2025 Annual Meeting

How does free speech operate both in and out of the workplace? In the past two years, this issue has captivated many because of current events. This panel will examine the different rights that exist for public vs. private sector employees, as well as the differences in public sector employee rights, such as academic freedom, healthcare rights, immigration, and more.

Are you preparing for mediation but unsure how to approach it? This panel discussion is designed to provide you with a roadmap to navigate the mediation process successfully. A panel of experienced mediators will share expert strategies for selecting the right mediator, preparing for mediation, and participating effectively in the process.

Every attorney is familiar with the grievance process, whether we’ve been the unfortunate recipient of one or live in fear of having one filed against us. The vast majority of ethical violations that befall attorneys can actually be easily avoided. With the right strategies in place, you can confidently safeguard your license and avoid the headaches of disciplinary action altogether.

Every attorney should know the issues arising out of classifying an agent as either an employee or an independent contractor. What is the law? Why does it matter? What are the real risks? What should you tell clients before and after a problem arises?

Attorneys handling residential or commercial real estate should attend this essential program. In California, rental housing comprises about 44% of all housing, with commercial tenancies widespread. Landlord-tenant laws are intricate and complex. This program equips you with the knowledge to effectively advise clients in disputes and employ strategies to successfully prosecute or defend lease issues.

This program will focus on the federal courts’ authority and mechanisms to enforce court orders, in a moderated panel discussion featuring a federal courts law professor and a retired federal judge. The panelists will be asked to provide insights on key topics such as any differences between criminal and civil enforcement of orders, appropriate court action in response to non-compliance, and the efficacy of various mechanisms that courts rely upon to enforce their orders.

The presentation will be on judicial ethics, and what attorneys can and cannot do in regard to their behavior and actions towards judges. Ignorance or disregard of judicial ethics will not only lead to possible judicial ethical misconduct but also may subject the attorney to discipline and loss of ethical reputation.

This program is designed to give in-house counsel the tools to work as an effective business partner to their organization. However, there is also an appeal to attorneys working in law firms who partner with legal departments to help them provide work products that are effective and useful for the business. Attorneys should attend this session to assist them in changing their way of thinking towards business partnerships in practice.

Most contracts fall apart and are unsuccessful because the parties don’t understand what they say, or they are vague. Among other issues this creates, their rights and obligations, and how the money flows, are unclear. This presentation provides tips and best practices on how to write contracts that keep client deals on track, so the parties understand them while ensuring they are successful. In the unlikely event they wind up in court or arbitration, the clarity will help clients and their lawyers prevail. This session is intended for transactional lawyers or draft contracts and what to ensure their work leads to successful, lasting outcomes, because lawyers are heroes when the contracts they write lead to results that matter.

The presentation will provide an overview of Anti-SLAPP Statutes, focusing on their purpose, procedural mechanisms, and recent legal developments. Are SLAPP suits themselves legally meritless and designed to chill public debate on specific issues, or do they protect against meritless lawsuits intended to silence free speech and public participation? In other words, are they used as a tool or as a weapon? This session will explore case law and offer practical strategies for both asserting and defending against anti-SLAPP motions.

There has been an increase in Hate Crimes and Incidents in California and across this nation. This program will explain who is being targeted, whether based on actual or perceived race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation/identity, and other protected class protections under our state and federal constitutions. This panel will also address what is considered antisemitic and the current administration’s focus on it.

This panel is designed for attorneys who serve clients who own property or operate businesses, especially those practicing estate planning. Through real-world case studies, our panelists will expose how a lack of coordination across legal disciplines can derail client goals and lead to expensive, time-consuming complications. Learn how to spot these overlapping issues early, avoid common missteps, and design comprehensive plans that deliver smoother outcomes and long-term value.

As global finance and local governance increasingly intersect, lawyers are more likely than ever to face matters that span multiple jurisdictions, including tribal courts. This session offers a practical guide to navigating litigation involving tribal sovereignty, state procedure, and international actors, such as Canadian crypto companies and cross-border financial institutions. Through real-world case studies including custody disputes, financial enforcement, and wrongful death matters, attendees will gain tools to manage jurisdictional conflict, enforce judgments, and advocate across sovereign boundaries.

The globalization of California is increasing disputes involving parties from other countries. The experienced panelists will discuss what practitioners need to know when a party in a lawsuit or arbitration is from a different country. Topics will include cultural differences, language barriers, important treaties, different legal systems, service of process, jurisdiction, forum non conveniens, and enforcement of judgments and arbitral awards. Strategy tips will be included.

Representing an organization presents unique ethical considerations that differ from individual representation. This program explores lawyers’ duties in representing corporations or other entities, including identifying the client, navigating conflicts of interest, communicating with constituents, and handling internal investigations. Gain practical guidance on maintaining professional responsibility while effectively advising corporate clients.

In today’s fast-evolving immigration landscape, staying ahead is crucial for employers. Although much of the news has focused on deportations and undocumented immigrants, this panel will provide essential insights into key changes affecting legal immigrants in 2025. Attendees will learn about preparing for U.S. entry and device searches, managing foreign-born talent during M&A transactions, navigating recent challenges for H-1B and other work visas, and handling program vulnerabilities like DACA and TPS. Join us to equip yourself with the knowledge and tools needed to manage immigration challenges effectively.

This panel will concentrate on several important techniques that help promote an early settlement, reverse the recovery of costs and attorneys’ fees, increase the likelihood that you may recover more than policy limits by means of a settlement offer, and enforce a settlement once it is reduced to writing and is executed.

This panel is suited for all lawyers who have not recently completed a close examination of CCP Sections 998, 999.1, and 664.6 and related caselaw. Additionally, lawyers who have not practiced for more than ten years would benefit from this course. Attendees will gain knowledge of this subject matter as it is vital to promoting settlement and maximizing the results of a case after a settlement or at the end of a trial. 

Partition Actions regularly cross over into Real Estate, Family Law, Estate Planning, Probate and International practices. This panel will provide practical insights into the keys to the successful handling of a Partition Action, addressing both fundamental principles and advanced strategies. Detailed practical tips will be provided on how to avoid common pitfalls and mistakes. This in-depth, cutting-edge program is designed for litigators, transactional attorneys, in-house counsel, mediators and alternate dispute resolution professionals.

AI is increasingly used in making hiring decisions, employee evaluation and productivity analysis, and to identify business opportunities. These technologies are not without risk of liability.

The regulatory landscape for AI is evolving constantly, for example, AB 2885, which was signed into law last year, defines artificial intelligence as “an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual environments,” and CCPA clarified, via AB 1008, that the definition of personal information includes, “abstract digital formats, including compressed or encrypted files, metadata, or artificial intelligence systems that are capable of outputting personal information.” CCPA is currently in the process of final rulemaking for automated decision-making technology.

Given the ever-changing landscape, potential legal liabilities, and dynamic intersections between employment law and privacy law, this program provides attorneys and HR professionals with real-world scenarios and case studies in advance of pending risk assessment and ADMT regulations that are being finalized under the California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA). This program will provide attendees with expert perspectives and insights on the best practices for required notices, consents, and assessments for CCPA compliance.

Featuring a plaintiff’s employment attorney, defense employment attorney, in-house employment attorney, and privacy law attorneys with expertise in CCPA and GDPR, this must-attend program will address the significant ethical and compliance concerns including bias and discrimination, diversity, trust, and transparency that AI raises for the HR professional. 

This program provides a foundational guide for lawyers on the formation and structuring of corporations and limited liability companies (LLCs). It covers key differences between business entities, formation procedures, California filing requirements, operating agreements, bylaws, tax considerations, and liability considerations. Attendees will gain practical insights into advising clients on choosing the right entity, ensuring compliance, and avoiding common pitfalls in entity setup.

This seminar will go through the nuts and bolts of preparing for and taking an effective deposition. We will do a deep dive into how to use the deposition to most effectively posture the case with the other side, opposing counsel, insurance adjusters, and other decision makers. This seminar is appropriate for both newer and seasoned litigators.

Efamation claims can be proactive or reactive (the defamation you know and don’t know) – used not only to address what has been said but also to silence people. This session will examine the legal landscape of defamation lawsuits, addressing the distinction between public and private figures, as well as the various forms of defamation in the workplace and any applicable privileges. Attendees will leave with tools to better evaluate reputational harm claims and to manage associated legal risks.

Legal professionals are prime targets for cyberattacks, putting sensitive client data, firm operations, and reputations at risk. This session equips firm leaders, attorneys, and other legal professionals with the latest insights into cybersecurity risks—including AI-driven attacks—and actionable strategies to stay protected. Learn how hackers target law firms, navigate the evolving regulatory landscape, and implement best practices to safeguard your data. From law students to solo practitioners to large firm leaders, attendees will gain essential tools to strengthen their defenses and ensure long-term cybersecurity resilience.

The presentation will focus on the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act. The LPS Act authorizes involuntary civil commitments of a person in psychiatric distress. The initial detention involves a series of holds: 72-hours, 14-days, followed by a 30-day hold. Acute psychiatric treatment is provided with the goal of returning the person to the community; otherwise a LPS petition may be pursued. This presentation will enable attorneys to advise family members or other interested parties regarding the proceedings.

If you practice in the trial or appellate courts, you know how critical good briefing is to a successful outcome. In this program, you will learn how to write briefs that get your points across clearly and effectively so that you can achieve better outcomes for your clients.

The judicial system needs to ensure that undocumented persons, when accused/charged of a crime, understand their constitutional rights and immigration consequences before entering into a plea of guilty or deciding to have a court or jury trial of their peers. This panel will address how criminal conduct can lead to adverse consequences for noncitizen defendants, victims and cooperators, guardrails that exist within the state and federal criminal systems, narrow areas of relief that may be available, and how all these considerations are likely to be impacted by the current administration’s enhanced focus on immigration-related enforcement.

Are you prepared for when things go wrong? This session equips attorneys, from trial lawyers to transactional counsel, with the knowledge to confidently manage their ethical duty to disclose material errors. Learn best practices for disclosure, avoid common pitfalls, and stay current on emerging ethics opinions. With clear, actionable takeaways, you’ll be ready to protect your clients, safeguard your license, and turn professional challenges into opportunities to build trust and strengthen your practice.

This session is for law students, attorneys, firm managers, legal support staff, and professionals across all practice areas who want to reduce stress, avoid burnout, and perform at their best in high-pressure environments. Attendees will learn to spot early signs of chronic stress, apply science-based strategies for focus and resilience, set healthy boundaries, and develop habits that support both mental health and professional excellence.

This panel will explore career opportunities for attorneys in state government: Whether a law student considering options, a new attorney, or a seasoned attorney looking for a change – the State of California has positions that may interest you.

This session is ideal for immigration attorneys, litigators, attorneys with international clients, and law students seeking to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving legal landscape. Gain a forward-looking perspective on U.S. immigration under the Trump Administration, including key risks, policy reforms, and shifting agency discretion. Learn strategies to effectively navigate changes impacting employment- and family-based immigration, with a focus on high-skilled categories such as EB-1.

Whether you’re growing your career, exploring new opportunities, or simply want more ease and enjoyment in your life—one thing makes all the difference: your relationships.This panel is for CLA members looking to build stronger professional relationships, grow their practice, or open doors to new opportunities—without traditional networking headaches. Learn clear, actionable strategies to help build meaningful connections, grow your network with intention, and create opportunities in your legal career and practice.