ACC Colorado In-House Counsel Forum 2024

What Corporate Counsel Need to Know About Patent Damages

With reports of nine figure jury awards in patent cases being almost commonplace, corporate counsel need a comprehensive understanding of patent damages to effectively navigate intellectual property disputes and protect their company's interests.

What are cost-effective and efficient ways to maximize (from the point of view of patent owners) or minimize (from the accused infringer’s perspective) patent damages?  

By staying informed about patent damages principles and practices, corporate counsel can effectively advise their companies on intellectual property matters and mitigate risks associated with patent infringement litigation.

Presenters:
Ted Mayle, Partner, Kilpatrick Townsend
Kevin Bell, Partner, Kilpatrick Townsend   
 

So, You’re the First (or Only) Attorney at the Company

Join us for a discussion with Jon Watson, Partner at Spencer Fane LLP, and Lance Goeddel, Chief Administrative Officer at B&R Auto Wrecking, as they share Lance’s invaluable experience as the first in-house attorney for multiple organizations.

Drawing from real-world examples, Jon and Lance will explore strategies for navigating this unique role, including how to balance various legal challenges while also working to add strategic value to your organization. Jon and Lance will focus on presenting practical insights and actionable advice that will empower you in your role as the first (or only) attorney at your company.

Presenters:
Jon Watson, Partner, Spencer Fane LLP
Lance Goeddel, Chief Administrative Officer, B&R Auto Wrecking

                       
Emerging Trends in the Digital Space: Practical Risk Management for Increasing and Evolving Litigation and Enforcement Threats

Few areas of law are as complex and fast-moving as data privacy, cybersecurity, and AI regulation. While legislatures and regulators seek to “catch-up” with digital trends, in-house counsel have the unenviable task of preparing their clients for such risk during a time of meteoric change and growth. Whether dealing with unanticipated regulatory enforcement, novel legal theories asserted in expensive class actions, or board pressure to manage the risks of digital innovation, all in-house counsel (not just privacy officers) need to (1) be aware of the latest legal trends and risks, and (2) develop strategies to mitigate those risks. Against this backdrop, Shook, Hardy & Bacon’s Denver privacy and cybersecurity team will provide an overview on these emerging trends and explain how to put your company in the best position to mitigate the risks. On the compliance side, we will discuss recent legislative and enforcement action at the state and federal level, including highlighting hot topics that might impact the way companies collect, use and disclose customer data. On the litigation side, the panel will discuss the current privacy class-action landscape, and the novel legal theories being asserted by the Plaintiff’s Bar that may put your company at greater risk in the future.  Finally, the panel will address the emergence of AI technologies, the legal frameworks that apply, and the policies all companies should have in place now to mitigate AI’s legal and reputational risks.

Presenters:
Camila Tobón, Partner, Shook Hardy Bacon LLP
Dan Rohner, Partner, Shook Hardy Bacon LLP
Susan Hubbard, Assistant General Counsel, Ping Identity
 

                              

                                                  
Navigating AI In the Workplace

This session will explore common legal issues and risks associated with the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the workplace. The panel will discuss the current state of the law concerning works, inventions, and work product created with the assistance of AI, including guidance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the U.S. Copyright Office concerning the ownership of AI generated materials.

In addition, the presentation will address confidentiality, ethics, accuracy, transparency, and privacy associated with the use of AI tools in the workplace. An overview of the European Union’s new Artificial Intelligence Act and how it will impact business over the next two years will be covered. Throughout the presentation, we will provide guidance on how to reduce the legal risks associated with the use of AI in the workplace. Overall, the presentation will help in-house attorneys develop policies and practices regarding the use of AI at your company.

Presenters:
Pete Kinsella, Partner, Perkins Coie
Sean Belding, Associate, Perkins Coie
 

Cultural Shifts in the Post-Pandemic Workplace             

For 18 months in 2020 and 2021, the world shut down. The American workplace that emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic was in many ways unrecognizable, yet it changed “working” forever. “Remote work” will forever be a part of workplace lexicon, as will issues related to vaccinations, paid sick leave, hybrid schedules, and more. The passage of time has started to solidify the labor and employment issues that will remain legal and organizational challenges in the future.

Our panel of inside and outside counsel will discuss the long-lasting impacts of the pandemic on hiring, firing, discipline, accommodation, and workplace rules generally, as well as the workplace culture shifts that have accompanied these legal changes and how companies can embrace this “new world order” and still maintain cohesion and productivity.

The panel will consist of in-house counsel who can share their unique experiences in surviving the pandemic and the post-pandemic shift from an organizational perspective and employment and workplace safety attorneys who can discuss the short-term and long-term legal impacts.

Presenters:  
Lyle Wallace, Member, Sherman & Howard
Meghan Martelon, General Counsel, ET Investments, LLC
Sarah McKinney, VP Legal and Regulatory Compliance, Ent Credit Union
Brooke Colaizzi, Member, Sherman & Howard   

Rocky Mountain Fright:
Complying with a Scary Set of New Colorado Employment Laws

Colorado’s sweeping changes to employment laws affect every employer in 2024. For prospective employees, employers should be cautious of how they advertise job openings and what they ask of job applicants. For current employees, there are significant changes to leave protections and workplace harassment laws that will likely alter internal policies and procedures. In this presentation, the speakers will examine Colorado’s pay transparency amendments, the Job Application Fairness Act, the Paid Family Medical Leave Insurance Act, and the Protecting Opportunities and Workers’ Rights Act.

Presenters:
William Cusack, Shareholder, Ogletree Deakins
Rebecca Lindell, Associate, Ogletree Deakins