CLEs You Actually Want to Hear

Producers, studios, and creatives face the same question on every project: when does putting someone else’s trademark on screen require a license, and what legal and business risks should be considered in deciding whether to proceed without one? Serene Ateek and Tatev Hovhannisyan of Sheppard walk through the anatomy of a trademark infringement claim and the defenses available to TV and film productions. The program also tackles the judgment call: when a use is legally defensible but still carries enough exposure that written permission is the safer path. Attendees leave with a practical framework for advising clients on what tr...

There were no statutory changes to the California Evidence Code in 2025. The courts made up for it. Eileen A. Scallen, Professor of Practice at UCLA School of Law and co-author of the California Evidence Courtroom Manual, walks through the year's most consequential rulings and what they mean for trial practice. The program covers the retroactivity of Section 352.2 and the admissibility of creative expression evidence. It examines when a criminal defendant's character becomes fair game to rebut evidence of a victim's character under Section 1103(b), along with the latest confrontation clause questions arising under Sanchez. On the Court of Appeal side...

Judge Lawrence Riff, Supervising Judge of the Civil Division of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, will provide an overview of the Court’s new General Order concerning new requirements for CCP 170.6 challenges, the Court’s new XLIT 035 form, the J.O. v. Superior Court of San Joaquin County California Supreme Court opinion permitting judicial inquiry into possible bad-faith blanket challenges, and will answer FAQs. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

Film and television production incentives are shifting fast, and the choices made about where to shoot now carry real financial and legal weight. This program breaks down how production incentive programs work across the United States and internationally, including tax credits, rebates, and the qualifying rules that determine whether a production captures the value it expects. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

What happens when the manager of a business firm is not human? Robert J. Rhee, Professor of Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, examines the next frontier: agentic AI as a legally recognized manager of partnerships and limited liability companies. Drawing on Philip K. Dick's prescient vision of androids navigating a human world, Professor Rhee frames the central question for business lawyers: not whether AI will enter the boardroom, but whether the law is ready when it does. The program covers what attorneys need to know now: how to structure operating agreements for AI-managed firms, what...

The skills of a successful litigator share significant overlap with those of a successful Dungeons and Dragons player. Knowing the rules, Developing plans, reading the room, adapting strategy when a plan collapses, and persuading others to follow your lead are as central to litigation as they are to a night of Dungeons and Dragons. This program uses the mechanics and storytelling of the game to teach practical litigation skills, from case theory and narrative construction to negotiation, improvisation under pressure, and managing competing personalities. Derrick Carman, Certum Group, draws on both worlds to show how strategic thinking at the table...

The law says that animals are vermin, pests, specimen, livestock, endangered species, or if you're lucky a companion animal, and above all as property with no rights of their own. But the ecological and cultural reality is much different: animals are sentient beings, individual souls, sacred entities, even kin or ancestors to some. Grant Wilson, Executive Director of Earth Law Center, will explore how legal innovations can bridge what we know to be true about animals to what the law says they are, drawing from legal principles such as multispecies justice, the Rights of Nature, animal rights, and animal dignity...

In-house legal teams are expected to do more with fewer resources. AI has the potential to improve productivity, but with hundreds of tools on the market and constant headlines, it can be difficult to know where to begin. This practical session helps in-house counsel cut through the noise and make informed decisions about where AI can add real value. Rather than focusing on the latest tools, we’ll start with the problems you’re trying to solve, identify opportunities for meaningful efficiency, and discuss how to evaluate AI solutions without creating unnecessary risk or complexity. You’ll leave with a practi...

Disability determinations sit at the heart of workers compensation law, yet the distinctions between injury, impairment, and disability trip up practitioners at every stage of a claim. This program provides an overview of the determination of disability, including basic vocabulary and foundational concepts necessary to understand how disability is evaluated, discussed, and contested in workers' compensation cases. Laura Rosenthal of Laura Rosenthal Law guides attendees through the framework California practitioners use to assess and challenge disability findings, drawing on key statutes and illustrative case law. Topics include the legal definitions of impairment versus disability, how medical evaluations translate into legal...

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) introduced significant changes affecting employers, employees, and their advisors, including the widely publicized federal deductions for qualified tips and qualified overtime compensation. But the legislation raises broader questions regarding payroll administration, tax reporting, wage-and-hour compliance, and employer implementation. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

Cumulative trauma claims have surged in California's workers' compensation system, and understanding the forces behind that trend is increasingly essential for practitioners. This program examines the sharp rise in cumulative trauma filings in recent years and explores the relationship between that increase and the widespread adoption of remote appearances in workers' compensation proceedings. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

Judicial opinions often present themselves as the product of neutral legal analysis, but the reasoning embedded in landmark decisions can encode gender and racial bias while maintaining an appearance of objectivity. This program examines how courts employ enthymematic reasoning, arguments built on unstated premises that audiences are invited to accept as self-evident, to naturalize value judgments that produce profoundly unequal outcomes. Dr. Susan Tanner, University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, identifies the specific rhetorical structures attorneys must learn to recognize: the selective use of historical tradition to define constitutional rights, the framing of moral controversy as a basis for...

More and more business owners and companies are being subjected to ADA claims. Knowing key defenses and strategies can not only mitigate damages but win it for you and your client. Join Matthew Kenefick, Jeffer Mangels & Mitchell LLP and Hillary Johns, Hillary Johns, Trial Lawyer, in a panel discussion as Matt Kenfick discusses claims, defenses and strategies so that you can protect your clients. Credits: 2.00 Hours. Credit Type: General. Specialty Area: None. Original Air Date: 07/24/2026. Program Materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hdl4CwFtw5BReksICxv5pSGqpW21iVGG/view?usp=sharing Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are...

As animals take on increasingly prominent roles in branding and marketing, the legal tools available to protect their commercial identities matter. The right of publicity and right of privacy apply only to persons, leaving animal performers exposed to unauthorized use of their name, image, and likeness. Trademark law fills that gap. Registered under the Lanham Act, a trademark can protect an animal's likeness, name, or associated marks against consumer confusion and unauthorized commercial exploitation, preserving the brand's commercial value and market integrity. Lauren E. Hansson, Sheppard, and Max A. Kirkham, The Walt Disney Company, examine how trademark law applies to...

This discussion will explore how proven negotiation and de-escalation strategies from FBI crisis negotiation and military leadership can be applied to the practice of law. Through a conversation with Judge Alan Honeycutt, an FBI-trained crisis negotiator, military leader, and judicial officer, and moderated by Neda Saghafi of Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP, attendees will gain practical insights into communicating under pressure, building rapport in high-conflict situations, influencing outcomes without escalating disputes, and navigating litigation with greater effectiveness. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

During this program, participants will examine the complexities of Impostor Syndrome and self-doubt, its prevalence in the legal profession, and ways to identify common triggers. Participants will also learn strategies to anticipate and mitigate Impostor Syndrome. Lastly, participants will be introduced to techniques that help cultivate and strengthen Self-Trust. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

Chang Chae will use his experience in advising celebrity clients and estates in handling their name and likeness and similar intellectual property rights. He will explain how to plan for the disposition of these rights and how to deal with the Internal Revenue Service regarding valuation of these rights and similar issues (including an examination of the important factors in the Estate of Michael Jackson tax court case). Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

Space has become big business that has entered the "mainstream" of commercial activity. Whether building satellites, launching rockets, deploying commercial space stations, developing ground infrastructure, or pursuing in-space manufacturing, lunar, asteroid or mars missions, space-related companies are here to stay and to evolve. Along with the evolution of the business, so are the relevant laws and regulations evolving, both in the United States and internationally. Every space-based venture has to navigate a continuing shifting of the legal sands (and geopolitical environment) to launch a successful business. Even "boilerplate" provisions are no longer "boilerplate" and counsel to space companies need to...

Signature Resolution mediator Andrew Westley breaks down what it takes to resolve high-stakes landlord-tenant lawsuits in California’s strict regulatory climate. Using real-world examples, the discussion digs into the toughest hurdles at the mediation table, from hidden insurance gaps and lopsided financial risks to unresolved emotional obstacles. Ultimately, attendees will walk away with practical strategies for cutting through the conflict to reach a fair resolution. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

The USPS has implemented new mail routing and postmarking procedures that may affect how practitioners document timely filing with taxing agencies. In this program, Ani Galyan, Galyan Law, will explain what these changes mean for legal and compliance workflows and outline best practices to ensure filings are accepted as timely. Topics will include: - How the new USPS processing system affects postmarks - Risks for tax and regulatory deadlines - Reliable proof‑of‑mailing methods - Recommended approaches for time‑sensitive submissions Credits: .50 Hours. Credit Type: General. Specialty Area: Taxation Law. Original Air Date: 07/20/2026. Program Materials: https://drive.google.com/file/d...

California's wave of cookie and pixel tracking litigation is reshaping the legal landscape for businesses and their counsel, and Usama Kahf, Fisher Phillips, will examine recent rulings decided in April and May 2025 to draw lessons from both defense wins and plaintiff victories. Courts have issued decisions under the California Invasion of Privacy Act and the federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act with outcomes turning heavily on consent architecture, data sensitivity, and whether tracking began before users had a chance to accept or decline. Topics include the Article III standing framework courts are applying to behavioral metadata, the distinction between clickwrap and...

The legal ground under the cannabis industry just shifted. On April 22, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a final order moving medical marijuana licensed under state law from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. A broader DEA administrative hearing on rescheduling all marijuana begins June 29, 2026. Reclassification reaches well beyond drug policy. It changes how cannabis businesses are taxed under Section 280E, reshapes banking and investment options, and raises fresh questions about compliance, licensing, and federal enforcement risk. Shay Aaron Gilmore of The Law Office of Shay Aaron Gilmore and Aaron C. Lachant, Partner at Leech...

Businesses that add fees to payment transactions face legal exposure from multiple directions, and the terminology matters. Regulators and courts draw sharp distinctions between a cash discount, which reduces the stated price for non-card payment, and a surcharge, which increases the stated price for card payment. A growing category of fees under names like convenience fees, processing fees, non-cash adjustment fees, and technology fees occupies contested legal ground, with enforcement authorities treating many of them as disguised surcharges regardless of what they are called. Ellen T. Berge and Leonard L. Gordon of Venable walk through how federal and state pricing...

Too many attorneys treat the meet and confer requirement as a formality rather than a substantive obligation, and courts are noticing. Anthony Storm, family law neutral at Signature Resolution, and Hon. Mark Juhas (Los Angeles Superior Court) team up to cut through the ambiguity around what California law actually demands and what a genuine good faith effort looks like in practice. Together they will cover what constitutes a sufficient effort under CCP §2016.040, what judges want to see in the supporting declaration, including the updated requirement under AB 711, and the role of the informal discovery conference when the process stalls. Storm b...

Lost profits damages can make or break a case, yet many attorneys leave money on the table by underestimating or miscalculating these figures. In this program, Maryellen and Danell Raab of Resolution Economics, LLC break down optimal methodologies for calculating lost profits, and explain how to build a damages case that holds up under cross-examination. Attendees will come away understanding lost profits damage theory, including the components of a lost profits calculation, as well as common disagreements and pitfalls.

This presentation explores the critical approaches used to evaluate and calculate financial remedies in residential real estate non-disclosure and construction defect litigation. In these disputes, recoverable damages primarily aim to compensate the buyer or consumer for economic losses. Depending on whether the claim stems from a seller's intentional concealment, accidental failure to adequately disclose or a with a contractor's failures, legal remedies can be broad and potentially financially explosive. Early resolution is often in all parties' best interests, avoiding catastrophic fees and costs, and may be achieved when claimants share the necessary information. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association...

Stewart Forbes, Hogan Lovells, examines the legal and regulatory landscape governing nuclear technology in outer space. The program opens with foundational frameworks, including the Atomic Energy Act, the Outer Space Treaty, the Price Anderson Act, and early international agreements that shaped how U.S. approaches nuclear power sources beyond Earth's atmosphere. From there, the discussion turns to recent developments, covering emerging commercial applications, evolving national and international regulatory approaches, and the growing role of private operators in nuclear space ventures. Attendees will leave with a working understanding of the legal infrastructure governing this sector and the key compliance and policy...

Workers' compensation claims rarely exist in isolation. When an injured worker is also facing time off, an ADA issue, or another overlapping claim, competing statutes complicate settlement negotiations and release strategy. Professor Michael C. Duff, Saint Louis University School of Law, examines how to approach adjuster conversations, evaluate the true scope of what is being settled, and identify which claims cannot be released. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for valuation, release drafting, and long-term exposure considerations when the human body, and its costs, cannot be fully predicted. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for...

The DGA's new four-year deal with the AMPTP closed out the 2026 bargaining season for the three major guilds. With the 2023 strikes in the rear view, this deal reflects an evolving industry ready to move forward. In this fast paced 30-minute breakdown, guild experts Dan Stone and Ryan Wedell (joined by moderator David Shraga) will walk through the essential details for practitioners - including wage and fringe increases, updated AI provisions, and provisions impacting pre-production, post-production, and on-screen credit. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for...

Attorneys from Los Angeles County’s Child Support Services Department (“CSSD”) will provide attendees with insight into the range of services available to case participants, including both the establishment and enforcement of child support orders. This presentation will also clarify the CSSD’s role in child support litigation – and hopefully clear up any misconceptions! By the end of this session, attendees will have a stronger understanding of how the Department operates, how to access services and how to obtain information. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts f...

Workers' compensation and civil litigation overlap more than most attorneys realize, and the crossover can be costly. Jonathan Roven of Jonny Law breaks down the hidden risks practitioners on both sides need to know. Topics include how workers' comp deposition strategies can create unintended exposure in civil proceedings and how civil defendants leverage workers' comp discovery and awards to challenge civil claims, particularly on disability. The program also addresses how large employers slip civil releases into workers' comp settlements that comp counsel may not catch. Don't risk your case by missing the crossover risks hiding in plain sight. Audio versions...

Associational disability claims are rising. Learn from Noah D. Lebowitz of Signature Resolution, Katie Mola of Public Risk Innovation, Solutions, and Management (PRISM), and Wendy Musell of the Law Offices of Wendy Musell PC about the state of California and federal law regarding whether and how employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations in the workplace to employees not for their own disability, but as a result of their association with a person with a disability. This program will discuss statutory interpretation under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as trending case...

This 30-minute webinar highlights key considerations in spousal support modification and enforcement proceedings. Attendees will review the evidentiary requirements for establishing a change of circumstances, the documentation necessary to prove or challenge support arrears, and practical approaches to calculating amounts owed. The program will also provide an overview of available enforcement tools and remedies, including judgments, wage assignments, attorney's fee requests, and collection procedures, with an emphasis on effective advocacy and efficient case management in California family law matters. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts...

Puerto Rico’s tax incentives continue to attract entrepreneurs, investors, fund managers, crypto taxpayers, and service businesses – but the rules are often misunderstood and have been subject to waves of scrutiny and enforcement attention. This program will provide a practical overview of the Puerto Rico tax regime and its interaction with U.S. federal tax law. Topics will include the history and expansion of Puerto Rico’s incentives, key federal tax rules for bona fide residents and Puerto Rico-source income, relevant international and crypto tax issues, Act 60 and related Puerto Rico incentives, recent IRS examination and investigation trends, and practical guidan...

YouTube has moved well beyond its origins as a passive distribution platform. With the rollout of Creator Partnerships at the 2026 NewFront, the platform now facilitates creator discovery, sponsorship arrangements, and advertiser engagement directly, raising significant legal questions for attorneys who represent creators, brands, and media businesses. Nyanza Shaw, Shaw Esquire, examines how this structural shift affects contracting and rights allocation, data access and bargaining power, transparency and disclosure obligations, platform accountability, and IP ownership in the evolving creator economy. Attendees will leave with a sharper understanding of how to advise clients navigating commercial relationships on and around the platform Audio...

Traditional software agreements often fail to account for the distinct IP risks inherent in deploying or developing AI systems. Matt Kohel of Saul Ewing LLP examines what those gaps look like in practice and how to close them. The program covers the IP provisions that matter most when a company is deploying an existing AI solution or building a customized one using its own data, including ownership of inputs and outputs, limits on training data rights, and how model customization complicates the ownership picture. Kohel also addresses what happens when the engagement ends, including contractual requirements for the secure destruction...

Attorneys are trained to control external outcomes, but a less examined drain on performance is the internal reaction that follows when things go wrong. Frustration over an associate's error, resistance to a shifting deadline, or self-critique after a difficult deposition can consume far more energy than the triggering event itself. This program examines how internal friction quietly degrades judgment, analytical precision, and client communication, and introduces a practical five-step framework for reducing it. Tanyee Cheung, Finn Dixon & Herling LLP, presents the LET GO approach: a real-time process for separating facts from narrative, interrupting automatic escalation, and returning to clear, grounded...

California's Davis-Stirling Act governs nearly every aspect of HOA life, yet many attorneys encounter its provisions piecemeal rather than as a coherent whole. Michael B. Kushner of MBK Chapman surveys the statute from the ground up, covering elections, member discipline, architectural guidelines, finances, and maintenance and repair obligations. The program then drills into the areas attorneys encounter most often in practice: homeowner access to HOA documents, annual disclosure and financial reporting requirements, and the hierarchy of governing documents under Civil Code 4205. Attendees will leave with a clear, statute-based framework for understanding how the Davis-Stirling Act structures HOA authority and where...

Clergy spend their careers untangling human conflict, often long before a dispute reaches a courtroom or a negotiating table. This program brings a rabbi and a pastoral counselor together to discuss how faith traditions handle anger, betrayal, reconciliation, and the limits of confidentiality. Rabbi Michael Gottlieb, a congregational rabbi of more than thirty years whose writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, counsels families through grief and discord using moral and textual sources. Dr. Tim Lane, a former pastor who now runs a Christian counseling practice in the Atlanta area, brings hundreds of cases involving marital conflict, infidelity, and...

Testifying at a deposition carries real consequences. What a witness says under oath shapes the entire arc of litigation, and inconsistencies between deposition and trial testimony can be devastating. Anders Sleight and Michele B. Friend, Offit Kurman, examine the essentials of effective deposition testimony, covering the importance of truthfulness, careful listening, and how to approach questions with precision. The program addresses preparation strategies attorneys use with their clients, the role of counsel during the deposition itself, and California-specific rules and practices that affect how depositions are conducted. Whether representing a plaintiff, defendant, or non-party witness, attendees will leave with concrete...