On May 6, 2024, the Master of Science in Law program kicked off its annual Symposium at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.
The event began with an introduction from Hari Osofsky, Dean and Myra and James Bradwell Professor of Law. Dean Osofsky emphasized the critical need to merge technological innovation with legal principles to effectively tackle the challenges posed by our rapidly advancing digital world. Congratulating students who will be graduating in a few days and noting their significant accomplishments, the Dean discussed the history of the MSL and acknowledged the program’s 10th anniversary.
The series of presentations started with Stephanie Fine discussing the burgeoning wearable health app market in her talk, “User Beware: Balancing the Lure of Wearable Health Apps in a Time of Regulatory Gaps and Data Vulnerability.” Fine pointed out that while the industry is expected to soar to $67 billion by 2028, it is plagued by significant regulatory shortcomings that jeopardize user privacy. She stressed the importance of developing comprehensive regulations to protect sensitive personal data and prevent frequent data breaches, which are especially prevalent in the healthcare sector.
Following Fine, Alime Dzaferi presented, “Patent Landscape Analysis Using Natural Language Processing.” Dzaferi introduced a cutting-edge method that applies natural language processing to patent analysis, enhancing the ability to navigate the complex landscape of intellectual property. This technology promises to improve the thoroughness and speed of analyses in critical areas such as prior art evaluation.
Victoria Forte, an alum of the MSL program, then took the stage with her presentation, “Leveraging IP to Drive Deal Value in Capital Market and M&A Transactions.” Forte focused on the importance of intellectual property as an intangible, but increasingly significant, component in corporate valuations. She advocated for valuation methodologies that recognize and strategically utilize IP to increase deal effectiveness and access to capital markets.
Shaun Kenney continued the session with a fascinating case study, “From Pig Butchering to Bank Butchering: A Case Study in Bank Failures,” which focused on the collapse of a Kansas community bank due to fraudulent activities involving its CEO. Kenney emphasized the necessity for stringent governance and risk management practices within banks to prevent such failures.
The evening’s final presenter was Subbu Kuchibhotla, who presented, “An Overview of Generative Artificial Intelligence (G-AI) and Its Use in the Practice of Law.” Having worked on this topic as part of an MSL independent study project, Kuchibhotla described the current G-AI landscape and explored how this technology has the potential to transform the legal field, suggesting it could significantly enhance access to justice, streamline legal practice, and reduce dependency on traditional billing methods.
The first day of the symposium highlighted the innovative contributions of Northwestern’s MSL students, inviting dialogue at the intersection of law, business, and technology. The presentations showcased emerging issues and innovative solutions, setting a strong foundation for the second day of the Symposium. Stay tuned for more updates!
