The Oklahoma Bar Journal April 2026

Life: Lessons From the Field for Businesses (and Their Attorneys),” presented by Kate Sullivan, which will explore how intellectual prop erty issues increasingly intersect with everyday business operations. As innovation, branding and digi tal assets become central to modern business strategy, understanding the practical realities of intellec tual property law is becoming important for lawyers well beyond traditional IP practice areas. Access to Justice and Professional Service Service to the public remains a central value of the legal profes sion, and the Midyear Conference programming reflects that com mitment. A session titled “How to Easily Incorporate Pro Bono Into Your Law Firm,” presented by Katie Dilks and Jim Calloway, will provide practical ideas for attor neys who want to integrate pro bono service into their practice in manageable and meaningful ways. For lawyers interested in appel late work, a panel featuring Jana Knott, Justin Lollman and Sharon Thomas will provide insights into appeals and the issues appel late practitioners encounter in Oklahoma courts.

Tools You Can Use for Beginners,” a practical introduction to emerg ing technologies and how they can assist lawyers in everyday work. Cybersecurity will also be addressed in “Cybersecurity Concerns for Attorneys in the Age of Polymorphic AI,” which examines how evolving threats are reshaping digital risk for law firms and what attorneys should be doing now to protect client information. Lawyers interested in improv ing the business side of their practice may want to attend “The Client Experience as a Competitive Edge,” presented by Kenton Brice, which focuses on how thought ful client service strategies can strengthen a firm’s reputation and long-term growth. Other sessions will address pro fessional development and firm cul ture, including “Please Fix: The Art of Giving Feedback to Associates,” a program designed to help lawyers navigate one of the most challeng ing aspects of leadership in a law firm environment. Learning how to deliver clear, constructive feedback is a skill lawyers must develop as they transition from practitioner to mentor and manager. The conference will also feature programming focused on substan tive law updates and emerging legal issues. For example, “Update on Oklahoma Real Property Authority 2024-2025,” presented by Kraettli Q. Epperson, will provide insight into recent developments affecting real property practice in Oklahoma. Attorneys can also attend “Intellectual Property in Real

conversations that often prove just as valuable as the formal programming. Those conversations can lead to referrals, mentorship relationships and collaborative opportunities that extend long after the confer ence ends. The legal profession is navi gating a period of rapid change, particularly as technology reshapes how lawyers work and how clients interact with legal services. The Midyear Conference provides a rare opportunity to step away from the daily pace of practice and con sider those changes in a thoughtful setting alongside colleagues. Whether attorneys are inter ested in learning about artificial intelligence, improving client experience, strengthening firm culture or simply reconnecting with colleagues from across the state, the Midyear Conference offers programs designed to inform, challenge and inspire. To learn more about the OBA Midyear Conference and to regis ter, visit www.okbar.org/midyear. Ms. Bays is the OBA Management Assistance Program director. Need a quick answer to a tech problem or help solving a management dilemma? Contact her at 405-416-7031, 800-522-8060 or julieb@okbar.org. It’s a free member benefit. LOOKING AHEAD

A CONFERENCE BUILT FOR CONVERSATION

The Midyear Conference sched ule intentionally balances educa tional sessions with opportunities for lawyers to connect with one another. Breakfasts, lunches and evening events provide time for informal

ENDNOTE

1. OBJ , December 2025, Vol. 96, No. 10.

62 | APRIL 2026

THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL