Section Spotlight
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HBA Welcomes Its New Technology Section
By Christian Blair
from diverse backgrounds and aiming to spark new ideas and he intersection of law and technology has become relationships that will shape how the Houston legal commuincreasingly critical for lawyers, businesses, and our nity navigates the ever-changing world of technology and law. broader community. Courts are weighing in on quesHBA members can look forward to robust continuing letions about AI-generated evidence, businesses are facgal education (CLE) programs, ing rising cybersecurity networking lunches, interactive threats and navigating the comworkshops, and volunteer opporplex privacy regulatory landscape tunities. The section is also excitand privacy litigation risks, clied to collaborate with other HBA ents are reshaping their expectasections and organizations across tions of legal services, and many Texas to ensure that members are of us are navigating the risks and both well-connected and wellbenefits of AI and data-driven equipped to meet the demands of tools in an evolving regulatory this fast-paced area of the law. landscape. The section is dediAdditionally, the Technology cated to providing a collaborative Section will be a resource for attorforum for legal professionals to neys seeking to deepen their exdiscuss these practical issues and pertise in technology law and exexciting advancements. pand their professional networks. As the American Bar AssociaWhether you are a seasoned praction has noted, lawyers are oblititioner or newly licensed attorney, gated to stay abreast of legal techtech-savvy or just getting started, nology trends because, among HBA members are encouraged to other things, technology is transjoin the Technology Section and forming how legal services are participate in shaping the future of provided. HBA has joined other this field. major bar associations in Texas— Leadership for the inaugural such as those in Dallas, Austin, HBA Technology Section officers from left to right: Stanton Burke, and San Antonio—with a section Adam Smith, Haylie Treas, Christian Blair, Stuart Cobb (not pic- year reflects the depth of talent in tured: Jessica Johnson, Will Daugherty). Houston’s legal community and is dedicated to technology. comprised of experienced leaders in privacy, cybersecurity, AI, Just as the other HBA sections have long provided commuand IP law, including: Stanton Burke, Chair (Gibson Dunn & nity and expertise in specialized fields, the HBA Technology Crutcher); Adam Smith, Vice-Chair (Georgetown University, Section is excited to bring together attorneys from across pracSouthwest Airlines); Haylie Treas, Secretary/Treasurer (Holtice areas and settings—including outside counsel at various land & Knight) Christian Blair (myself), Editor (Reed Smith); firms, in-house counsel, government attorneys, academics, and and council members Will Daugherty (Norton Rose Fulbright), other legal professionals—who are eager to share knowledge, Jessica Johnson (BakerHostetler), and Stuart Cobb (Latham & sharpen skills, and prepare for the challenges and opportuniWatkins). ties ahead. The section’s mission is to keep Houston lawyers and members informed about the latest developments in the dynamic fields of data privacy, cybersecurity, AI, and IP. The Christian Blair is a lawyer at Reed Smith LLP who practices in section will pursue this mission by connecting practitioners the areas of technology transactions, privacy, and AI. thehoustonlawyer.com
September/October 2025
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