Law, disrupted

Cryptocurrencies are breaking new ground constantly, as new projects are introduced every day and broader swaths of the public interact with this revolutionary technology. With increasing popularity comes a growing need to clarify the legal implications surrounding cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. This week, Law, disrupted is tackling these very issues. Appraising the surging public interest in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology – including Bitcoin and Ethereum and dozens of newer tokens and projects.  John is joined by Quinn Emanuel 🇺🇸 Partners Dave Grable & Michael Liftik, and Core Scientific’s Founder Darin Feinstein, to consider the legal issues emerging in this space.They explore how smart contracts and “code is law” concepts may not provide all the answers when unintended outcomes arise, and cases that are addressing these issues. They discuss security threats, vulnerabilities, and the issue of dealing with an anonymous counterparty who may be located halfway around the globe. Together, the panel also explores liability implications associated with DAOs (decentralized autonomous organizations), private property rights that digital assets represent, and issues related to central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).The panel also discusses regulatory issues presented by cryptocurrencies, including SEC attempts at regulation by enforcement and recent legislative activity geared towards cryptocurrencies and digital assets.GuestsDave Grable, Co-Chair of the National Trial Practice Group for Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & SullivanMichael Liftik, Chair of Quinn Emanuel’s SEC Enforcement practice & Co-Managing Partner of the Washington officeDarin Feinstein, Co-Founder, Co-Chairman & Chief Vision Officer at Core Scientific Created & produced by Podcast Partners: www.podcastpartners.comSign up to receive updates by email when a new episode drops at: www.law-disrupted.fm Music by Alexander Rossi www.alexanderrossi.meProducer www.alexishyde.comPodcast Link: Law-disrupted.fmHost: John B. Quinn Producer: Alexis HydeMusic and Editing by: Alexander Rossi

In this episode of Law, disrupted, host John B. Quinn chats with Kathleen Sullivan, a partner at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan's Los Angeles and New York offices, and founding chair of the firm's national appellate practice. He also joins John Bash, a partner at Quinn Emanuel's Austin and Washington offices. Between the two of them, Kathleen and John have argued over 20 cases in the U.S. Supreme Court.The conversation begins by reflecting on 2016’s Apple v Samsung lawsuit, unpacking how the design patent war between the two tech giants made its way to the Supreme Court. John and his guests then take a closer look at how a legal conflict can reach the nation’s highest court. Given that over 7,000 cases are submitted to the Supreme Court to review each year, they explain why the Justices choose to decide well fewer than 100 cases each year.As experienced Supreme Court practitioners, Kathleen and John share what’s involved in drafting written arguments and preparing for oral arguments before the Supreme Court—one of the most “challenging intellectual experiences” a lawyer can face. They also discuss the impact of media coverage on the public’s perceptions of the decision-making process.Lastly, John and his guests cover the value of moot courts for lawyers to practice and hone their arguments, discuss the impact of Covid on the courts, and consider how amicus briefs—briefs by “friends of the court”—can increase a party’s chance of legal success.Created & produced by Podcast Partners: www.podcastpartners.comSign up to receive updates by email when a new episode drops at: www.law-disrupted.fm Music by Alexander Rossi www.alexanderrossi.meProducer www.alexishyde.comPodcast Link: Law-disrupted.fmHost: John B. Quinn Producer: Alexis HydeMusic and Editing by: Alexander Rossi

In this episode of Law, disrupted, host John B. Quinn joins Christopher Tayback, managing partner of the Los Angeles Office of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan.  John served as General Counsel of the Academy for over 30 years, and both Chris and John have represented the Academy in various legal matters for decades. In this podcast, they share details of some well-known legal issues the Academy has faced.Together they discuss the uniquely important intellectual property issues the Academy has addressed over the years, including the copyright and trademark protections afforded the ceremony’s famous statuettes as well as the use of the name “Oscars” and “Academy Awards.” They also cover the seminal “Creative House” litigation that established the propriety of the Academy’s intellectual property rights in the statuette itself, as well as efforts to enforce the Academy’s “right of first refusal,” which prohibits award winners and their heirs from selling their statuettes. Finally, John and Chris weigh in on the fundamental issues that the Academy faces as motion pictures are now increasingly viewed and premiered on television as opposed to in theatersCreated & produced by Podcast Partners: www.podcastpartners.comSign up to receive updates by email when a new episode drops at: www.law-disrupted.fm Music by Alexander Rossi www.alexanderrossi.meProducer www.alexishyde.comPodcast Link: Law-disrupted.fmHost: John B. Quinn Producer: Alexis HydeMusic and Editing by: Alexander Rossi

In this episode of “Law, disrupted,” host John B. Quinn joins Lee Papageorge, Head of Litigation at Cruise, a self-driving car company and subsidiary of GM, headquartered in San Francisco, and Charles K. Verhoeven, Partner in Quinn Emanuel’s San Francisco office and Co-Chair of the firm’s National Intellectual Property Litigation Practice. The conversation kicks off by covering the race to commercialize self-driving vehicles. Amid rapid advancements in technology that remove the need for human intervention, the sector faces complex challenges of introducing a vehicle that can implement these safely and legally.The participants then move on to the discussion of IP rights and protecting emerging technologies in this domain. Referencing the “Waymo v. Uber” settlement, John and his guests unpack why many companies opt for trade secret protection, and broach the current limitations on patents resulting from the market being in its infancy.Finally, they assess who can be held liable for accidents caused by self-driving cars, and the pivotal role engineers will play in the infrastructure needed to support adoption of autonomous vehicles.Created & produced by Podcast Partners: www.podcastpartners.comSign up to receive updates by email when a new episode drops at: www.law-disrupted.fm Music by Alexander Rossi www.alexanderrossi.meProducer www.alexishyde.comPodcast Link: Law-disrupted.fmHost: John B. Quinn Producer: Alexis HydeMusic and Editing by: Alexander Rossi

In this episode of “Law, disrupted,” host John B. Quinn is joined by Robert Schwartz, Partner at Quinn Emanuel’s Los Angeles office, and Co-Chair of the Media & Entertainment Industry Practice. Bobby has a nationally recognized reputation for his work in large-stakes, high-octane, and precedent-setting cases that are notably in the entertainment and media fields.The conversation begins by analyzing the rise of Netflix and its disruption to intellectual property, distribution arrangements, and licenses. With an initial business model based around renting DVDs, they explore how it became a pioneer in streaming services by capitalizing on the desire for personalization, especially among the millennial audience.The discussion moves on to address a rise in subscriptions to paid streaming services during the pandemic, and how this has in turn affected movie theaters, attracting talent, and the theatrical exhibition business. They examine Village Roadshow’s lawsuit against Warner Bros regarding the day-and-date release strategy of ‘The Matrix Resurrections’, and debate whether hybrid releases could be the future of the movie industry.   Together they talk through some of the legal challenges arising from contracts agreed prior to the integration of new streaming technology, discuss how broadcast TV is polishing up their traditional offerings with affiliated on-demand streaming services, and break down what deal-making could look like for the entertainment industry hereafter.Created & produced by Podcast Partners: www.podcastpartners.comSign up to receive updates by email when a new episode drops at: www.law-disrupted.fm Music by Alexander Rossi www.alexanderrossi.meProducer www.alexishyde.comPodcast Link: Law-disrupted.fmHost: John B. Quinn Producer: Alexis HydeMusic and Editing by: Alexander Rossi

Legal experts Haiyang Tang and Xiao Liu discuss China's crackdown on tech companies, questioning its investibility. They analyze government actions, data security laws, and if it hinders Western investment. The podcast explores global regulations, anti-competition investigations, investment trends, and Shanghai's strategies to attract foreign investments.

In this episode of “Law, disrupted”, host John B. Quinn joins David Hobbs, Security Engineering Manager at Check Point Software Technologies. David has over two decades of experience in the security field, working with law enforcement agencies and training intelligence organizations in cyberwar and cyber defense technologies.The discussion begins by explaining what ransomware is and how the software spreads “like a virus” to corrupt systems and encrypt sensitive data. David outlines an increasing threat to public and private companies, drawing attention to a 68% share of US organizations who paid a ransom after experiencing an attack. (Statista 2020)The conversation moves on to dig deeper into who the hackers are, and to understand why a company may get targeted. They highlight noteworthy cyber incidents, and reflect on the 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack, which saw more than 200,000 computers become infected within three days. Together, David and John acknowledge an escalation in Russia-Ukraine cyber activity, and talk through the important steps that can be taken upon noticing—as well as preventing—future ransomware attacks.Created & produced by Podcast Partners: www.podcastpartners.comSign up to receive updates by email when a new episode drops at: www.law-disrupted.fm Music by Alexander Rossi www.alexanderrossi.meProducer www.alexishyde.comPodcast Link: Law-disrupted.fmHost: John B. Quinn Producer: Alexis HydeMusic and Editing by: Alexander Rossi

In this episode of “Law, disrupted,” host John B. Quinn joins Joe Hage, a litigator and founder of HENI, an international art and technology services business based out of London. They are also joined by Luke Nikas, a partner at Quinn Emanuel’s New York office who also heads up the firm’s art litigation practice.The three unpack what a non-fungible token (NFT) is, and how traditional intellectual property principles apply to them. Referencing the legal battle between Hermes and the creator of “MetaBirkin” NFTs, they discuss issues relating to intellectual property infringement, and the sorts of questions they raise for brand owners, artists, and businesses.They then move on to discuss the potential regulatory, securities law and transparency issues that come with digital ownership, as well as the breadth of opportunity for creators to monetize NFTs beyond digital art and legal implications of those opportunities.Created & produced by Podcast Partners: www.podcastpartners.comSign up to receive updates by email when a new episode drops at: www.law-disrupted.fm Music by Alexander Rossi www.alexanderrossi.meProducer www.alexishyde.comPodcast Link: Law-disrupted.fmHost: John B. Quinn Producer: Alexis HydeMusic and Editing by: Alexander Rossi

In this episode of “Law, disrupted," host John B. Quinn joins Christopher Bogart, CEO, Director, and Co-Founder of Burford Capital. Burford is the largest litigation finance firm in the world and is publicly traded on the New York and London Stock ExchangesIn this conversation, Christopher drills down on what litigation funding is and explains how it can be a cost-effective financing tool for claimants and law firms by assuming the cost and risk of litigation. Together, Christopher and John explore what litigation finance deals look like, and what makes them an attractive investment proposition.They also consider whether litigation finance is more important outside the US, potential barriers to entry in this space, and the types of innovative litigation products in the pipeline, which could transform the legal industry.Created & produced by Podcast Partners: www.podcastpartners.comSign up to receive updates by email when a new episode drops at: www.law-disrupted.fm Music by Alexander Rossi www.alexanderrossi.meProducer www.alexishyde.comPodcast Link: Law-disrupted.fmHost: John B. Quinn Producer: Alexis HydeMusic and Editing by: Alexander Rossi

In this episode of “Law, disrupted,” host John B. Quinn joins Ellison Merkel, partner at Quinn Emanuel’s New York office, and Neil Shah, Senior Managing Director and Head of Alternative Capital at Evercore.They begin by unpacking the evolution of special-purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) to explain how the capital-raising alternative took 2020 by storm, and discuss the litigations risks presented by the resurgence of this investment vehicle.The conversation moves on to trends and developments in SPAC transactions, considering the advantages for companies and investors compared with traditional IPOs, as well as the potential risks, including conflicts of interest between sponsors and shareholders.Referencing the MultiPlan stockholder litigation, John and his guests bring to light the heightened scrutiny on SPAC merger disclosures, and explore the impact of increased regulation and ligation on the market’s future. Together, they also address investor concerns for a higher rate of liquidations, and share their thoughts on the recipe for long-term SPAC success.Created & produced by Podcast Partners: www.podcastpartners.comSign up to receive updates by email when a new episode drops at: www.law-disrupted.fm Music by Alexander Rossi www.alexanderrossi.meProducer www.alexishyde.comPodcast Link: Law-disrupted.fmHost: John B. Quinn Producer: Alexis HydeMusic and Editing by: Alexander Rossi