MINNEAPOLIS
Friday, June 19, 2026
9:00 AM - 4:10 PM | Check-In: 8:30 AM
Minnesota CLE Conference Center
600 Nicollet Mall # 370
3rd Floor, City Center
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Practical Insight on:
8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
CHECK-IN & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
9:00 – 9:05 a.m.
Welcome & Introduction
– Patrick J. Gallagher, Course Chair
9:05 – 10:05 a.m.
IP Issues in Commercial Agreements
Intellectual property frequently plays an important role in commercial agreements. Even when intellectual property isn’t driving the deal, it’s still important to understand and address the intellectual property issues that can arise in these transactions. This kickoff session will discuss some of the key intellectual property issues to consider when drafting or negotiating common commercial agreements, including:
– Ryan E. Strom
10:05 – 10:10 a.m.
BREAK
10:10 – 11:10 a.m.
Dispute-Resolution Clauses in IP Contracts – Top Tips to Achieve the Best Outcomes for Your Client Pre- and Post-Dispute
Get the perspective of experienced IP litigator, mediator and arbitrator Felicia Boyd on do’s and don’ts for shaping dispute-resolution clauses to include in IP contracts – as well as drafting and negotiating provisions within settlement agreements should disputes later arise.
– Felicia J. Boyd
11:10 – 11:20 a.m.
BREAK
11:20 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.
Brand, Rights, and Risk: Negotiating Intellectual Property Issues in Sponsorship Agreements
This session will examine the key IP provisions that lawyers should identify, draft, and negotiate in sponsorship deals, including trademark licenses, logo and brand usage, ownership of co-branded and promotional content, approval rights, social media and influencer deliverables, publicity rights, exclusivity, and post-termination use of intellectual property. Using practical examples from sports, entertainment, nonprofit and corporate sponsorship arrangements, the session will also address common risk-allocation issues such as infringement indemnities, third-party rights clearances, user-generated content, moral rights concerns, and enforcement obligations. Learn to spot IP pitfalls and sponsorship terms that align with both legal risk and business objectives.
– Shelby K. Bruce & Paul Mussell
– Patrick J. Gallagher (moderator)
12:20 – 1:00 p.m.
LUNCH (on your own)
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
They Can’t Take It with Them, Can They? Protecting Your IP Through Employment Contracts and Independent Contractor Agreements
This session provides an update on the intellectual property rules that apply to relationships with employees and contractors, and offers practical guidance on how best to draft enforceable agreements to protect your company’s investments.
– Marko J. Mrkonich
2:00 – 2:05 p.m.
BREAK
2:05 – 3:05 p.m.
IP Issues in AI Agreements: Ownership, Training Rights, Output, and Risk Allocation
Topics covered will include ownership and licensing of inputs, outputs, models and improvements; rights to use data for training, fine-tuning, and benchmarking; open-source and third-party content risks; confidentiality and trade secret concerns; infringement and misappropriation claims; indemnity and limitation-of-liability provisions; and the allocation of regulatory and business risk between providers and customers. Attendees will leave with practical drafting strategies and issue-spotting tools for structuring AI agreements.
– William D. Schultz
3:05 – 3:10 p.m.
BREAK
3:10 – 4:10 p.m.
Open Source – Answers to Today’s Most Pressing Questions
A can’t-miss session that tackles – from both the buyer and the provider sides – key open source issues in domestic and multi-jurisdictional business process and sourcing transactions. Learn about the current enforcement climate, what licenses clients are particularly worried about, and what more innovative companies are doing to ensure compliance.
– Peter R. George
LIVE IN-PERSON
Friday, June 19, 2026
Minnesota CLE Conference Center
600 Nicollet Mall, Suite 370
Seventh Street & Nicollet Mall, Third Floor City Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota
ONLINE REPLAYS
Tuesday, July 7, 2026
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Attend online
A moderator will be available to answer questions by email.
$295 MSBA members / $295 paralegals / $345 standard rate
Other discounts that may apply:
Scholarships available!
Need-based scholarships are available for in-person and online seminars. For further information or to obtain a scholarship application, contact us at 800-759-8840 or customerservice@minncle.org.
Minnesota CLE is applying to the Minnesota State Board of CLE for 6.0 standard CLE credits. The maximum number of total credits attendees may claim for this program is 6.0 credits.
