The 2026 Baird Holm Technology & Data Protection Forum

From 09/15/2026 8:00 a.m. until 09/15/2026 4:00 p.m.

At Happy Hollow Club

Baird Holm Presents the 2026 Technology & Data Protection Forum Mystery Theater!

Script for the Day

8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. | Breakfast & Registration Opens

8:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Opening Scene: Welcome and Setting the Stage
The curtain rises on a day of data mysteries, contract clues, AI plot twists, and incident-response cliffhangers.
Vickie B. Ahlers & Grayson J. Derrick 

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Keynote – AI as the Understudy: Where AI is Headed in Education and the Workforce
Professor Paul Weitzel, UNL College of Law
While still a mystery to many in how it actually works, AI is already part of how students, professionals, and organizations learn, work, and make decisions. This keynote will explore how the next generation of workers can be prepared to use AI thoughtfully, effectively, and responsibly.  This session guest stars Professor Paul Weitzel, professor of law at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | Scene Change: Morning Intermission

10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Behind the Curtain – Understanding the Many Disguises of Your Data
AriAnna C. Goldstein & Vickie B. Ahlers
Not all “privacy-protected” data wears the same disguise. This session will decode the differences between de-identified, anonymized, pseudonymized, and tokenized data—and explain why those labels matter for privacy obligations, contracting, AI use, analytics, and regulatory risk.

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. | Networking Interlude

11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | The Case of the Bot in the Breakroom:  HR and IP Traps with AI Use in the Workplace
Kelli P. Lieurance & Grayson J. Derrick
AI may be invited into the workplace as a helpful assistant, but it can also leave behind a trail of employment and intellectual property risks. This session will examine common traps in AI-enhanced hiring, screening, performance management, and other employment activities. We will also consider infringement risk when AI tools are trained on, summarize, reproduce, or generate content based on third-party materials. The goal is to help organizations spot the red flags before the bot becomes Exhibit A.

12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. | Scene Change: Grab Your Lunch

12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | The Noon Briefing – Hot Topics
Panel of Baird Holm Attorneys
Join us for the next act of this popular, fast-paced discussion as our presenters explore the latest developments, evolving risks, and emerging trends in technology and data protection.

1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. | Scene Change: Afternoon Intermission

1:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. | Tech Trolls: The Villains Lurking in Your Audience 
Eli A. Rosenberg & AriAnna C. Goldstein
Not all trolls live under bridges or star in movies. Some scan websites for missing cookie banners, tracking technologies, accessibility issues, privacy notice gaps, and other potential compliance violations. This session will explore the rise of automated claims, demand letters, and enforcement theories tied to website tracking, cookies, pixels, and online privacy disclosures. We will discuss how these claims arise, what makes an organization an attractive target, and practical steps to reduce exposure before a troll finds the trail.

2:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Counsel of Record: ChatGPT, Your Honor – The Unfolding Drama of AI in the Courtroom
Krista M. Eckhoff & Kira K. Strandquest
The scene is set: a pleading arrives, a motion is filed, and the opposing party walks in having built their case…relying on counsel that never passed the bar. Yet, despite this, artificial intelligence has taken on a starring role in today’s litigation landscape. This session pulls back the curtain on the drama now playing out across dockets nationwide by mapping the pitfalls and guardrails of AI use and analyzing the spectrum of AI-driven litigation risk to help you stay ahead of it.

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. | Before the Final Act: Intermission and Drinks 

3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | How To Catch a Data Thief (Or at Least Know What was Taken)
Michael W. Chase & Robert L. Kardell
This session brings the day’s themes together through the incident response lens: what happens when data moves where it should not. We will explore what organizations can learn from ransomware leak sites, threat intelligence tools, forensic indicators, and early investigation steps—and how those clues inform containment and response strategies.

4:00 p.m. | Final Curtain: Adjourn

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Cast Party
Join the cast and crew for a cocktail reception following the show.

Continuing Education Credits: 
This event is pending approval for the following continuing education credits: 

• NE MCLE
• NE CPE
• IA CLE
• IL CLE
• WI CLE
• CCB CEUs by The Compliance Certification Board
• IAPP