The Legal Landscape

Can AI be an inventor?The US Patent and Trademark Office has put out new and long-awaited guidance about how and when AI can contribute to an inventive process.The latest AI Chats episode explains what the actual impact is and what’s left to figure out.Dina Blikshteyn, Partner and Co-Chair - AI and Deep Learning Practice GroupBrooke Cohen, Patent Practice Group Associate

Today we’re talking about Jack Daniels vs VIP Products or as it could and maybe should be called: Jack Daniels vs a company that makes a whiskey themed chew toy for dogs.While it sounds like a joke, it’s actually a crucially important case that spans a decade where the Supreme Court reversed a 9th circuit decision. Today, Michael lambert who is an Austin-based member of the firm’s intellectual property group is talking to IP Partner Rich Rochford in our New York office. 

Welcome to Wellness in Law, a podcast from Haynes Boone that delves into the dynamics of the high-pressure, demanding legal profession and the significance of holistic well-being for attorneys and firms. I’m your host, Abby Read, head of wellness strategy at Haynes Boone, Registered Dietitian and certified Mental Health First Aider. I am joined today by Co-Founder of NKB Consultancy, Jarrett Green. Jarrett is a pioneer in the legal well-being space and is a regular presenter and consultant for AmLaw 100 firms, providing his expertise in well-being, stress resilience and peak performance. Jarrett spent the first 12 years of his career as a commercial litigator at an international law firm and eventually left to obtain a Masters in Psychology, so he could live his passion of helping lawyers, legal professionals, and other high stress individuals experience less stress, greater happiness and enhanced overall success. Jarrett has worked extensively with our firm in our well-being and attorney development initiatives and we can definitely speak to the profound positive impact he regularly has on attorneys and frankly anyone who gets the pleasure to interact with him. 

In this episode of AI Chat's, hosted by Hong Shi, Counsel from the Austin office and Co-chair of the AI group at Hans and Boone, listeners are treated to a deep dive into the recent developments in AI regulation within the EU. Joined by colleagues Dina Blikshteyn, a Partner in the New York office and Co-chair of the AI group, and James Brown, Partner an expert in energy marine general commercial litigation from the London office, the conversation delves into the urgent need for comprehensive legal frameworks to address the unique challenges posed by AI, including the rapid advancements in generative AI technology. With the aim of balancing innovation with ethical concerns, protecting individual rights, and ensuring national security, the trio discusses the implications and potential impacts of the EU's AI regulation.Throughout the episode, Dina and James provide valuable insights into the intention behind the EU's regulation, which seeks to safeguard societal risks associated with AI while allowing for its continued development and utilization of its benefits. The discussion touches upon the potential impacts on entities outside the EU, such as UK-based organizations, and the evolving landscape of AI regulation globally. As the conversation unfolds, listeners gain a clear understanding of the timeline and implications of the AI act, highlighting the importance of staying abreast of these regulatory developments in the fast-paced world of artificial intelligence.Featured Speakers: Dina Blikshteyn, Partner at Haynes BooneHong Shi, Counsel at Haynes BooneJames Brown, Partner at Haynes BooneAI Chats a podcast produced by Haynes Boone.© 2024 Haynes and Boone, LLP All rights reserved.

Today, the head of our Haynes Boone Media and Entertainment Practice Group, Laura Prather, will interview Susan Coughtrie, Co-Founder of the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition, about the developments in implementing protections against SLAPP suits in the U.K. and how we got here. Laura is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer who has litigated against SLAPPs in courts across the country and has advocated for and been instrumental in the passage of Anti-SLAPP laws throughout the U.S. recently returning from a stint as a Fulbright Scholar studying global freedom of expression issues. Susan serves as Director of the Foreign Policy Center and author of the report “Unsafe for Scrutiny: Examining the pressures faced by journalists uncovering financial crime and corruption around the World.” A former journalist, Susan has a strong background in human rights advocacy, and her report swayed public opinion by exposing how reporters face risks to their freedom and security, from vexatious lawsuits (SLAPPs) to violence for exposing wrongdoing. Susan was instrumental in establishing the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe and the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition and has helped to expose the devastating impact SLAPP suits can have on NGO’s, protestors, and others who speak truth to power. 

In the latest On Track, Houston Partner Brent Shultz and Dallas Partner Robert Bruner discuss how ongoing sanctions levied against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine have impacted hedge funds and private equity funds, which often count Russian oligarchs as investors. Brent and Robert discuss the impact of sanctions on subscription credit facilities; the sort of due diligence that fund managers and subscription lenders perform into investors of funds; the challenges of determining if a particular investor is in fact on a sanctions list; and the steps that funds should take if they determine that an investor is on a sanctions list. A partner in the firm’s Fund Finance Practice, Shultz has negotiated and closed billions of dollars of complex debt financings. Bruner, a partner in the Investment Management Practice, regularly advises private equity and hedge funds in connection with the formation and operation of the funds.

Haynes Boone and shipbrokers Affinity discuss significant legal and commercial themes that arise as the shipbuilding market adapts to changes in the markeplace. ModeratorWilliam Cecil, Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution, Haynes Boone and co-author of the fifth edition of the Law of Shipbuilding Contracts, published May 2020 (Informa Law from Routledge)PanelistsMark Johnson, Shipping Partner, Haynes BooneAmanda Larrington, Disputes Counsel, Haynes BooneNick Pugh, Broker/Analyst, Affinity Shipbuilding LLPNick Wood, Head of Newbuilding/Partner, Affinity Shipbuilding LLP

Haynes Boone Partner Liza Mark, the head of the firm’s Shanghai office, discusses China’s zero-Covid strategy, both the impact it is having on citizens of the country and companies that do business in China. Mark, whose practice focuses on private equity investments, securities, and cross-border M&A, drills down on the challenges of completing cross-border transactions amid China’s aggressive COVID-19 response.  She discusses the extra steps required to keep deals on track and also some of the issues that companies need to think about if they plan to unwind their investments in China, including the steps involved in repatriating funds out of China.

The latest HB On Track podcast features Ed Lebow, Counsel in the firm’s Washington, D.C, office, and London Partner Andreas Dracoulis discussing the economic sanctions levelled on Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine.  The lawyers provide a brief history and regulatory overview of economic sanctions, from a US, and UK perspective, and then cover key issues in regards to the Russia sanctions, including their impact on US and UK companies that do businesses with Russian individuals and companies.   

On the second anniversary of the pandemic, we interview lawyers in Haynes Boone’s Labor and Employment and OSHA Practice Groups for a two-part discussion about recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings and other legal developments that raise important issues about what businesses can and can’ do to protect their employees against COVID-19 infections.  In Part 2, Jason Habinsky, Matt Deffebach, Mini Kapoor, and Henson Adams will weigh in on tricky topics that employers have wrestled with practically since the start of the pandemic, including testing and masking protocols and how to properly handle requests for medical or religious exemptions to vaccine requirements. 

On the second anniversary of the pandemic, we interview lawyers in Haynes Boone’s Labor and Employment and OSHA Practice Groups for a two-part discussion about recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings and other legal developments that raise important issues about what businesses can and can’ do to protect their employees against COVID-19 infections.In Part 1, Jason Habinsky, Matt Deffebach, Mini Kapoor, and Henson Adams, talk about Supreme Court rulings on vaccine mandates and how those rulings will impact federal workplace regulations. 

The Precision Medicine Thought Leader Series is a recurring podcast series by the lawyers in Haynes Boone’s Precision Medicine and Digital Health practice and Iaso Ventures that will discuss novel technological and legal developments in healthcare and life sciences. For our inaugural episode, we are joined by Wasim Malik of Iaso Ventures to discuss neuroscience and Iaso’s contribution to developing neuroscience-based technologies in healthcare.Moderator and Host: Jason Novak, Haynes BooneSpeaker: Wasim Malik, Iaso Ventures

Welcome to a special episode of On Track. In this episode, we will be talking about Valesco Industries role in an expanding universe of the so-called direct lending business, non-bank lenders and investors that have become an integral part of the finance world alternatives available to growing companies in today’s economy. – September 29, 2021Host: Gilbert Porter, Partner, Haynes BooneModerator: Sakina Rasheed Foster, Partner, Haynes Boone Featured Speaker: Jack Sadden, Co-Founder & Partner, Valesco Industries

Welcome to a special episode of On Track. In this episode, we will be talking about the 10th anniversary of the Leahy–Smith America Invents Act (AIA) - September 16, 2021. Host and Moderator: Scott Jarratt, Partner, Haynes BooneFeatured Speakers:Joseph Matal, Partner, Haynes BooneAaron Cooper, Vice President, Global Policy, BSA | The Software Alliance

Host - Gil Porter, Partner and Chair of the COVID-19 Task Force, Haynes and BooneModerator - Danny Lisk, Partner, Real Estate Practice Group, Haynes and BooneFeatured Speakers -Aaron Kraus - Vice President of Market Activation and Policy,  Greenworks LendingCrystal Smith  - New York Market Director, Greenworks Lending

Host - Gil Porter, Partner and Chair of the COVID-19 Task Force, Haynes and BooneModerator - Nathan Koppel, Director of Media RelationsFeatured Speakers -Fiona Cain - Counsel, Shipping Practice GroupGarrett Martin - Associate, Litigation Practice Group 

Host - Gil Porter, Partner and Chair of the COVID-19 Task Force, Haynes and BooneModerator - Nathan Koppel, Director of Media Relations Featured Speakers -Gary Edwards - Partner, Intellectual Property Practice GroupRoger Royse - Partner, Emerging Companies and Venture Capital Practice Group

Host - Gil Porter, Partner and Chair of the COVID-19 Task Force, Haynes and BooneModerator - Nathan Koppel, Director of Media Relations, Haynes and BooneFeatured Speaker - Joseph Matal, Partner, Intellectual Property Practice Group, Haynes and Boone

Moderator - Nathan Koppel, Director of Media RelationsFeatured Speakers - Adrian Azer  - Partner, Insurance Recovery Practice GroupLeslie Thorne - Partner, Insurance Recovery Practice Group

Haynes and Boone, LLP Partner Albert Tan moderated and lead a discussion on March 25 with Vicky Du, Global Head of Fund Finance at Standard Chartered Bank. This inaugural speaker series event was hosted by the Fund Finance Association’s (FFA) Diversity in Fund Finance Group.