chevron-down Created with Sketch Beta.
March 12, 2019

U.S. government officials, judges to speak at ABA Business Law meeting in Vancouver

WASHINGTON, March 12, 2019 — Officials from the Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, federal judges, along with national and international business law experts will be among the more than 1,600 participants at the American Bar Association’s Business Law Section Spring Meeting to be held March 28-30 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The conference will offer the expected 1,200 attendees from over 20 countries more than 80 CLE programs in all areas of business law.

What:  
Business Law Section Spring Meeting
Sponsored by the ABA Business Law Section

When: 
March 28-30

Where:
Vancouver Convention Center
999 Canada Place
Vancouver, BC V6C 3E1 Canada

Program highlights include:

“The New NAFTA: What Does It Mean and What are the Implications for Cross-Border Transactions?” — This program will provide an explanation of the new NAFTA, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement negotiated by President Donald Trump in September 2018. Panelists will analyze major changes in the new legislation, including in the areas of trade tariffs, dispute resolution and labor standards, and will discuss the implications on cross-border transactions.

Thursday, 8:30-10 a.m., West Level 2, Rooms 205-206

California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018: New Standards and New Challenges” — The program will provide an overview of the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA), focusing on the law’s scope, major requirements and related implementation issues. The program will address the rights and obligations established under the CCPA, the impact of the CCPA on multi-jurisdictional activity, penalties and damages issues, exceptions from CCPA requirements (including the GLBA exemption) and data breach provisions of CCPA. Speakers include Maureen Young, senior regulatory counsel, senior vice president, Bank of the West, San Francisco.

Thursday, 2-3 p.m., West Level, Room 220

Critical Cybersecurity Compliance Issues for Canadian and U.S. Companies Operating Cross-Border” — This program will present key issues regarding cybersecurity and privacy regulations in Canada and the U.S. and best practices for cybersecurity and privacy compliance programs under applicable Canadian-U.S. laws. The focus will be on contrasting compliance practices under GDPR with recommended practices under the California Consumer Privacy Act and PIPEDA (Canada). Speakers include Michael McEvoy, information and privacy commissioner for British Columbia.

Friday, 8:30-10 a.m., East Meeting Level, Room 8

Crypto Asset Enforcement Actions: TKO for ICOS? Or Course Correction for a New Asset Class?” — Increasingly, enforcement actions are shaping the landscape for cryptocurrencies, token issuers and investors; money service businesses; and other participants in the crypto markets. This comprehensive review of the latest settlements, litigated case, and agency guidance draws upon recent developments to assess the state of the market.

Friday, 10:30-Noon, West Level 2, Rooms 205-206

“The Law of Artificial Intelligence and Smart Machines” — The panel will discuss the domestic and international laws affecting business and government use of AI and the advancing rules of autonomous machines, including current tort, contract, IP and privacy law and speculation on the future effect of AI on the law.

Friday, 10:30-Noon, East Meeting Level, Room 8

“Government Regulation of Blockchain – What, How and Why (Bother)?” — As blockchain becomes more prevalent in commerce, some jurisdictions are adopting laws and regulations that are friendly to blockchain users, while others are passing less friendly laws. The panel will explore what different governmental bodies are doing to restrict or encourage blockchain growth and the reasons behind these laws. Speakers include Amy Davine Kim, general counsel, Digital Chamber of Commerce, Washington, D.C.; Sarah Jane Hughes, University Scholar and Fellow in Commercial Law, University of Indiana, Bloomington; and Norma Krayem, chair, global cybersecurity and privacy policy and regulatory team, Holland & Knight; Washington, D.C.

Saturday, 8:30-10 a.m., West Level 2, Rooms 202-203

“Cashing in on Cannabis: Current Issues in Financing, Operations, Banking and Regulations in the Cannabis Industry, and a Comparative Analysis of the U.S. and Canadian Landscapes” — This panel will address the differences and similarities between Canadian and U.S. handling of cannabis businesses. The panel will also discuss financing, banking, investment and regulatory issues of cannabis business operations in Canada and the U.S. and take a hard look at the ethical issues encountered.

Saturday, 10:30-Noon, West Level 2, Rooms 205-206

The complete schedule can be viewed online.

This event is open to members of the press. For media credentialing, please contact Robert Robinson at [email protected].

 

With more than 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is one of the largest voluntary professional membership organizations in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law. View our privacy statement online. Follow the latest ABA news at www.americanbar.org/news and on Twitter @ABANews.