Publications and News

A panel of US and international speakers will use hands-on models to help you build and understand distributed ledgers and the potential applications and cost-savings of using blockchain. Using these same hands-on models, the panel will address potential GDPR issues posed by blockchain and distributed ledgers. Coding experience not required, but willingness to play with toys is!

This session will educate attendees on ways to keep their personal and professional information safe from hackers. In the first half of this session, participants will play an online game via their mobile devices to test their knowledge of cybersecurity best practices and privacy laws. Prizes will be awarded to participants with the most correct answers, and then panelists will discuss those parts of the game that gave participants the greatest challenges. In the second half of this session, attendees will take part in a war gaming simulation, envisioning the hours and days after a company becomes aware of an attack, with an emphasis on complying with international and state breach notification laws.

The use of wearable devices in the workplace for both health and productivity has exploded worldwide in recent years. The reasons are clear: a healthier workforce is low on costs and high on satisfaction. To employers, minimizing employee sick days and employee accidents, and maximizing employee efficiency, is a true numbers game. To compete in the marketplace, employers have to be better, faster and stronger. But is your company, and your workforce, ready for Big Brother? In this informative and interactive presentation, join us as a member of our fictional company, ALFA, Inc., as we dive into the legal and practical issues that come with wearable devices in the workforce.

International expansion can be a goal for any large corporation. But what legal challenges might cause a company to punt, rather than go for it? What strategies and considerations must be tackled before reaching the end zone? Strap on your helmet and hear from a panel of counsel that laid it all on the line and lead international expansion of their brands. Taking pages from their playbook, this hard-hitting discussion will tackle issues ranging from M&A considerations, governmental and geo-political challenges, labor and employment concerns, marketing and business development battles, and becoming a welcome champion in new territory.

Litigation of employment claims can be an expensive and unpredictable game when you have to depend on a jury as your referee. A well-crafted arbitration agreement in your playbook can give you the edge you need to win the big game. The presenters will discuss the pros and cons of employee arbitration agreements, whether to implement them, and how the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision on class action waivers in arbitration agreements can impact your play-calling.

These days, when it comes to the collection of electronically stored information, the best defense is a good offense. This panel will discuss the collection of ESI during the early stages of litigation and how best to locate and collect data from clients with unique and individualized processes and documentation. This panel will also discuss the sometimes-touchy subject of how much ESI to collect and when – and the tension that can arise between attorney and client during the process.

Non-California companies need not lose their home court advantage in enforcing restrictive covenants against California based employees. California’s recent enactment of Labor Code Section 925 attempts to prevent an employer from requiring an employee who resides and works primarily in California to agree to a non-California forum-selection clause. Learn practical strategies for avoiding the statute and ensuring the ability to litigate on your home court.

In May 2017, the New York Times published its ground-breaking article about Harvey Weinstein, which detailed a litany of alleged sexual misconduct by one of Hollywood’s most powerful men. This article and subsequent high-profile cases ignited the #MeToo movement. The movement’s impacts continue to reverberate around the globe, as the issues of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace have been placed squarely in the spotlight. The #MeToo movement has created a complex and divisive array of legal, business, and social issues for multi-national corporations, small business and governmental entities, non-profits, educational institutions, legislative bodies, and the courts. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the rule of law requires “debate” on public issues in an “un-inhibited, robust, and wide-open” manner. Synder v. Phelps, 131 S. Ct. 1207 (2011). Inspired by the Munk Debates, please join our ALFA International panelists for this fast-paced, interactive, and thought-provoking contest of verbal fisticuffs as we explore #MeToo and its impact on business, social equality, and due process of law.

This Family Feud style presentation provides valuable insight into the ins and outs of managing your company’s on-line brand. The questions and answers will focused on three main components: (1) understanding the complexities of your company’s on-line terms and conditions to ensure enforceability; (2) how to handle consumers’ ratings and reviews and deal with common challenges associated with managing (or not) such ratings and reviews; and, (3) how to manage your company’s social media risk.

Being first to market with innovation can result in big wins and big challenges. Are you rolling the dice on regulatory, quality and contractual issues? This sprint session discusses the possible pitfalls of innovation in the legal world.

International trade is undergoing substantial transformation, turning back the dial on 70 years of post- World War II trade liberalization. Beginning with Brexit and following the election of US President Donald Trump, major economies are demanding more reciprocal and “fair” trade. The US has unilaterally imposed significant tariff increases on close to $500 billion worth of imported goods, spurring millions in retaliatory tariffs from its trading partners. Major parts of the global economy are now in a full-blown International Trade War with immediate repercussions for international businesses. Companies relying upon an international network of supply chains suddenly find themselves in a mine field of economic and political risk. In sum, the international trade system has fallen under the influence of the Dark Side of the Trade Force. Our global panel of ALFA International lawyers and clients representing China, Nigeria, Peru, United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom will unleash their lightsabers and shed light on business solutions for these dark times.