Course List

Generative AI is a game-changing technology – but it also comes with ethical risks for attorneys and law firms. Developing an AI policy for your law firm is now crucial and involves addressing ethical considerations and ensuring compliance with legal standards while leveraging the benefits of AI.

This CLE explores the ethical, practical and regulatory implications of integrating artificial intelligence into legal practice. It covers core technologies like machine learning and generative AI, their application in law firms and the ethical responsibilities attorneys under the ABA Model Rules and various state bar ethics opinions. Attorneys will learn how to assess confidentiality risks, ensure transparency in billing, combat AI bias and develop firm-wide AI policies that uphold professional conduct and client trust.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Identify key AI technologies used in legal practice and their core functions.

2. Understand the ethical rules and responsibilities triggered by AI use, including competence, confidentiality, and candor.

3. Evaluate the risks of AI bias, misinformation, and data security breaches.

4. Develop a compliant AI policy aligned with ABA Model Rules and state bar guidance.

5. Communicate transparently with clients about AI use and its implications for fees, privacy, and case strategy.

Desire'e Martinelli is an attorney and the Director of Marketing & Analytics of Esquire Interactive LLC. Jeff Lantz is an attorney, entrepreneur, and the CEO of Esquire Interactive LLC, an interactive digital marketing agency for attorneys and law firms.

Lawyers are trained to solve others’ problems, yet many struggle when it comes to their own well-being. This course provides an accessible, ethics-grounded introduction to mental health and therapy for legal professionals. Attendees will examine the intersection between professional responsibility and lawyer well-being under the ABA Model Rules, including duties of competence, diligence, supervision, and withdrawal. The session also explores the ethical dimensions of recognizing impairment, referring colleagues or clients for help, and fostering a healthier law firm culture. Drawing from both legal and clinical perspectives, this program equips attorneys with practical tools for self-care, informed referrals, and ethically aligned support of others’ mental health needs.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify ethical obligations related to attorney mental health under ABA Model Rules 1.1 (Competence), 1.3 (Diligence), 1.16(a)(2) (Withdrawal), 5.1 (Supervision), and 1.14 (Clients with Diminished Capacity).

2. Recognize signs of impairment in oneself, colleagues, and clients, and understand appropriate steps and resources for referral.

3. Differentiate between major types of therapy and helping professionals to make informed, ethical referrals or personal choices for support.

4. Evaluate the barriers to help-seeking in the legal profession and strategies to reduce stigma consistent with ethical and professional responsibility standards.

5. Apply ethical principles of empathy, confidentiality, and competence when assisting others experiencing mental health challenges.

Elon Slutsky is a psychotherapist, attorney, and researcher based in Denver, Colorado. With a multidisciplinary academic background, he holds a bachelor's degree in Biology and English from Amherst College, a master's in Secondary Education from Pace University, a J.D. from Cornell Law School, and an M.A. in Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University, completed in March 2024. In 2024–25. He is serving as a Fulbright Research Fellow, focusing on extending schema therapy into a transdiagnostic therapeutic framework tailored for highly skilled professionals like doctors and lawyers.

This CLE explores the connection between attorney wellness and professional responsibility, highlighting how stress management, balance, and sustainable practice habits are essential for both personal health and excellence in client service. Participants will learn practical strategies to reduce burnout, strengthen decision-making, and build healthier professional routines. The program emphasizes how wellness directly impacts an attorney’s ability to meet their ethical obligations to clients, colleagues, and the profession, and how supportive systems within firms can reduce risks, enhance communication, and foster long-term success.

Learning Objectives

1. Recognize how well-being affects professional performance, including the ability to provide competent, reliable, and high-quality service.

2. Identify the warning signs of impairment—such as stress, fatigue, or substance use—that can compromise judgment and create ethical risks.

3. Apply practical wellness strategies such as mindfulness, time management, and peer support that strengthen focus, resilience, and client service.

4. Evaluate practice management systems (records, communication, and technology use) to reduce errors and avoid malpractice exposure.

5. Understand professional duties related to leadership and accountability, including creating a culture of wellness, addressing misconduct, and supporting colleagues.

Dieter Clauss is Vice President of Clauss & Co., Inc., where he leads the professional liability program for Lawyers Insurance Group. He specializes in advising law firms and attorneys on risk management, professional responsibility, and malpractice coverage, helping legal professionals safeguard their practices while meeting client and ethical obligations.

Mediation presents unique opportunities and challenges for lawyers—whether serving as advocates for clients or neutrals guiding resolution. Yet, common ethical missteps can undermine the process, damage credibility, and even create professional liability. This CLE will explore how attorneys can avoid the most frequent ethical pitfalls in mediation by grounding practice in the ABA Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators and applicable professional conduct rules. Participants will gain practical guidance on preparing ethically for mediation, building rapport with parties, maintaining neutrality, and balancing zealous advocacy with duties of candor and fairness. Through real-world examples and best practices, the course empowers lawyers to engage in mediation with confidence while protecting both their clients and their professional integrity.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the most common ethics mistakes that occur in mediation from both the advocate’s and neutral’s perspective.

2. Apply the ABA Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators and Rules of Professional Conduct to mediation practice.

3. Evaluate how to prepare for mediation in a way that aligns with ethical duties to clients and the process.

4. Implement strategies for building rapport and maintaining neutrality while avoiding bias or undue influence.

5. Recognize red flags and apply preventative measures to reduce the risk of ethical violations in mediation.

Francine Friedman Griesing has over 40 years of experience, she is a strategic advisor to top executives, general counsel, and institutions—handling complex business transactions, high-stakes litigation, employment matters, ethics, and alternative dispute resolution. She has served as an advocate and a neutral arbitrator and mediator in range of commercial and employment disputes. Her clients include Fortune 500 companies, privately-held businesses, non-profits, higher education institutions, law firms and individual professionals and executives.

Eyewitness testimony is powerful—but not always reliable. Decades of research have shown that memory can be fallible, and mistaken identifications remain a leading cause of wrongful convictions. In this CLE, expert witness testimony expert Dr. Curt Carlson draws on empirical research and real-world cases to explain how and why eyewitnesses can get it wrong—and what legal professionals can do about it. Participants will explore the science of perception, memory, and bias, learn about common pitfalls in police lineups, and review best practices that align with current psychological evidence. This session will help attorneys better evaluate the reliability of eyewitness testimony and improve how such evidence is addressed in investigations and at trial. Learning Objectives:

1. Identify key psychological variables that affect the accuracy of eyewitness identification.

2. Analyze common procedural flaws in police lineups and interviews that contribute to false identifications.

3. Evaluate the probative value of eyewitness testimony using scientifically grounded criteria.

4. Apply best practices in case strategy when dealing with eyewitness evidence, whether prosecuting, defending, or presiding.

5. Advocate for or challenge the admissibility and weight of eyewitness evidence through effective use of expert testimony.

Curt Carlson, Ph.D., is a distinguished cognitive psychologist whose academic journey informs his work at the intersection of psychology and the legal system. Since joining East Texas?A&M, he has led research on eyewitness memory and lineup procedures, secured a $344K National Institute of Justice grant, and holds fellowships in the American Psychology–Law Society and Psychonomic Society.

There are many reasons why shareholders fight and small businesses break up – differences in business vision & strategy, disagreements over financial decisions, conflicts of interest & personality clashes are some of the main ones. When shareholders fight, legal advisors must quickly assess available rights, remedies, and the trajectory of any potential resolution or litigation.

In this CLE, Brandon M. Schwartz will mainly explore fiduciary duties owed among shareholders in closely held corporations, detail the types of disputes that frequently arise and highlight the strategies available to resolve them effectively. The program highlights both substantive and procedural fiduciary obligations, including duties of loyalty, candor, and fair dealing. Attendees will also gain insights into majority vs. minority shareholder dynamics, shareholder oppression and deadlock scenarios. Finally, the session focuses on dispute resolution options — from mediation and arbitration to full-scale litigation and the use of Special Litigation Committees (SLCs). By the conclusion of the session, attorneys will be better equipped to advise clients on preventative measures, evaluate risks, and select dispute resolution strategies that protect shareholder rights and preserve business value.

Learning Objectives

- Identify fiduciary duties owed among majority and minority shareholders in closely held corporations.

- Differentiate between common types of shareholder disputes, including deadlock, oppression, and breach of shareholder agreements.

- Analyze risks and consequences of shareholder disputes, including operational, financial, and reputational impacts.

- Evaluate dispute resolution options, including mediation, arbitration, and litigation.

- Understand the role of Special Litigation Committees (SLCs) in resolving shareholder disputes and the standards courts apply to review their decisions.

- Develop strategies for advising clients proactively to minimize disputes and preserve business relationships.

Brandon M. Schwartz, Esq., is a Board-Certified Civil Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association, a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate and Family Trial Law Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and has received recognition from peers and clients alike for his thorough, zealous and ethical representation.

Plaintiffs' lawyers now need to write more than ever. Unfortunately, courts are slammed with heavy caseloads and you are competing against other litigants for what little time the judge has to analyze the claims & merit of your case. How can you avoid the dreaded MTD??

Join professional brief writer Jonathan Hilton as he explains how to craft legal briefs that judges will want to read. He will present & explain his top ten tips: five practice points to help the judge spot your best arguments in less time and five practice points on how to make your clients more likable & your clients’ stories more compelling. The ten points: (1) Start with first principles, (2) Create an alternate storyline, (3) Show why you state a claim — don’t just defend, (4) Plant the emotional facts in the Complaint, (5) Dumb Cases Die, (6) Use notice pleading to build your story, (7) Distinguish Civ. R. 8 from Civ. R. 9(b), (8) Use the right theory to hook in the big pockets, (9) Handle SOLs carefully and (10) To amend… or not to amend? Jonathan will round out the hour by looking at resources that will help you become a better brief writer moving forward.

Jonathan Hilton became the youngest-ever Cincinnati Chess Champion at age 15, and he earned the National Master in chess title the following year. At Hilton Parker LLC, Mr. Hilton now advisies other attorneys on how to best navigate through their most difficult cases. As a consultant and brief writer, he designs novel legal theories in courts across the country.

Most clients want everything in a contract negotiation. Unfortunately, the other side probably wants everything too. The real question for practitioners is: which clauses are truly worth the fight? The answer, of course, is…. it depends.

In this CLE, Kristi Zentner and Heather Marx — a seasoned transactional attorney & an experienced commercial litigator — share insights drawn from daily practice on both sides of the negotiating table. They explore the most common flashpoints in contract drafting and negotiation, from indemnification and limitation of liability to representations, warranties, and confidentiality provisions. The dynamic duo also provide practical strategies for recognizing which provisions merit aggressive advocacy, show you how to tailor clauses to a client’s risk profile, and drafting the contact with enforceability in mind. Attendees will also gain tools for memorializing the negotiation: ensuring that contracts clearly reflect agreed terms, avoid ambiguities and reduce the risk of costly disputes down the road.

Learning Objectives

* Identify key contract clauses — such as indemnification, limitation of liability, and representations and warranties — that most often become points of contention and potential litigation.

* Evaluate negotiation dynamics, including leverage, market conditions, and counterparty risk, to determine which provisions are worth pressing and which can be compromised.

* Draft clear and enforceable risk-shifting provisions tailored to the transaction, including defining scope, triggers, exceptions, and remedies.

* Recognize common mistakes in contract drafting and negotiation that create ambiguity or weaken enforceability, and implement strategies to avoid them.

* Apply effective review techniques to ensure that contracts accurately memorialize negotiations, reflect agreed business terms, and align with preliminary documents such as term sheets or letters of intent.

* Integrate practical drafting tips—such as consistency of defined terms, clarity of structure, and avoidance of boilerplate legalese—into daily practice to improve contract quality and reduce litigation risk.

Kristi Zentner, Esq., is a transactional attorney who represents clients in general business, supply chain management, as well as tariff, customs, and trade matters. Heather Marx. Esq., applies her experience in the areas of complex business and commercial litigation to represent a variety of clients.

Nathan Osborn frequently works with clients to buy investment properties on the ski slopes of Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, Aspen and more. These clients buy these properties as VRBOs (Vacation Rental By Owner) to generate revenue – but what they fail to realize is that one accident on their property could put their personal assets at risk. Nate Osborn often recommends a very practical solution that offers asset protection & tax benefits – the LLC. In this CLE he provides practical guidance on how to draft a real estate limited liability company (LLC) operating agreement. Nate will provide a plethora of practical guidance on: asking the right questions, determining whether an LLC is the appropriate entity for your client, selecting a member or manager managed LLC, maximizing personal asset protection through the LLC, drafting capital contribution provisions, drafting real estate profit distribution provisions, drafting dispute resolution provisions and tax implications & how to maximize tax benefits. Specific topics covered: vacation rentals & investors, understanding the client’s business, the advantages of LLCs in real estate, putting title to real estate into an LLC, potential LLC liability, piercing the corporate veil, structuring capital calls, provisions to share real estate profits, incorporating IRAs, holding strategies & double FICA taxes and utilizing 1031 like-kind exchanges.

Nathan G. Osborn, Esq., focuses on real estate litigation, real estate transactions and commercial litigation. Mr. Osborn effectively uses his significant trial experience to help transactional clients avoid situations that often end up in court.

You're a good speaker for an immigrant. Where are you from really? You're so good at coding – especially since you are a woman. Microaggressions are subtle words and actions that express prejudice and highlight difference in regard to a marginalized and often legally-protected group.

Through a combination of real-world scenarios, interactive discussion and practical strategies, attorney Nicole Sorokolit Croddick will provide tools to identify and address microaggressions & unconscious bias, improve cultural competency and foster a more respectful, inclusive workplace. Attorneys will learn the difference between microassaults, microinsults & microinvalidations, understand their psychological & professional consequences, and explore how these behaviors can affect workplace morale, productivity & create legal risks. By the end of this program, attendees will be better equipped to recognize their own biases, respond to microaggressions thoughtfully, and contribute to a culture of dignity, professionalism, and fairness within their organizations. By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Define and differentiate between implicit bias, microaggressions and other forms of subtle discriminatory behavior.

• Identify common types of microaggressions — including microassaults, microinsults, and microinvalidations — and their legal and emotional impact in a professional setting.

• Understand the cumulative effects of microaggressions on mental health, employee engagement and organizational culture – particularly for individuals in marginalized or protected groups.

• Analyze real-world scenarios to evaluate whether a microaggression has occurred and determine the appropriate strategies for response or intervention.

• Apply proactive tools and communication frameworks to reduce bias, foster inclusion, and create a respectful, equitable environment within legal workplaces.

Nicole Sorokolit Croddick, Esq., is an attorney and experienced bilingual business training facilitator. As a consultant and compliance trainer on employment law issues, Nicole facilitates classes on sexual harassment and discrimination prevention; ethnic sensitivity; workplace ethics; lawful hiring; and employee disciplinary procedures and documentation mechanics.

Ethical Mistakes that Could Cost You Your License explores the most frequent missteps that lead to attorney discipline—and how to avoid them. From trust account violations to client communication breakdowns, unauthorized practice of law, and improper withdrawal from representation, this program draws from real-world scenarios and applicable ABA Model Rules. Participants will leave with practical tools to improve ethical decision-making, reduce professional risk, and deliver better client service. Learning Objectives:

1. Identify common ethical violations that lead to discipline, suspension, or disbarment.

2. Apply the appropriate ABA Model Rules when managing client funds, communications, and fees.

3. Recognize the boundaries of authorized practice and how to ethically manage multijurisdictional or remote work.

4. Evaluate best practices for withdrawal from representation while safeguarding client interests.

5. Understand the disciplinary process and consequences of failing to respond to a complaint.

Cari L. Sheehan is Assistant General Counsel at Taft Stettinius & Hollister, where she focuses on professional responsibility, conflicts of interest compliance, and civil litigation. She regularly reviews outside counsel guidelines, conflict waivers, and engagement letters, and provides firm-wide ethics training. In addition to her role at Taft, Sheehan is an adjunct professor at Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law, where she teaches Professional Responsibility.

This CLE program provides attorneys with critical guidance on navigating the increasingly intertwined worlds of legal ethics, malpractice risk & cybersecurity. As law firms become prime targets for cyber threats, ethical responsibilities under the ABA Model Rules demand heightened awareness and action.

Led by attorney Jeff Cunningham — who defends lawyers and firms in malpractice and ethics cases — this course explores the blurred lines between ethics violations and cyber negligence. Through practical strategies and real-world examples, the course offers attorneys actionable methods to build ethical “guardrails” that protect both client data and professional reputations. Topics include vendor due diligence, cyber infrastructure, legal tech trends, client counseling on cyber duties, and enhancing law firm security teams. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of key ethics rules, including Competence (Rule 1.1), Confidentiality (Rule 1.6), Communication (Rule 1.4), and Supervision Responsibilities (Rules 5.1–5.3), as applied in the digital age. Attorneys will walk away with a playbook for proactive compliance — ensuring they meet ethical obligations while mitigating malpractice and cyber liability in a high-risk environment.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify and interpret key ethical rules—including ABA Model Rules 1.1, 1.4, 1.6, and 5.1–5.3—as they apply to cybersecurity responsibilities in legal practice.

• Distinguish between ethical violations and legal malpractice in the context of cyber risk, and recognize how blurred boundaries create new areas of liability.

• Develop practical strategies for cyber compliance, including building secure infrastructure, conducting vendor due diligence, and training legal staff and nonlawyer personnel.

• Evaluate their firm's current cyber readiness and implement “ethics guardrails” to proactively reduce exposure to cyber threats and ethics grievances.

• Advise clients effectively on their own cybersecurity obligations, enhancing client service and meeting ethical duties under communication and competence rules.

Jeff Cunningham, Esq., actively defends lawyers and acts as outside General Counsel to small and mid-sized law firms across the United States, while also serving as this firm’s General Counsel. Jeff defends industry professionals in a wide range of professional liability, ethics and professional disciplinary matters. With an emphasis on simple systems of risk management, Jeff brings a holistic approach of protecting our clients before problems occur.

Negotiation is at the heart of legal advocacy, but where is the line between persuasive positioning and unethical conduct? This CLE program explores the ethical boundaries attorneys must navigate during negotiation—whether in litigation, contracts, or settlement discussions. Using hypotheticals, real-world case law, and ABA Model Rules, this session dives into candor and misrepresentation, puffery versus deceit, duties when encountering drafting errors, and communication with represented or unrepresented parties. Designed for litigators, transactional attorneys, and in-house counsel alike, this session equips lawyers with practical strategies to uphold professional responsibility while still zealously advocating for their clients.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify key ethics rules and opinions applicable to negotiation conduct.

2. Distinguish between permissible negotiation tactics (e.g., puffery) and prohibited misrepresentations.

3. Apply ethical duties related to truthfulness and disclosure during settlement or contract drafting.

4. Evaluate risks of liability, including civil, disciplinary, and malpractice exposure for unethical negotiation behavior.

5. Comply with rules governing communication with represented and unrepresented parties.

Noah Fiedler is a shareholder at Barron & Newburger, P.C., where he serves as a co-leader of the Attorney Risk Management Practice Group and heads the firm’s Wisconsin office. He specializes in assisting lawyers and law firms, providing guidance on best practices to prevent issues and representing clients against claims. Noah boasts extensive experience in defending lawyers in cases involving malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, defamation, misrepresentation claims, and disciplinary proceedings.

Understanding who qualifies as an “employee” under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is critical for ensuring wage and hour compliance. In this CLE, Michael Minkoff, Partner at Stevenson Marino LLP, breaks down the legal framework that governs employee classification, with a particular focus on how it impacts minimum wage and overtime eligibility. The program explores key definitions under the FLSA, common exemptions, and the practical implications of misclassification. Attendees will gain a foundational understanding of the criteria used to determine employee status and the potential risks employers face when these rules are misunderstood or ignored.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define the term “employee” under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and distinguish it from independent contractors.

2. Identify the key tests and factors used to determine employment status for overtime purposes.

3. Understand the major exemptions to FLSA overtime rules, including the “white-collar” exemptions.

4. Recognize common misclassification pitfalls and legal consequences of non-compliance.

5. Apply FLSA principles to real-world scenarios to better advise clients or assess internal risk.

Michael R. Minkoff is a Partner in Stevenson Marino LLP’s Employment Law and Commercial Litigators group. He advocates for workers cheated out of wages, combats workplace discrimination and harassment, and protects whistleblowers. With experience as lead counsel in over 200 cases, Michael has been appointed class counsel in unpaid wage actions across various industries

Launching and growing a law practice doesn’t require debt, prestige, or expensive marketing campaigns. In this program, Chaz Roberts shares the practical strategies and guiding principles that helped him build a thriving firm from a laptop and a spare bedroom. Attorneys will learn how to start and grow a practice by staying lean, marketing authentically, treating every case like it matters, eliminating harmful habits, and prioritizing relationships and integrity. The course provides practical tools for building a sustainable practice while emphasizing professional responsibility, client service, and attorney wellness.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify sustainable skills and practice management strategies for starting and growing a law firm with minimal overhead.

2. Apply grassroots marketing techniques that align with the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct to build authentic client and community relationships while remaining ethically compliant.

3. Recognize the importance of client service and case preparation in generating referrals and long-term growth.

4. Evaluate common professional pitfalls and harmful habits that undermine attorney competence, client trust, or wellness.

5. Apply the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct to everyday law practice decisions in order to enhance client service and build a sustainable, principled practice.

6. Demonstrate how to balance advocacy with professionalism and civility in relationships with clients, colleagues, and the courts.

Chaz Roberts is a distinguished Lafayette-based personal injury attorney and owner of Chaz Roberts Law, LLC, licensed in Louisiana since 2009. A Louisiana State University graduate with a J.D. from Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Chaz founded his firm in 2010 and has been consistently recognized among the state’s top legal talent—recently named a Super Lawyers honoree from 2023 through 2025.

Every attorney strives to be fair and objective—but neuroscience tells us that bias is inevitable. In this engaging and eye-opening CLE, ethics attorney and professor Cari L. Sheehan explores how the human brain forms unconscious associations that can influence perception, communication, hiring, and decision-making. Using neuroscience research, social science data, and real-world disciplinary cases, Sheehan breaks down the mechanics of implicit bias and how it can manifest in everyday law practice. Participants will also learn how Rule 8.4(g) of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct applies to bias, harassment, and discrimination, and how to take proactive steps to create inclusive, equitable workplaces and client relationships.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define unconscious (implicit) bias and explain the neuroscience behind how it develops and influences perception.

2. Identify how implicit bias can manifest in law practice, including client interactions, hiring, promotion, and firm management.

3. Analyze the scope of Rule 8.4(g) and related disciplinary cases addressing bias, harassment, and discrimination.

4. Apply strategies for recognizing and mitigating bias in professional decision-making and interpersonal communication.

5. Implement policies and daily practices that promote inclusion, reduce bias, and uphold ethical duties of fairness and professionalism.

Cari L. Sheehan is Assistant General Counsel at Taft Stettinius & Hollister, where she focuses on professional responsibility, conflicts of interest compliance, and civil litigation. She regularly reviews outside counsel guidelines, conflict waivers, and engagement letters, and provides firm-wide ethics training. In addition to her role at Taft, Sheehan is an adjunct professor at Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law, where she teaches Professional Responsibility.

From Mullets on the Go to the KFC Colonel’s Secret Recipe – and even MLB’s Lena Blackburne Rubbing Mud for baseballs– you won’t find a more entertaining CLE. This course features intellectual property attorneys Eric Hanscom and David Branfman, who provide practical guidance for attorneys counseling clients on patent and trade secret protection. Drawing from decades of experience, the presenters explain the distinctions between utility and design patents, the benefits and limitations of provisional applications and the strategic application of trade secrets. Through numerous entertaining case studies and real client stories, this session offers insights into leveraging multiple IP tools effectively. The discussion includes legal requirements, enforcement risks, best practices and how to advise clients based on business goals and budget constraints.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the distinctions between utility, design, and provisional patents.
• Identify when trade secrets are preferable over patent protection.
• Recognize how trademarks, trade dress, and patents can work in tandem.
• Evaluate common IP pitfalls and missteps made by clients.
• Apply legal and strategic considerations to IP planning and protection.
• Develop trade secret protection plans and understand their legal foundations.
• Analyze real-world examples to understand the practical application of IP law.

Patent attorney Eric Hanscom is actively involved in overseeing IP litigation, contract negotiation and customs issues around the globe. David Branfman’s IP practice focuses on entertainment law, including trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, licensing, motion pictures & TV and music.

Mergers and acquisitions require lawyers to balance fast-moving deal timelines, complex drafting, extensive diligence, and coordination among multiple parties — all under heightened professional liability exposure. This CLE provides a practical, data-driven overview of the most significant malpractice risks that arise throughout the lifecycle of an M&A transaction, including pre-closing diligence failures, drafting errors, communication breakdowns, and post-closing claims. Drawing from real-world claims statistics and industry trends, the course outlines key deal points where lawyers are most vulnerable, explains how errors typically occur, and offers actionable strategies for mitigating risk through disciplined workflows, documentation practices, internal controls, and the effective use of insurance products.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the primary professional liability risks faced by lawyers in M&A practice at the pre-closing, active deal, and post-closing stages.

2. Recognize common failure points in diligence, contract drafting, deal structuring, redlining, and communication that contribute to malpractice claims.

3. Implement effective risk-management strategies, including conflict checks, diligence protocols, documentation discipline, and internal oversight controls.

4. Understand how indemnification structures, caps, baskets, survival periods, and escrow arrangements can shift or minimize liability.

5. Evaluate the role of RWI and TLPE insurance products in addressing gaps in transaction protection and reducing exposure for buyers, sellers, and counsel.

6. Apply a defensible M&A practice framework that includes standardized engagement terms, peer review, closing documentation, and post-closing reporting.

Dieter Clauss is Vice President of Clauss & Co., Inc., where he leads the professional liability program for Lawyers Insurance Group. He specializes in advising law firms and attorneys on risk management, professional responsibility, and malpractice coverage, helping legal professionals safeguard their practices while meeting client and ethical obligations.

Ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft have fundamentally reshaped personal transportation – and has created novel legal challenges in accident litigation, liability allocation and insurance coverage. This program presented by attorney Zachary Pyers will provide attorneys with a comprehensive examination of the rapidly evolving legal issues surrounding ridesharing accidents.

Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of the prevalence of ridesharing, applicable state & federal regulations, and the complex relationships between drivers, companies, and passengers. The course explores negligence claims against drivers, direct and vicarious liability theories against companies, insurance gaps during different ridesharing “periods,” and evolving defenses. The program also addresses high-profile litigation, settlements, and regulatory actions, while highlighting key ethical considerations for attorneys handling ridesharing cases. By combining practical litigation strategies, case law analysis and ethical pitfalls, this CLE equips attorneys to effectively represent plaintiffs or defendants in ridesharing accident cases while maintaining compliance with professional responsibility standards.

Learning Objectives

- Identify the regulatory frameworks governing ridesharing companies, including state-level insurance, licensing and driver requirements.

- Analyze the employment status of drivers and evaluate its impact on liability allocation between drivers and ridesharing companies.

- Assess the applicability of legal theories such as negligence, respondeat superior, joint enterprise liability, and negligent hiring/retention.

- Evaluate insurance coverage during the three distinct ridesharing periods and recognize common coverage gaps for drivers, passengers, and third parties.

- Examine case law involving ridesharing accident claims, arbitration agreements, and regulatory settlements (e.g., Doe v. Uber, Good v. Uber, Meyer v. Uber, Gunter Willim v. Uber).

- Apply ethical rules to ridesharing cases, including duties of competence in technology, confidentiality obligations, conflict of interest assessments, and restrictions on financial assistance.

- Advise clients on emerging ridesharing issues such as data privacy, safety features, and potential common carrier status.

Zachary B. Pyers focuses his practice on civil litigation – including complex and class action litigation, corporate and commercial litigation, professional liability, and catastrophic loss.

The ethical rules regarding conflicts of interest may appear deceptively simple. However, there are numerous situations that may arise where they can be very complicated or deceptive. Or there could be an exception to the conflicts rule or a way to work around it with a well-crafted consent.

In this CLE, ethics expert & Professor of Legal Ethics Cari Sheehan will provide practical guidance on specific ethical situations that arise in your daily practice. Cari will mainly discuss the ethical framework, practical steps to avoid conflicts of interest and specific scenarios where conflicts occur. The steps to conflicts of interest resolution discussed: (1) identifying if it’s a current, former or prospective client, (2) analyzing whether a conflict exists, (3) determining if the conflict is consentable, (4) obtaining informed consent, and (5) remedies if the conflict is not resolved. Specific issues presented: joint representation, the informed disclosure that is required, simultaneous representation in unrelated matters, the material limitation standard, prior work conflicts, informed consent, injunctive relief, disqualification, fee forfeiture, former clients, imputed conflicts, utilizing a firm-wide database and creating ethical walls/screens. Model Rules implicated: 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 1.10 1.11 & 1.13.

With over 15 years of legal experience in civil litigation, conflicts of interest, and professional responsibility, Cari Sheehan serves as the Taft Law’s Assistant General Counsel. She is also an Assistant Clinical Professor of Business Law and Ethics with the IU Kelley School of Business in Indianapolis where she teaches courses in Business Law and Ethics.