Brown Act 2026 Updates

What’s New in Influencer Marketing in 2026

Influencer marketing continues to be one of the most powerful tools for connecting with consumers – but it is also under unprecedented scrutiny. In this program, Allison Fitzpatrick, Advertising + Marketing partner at Davis+Gilbert, will walk through what brands, agencies, and counsel need to know about the rapidly evolving legal landscape governing influencer campaigns. Drawing on recent FTC updates, NAD enforcement actions, and high‑profile class action lawsuits, this session will focus on how to maximize the value of influencer partnerships while minimizing regulatory, reputational, and financial risk. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of:

It's All in the Timing: How to Win Your Case with Depositions

Timing is one of the most underused tools in deposition practice. This program shows trial lawyers how to use the seven-hour rule, the order of depositions, and the pacing within each session to gain strategic advantage. From "jack-rabbiting" through testimony to knowing when to slow down and ask for more time to prepare, attendees will learn how the right deposition at the right time can shape the outcome of a trial — or drive a favorable settlement. The program also covers the rules that govern when, and how, courts will limit deposition questioning, and the consequences when deposition limits are exceeded or violated. By the end of the hour, participants will have a working framework for deciding which deposition to take first, how long it should run, and how to respond when opposing counsel pushes the rules. Taught by Pavel Kolmogorov, Michael J. Carrozzo, and Henry Nikogosyan, Kolmogorov Law, the program is designed for litigators who want a practical, rule-based approach to deposition strategy. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

Nuts and Bolts of Non-Competes in California (2026 Edition)

Rachel Green of Katz Banks Kumin, will review foundational legal limitations of non-competes and related restrictive covenants and demonstrate how California is one of the most protective jurisdictions in the country for workers and workplace mobility. The program will also cover recent state and federal legislative and administrative updates, from AB 692 to the FTC’s retraction from the Biden-era nationwide ban on non-competes, and what it all means for California practitioners. Participants will gain practical tools needed for advising employees seeking to challenge restrictive covenants and awareness of the employee perspective, valuable for those advising employers crafting restrictive covenants. Audio versions of Beverly Hills Bar Association programs are eligible for Self-Study CLE credit in California. Visit www.bhba.org/podcasts for more information.

International Family Law - Italy and the U.S. in Practice

International Family Law examines how family law disputes are handled across different legal systems, cultures, and jurisdictions. Through in-depth conversations with leading international practitioners, the series explores forum selection, property and support regimes, child custody, enforcement challenges, and conflicts of law, with each discussion grounded in practical comparisons to California family law. In this episode, Alessandro Gravante of Giambrone & Partners and Marzia B. Ghigliazza of Studio Legale Internazionale Ghigliazza-Rugani explore international family law disputes between Italy and the United States. The conversation covers forum selection and the role of EU instruments including Brussels II-ter, international child abduction and Hague Convention proceedings, child custody standards and the recognition of U.S. custody orders, international relocation, marital property regimes and financial claims, support obligations, and the enforcement of California judgments in Italy. Alphonse Provinziano of Provinziano & Associates moderates the conversation by drawing comparisons to California law, highlighting jurisdictional contrasts shaped by EU frameworks, and probing practical enforcement considerations across borders.

California Privacy Law on End to End Encryption of Direct Messages

Meta's March 2026 decision to remove end-to-end encryption from Instagram direct messages has reopened fundamental questions about privacy of social media communication under California law. This program examines what the CCPA requires of businesses handling user communications, where the definition of "personal information" draws the line, and how platform terms of service interact with statutory protections. Don R. Dennis Jr., Law Office of Don R. Dennis Jr., brings current case law and regulatory guidance to the discussion, which extends to connected devices and the unresolved question of third-party exposure when recordings capture more than the consenting user. The program also takes on broader questions the law has yet to answer, including whether federal frameworks built for telephone communication are adequate for an era of direct messaging and ambient recording.