Companies in the U.S own an estimated $5 trillion in trade secerts

 and about $3 billion is lost due to theft every year

 The federal Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 went into effect in May

2016. While it’s still early to interpret how it will affect trade

 secret litigation, some things are clear, especially that federal court

 dockets will see an increase in more private trade secrets cases.

Chris Ryan, a partner in Baker Botts’ Intellectual Property Group, discusses.

Ark Group recently held its 12th Annual Knowledge Management in the Legal Profession. 

The law firm KM toolkit has expanded to include enterprise search, experience location, expert systems, and other collaborative tools — while the remit for some KM practitioners today also includes support for  alternative fee arrangements, process improvement initiatives, and legal project  management. At the same time, automation, machine-learning and advanced analytics are coming of age. How can these forces be coordinated to mutually reinforce as opposed to combat or overcome one another?  

In this edition of KM with Kim, Kim Stein discusses her takeaways from the conference. 

The Aspire to Lead Conference was recently held in Minneapolis.  Hundreds of omen and men from around the region met for a day full of speakers and networking that seeks to empower women to take more active leadership roles in their careers, communities and day-to-day lives.

Matt Wallaert is a behavioral scientist working at the intersection of technology and human behavior.  He spoke about where the diversity and the role of gender in the workplace. 

Do you store your family pictures and videos in the Cloud?  Would your family be able to access those files if you passed away?  Federal and state governments are scrambling to update estate laws to protect all your selfies and family cat videos against legal fights that could develop over rights to digital assets.

Tyler Newby of Fenwick & West discusses who actually has the rights to your selfies (and more) when you die.

Since passage of the Dodd-Frank Act overhauling federal securities laws, the Securities and Exchange Commission's whistleblower program has been gradually growing in scope and significance. In 2015, the SEC received more than 4,000 tips.

But some recent developments may be “blowing the whistle” on the whistleblower program itself.  Jonathan Shapiro of Baker Botts LLP discusses some recent developments with the whistleblower program.

Happy National Customer Service Week!

Customer Support is an important connection between Thomson Reuters and its customers.  Thomson Reuters has a long history of commitment to provide outstanding customer service.

Lea Harpster, vice president of customer support, discusses the Thomson Reuters philosophy and approach to customer support, and the many dedicated team members who provide it.

Intellectual property have become somewhat of a staple for the US Supreme Court in recent years.  Two particular cases that are waiting to hear if they will make the docket for the 2016-17 court docket have the potential to break new ground for intellectual property rights.

Wayne Stacy of Baker Botts discusses the cases.

A bicycle is fun, but how can it help global poverty, economic development and health care?

The day two keynote at Vantage EMEA in London for Elite had little to do with legal technology and practice management.  Or did it?

It had everything to do with the importance of listening to customers, of applying sound business principles, and how sometimes the simplest solutions can be the most impactful.

F.K. Day is founder of SRAM Corporation, one of the world's largest bicycle component suppliers, including to Tour de France teams.

He is also co-founder and president of World Bicycle Relief and explains how business principles are helping some of the world's most pressing needs.

The Vantage EMEA 2016 User Conference is underway in London.

The two-day conference bring together Thomson Reuters Elite users from across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.  

Elizabet Hardy, Vice President of Product Management and Eric Sugden, Chief Technology Officer discuss what will take place at Vantage, including the release of Elite 3E version 2.8

Keeping track of information by business name can quickly become a difficult exercise. Business name changes or mergers can permanently alter how information is tied to a particular business name, complicating how to identify and store information.

Thomson Reuters has created PermID -- or Permanent Identification -- which creates a unique reference —which will never change over time—to a piece of information. It can be thought of as a permnanent "bar code" for information that  helps customers and partners handle data management challenges, eliminate mapping inconsistencies, reduce operational risk, and streamline end-to-end workflow processes across various platforms. 

Thomson Reuters is providing an open license to PermID, providing any organization or enterprise with descriptive metadata and tools for working with PermID.

This year, more than half of Americans will use Facebook.  More than 360 million people are members of LinkedIn.  If you're not using social media to help promote your practice, you may be missing on an important channel for reaching prospective clients. 

A new white paper from FindLaw, "From Novelty to Necessity: Pragmatic Social Media for Law Firms". discusses the real impact that social media can have on an attorney's brand.  A recent FindLaw survey found that consumers are likely to hire an attorney who has an active presence on social media.

Sean Sands, a digital marketing experts, discusses how social media can benefit solo and small law firms.

In discussions with firms at ILTACON 2016, one thing stands out in the world of knowledge management: in an era of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence, knowledge management can help firms gain a competitive advantage.

Where is Knowledge Management headed?  How will AI and Big Data impact Knowledge Management? 

In this edition of "KM with Kim," Kim Stein, national KM manager for Thomson Reuters explores the future of Knowledge Management.

Thomson Reuters Elite has been engaging its customer base to glean input and feedback to help improve its products.  Elizabet Hardy, vice president, product management at Elite, discusses what Elite is hearing from its customers through ILTACON and other customer engagements.

Knowledge Management, like any solution, is only as effective as an organization's ability to get people to use it. 

In this episode of "KM with Kim", Thomson Reuters national manager of knowledge management, Kim Stein discusses how firms can get the most out of the KM systems

A white paper on "Knowledge Management Software Has Come of Age" can be downloaded here:
http://blog.legalsolutions.thomsonreuters.com/law-and-techology/knowledge-management-software-has-come-of-age-now-what/

Knowledge Management, like any solution, is only as effective as an organization's ability to get people to use it. 

In this episode of "KM with Kim", Thomson Reuters national manager of knowledge management, Kim Stein discusses how firms can get the most out of the KM systems.

A white paper on "Knowledge Management Software Has Come of Age" can be downloaded here:
http://blog.legalsolutions.thomsonreuters.com/law-and-techology/knowledge-management-software-has-come-of-age-now-what/

What are some of the disruptive technologies facing the legal industry?  Ron Friedman of Fireman & Co. led a session on “When Will Blockchains and Smart Contracts Be Important in Legal?”  He and Eric Laughlin, managing director, Legal Managed Services, Thomson Reuters, sat down to discuss,

Advances in legal technology -- both the present and future -- will be front and center at ILTACON 2016.

Charlotte Rushton, managing director large and midsize law firms, and innovation leader for the Legal business of Thomson Reuters, discusses the state of innovation in the legal industry.

ILTACON 2016 is an excellent opportunity for people working in legal technology to learn, share and discuss what works, what doesn't and the tools to face challenges now and in the future.

ILTA executive director Randi Mayes, who has led ILTA for more than twenty years, discusses how ILTA has helped shape the legal technology landscape.

Knowledge management can be a powerful way for firms to increase their efficiency.  

In our first "KM with Kim," we discuss how knowledge management improves productivity, with Kim Stein, national manager of knowledge management at Thomson Reuters.

In upcoming episodes, we'll discuss how firms can get the most out of their knowledge management systems, and what lies ahead in KM.  

Are you ready for some football...in Las Vegas?

The NFL regular season kicks off in Denver with a rematch of Super Bowl 50 between the Broncos and Panthers.  But football fans are wondering if the NFL's newest hot ticket might be in Las Vegas, where the Oakland Raiders have been making overtures to city officials about moving the franchise.

The National Hockey League has already broken the ice, so to speak, and is ending the four major professional sports leagues' (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) long-standing avoidance of placing a franchise in Las Vegas to avoid association with gambling.

But will football be next?  Glen Rothstein of Greenburg Glusker discusses whether legal issues should potentially stop the Raiders from moving.

Pokemon Go is an unquestioned cultural phenomenon -- the most successful video game launch in history.  But the sudden success of Pokemon Go has spawned a slew of questions about safety, privacy and liability issues. 

Brian Markovitz from Joseph Greenwald & Lake tries to catch 'em all when it comes to legal issues around Pokemon Go.

The New York City Anti-Violence Project empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected communities and allies to end all forms of violence through organizing and education, and supports survivors through counseling and advocacy. 

The AVP’s work has taken on additional significance in the wake of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando

Sharon Sayles-Belton, vice president, government affairs & community relations for Thomson Reuters, talked with Nishan Bhaumik, Equal Justice Works Fellow, about the importance of the Anti-Violence Project’s work.

The Games of the XXXI Olympiad will draw the world’s attention to Rio. But the familiar Olympic rings are also part of one of the world’s best known trademark, one whose intellectual property right the International Olympic Committee and the US Olympic Committee are staunchly defending .

So everyone from local car dealers to Chinese knockoff manufacturers who are thinking about cashing in on Olympic trademarks may want to think twice.

Rod Berman with  Jeffers Mangels Butler & Mitchell discusses the IOC & USOC’s long history of shutting down trademark infringers.

Super Lawyers has gone through a complete redesign of its award-winning magazine and website. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The patented selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.

Cindy Larson, publisher of Super Lawyers, spoke with Alex Cook about the new redesign and what it means for Super Lawyer attorneys, readers, and others who use the Super Lawyers profiles.

Dorsey & Whitney law offices in Minneapolis were recently the venue for an exhibition, presentation and book signing by B. Proud for her phot book, “First Comes Love:  Portraits of Enduring LGBTQ Relationships”. Proud was joined by Justice Margaret Chutich, Minnesota’s first openly gay Supreme Court Justice.

Gretchen DeSutter of Thomson Reuters talked with Proud about the significance and impact of her work, particularly in light of the recent Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando.

The 6th Annual Law Firm CFO/CIO/COO Forum conducted by the Thomson Reuters Legal Executive Institute marks a return to the forum’s roots with a comprehensive examination of collaborative strategies across the law firm C-suite on a number of timely topics impacting law firm operations, finance and technology.

One of the key topics will be law firm staffing models and how firms are recalibrating their ranks to form a new foundation for profitability.how law firm leadership is recalibrating their ranks to form a new foundation for profitabilityhow law firm leadership is recalibrating their ranks to form a new foundation for profitability

William Josten, senior analyst, Client Relations and Thought Leadership, Thomson Reuters, is moderating a panel discussion and shares some of the factors that panelists will analyze.

The death of Justice Antonin Scalia has clearly had an impact on the workings of the U.S. Supreme Court as it continues to work through its current term.

Joan Biskupic, editor in charge of legal affairs for Reuters, has been covering the Supreme Court since 1989, and discusses the impact on Justice Scalia’s death on the Court

The 2016 Elite VANTAGE Worldwide User Conference saw record attendance, with 1100 users, 300 sessions and numerous customer panels, demos, sharing best practices, and talking about industry trends.

Eric Ruud, Managing Director for Legal Enterprise Solutions, discusses this year’s VANTAGE conference, and how users can continue to keep up with developments at Elite throughout the year.

What does it take to turn a business with more than 4400 customers in 40 countries into a customer-focused community. Patrick Hurley, Elite vice president of customer advocacy discusses Elite’s effort to put the customer at the forefront of everything it does, and how that plays into the VANTAGE 2016 Worldwide User Conference underway in Nashville this week. 

VANTAGE 2016 Worldwide User Conferenc e is being held in Nashville this week.  More than 1100 Elite users will take in presentations, user group meetings, exhibits, demos and a learning lab.

Elizabet Hardy, vice president of product management for Elite, discusses today’s keynote that kicked off the conference.

How will we use virtual reality, wearable technologies and voice-controlled virtual assistants in the years ahead? In this edition of Mind Your Business, an interview with Kate Boeckman, Manager, Strategic Product Development in the Applied Innovation Group at Thomson Reuters Kate is currently tracking wearable and other emerging product technologies, generating innovative opportunities for their use, and leading efforts to develop proof-of-concepts, partnerships, and products based on these technologies.

Thanks to the Internet, it seems as though your firm’s hard-earned reputation is in the hands of people who can hurt you with just one smart-aleck comment or a harsh online review. But even when you’re not in complete control of your firm’s reputation, you can still manage it.

A new white paper, You Can’t Control Your Firm’s Reputation (But You Can Manage It). features research from FindLaw and paints a rosier picture of the online rating and review process than most attorneys imagine.

It examines some of the strategies your firm can use to put ratings, rankings and social media comments to work for you.

Ever since MySpace came on to the scene, social media such as Facebook, and YouTube Instagram has enabled emerging bands to build a following in hopes of breaking out without the aid of record labels and promoters. But are there legal pitfalls that aspiring musicians should be aware of in an era of social media, Pandora and Spotify?

William Hochberg of Greenberg Glusker discusses.

What does a prosecutor do when they have a bad case? Maybe use the "liar's plea."  This option allows a defendant to plead guilty to a different charge they did not commit in order for the prosecution to

move the case forward. By using a liar's plea, a defendant can plead guilty to a much lesser charge or different charge that would be much more favorable to them, but still allow for some kind of conviction.

And, it's more common than you would think.

Some feel that the liar's plea is simply manipulation of the system; however, there is some attractiveness to pleading to a lesser charge that you did not commit rather than spending all your money to go to trial.

John Mitchell of Thompson Hine says people may be surprised how commonly the liar’s plea is used, as well as the pros and cons of this practice.

European Union privacy officials are expected to announce next week whether they plan to approve a new "Data Privacy Shield" arrangement with the US that would uphold privacy rights for Europeans and limit US government surveillance involving their data.

The previous EU-U.S. “Safe Harbor” agreement was rejected by the European Court of Justice, thanks to U.S. mass surveillance programs.

Michael Whitener of VLP Law Group discusses the many complex issues involved.

You know that choosing the right attorney is no small decision.

Yet surprisingly, people looking for a legal representative don’t exactly take it slow. Once they understand that they’re facing a legal need, today’s legal consumers get right to work finding a firm.

Why the need for speed?

FindLaw’s new white paper on legal consumer behavior examines how the power of emotion and the fear of loss often lead to these urgent behaviors. Legal consumers typically recognize that they’re facing potentially major risks – perhaps financial, perhaps penal – and they worry accordingly. They’re anxious to stave off any future legal or financial difficulties that they or their loved ones could be facing.

Logically, to avoid the negative outcomes they fear, legal consumers urgently seek competent, skilled representation. They want an attorney whom they can trust to deal with those potential consequences as soon as possible.

The bottom line for your practice: If you can convince them that you have the credentials and experience to keep them safe, your firm becomes a very attractive choice to today’s legal consumers.

http://www.lawyermarketing.com/white-papers/your-next-client-wants-to-hire-you-now/

An interview with Debbie Foster, co-CEO of Apps for Good, whose mission is to transform the way technology is taught in schools; to empower students from all backgrounds to seize the opportunities of our digital age and create solutions to the problems they care about, using technology.

If you're looking for ONES and ZEROS this is not the episode for you, this episode is all about popular culture!!  The show talks at length about the latest installment of Star Wars (SPOILERS IN PODCAST).  The guys tell stories of their immediate reactions and emotional responses to the key events of the film -which included some tears.  There are even some great Wookie impressions done as well.

After the initial discussion about the actual movie, the guys go on a ride that asks some tough questions, such as:  "How does Chewbacca work on such small instruments with so much fur on his hands?" and "How does Rey master "The Force" in such a short time in the movie?"

So, buckle you seat-belts and get ready for an entertainment-heavy version on "Wait, What!?"

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 (or waitwhatshow@tr.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.

-

iamjasonthomas.com

@jasonthomas

The nomination of Merrick Garland as U.S. Supreme Court justice is raising numerous questions – both legal and political. Both aspects are discussed with Prof. Ronald Rotunda, Professor, Doy and Dee Henley Chair and Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence at Dale E. Fowler School of Law, Chapman University

Justice Antonin Scalia made his mark in jurisprudence as a Supreme Court Justice, but he also touched people's lives as a law professor.

Justice Scalia served on the faculty of both the University of Virginia Law School and the University of Chicago Law School.

Michael Whitener of VLP Law Group studied under Justice Scalia and reflects on Antonin Scalia the law professor.

The U.S. Supreme Court is back in session with eight seated justices, following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia,  And Justice Scalia's absence from the bench is already impacting significant class action cases that are coming before the Court.

Reuters legal columnist Alison Frankel discusses how this is affecting these key cases.  In a recent column, Frankel noted that Dow Chemical last week settled a class action case and dropped its petition for Supreme Court review, citing "“increased likelihood for unfavorable outcomes for businesses involved in class action suits.”

After a prolonged absence due to holidays, vacations and two feet of snow in the Washington, D.C. area, the guys are back!!

The show starts out with the show recounting the story of two Virgina Tech college students (male and female) who were involved in the disappearance of a teenage girl.  The guy discuss how the use of the app "Kik" was used by the perpetrators of this crime to ultimately lure the young girl to her death.  This then leads to a discussion about mobile apps and the dangers that they pose to teens and young children and potentially adults as well.  

Moving on deeper into the show, the discussion transitions into a discussion surrounding inappropriate photos and text messages sent via cell phone or other mobile devices.

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 (or waitwhatshow@tr.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.

What impact did Justice Antonin Scalia have on the Supreme Court? And what lies ahead for the Court? 

Legal Current explores these questions with Prof. Ronald D. Rotunda, The Doy & Dee Henley Chair and Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence at Chapman University, and co-author of Nowak and Rotunda's Treatise on Constitutional Law: Substance and Procedure.

Last summer, in the case of HM Electronics Inc.v. R.F. Technologies Inc., a federal judge ordered severe sanctions because of e-discovery failures. How do new rules on proportionality and spoliation impact how e-discovery is handled? Robert Brownstone with Fenwick & West discusses.

As more states move towards legalized marijuana, business entities such as medical marijuana dispensaries or other marijuana-related businesses are starting to bump up against patent and trademark issues that may prevent them from enjoying many of the intellectual property protections that other businesses use.  

Doug Sorocco of Dunlap Codding looks at some of the "grassroot" IP obstacles facing businesses in the cannabis trade.

Law firms invest significant effort and finances developing savvy marketing campaigns that drive traffic to their websites or phone calls to their law firms, only to drop the ball when it comes time to turn that prospective client into a paying one.

It all comes down to intake – the processes a law firm uses to collect and manage leads, with the goal of converting them into clients. Intake is an essential function of any successful legal business, and one that is often mismanaged or underdeveloped. What’s worse, our research shows that most attorneys think they’re actually doing a good job at intake. The sad truth is that their perceptions simply don’t match the reality.

FindLaw’s white paper, “Failing At The Finish Line: How Law Firms Lose Prospective Clients At The Front Door” examines how firms can improve their intake practices.

 James W. Jones, senior fellow at the Center for the Study of the Legal Profession, discusses the "2016 State of the Legal Market" report by the Center for the Study of the Legal Profession at Georgetown University Law Center and Thomson Reuters Peer Monitor