2.5 Hours MCLE; Includes 1.25 Hours Technology in The Practice of Law

Location: Santa Clara University School of Law, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95050

*ONSITE REGISTRATION AVAILABLE

Join us on September 5, for the ILS Symposium at Santa Clara University, part of the CLA Annual Meeting and Leadership Conference. This year’s symposium, “Law in an Era of Global Challenges: Climate Risk and AI Regulation,” brings together experts to tackle issues like environmental risk disclosure and data privacy. Featuring panels on international and domestic corporate and regulatory approaches to climate risks and the implications of AI, the event is open to all CLA members, non-members, and international delegates. Don’t miss this opportunity to network, gain insights from leading professionals, and discuss solutions to today’s most pressing global legal challenges!

Schedule

8:30 am – 9:00 am | Attendee Check-in, Networking & Breakfast

9:00 am – 9:15 am | Welcome and Logistics

• Margaret Francisco
  Global Trade Compliance Director, Senior Counsel
  Rocket Lab, USA

• John Van Geffen
  Attorney IV, Public Advocates Office
  California Public Utilities Commission

9:15 am – 10:30 am | Climate Risk Disclosure: Voluntary Reporting vs. Regulatory Imperatives

1.25 Hours MCLE

Join us for an insightful legal seminar on the intersection of environmental law, corporate reporting, and climate change. Our distinguished panel of environmental law attorneys will delve into critical topics related to greenhouse gases (GHGs), corporate disclosures, and California’s new climate disclosure laws. Panelists will discuss legal and practical business concerns around balancing transparency and compliance when considering voluntary reporting vs. regulatory imperatives.

• Nilmini Silva-Send
  Professor of Practice
  University of San Diego
  
• Scott Smithline
  former director of the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery
  
• Dr. Tsemin Yang (moderator)
  Professor of Law
  Santa Clara University School of Law

Dr. Silva-Send is a Professor of Practice at the University of San Diego’s School of Law. Up to 2023, she was Associate Director at the Energy Policy Initiatives Center (EPIC) where she developed expertise in energy and climate technical, policy, regulatory and legal research and analysis, and led a multidisciplinary staff developing and implementing local and regional greenhouse gas emission inventories, projections and target-setting, locally specific greenhouse gas mitigation measures, analysis of local energy ordinances, and integration of equity into climate planning. She was an advisor in the California Water-Energy nexus protocol development, was co-lead on a workshop on energy policy for Saudi Aramco, and speaks frequently with foreign official delegations sent on study-tours to California related to the clean energy transition. Most recently she has spoken on mandatory and voluntary ESG reporting in California, the US and Europe.

Dr. Silva-Send teaches international energy investment and trade law, climate change law, Law of the Sea; and cross-border marine pollution.

Prior to her university career, she worked in due diligence environmental consulting in California and Europe. Dr. Silva-Send has a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Sussex, UK, an LLB from the University of London, UK, and an LLM and  PhD in International Law from the University of Kiel, Germany.

Scott Smithline served as director at the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery from 2015 to 2020. He formerly served the department as assistant director for policy development since 2011.

Before working for the state of California, Scott was director of legal and regulatory affairs at Californians Against Waste from 2003 to 2011 and an attorney at Lawyers for Clean Water in 2001. He was a fellow at the Golden Gate University School of Law’s Environmental Law and Justice Clinic from 2000 to 2001. Smithline earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Golden Gate University School of Law.

Tseming Yang is Professor of Law at Santa Clara University School of Law and previously led the Center for Global Law and Policy as its director from 2019 to 2023. Prior to joining the Santa Clara Law faculty in 2012, he served as Deputy General Counsel of the US Environmental Protection Agency in the Obama Administration. From 2007 to 2010, Professor Yang led the US-China Partnership for Environmental Law, a US AID-funded initiative to build China’s institutional capacity in environmental law and governance. He is co-author of Comparative and Global Environmental Law (Aspen Publishing 2020).

10:45 am – 12:00 pm | AI, Privacy and the Practice of Law

1.25 Hours Technology in The Practice of Law

This panel will explore three pivotal topics reshaping the legal landscape: artificial intelligence, privacy laws, and the use of technology in legal practice. Expert panelists will examine the transformative impact of AI on the legal profession, analyze evolving privacy regulations and their implications, and discuss innovative technological tools revolutionizing legal services. This session provides invaluable insights and practical knowledge for legal professionals navigating the complexities of modern law.

• Erin Santana
  Global HR Leader
  Alphabet Inc. (Google)

• Goli Mahdavi
  Counsel
  Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP

Erin Santana leads global HR teams responsible for the HR Strategy and Leadership Effectiveness across Google. Most recently, she acted as Head of HR for Google’s Search Product Area, partnering with the leadership team to redefine the cultural and organizational needs inlight of Search’s AI evolution. Previously Erin helped build the foundation of Google’s Hardware and Devices portfolio where she held positions of Head of HR for Nest, Silicon Engineering, Global Operations, Design & UX, Google Store, Stadia (Americas, APAC, EMEA). Erin helped Google’s acquisition of Nest from the acquiree position, ensuring 100% talent compliance and retention. Erin began her HR career at Apple where she led the employee global expansion of iTunes from 2009 – 2013. She spent a brief stint as an associate in investment transactions and climate firms prior to HR.

When Erin is not focused on helping leaders lead, she’s navigating her three sons, volunteering with nonprofits and advising climate focused start-ups. She’s also the author of a children’s story that aims to inspire children to explore the trades, Spud Jr Saves the Golden Gate Bridge.

Erin earned her JD from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2006. She maintains both California and Washington State Bar licenses.

Goli Mahdavi is Counsel in BCLP’s Global Data Privacy and Security Group. She focuses her practice on data privacy, cybersecurity, and technology transactions, providing legal guidance to a diverse array of companies ranging from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies in both local and global markets.   Goli closely collaborates with clients to develop data privacy and security compliance programs. She advises on all aspects of local and international data privacy and security laws, including key regulations like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA),  and the EU and UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).  Her expertise extends to areas such as data retention and minimization, privacy by design, data inventories, cross-border transfer agreements, privacy impact assessments, and negotiating third-party agreements (such as digital marketing, software licensing, and SaaS contracts).

As the founding member of BCLP’s AI working group, Goli also helps companies develop AI governance frameworks, including implementing AI policies, programs, and third-party risk mitigation strategies. Goli advises AI developers and deployers across industries regarding compliance with the fast-evolving AI regulatory landscape.  

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | Networking Lunch

Lunch is provided to International and Immigration Law Section members only.

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Tour of the Innovation Center and adjacent STEM lab at SCU

Registration Information

• ILS Section Member – $120
• Non-Section Member – $145
• Government or Non-Profit – $75
• New Lawyers – $75
• Student – $0

The registration deadline is August 29. Cancellations and refunds must be received in writing no later than August 12, 2024, and are subject to a 10% service fee. Refunds will not be available after August 12, 2024. For more information, call (916) 516-1757.