Legal Current
Legal Current is a podcast from Thomson Reuters, Legal, that features information and commentary on the business and practice of law.
Fitbits, Wearable Fitness Monitors & Data Privacy

Are you sporting a new FitBit or an Apple Watch with a fitness monitor app? If it’s part of your employer’s wellness program, who owns and has access to your data?

Tyler Newby , litigation partner at Fenwick & West looks at the wearable fitness monitor craze and some of the data privacy implications they bring.

Direct download: Wearable_fitness_trackers__privacy.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:24pm EDT

Supreme Court Patent Law Cases

Michael Hawes of Baker Botts discusses patent law cases coming up before the U.S. Supreme Court

Direct download: Supreme_Court_Patent_Cases.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:21pm EDT

Whatever Happened to Political Campaign Theme Songs?

It wasn’t that long ago that every Presidential campaign had its own theme song. Even George Washington had one. Thomas Jefferson. Abraham Lincoln. Even Jimmy Carter.

But in recent decades, the music stopped. Or at least went Top 40. Presidential campaigns switched from original campaign themes to using hit pop songs, which has sparked a flurry of lawsuits from artists.

Whatever happened to the original campaign theme song?

Folk music historian Oscar Brand has recorded many historical Presidential campaign theme songs with a record for Smithsonian Folkways

William Hochberg of Greenberg Glusker discusses the long history of President campaign theme songs from the days of Washington to modern era of artist lawsuits.

Direct download: Whatever_Happened_to_Political_Campaign_Theme_Songs.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:36pm EDT

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Handbook, 2016 edition

The 2015 amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure took effect on December 1, 2015.

Some of the amendments apply even to cases that were filed prior to that date.

The authors of the Federal Civil Rules Handbook, 2016 edition, William M. Janssen and Steven Baicker-McKee discuss the treatise and the new 2015 amendments.

William Janssen also has a series of articles on Federal Rules of Civil Procedure on the Legal Solutions Blog.

Direct download: Federal_Rules_of_Civil_Procedure_Handbook_2016_edition.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:23am EDT

Ill Repute - November 2015

A monthly look at reputation management in the era of social media & the 24 hour news cycle

- United Airlines: Should you disclose when your CEO suffers a heart attack?

- Blame it on Paris. Will the tragedy in Paris affect the Rio Olympics?

- Gawker Media & "Layoff Slack Bingo"

Direct download: Ill_Repute_Nov_2015.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:46pm EDT

Mind Your Business - November 2015

Patsy Doerr interviews Deirdre Stanley, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Board Secretary, Thomson Reuters on diversity inclusion, its role in corporate strategies and managing your career.

Direct download: Mind_Your_Business_-_November_2015.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:47am EDT

Wait, What? Episode 14

Jason Thomas is on the Ashley Madison list! Wait, What?

Oh, it turns out there's more than one Jason Thomas in Arlington, Virginia. And one of them may have been outed in the infamous Ashley Madison case. And it wasn’t this Jason Thomas, it turns out.

But it begs the question, what are the ethics of Doxing -- publishing private or identifying information about a particular individual on the Internet, typically with malicious intent.

Jason, Joe and Matt join the doxing debate.

What do you think about the topic in this episode? Do you love us? Hate us? Got some great ideas? Please send your thoughts, feedback and show ideas to our NEW email address: waitwhatshow@thomsonreuters.com. Also, you can reach the team on Twitter: Matt Angelicola (@MattAngelicola), Joe Harris (@Jwh37), Rob Russell (@batogato) and Jason Thomas (@jasonthomas). We’re also on iTunes – just enter “Legal Current” in the search box.

Direct download: Wait_What_Episode_14.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:38am EDT

The Inside Story of Donald Sterling and the Sale of the Clippers

What really happened in the tumultuous month that led to the sale of the LA Clippers by Donald Sterling?

Shelly Sterling’s attorney Pierce O¹Donnell of Greenberg Glusker reveals the inside story that led to the sale of the Clippers.

Direct download: The_Inside_Story_of_Donald_Sterling__the_LA_Clippers.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:21pm EDT

Wait, What? Unplugged Edition

Wait, What? Unplugged Edition

They’re back! After a rather extended summer break, Wait, What? Returns.

Jason, Joe, Rob and Matt are back at, this time taking a break from the world of legal technology to discuss alien superstructures, the demise of a publishing icon, and, of course, the new Star Wars movie.

Does intelligent life exist on other worlds in galaxies far, far away? It certainly exists on Wait, What?

What do you think about the topics in this episode? Do you love us? Hate us? Got some great ideas? Please send your thoughts, feedback and show ideas to our NEW email address: waitwhatshow@thomsonreuters.com. Also, you can reach the team on Twitter: Matt Angelicola (@MattAngelicola), Joe Harris (@Jwh37), Rob Russell (@batogato) and Jason Thomas (@jasonthomas). We’re also on iTunes – just enter “Legal Current” in the search box.

Direct download: Wait_What_-_Unplugged_Edition.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:35pm EDT

Patsy Doerr interviews Nicole Hansen, manager, community relations for the Thomson Reuters legal business on the role of corporate responsibility.

You can listen to Mind Your Business by clicking the play button on the built-in player below, or to download, right-click here.

All of our Legal Current podcasts can also be found on iTunes – just enter “Legal Current” in the search box. And if you have ideas for future topics, please let us know by commenting on this post or emailing legal.current@thomsonreuters.com.

Direct download: Mind_Your_Business-October_2015.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:19am EDT

 Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts, Fourth Edition

Thomson Reuters has released Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts, Fourth Edition as part of a joint venture with the New York County Lawyers’ Association.

Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts, Fourth Edition includes 22 new chapters, two new volumes and expanded content across a range of topics that engage the interplay between rules of procedure and substantive law, outline strategies for representation of plaintiff and defendant, and consider ramifications of various actions.

Robert L. Haig, partner at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP in New York, served as editor-in-chief of the publication, which includes the work of 182 expert authors, investing, by his estimates, more than $40 million of billable time developing this treatise.

Direct download: Commercial_Litigation_in_NY_State_4th_Edition.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:26pm EDT

ABA Report on Women in the Legal Profession

Although women make up 36 percent of attorneys, a recent study by the ABA’s Commission on Women in the Profession found that only male lead counsels in civil cases outnumber their female counterparts by more than 3 to 1.

Angela Agrusa of Liner LLP discusses both the progress that has been made, and the progress that has yet to be made on gender equality in the legal profession.

 

Direct download: ABA_Report_on_Women_in_the_Legal_Profession.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:00pm EDT

Ill Repute - October 2015

Volkswagen, Pope Francis, Steve Jobs and the Art of Reputation Management.

Direct download: Ill_Repute_-_October_2015.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:30am EDT

Who Controls the Internet?

Google still has not announced whether it will appeal a ruling earlier this year by the Court of Appeal for British Columbia ordering the Internet giant to remove certain links from its search engine – not just in British Columbia, but worldwide, because of a trademark infringement lawsuit brought by tech company Equustek.

The ruling have broad implications regarding jurisdiction over Internet disputes. Doug Sorocco of Dunlop Fielding discusses the closely-watched case.

Direct download: Who_Controls_the_Internet.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:42am EDT

Ill Repute - September 2015

This edition of Ill Repute discusses the following current events in the world of reputation management and the forces in the 24-hour news cycle and social media that impact it.

- Ashley Madison: The New HR Wild Card?

- The Summer of Discontent in Major Universities

- Women in Sports: Not Just On the Field

- What's up with North Korea's New Time Zone?

Direct download: Ill_Repute_-_September_2015.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:48pm EDT

Mind Your Business returns with Patsy Doerr, head of Diversity and Inclusion at Thomson Reuters.

How will we feed 9 billion people in 2050? If we are to meet the hungry demands of our future, we need a revolution in the way we produce and deliver food. Access the full report at 9billionbowls.com

Direct download: Mind_Your_Business_4_-_How_Will_We_Fill_9_Billion_Bowls.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

Patsy Doerr interviews

Michael Meehan

Chief Executive Officer at Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

Direct download: Mind_Your_Business_3_-_Global_Reporting_Intiative.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:34pm EDT

Hear the word “brand,” and you might think of that apple with an oval bite taken out of it, or Target’s famous red bull’s-eye. In other words, you might think that branding doesn’t have much to do with running a law firm.

If that describes your outlook on branding, you’re missing out on one of the best tools for building business.

A new white paper from FindLaw explains the importance of brand for law firms. “Marginalizing Your Most Important Asset; What Most Attorneys Don’t Understand About Brands” can be downloaded here: http://www.lawyermarketing.com/white-papers/marginalizing-your-most-valuable-asset/

Mark Jacobsen and Christi Krautbauer discuss some tips for law firms in building an effective brand that drives new business.


 

Is Your Car Really a Transformer?

 

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors once described the Tesla Model S as a sophisticated computer on wheels.  These days, that description actually applies to most cars, which are equipped with an increasing array of sensors, relays and connective equipment that control, monitor and report numerous systems and data. 

Tesla recently patched its software after hackers announced that they had figured out a way to hack into Teslas.  And
class-action suits have been filed against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Harman International,after hackers showed that a Jeep Cherokee could be hijacked remotely, three car owners have filed a lawsuit seeking the maker of the Uconnect onboard infotainment system.

 

Michael Whitener of VLP Law Group LLP talks about the many legal issues involved with today’s “connected cars” such as privacy and consent.

 

Direct download: Is_Your_Car_Really_a_Transformer.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:45am EDT

Welcome to Ill Repute, a podcast about reputation and the forces in the 24 hour news cycle and social media that inpact them. In this edition, Susan Martin is joined by Thomson Reuters resident PR consultant, Leonard Lee, as well as Alex Cook, sr. communications specialist. This week, they discuss how the Daily Show with Jon Stewart transformed political and cultural discussions of the news and the downfall of Subway spokesman Jared Fogle and how the company is handling that.

 

 

Direct download: Ill_Repute_080615.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:18am EDT

Legal Solutions from Thomson Reuters are all about delivering legal content, technology and expertise. The site has thousands of products for sale, including numerous books from Thomson Reuters key authors.

One of those authors is Dennis J. Wall, an experienced litigator, mediator, and expert witness in Florida and Federal Trial and Appellate Courts, and an elected member of the American Law Institute.

His first book, “Litigation and Prevention of Insurer Bad Faith, 3d” (Third Edition; 2015 Supplement, Thomson Reuters West), has been called “the Bible of Bad Faith,” addressing over 5,000 cases, statutes and other legal authorities. He was also co-author of “Catastrophe Claims: Insurance Coverage for Natural and Man-Made Disasters” (Thomson Reuters West; 2015 Supplements).

In this podcast, Wall reads an excerpt from "Litigation and Prevention of Insurer Bad Faith, 3d."

Direct download: Dennis_Wall_book_excerpt.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 10:40am EDT

FantasySCOTUS Winner Discusses His Secrets for Outguessing the Supreme Court

 

After all the oral arguments, deliberations, briefs and decisions, it’s official.  Drew Farmer is the winner of this year’s FantasySCOTUS competition. 

 

Direct download: 2015_FantasySCOTUS_winner_Drew_Farmer.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:49pm EDT

Mind Your Business returns, and in this installment, Patsy Doerr, head of Diversity and Inclusion at Thomson Reuters, is joined by Pat David, managing director and global head of Diversity for JP Morgan Chase. Among the topics they cover include diversity in the financial sector and how diversity and inclusion have evolved over the years.

Direct download: Mind_Your_Business_episode_2.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:21pm EDT

The latest installment of Wait, What? has the guys taking the show into the realm of video. No, you didn't read that wrong; Jason, Joe and Matt had their latest podcast recorded in an actual news studio in Washington, D.C. After the initial shock of being on camera wore off, the guys settle into a discussion on the use of Magic Bands at Walt Disney World and how the theme park uses these to enhance the visitor experience. At the same time, they talk about the privacy implications of these devices and just how willing a park-goer is to relinquish elements of their Personally Identifiable Information (PII) for ease of access to certain amenities.

On a related topic, the guys discuss the advent of Amazon's voice activated system known as "Alexa." The guys give Jason a pretty hard time about his "relationship" with Alexa, which makes for a great segment.

Direct download: Wait_what_episode_12.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:40am EDT

Welcome to Ill Repute, a podcast about reputation and the forces in the 24 hour news cycle and social media that inpact them. In this edition, Susan Martin is joined by Thomson Reuters resident PR consultant, Leonard Lee, as well as Communications Lead Gretchen DeSutter. This week, they discuss the reputation management of Donald Trump's presidential campaign, KFC's fried rat scandal, and the latest social media food fight between Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure and T-Mobile CEO John Legere.

Direct download: Ill_Repute_8.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:23pm EDT

Trade Secret Misappropriation and Employment Contracts

Trade Secret Misappropriation and Employment Contracts

With a hot technology sector and an improving economy all around,

workforce mobility has been on the rise in Silicon Valley, along with

efforts by companies to acquire premium talent from competitors. New

words like "acqui-hire" have even been invented to describe start-up

acquisitions by larger companies that target a start-up's employees,

rather than its businesses.

 

Warren Wayne of Bird & Bird in London discusses the changing landscape in protecting trade secrets in the US and Europe.

Direct download: Acqui-Hiring_-_the_New_Way_of_Acquiring_Trade_Secrets.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:18pm EDT

In the 11th edition of Wait, What? the guys talk about government surveillance programs, particularly as they have been executed in the United States. The show looks at the USA Patriot and USA Freedom Acts and discusses what responsibilities and rights any government has or should have when it comes to data collection on its citizenry. The conversation covers a broad slice of government data collection programs, but each of the guys has a different spin, which makes for a great discussion. One of the questions coming out of the discussion, is whether or not citizens should be prepared to accept certain risks to their civil liberties for the protection of their nation from its enemies. The discussion also touches on the revelations brought to light by groups like Wiki-leaks and individuals like (former NSA contractor) Edward Snowden. The group also discusses the difference between corporate versus government use of data and whether or not people even care.

Direct download: Wait_What_Episode_11.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:51am EDT

China intellectual property rights have undergone significant reform in recent years.  But is it enough?  What more needs to be done?

Elizabeth Chien-Hale is a U.S. patent attorney who has extensive experience in intellectual property issues in China. Chien-Hale is a contributing author on intellectual property for “Corporate Counsel’s Guide to Doing Business in China, 3d, 2012-2013 edition”, published by Thomson Reuters. She operates a website, www.institute-ip-asia.org, where readers can find up-to-date information and articles about IP issues relating to China and other countries.

 

 

Direct download: China_Patent_Reforms_-_Elizabeth_Chien-Hale.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:34pm EDT

Welcome to Ill Repute, a podcast about reputation and the forces in the 24 hour news cycle and social media that inpact them. In this edition, Susan Martin is joined by Thomson Reuters resident PR consultant, Leonard Lee, as well as John Shaughnessy, vice president of Business Communications at Thomson Reuters. This week, they discuss the reputation management of the transition from Bruce to Caitlyn Jenner, how the NAACP is handling the Rachel Dolezal scandal, and how no one is safe in an age where cameras are everywhere.

 

 

Direct download: Ill_Repute_episode_7.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:20pm EDT

AMC's Comic Book Men at AwesomeCon 2015

Direct download: AMCs_Comic_Book_Men_WW.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:05pm EDT

Gotham villians and Star Wars at AwesomeCon 2015

Direct download: Gotham_villians_and_Star_Wars_WW.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:59am EDT

The male Rogue at AwesomeCon 2015

Direct download: The_male_Rogue_WW.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:58am EDT

Superman and Batman at AwesomeCon 2015

Direct download: Superman_and_Batman_WW.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:55am EDT

A clip from Wait What's trip to AwesomeCon 2015. "We are what you'd call professionals.

Direct download: Were_what_you_call_professionals_-_WW.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:52am EDT

In a very special episode of "Wait, What?!," the guys travel to AwesomeCon in Washington, D.C. to take in all the sights and sounds. Additionally, the show wanted to get up close and personal with the comic book/science fiction industry to see what people think about the technology and culture associated with these genres. One of the takeaways from the hours spent at the convention was that there are so many different ways to ingest media. The guys saw everything from folks buying physical comic books to people reading them on their tablets. The conversation that follows is one that questions the actual need for physical books and magazines at all, and whether or not we're in for a paperless future.

One of the other topics that the guys explore is the idea of "creativity" and whether or not drawing your own version of an established comic book, video game or movie character is actually being creative, or if it’s just copying someone else's work.

The guys had a great time interviewing people on the floor of the convention which you either listen to at the end of the show, or listening individually below.

The highlight of the convention for the show was their interview with Ming Chen (@MingChen37) and Bryan Johnson (@TellEmSteveDave) from AMC's Comic Book Men. You can listen to Matt become a complete fanboy and botch his portion of the interview.

Keep listening as we're going to have some great folks sitting in with us in the near future.

Direct download: Wait_What_10.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:50am EDT

Increasingly, people are dropping their cable providers and opting instead for streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, as well as new standalone services like HBO Go. But even these services would see dwindling subscribers, as value-added taxes have taken effect based on location. Jason Roberts, attorney and legal analyst with the Tax & Accounting business of Thomson Reuters, talked with us about the legal and economic approaches to taxing online content, and specifically, what is being referred to as the Netflix tax rolling out in countries around the world over the last year or so.

 

Direct download: Jason_Roberts_TA.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:09pm EDT

Welcome to Ill Repute, a podcast about reputation and the forces in the 24 hour news cycle and social media that inpact them. In this edition, Susan Martin is joined by Thomson Reuters resident PR consultant, Leonard Lee, as well as Social Media Specialist Joel Leeman. This week, they discuss the reputation management of the Josh Duggar scandal, the implications of Barack Obama and other politicians being more active on social media, and the growing disdain for pedal pubs due to online community hate groups.

Direct download: Ill_Repute_052815.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:24am EDT

 

The potential reopening of ties between the US and Cuba has people excited about the possibility of Cuban treasures reaching US shores, such as cigars, rum and….baseball players? 

 

Cuba has the birthplace of many major league stars over the years, and baseball fans – as well as basketball and football fans – are imagining which Cuban stars their favorite team might land.

 

But Glen Rothstein with Greenberg Glusker says don’t pencil those names into your lineup cards just yet.

 

Direct download: Cuba_and_sports.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:37am EDT

In this episode of "Wait, What?" the guys discuss the impact technology has on medicine and medical procedures. Jason starts off the talk by discussing his grandmother's heart surgery, using a pig valve. This sparks a discussion about the advent of drones as a first responders and whether or not it is actually feasible.  The guys then talk about their comfort level with a robot or artificial intelligence diagnosing a disease or performing a surgery versus interaction with a human doctor. A couple of other interesting technologies discussed include: Glucose sensing contact lenses for diabetics and wireless insulin pens.

The show is still going to attend Awesome Con in Washington, D.C. at the end of May and we're hoping to wrangle some of our favorite celebrities for interviews. Our next show will air on June 5. We'd LOVE for our audience to drive what we talk about on our next episode, so feel free to reach out to us with some ideas!

Direct download: Wait_What_9.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:52pm EDT

 

“Deflategate” did more than just deflate the hopes of Patriots fans.  The NFL investigation raised some interesting questions about the rights of employees when it comes to ESI (electronically stored information) on their personal cellphones. 

 

John Martin, partner and practice leader of the Nelson Mullins Encompass e-discovery group, says both employers and employers should take note of how Tom Brady’s text messages were treated during the investigation.

 

Direct download: Deflategate__E-Discovery.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:34am EDT

Welcome to Ill Repute, a podcast about reputation and the forces in the 24 hour news cycle and social media that inpact it. In this episode, Susan Martin speaks with resident PR consultant, Leonard Lee, and Senior Communications Specialist Alex Cook, about the latest Deflate-gate drama, the recent Amtrak crash, and the public relations issues facing the airline industry.

 

 

Direct download: Ill_Repute_051415.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:02pm EDT

In the eighth episode of "Wait, What?", the show delves into the unintended consequences of technology. Jason starts off with an example of the dual uses of an everyday hammer. The guys start talking about the misuse of things like the Tor - which are intended for good, but are used for nefarious things as well. Another unintended consequence of technological progress is the jack-hammering in the background of the podcast (if you're listening at home, take a shot every time Jason brings this up during the podcast). The guys then attempt to answer the question of whether or not we (as creators of technology) have an obligation to think about the unintended uses of it. Jason, Matt and Joe each point out that children's chemistry sets used to contain radioactive materials and poisons that otherwise intelligent adults didn't think were bad for kids.

The show is attending Awesome Con in Washington, D.C. at the end of May and the guys are hoping to wrangle some of their favorite celebrities for interviews. The next show will air on May 21, where the discussion will focus on the rapid advances in medical technology.

 

Direct download: Wait_What_8.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:24am EDT

 

The new Thomson Reuters Practical Law Deal Protections and Remedies Report is now available and was recently presented at a recent ABA Business Section Meeting.

 

The report analyzes deal-protection measures binding target companies and for the first time also reviews the deal protections negotiated by buyers who require their own stockholder approval before closing.  In this podcast, Dan Rubin, Senior Legal Editor, Corporate and M&A Service at Practical Law recaps the high points of the report.

 

 

 

Direct download: MA_podcast.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:32pm EDT

 

The 2014-15 Supreme Court term is getting into high gear, with oral arguments last week in Obergefell v. Hodges, dealing with gay marriage bans.  Decisions in Obergefell and several other high-profile cases have yet to be announced. FantasySCOTUS participants still have plenty of opportunity to get their selections in before the High Court issues many of its major decisions.

Josh Blackman, creator of FantasySCOTUS, gives us a “half-time” update on the current FantasySCOTUS season. 

 

Direct download: FantasySCOTUS_Half-Time_Report.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:54pm EDT

 

Welcome to Ill Repute, a podcast about reputation and the forces in the 24 hour news cycle and social media that inpact it. In this episode, Leonard Lee, John Shaughnessy and Jeff McCoy discuss the NFL draft, activist and celebrity CEOs.

 

 

 

Direct download: Ill_Repute_4.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:58pm EDT

Welcome to Mind Your Business, a podcast on corporate responsibility and inclusion, hosted by Patsy Doerr, global head of corporate responsibility and inclusion at Thomson Reuters

Today's guest is James White with the Diversity & Inclusion team for the Americas at Credit Suisse.

Direct download: Mind_Your_Business_-_episode_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:55pm EDT

This episode starts out with the show's reaction and discussion of the latest movie trailer for the Star Wars - The Force Awakens. For the non-nerds in our listening audience, you can fast forward a couple minutes to get to the meat of the podcast. The guys jump into a discussion about a non-government related collection of Personally Identifying Information (PII) and how that differs from government sanctioned collection of data, and where it differs (if it does at all). The guys also discuss "opting-in" to PII collection ("Little Brother") versus the Orwellian version of Big Brother and how our choices effect this (or if we even have a choice anymore).

The discussion then evolves into a productive debate - with typical Wait, What? humor - over the importance, need for, and ramifications of collecting a person's data. This rolls nicely into a discussion about the apparent acceptance of video/audio surveillance in modern society and how people seem to simply to not care that they are being recorded.

The show is very pleased to announce that we will be attending Awesome Con in Washington, D.C. at the end of May. We hope to get some on-the-spot interviews with some celebrities and other attendees. Our next show will air on May 8, when we discuss the unintended consequences of technology.

Direct download: Wait_What_7.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:14pm EDT

You can now speed through store checkout lanes just by waving your smartphone.  New mobile payment systems purport to be fast, convenient and secure.  Well, maybe not that last part.  Bob Benjy, an attorney with Frandzel Robins Bloom & Csato, who works with financial institutions, says mobile payment systems such as Apple Pay, Google Wallet and CurrentC may present potentially serious security loopholes.

Meanwhile, the IP & Science business of Thomson Reuters has just issued a patent analysis examining all facets of smartphone security and finds that smartphone manufacturers are dramatically stepping up their global patent filings related to protecting the privacy of cellular callers.

Direct download: Mobile_payments_and_security.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:14am EDT

Net neutrality is the principle that Internet service providers and governments should treat all data on the Internet equally, not discriminating or charging differentially by user, content, site, platform, application, type of attached equipment, or mode of communication. Examples of net neutrality violations include when the Internet service provider Comcast intentionally slowed peer-to-peer communications.

On February 26, the FCC ruled in favor of net neutrality by reclassifying broadband access as a telecommunications service and thus applying Title II (common carrier) of the Communications Act of 1934 to Internet service providers.

We spoke with Judge Daniel Brenner, who serves on the Los Angeles County Superior Court, about net neutrality and the legal issues surrounding it. Previously Brenner was a partner in the communications, media and entertainment group of Hogan Lovells US LLP in its Washington and Los Angeles offices. His practice concentrated on matters involving cable operators, programmers, and suppliers with a focus on policy, intellectual property, and regulation before the Federal Communications Commission, the U.S. Copyright Office, and Congress.  Judge Brenner is the author of the book Cable Television and Other Nonbroadcast Video, published by Thomson Reuters.

 

Direct download: Net_Neutrality.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:10pm EDT

Welcome to a new edition of Ill Repute, a bi-weekly podcast on reputation and the forces in a 24 hour news cycle and social media that impact it. This week, Susan Martin is joined by colleague in Corporate Affairs, Gretchen DeSutter, as well as resident PR consultant, Leonard Lee. Listen as they discuss ramifications around the Rolling Stone retracted article, "A Rape on Campus," as well as their thoughts on brand management at the 2015 Masters Tournament.

Direct download: Ill_Repute_3.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:39pm EDT

With the Annual Bar Association’s (ABA) Techshow 2015 coming up next week, we talked with WestlawNext-sponsored keynote speaker Nicholas Carr to get a preview on what he will be discussing. In this podcast, Carr also talks with us about the consequences surrounding our dependence on computers, how our relationship with technology has changed the practice of law, and his take on the Right To Be Forgotten.

Direct download: Nick_Carr.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:16am EDT

This episode starts off with a question regarding whether or not any of the guys have any embarrassing photos on the internet. This quickly leads into a conversation about the "Right To Be Forgotten" and whether or not people have a fundamental right to have their mistakes removed (or at least suppressed) from the internet. The guys talk about the expectation of privacy in personal life versus what someone should expect to have happen to them in a public setting; they also talk about whether or not it is disingenuous for a company or hotel to suppress negative reviews from search engines. The conversation evolves into a discussion of ownership of one's face, when consent is not given by one or more parties and the desperate need for the guys to find a lawyer to answer these questions for them.

Tune into the next show (April 24) when we hope to have our first guest.

 

Direct download: Wait_What_6.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:31pm EDT

The second episode of Ill Repute, a podcast about reputation and the forces in the 24 hour news cycle and social media that impact it, is now available. In this episode, Susan Martin talks with Alex Cook, senior communications specialist, and Leonard Lee, Thomson Reuters resident PR consultant. They discuss election year reputation management, Ted Cruz, issuing a public apology and Guiliana Rancic. There's something for everyone!

 

Direct download: Ill_Repute_2.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:16pm EDT

In light of the controversy surrounding Hillary Clinton using her personal email while Secretary of State, John Martin, head of the Encompass E-Discovery Group with Nelson Mullins, took some time to discuss with us how common it is for private-sector employees to use personal email for work. Is this practice ever sanctioned, or used as a perk? What are the legal implications for the employer and employee?

Direct download: John_Martin_Hillary_email_podcast_.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:56pm EDT

In this installment of "Wait, What?" your hosts tackle the question of whether technology makes us lazy or not. They cover everything from grocery delivery services to texting at the dinner table. Jason, Rob and Matt spend quite a bit of time in this episode discussing whether people are productive when they work from home and the effects that "work" phones and tablets have on work/life balance. The talk evolves (or maybe devolves) into a discussion of the person who "invented" the wheel and how that may have affected life at home.

Tune into the next show (April 10) when we cover the “right to be forgotten" in cyberspace and what role this may play, going forward.

Also, stick around after the music for yet (another) embarrassing story that Matt shares.

We'd like to keep the show as interactive as possible, so PLEASE send us your feedback, thoughts, and show ideas to legal.current@thomsonreuters.com. Also, you can reach us on Twitter: Matt Angelicola (@MattAngelicola), Joe Harris (@Jwh37), Rob Russell (@batogato), Jason Thomas (@jasonthomas) and Susan Martin (@soozymartin)

 

Direct download: Wait_What_5.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:09pm EDT

 

Integrated Corporate Reporting

 

Robert G. Eccles is a professor of Management Practice at Harvard Business School.  He is one of the world’s leading experts on a global movement for companies to include new, value-related information in their regular reporting to regulators, investors and stakeholders. 

 

Prof. Eccles has written two books on the subject, One Report: Integrated Reporting for a Sustainable Strategy  and The Integrated Reporting Movement. He is a member of the International Integrated Reporting Council (http://www.integratedreporting.org/) and the founding Chairman of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) (www.sasb.org). Dr. Eccles is the co-founder, with Professor George Serafeim of Harvard Business School, of the Innovating for Sustainability social movement (https://www.facebook.com/innovatingforsustainability), and a member of the Advisory Board of the Institute for Sustainable Value Creation (https://www.conference-board.org).

 

Tim Nixon, managing editor of the Sustainability blog at Thomson Reuters interviewed Prof. Eccles on the benefits of integrated reporting and why corporations are moving in that direction.

 

Direct download: Integrated_Reporting.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:03pm EDT

At Legaltech New York this year, we caught up with Pauline Reich, JD, and Professor of Law at Waseda University School of Law in Tokyo, Japan, where she teaches cyberlaw, e-commerce and Internet-based legal research. In this capacity and also as the director of the Asia-Pacific Cyberlaw, Cybercrime and Internet Security Research Institute at Waseda, Reich tracks global laws and issues of cybersecurity on a daily basis. We had an opportunity to talk about cybersecurity, and her treatise for United States attorneys called Cybercrime & Security, which she also incorporates commentary and advice from expert attorneys, judges, police, and cybersecurity professionals. Click below to listen to the podcast.

Direct download: Cybersecurity.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 1:02pm EDT

 

March Madness, as always, is filed with upsets, great finishes and...trademark infringements?

 

Roger Boehle, partner at Foley, Bezek, Boehle & Curtis LLP discusses the potential pitfalls that await those who dare to try cashing in on March Madness.

 

Direct download: March_Madness.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:58pm EDT

An Interview with Allison Chock of Bentham IMF on the 2nd Annual West Coast Legal Executive Forum

On March 25, WestLegalEdcenter will host the 2nd Annual West Coast Legal Executive Forum in San Francisco.

Allison Chock, an Investment Manager with Bentham IMF, a litigation finance company that provides funding to plaintiffs for large legal disputes in the United States and abroad, will be among the experts at the event.

We had an opportunity to speak with Allison about the event and the latest Peer Monitor data.

Direct download: Legal_trends_and_leadership.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 11:47am EDT

Welcome to the inaugural edition of Ill Repute, a podcast about reputation and the forces in the 24 hour news cycle and social media that impact them. Our first podcast features Susan Martin, managing editor of social media; John Shaughnessy, vice president of business communications; and Leonard Lee, PR consultant. In this edition, we talk about the Hillary Clinton email address scandal and the erosion of trust facing the media. Give it a listen and let us know what you think.

Direct download: Ill_Repute_1.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:48pm EDT

 

In the fourth installment of Wait, What? the guys discuss the Science Fact that has come from the Science Fiction of Star Trek, Star Wars, Total Recall, comics and other media. The show starts with a comparison of the devices that were used in the Star Trek universe of television and movies, and how we're seeing many of those ideas and concepts come to fruition. The guys then get into the concept of 3-D printing and Synthetic Biology.  The discussion then shifts to Jason and Joe announcing that they've created the "Inertia-jet" (patent pending), that will revolutionize travel, and what it must feel like to be the first person/people to test a potentially dangerous piece of technology.  

 

The guys spend much of the second half of the show in a "lightening round" of discussing different Sci-Fi influencers to include Star Wars, James Bond, Disney and comic books. Most importantly they discuss if we currently are at a stagnation point in technological improvements to our lives. This spawns a great discussion about time travel!

 

As always, stick around after the music at the end of the show for something extra.

 

Direct download: Wait_What_4.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:37pm EDT

 

In the third installment of Wait, What? the guys jump right into the topic of technology's impact on sports and athletes. The conversation starts out with quantifying professional and amateur athletes and quickly transitions into "heart" versus analytics. The discussion moves into the topic of the stadium experience associated with professional sports teams and how the events compete with television, video game consoles, and mobile technology. 

 

Tune into the next show (March 13) when we cover how movies, books, and other works of fiction drive the creation of innovative technology in the real world. More than likely, Matt will talk about the absurdity of placing a shield generator for a space station on a planet with a hostile indigenous population. In other words, the Empire is dumb.

 

 

 

Direct download: Wait_What_3.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:43am EDT

In the latest episode we focus on the use of drone technology and artifical intelligence. 

In the first part of the show, the guys mull over the different uses of drones, briefly discussing the commercial uses of drone technology and what the benefits and drawbacks are of this technology. The discussion also touches on the privacy implications of drone deliveries and drone use overall. The second part of the show delves into Artificial Intelligence and the fears around the potential implications associated with the emergence of progressively "smarter" computers.

Wait, What? takes an irreverent and entertaining look at technology and its impact on our lives. The podcast is hosted by Jason Thomas (@jasonthomas), Matt Angelicola (@mattangelicola), Joe Harris (@Jwh37) and Rob Russell (@batogato). It's produced by Susan Martin (@soozymartin).

Direct download: Wait_What_2.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:06am EDT

Sustainability & Corporate Collaboration

 

Sustainability is an increasing priority for many companies, and incorporating more sustainable practices is encouraging collaboration across various industries to arrive at better, more cost-effective solutions.  Tim Nixon, managing editor of sustainability, Thomson Reuters, talked with sustainability leaders at the world's largest household and personal products company (Proctor & Gamble) and nation’s second-largest car manufacturer (Ford) about their new collaborative efforts on sustainability in product design and manufacturing. 

 

Direct download: Sustainability__Corporate_Collaboration.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 4:31pm EDT

A panel discussion at Legal Tech New York 2015 focused on the key issues attorneys, paralegals and litigation support staff should consider when deciding whether to insource or outsource e-discovery. While they may seem elementary, time, cost and complexity continue to be some of the greatest challenges e-discovery practitioners face today. The panel discussed some of the key elements to consider when deciding on an e-discovery solution. Discussion leader Ed Sohn of Thomson Reuters summarizes the panel discussion.

Panel speakers were:

·          Discussion Leader:
Edward Sohn
Global Director, Legal Managed Services
Thomson Reuters

·          Anthony J. Diana
Partner
Reed Smith

·          Glen McFarlane
Managing Director
JPMorgan Chase

·          Karin Scholz Jenson
Partner and National Co-Leader, E-Discovery Advocacy and Management Team
BakerHostetler

Direct download: E-Discovery_Insourcing_vs_Outsourcing_-_LTNY_Panel_Discussion.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:11pm EDT

LTNY Keynote: Cybersecurity, Privacy and Data Protection Legal Challenges in the Digital Age

 

It’s not surprising by cybersecurity and data privacy were the focus of the Day One keynote at Legal Tech New York.  In the wake of everything from Edward Snowden to the Sony Pictures hack, the issues are on everyone’s mind.

 

One of the keynote panelists, Jon Palmer, Assistant General Counsel - Litigation and Antitrust Legal and Corporate Affairs. Microsoft Corporation, talked with Gretchen DeSutter of Thomson Reuters about legal issues involvingcross-border data protection and privacy policy on future technology

 


Wait, What? Episode 1

Wait, What? takes an irreverent and entertaining look at technology and its impact on our lives. The podcast is hosted by Matt Angelicola, government research analyst; Rob Russell, senior director in the Government segment; Jason Thomas, manager of innovation also in the Government segment; and produced by Susan Martin, managing editor of social media.

 

Direct download: Jason_Thomas_and_friends.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:51pm EDT

European Patent Reform

 

The IP market has traditionally centered on the United States. It remains a key jurisdiction, but change is in the air. With the forthcoming unitary patent system, the European Union may be about to become the epicenter of global patent litigation. The new court will mark a seismic shift in global patent litigation. Assuming all goes as planned, the major difference is that patent owners are going to have the ability to file a single lawsuit that will control almost the entire EU [aside from Spain].

 

The EU is a market size that is equivalent to the United States. Instead of going to each individual country's national courts, which is what you have to do today, you'll need only one lawsuit. A game changer for patent litigation and it isn't too soon for clients to start positioning and thinking about how to optimize for the split.

 

Morag MacDonald is an IP attorney with Bird & Bird, based in the UK.

 

Direct download: European_patent_reform.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:29pm EDT

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