Technology

Expert Analysis

• Aviation Watch: Wheels Up For FAA Reauthorization

  

  It’s impressive, in the current atmosphere of division and gridlock, that Congress managed to hammer out a five-year Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill, covering a wide range of important and often contentious matters, says Alan Hoffman, a retired attorney and private pilot.

• Q&A

  A Chat With Bryan Cave Innovation Chief Katie DeBord

  

  In this monthly series, Amanda Brady of Major Lindsey & Africa interviews management from top law firms about the increasingly competitive business environment. Here we feature Katie DeBord, chief innovation officer at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP.

• AI's Role In Financial Services: Some Early Lessons

  

  The use of artificial intelligence in financial services is still in the early stages. But a speech this week by Federal Reserve Gov. Lael Brainard shows that regulators are aware and paying attention, says Eamonn Moran of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP.

• Solving The Mystery Of Contracting By Hyperlink

  

  When analyzing the incorporation of contract terms by reference using hyperlinks, courts are increasingly focusing on the hyperlink's labeling, location, prominence and accessibility, and on the consumer's assent, say Alan Wingfield and Troy Jenkins of Troutman Sanders LLP.

• Software Companies Especially At Risk After Wayfair

  

  Despite a commonly held belief in the technology community that the “service” portion of software-as-a-service means that sales tax has no significance, a growing number of states now require SaaS companies to collect sales tax on their invoices, says Brian Sengson of Bennett Thrasher LLP.

• Simple Secrets For Improving Your CLE

  

  With few cases going to trial, many attorneys keep their oral-presentation skills sharp by teaching continuing legal education programs. To avoid giving a CLE that falls flat and damages your reputation, you must fashion a thoughtful message, control its presentation, and nail the beginning and ending, says Daniel Karon of Karon LLC.

• 3 Takeaways From Google’s Harassment Policy Overhaul

  

  In the wake of the #MeToo movement, Google’s recent changes to its sexual harassment policy are notable because they highlight employers’ ability to innovate while taking measures to comply with California law, say Nisha Verma and Jessica Linehan of Dorsey & Whitney LLP.

• New Construction Trends And Their Impact On Contracts

  

  Trends and technologies such as performance-based and resilience-oriented design, modular construction, and the use of drones are changing complex construction and engineering projects — and will require careful consideration and analysis during project negotiation and contracting, say attorneys with Mayer Brown LLP and engineers with Exponent Inc.

• It’s Time For Law Firms To Start Talking About Gen Z

  

  Since the oldest members of Generation Z aren’t even finished with law school yet, law firm management is in a unique position to prepare for their entrance into the legal workforce, says Eliza Stoker of Major Lindsey & Africa.

• Consider Potential Risks Of Scraping Publicly Available Data

  

  One legal regime currently wrestling with the concept of data scraping is the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. An important distinction that is emerging from the CFAA case law is whether the targeted data is publicly available or private and protected, say Kris Kappel and Liam Reilly of Husch Blackwell LLP.