Creating Enterprise Value: AI, Talent, Risk & Growth Strategies for Agency Leaders:
A Business Conference for Agency CFOs, CEOs, Presidents, Managing Principals & Owners
Date:
Thursday, November 19
Time:
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Address:
Frankfurt Kurnit
28 Liberty Street
35th Floor
New York, NY 10005
Program Overview:
This conference is designed to address strategic, financial, operational, and legal issues that can afect agency profitability, valuation, leadership succession, risk management, and long-term enterprise value. Through a combination of expert presentations and executive discussions, attendees will gain practical insights into the opportunities and challenges facing agency leaders in an increasingly complex business environment.
12:00 PM – 12:25 PM
Registration, Lunch and Welcome
12:25 PM – 1:10 PM
AI’s Impact on Agency Processes, Economics, Pricing, and Profitability and Negotiating Agreements With Clients to Address These Issues
Artificial intelligence is reshaping agency operations, economics, client expectations, and risk profiles. This session will examine how agencies can leverage AI to improve eficiency and profitability while addressing evolving contractual and governance considerations.
Topics Covered
What clients to understand about the use of AI, costs and eficiencies.
Intellectual property, ownership and compliance considerations
AI's impact on agency business models and economics
Client expectations regarding AI usage and disclosure
Pitch and procurement pressures
Key contractual protections and risk allocation provision
Governance frameworks for AI review and approval
Speakers: Candice Kersh and Karen Lo (Special Group)
1:10 PM – 1:50 PM
Building an Ownership Culture: Equity Participation & Long-Term Incentive Strategies
Topics Covered
Equity participation structures for key employees and next-generation leaders
Employee Participation Units (EPUs), phantom equity, profits interests, and other incentive alternatives
Balancing founder control with meaningful employee ownership opportunities
Designing long-term incentive programs that align performance and succession goals
Rewarding key contributors without giving up unnecessary control
Roll-over equity particularly in private equity roll ups
Speakers: Wendy Heilbut and Mark Himmelsbach (Episode Four)
1:50 PM - 2:40 PM
Diversification Opportunities, Including SaaS, IP licensing, Investment, and Branded Entertainment
Many agencies are exploring new revenue streams and proprietary assets that can improve growth, valuation, and long-term sustainability.
Topics Covered
SaaS and technology licensing opportunities
Development and monetization of agency intellectual property
Proprietary technology and data products
Strategic investments and ownership interests
Branded entertainment and content ventures
Building value through scalable, non-service-based assets
Speakers: Greg Boyd, Chris Chase and Ben Moskowitz
2:40 PM - 2:55 PM
Networking Break
2:55 PM - 3:55 PM
M&A Readiness, Succession Planning & Deal Structures
Whether you're thinking about growth through acquisition, bringing in an investor, transitioning ownership, or eventually selling your agency, understanding the deal process is critical. This session will demystify how agency transactions work, what to expect during a sale process, and the key deal terms, structures, and negotiation points that can materially afect outcomes for founders and owners.
Topics Covered
Who is buying agencies today and why
Strategic buyers versus private equity investors
What the sale process looks like from start to finish
Valuation drivers and factors that influence deal value
Earn-outs, rollover equity, and other key deal structures
Deal terms that commonly surprise agency owners
Preparing for diligence and avoiding common pitfalls
Building the right advisory team and preparing for a successful transaction
Speakers: Lee Silver, Gavin McElroy and Michael Sidler (Madison Alley)
3:35 PM - 4:15 PM
Talent Risk Management and Employment Issues
Managing talent-related risks has become increasingly challenging, particularly as agencies engage a broader ecosystem of employees, contractors, creators, and influencers.
Topics Covered
Employee versus independent contractor classification
Compensation and payment compliance considerations
California-specific workforce requirements
Background checks and screening practices
Risk management when engaging creators and influencers
Speakers: Wendy Stryker and Tiffany Caterina
4:15 PM - 4:25 PM
Networking & Refreshment Break
4:25 PM - 5:05 PM
Practical Approaches to Contracting, Governance, and Compliance Strategies
As the legal and regulatory environment continues to evolve, agencies must adopt practical operational safeguards that reduce risk and help avoid costly disputes.
Topics Covered
Contracting strategies to mitigate business risk
Risk allocation and indemnification provisions
Ownership and rights-management considerations
Internal governance and approval procedures
Vendor management and oversight
AI governance frameworks
Updating contracts, policies, and workflows to address emerging AI-related risks
Creating practical review processes that reduce liability exposure
Speakers: Matthew Vittone and Andrew Folks
5:05 PM - 5:40 PM
Advertising Technology: Emerging Risks for Agencies
The rapid growth of privacy litigation involving digital tracking technologies is creating new legal challenges for the advertising industry. This session will explore the evolving litigation landscape, the potential exposure of advertising agencies, and practical steps agencies can take to protect themselves and their clients.
Topics Covered
Emerging class action and regulatory risks involving tracking technologies
When advertising agencies may face liability for client websites, apps, marketing pixels, and data collection practices
Allocating risk through client contracts, indemnification, and insurance
Practical strategies for reducing litigation risk without compromising marketing effectiveness
Speakers: Matt Pearson and Caren Decter
5:45 PM - 7:15 PM
Cocktail Reception
Networking reception for agency executives, speakers, sponsors, investors, and advisors.
Frankfurt Kurnit advised Charlesbank Capital Partners on legal ethics and issues in connection with its strategic investment in the management services organization (MSO) formed to support Wood Smith Henning & Berman LLP. Read more.
October 19, 2026
Partner and Chair of the Real Estate Group Larry Welch is a 2026 honoree of the Lawyers Alliance for New York's Cornerstone Award. This award is presneted to a sleect group of individuals and institutions that have made extraordinary contributions through pro bono legal services. These services help nonprofits to address crticial human needs and improve the quality of life for thousands of low-income New Yorkers. Read more.
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Jeffrey A. Greenbaum, Terri J. Seligman, and Brian G. Murphy have been named Passle Thought Leaders for 2026, based on the reach of the insights they published during the first half of the year. Read more.
October 15, 2026
Hayden Goldblatt is featured in Deadline as part of the negotiation team for They Follow, Robert Mitchell's highly anticipated sequel to his critically acclaimed 2015 horror film It Follows. Read more.
October 1, 2026
Jeremy S. Goldman is quoted in World Trademark Review on the Ninth Circuit’s recent Doe v. GitHub decision. Read more.
September 24, 2026
NYU School of Law featured Frankfurt Kurnit entertainment partner Lisa E. Davis in a profile discussing her distinguished career representing leading artists and creators, as well as her new book, Our Minds Were Always Free: A History of How Black Brilliance Was Exploited—and the Fight to Retake Control. Read more.
September 24, 2026
Jeffrey A. Greenbaum is quoted in a Marketing Brew article covering Frankfurt Kurnit's Climate Week NYC program on the evolving legal landscape of environmental marketing. Read more.
September 24, 2026
Frankfurt Kurnit represents writer and comedian Saidah Belo-Osagie, who has been named a featured player on Saturday Night Live for the show's 52nd season. Read more.
September 17, 2026
Tyler Maulsby is quoted in a New York State Bar Association article discussing significant updates to New York’s lawyer advertising rules. Read more.
September 8, 2026
Daniel M. Goldberg and Andrew Folks co-authored the chapter "Privacy Law and Privacy Policies" in the 2026 update of CEB's Internet Law and Practice in California guide. Read more.
September 3, 2026
Caren Decter and Peter A. Devlin co-authored the article “Mass Arbitration Has Changed the Calculus for Terms of Use” for the American Bar Association’s Litigation Section examining how the rise of mass arbitration and increased scrutiny of arbitration provisions are changing the value of mandatory arbitration agreements and class action waivers in consumer-facing terms of use. Read more.
September 2, 2026
Jeffrey A. Greenbaum is featured in SHOOT’s article, Publisher’s Parting Shot: The Last Take, marking the publication’s closing after more than six decades covering the commercial production industry. Read more.
August 28, 2026
Matt Pearson is quoted in the MLex article, AI Changes the Conversation Around California’s Wiretap Law, which examines how courts are applying California's wiretapping statutes to artificial intelligence technologies, including AI notetakers and chatbots. Read more.
August 27, 2026
Frankfurt Kurnit represented game developer Cold Iron Studios in connection with its acquisition by Enad Global 7 AB, through its wholly owned subsidiary Daybreak Game Company LLC. Read more.
August 27, 2026
We are pleased to announce that Best Lawyers — the oldest and one of the most respected peer reviewed lawyer recommendation services — continues to recommend Frankfurt Kurnit. Congratulations to Lee Goldberg, who was named “Lawyer of the Year” for Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures & Television in New York City and Brian G. Murphy, who was named “Lawyer of the Year” for Advertising Law in New York City. (Best Lawyers awards a "Lawyer of the Year" honor to only one lawyer in each practice area and location.) Read more.
August 20, 2026
Candice Kersh and Matthew R.D Vittone are featured in the Ad Age article, "Is Your Agency AI Compliant?", following their session at the Small Agency Conference & Awards in Los Angeles. Read more.
August 11, 2026
Jeffrey A. Greenbaum is featured in the 51toCarbonZero article, Climate Diaries Cannes Lions 2026, which features eleven interviews with senior leaders from across the media and advertising industry conducted at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Read more.
August 5, 2026
Wendy Stryker was quoted in a Game Developer article discussing "side work clauses," also known as "moonlighting clauses," in video game industry employment contracts. Read more.
July 30, 2026
Deadline mentions Sasha H. Levites and Adam Macy as part of the negotiation team for Amazon MGM Studios' new animated Mad Hatter movie. Read more.
July 28, 2026
Deadline article "Neon's 'They Follow" Adds Jackie Earle Haley, Justine Lupe, Michael Gandolfini, Melora Walters & 6 More To Cast" mentions Entertainment Group Partner Hayden Goldblatt as part of the neogation team for the new film The Follows. Read more.
July 21, 2026
Jeffrey A. Greenbaum was quoted in the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) article, "Experts: Ending Adequate Provision Would Shut Down Prescription Drug Ads." The article discusses the FDA's proposal to eliminate the "adequate provision" requirement in direct-to-consumer (DTC) prescription drug advertising, a change that experts say could effectively result in a de facto ban on prescription drug advertisements. Read more.
July 21, 2026
Deadline reports that Frankfurt Kurnit is counsel to John Goodman, who is set to star in Sony Pictures' thriller Skeletons. Read more.
July 8, 2026
Daniel M. Goldberg is featured in USC Gould School of Law's Alumni News newsletter highlighting his pioneering role in the emerging field of privacy law. Read more.
July 7, 2026
Candice Kersh appears on the Mod Op podcast episode, “The Fine Print: AI, Marketing & Brand Risk,” hosted by Tessa Burg. Read more.
July 2, 2026
Cannes Lions brought important conversations to the stage about advertising’s most important stakeholder: the public. Read more.
July 2, 2026
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