2026

First Friday Ethics (January 2026)

STUDIO WEBCAST Jan 9, 2026
Conference Concluded

Now available in eCourse format

Legal Ads: Advice From Veteran Lawyers in Small Firms
0.50 hr ethics
(Contains material from Dec 2025)
First Friday Ethics: January 2026
3.00 hrs ethics
(Contains material from Dec 2025)

Overview

10:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. (3.00 hr ethics)
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!

10:00 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. (0.50 hr ethics)
Cyberjustice Interrupted: How Ransomware Turns Risk Into Liability (Replay)
This CLE explores how ransomware and cyberattacks are impacting law firms and small businesses highlighting their legal, operational, financial, and compliance consequences. Participants gain practical insights into litigation trends, evolving cybersecurity threats, and how to build a human-centered defense through staff training, behavior-based awareness programs, and proactive risk mitigation. The session closes with actionable steps to lower risks and strengthen firm-wide defenses.

Stefanie Alexander, Attorney at Law, PLLC - Houston, TX
Melecia McLean, MeltalksCyber - New York, NY

10:50 a.m. to 11:25 a.m. (0.50 hr ethics)
Legal Ads: Advice From Veteran Lawyers in Small Firms (Replay)
This presentation explores how to ethically advertise according to the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct.

Jefferson K. Brim III, Brim & Brim, P.C. - Austin, TX
Rick Freeman, Austin, TX

11:35 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. (1.00 hr ethics)
Conflict Transactions: Developments in Navigating Perilous Waters (Replay)
Recent court opinions and amendments to state legislation have changed the rules for conflict transactions. Panelists discuss steps companies and their stockholders, directors and officers should take before and during deals in light of the changes, and what happens if they don’t.

Michael G. O'Bryan, Morrison & Foerster - San Francisco, CA
Scott B. Crofton, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP - New York, NY
Abby Davis, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP - Houston, TX
Robert R. Kibby, Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. - Dallas, TX
Kimberly Spoerri, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP - New York, NY

12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. (1.00 hr ethics)
The Use and Governance of AI in Legal and Compliance Departments (Replay)
Engage in, and leave with actionable suggestions for, how legal and compliance teams are supporting the use of AI, from piloting a single model within the department to supporting AI governance across the enterprise.

Steven Gyeszly, Valaris - Houston, TX
Chris Miller, General Motors - Detroit, MI

If you cannot watch the entire webcast at its scheduled time, register now and view the recording and eCourse when it is available in “Your Briefcase” after the webcast. Earn CLE credit (in TX and CA) on your time!

Event Schedule

Program is subject to change.
All times are Central Time Zone.

Time

Credit

Subject

Speaker
Friday Morning, Jan. 9, 2026
10:00 am

0.50 hr ethics

Cyberjustice Interrupted: How Ransomware Turns Risk Into Liability (Replay)

This CLE explores how ransomware and cyberattacks are impacting law firms and small businesses highlighting their legal, operational, financial, and compliance consequences. Participants gain practical insights into litigation trends, evolving cybersecurity threats, and how to build a human-centered defense through staff training, behavior-based awareness programs, and proactive risk mitigation. The session closes with actionable steps to lower risks and strengthen firm-wide defenses.

Stefanie Alexander, Attorney at Law, PLLC - Houston, TX
Melecia McLean, MeltalksCyber - New York, NY

Stefanie Alexander, Attorney at Law, PLLC - Houston, TX
Melecia McLean, MeltalksCyber - New York, NY
10:40 am

5-10 Minute Break
10:50 am

0.50 hr ethics

Legal Ads: Advice From Veteran Lawyers in Small Firms (Replay)

This presentation explores how to ethically advertise according to the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct.

Jefferson K. Brim III, Brim & Brim, P.C. - Austin, TX
Rick Freeman, Austin, TX

Jefferson K. Brim III, Brim & Brim, P.C. - Austin, TX
Rick Freeman, Austin, TX
11:25 am

5-10 Minute Break
11:35 am

1.00 hr ethics

Conflict Transactions: Developments in Navigating Perilous Waters (Replay)

Recent court opinions and amendments to state legislation have changed the rules for conflict transactions. Panelists discuss steps companies and their stockholders, directors and officers should take before and during deals in light of the changes, and what happens if they don’t.

Michael G. O'Bryan, Morrison & Foerster - San Francisco, CA
Scott B. Crofton, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP - New York, NY
Abby Davis, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP - Houston, TX
Robert R. Kibby, Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. - Dallas, TX
Kimberly Spoerri, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP - New York, NY

Michael G. O'Bryan, Morrison & Foerster - San Francisco, CA
Scott B. Crofton, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP - New York, NY
Abby Davis, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP - Houston, TX
Robert R. Kibby, Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. - Dallas, TX
Kimberly Spoerri, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP - New York, NY
12:35 pm

5-10 Minute Break
12:45 pm

1.00 hr ethics

The Use and Governance of AI in Legal and Compliance Departments (Replay)

Engage in, and leave with actionable suggestions for, how legal and compliance teams are supporting the use of AI, from piloting a single model within the department to supporting AI governance across the enterprise.

Steven Gyeszly, Valaris - Houston, TX
Chris Miller, General Motors - Detroit, MI

Steven Gyeszly, Valaris - Houston, TX
Chris Miller, General Motors - Detroit, MI
1:45 pm

Presentations Conclude

Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

Stefanie Alexander

Attorney at Law, PLLC
Houston, TX

Jefferson K. Brim III

Brim & Brim, P.C.
Austin, TX

Scott B. Crofton

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
New York, NY

Abby Davis

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Houston, TX

Rick Freeman

Austin, TX

Steven Gyeszly

Valaris
Houston, TX

Robert R. Kibby

Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C.
Dallas, TX

Melecia McLean

MeltalksCyber
New York, NY

Chris Miller

General Motors
Detroit, MI

Michael G. O'Bryan

Morrison & Foerster
San Francisco, CA

Kimberly Spoerri

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
New York, NY

Credit Info

STUDIO WEBCAST

MCLE Credit

Texas – 3.00 hrs | 3.00 hrs Ethics

You may claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the State Bar of Texas. A Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you upon claiming credit. The system reports Texas CLE credit every Tuesday. If you are claiming credit in the last week of your birth month, self-report your CLE credit directly to the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com, using the course number provided on your certificate of attendance.

California – 3.00 hrs | 3.00 hrs Ethics

To claim California MCLE credit, California credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. This accreditation requires attendance verification. UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. Verification pop-ups will NOT display when the webcast video player is in "full screen" mode. Furthermore, the notification sound effect alerting pop-ups, will NOT play on mobile devices. We recommend viewing from a computer, as opposed to a mobile device, should MCLE credit, other than Texas, be needed. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion.
You must claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE is required to provide the State Bar with electronic attendance records for any MCLE participatory activity within 60 days of completion of the activity. The California licensee is responsible for reporting their compliance/credit hours earned to the State Bar at the end of their reporting period directly to the State Bar of California at calbar.ca.gov. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.

MCLE credit is presented based on a 60-minute credit hour.

Oklahoma – 3.50 hrs | 3.50 hrs Ethics

To claim Oklahoma MCLE credit, Oklahoma credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. This accreditation requires attendance verification. UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. Verification pop-ups will NOT display when the webcast video player is in "full screen" mode. Furthermore, the notification sound effect alerting pop-ups, will NOT play on mobile devices. We recommend viewing from a computer, as opposed to a mobile device, should MCLE credit, other than Texas, be needed. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion.

The University of Texas School of Law (Provider #169) live webcast presentations meet the requirements and are presumptively approved by the Oklahoma Bar Association for MCLE credit based on a 50-minute credit hour. Upon claiming credit, a Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you. UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the Oklahoma Bar Association within 30 days after the webcast.

Pennsylvania – 3.00 hrs | 3.00 hrs Ethics

To claim Pennsylvania MCLE credit, Pennsylvania credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. This accreditation requires attendance verification. UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. Verification pop-ups will NOT display when the webcast video player is in "full screen" mode. Furthermore, the notification sound effect alerting pop-ups, will NOT play on mobile devices. We recommend viewing from a computer, as opposed to a mobile device, should MCLE credit, other than Texas, be needed. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion.

UT Law CLE is an approved provider of Pennsylvania credit, sponsor #236. Attorney attendance will be reported to Pennsylvania within 2 weeks after credit is claimed and submitted. Attorneys are not able to report this credit on their own, and UT Law CLE pays all associated fees for the credit hours. Contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.

MCLE credit is presented based on a 60-minute credit hour.

Other States – Expected – 3.00 hrs | 3.00 hrs Ethics

Note on Self-Reporting Your Credits in Another State

If you wish to satisfy MCLE or other professional education requirements in another state for a program offered by the University of Texas School of Law, please check with the state bar or other licensing authority in that state to ensure it will qualify for self-reporting your credits.

To claim Other States MCLE credit, Other States credit option must be selected PRIOR to viewing the live webcast. You must claim and certify your credit online in Your Briefcase, you will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records and to provide to other licensing authorities as needed.

This accreditation requires attendance verification. UT Law CLE monitors and records attendee responses to questions that randomly appear during the live webcast presentation. The response record is detailed on the Certificate of Completion.

MCLE credit is presented based on a 60-minute credit hour.

Key Dates

STUDIO WEBCAST – Jan 9, 2026

Conference Concluded

Buy

STUDIO WEBCAST

Individual
$145.00

Cancellation Policy
Last day for full refund cancellation: Jan 2, 2026
$0 processing fee applied after this date
Last day for cancellation: Jan 5, 2026