Speaking & Media

Public speaking and media interviews are an important part of how I engage in the public discourse about the issues that are important to me. My live audiences over the past few years have included the legal staff of a Fortune 500 company, legal and industry conferences, directors and staff of various companies, churches, educators, students, and television audiences. The most requested topics have been Social Media Law, Augmented Reality Law, the First Amendment, Professionalism & Leadership, and the Right of Publicity, although I’ve tailored my presentations to the specific needs and interests of each audience.

I also provide media interviews on a regular basis. In recent months I’ve appeared on public radio, public television, broadcast news interviews, and in articles published by newspapers and wire services.

If you’d like to discuss having me speak to your company or event, or if you’re a journalist seeking commentary, feel free to contact me.

The Top Ten Legal Risks in Social Media: The specific “Top Ten List” of legal risks varies, depending on the industry and circumstances in which a company finds itself. But the risks are real, and come from multiple directions. Social media posts from third parties, employees, customers, and even official channels can lead companies into various forms of legal exposure. In this talk, I educate audiences on what social media is and what it will be in the near future, then walk them through the most significant legal risks–and what they can do to mitigate them.

Augmented Reality Law: “Augmented reality”–a set of technologies that overlays layers of digital data over the physical world–is quickly graduating from “emerging technology” to a mainstream communications medium. As more companies in more industries take advantage of AR’s revolutionary capabilities, they will encounter legal issues, many of which will be unexpected. This talk introduces audiences to several of the various ways that law will affect the adoption of AR, and vice-versa.

Augmented Reality and Social Change: The paradigm-shifting capacity of augmented reality technologies will shape more than commercial transactions and the law that governs them. They will–and have already begun to–shape how we interact with data, nature, ourselves, and society at large. This presentation highlights ways in which AR is already expanding human horizons across the globe, and how it portends to affect society going forward.

The Right of Publicity: Why the Red-Headed Stepchild of the IP World Deserves a Second Look. The Right of Publicity is an individual’s right to control the commercial use of his or her personal likeness. As a creature of state law, this lesser-known species of intellectual property fits uncomfortably between the rights secured by copyright, trademark, and the First Amendment. But social and digital technologies have made it orders of magnitude easier and more attractive to use individuals’ images. Therefore, lawyers, courts, and companies cannot afford to ignore this increasingly litigated area of law.

Professionalism and Leadership in a Networked World. The things people say in social media that embarrass and injure themselves and others aren’t anything new. What’s new is that things that used to be said verbally and privately are now being shared in a written, globally accessible forum. And as social networking technologies become more pervasive in all facets of life, the temptations and opportunities to share inappropriate content will only grow. We can’t retreat from this new reality. But we can–and must–educate and discipline ourselves to not only avoid pitfalls online, but to use these new technologies to benefit ourselves and others.

Professionalism and Leadership in a Networked World. “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press ….” Those 14 words, codified over 200 years ago, set the stage for an ethos of free speech and a marketplace of ideas that permeate not only American political culture, but increasingly the fundamental assumptions of the entire world. But it has been a long road of interpretation and re-interpretation to get there, and new technologies are stretching the boundaries of this foundational provision further than ever before. Can citizens film police officers making an arrest and post it to YouTube? Can public schools punish students for what they share in social media? These are some of the questions included in this presentation.

IP 101. Sometimes all the debate about intellectual property that rages throughout the media and Congress goes over the head of its audience. Before we can understand and meaningfully engage in this debate, we must define our terms. This presentation starts from Square One to explain what we mean by such concepts as copyright, trademark, patent, publicity rights, and trade secrets.

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

“Keynote: Practicing Law in the Digital Age”

Date: 5/17/13
Venue: 2013 Technology Forum and Vendor Fair, Lake Oswego, OR

“The Importance of Critical Thinking”

Date: 5/29/13
Venue: Utica Academy for International Studies, Sterling Heights, MI

“Augmented Reality Legal Issues”

Date: 5/30/13
Venue: AdCraft Detroit, Royal Oak, MI

“Legal and Ethical Issues in Augmented Reality”

Date: 6/5/13
Venue: Augmented World Expo, Santa Clara, CA

“Social Media in Health Care”

Date: 6/19/13
Venue: HCCS Webinar

Selected Past Speaking Engagements

“Marketing Law 101″

Date: 5/10/13
Venue: Private presentation

“Publicity Rights, Consumer Protection, and Social Media”

Date: 4/19/13

Venue: International Association of Speakers Bureaus Annual Meeting, Miami, FL

“Keeping Your Business Ahead of the Digital Curve“

Date: 4/11/13
Venue: Westin Book Cadillac, Detroit, MI

“Tackling IP: Career Advice for Law Students”

Date: 2/21/13
Venue: Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Auburn Hills, MI

“Augmented Reality Legal Issues”

Date: 1/31/13
Venue: Meeting of the IT Section of the Michigan State Bar

“Social Media and Consumer Protection Laws” on the panel “Social Media and the Law: Emerging Legal Issues and Obligations”

Date: 1/8/13
Venue: New Media Expo, Las Vegas, NV

“Copyright in an Augmented Reality”

Date: 11/14/12
Venue: ArtServe Michigan, Grand Rapids

“Electronic Media Policies”

Date: 11/13/12
Venue: Law Conference of the Michigan Society of Association Executives, Lansing, MI

“Augmented Reality Legal Issues”

Date: 11/9/12
Venue: Dayton Intellectual Property Law Association, Dayton, OH

“Professionalism and Leadership in a Networked World”

Date: 11/6/12
Venue: Wayne State University, Dept. of Radiation Oncology (classroom guest lecture)

“Legal Risks in Social Media” and Keynote Address

Date: 10/17/12
Venue: The Hawaii Social Media Summit, Honolulu, HI

“Copyright in an Augmented Reality”

Date: 10/1/12
Venue: Thomas Cooley Law School, Auburn Hills, MI (Hosted by the Student IP Law Association)

“Augmented Reality , Social Media, and the Law”

Date: 9/20/12
Venue: State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta, GA

“New Dimensions of Citizenship: Augmented Reality for Government and Citizens” - Breakout session (facilitator)
Date: 9/13-14/12
Venue: VOX: The 4D Summit, Long Beach, CA

“Social Media for Judges”

Date: 8/10/12

Venue: Annual Meeting of the Michigan District Judges Association, Crystal Mountain, MI

“Augmented Reality & Copyright Law”

Date: 8/3/12
Venue: Annual Meeting of the ABA Section on Intellectual Property Law, Chicago, IL

“Social Media Legal Risks”
Date: 7/10/12
Venue: Private event, Lansing, MI

“Social Media Risks for Citizen Journalists”
Date: 6/26/12
Venue: Michigan State University College of Law, East Lansing, MI

“A Model Social Media Policy”
Date: 6/15/12
Venue: Private Event

“The Future of the Legal Profession: Did You Know?” (panelist)
Date: 6/9/12
Venue: State Bar of Michigan, Bar Leadership Forum 2012, Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, MI

“Best Practices for Attorneys in Social Media”
Date: 6/11/12
Venue: Private Event

“Best Practices for Attorneys in Social Media”
Date: 5/14/12
Venue: Private Event

“AR & the Law: What’s Around the Corner?”
Date: 5/9/12
Venue: The 3rd Annual Augmented Reality Event, Santa Clara, CA

“Augmented Reality & Its Challenges in the Civil & Criminal Justice System” (panelist)
Date: 5/8/12
Venue: The 3rd Annual Augmented Reality Event, Santa Clara, CA

“Legal and Ethical Issues in Social Media”
Date: 5/4/12
Venue: State Bar of Michigan Paralegal Section’s Annual Day of Education (Oakland University)

“Legal Risks in Social & Emerging Media”
Date: 4/16/12
Venue: Pulliam Center for Contemporary Media, DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana

“Best Practices for Attorneys in Social Media”
Date: 4/10/12
Venue: Private Event

“Augmented Legality: How Today’s Emerging Technologies Will Shape Your Career Tomorrow“
Date: 4/3/12
Venue: META (Media, Entertainment, Technology, Arts) Law Society, Michigan State University

“Using Social Media in Litigation” and “Blogging to Market Your Practice”
Date: 3/16/12
Venue: “Top Tips” video shorts for the Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Ann Arbor, MI

“Using Social Media in Litigation”

Date: 3/09/12
Venue: Private Event, Detroit, MI
“Augmented Reality:Is Innovation Blurring the Line Between Media and the ‘Real’ World?,” (panelist)
Date: 2/24/12
Venue: 2012 MBA Media and Entertainment Conference, NYU Kimmel Center, New York

“Augmented Reality & Social Change,” on the panel “Technology, Social Media, & Revolution: Modern Methods of Organizing and Implementing Change”
Date: 2/17/12
Venue: “Modern Global Revolution:” Symposium of the Michigan State University College of Law International Law Journal

“Social Networking: Legal Implications Health Care Providers Need to Understand” (co-presenter)
Date: 2/15/12
Venue: Webinar for the Michigan Health & Hospital Association

“SOPA, PIPA, and Predictions for Social Media Law in 2012″
Date: 1/18/12
Venue: The Emily Rooney Show, WGBH Radio, Boston, MA [Stream Audio]

“The Right of Publicity: Why the Red-Headed Stepchild of the IP World Deserves a Second Look”
Date: 1/10/12
Venue: Andiamo’s, Bloomfield Township, MI (sponsored by the Michigan Intellectual Property Lawyers Association)

“It Has Begun: Augmented Reality & Litigation” [Watch Video]
Date: 12/27/11
Venue: ARNY Meetup, NYC

“The First Amendment and Public High Schools”
Date: 11/8/11
Venue: Cousino High School, Warren MI (sponsored by the Warren Consolidated School District and the Macomb County Bar Foundation)

“Leadership and Presentation Skills in a Networked World”
Date: 10/25/11
Venue: Wayne State University, Dept. of Radiation Oncology (classroom guest lecture)

“Social Media and Private Secondary Education”
Date: 10/19/11
Venue: Private Event
“Top Ten Risks to Your Clients in Social Media”
Date: 10/18/11
Venue: Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP, Bloomfield Hills, MI (Sponsored by the Women’s Bar Association, Oakland County Chapter)

“Augmented Reality & the Law” [Watch Video]
Date: 10/11/11
Venue: Mobile AR for Smartphones & Tablets Conference, CTIA, San Diego, CA

“2011 Social Media Forum, Beyond the Basics: Integrated Social Media Marketing for Law Firms” (Panelist)
September 22, 2011, New York, NY

“The First Amendment and Public High Schools“, Sept. 16, 2011, Lake Shore High School, St. Clair Shores, MI (Sponsored by the Macomb County Bar Foundation for Constitution Day) [Watch Video]

“Social Media: A Legal Overview”, July 2011 (Private event), Detroit, MI

“The Right of Publicity”, July 2011 (Private event), Bloomfield Hills, MI

“Social Media: Legal and Moral Issues”, June 2011 (Church service), Sterling Heights, MI

“Social Media: A Legal Overview,” Interlaw Americas Conference, Hartford, CT (June 2011), presenter

“Due Process: Social Media”, first aired on February 25, 2011,” featured guest of Channel 56′s Due Process [Watch Video]

“Top Ten Legal Risks in Social Media”, February 2011 (Private event), Seattle, WA

“Social Media for Lawyers: How to Advise Your Clients, Enhance Your Practice, and Build Your Reputation,”Continuing Legal Education Seminar, Macomb County Bar Association, Mt. Clemens, Michigan (December 13, 2010)

“Right of Publicity: Why the Red-Headed Stepchild of the IP World Deserves a Second Look,”2010 State Bar of Michigan Intellectual Property Law Section Spring Seminar, East Lansing, Michigan (March 22, 2010)

“Social Networking: Seeking and Keeping a Job,”Presentation to Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan (January 30, 2010)

“Social Media Strategies,”Presentation at the Association Law Symposium held by the Michigan Society of Association Executives, Lansing, Michigan (November 18, 2009)

“Intellectual Property 101,” Continuing Legal Education Seminar, Macomb County Bar Association, Mt. Clemens, Michigan (August 24, 2009), co-presenter