As attorneys, we face declining public confidence in our profession while technology, competition, and changing client expectations continue to reshape the practice of law. Our future success—and the future of the profession—depends upon our ability to build trust, demonstrate character, and earn confidence in every professional interaction.

In this opening plenary, John Moore explores the challenges facing today's legal profession and provides practical, concrete strategies for becoming a more trusted practitioner. Participants will examine the relationship between competence, character, ethics, and professional fulfillment, while learning how trust can serve as a powerful driver of personal success, client relationships, leadership, and professional reputation.

This opening plenary offers a thoughtful framework for lawyers seeking to strengthen their practice, enhance their impact, and help restore confidence in the legal profession.

This course will explore the key financial and tax issues family law attorneys encounter when representing self-employed individuals, focusing on how tax returns, business valuations, and income determination analyses intersect in divorce and support matters. Attendees will learn to identify tax return items that may affect reported income, cash flow, and business value, including pass-through income, officer compensation, depreciation, discretionary expenses, retained earnings, and nonrecurring adjustments. The presentation will also address common valuation concepts in closely held business disputes, including normalized earnings, reasonable compensation, goodwill, discounts, and the difference between business value and income available for support. Through a practical, client-focused lens, this course will help participants better understand what financial information to request, where issues commonly arise, and how to work effectively with CPA and valuation experts.

This panel discussion aims to reframe wellness not as "soft" self-care, but as professional competency required for high-level advocacy. Well-being will always need a focus on a culture of leadership and the "bravery" of vulnerability in a profession that prizes invulnerability. It will also connect well-being directly to the Rules of Professional Conduct. While the rules are not the primary focus of this presentation, it cannot go without mentioning them in part. The overall goal is to help focus the audience on wellness for people who don't have time for wellness.

For many Trusts and Estates attorneys, claims of undue influence are the monsters hiding under the bed. You never really know when it will pop up or if it is even there at all. This program will walk attendees through different laws surrounding undue influence, stories of undue influence from real cases, red flags to look for, and strategies to protect both yourself as the drafting attorney and your client’s true intentions. Lastly, because sometimes litigation is unavoidable, we will discuss undue influence litigation from the perspective of the plaintiff, defendant, and the most common key witness, the drafting attorney.

The most common, and least satisfying, answer a lawyer can give their client is “it depends.” We have all done it and we will continue to do it. These cases are why the law remains unpredictable. This program will discuss probate, estate planning, and bequest administration cases from multiple jurisdictions around the country. All of these cases will involve an unusual set of facts or holding. We will examine examples of defective wills, issues in beneficiary designations, lost wills, and reopening closed estates.

You cannot afford to miss this presentation! Emily Madden will walk you through all the important Wyoming Supreme Court civil cases from 2025-2026, saving you hours and hours of self-study time. Keep up to date and informed with this one-hour lecture that will provide you with a brief overview of Wyoming’s civil case law.

Betting on Wyoming, this presentation will introduce attorneys to the regulatory backbone of the state’s booming gaming sector—the Wyoming Gaming Commission—and explain how lawful gaming transforms local economies, fills vacant commercial space, and generates substantial tax revenue (e.g., November 2025—gross revenue from gaming at $23,751,232.51 with tax revenue at $4,765,489.69; in December 2025—gross revenue at $24,511,111.16 with tax revenue at $4,886,232.54).

Panelists will include Executive Director Nicholas Laramendy, Deputy Director and Special Agent Supervisor Michael Steinberg, Senior Inspection Specialist Russell Krause, and Senior Auditor Christopher Williams. They will explain their roles and the Commission’s mission to protect the wagering public and safeguard health, safety, and welfare in all gaming and pari‑mutuel activity, outline licensing, enforcement, and compliance priorities, and equip counsel with practical guidance for advising developers, operators, and municipalities engaged in wager-driven revitalization.

Get up to speed on all of the developments in criminal law at this year's Criminal Law Update. We will discuss important Wyoming state legislative changes, as well as how the Wyoming Supreme Court has been viewing juvenile life sentences, self-defense, search and seizure, conditional guilty pleas, deferred prosecutions, and much more!

This program offers a comprehensive look at Wyoming's dynamic horse racing industry, tracing its evolution from traditional live racing to the innovative world of Historic Horse Racing (HHR). Attendees will gain practical insight into the licensing process, regulatory requirements, economic impact, and the legal framework governing both live and historic horse racing in the state. A central focus of the program is the symbiotic relationship between HHR terminals and live racing operations—and the pivotal role HHR has played in preserving and revitalizing Wyoming's horse racing industry. Participants will also receive an overview of the permitting process and the structure of regulated gaming in Wyoming, equipping practitioners with the foundational knowledge needed to advise clients operating in this specialized space.

Every investigation now lives in a digital world. From mobile phones, cloud storage, synchronized browsers, social media, encrypted devices, and artificial intelligence, today’s evidence is created everywhere, replicated constantly, and often lost before investigators realize it exists. This presentation challenges listeners to rethink digital evidence across the full investigative lifecycle: before the search, during the search, after seizure, and at trial.

Using vivid examples and practical forensic concepts, the session explains why digital investigative analysis is not simply “pushing buttons,” but the disciplined process of identifying, preserving, analyzing, and telling the story of what happened on a device or across an account ecosystem. Attendees will hear why live systems matter, how RAM can contain critical evidence such as encryption keys, cloud activity, searches, chats, and geolocation data, and why pulling the plug can destroy irreplaceable evidence.

The presentation also addresses the growing threat of AI-generated media and disinformation, emphasizing the need for trained cyber professionals who can validate authenticity through artifacts, metadata, file structure, and forensic context. From Locard’s Exchange Principle to deleted files, hash values, cloud evidence, browser synchronization, and courtroom trust, this session reinforces a central message: digital evidence is everywhere, but only trained investigative analysts can preserve it, interpret it, and tell the truth it contains.

Wyoming is in the middle of a multi-billion-dollar data center boom, and the legal work touches nearly every practice area. From Industrial Siting Council permitting to large-load utility tariffs, co-located power generation, water appropriation, air quality compliance, and tax structuring, these projects are creating complex, sustained demand for Wyoming practitioners. This session offers a developer-side perspective on the regulatory and transactional framework governing AI infrastructure in the state, the competitive dynamics shaping site selection, and the emerging policy questions that will define the next phase of development.

Indian Country contains tremendous development opportunities for both tribal members and non-members. However, development in Indian Country presents unique challenges which often require Indian law expertise to navigate. These challenges may include, but are by no means limited to, questions concerning the nature and scope of tribal jurisdiction, compliance with tribal employment requirements (i.e., TERO), compliance with statutory historic preservation and tribal consultation requirements, and, when applicable, compliance with tribal environmental regulations issued pursuant to the federal Clean Air and Water Acts.

The presentation will include (1) a brief history and overview of tribal employment regulations and common issues arising in the employment context, (2) a discussion of project finance and leasing opportunities, (3) an overview of federal and state historic preservation requirements and common issues arising therefrom, and (4) the scope of tribal environmental regulations and pitfalls to avoid.

Wyoming historian T.A. Larson claimed the Wyoming Constitution was mostly a hodge-podge job lifted from the constitutions of other states with “little originality.” This panel will test that claim with regard to several provisions reflecting our founders’ unusually deep if not unique commitment to protecting the political rights of citizens from legislative encroachment through guarantees and prohibitions related to citizenship, voting rights, and elections. Those attending will come away with a deeper understanding of the constitutional origin and meaning of Wyoming’s state motto “equal rights” as well as what our constitution teaches about “election integrity.”

The explosive growth of the regulated sports betting eco-system presents a host of complex legal and ethical challenges for regulators, governing bodies, and legal counsel. This session will provide a critical examination of the current wagering landscape and the integrity threats it poses.

The path from candidate to bench in Wyoming is far more transparent and straightforward than headlines may suggest. This 60-minute presentation by Chief Justice Lynne Boomgaarden, Chair of the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC), JNC non-lawyer member Rick Fagnant, and former JNC Commissioner Devon O’Connell peels back the intricacies of the judicial nomination process from soup to nuts. Designed for lawyers who desire to become a judge, and for all folks who want a better understanding of the workings of the JNC, this presentation will explain the process from expression of interest to retention and all steps in between. This program will be interactive, and questions/concerns are welcome.

Get up to speed on all of the developments in criminal law at this year's Criminal Law Update. We will discuss important Wyoming state legislative changes, as well as how the Wyoming Supreme Court has been viewing juvenile life sentences, self-defense, search and seizure, conditional guilty pleas, deferred prosecutions, and much more!

This presentation explores the seismic shift in collegiate athletics following the landmark NCAA v. Alston decision and the subsequent dissolution of the amateurism model. We will trace the legal lineage from the O’Bannon v. NCAA antitrust litigation to the current "Wild West" landscape of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), examining the mechanics of booster-led collectives and the looming Title IX and antitrust challenges facing Division I institutions. Moving beyond the current chaos, the session will propose a framework for stabilization. Finally, consider if this new landscape may be suitable for an additional income stream in your firm.

Professional advisors increasingly encounter clients with significant digital asset holdings, concentrated wealth positions, and cross-border complexity. Yet many advisors still lack a durable framework for addressing the tax, governance, fiduciary, and trust-structure complexities that arise when significant digital asset holdings are integrated into long-term planning. This program explores how jurisdictional selection, custody infrastructure, rule-of-law considerations, regulatory concentration risk, tax and compliance issues, fiduciary responsibilities, ethical considerations, and cross-border compliance affect planning for clients with significant digital asset positions. Attendees will gain practical insight into designing resilient, multi-jurisdiction planning structures that preserve flexibility, governance discipline, and long-term structural integrity.

The opposite of unconscious bias isn't the absence of bias — it's conscious inclusion. This session explores how the brain builds mental shortcuts to navigate a complex world, and how those same shortcuts quietly distort our judgment about everything from risk to credibility to talent. Participants will learn where these biases come from, why even well-intentioned people fall prey to them, and — most importantly — concrete strategies to interrupt and override them in real time. The goal is practical: to replace automatic, error-prone snap judgments with deliberate, inclusive decision-making that helps organizations recognize and develop talent they might otherwise overlook.

The legal profession operates under sustained pressure that often normalizes overwork, emotional exhaustion, and blurred personal boundaries. While burnout and chronic stress are frequently framed as personal wellness concerns, they increasingly function as precursors to ethical lapses that threaten client interests and professional integrity. This presentation examines how the cumulative effects of stress and overextension directly implicate core duties under the Rules of Professional Conduct, including competence, diligence, communication, and supervision.

The program begins by identifying common structural and cultural stressors within legal practice and how they gradually erode judgment and professional boundaries. Participants will explore how ethical risk often develops long before recognizable misconduct occurs, instead appearing as missed deadlines, impaired communication, diminished focus, or emotional disengagement from clients and colleagues. Particular attention is given to how lawyers often normalize these warning signs as part of the practice of law rather than recognizing them as signals of ethical vulnerability.

Drawing on observations from lawyer assistance work, this presentation reflects what is most often seen long before lawyers reach a point of crisis or discipline. The discussion emphasizes early recognition, practical intervention, and reframing boundary setting and self-awareness as components of ethical competence that protect both clients and the long-term sustainability of the lawyer.

As the legal landscape in sports continues to evolve beyond the foundational framework of name, image, and likeness (NIL), organizations are confronting an expanding set of complex and rapidly developing legal challenges. This panel brings together leading in-house general counsel and compliance executives from across professional and amateur sports to explore the emerging issues shaping the future of the industry.

Panelists will examine the legal and operational implications of the continued growth of sports betting, including integrity concerns, regulatory frameworks, and partnerships between leagues, teams, and gaming operators. The panel will also explore data privacy and cybersecurity risks unique to sports organizations, as well as commercial rights and brand management strategies, including the protection and enforcement of trademarks and copyrights in an increasingly digital and global marketplace, with particular attention to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the rise of deepfakes, and new approaches to safeguarding athletes—not only their NIL rights, but also their reputations, identities, and mental well-being. The discussion will also address SafeSport considerations, with a focus on investigations, reporting mechanisms, and best practices for fostering safe, accountable environments for athletes. Finally, panelists will discuss shifting models of athlete compensation, including developments in collective bargaining agreements and broader questions around labor rights and economic participation across both professional and amateur athletics.

The Supreme Court's affirmative action rulings landed largely as many observers predicted — but the harder questions came afterward. This session cuts through the noise to address what has actually changed in the legal landscape surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and, just as importantly, what has not. Participants will get a clear-eyed look at how the decisions reshape the rules of the road for employers and institutions, where genuine legal risk now lies, and where DEI programming remains on solid footing. The aim is to leave attendees better equipped to advise clients and organizations with confidence rather than fear.

Small and solo law practices can achieve strong, effective cybersecurity without contracted or dedicated IT staff. This session features an interactive discussion focused on practical cybersecurity for small legal practices. Through a real-world case study, attendees will learn how a non-technical attorney successfully secured dozens of cloud systems and a home office in just a few months. The conversation will address common misconceptions, highlight what actually works, and outline achievable steps to reduce risk. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies, increased confidence, and a clearer understanding of how to protect client data, maintain secure operations, and meet professional responsibility obligations in an increasingly complex digital environment.

Wyoming has a long history of leading legislative developments in entity forms and has been at the forefront of building a statutory framework for how digital assets intersect with the law. This program focuses on digital asset developments in three parts. On the Range covers areas of Wyoming law most relevant to state practitioners. On the Chain provides insight into the information available on the blockchain and considerations of illicit finance and informational reporting. On the Hill discusses federal legislation and the impact that significant developments in the security and commodities framework will have on clients.

Across the country, legislatures are considering proposals that would establish a presumption of equal parenting time in custody cases, and similar discussions have emerged in Wyoming. This panel will explore the policy motivations behind these initiatives and consider how a presumption of 50/50 custody could impact family law practice and decision-making in Wyoming. Panelists with experience in legislative policy, family law practice, and child advocacy will discuss potential benefits and challenges of apresumptiveequal parenting framework, including how such a presumption may interact with Wyoming’s best interest of the child standard. The program will also include discussion surrounding relevant Wyoming case law on the topic and address practical considerations for attorneys and Guardians ad Litem if such policies were adopted.

It is tempting to assume that handing a decision to a computer removes human bias from the equation. The opposite is often true. Because AI systems learn from human-generated inputs, they can absorb, amplify, and obscure the very biases we hope to eliminate — all behind a veneer of objectivity that makes the results harder to question. This session examines how bias enters AI tools, why "the algorithm said so" is a dangerous place to stop asking questions, and what practical safeguards can help ensure these tools serve fairness rather than undermine it. Attendees will leave knowing how to use AI as a genuine asset while staying alert to its blind spots.

What if the best thing you could do for your practice started before you ever got to the office?

Practicing law is demanding, and it takes a toll on all of us. The pressure, the pace, the weight of other people’s problems—it adds up. But it’s remarkable what even a few minutes of quiet in the morning can do to help you show up sharper, steadier, and more grounded. A growing body of research on lawyer well-being confirms what many attorneys are discovering firsthand: simple mindfulness practices aren’t just good for your health—they can make you better at your job.

Trial lawyers and yoga/mindfulness teachers Tyson Logan and Devon O’Connell will share a simple morning routine built around three tools—breathwork, meditation, and yoga—that you can do anywhere, anytime, without any books, guru, or studio. We’ll introduce each tool and then guide you through a few minutes of practice so you can experience it for yourself.

No experience necessary. Beginners and skeptics are especially welcome—just bring your curiosity. Busy minds and busy bodies love to breathe and move. It might surprise you how easy this stuff is and how good it feels to start the day a little differently.

Comfortable seats, cushions and mats, good music, coffee & tea provided. Come as you are!

This one-hour presentation by Bar Counsel Mark Gifford will cover the most frequent topics raised by users of the Ethics Hotline, including conflicts of interest, withdrawing from representation, fee disputes with clients, and several others. Pick up some tips that will help you stay out of ethical hot water!

In 2018, adoption of the Wyoming Legal Tender Act introduced gold and silver specie into the state's monetary lexicon. Since then, the sound money movement has been gaining momentum each successive year. This last legislative session alone, more than 100 specie-related bills were introduced across the country—more than double the prior year. In this session, we'll explore what members of the Wyoming State Bar can do to keep abreast of this emerging trend of monetary reform. Intelligent choice in currency, contract strategies, money transmission mechanisms, accounting protocols, as well as various approaches to federal and state tax compliance will all be considered. Attendees will become better prepared to advise clients regarding the effective use of specie currencies in today's rapidly evolving monetary environment.

You cannot afford to miss this presentation! Emily Madden will walk you through all the important Wyoming Supreme Court civil cases from 2025-2026, saving you hours and hours of self-study time. Keep up to date and informed with this one-hour lecture that will provide you with a brief overview of Wyoming’s civil case law.

The judge has spoken, but for your client, the real sentence is just beginning. This session pulls back the curtain on the post-sentencing world most attorneys never see: good time credits, inmate programs, and relief opportunities that can dramatically shape how much time a client actually serves and what life looks like beyond the walls. Whether you're a defender, a prosecutor, or somewhere in between, this is the hour that changes how you think about every sentencing hearing.

This CLE will explain the present and future of artificial intelligence in the practice of law, and how attorney use of artificial intelligence implicates attorney professional responsibility. Attendees will learn of the many ways in which artificial intelligence is currently being used by attorneys, and attendees will also learn of ways in which rapidly-developing artificial intelligence may be used by attorneys in the future. Attendees will also learn of the key ways in which artificial intelligence improves and impairs attorneys' abilities to ethically represent their clients. Attendees will have a greater understanding of the many ways in which artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the practice of law, and will receive clear direction in how they may utilize artificial intelligence in accordance with their professional responsibilities.

Taking a company public is equal parts preparation, execution, and adaptability. In this candid fireside chat, two seasoned legal leaders—each with firsthand experience guiding public companies—share practical insights on navigating the IPO journey from planning to listing day. The discussion will explore how legal teams can partner effectively with business leaders, anticipate common challenges, manage competing priorities, and respond when the unexpected inevitably arises. Through real-world stories, lessons learned, and actionable guidance, attendees will gain a clearer understanding of what it takes to reach the finish line and support a successful transition to life as a public company.

Maintaining strong legal research skills is crucial for saving time and money for your clients. Having access to a robust database of local and federal case law is necessary information often used to structure your case. Whether you are an entry level associate or partner, legal research is a vital daily task and one that must be continually developed. Decisis provides industry-leading tools to make legal research easier and more intuitive, and it’s a new free benefit to Wyoming State Bar members.

This program will provide Wyoming practitioners—particularly those whose primary work occurs in state court—with a practical, candid look at common pitfalls encountered when litigating in the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming. The session will include a supporting PowerPoint presentation and a three‑person panel discussing removal mistakes, pleading standards post‑Twombly/Iqbal, scheduling orders and discovery expectations, summary judgment practice, and sanctions. The program will be facilitated by Ben Rowland, who will lead the discussion, integrate supporting slides, and pose scenario‑based questions to guide panel dialogue. Attendees will receive practical, jurisdiction‑specific insights and strategies.

Financial crime has gone digital and it’s evolving faster than traditional investigative models can keep up. From crypto-enabled fraud and AI-driven scams to Chinese money laundering networks, cartel typologies, and blockchain tracing, this session takes attendees inside the modern illicit finance ecosystem. Through real world investigations, emerging threat intelligence, and lessons learned from leading some of the world’s most significant crypto cases, attendees will gain practical insight into how criminals move value today and how law enforcement and the private sector are adapting together. If you want to understand where financial crime investigations are headed next, this is a session you do not want to miss.

Every corner of the legal profession has its own stereotypes: Plaintiffs’ lawyers are greedy. Civil defense lawyers are beholden to insurance companies. Prosecutors overcharge. Criminal defense lawyers defend the indefensible. Judges have forgotten what practice is like. And the list goes on. Even in a close-knit bar, these assumptions can take root and affect how we work with—or against—one another. This moderated panel will bring together perspectives from across the profession for a candid conversation about what others assume about us, what they may not see, and how we can work better together without compromising our different roles.

This CLE will discuss a number of recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions addressing the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The past couple years – and the 2025/2026 term in particular – witnessed multiple cases before the High Court addressing a number of civil procedure matters including subject matter jurisdiction, personal jurisdiction, venue, removal, case dismissal, relief from a judgment or order, attorney fee shifting, and the Erie Doctrine. Attendees will learn of key updates to civil procedural practice in light of these recent important decisions from the Supreme Court concerning the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

What happens when entire communities struggle to find a lawyer? Wyoming is facing a growing attorney shortage, particularly in rural areas where access to legal services is becoming increasingly limited. This timely panel will examine why young lawyers are leaving—or never coming at all—and how the resulting “legal deserts” are affecting courts, clients, and communities across the state. Panelists will discuss mentorship, burnout, economic realities, shifting career expectations, and the role technology and innovation may play in the future of Wyoming practice. Whether you practice in Cheyenne or a town with one stoplight, this conversation impacts all of us.

What do you mean workplace investigations have been federal law for 65 years? Why would you even do a workplace investigation? Lawyers CAN do investigations but should they? What happens when a workplace complaint turns into legal chaos? This fast-paced program walks attorneys through the drama, duties, and real-world consequences surrounding workplace investigations. Using practical examples and issue-spotting exercises, attendees will learn how to identify red flags, structure defensible investigations, evaluate evidence, navigate EEOC guidance, and avoid the common mistakes that fuel litigation. From hostile work environment claims to executive misconduct, this session delivers practical strategies, cautionary tales, and actionable insight attorneys can immediately use to protect clients and minimize risk before the next complaint escalates.

In law school we are taught that a crime requires two elements: an actus reus (a bad act) and mens rea (a bad intent). However, the Wyoming Supreme Court has defined the term “knowingly” as simply voluntarily doing an act that ends up resulting in a crime, regardless of a person’s state of mind. The Wyoming Supreme Court has acknowledged that “crimes that only require the mens rea of "knowingly’ have the potential to result in troublesome outcomes depending on the circumstances surrounding its application.” Hopefully this presentation will get you to think about criminal intent, and maybe even act.

Federal agencies are conducting more employment verification audits than ever before, and Wyoming employers in agriculture, energy, hospitality, and healthcare face particular exposure. You don't need to be an immigration specialist to help your clients prepare. This session gives business attorneys a clear, practical understanding of I-9 requirements, the types of government investigations employers may face, how to advise clients on their rights and obligations during an audit, and how to build internal compliance programs that demonstrate good faith and reduce liability.