Join us for ACC Mountain West's inaugural Tech Law Symposium on April 1, 2022 at the Grand America in Salt Lake City.
We invite in-house legal teams and other business leaders to come together for a top-notch conference on the latest issues in Tech.
7 CLE Credits pending
Program Agenda:
8:30 am-9:00 am: Registration/Breakfast
9:00 am-10:00 am: Managing IP and IP Issues in a Technology Company
Presented by Jeff Gunn, Shareholder and Andrew J. Baca, Shareholder, TraskBritt
For the intellectual property law newbie: a high level overview of intellectual property rights, with some specific information about managing intellectual property assets and intellectual property issues that sometimes arise in a technology company.
10:00 am-10:10 am: Break
10:10 am-11:10 am: Cybersecurity Best Practices from CISA and Critical Infrastructure Sectors, Ethics CLE
Presented by Armstrong Teasdale and the Association of Corporate Counsel – Mountain West Chapter
Last summer the White House issued an Executive Order on improving the nation’s cybersecurity, and a letter to corporate executives and business leaders urging them to immediately convene their leadership teams to discuss the ransomware threat and review corporate security posture and business continuity plan, leading government agencies to announce first-of-their-kind cybersecurity enforcement actions, and updates to decades-old data security standards. Join Ruben Arredondo, former in-house attorney for the Western Electricity Coordinating Counsel, Robert Kang, Chief Counsel for Cyber & National Security at Southern California Edison, and Romaine Marshall, cybersecurity attorney at Armstrong Teasdale, for a presentation and discussion to be moderated by renewable energy attorney, Jose Abarca, of Armstrong Teasdale.
The presentation will include a brief presentation on cybersecurity and data privacy best practices to help lawyers comply with their ethical and legal obligations, including application of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct 1.1 and 1.6, requiring attorneys to “keep abreast of changes in the law and its practice, including the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology” and the confidentiality of client communications.
11:10 am-12:00 pm: Hot Topics in Tech Law 2022
Presented by Rick Gilmore, Paul Johnson, Ryan Cook, Maschoff Brennan
- Upcoming Tech Regulations: How new rules will affect Utah Tech companies
- Patent Eligibility: Discrepancies between USPTO guidelines and federal circuit case law
- How the fallout from Epic v. Apple will affect the already delicate relationship between developers and platform providers
- The New Defend Trade Secrets Act: Should you keep your Tech a secret?
- Trademark Modernization Act Updates and Best Practices. New ex parte expungements, reexamination proceedings, attorney verification processes, and upcoming changes to office action response times.
12:00 pm-12:15 pm: Break
12:15 pm-1:00 pm: Special Lunch Speaker
Lance Soffe, Director of Targeted Industries, The Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity
Lance will focus on the growth of Utah's tech sector, how Utah catapulted to the dominant position it is in today, and areas of focus over the next 5+ years. This special lunch speaker will be available for in-person attendees only.
1:00 pm-2:50 pm: Key Terms in Cloud and Software Contracts: Intellectual Property, Commercial Terms, and Liability
Presented by David Tollen, Tech Contracts Academy
This 2-hour program will cover the key issues in IT contracts, particularly in agreements about SaaS and other forms of cloud computing and in software licenses. We will address the business issues behind each clause and talk through negotiation strategy and drafting. We will also debunk the many myths and misunderstanding surrounding these contracts, to help lawyers avoid common mistakes. The course is appropriate for counsel representing both information technology customers and vendors. Topics covered include:
- Top mistakes lawyers make in IT contracts
- Indemnities
- Software-as-a-service (SaaS) subscriptions vs. software licenses
- Data rights, management, and security
- Service level agreements (SLAs)
- Warranties
- Limits of liability
2:50 pm-3:00 pm: Break
3:00 pm-3:50 pm: Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs)
Presented by Dave Wright, Foley & Lardner
3:50 pm- 4:40 pm: Tech Talk: Best Practices for Communication Between Lawyers and Engineers
Presented by Shayne Nelson, Information Security Manager, Ebay; Elise Selinger, Lead IP Counsel, DexCom; Phil Harris, Partner, Holland & Hart
Elise, Shayne, and Phil will discuss key strategies for effective communication in the technical arena and vital practices in forming effective technical partnerships. Our panelists with different engineering, in-house, and outside counsel roles will detail different perspectives and approaches to avoiding problems, building trust, methods for improvement, and proven practical tips for excelling. The Panel will also discuss techniques for communication and relationships in the current era, including working from home and in the age of COVID, among other aspects.
This live event will be webcast for those outside of Utah. Virtual participants will be able to interact with presenters through a constantly monitored Chat session, and all questions will be addressed. We will apply for CLE in Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming.
We encourage companies to send their teams. If your group purchases 3-5 tickets together, you can save 10% off each ticket with the code GROUP3. If you purchase 6 or more tickets, you can save 15% on your tickets with the code GROUP6.
Covid Policy: Based on CDC guidelines, masks are strongly encouraged. We will endeavor to maintain social distancing in seating, and meals will be individually served.