Kathryn L. Ossian

Representative Matters

• Company Software Licensing

  A corporate client had a software licensing issue (too many seats and not enough licenses for a particular application) and was being threatened with a lawsuit for copyright infringement and treble damages. We successfully negotiated a prompt and low-cost resolution with the copyright holder to diffuse what could have been a drawn-out and extremely expensive situation.

• Fortune 500 Company Multimillion Dollar Contracts

  Represented a Fortune 500 company in negotiating multimillion-dollar contracts for telecommunications, Internet and related services for the client's affiliated companies located throughout the U.S. and world.

Professional Activities

• American Bar Association, 1986-present
• State Bar of Michigan, 1984-present
• Oakland County Bar Association, 1982-present, Former Chairman, Federal Court Committee
• Armenian Bar Association, Board of Governors, 2010-present
• Armenian-American Bar Association, 1985-present, President, 1995-1997; Vice-president, 1994-1995; Secretary, 1993-1994; 2008-present

Honors + Awards

• Michigan State University College of Law, Managing Editor, Casenotes, Detroit College of Law Review
• Best Lawyers in America, Information Technology Law 2007-present; 2012 Detroit Information Technology Lawyer of the Year
• Michigan Super Lawyers, Top 50 Women Lawyers 2009-present; Information Technology/Outsourcing 2007-present; Intellectual Property 2006
• DBusiness Magazine, Top Lawyers, Information Technology 2011
• Michigan Lawyers Weekly, 2011 Women in the Law

Civic, Cultural + Social Activities

• Automation Alley, Membership Services Committee, Chair, 2005-2007; Strategic Planning and Communications Subcommittee, Chair, 2001-2004; various project leads 2001-present
• Michigan Electronic Crimes Task Force, Steering Committee, Member, January 2004-present
• Michigan Technology Conference, Advisory Board, 2006-2007
• University of Dayton School of Law Steering Committee, Computer and Cyberlaw Conference, 2007-present
• Southeast Michigan Information Security Regional Skills Alliance, Advisory Board, 2006-2008
• ConnecTech, Greater Detroit Chapter, Member, 2007-present
• Detroit Regional Chamber & Leadership Detroit, Graduate, Class XXII
• Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan, Board Member, 2009-present
• Girl Scouts of Metro Detroit, Board of Directors, 2004-2008; Chair, Nominating Committee, 2006-2007; Finance Committee, 2003-2005; Appreciation Pin, June 2000; National Council Delegate, 1999-2001, 2004-2007; Troop Service Director, 1997-2000; Troop Leader, 1993-2006
• Oakland University Paralegal Program, Advisory Board, 2005-present
• Detroit College of Law, Development Council, 1989-1994
• Catholic Youth Organization, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award, February 2001

Teaching Experience

• University of Phoenix, Certified Faculty Member, 2001-2011; Certified Advanced Facilitator, 2011-present; Teaching graduate level courses on Managing Enterprise Risk and the Legal Environment of Business

Publications

"Cloud Computing: Managing Legal Risks and Ethical Issues," Institute of Continuing Legal Education, September 2011

"Alternate circuit to success," (Interview), Women In Law, Crain's Detroit Business, April 19, 2010

"Cloud Computing: Forecasting a Storm of Potential Risks," Corp Magazine, April 15, 2010

"Profile in Brief Kathryn Ossian: Technophile," (Interview), Detroit Legal News, September 17, 2009

"Legal Issues in Social Networking," Institute of Continuing Legal Education -- Hot Topics In Entertainment Law: Gaming and Internet Law, May, 2009

"Counterfeit Software: An Overview of 'Willful Blindness' and Best Practices," State Bar of Michigan, The Litigation Newsletter, Winter 2008, co-author with Carla Perrotta

"Tech Law Update," Oakland Business Review, biweekly feature, October, 2004-present

Miller Canfield Information Technology Law Update, biweekly distribution via e-mail and on millercanfield.com, April 2001-present

"What's lurking on your hard drive?" Hot Points, Summer 2007

"New High Tech Device Tracks Goods and Merchandise," Hot Points, Summer 2005

"Website Legal Audit Checklist & Practice Tips," Institute of Continuing Legal Education - The Company Website: Legal Advice Your Clients Need to Hear, November 2004

"Whistle While You Work: Are Your Employees Pirating Tunes On Company Computers?" Hot Points, Spring 2004

"Attack of the Cyber Terrorists! Hype, Hoax, or Reality?" Hot Points, Summer 2003

"When it Comes to Email, What's Private in the Public Sector?" Hot Points, Spring 2003

Coauthor, "Safeguarding the Electronic workplace: Best Policies and Practices," Miller Canfield Annual Labor and Employment Law Seminar, Troy, Michigan, October 2002

"U.S. Bancorp Obtains Transfer of Domain Names through Dispute Resolution Procedure," The Banking Law Journal, Vol. 119, No.9, October 2002

"Watch Out! Your email could come back to legally bind you," Hot Points, Summer 2002; and reprinted in The Agenda, Winter 2002

"Avoiding Legal Pitfalls," Electronic Privacy: Current and Emerging Issues for Individuals and Businesses with a Special Look at Gramm-Leach-Bliley Requirements, National Association of Women Business Owners' Meeting, May 2002

"Strategies for Employers to Protect Intellectual Property Assets," Automation Alley, Immigration and Intellectual Property: What Every Employer Should Know, March 2002

"An ASP, you ask? The pros and cons of outsourcing information technology services," Hot Points, Winter 2001

"Negotiating and Drafting Web Development Agreements," Institute of Continuing Legal Education Drafting Technology Agreements and Policies: Adding To Your Legal Arsenal, November 2001

"Taming the Paperless Tiger," Hot Points, Spring 2001

"Click. Point. Buy. Sell." Hot Points, Spring 2000

"Online Contracts: Essential Terms and Enforcement Issues," Miller Canfield E-Business Symposium Program Materials, April 2000

"Avoid These Web Site Pitfalls," Hot Points, Fall 1999, reprinted with permission, Intellectual Property Counselor, Business Laws, Inc., Issue No. 38, February 2000

Coauthor, ABA Business Law Section Annual Survey of Intellectual Property Law, 1998-00

Coauthor, "Patent Arbitration," chapter in ADR Handbook for Michigan Practitioners, American Arbitration Association (1996)

Coauthor, "ERISA Preemption of State Law Claims," Michigan Defense Quarterly, Vol. 12, No. 4., Fall 1995

"Summary Changes to the Local Rules for the Eastern District of Michigan," Laches, February 1993

"What Every Practitioner Must Know: Local Rules of the District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan," Laches, September 1988

"Interpretation of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and the EEOC Guidelines: Conflicting Federal Responses and Analogous Confusion at the State Level," 1984 Det.Coll.L.Rev.77

"No Tax Exemptions Courtesy of the Lord: United States v. Lee," 1983 Det.Coll.L.Rev., 235

Speeches

"Risks to Financial Institutions from Phishing Threats and Social Media Use," State Bar of Michigan 2011 Intellectual Property Law Spring Seminar, East Lansing, Michigan, March 26, 2012

"Cloud Computing: Managing Legal Risks and Ethical Issues," State Bar of Michigan Solo & Small Firm Institute, Dearborn, Michigan, September 15, 2011

"The Legal Risks of Cloud Computing," 2011 Great Lakes InfraGuard Fall Conference, Ypsilanti, Michigan, September 13, 2011

"Social Media: Protecting Your Brand and Other Legal Considerations," Automation Alley, Troy, Michigan, August 17, 2011

"Data Protection Laws: What Every Organization Must Know," Automation Alley, Troy, Michigan, March 29, 2011

"Tech Talk," Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber, Investepreneur Forum, Birmingham, Michigan, November 16, 2010

"Legal Issues in Social Networking," Armenian Bar Association Mid-Year Meeting, Providence, Rhode Island, October 9, 2010 

"Legal Issues in the Classroom," Trends in Occupational Studies Conference, Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 7, 2010

"Case Studies in Social Media Landmines: Mitigating the Legal Risks," (Co-Presenter Adam Forman), HR Leadership Forum Nonprofit Consortium, Washington, D.C., September 16, 2010

"Update on Michigan's Digital Forensics Expert Qualifications," Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants, Anti Fraud Conference, Livonia, Michigan, May 18, 2010

"Legal Aspects of Using Day-To-Day Technologies," State Bar of Michigan, Arts, Communication & Entertainment Law Section, Detroit, Michigan, April 15, 2010

"The Legal Implications of Social Networking," The Association of Litigation Support Professionals, Eastern Michigan Chapter, Southfield, Michigan, April 13, 2010

"Is Your Confidential Information For Sale Online?" Information Systems Accountability and Controls Association (ISACA), Detroit Chapter Meeting, Dearborn, Michigan, February 17, 2010

"Social Media Landmines: Legal Implications & Effective Policies," Automation Alley, Troy, Michigan, December 2, 2009

"Legal Issues of Social Networking," National Association of Legal Secretaries (NALS), Detroit Chapter, Detroit, Michigan, September 2009

"The Impact of Social Media on the Law," State Bar of Michigan Arts, Communication and Entertainment Section, Detroit, Michigan, September 2009

"Legal Issues in Social Networking," Institute of Continuing Legal Education -- Hot Topics In Entertainment Law: Gaming and Internet Law, Plymouth, Michigan, May 20, 2009

"Federal and State Privacy/Identity Theft Laws and the FTC Red Flag Rules," Michigan Municipal League, April, 2009

"Federal and State Privacy/Identity Theft Laws," Michigan Homeland Security Consortium Roundtable, Lansing, Michigan, April, 2009

"Federal and State Privacy/Identity Theft Laws," Data Privacy Town Hall Meeting, Automation Alley, March, 2009

"Michigan's Professional Investigator Licensure Act - Why It Matters to IT," Panelist, Detroit SecureWorld Expo, Dearborn, MI, November 5, 2008

"Software Licenses: Key Issues For Business Lawyers," Information Technology Law - What Every Lawyer Should Know, Panelist, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Plymouth, MI, October 29, 2008

"What Businesses Need to Know About Privacy and Data Breach Notification Laws," Information Systems Security Association, Southfield, MI, October 16, 2008

"The Impact of Public Act 146 on Independent IT Forensic Investigations," Connechtech Webinar, July 8, 2008

"Identity Theft - New Laws and Best Preventative Practices," American Prepaid Legal Services Institute 2008 Annual Conference on Prepaid Legal Services, San Diego, May 16, 2008

"Technology Law: Do Your Business IT Practices Comply or Create Liability?" Lansing Regional Chamber's Coffee with Counsel, February 6, 2008

"Copyright in the Digital Age," Wayne State University Library System Faculty Symposium, Journals and Academic Libraries in the Age of Google, Detroit, Michigan, October 31, 2007

"International Data Transfer Requirements," Automation Alley International Business Briefing, Troy, Michigan, July 2007

"Software Licensing and Open Source Issues," (Moderator), University of Dayton School of Law Computer and Cyberlaw Conference, Dayton, Ohio, June 2007

"The Law of Doing Business Online," Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE), Plymouth, Michigan, June 2007

"Shedding Light on IT Security," (Moderator), GLIMA Southwest, Kalamazoo, Michigan, May 2007

"Privacy Compliance: What Every Business Needs to Know," Troy Business Showcase, Troy, MI, October 2006; GLIMA Southeast, Troy, MI, April 2007

Panelist, "Data Leakage Prevention: A Corporate Prospective," SecureWorld Expo, Dearborn, Michigan, September 2006

"Civil Remedies (Damages) Under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act," Michigan Electronic Crimes Task Force Meeting, Ann Arbor, Michigan, July 2006

"Negotiating Successful Outsourcing Agreements - Domestically and Abroad," Miller Canfield International Business Briefing, Troy, Michigan, June 2006

"Enterprises Beware: Do Your IT Security Best Practices Protect Your Organization From Legal Liability?" (Panelist), Ziff Davis Virtual Tradeshow on Security, March 22, 2006

"Identity Theft," (Panelist), Michigan Public Employers Labor Relations Association (MEPLRA), Lansing, Michigan (with Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit), December 2, 2005

"Michigan's New Identity Theft Protection Act," Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce Silver Symposium, Detroit, Michigan, July 21, 2005

"Investigations and The Individual's Right To Privacy: A Legal Perspective," American Society For Industrial Security (ASIS) Detroit Chapter, Livonia, Michigan, May 18, 2005

"The Company Website: Legal Advice Your Clients Need to Hear," Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Troy, Michigan, November 5, 2004

"Technology Law: Do Your Company's Practices Comply?" Troy Chamber of Commerce, Troy, Michigan, September 16, 2004

"What To Do When Your Company Is Hacked Or Attacked--And How To Prevent It," Walsh College, Troy, Michigan, January 30, 2004

"Working Together to Protect Our Critical Infrastructure." FBI Michigan Infragard Chapter Seminar on Cyber Warfare, Walsh College, Novi, Michigan (Panelist with Dan Lohrman, Chief Information Security Officer, state of Michigan, Larry Kuhl of the FBI, and Bill Cousins, Secret Service), March 19, 2003

"Safeguarding the Electronic Workplace: Best Policies and Practices," Miller Canfield Annual Labor and Employment Law Seminar, Troy, Michigan, October 2002

"Technology Issues: Keeping It Legal," Michigan Negotiators' Association Annual Meeting, Bellaire, Michigan, October 2002

"An ASP, You Ask? The Pros and Cons of Outsourcing Information Technology Services," ITEC, Novi, Michigan, June 2002

"Fortify Your Network against Cyber Attacks and Internal SNAFUs: Highlights of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act," Detroit Regional Chamber, Troy, Michigan, June 2002

"Copyright Issues for Business Publications Editors: Specific Issues with the Worldwide Web and the Internet," American Society of Business Publication Editors-Detroit Chapter, Detroit, Michigan, June 2002

"Avoiding Legal Pitfalls," Electronic Privacy: Current and Emerging Issues for Individuals and Businesses with a Special Look at Gramm-Leach-Bliley Requirements, National Association of Women Business Owners' Meeting, Detroit, Michigan, May 2002

"Network Acceptable Use Policies," Michigan Manufacturers Association: The H-R Side of E-Business, Southfield, Michigan, April 2002

"Strategies for Employers to Protect Intellectual Property Assets," Automation Alley, Immigration and Intellectual Property: What Every Employer Should Know, Pontiac, Michigan, March 2002

"Network Privacy and Confidentiality: Legal Perspectives," (Panelist), ANX User Group Annual Meeting, Livonia, Michigan, December 2001

"On-line Contracts in E-Business," E-Business: Surviving and Thriving in the Internet Economy, presented by Western Michigan University and Haworth College of Business, November 1, 2001

"Negotiating and Drafting Web Development Agreements," Institute for Continuing Legal Education Drafting Technology Agreements and Policies: Adding To Your Legal Arsenal, Troy, Michigan, November 2001

“Online Contracts, Essential Terms and Enforcement Issues," Western Michigan University, Haworth College of Business Symposium “E-Business: Surviving and Thriving In The Internet Economy," Kalamazoo, Michigan, November 2001

"Internet Filtering and the Children's Internet Protection Act," MERIT Annual Meeting, Grand Rapids, Michigan, June 2001

"Electronic Discovery," Miller Canfield University, Detroit, Michigan, November 2000

"E-mail/Internet Privacy and Use," Honeywell's Ninth Annual Michigan Governmental Conference–2000, Gaylord, Michigan, September 2000

"E-Commerce Law," Miller Canfield University, Detroit, Michigan, June 2000

"Online Contracts, Essential terms and Enforcement Issues," Miller Canfield E-Business Symposium, Troy, Michigan, April 2000; Ann Arbor, Michigan, June 2000; Detroit, Michigan, January 2001; Grand Rapids, Michigan, June 2001; and Kalamazoo, Michigan, June 2001

Seminars + Events

• Lunch + Launch: Social Media - Protecting Your Brand and Other Legal Considerations
• Before the Bell Breakfast Forum: Social Media from a Regulatory Standpoint
• 2010 Trends in Occupational Studies: Legal Issues in the Classroom
• 2010 Cyber Threats: Organizational Strategies To Avert 21st Century Risk
• Social Media Landmines: Legal Implications of Social Networking

Articles

• Is there Tax on the Cloud?
• Today’s Forecast: Lots of Clouds
• Today’s Forecast: Lots of Clouds
• One Size — Does Not — Fit All
• Michigan Disconnects Its Jurors
• Legal Issues in Social Networking

Newsletters

• Hot Points Fall 2011
• Hot Points Special Edition Information Technology
• Hot Points Summer 2010
• Hot Points Special Edition Information Technology

News

• 11 Miller Canfield Lawyers named "Best Lawyers of the Year"
• Miller Canfield's Kathryn L. Ossian Named a Women in the Law
• Miller Canfield Lawyer Kathy Ossian Elected to Armenian Bar Association Board of Governors
• Kathy Ossian Featured in Crain's Detroit Business, "Women Lawyers with IT Talents Plug in to Leadership at Local Firms"
• Miller Canfield Hosts Cyber Liability Seminar
• Miller Canfield's Kathryn L. Ossian Serves on Board for Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan