Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery LLP will present a free webinar, “European Patent Filing Strategies: Choosing the Appropriate Option,” presented by Rudy I. Kratz and Tony Wray. The webinar will take place on Tuesday, August 30, 2016, at 9 am PDT / 10 am MDT / 11 am CDT / 12 noon EDT.

A number of patent filing strategies are available in Europe. Patent applications may be filed at the European Patent Office (EPO) and at national patent offices such as the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) and the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA). Utility model applications are another form of intellectual property protection that can be pursued in certain countries. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages, and some approaches may be more appropriate in certain circumstances based on cost and other concerns. Recent developments may also have an impact on which filing strategy makes the most sense.

The webinar will address the following topics:
• Summary of filing considerations at the EPO, UKIPO, and DPMA
• Advantages and disadvantages of specific filing strategies
• Effect of the UK vote to leave the European Union and the status of the Unitary Patent

CLE credit has been approved for California and Illinois and is pending in Nebraska. Other states may also award CLE credit upon attendee request.

Following the live event, a recording of the webinar will be available to view for one year at fitcheven.com.

Register for the webinar.

Practical Law will present a complimentary webinar on 409A and 457 regulations proposed by the Internal Revenue Service.

The webinar will be Tuesday, August 9, at 1 p.m. EDT.

On June 21, 2016 the IRS simultaneously issued proposed regulations under Sections 409A and 457 of the Internal Revenue Code, Practical Law says on its website. The proposed Section 409A regulations clarify a number of issues under existing Section 409A regulations. The long-awaited proposed Section 457 regulations prescribe rules for the taxation of deferred compensation arrangements of state or local governments or other tax-exempt organizations. Both sets of proposed rules provide enhanced flexibility in certain areas. Practical Law’s free webinar will include an overview of these proposed rules and address practical implications for employers and practitioners.

Presenters:
Daniel L. Hogans, Principal, Groom Law Group, Chartered
Jeffrey W. Kroh, Principal, Groom Law Group, Chartered
David W. Powell, Principal, Groom Law Group, Chartered

Moderator:
Jessica Cherry, Senior Legal Editor, Practical Law Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation

A brief Q&A session will follow.

Register for the webinar.

Practical Law will present a complimentary webinar on the use of Practice Point to incorporating new technologies into legal practices.

The 75-minute event will be Wednesday, August 3, at 1 p.m. EDT.

The discussion will cover three projects: an executive employment agreement, the creation of leave policies, and independent contractor classification, with explanation on how in-house practitioners can leverage Thomson Reuters.

Presenters:

Kate Bally, Co-Director, Practical Law Labor and Employment Service
Kate Bally joined Practical Law from Littler Mendelson P.C., where she worked as an associate in the employment group. Previously she was also an associate at Day Pitney LLP and a law clerk to the Honorable Stefan R. Underhill. Kate is Co-Director of Practical Law’s Labor & Employment Service.

Craig Vaughn, Strategy Manager, Practical Law
Craig Vaughn joined Practical Law in 2010, where he was one of the first Trainers and Account Managers to roll out the offering to the US market. Craig is now the Strategy Manager for Know-How and helps firms and companies best use Practical Law and Practice Point.

This program has been approved for CLE credit in AK, AZ, AR, CO, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, ME, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NY, NJ, NV, ND, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, UT, VT, WV, WI and WY.

Register for the webinar.

Practical Law will present a complimentary webinar Tuesday, July 26, 1-2:30 p.m. EDT, on evolving cybersecurity issues for banks.

In a release, the company said cybersecurity poses important and time-sensitive challenges to banks and will continue to do so into the foreseeable future. In addition to regulatory and compliance risks, cybersecurity also poses litigation and reputational risks. Bank counsel need to be at the forefront of cybersecurity to ensure that their bank’s directors, management, and employees are aware of the challenges and the measures that need to be taken.

Speakers will be Heath Tarbert and William White of Allen & Overy and Jeremy Estabrooks of Practical Law.

Topics will include:

• What cybersecurity entails and the types of cyber threats facing banks.
• Federal laws and regulations addressing cybersecurity.
• Federal regulatory guidance and resources.
• State laws and regulations addressing cybersecurity.
• What cybersecurity issues bank counsel should currently be thinking about.

A brief Q&A session will follow.

Register for the webinar.

Practical Law will present a free webinar about new DOL regulations that make major changes to the definition of “fiduciary investment advice” under ERISA.

The event will be Wednesday, July 13, at 1 p.m. Eastern time.

Practical Law’s webinar will explain the new standards and how they will affect investment advisers who give retirement advice and sell retirement products such as IRAs. The webinar will also focus on what plan sponsors need to do to comply.

Presenters:

George Sepsakos, Groom Law Group, (Washington, DC)

Heidi Winzeler, Director, Practical Law Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation

Register for the event.

Practical Law and Honigman Miller Schwartz & Cohn LLP partners Ron Whitney, Todd Sable, and Lawrence Murphy will present a free 75-minute webinar on managing risk in supply agreements.

The event will be Thursday, June 23, beginning at 1 p.m. EDT.

During this session, the presenters will discuss: risks associated with supply agreements; tools counsel can use to assist clients in managing such risks; and tips for addressing, limiting, and resolving disputes. The discussion will also highlight some of the key differences between the U.S. and Canada when it comes to supply agreements. A brief Q&A session will follow.

Presenters:
Ron Whitney, Partner, Honigman Miller Schwartz & Cohn LLP
Todd Sable, Partner, Honigman Miller Schwartz & Cohn LLP
Lawrence Murphy, Partner, Honigman Miller Schwartz & Cohn LLP
Robert Ford, Associate Legal Editor, Practical Law Commercial Transactions (Moderator)
John Mackie, Senior Lawyer/Editor, Commercial Practice, Practical Law Canada

CLE credit is available for: Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington. CLE credit is being sought for: Minnesota, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia CLE credit can be self-applied for in: Florida.

The webinar also will be available on-demand.

Register for the webinar.

Thomson Reuters Practice Point, a new tool that integrates the legal resources attorneys need to advise, negotiate and structure business dealings, is hosting a series of free 30-minute webinars providing an overview of current in-house legal trends.

June 15: Practice Point Exclusive Sneak Peek: Labor and Employment, 1:30 p.m. CT, featuring Kate Bally, Co-Director of Practical Law’s Labor and Employment service.

June 16: Practice Point Exclusive Sneak Peek: Capital Markets & Corporate Governance, 1:30 p.m. CT, featuring Chris Roehrig, Senior Legal Editor of Practical Law’s Capital Markets & Corporate Governance service.

June 22: Practice Point Exclusive Sneak Peek: Intellectual Property & Technology, 1:30 p.m. CT, featuring Rita Berardino, Senior Legal Editor of Practical Law’s Intellectual Property & Technology service.

June 23: Practice Point Exclusive Sneak Peek: Commercial Transactions, 1:30 p.m. CT, Featuring Laszlo Serester, Senior Legal Editor of Practical Law’s Commercial Transactions service.

Register for the webinars.

Oil & Gas Journal will discuss highlights of the publication’s annual Midyear Forecast in a free webinar scheduled for July 15 at 10 a.m. CDT.

“The Midyear Forecast is a special report that uses first-half data to update projections that appeared in OGJ’s Annual Forecast and Review this past January,” the Journal says on its website. “Both reports project oil and gas markets through the end of the year worldwide, analyze demand product by product in the US, and highlight trends that will carry on beyond the current year. The webcast also will discuss political developments important to the oil and gas industry.”

Presenters will be OGJ Editor Bob Tippee and Senior Editor-Economics Editor Conglin Xu, who will summarize the Midyear Forecast projections in key categories, note important changes from January’s forecasts, and examine reasons for the adjustments.

Register for the webinar.

Practical Law will present a free 75-minute webinar in which Matthew A. Karlyn, partner with Foley & Lardner LLP and co-author of “A Guide to IT Contracting: Checklists, Tools and Techniques,” to discuss practice tips on data privacy and security provisions of SaaS and other cloud service agreements, including a discussion of recent trends and issues.

The webinar will be Wednesday, June 15, at 1 p.m. EDT.

Data privacy and security are key issues for businesses who seek to upload their information onto the cloud, the company says on its website. Customers need assurance that the software as a service (SaaS) or other cloud service provider will maintain effective policies and practices to safeguard the confidentiality and security of their information.

In seeking this assurance, it is not enough for the customer to conduct due diligence of the provider’s practices because those practices, like the laws and regulations that govern them, can be a fast-moving target. Only by the skillful drafting of the customer’s cloud service agreement can counsel aim to ensure that the customer’s confidential, trade secret, and personal information stay well protected and that both the service provider and customer remain compliant with data privacy and security laws.

A key case is the pending replacement of the EU-US safe harbor framework with stringent requirements of a new, EU-US Privacy Shield for the handling of personal data. It is crucial to businesses that their cloud service agreements include terms broad enough to anticipate such legal developments, technological advances, and changes in standards and practices.

In this program, attendees will:

• Learn how to avoid common errors in data security, privacy, and disaster recovery provisions and provide for proper data protection both during and after the term of the cloud agreement.
• Explore effective remedies for breaches of data privacy and security.
• Consider the requirements of the EU-US Privacy Shield and its anticipated impact on cloud service customers and providers and the terms of their cloud service agreements.

A short Q&A session will follow.

Presenters:

• Matt Karlyn, Co-Chair Technology Industry Team, Foley & Lardner
• Paul Connuck, Senior Legal Editor, Intellectual Property & Technology

CLE credit is available for: Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington. CLE credit is being sought for: Louisiana, Minnesota, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia CLE can be self-applied for in: Florida.

Register for the webinar.

Practical Law will present a free webinar in which management attorney Christopher J. Collins of SheppardMullin, plaintiff’s attorney Kalpana Kotagal of Cohen, Milstein Sellers & Toll, and EEOC trial attorney Justin Mulaire discuss conciliation and intervention under the federal anti-discrimination statutes.

The event will be Thursday, June 9, beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern time.

The webinar will address obligations on the part of employers, charging parties and the EEOC in conciliating and litigating EEOC cases.

Presenters:
Christopher J. Collins, Partner, SheppardMullin Richter & Hampton LLP
Kalpana Kotagal, Partner, Cohen, Milstein, Sellers & Toll, PLLC
Justin Mulaire, Trial Attorney, US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

CLE credit is available for Arizona, Calif ornia, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington. CLE credit is being sought for Minnesota, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia. CLE credit can be self-applied for in Florida.

Register for the webinar.

Compliancy Group will present a complimentary webinar designed to give individuals and entities operating in the health care sector the skills they need to be prepared to identify, respond and manage data breaches in a timely, efficient and compliant manner.

The event will be Wednesday, June 15, beginning at 2 p.m.

“Data breaches are becoming more and more common among health care providers, payers and their vendors,” the company says on its website. “Some estimates indicate that one-third of all Americans had their health information breached in 2015 alone, and data breach costs are approaching $250 per affected individual – not including the million dollar penalties with government regulators have recently issued.

This webinar will give listeners the tools they need to develop a data breach plan to protect their organization.

Register for the webinar.

The International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) will present its inaugural Corporate Counsel Training Academy, in partnership with Georgetown Law CLE, June 16-17 at Georgetown Law Center in Washington, D.C.

Registration is still open for the two-day CLE program designed to provide practical training for counsel with three or fewer years of in-house experience, as well as those who are planning a transition from a law firm or a government position to a corporate legal department.

“The IADC created the Corporate Counsel Training Academy as a practical ‘bootcamp’ to help ease the sometimes difficult transition from outside law practice to in-house counsel,” said Alfred R. Paliani, IADC’s vice president of corporate and co-organizer of the Academy. “Our Academy faculty is composed of experienced corporate counsel with first-hand experience with the issues that they will address during the Academy – focusing on the practical, not the theoretical.”

A 2,400 member, invitation-only organization, the IADC serves its members and their clients, as well as the civil justice system and the legal profession. The organization maintains a leadership role in many areas of legal reform and professional development.

Academy attendees will receive advice and real-world tips that they can take back to their desks and use immediately. Session topics will include:

–Transitioning from Outside to Inside: What is this Strange New World?;
–It’s Your Money Now: The Reality of Life as An In-House Attorney;
–Mini MBA for In-House Lawyers: Essential Accounting and Financial Concepts;
–Ethics for Corporate Counsel 101: A New Paradigm;
–What DO GCs Look For in Newly Hired In-House Lawyers?; and
–21st Century Darwinism: Evolving from Corporate Lawyer to Corporate Leader.

“Through these and other topics, Academy faculty will share the kinds of practical insights that will make senior in-house lawyers say, ‘Wow, I wish I knew some of that stuff when I first left my law firm to go in-house,’ ” Paliani added. “We look forward to the Academy becoming an annual event and popular addition to IADC’s high-quality education programming that benefits our members and the legal community at-large.”

The Corporate Counsel Training Academy is open to IADC members and non-members. For additional information, including the program brochure, or to register for the program, visit http://www.iadclaw.org/education-events/cle-events/corporate-counsel-training-academy/. A live webcast of the program will be available for attendees who are unable to participate in-person.

The International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) is an invitation-only global legal organization for attorneys who represent corporate and insurance interests. Founded in 1920, the IADC’s members hail from five continents, 45 countries, and all 50 U.S. states. The core purposes of the IADC are to enhance the development of skills, promote professionalism, and facilitate camaraderie among its members, their clients, as well as the broader civil justice community. For more information, visit www.iadclaw.org.

Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery LLP will host a complimentary webinar, “The Defend Trade Secrets Act: A Federal Remedy at Last,” presented by Thomas F. Lebens. The webinar will take place on Wednesday, May 25, 2016, at 9 am PDT / 10 MDT / 11 am CDT / 12 noon EDT.

Congress recently passed the Defend Trade Secrets Act, and with President Obama’s expected signature, a federal civil remedy for trade secret misappropriation will become law, Fitch, Even says on its website. The bill will mean a shake-up for U.S. trade secrets law, which for years has been protected by a patchwork of state laws under various enactments of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act. A single federal statute would move us toward applying the law uniformly nationwide, and trade secret claims could be filed in federal court. The new law, however, will not completely replace state trade secrets law, but will coexist with it. Protections for trade secrets will be more on balance with those available to patents, copyrights, and trademarks.

The webinar will address these major provisions of the Defend Trade Secrets Act:

• Ex parte seizure of property to prevent dissemination of trade secrets
• Preemption of state law prohibiting restraints on employment
• Whistleblower protections for reporting trade secret misappropriation
• Enhanced damages

CLE credit has been approved for California and Illinois and is pending in Nebraska. Other states may also award CLE credit upon attendee request.

Following the live event, a recording of the webinar will be available to view for one year at fitcheven.com.

Register for the webinar.

Practical Law will present a webinar discussing best practices for Section 337 patent litigation and current hot topics at the International Trade Commission (ITC), such as standard essential patents and the Commission’s jurisdiction over electronic data importations.

The 75-minute event will be Tuesday, May 10, 1-2:25 p.m. EDT.

Commencing a patent infringement investigation at the International ITC under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 is a powerful weapon in a patent owner’s arsenal, Practical Law says on its website. Section 337 patent infringement investigations offer several advantages over patent litigation in federal district court, including swift resolution of disputes and broad availability of injunctive relief. However, Section 337 investigations also have potential risks, including substantial litigation costs and discovery requirements.

The webinar will feature (i) Charles Schill, a partner at Steptoe & Johnson LLP who has handled more than 130 unfair trade practice Section 337 investigations, and (ii) former ITC Administrative Law Judge Robert Rogers, who held 20 hearings during his tenure resulting in 17 Final Initial Decisions.

A short Q&A session will follow.

Presenters:
Charles F. Schill, Partner, Steptoe & Johnson: Charles focuses his practice on the intersection of international trade and intellectual property law. He has handled more than 130 unfair trade practice cases under Section 337 of the Tariff Act at the ITC, and has won or favorably settled almost all of them. He previously served as a Senior Staff Attorney in the Office of Legal Services and the Office of General Counsel at the ITC.

Robert K. Rogers, Jr., Attorney at Law: An attorney for 39 years, Mr. Rogers was an Administrative Law Judge for 19 years, including 5 years as an ALJ at the U.S. International Trade Commission. He was assigned more than 55 cases, held 20 hearings, issued 17 Final Initial Decisions, 2 TEO Decisions, and concluded one case by summary determination. Mr. Rogers has extensive experience in litigation related to patents and trade secrets, and his experience spans a breadth of industries, issues, and forums, which provides him the ability to effectively assist litigants in reaching settlement of patent and trade secret matters.

Register for the webinar.

Compliance Group will present a complimentary webinar on HIPA compliancy for business associates Thursday, April 21, beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern time.

HIPAA compliance for business associates has become critical, especially when they deal with medical professionals, Compliancy Group says on its website. This webinar will explain the law, what business associates need to know and do to be compliant, and how to differentiate a firm to acquire new and maintain current clients.

The webinar will cover:

• The steps on how to become HIPAA compliant as a Business Associate
• What an effective BAA should include
• How to help existing and new healthcare clients with compliance
• Why it is important to differentiate yourself as HIPAA compliant

Register for the webinar.

BanbooHR will present a complimentary webinar designed to help companies’ human relations departments become more strategic to solve more imminent business problems.

The webinar will be Tuesday, April 19, beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern time.

On its website, the company says the webinar will begin with an economic perspective around the pressures business is putting on HR to upskill themselves, and then will go into a discussion of the strategies and principles that can be used to escape the operational handcuffs holding executives back from fulfilling this higher-value promise.

Topics will include:

• Learn what Strategic HR actually means
• Learn how to escape the operational and become strategic
• Learn how to gain relevance, influence and authority in your organization
• Learn immediate steps you can take to reinvent your department
• Learn to think and speak the language of business

Speakers will be Angela Watson, Enterprise Account Executiv of eFileCabinet, and Rusty Lindquist, VP of Strategic HR Insights of BambooHR.

Register for the webinar.

Baker Botts has posted an on-demand video webinar hosted by partners Manny Grillo, Shalla Prichard and Jim Prince titled “Baker Botts Corporate Series: Staring Down the Barrel,” in which the moderators discuss the state of the energy finance market and the related legal developments.

The firm says the video shares insights from the finance and restructuring market and highlights some of the latest developments and trends. The program takes a look at the impact of last year’s deal activity and what it will mean for this year. The panelists comment on what they have seen and expect to see this year from both a legal and business perspective and the opportunities created by the markets.

Watch the video.

David A. Lurker has joined Buchalter Nemer in Orange County as a shareholder in its Real Estate Practice Group, the firm announced. Lurker, who joins from Voss Cook & Thel, LLP, has more than 30 years of experience guiding real estate clients in deal structuring through various economic and industry cycles in the real estate market.

“David’s knowledge of the recent history of the real estate sector will be an excellent asset for our clients as they navigate the transaction environment in 2016 and beyond,” said Adam J. Bass, President and Chief Executive Officer of Buchalter Nemer. “He’s a welcome addition to our strong real estate practice and our growing roster of seasoned experts in this industry.”

Lurker represents owners, developers, investors, contractors, landlords, tenants, property managers and lenders in transactions that involve purchases and sales, development, leasing, and construction of all types of projects. These projects include retail, office, industrial, residential, multifamily, senior housing, churches and nonprofit ventures.

Read the firm’s announcement.

Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery LLP will hold a complimentary webinar, “So You Think You Know Patent Claims? Advanced Lessons in Patent Drafting and Analysis,” presented by Steven G. Parmelee and Allen E. Hoover. The webinar will take place on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, at 9 am PST / 10 am MST / 11 am CST / 12 noon EST.

The firm says that, even if you have practiced IP law for many years or are otherwise well-versed in what’s involved in patent drafting, you may be surprised by what you don’t know about patent claims.

Presenters will cover the following topics:
• The right and wrong way to use dependent claims to strengthen a patent
• How to avoid claim language that can impair the patent holder’s rights
• What you may not know about alternative claim language in patent claims

The firm says this webinar will be the first in an occasional series of “master classes” for experienced IP practitioners, patent owners, and others entrenched in the world of IP who already possess at least a basic understanding of patents and patent claims. It will be of interest to both those who analyze and litigate patents and those who draft patent applications.

CLE credit has been approved for California and Illinois and is pending in Nebraska. Other states may also award CLE credit upon attendee request.

Following the live event, a recording of the webinar will be available to view for one year at fitcheven.com.

Register for the webinar.

Hall Estill of Oklahoma is expanding its oil and gas practice with the addition of Leah Rudnicki to the firm’s Oklahoma City office.

“Leah’s distinctive background as in-house counsel, leader of an oil and gas company and extensive litigation experience will further enhance our expanding oil and gas practice,” Michael D. Cooke, Hall Estill’s managing partner, said. “She will provide our clients valuable strategic business advice along with superb litigation counsel.”

Rudnicki, who was most recently a partner at Reed Smith in Houston, is an Oklahoma native who graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2001.

“I have a long history with Hall Estill beginning in 1997 with a summer job while completing my undergraduate degree at the University of Oklahoma, and I’m grateful to be back,” Rudnicki said. “Hall Estill has a solid vision and robust strategy for the future, and I look forward to serving our clients on issues that are important to their business.”

Less than 10 years after law school, Leah was president of a private independent oil and gas operator with operations assets in Oklahoma and Texas. Under her management, the business grew from 17 operated wells in Oklahoma to nearly 300 operated wells in Oklahoma and Texas and from two to more than 30 employees.

In a release, Hall Estill said that, as a litigator in private practice, Rudnicki has represented, counseled and advised a diverse range of clients, from small independent businesses to Fortune 500 companies in various disputes in front of state courts, federal multi-district panels, arbitration panels, and local and federal administrative agencies. Most recently, her practice has focused on general advice, litigation, and dispute resolution for oil and gas clients, including, landowner/joint venture disputes, drilling in city limits, alleged breach of joint operating agreements and lease agreements, issues related to horizontal drilling, fracking and disposal wells (water pollution/earthquakes), and royalty/JIB accounting disputes.

Rudnicki previously worked as in-house litigation counsel for a Fortune 500 oil and gas services company. In this position, she advised the company’s corporate litigation department and health, safety, environment, and security departments on a wide range of issues, including responding to potential new regulations affecting the oil and gas service industry. She was instrumental in updating, implementing, and communicating internal policies, preparing a strategy for effectively managing a national toxic tort docket and assessing successor liability claims.