Finding Common Ground: High-Conflict Custody Disputes

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.

Preserving Error for Appellate Review

In litigation, “wait and see” is not a strategy. Should a trial judge enter an erroneous adverse ruling that prejudicially affects your client, you should have a ready plan and be prepared to implement it immediately to preserve an appellate challenge. This need for quick action arises because, with limited exceptions, appellate courts will not consider issues raised for the first time on appeal. We will tackle the steps required to preserve state court error for appellate review and identify some contexts that call for attention and scrutiny at the trial level. 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.

In Conversation with Professor Edward Lee: Vibe Coding, AI Authorship, and the Future of Copyright

We're excited to offer members a rare chance to engage directly with Professor Edward Lee of Santa Clara University School of Law, one of the leading voices on AI, copyright, and the legal questions posed by disruptive technologies. The conversation will focus on his recent paper on vibe coding and copyright authorship, including whether fully AI-generated code retains copyright protection. 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.

Finding Common Ground: Mediating the Complex Financial Case

Christopher C. Melcher, partner at Walzer Melcher & Yoda LLP, Hon. Joshua D. Wayser of LASC, and Anthony Storm, founding partner at Storm Palyan LLP, will examine how mediation can work in family law cases where the financial stakes are high and the issues are genuinely complicated. Melcher and Storm will draw on their litigation and settlement experience to address the structural and strategic challenges these cases present, from business valuations and complex asset divisions to the dynamics that push parties toward or away from resolution. Judge Wayser will offer a judicial perspective on what courts are looking for, how mediators and counsel can better prepare their clients, and where the process tends to break down. Attorneys will leave with a clearer framework for assessing when mediation is the right path, how to position a complex financial case for settlement, and what it takes to get sophisticated parties to the table and keep them there. 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.