Intellectual Property

February Virtual Platinum CLE: "It's a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s IP”?  presented by Platinum Sponsor,  Boyle Fredrickson. 
Learn how to use your x-ray vision to uncover hidden  IP. It lurks where you least expect it and can cause you untold harm...

Join Boyle Fredrickson attorneys as they discuss situations  that arise that may not appear to involve IP. They will present real world examples of different types of IP that may surprise you as being protectable rights that need to be respected.  Gain an understanding of how to spot and address these  types of IP issues. 

What are the most important things in-house counsel need to know to protect their clients’ intellectual property portfolio in 2022? In this session, we will look at developments at the USPTO, including electronic issuance of patents and trademarks registrations, the impact of the Trademark Modernization Act and the slowdown in processing times; anticounterfeiting resources and remedies to protect your brand; and metrics you can use to monitor the performance of your IP portfolio and measure the effectiveness of your outside counsel.

Join ACC Northeast and Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP for a virtual panel discussion on navigating your next steps after receiving a patent infringement demand letter. Patent infringement demand letters often originate from so-called "patent trolls" on fishing expeditions looking for a quick settlement, or these demand letters can be much more serious.

Finnegan attorneys, Cory Bell and Linda Thayer, along with our in-house panelist, Benjamin Brown, Chief IP Counsel and Assistant General Counsel of Onto Innovation will discuss next steps and considerations after receiving a demand letter and the importance of these considerations and subsequent actions for in-house counsel at both private and public companies.

Topics to be discussed include:

• How to assess the risk;
• Should you get a non-infringement opinion from patent counsel?
• Should it be written or oral?
• Is an inter partes review (IPR) at the Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB) appropriate?
• Do you have sufficient facts for a Declaratory Judgement action?

Register below.  The dial-in address will be sent within 24 hours of the event.

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.

A virtual conference to help meet your CLE requirements! Conference will included 5 hours of CLE (including one hour of ethics). This conference is designed for the in house practice. 

Panels include: Employment Update Ethics Best Practices for Legal Opinions, Current Case Law and Scenarios for Addressing IP Assertions COVID 19 Employment Issues Privacy

Only $35!

7:30 – 8:30                   Registration, Continental Breakfast and Visit Exhibits

8:30 – 8:40                   Welcome Remarks

                                    Kate Krebel, Leonardo DRS, 2022 President, Association of Corporate Counsel St. Louis Chapter            
                                    Bob Tomaso, Husch Blackwell, Immediate Past President, Bar Association of Metropolitan St.
                                    Louis

8:40 – 9:30                  Session 1:  The Ins and Outs of Supplier Diversity – Family Feud Style
                                       (Elimination of Bias/Ethics)
                                       Session Speakers:  Greensfelder                   

9:50 – 10:40                Session 2: The Future is Now:  Building Community, Fostering DEI, Developing Mentorship and Driving Quality Legal Work in the Hybrid Workplace
Session Speakers: Lewis Rice

10:40 – 11:00               Break: Visit Exhibits

11:00 – 11:50               Session 3: Religion and Politics in the Workplace 
                                     Session Speaker: Ogletree

12:00 – 1:15                 NEW Lunch and Presentation: 
                                      Legal Recruiting & the Great Resignation:  
                                      A Discussion with Amy Leafe McCormack, McCormack Schreiber Legal Search
                                     and
                                     Bob Tomaso, Managing Partner of Husch Blackwell

1:15 – 1:30                   Break: Visit Exhibits

1:30 – 2:20                  Session 5:  What Does the Company Know?  Selecting/Preparing the Company Designated
                                        Deposition Witness
                                        Session Speaker:  Stinson

2:20 – 2:30                   Break: Visit Exhibits

2:30 – 3:20                  Session 6:  Corporate Contracting Conundrum - Navigating the Evolving Patchwork of Privacy
Session Speaker: Armstrong Teasdale

3:20 – 3:40                   Break; Visit Exhibits

3:40 – 4:30                  Session 7: Brew Pubs of Saint Louis – The Culture of the Region’s Craft Beer
                                        Industry and Its Impact on Our Community
                                        Featured Speakers:  Thompson Coburn

4:30 - 6:00               Craft Beer & Cocktail Reception with Attendance Prizes Awarded