header-logo header-logo

12 May 2017 / Roger Smith
Issue: 7745 / Categories: Opinion , Profession , Technology
printer mail-detail

A glimpse into the future

nlj_7745_comment-smith

Roger Smith reports on the ABA Techshow

In my (albeit limited) experience, Americans do a good conference. They have the numbers; the diversity of experience; and the energy to start at a scarily early hour. The ABA Techshow in March was no exception. Day 1 began with ‘where yoga and technology meet’ at 7am and went on through sessions that included ‘lunch n’ learn’ into ‘affinity’ dinners in the evening. Three days of this must have been pretty exhausting even if you were not an effete European who had flown into Chicago only the day before the opening.

High energy

In a way, the energy of the event was its defining feature. The conference was run by the organising committee which had been taken over by a group of powerful women, led by charismatic consultant and trainer, Adriana Linares, and which included ABA president Linda Grant. They had disqualified as a potential speaker anyone who had addressed the conference in the last five years: that dealt with most of the men. An impressive

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Ken Fowlie, Stowe Family Law

NLJ Career Profile: Ken Fowlie, Stowe Family Law

Ken Fowlie, chairman of Stowe Family Law, reflects on more than 30 years in legal services after ‘falling into law’

Gardner Leader—Michelle Morgan & Catherine Morris

Gardner Leader—Michelle Morgan & Catherine Morris

Regional law firm expands employment team with partner and senior associate hires

Freeths—Carly Harwood & Tom Newton

Freeths—Carly Harwood & Tom Newton

Nottinghamtrusts, estates and tax team welcomes two senior associates

NEWS
Children can claim for ‘lost years’ damages in personal injury cases, the Supreme Court has held in a landmark judgment
The cab-rank rule remains a bulwark of the rule of law, yet lawyers are increasingly judged by their clients’ causes. Writing in NLJ this week, Ian McDougall, president of the LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation, warns that conflating representation with endorsement is a ‘clear and present danger’
Holiday lets may promise easy returns, but restrictive covenants can swiftly scupper plans. Writing in NLJ this week, Andrew Francis of Serle Court recounts how covenants limiting use to a ‘private dwelling house’ or ‘private residence’ have repeatedly defeated short-term letting schemes
Artificial intelligence (AI) is already embedded in the civil courts, but regulation lags behind practice. Writing in NLJ this week, Ben Roe of Baker McKenzie charts a landscape where AI assists with transcription, case management and document handling, yet raises acute concerns over evidence, advocacy and even judgment-writing
The Supreme Court has drawn a firm line under branding creativity in regulated markets. In Dairy UK Ltd v Oatly AB, it ruled that Oatly’s ‘post-milk generation’ trade mark unlawfully deployed a protected dairy designation. In NLJ this week, Asima Rana of DWF explains that the court prioritised ‘regulatory clarity over creative branding choices’, holding that ‘designation’ extends beyond product names to marketing slogans
back-to-top-scroll