eCourses

First Friday Ethics: March 2026

Need ethics credit? We’ve got you covered! UT Law CLE’s First Friday Ethics streams live every first Friday of the month, and features some of our best ethics speakers and presentations for a total of 3.00 hrs ethics credit. Fulfill your entire annual ethics requirement in Texas in one day! (0.75 hr ethics)The Use of AI in Drafting and Negotiating Leases: Ethical Considerations and LandminesThis presentation examines how AI is transforming lease drafting and negotiation, with a focus on ethical considerations and the risks of treating title and survey review as isolated tasks rather than interconnected analyses. It highlights why only purpose-built legal AI paired with human expertise, can deliver the precision, quality, and competitive advantage required to manage trillions in real estate transactions while safeguarding client interests. Lauren Hirt [Accepted] Orbital - London, England, United Kingdom (0.75 hr ethics)Ethical Challenges Facing Lawyers in the Constantly Changing Immigration World Explore how immigration lawyers can continue to practice safely and ethically in the wake of the March 2025 presidential memo, which has raised concerns about potential intimidation of the immigration bar. Discuss recent asylum developments and how to navigate shifting policies and political scrutiny while upholding our professional responsibilities. Craig Dobson [Accepted] Dobson Law LLC - New York, NY (1.00 hr ethics)From Stressed to Steady: Four Techniques You’ll Actually UseNow that you know how burnout works, this session gives you three science-backed tools you can actually use even when your calendar is packed and your brain feels fried. You’ll learn how to recognize early signs of burnout (in yourself and others), use negative thoughts as valuable signals, and move through stress in under a minute using the Capture & Compost Method™. This is where theory meets practice—because resilience isn’t a personality trait, it’s a skill you can build. Marla Mattenson [Accepted] Mattenson Coaching & Consulting, Inc - Santa Barbara, CA (0.50 hr ethics)Don’t Do It: Legal Temptations to ResistThis presentation is a reminder of the things lawyers are tempted to do, but the Rules of Professional Conduct, Standards of Appellate Conduct, and the good manners we were all raised on prevent. Hon. Tanya Garrison [Accepted] 157th District Court - Houston, TX

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

2024 Hot Topics in Consumer Bankruptcy: Rule 3002.1 Amendments; Appellate Tips; Disposable Income Disputes; and Settlement Spreadsheets

Session 1: Rule 3002.1 Amendments and Other Rules Updates - The amendments go into effect December 1, 2025. Let's discuss what you need to know.  Session 2: Appellate Tips in Consumer Cases and a Discussion of the Durand-Day Appeal - A discussion of appellate procedures and strategies in consumer bankruptcies and how they applied in the context of the recently decided Fifth Circuit Case Durand-Day which involved the 100% payment test and student loan claims. Session 3: Cash, Clash, and Confirmation: Disposable Income Disputes in Chapter 13 - When it comes to confirmation, one person's "disposable" is another's "untouchable." This session unpacks the ongoing tug-of-war over what income debtors must commit to their plans—and what they can keep in their pockets. Session 4: The Settlement Spreadsheet: Calculating Risk in Bankruptcy Cases - Learn how to leverage a spreadsheet tool designed to assess the risks of litigation versus the benefits of settlement. By incorporating financial data and legal parameters, this spreadsheet provides clear, data-driven insights that can guide strategic decisions in bankruptcy cases. Whether you're navigating debt restructurings or weighing settlement offers, this session equips you with the skills to make more informed, confident choices, ultimately improving outcomes for your clients.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

2025 Current Issues in Business Bankruptcy: Landlord-Tenant Challenges; Energy Issues; International; and Heathcare Bankruptcy

Session 1: Unlocking Landlord-Tenant Challenges in Bankruptcy: Why Communication Is Everything - The role of landlords in Chapter 11 cases has moved well beyond the confines of section 365. By drawing upon the perspectives of both landlord counsel and debtor counsel, gain insight into the latest commercial real estate trends in bankruptcy, including lease sales and auctions, assumption/rejection procedures, DIP/cash collateral issues and adequate assurance and sale issues. Particular emphasis is placed on the essential role of clear, timely, and collaborative communication, illuminating how a shared understanding of potential pitfalls, procedural requirements, and practical solutions can foster more favorable outcomes in the restructuring process.  Session 2: Renewable Energy and Oil & Gas Issues - Overview of the general climate, current tax implications, and forecast of insolvency and restructuring issues in the renewable energy landscape. Also, delve into recent developments in the rejection of midstream agreements containing covenants running with the land and Chapter 67 of the Texas Property Code affecting oil and gas bankruptcies. Session 3: Emerging Trends in International Bankruptcy - Recognition of and enforcement of foreign bankruptcies in Chapter 15 and otherwise. Should we be delighted or worried? And a comparison with Europe. Session 4: Healthcare Bankruptcy - A timely discussion on the mounting financial distress in the healthcare sector, highlighted by the recent Chapter 11 filings of Steward Health Care and Prospect Medical Holdings. Delve into the complex legal and business issues facing hospitals today—particularly those serving rural communities in states like Texas—and consider what the future holds for both private equity-backed and nonprofit healthcare systems.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

2025 Global Energy Outlook and the View to 2050

Hear a view of demand and current supply of energy and related products through 2050.

Includes: Audio Slides

AI Patent Procurement After Recentive

In Recentive Analytics, Inc. v. Fox Corp. et al. (No. 2023-2437, slip op. April 18, 2025), the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the ineligibility of claims essentially wrapping general-purpose machine-learning claim limitations around a known process. Practitioners also face more § 101 rejections of AI/ML claims. Yet strong AI patents are still possible. This explores practical aspects of what to ask inventors, what to draft, and what to claim to yield survivable AI-based patents, along with the USPTO’s ethics-based disclosure requirements.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Changes to USPTO Fee Structures and the Impact on Portfolio Strategies

Strategies for efficient cost management and leveraging fee structures to maximize portfolio protection in view of recent USPTO fee increases.

Includes: Video Audio Slides

Complex Lease Issues in Mixed-Use Projects

Mixed-use projects have become a staple of the real estate development world, and as the “live/work/play” demands of the US consumer have become more varied and sophisticated, so has the need for developers, lenders, owners, tenants and their counsel to address and resolve increasingly complex issues which arise in the lease agreements between project owners and occupants. This presentation addresses the evolving legal skillsets required to effectively lease and operate a project which includes potentially incongruent uses, such as retail, office, hospitality, entertainment, transit, logistics and residential components.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Current Issues and Considerations in Oil and Gas Taxation: New Twists on Established Concepts

Examine recent developments in the economic interest concept dealing with the availability of an alternate source of investment recovery. Discuss meeting the requirements for an election out under Section 761 in cases where third-party vendors dispose of hydrocarbon products such as “skim oil” and “drip” condensate on behalf of the producers in a joint operating agreement and where a gas balancing agreement is included in the joint operating agreement. Conclude by addressing certain drafting considerations, including with respect to the “Allocated Values” and Section 1060 allocation schedules to an oil and gas property purchase agreement to optimize the bonus depreciation deduction revitalized by the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Includes: Audio Slides

Data Center Contracts: Critical Issues and Contractual Rights

Driven by user demand over the last two decades and most recently by the exponential growth of AI, the data center industry is exploding in size and rapidly evolving. This session discusses the evolution of corporate users’ data center facility occupancy models including a brief technical introduction of modern data center features, several Mega-Trends affecting the data center industry, many legal issues important to corporate users and their outside counsel on data center procurement contracts, and the implications of AI adoption in “future-proofing” data center contracts.

Includes: Video Audio Slides

Dealing with Private Consumer Data in Bankruptcy

From 23andMe to crypto to the Catholic Church cases, privacy issues are cropping up everywhere in bankruptcy court. This panel of experts discuss recent issues concerning the sale of consumer data and protection of the personal information of creditors and other parties in interest.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Drafting Considerations for Subleases

This presentation provides an overview of the key concepts and issues related to subleasing. It addresses common practical issues, and offers helpful practice tips when negotiating sublease provisions.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Emerging IP Issues for Self-Driving Transportation

Includes: Video Audio No Materials

Federal Legislative Update for Energy Taxation (2025)

Discuss the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the prospects for additional tax legislation this year.

Includes: Audio Slides

Federal Regulatory Update Impacting Energy Taxation (2025)

From the Inflation Reduction Act to the National Environmental Policy Act, discuss the Trump Administration’s rollback of agency regulations and the Supreme Court’s decisions scaling back deference to agency regulations. The President has issued a number of Executive Orders that call for the elimination of obsolete federal regulations, but he has also issued an Executive Order calling for an acceleration of agency guidance under the One Bill Beautiful Bill Act’s tax provisions (“OBBBA”). Outline what federal agencies have done to date to align with the Trump Administration’s agenda. To the extent relevant for energy infrastructure projects and renewable energy tax credits, discuss proposals in Congress to expedite federal agency permitting of large-scale projects, taking into consideration the shortened timeline to qualify for certain renewable energy tax credits under the OBBBA.

Includes: Audio Slides

Getting Real about Roll-Ups and Other DIP Financing Issues

Examine the impact of roll-ups and other common issues in DIP financing. What drives a lender to negotiate for certain terms? How does a debtor handle those negotiations and the decision to enter into a DIP financing arrangement? How does the Bankruptcy Court approach approval of particular DIP financing terms?

Includes: Video Audio Slides

Hot Topics: Renewable Energy Tax Credits after the OBBB Act

Discuss key issues stemming from recent changes to U.S. renewable energy tax credit programs under the OBBB Act, including Executive Orders and sub-regulatory guidance issued after the OBBB Act was signed into law on July 4, 2025 and how companies have been addressing those issues in the months following the enactment of the OBBB Act.

Includes: Audio Slides

How to Succeed on Appeal: Tips from Seasoned Patent Practitioners

A frank discussion from seasoned Supreme Court and appellate practitioners about how to best position your case for success on appeal.

Includes: Video Audio Paper

Insurance, Casualty, and Related Risk Management Provisions in Commercial Leases

Examine lease provisions, and the corresponding provisions in loan documents, that affect how well insurance and risk allocation provisions work when called upon.

Includes: Video Audio Paper Slides

Liability Management Exercises for Companies in Distress

Liability management exercises have become an increasingly used “out of court” tool for companies facing stress or distress. The panel provides an overview of developments in the LME market, including the negotiation dynamics and structures of choice for LME transactions and recent litigation in the area.

Includes: Video Audio Slides

Litigating in the Unified Patent Court

Two and a half years after the UPC’s opening, Chuck Larsen of McDermott Will & Schulte shares lessons from a significant 9-patent case completed in the Paris Central Division and an ongoing infringement litigation before the Munich Local Division. The discussion offers practical insights into how the Court operates in practice, explores intersections with parallel U.S. cases, and highlights evolving strategic implications for global patent strategy and transactions.

Includes: Video Audio Slides