Join DRI Business Litigation and IP Litigation Attorneys in Houston!

Renowned in-house counsel from NASA, the FBI, and Fortune 500 companies, as well as judges, and trial attorneys from across the country will meet in Houston, Texas, March 21-23, 2022 for the 2022 DRI Business Litigation and Intellectual Property Litigation Super Conference. Along with cutting-edge and timely topical presentations, the conference offers a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, network with industry counsel and preeminent attorneys, and hear two keynotes: “The Rewards of Building Meaningful Relationships” and “Challenges of Being a Transgender High Profile Trial Attorney.” You’ll also be able to attend breakout sessions in the areas of cybersecurity/data breach, class actions, government enforcement/corporate compliance, and more.

View registration information here, and make sure to register by February 4 for the best pricing!

What You Will Learn:

• The law of space from a NASA attorney and updates on commercialization of low Earth orbit
• What are NFTs? What are the IP implications?
• Tips from a pastor and an IP attorney on how to avoid copyright pitfalls when livestreaming events
• The intersection of intellectual property law and race
• The effect of the recent NCAA v. Alston ruling on your favorite college sports team/athletes
• The importance of building meaningful relationships in a diverse, global world
• Class Actions: (1) The effect of TransUnion v. Ramirez on absent class member standing; (2) Current issues on global class action funding; and (3) the latest on the TCPA class action 'minefield'
• Cybersecurity and Data Privacy: Practical tips to an effective cybersecurity compliance; preparing your business for the growing ransomware threat
• Government Enforcement: Tips for a compliance ‘tune-up’ and maintenance
• Business Contracts and Torts: (1) Practical application of force majeure provisions in commercial leases; and (2) Tips on when M&A brokers must register as securities broker-dealers
• Pretrial Practice: Learn the importance of telling a “story” throughout the pretrial process

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

• 7:00 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast
• 8:00 a.m. Welcome and Introduction
  • Liam E. Felsen, Frost Brown Todd LLC, Louisville, KY
  • G. Warren Bleeker, Lewis Roca, Los Angeles, CA
  • M. Re Knack, Law Institute
  • Todd Presnell, Law Institute
• 8:15 a.m. NCAA v. Alston: How The Recent Supreme Court Ruling Has Transformed College Sports. This will be a joint panel session discussing the numerous legal implications, including antitrust and right of publicity, for student-athletes and educational institutions stemming from the recent Supreme Court decision. Learn from a sports lawyer who represents student athletes and an IP attorney regarding right of publicity issues.
  • Luke A. Fedlam, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, Columbus, OH
  • Thomas J. (T.J.) Mihill, Intellectual Property & Technology Group, Stites & Harbison, PLLC, Atlanta, GA
• 9:15 a.m. KEYNOTE: “The Rewards of Building Meaningful Relationships." In a coffee chat session, C.E. Rhodes, Frost Bank Group Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, will discuss how his focus on developing and maintaining relationships has rewarded him throughout his career. Prior to joining Frost, C.E. was both a litigator and transactional attorney, practiced at large law firms and international companies, and lived abroad. Thus, C.E. can provide a global perspective on mentorship and relationships. - C.E. Rhodes, Frost Bank, Houston, TX
• 10:15 a.m. Refreshment Break
• 10:45–11:45 a.m. Business Litigation & IP Litigation Breakouts
• Business Litigation: Transunion v. Ramirez and Absent Class Member Standing. In TransUnion v. Ramirez, the Supreme Court reiterated that the Constitution prevents uninjured plaintiffs from suing in federal court. The decision is a ringing endorsement of the principle announced five years earlier in Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins that Article III requires that injuries be “real” and “concrete,” and that a mere statutory violation, standing alone, is not enough to sue. Significantly, TransUnion makes clear that these standing requirements apply to absent class members as well, and that federal courts cannot award damages to absent class members who lack standing. The presentation will discuss the impact of TransUnion on class action litigation, including how defendants can invoke TransUnion to oppose class certification on standing grounds and how the plaintiffs’ bar might seek to adapt to TransUnion. - Archis Parasharami, Mayer Brown, Washington, D.C.
  IP Litigation: What is Space Law?
• Lead NASA attorney for the International Space Station will discuss the law of space and touch upon recent developments in commercialization of low Earth orbit and NASA’s future exploration plans. - Rebecca Bresnik, NASA Senior Counsel, Houston, TX
• 11:45 a.m. Lunch (On your Own)
• 1:30 p.m. Class Action, Government Enforcement, and Cybersecurity/Data Breach & Intellectual Property Litigation Breakouts
• 5:00 p.m. IP Litigation Committee Business Meeting; Commercial Litigation Committee Business Meeting
• 6:00 p.m. Networking Reception

Click here for full Agenda and more information about this conference.