifying terms, searching by number/date ranges, searching by applicant/assignee name or by inventor name, searching by specific data fields and using Patbase.

Before beginning his own practice Eric Hanscom utilized his science background and law degree to gain experience in multiple facets of patent, trademark and copyright law and the application of those property rights. He has been actively involved in overseeing litigation, contract negotiation and customs issues in the US, Asia, Europe, South American and Australia over matters ranging from patent and trademark infringement to breach of contract. Alan Kendrick has been an attorney since 1998 and his practice focuses on intellectual property matters including patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret and unfair competition. He has several years of experience providing patentability and invalidity research in a wide variety of disciplines including aerospace, mechanical, industrial, energy, medical, materials, food technology and the automotive arts.

Many family law cases are extremely emotionally draining for the client and attorney alike. Knowing what to expect and having a good understanding of how these cases proceed through the court system can help you manage your client’s expectations and emotions.

Sandra Fava will provide you with a broad overview of family law practice – from adoptions to domestic violence. Sandra will mainly discuss how a family law case starts, the non-dissolution docket, the dissolution docket, practical points for family law practice and pitfalls for the new practitioner. She will provide you practical points on the following: domestic violence actions, adoption proceedings, juveniles, settlement, motion practice, use of experts, mediation & arbitration, dealing with unpaid support obligations, guardianships, the worthy client, zealous advocacy vs. becoming emotionally intertwined, good client management, managing deadlines, communicating with clients and practical advice for clients. This course is designed for attorneys new to family law practice or experienced attorneys from other practices that need to understand the family court system and how a case proceeds.

Sandra C. Fava has dedicated her legal career to the thoughtful and diligent representation of clients in divorce and family law matters. She provides representation at every level, including complex and sophisticated family law matters, often representing high net worth individuals, entrepreneurs, corporate executives, professionals and business owners or their spouses.

When you are a child you are scared of the boogeyman or the monster under the bed. When you are an adult, you are scared of the IRS. One of the worst days in the life of a person or small business owner is when the IRS undertakes collection activities to collect past due taxes. Because of their wide powers and ability to freeze and seize assets, IRS collection activities can have a devastating impact on an individual taxpayer or small business' financial operations.

Presented by tax attorney Sam Brotman, this CLE program will provide the non-tax practitioner with a practical guide to the process and timeline of IRS collections. Sam mainly discusses how a filed return becomes a balance due, how the IRS Automated Collection Systems works, dealing with Revenue Officers and how to best resolve IRS collection issues for your clients. Further issues discussed include the benefits of understanding the IRS collections process, an overview of IRS examinations & audits, how attorneys get audited, balance due notices, liens, levies & wage garnishments, revenue officer specific collection actions, 120 day extensions, the statute of limitations, running, financial hardship, installment agreements, offers in compromise, defeating IRS liens and levies and bankruptcy.

Samuel D. Brotman is the founder of Brotman Law. His practice primarily centers on all aspects of tax litigation and criminal/civil tax controversies in front of the Internal Revenue Service, Franchise Tax Board, Employment Development Department, Board of Equalization, and various other state/local tax agencies. Although a strong proponent of early stage tax resolution, Sam's practice is uniquely tailored to assist clients in all phases of their tax controversy from administrative resolution to suits in superior/district court. In addition, Sam frequently handles corporate/real estate/litigation matters related to small and mid-size businesses.