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A-Z: Legal and Practical Considerations When Advising Entrepreneurs and Start Ups

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Live Zoom webinar by Luca L. Hickman, Dinsmore, Tampa, and moderated by Amanda Barton, Fort Lauderdale. Course number 8270 is approved for 1 CLE, all of which may be applied toward Ethics, and 1 Intellectual Property Law certification credit. Solo & Small Firm Section members register for only $50. All registrants have 90-day, on-demand access. REGISTER

Description:  Clients may seek your advice about a side hustle or concept they are entertaining without fully understanding the life cycle of the proposed endeavor.  Board Certified IP lawyer and registered patent agent, Luca L. Hickman, will provide the framework for new firms or companies starting out or seeking to expand their practice or business.  He also will discuss potential ethical issues that may impact who you can represent.

Link to Luca Hickman bioLuca L. Hickman is a registered patent attorney with experience in litigation. Clients often call upon him to prepare patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret cease and desist letters and to handle all phases of IP litigation. Luca has also expanded his practice into the emerging digital IP world, working with clients to successfully recover misappropriated domain names, social media accounts, and other digital assets. Luca also works with clients to assert and defend UDRP proceedings and various e-commerce infringement matters on Amazon, eBay, and other online retail platforms. He also works with clients to protect software-related inventions and to prepare end-user
license agreements, software as a service agreements, and other related materials.After earning honors degrees in electrical engineering from institutions in both the U.S. and Germany, Luca graduated valedictorian from his law school and began his career in intellectual property law. He has experience in a wide variety of intellectual property law matters, ranging from prosecuting patent and trademark applications and conducting patent and trademark clearance searches to negotiating licensing agreements and managing global trademark portfolios for multinational companies. Luca also has extensive copyright experience, including assisting in clearance searches, preparing and filing copyright applications, drafting work-for-hire and assignment documents, and overseeing copyright compliance and production agreements for film and television projects.Luca is board-certified in intellectual property law by The Florida Bar and is certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Circuit Court Mediator. He is also an active lecturer in the field of intellectual property law, having presented through the Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law Section of the Florida Bar, the Solo & Small Firm Section of the Florida Bar, the National Coffee Association, Florida Gulf Coast University, various local bar associations, and other organizations.

Services:
• Intellectual Property
• Intellectual Property Litigation
• Privacy, Data Protection & Internet Technologies

Enhance Your Practice With Mobile Technology (Southern Spain Destination CLE)

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The Section’s 2024 destination CLE trip is a 10-day tour of Southern Spain; details are available on the destination CLE trip web page.

The CLE, “Enhance Your Practice With Mobile Technology,” will be held on May 27 from 9 AM–1 PM at the Hyatt Centric Gran Via Madrid (patio). The course number will be provided when participants register. 4 CLE; 4 Technology credits.

Segment One: 9–11:30 AM

  • Title: Using Technology to Efficiently Run Your Practice from Anywhere
  • Speaker:  Liz McCausland, Liz McCausland P.A., Orlando and Legal Tech Consultant, Law Tech Partners.
  • Description: Today’s legal technology has given lawyers the ability to work from anywhere. Firms are now able to gain a competitive edge and improve legal services to their clients without being in the room. Technology and remote work also have opened the doors to hiring and training staff that is not “in our backyard.”  In this presentation, Liz McCausland, attorney and legal tech consultant, will explore opportunities for today’s lawyers to deliver service and value to their practice, clients, and cases while working remotely.

Coffee & Tapas Break: 11:30 AM12:10 PM

Segment Two:  12:10–1 PM

  • Title: Cybersecurity: Best Practices When Hiring a Technology Company.
  • Speaker:  Jason Alderman, of The Alderman Law Firm, Miami Shores.
  • Description: Jason Alderman, of The Alderman Law Firm, will provide an in-depth review of cybersecurity best practices and considerations when evaluating and hiring technology consultants and companies for your law firm.  He will discuss technology security controls and steps to protect your practice and clients from intrusion.
Liz McCausland has been practicing law for over 20 years after graduating from the University of Florida with both her Bachelor of Arts and JD degrees. She practiced civil litigation representing both individuals and national corporations before starting her own firm. Ms. McCausland now concentrates in bankruptcy and mediation. She is a Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator. She served on committees to establish both the Orlando Bankruptcy Division’s Mortgage Modification Mediation Program, as well as the Orange County Mortgage Modification Program. She has conducted over 4,000 Mortgage Modification Mediations in every district in Florida, as well as in Indiana, California, Nevada, and Arizona. She travels throughout the US to teach other attorneys and mediators how to successfully obtain and mediate mortgage modifications in bankruptcy.

Liz has served in leadership positions in many voluntary bar associations and has won awards for her devoted service including being recognized with the Lawrence G. Matthews Professionalism Award. She is a past president of the Orange County Bar Association, and serves on the executive board of the Florida Bar’s Solo and Small Firm Section. She has also previously served on the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Section, The Florida Bar’s Leadership Academy Committee and on the executive board of the Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers. Liz is a self-proclaimed gadget geek and has never met an app she didn’t try. Unfortunately, the nuances of Microsoft Excel still confound her.

Jason R. Alderman of The Alderman Law Firm focuses his practice on national and international litigation with a particular emphasis on complex banking, real property, contract, corporate, creditors’ rights, fiduciary, and valuation litigation.  He received the 2018 Daily Business Review Award for Most Effective Lawyer in Employment. Mr. Alderman is a member of The Florida Bar and is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida; the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida, and the United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. He graduated from Florida State University (B.S., 1999) and the University of Miami School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 1999) where he was a member of the University of Miami Inter-American Law Review.

2024 Destination CLE Trip to Southern Spain

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The Section’s 2024 destination CLE trip is a 10-day tour of Southern Spain. We depart on May 25 and return on June 4, and the itinerary includes Madrid, Sevilla, Marbella, and Granada. Get additional details on the destination CLE trip web page.

The CLE, “Enhance Your Practice With Mobile Technology,” will be held on May 27 from 9 AM–1 PM at the Hyatt Centric Gran Via Madrid (patio). The course number will be provided when participants register.

The Destination CLE Trip includes:
– Accommodation at beautiful downtown hotels
– Breakfasts at the hotels
– Train transportation between cities
– Free Wi-Fi

Optional Items (Inquire for costs)
– Local transfers (arrival and departures)
– Private tours
– Extra nights (Madrid and Granada)
– Higher room categories

RESERVATIONS:  Starting From $
5,751 EU Double Occupancy / $5,551 EU Single Occupancy. For more information, please contact travel agent Lionel Moolchan, Lorraine Travel, 305-446-4433 ext. 3100, 10 AM to 5:30 PM EST, lionel@lorrainetravel.com.

Special thanks to David C. Prather, Esq. of Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather, expert in catastrophic injuries and wrongful death involving auto accidents, commercial truck accidents, and negligent security, for his sponsorship of the Section’s Destination Events, including the 2024 Destination trip to Southern Spain.

Making Microsoft Word Work for You

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Live Zoom InReach Webinar by Jennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin, Suwannee County Judge. Solo & Small Firm Section members register for only $50 and have 90-day, on-demand access. Course number 8339 is approved for 1 CLE, 1 Technology. REGISTER

DESCRIPTION:  Learn pro tips that let you skip constant Google searches or trial-and-error tutorials to know how to fully integrate Microsoft Word into your law practice. Judge Jennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin will teach you exactly what you need to make your practice more efficient as she walks you through, step-by-step, how to set up and use Word effectively. Practice with your PC or laptop while you listen.  Learn Word features that can make formatting and other nightmares go away—while mastering shortcuts that will take your efficiency in Word to new levels.

Smiling woman wearing red jacketJennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin serves as the Suwannee County Judge. Prior to taking the bench as a judge, Jennifer presided over more than 20,000 hearings and trials as the Child Support Hearing Officer and General Magistrate.

Jennifer obtained her J.D. from the University of Florida, where she graduated Cum Laude. Jennifer received her B.S. from the University of South Florida, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude.

Jennifer’s extensive service within The Florida Bar includes: Past Chair of the Solo and Small Firm Section; Executive Council member of the Solo and Small Firm Section (past secretary, treasurer); Chair of the Solo and Small Firm Technology Conference 2015, 2016, 2017; Family Law Section of The Florida Bar – Magistrate and Hearing Officer Committee Chair 2014-15, 2015-16; Third Judicial Circuit Young Lawyer’s Division Board of Governor’s Representative 2009-2015; Vision 2016; Statewide Advertising Grievance Committee; and The Florida Bar Ad Hoc Committee to Study SCOPE Program.

Jennifer served her local bar as the President of the Third Judicial Bar Association, as the Vice Chair of the Third Circuit Grievance Committee and as the President and founder of the Young Lawyer’s Section.

Jennifer holds the maximum rating, AV Preeminent® by the Martindale-Hubbell® Law Directory. Jennifer’s pride and joy is her six-year-old daughter, Kendall.

FREE CLE for Section Members: Big Firm Talent on a Small Firm Budget: How to Hire & Retain Top Talent

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Free Wednesday Wisdom Zoom webinar for Solo & Small Firm Section members* by Chelsie M. Lamie, Florida Injury Attorneys, Valencia, Spain; and moderated by Jennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin, Suwannee County Judge. Course number 8338 is approved for 1 CLE. REGISTER

DESCRIPTION: Florida personal injury attorney Chelsie M. Lamie believes two things have been instrumental in the success of her law firm: having the right processes and the right people on her team. In this information-packed, one-hour CLE, learn how to hire and retain top talent without blowing your firm’s salary budget. Chelsie will walk you through her best hiring tool, working interviews, and share how she created a culture that has kept her employees happy and loyal.

*Registration will be approved when section membership is confirmed.

Smiling woman in navy blouseChelsie M. Lamie is a former claims adjuster and insurance defense attorney turned personal injury attorney. For the past fifteen years she has exclusively represented the injured.    In 2016, with two kids under two, Chelsie opened her own personal injury law firm in Clearwater, Florida.  In 2018, she closed her brick-and-mortar office and took her six-person law firm virtual.  In early 2019, she moved her family to Mexico.  Recently, her family has decided to relocate from Mexico to Spain.  Chelsie has been able to run her law practice 100% from abroad since 2019 and plans to continue to do so for decades to come.  Chelsie is as passionate about law firm culture and team building as she is about fighting for the rights of injury victims.  She has perfected a working interview system that she credits with weeding out ill-fitting potential employees and has mastered retaining her firm’s talent by creating and implementing innovative perks. She is most proud of the culture that she has created within her law firm.  On top of running her successful personal injury practice, Chelsie dedicates a few hours each month to coaching other law firm owners on launching and scaling their practices and for those interested, in learning personal injury to add as a practice area. Chelsie’s greatest joy is being a mom to her two young boys.  Her hobbies include reading for pleasure, scuba diving, and international travel.

Succession Planning Basics for Florida Law Firms: Where Do I Start?

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Live Zoom webinar presented by Mindi Wells, Wells Law, Columbus, OH, and moderated by Bill Curphey. Course number 8340 is approved for 1 CLE. Solo & Small Firm Section members register for only $50 and all registrants have 90-day, on-demand access. REGISTER

DESCRIPTION: Many law firms, especially solo and smaller firms, do not have a succession plan in place for continued operation or wind-down of their law firms. Lack of planning for what happens next—whether the change is from the loss of the solo attorney, loss of a partner, sale by founding attorneys, retirement or other unanticipated events—can throw a firm, its clients, employees, and business colleagues into a nosedive.  Join us for this workshop on the fundamentals of succession planning for law firms of all sizes.

In this session, you will learn:

  • Why you need to start planning for your exit now—even if it is years away.
  • What to consider in your succession plan.
  • How to get started now.
  • Who you need to get involved.
  • Whether you need an Inventory Attorney.

Smiling person wearing a black topMindi Wells is Founder and Managing Attorney of Wells Law, a boutique firm offering legal counsel, investigations and training to businesses.  An attorney for over two decades, Mindi comes from a family of small business owners and spent much of her career on the business side of organizations. Her commitment to assisting growing businesses in proactively addressing workplace legal issues led her to develop a unique concierge legal service package that includes “house calls” to the C-suite.  Mindi’s clients appreciate her practical approach in simplifying legal complexities developed from years as a business professional herself.  Her no-nonsense style and humorous stories come from over 20 years’ experience in human resources, financial and organizational leadership, operations management and higher education. Mindi splits her time between Columbus, Ohio and Sarasota, Florida and serves clients throughout both states.

FREE CLE for Section Members: Immigration Primer—What Lawyers Need to Know in Practice and to Take Pro Bono Cases

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Free Wednesday Wisdom Zoom CLE for Solo & Small Firm Section members* by Masimba Mutamba, West Palm Beach, and Ashley Sybesma, Key West. Moderator: Judge Jennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin, 3rd Judicial Circuit. Course number 8343 is approved for 1 CLE; and 1 Immigration and Nationality Law certification credit.

*Registration will be approved when section membership is confirmed. REGISTER

Smiling man wearing a blue shirt, gray coat, and purple tieMasimba M. Mutamba is a seasoned civil rights and immigration attorney with over a decade’s worth of experience handling complex issues for individuals and businesses alike.

Prior to being a Founding Partner with the firm, Masimba was the Human Rights Defense Center (“HRDC”)’s inaugural William A. Trine Fellow. In that role, he litigated civil rights cases all over the country, including filing petitions with the U.S. Supreme Court. Masimba advanced the civil rights of media organizations, individuals, and classes of individuals imprisoned in the nation’s jails, prisons, and federal immigration detention centers. He filed First Amendment lawsuits around the country challenging censorship policies that greatly curtailed the rights of book and newspaper publishers and family members to contact people in custody. He also brought federal and state consumer class action claims, and appealed lower court decisions, to fight against the predatory schemes of some private companies targeting prisoners or the families who sought to maintain contact with them. Furthermore, Masimba litigated Eighth Amendment lawsuits against corrections and medical staff who subjected prisoners to cruel and unusual punishment that resulted in their catastrophic injury or death. Masimba now employs his extensive expertise on these issues as a civil rights consultant around the country.

Masimba has also represented clients across the country and beyond U.S. borders in obtaining a wide array of non-immigrant and immigrant visas, including but not limited to: student (F) visas; cultural exchange (J) visas; religious worker (R) visas; crewmember (D) visas; exceptional talent (O) visas; performing athlete, artist, entertainer (P) visas; specialty occupation (H-1B) visas; intracompany transferee (L) visas; and treaty trader/treaty investor (E) visas.

In addition to assisting clients with visa applications, Mr. Mutamba has also filed administrative appeals with the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and, when necessary, filed federal district court lawsuits and Circuit Courts of Appeals Petitions for Review against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its subordinate agencies, including the USCIS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He is also experienced in advancing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and lawsuits in furtherance of his client’s immigration cases.

Mr. Mutamba is currently a representative of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit on the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division’s Board of Governors, and is member of the Florida Bar’s standing Committee on Media & Communications Law. In his local community, Masimba is actively involved in the F. Malcolm Cunningham, Sr. Bar Association, the Palm Beach County Bar Association’s standing Committee for Diversity and Inclusion, and that Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section.

FREE CLE for Section Members: Assessing the Impact—Florida Tort Reform’s Influence on Personal Injury Law

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Free Wednesday Wisdom Zoom webinar for Solo & Small Firm Section members* by Brandon Sapp, Brandon Sapp Law PLLC, Orlando, (Plaintiff’s Perspective); Charise Morgan, Zurich North America, Miami, (Defense Perspective); and Jamie Billotte Moses, Holland & Knight LLP, Orlando, (Appellate Perspective). Moderator: Rebekah Taylor, RT Mediation and Consulting, LLC, Lake Mary. Host: Judge Jennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin, 3rd Judicial Circuit. View the presenter and moderator bios here. Course number 8342 is approved for 1 CLE. REGISTER

*Registration will be approved when section membership is confirmed.

DESCRIPTION: This program is a panel discussion that will be educational and practical. The panelists will discuss the new law changes and how attorneys have adapted. The panelists will share real-life insights and examples of how attorneys have worked cases differently based on tort reform changes. The panelists will address statute of limitations, bad faith, boarding medical bills, and fault, among other topics. Jamie Moses will discuss appellate challenges that are forming and their implications that are developing in the legal community.

One man and three women, each wearing business attire

 

 

 

Brandon Sapp, Brandon Sapp Law PLLC, Orlando, (Plaintiff’s Perspective); Charise Morgan, Zurich North America, Miami, (Defense Perspective); and Jamie Billotte Moses, Holland & Knight LLP, Orlando, (Appellate Perspective). Moderator: Rebekah Taylor, RT Mediation and Consulting, LLC, Lake Mary.

A.I. Threats To Solo And Small Law Firm Practitioners In 2024: Understanding And Mitigating Risks

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Free Wednesday Wisdom live Zoom webinar for Solo & Small Firm Section members* by Ron Frechette, CEO, GoldSky Security, and Bob Cohen, MidAtlantic Practice Director, GoldSky Security. Moderator: Margaret S. Hewitt, Esq., Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company. Host/moderator: Judge Jennifer Kuyrkendall Griffin, 3rd Judicial Circuit. Course number 8272 is approved for 1 CLE; 1 Technology. REGISTER

*Registration will be approved when section membership is confirmed.

DESCRIPTION:  The rapid pace of A.I. integration into internal operations and the development of A.I.-based products and services has surpassed expectations in today’s digital world. Security leaders have voiced apprehension that amidst the enthusiasm for A.I.’s potential, essential security and assurance factors are being disregarded. In this one-hour session, we will delve into the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence in the legal industry and explore the potential threats it poses to law firms. From A.I.-generated deepfakes that challenge client confidentiality to the implications of A.I. bias and fairness in legal decision-making, we will address the risks head-on. Our expert speakers will highlight real-world examples of AI-driven attacks and data breaches, providing a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by law firms in the current digital age. Moreover, we will share practical strategies and best practices to secure A.I. systems and data, ensuring your firm is well-prepared to safeguard against emerging A.I. threats. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and explore cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions tailored to protect your law firm from AI-related vulnerabilities.

Smiling man with beard wearing glassesRon Frechette, CEO & Managing Partner, GoldSky Security. Ron Frechette serves as CEO (Chief Evangelist Officer) and Managing Partner for GoldSky Security. Frechette is a seasoned entrepreneur who has over 30 years of experience building service-based businesses from concept to cashflow across various industries. Ron was introduced to the information security industry in 2009 when he was contracted by a former colleague to build a healthcare security and compliance practice for Coalfire Systems. Under his leadership, he set up offices across the region while recruiting, hiring, and managing a team of Regional Sales Managers selling IT Governance, Risk and Compliance services throughout the Southeastern US and Caribbean. In 2015. After five years and fulfilling his obligation to Coalfire, Ron saw the need and had a passion to help small and midsize businesses (SMBs) build formal cybersecurity, privacy, and compliance programs.  He founded GoldSky Security in 2016 with the core purpose of educating, transforming and protecting SMBs from the onslaught of cyber-attacks we see in today’s Digital Age.  Ron is a proud US Coast Guard veteran and served as an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America for over 20 years.  He enjoys giving back to his community through various charitable organizations.

Smiling man wearing business attireBob Cohen – CBCP, ISO 27001 Lead Implementer, ISO 22301 Lead Auditor & Implementer Mid-Atlantic Practice Director for GoldSky Security. “Commander” Bob Cohen brings over 2o years of experience in all aspects of information assurance, and all security disciplines. Some of Bob’s expertise includes ISO 27001 consulting support, ISO Internal Audits, Security Risk Assessments, Recovery Strategies Analysis, Recovery Plan development as well as recovery and cyber incident response training for public and private sector clients. Additionally, he assisted cloud service providers in obtaining their federal government certification under the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), and conducted gap assessments under ISO and federal government frameworks.  Bob is a proud Navy veteran who served as a Naval Intelligence Officer.

 

 

Smiling woman wearing glassesMargaret S. “Peggy” Hewitt. Peggy Hewitt is the Resources and Services Manager for the Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company, providing risk management and continuing legal education materials to FLMIC members and the Florida Bar.  Before coming to FLMIC, Ms. Hewitt was a 20+ year partner of Jones, Hurley & Hand, P.A., a member of the United States Supreme Court Bar, and was designated an “AV” Peer Review Rated Lawyer.  Prior to JH&H, Ms. Hewitt was in-house litigation counsel for the Walt Disney Company, Assistant General Counsel for the Sheriff of Orange County, and an Assistant State Attorney for the 9thJudicial Circuit.  Ms. Hewitt has an extensive library of articles and advisories for legal and risk management publications; her Florida Bar CLE manuals and presentations include “Trying a Difficult Liability Case in Florida.”  She has been an accredited CEU presenter for the Florida Department of Finance since 2002 and has presented legal topics at the ABA Annual Conference and numerous NRRDA National Conferences.

Lawyer Advertising in Florida: From Billboards to Blogs

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Live Zoom webinar by Elizabeth Clark Tarbert, The Florida Bar Division Director for Lawyer Regulation. Moderated by Alicia Perez. Course number 8341 is approved for 1 CLE, all of which may be applied toward Ethics. REGISTER

This program will provide an in-depth review of ethics and Florida lawyer advertising rules, including general rules for all advertisements, specific rules for particular media, and The Florida Bar’s filing requirement.  The program will cover social media and texting and offers examples of noncompliance.

Smiling woman, arms crossed, sitting at a deskElizabeth Clark Tarbert is Director of the Lawyer Regulation Division for The Florida Bar, the division responsible for the investigation and prosecution of disciplinary complaints against Florida Bar members.  She also serves as counsel to The Florida Bar Board of Governors Disciplinary Review, Disciplinary Procedure, and Rules Committees.  She was Ethics Counsel for The Florida Bar from 1997-2021, providing oral and written ethics opinions to members of The Florida Bar and advising the Professional Ethics Committee, Standing Committee on Advertising, and Board Review Committee on Professional Ethics.  She has also served as counsel to numerous special bar committees and task forces. She currently serves on the ABA Standing Committee on Professional Regulation and is a former member ofthe ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility.  She has been an Assistant Public Defender in both Dallas, Texas and the Eighth Judicial Circuit in Gainesville, Florida.  While at the Defense Contract Management District Mid-Atlantic, Defense Logistics Agency in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ms. Tarbert worked in a special fraud remedies unit, assisting in the investigation and prosecution of government contractors.  Ms. Tarbert graduated from the University of Florida College of Law with honors and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Florida.  She frequently speaks on legal ethics and professional responsibility