eCourses

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!   This month includes: (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics) Mum's the Word: Maintaining Client Confidentiality and Dealing with Ethical Challenges while Working from Anywhere and Everywhere (Replay) Working remotely and virtual meetings are here to stay. This presentation provides practical suggestions for structuring engagement letters, addressing conflicts of interest, and safeguarding client communications across all mediums. Braxton Wilks, Winstead PC - Austin, TX   (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics) Serving Two Masters (Replay) Discuss conflicts that arise between “clients,” the tripartite relationship, Tilley and its aftermath, the ethical dilemmas lawyers face, and knowing who you really represent. Gayla Corley, MehaffyWeber, P.C. - San Antonio, TX   (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Generative AI: Developments and Ethical Implications (Replay) Harnessing the power of AI to drive new ways of doing business and increasing growth is something all organizations are trying to do. The use of generative AI creates risks to organizations including violation of privacy, inaccurate or false representations, and unethical practices, to name a few. Implementing the right controls and ethics training alongside generative AI is necessary – so where do you start? Brooke A. Hopkins, Alvarez & Marsal - Dallas, TX Emily R. Apte, King & Spalding - Austin, TX Robert Denby, Vinson & Elkins LLP - Houston, TX Daniel Meyers, TransPerfect Legal - Dallas, TX Matt Wernz, Federal Trade Commission - Dallas, TX (0.50 hr | 0.50 hr ethics) Sanctions and Privileges (Replay) Sanctions: How to get them or avoid them. Privileges: How to keep them or lose them. Hon. H. DeWayne "Cooter" Hale, Retired U.S. Bankruptcy Judge - Dallas, TX Trip Nix, Holland & Knight LLP - Austin, TX

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Session 01: Beyond IT Security: Legal and Cyber Security Considerations in the OT World - Industrial Control Systems and Operational Technology have unique challenges and risks. Explore some of those risks from service disruption and data disclosure, as well as the legal and technical considerations and mitigations and some of the risk implications of emerging AI technology. Session 02: Navigating the Cybersecurity Landscape: Best Practices for Governance - A robust discussion and insights from the field on effective cybersecurity governance, including regulatory requirements, key elements of a governance program, and best practices and risk mitigation strategies. Session 03: Taking Your Incident Response Plan to the Next Level - An organization’s resiliency to a cyber-attack is critical to mitigating the operational, reputational, and legal impact of the incident. Explore the steps organizations should be taking to take their incident response plans to the next level, including harmonization among various response plans, developing detailed legal and privacy playbooks, and conducting exercises that target the most challenging issues organizations face in cyber-attacks. Session 04: Vendor Risk Management - A discussion with industry leaders on cybersecurity issues arising in vendor relationships. The panel discusses third party auditing, cyber incident notification, the recently adopted Reg S-P amendments, and vendor use of AI. Session 05: Do You Know What Your Outside Counsel is Doing to Protect Client Information? - Law firms are now targets for hackers, including nation-state actors that seek to steal sensitive and valuable client information and cause disruption and other damages. Are your outside counsel taking the appropriate steps to ensure the safety of your information? Session 06: The Role of the Board: Before, During and After a Cybersecurity Incident - A summary from sitting board members and board governance experts on obligations, tips, and best practices for boards in preparing for and responding to cybersecurity incidents, and in affectively evaluating and addressing the attendant risks. Session 07: Developing an AI Governance Program - Practical guidance and considerations in developing and implementing governance around the internal use of AI.

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Session 01: Finaceability of Documents - Explore financeability requirements for documents in commercial real estate financing. Session 02: What Is Negotiable in Loan Documents - Discuss issues, motivations and explanations of the loan document provisions that are typically negotiated in a commercial real estate lending transaction. Session 03: Loan Modifications  Session 04: Contesting Property Tax Appraisals - The Property Tax Protest and Appeal process can be confusing. With fifteen-minutes as the average length for an Appraisal Review Board hearing, review strategies for what to do and not do before your values are set in the Summer, and tax statements arrive in the Fall. Session 05: Arrows in the Quiver: Remedies for Commercial Real Estate Secured Loans - Review of potential remedies available to enforce and collect commercial real estate secured loans. What are the requirements? What are the pros and cons?     Session 06: Give a Little, Get a Little - A push and pull open discussion of the interactions of lender counsel with the borrower, guarantor and equity counsels. Session 07: Title Insurance: Common Title Issues and Fixes - Hear a title insurance update including common title issues that arise in a transaction and how to clean up a title after a project as gone wrong. Session 08: Intercreditor Agreements: Avoiding Lender on Lender Violence in the Closing Process - An examination of intercreditor agreements from the perspective of each of the borrower, the senior lender and the mezzanine lender.  Session 09: Escrow Agreements - A review of the various uses, types of Escrow Agreements, Escrow Agent options, regulatory and drafting concerns and forms availability. Session 10: Follow the Money - How to Avoid Mortgage Fraud - The real estate and mortgage industry has seen an increase in fraud in the wake of the Pandemic. Learn to spot the red flags for avoiding mortgage fraud by getting to know your customers and going beyond the paperwork.

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Provide an update on the current status of the new asylum regulations, litigation, and tips for asserting eligibility for asylum despite recent restrictions, and highlight recent BIA and Fifth Circuit decisions in asylum, WOR and CAT cases.

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Precedential case law updates spanning 2023 to 2024, with a focus on decisions positive for noncitizens where possible! Hear a discussion on Supreme Court updates, as well as interesting precedent from the Fifth Circuit, other Circuits, and BIA. Topics will include asylum, crimmigration, and more!

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Discuss recent developments and other consular issues.

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In the high-stakes world of M&A, deal lawyers must balance the interests of their clients with the demands of professional conduct, navigating the maze that is confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and the ever-present temptation to push boundaries. Join us as we explore more real-world ethical challenges that can make or break a deal – all while keeping you from being the target of a disciplinary investigation.

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Need direction on how to navigate the complex and ever-evolving energy landscape? This panel discusses the critical nuts-and-bolts for structuring and negotiating successful energy M&A deals in today's dynamic market. Our expert panel shares invaluable insights to help you stay ahead of the curve and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

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THIS MONTH: Current Compliance Issues and Trends • Approaches to Statutory Interpretation • Effective and Defensive Documentation from Hiring to Firing • Did You Just Waive Privilege? Protecting Privilege and Attorney Work Product • Medicaid Planning or Medicaid Avoidance?

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The latest trends and strategies shaping the dynamic world of private equity M&A from pros in the know, who will share insights on navigating the latest in complex deal structures, maximizing value, and staying ahead of the curve in PE’s rapidly evolving market.

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In their thoughtfully entertaining style, Rick and Joel, with Jessica joining to stir the pot, will showcase strategies, tactics, and compromises that can make or break an earnout and other forms of contingent consideration.

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Joint ventures are emerging as an increasingly popular strategy for companies, including financial sponsors, seeking to leverage complementary strengths, share risks, and access new markets. Our experts explore the insights and strategies needed to navigate the complexities in structuring, negotiating, and drafting JVs, including, practical pro-tips to achieve strategic objectives while mitigating risks so the parties can remain honeymooners for life.

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Explore the ways that people in quasi- immigration status’ such as TPS, Deferred Action, Parole Status and DACA can adjust status or pursue an immigrant visa in the family or employment based context.

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RWI continues to be ubiquitous and ever evolving, with significant changes highlighted by decreasing rates, increased capacity, and new/hungrier underwriting approaches. In addition to an in-depth market trends update, this panel will drill down with the latest cutting edge thinking on how to effectively implement an RWI deal, including negotiating the RWI policy (what to look for and try to get best terms on) and resulting drafting considerations in the purchase agreement.

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Learn best practices when filing for SIJS predicate orders from the best in Texas! Focus on the family court orders required for filing for special immigrant juvenile visas, with a view from both sides of the bench.

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Facing the limitations of the annual H-1B cap, attorneys must provide creative solutions for college graduates in the STEM fields. Explore the practical solutions found within the F-1 visa category, such as OPT extensions and “Day One” CPT, as well as non-F-1 options from concurrent H-1B employment, to investment based options, to early filing of National Interest Waiver or other non-PERM green card options.

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For the distressed company, creative dealmaking can often provide a lifeline and a path to recovery - without the need for a formal bankruptcy process. For the opportunistic buyer, the chance to buy on the cheap is irresistible. Our panel explores the challenges and opportunities of catching a falling knife.

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A comprehensive review of specific criminal offenses in Texas and their potential immigration implications. The speakers will provide guidance on advising immigrant clients about the potential challenges associated with these offenses.

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With AI all the rage, what are the need-to-know insights for deal lawyers navigating the complex and evolving landscape surrounding AI technology, especially AI-generated content and AI-powered decisionmaking? Speaking human, this panel explores today’s and around-the-corner key issues in buying or selling an AI company.

Includes: Video Audio Slides