First Friday Ethics (July 2025)

STUDIO WEBCAST – Jul 11, 2025

10:00 a.m. to 1:35 p.m. (3.00 hr | 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! This month includes: 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics) Use of AI in Litigation (Replay) Understanding the basics of how AI works, the dangers and pitfalls with current AI technology, and ways AI can (or should not) be used in litigation. J. Hoke (Trey) Peacock III, Susman Godfrey LLP - Houston, TX 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics) When Lawyers Make the News: It’s Not About You. It’s About Your Client. (Replay) With the guidance provided by the Texas Rules of Professional Conduct, the Texas Lawyer’s Creed, and existing ethics opinions, this presentation focuses on ethical considerations lawyers often face when handling cases that make the news and will offer practical guidance on avoiding common pitfalls that arise when your case makes the spotlight. Consider lessons learned from stories and examples of lawyers who themselves made headlines and faced legal trouble for ethical lapses in the scope of client representation. Thomas P. Brandt, Fanning Harper Martinson Brandt & Kutchin, P.C. - Dallas, TX John Husted, Fanning Harper Martinson Brandt & Kutchin, P.C. - Dallas, TX 11:55 a.m. to 12:55 p.m. (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) Who’s Your Client? (Replay) Identifying your client seems like a simple issue, but it is frequently complicated, particularly with organizational clients such as partnerships, LLCs, corporations or trusts, or even simply joint return filers. The client’s identity in turn bears on all sorts of ethical and practical issues, including conflicts, where your duties lie, how to advise organizational clients, protect client confidences and privileges, handle communications with others and common interest agreements, etc. Christopher S. Rizek, Holland & Knight - Washington, DC 1:05 p.m. to 1:35 p.m. (0.50 hr | 0.50 hr ethics) Updated Texas Disciplinary Rules: What You Should Know (Replay) New and amended disciplinary rules took effect in October 2024, adding a number of clarifications and additional provisions. Hear a summary of rule changes relevant to Texas practitioners. Olga Kobzar, Scott Douglass & McConnico LLP - Austin, TX   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!

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Previous Studio Webcasts Now Available On Demand

How Does the Recent NLRB Memo Affect Texas Non-Competes? (Replay)

STUDIO WEBCAST – Oct 13, 2023

11:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. (1.00 hr) How Does the Recent NLRB Memo Affect Texas Non-Competes? (Replay) This presentation discusses the Memorandum GC-23-08 issued on May 30th that states, “except in limited circumstances, “the proffer, maintenance and enforcement” of non-compete provisions violates the NLRA because these agreements “reasonably tend to chill employees” in their exercise of Section 7 rights”. Suzanne Lehman Johnson, Lehman Johnson Law PLLC - Houston, TX Zach Wolfe, Zach Wolfe Law Firm - Houston, TX   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!

First Friday Ethics (October 2023)

STUDIO WEBCAST – Oct 6, 2023

10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (3.00 hr | 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!   This month includes: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics) AI and Effective Corporate Governance (Replay) This discussion covers artificial intelligence (AI) fundamentals and business opportunities to utilize AI responsibly and strategically. The panelists also address corporate governance and compliance frameworks to enable boards and business leadership to proactively and effectively manage risks posed by AI. Regina Jones, Baker Hughes - Houston, TX Ryan D. McConnell, R. McConnell Group PLLC - Houston, TX Meagan Baker Thompson, R. McConnell Group PLLC - Austin, TX 11:10 a.m. to 11:55 a.m. (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics) Requests from on High: Keeping In-House Counsel Out of Hot Water (Replay) One of internal counsel’s many functions is to avert problems for their employers. But sometimes in keeping their client away from the fire, they risk being singed. These concerns implicate challenging attorney-client privilege issues, clarity in communicating to employees and management who they represent, educating others about how to maintain confidentiality, engaging the right counsel and consultants for the proper purposes, and knowing when to stay away from direct interaction in depositions, mediations and regulator meetings and interactions, or when to interact directly. Joel Cohen, White & Case LLP - New York, NY 12:05 p.m. to 12:50 p.m. (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics) Ethics on the Edge (Replay) Whether in-house or in private practice, technology lawyers increasingly find themselves counseling clients operating at or beyond the edge of what the law has contemplated—and sometimes with business models so “disruptive” they may even be illegal. Explore the ethics issues that come into play in such situations, through real-world examples of how experienced in-house lawyers have counseled their clients though high-risk innovation and legal uncertainty.   Christopher T. Brown, KASTNER/GRAVELLE LLP - Austin, TX Cara Connolly, Reality Labs at Meta - Austin, TX Catherine Dawson, AffiniPay - Austin, TX  1:00 p.m to 1:30 p.m. (0.50 hr | 0.50 hr ethics) Pro Bono Opportunities for Business Attorneys (Replay) Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts (TALA) offers attorneys the opportunity to work with creatives, non-profits, and others who qualify based on their income on various legal issues such as entity formation, contracts, trademark/patent/copyright filings, and other general legal needs. An in depth discussion on these opportunities as well as give several examples of cases or matters handled by volunteer attorneys. Angela L. Lee, TALA - Austin, TX Adrian Resendez, Brough & Resendez PLLC - Austin, TX   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!

Reflections on the U.S. Supreme Court

STUDIO WEBCAST – Sep 6, 2023

2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (1.00 hr) Reflections on the U.S. Supreme Court This presentation situates current debates over the Supreme Court—and potential reforms thereto—within a broader historical context. Stephen Vladeck, The University of Texas School of Law - Austin, TX   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!

First Friday Ethics (September 2023)

STUDIO WEBCAST – Sep 1, 2023

9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (3.00 hr | 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!   This month includes: 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics) Lawyers Behaving Badly (REPLAY) The hosts of the Lawyers Behaving Badly podcast share true but outrageous stories about lawyers being less than their best selves.   Karen Delaney, Delaney Legal PLLC - Frisco, TX Jennifer Judge, Destination Pet, LLC - Plano, TX 9:55 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. (0.75 hr | 0.75 hr ethics) Social Media Hot Topics (REPLAY) Should social media platforms be civilly liable for the content that their users post? Is the content moderation on platforms like Facebook and Twitter subject to statutes like those passed in Florida and Texas? Come hear the latest on these issues currently before the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as other cutting edge topics in social media - like service of process via social media and even NFTs, the evidentiary value of emoji and memes, and the limits on how lawyers can ethically respond to online criticism. John G. Browning, Spencer Fane / Faulkner Law School - Plano, TX 10:50 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. (1.00 hr | 1.00 hr ethics)  Practicing of Law Across State Lines, Cross Border Issues and Privacy (REPLAY) Privacy laws continue to develop and evolve as regulators promulgate regulations and laws that seek to protect and permit individual privacy rights and remedies. Gain insight on issues that arise in privacy, including COPA and biometric data, and will discuss the expectation for the development of new privacy laws within the United States and best practices to adopt when responding to privacy incidents and advising clients and internal stakeholders. Skyla R. Banks, Amplitude, Inc. - Dallas, TX Fisayo Fadelu, Pecan Street - Austin, TX Brice White, Meta, Inc. - Dallas, TX 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. (0.50 hr | 0.50 hr ethics)  Appeals from Sanctions Orders (REPLAY) Sanctions orders can have devastating impacts on both attorneys and their clients. Learn the latest cutting-edge techniques for obtaining, avoiding, appealing, and keeping trial court sanctions orders. Scott Rothenberg, Law Offices of Scott Rothenberg - Bellaire, TX   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!

How Does the Recent NLRB Memo Affect Texas Non-Competes?

STUDIO WEBCAST – Aug 22, 2023

10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (1.00 hr) How Does the Recent NLRB Memo Affect Texas Non-Competes?  This presentation discusses the Memorandum GC-23-08 issued on May 30th that states, “except in limited circumstances, “the proffer, maintenance and enforcement” of non-compete provisions violates the NLRA because these agreements “reasonably tend to chill employees” in their exercise of Section 7 rights”. Suzanne Lehman Johnson, Lehman Johnson Law PLLC - Houston, TX Zach Wolfe, Zach Wolfe Law Firm - Houston, TX   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!