Creating Enterprise Value: AI, Talent, Risk & Growth Strategies for Agency Leaders:
A Business Conference for Agency CFOs, CEOs, Presidents, Managing Principals & Owners
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.
Employee "misclassification" is in the news and on the radar of law enforcement agencies. As the New York Times recently reported, federal and state officials are increasing their focus on businesses that "misclassify" employees as "independent contractors." Read more.
February 23, 2010
Frankfurt Kurnit was mentioned in SHOOT Online as a "silver sponsor" for the SHOOT Directors Symposium and the SHOOT New Directors Showcase Event, which took place on May 11, 2010.
February 18, 2010
Rick Kurnit was mentioned in The Distributed Computing Industry Association's press release, picked up by PR-USA, as one of the keynote speakers in the P2P & Cloud Market Conference.
February 5, 2010
The New York Law Journal quoted Lisa E. Davis on social networking efforts in the legal field.
February 5, 2010
TV Guide Magazine quoted Richard Hofstetter on Conan O'Brien's departure from NBC.
January 15, 2010
Jeffrey A. Greenbaum was quoted in Marketing News Exclusive, a newsletter sent out by the American Marketing Association, on the legality of Weatherproof’s and PETA’s Obama ads.
January 7, 2010
By now, many of you have heard about the dramatic - and, many pundits would add, inexplicable - changes to the Federal estate tax law that became effective as of January 1, 2010 and will apply through the end of the calendar year. Read more.
January 6, 2010
The Armory Foundation acknowleged Mike Frankfurt was acknowledged in its 2010 Yearbook for providing pro bono services to The Armory Foundation for the past 20 years. The acknowledgment also appeared in the Millrose Games 2010 program – 20,000 copies of which were distributed at the games at Madison Square Garden.
January 1, 2010
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz was #16 on Crain’s New York Business’s list of the “Best Places to Work in New York City." The rankings in this list were based on the results of 13,991 surveys of employees at more than 150 New York City companies.
December 7, 2009
Frankfurt Kurnit has been listed as one of the top 100 trademark law firms. Additionally, Edward Rosenthal has been listed as a top 50 trademark attorney.
December 4, 2009
Frankfurt Kurnit was acknowledged as a pro bono partner in the Legal Services NYC 2008 Annual Report.
December 1, 2009
Luis G. Rivera Marín, Secretary of Puerto Rico's Department of Consumer Affairs, recently announced the enactment of the Commonwealth's revised "Sweepstakes and Games of Chance Regulation". The new regulation will allow Puerto Rican residents to participate in sweepstakes and other games of chance that were formerly limited to participants in the US and the District of Columbia. Read more.
November 5, 2009
One of the more interesting developments in the legal landscape during the past decade has been the marked change in the way law firms look to achieve growth. Rather than exclusively nurture young associates until they climb the ladder to partner, many law firms take what seems an easier road by recruiting business-generating partners and associates from competing law firms. Read more.
October 16, 2009
Today the Federal Trade Commission announced that it has approved revisions to its "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". The guides were last updated in 1980. Read more.
October 5, 2009
Jeffrey A. Greenbaum was quoted in MediaPost's Online Media Daily on FTC's new endorsement guidelines, which state that bloggers who review products and services must disclose the receipt of free products on their blog.
October 5, 2009
Jeffrey A. Greenbaum was quoted in MediaPost's Online Media Daily on FTC's policies governing Web company disclosure of data collection practices.
September 29, 2009
Rick Kurnit was quoted in Adweek on patent issues arising from utilizing web applications for advertising and marketing campaigns. View Article
September 29, 2009
Edward Rosenthal is mentioned in Williams Alumni Review for his involvement with establishing Reclaiming Childhood as a nonprofit organization. Reclaiming Childhood assists Iraqi refugee girls with sports, education and other elements of their childhood that were stripped from them.
September 25, 2009
Jeffrey A. Greenbaum was cited in the 2010 edition of the textbook, Marketing, published by South-Western Cengage Learning.
September 9, 2009
Edward Rosenthal argued Fredrik Colting and SCB Distributors Inc.'s appeal on September 3rd. Galleycat reported.
September 3, 2009
The state of Maine recently enacted the "Act to Prevent Predatory Marketing Practices Against Minors", which will restrict collection of personal information from and marketing to minors. This statute could threaten any type of promotion to minors in Maine, including sweepstakes and contests. Read more.
August 13, 2009
Lisa Barone reported on Jeff Greenbaum's "Hot Topics in marketing Compliance and Enforcement" panel discussion at the Affiliate Summit East 2009 conference. View Article
August 11, 2009
The Hollywood Reporter mentioned Lisa Davis as the attorney who brokered the deal between The N, which will be rebranded TeenNick, and Catwalk, the sophomore book series from The Cheetah Girls author Deborah Gregory, for a potential TV series. View Article
August 4, 2009
Our representation of Fredrik Colting and SCB Distributors Inc., - the author and U.S. distributor of 60 Years Later - Coming Through the Rye - against J.D. Salinger, was featured in the New York Times. View Article
July 27, 2009
The New York Times, Gannett, Associated Press, Tribune Company, Public Citizen, and a group of library organizations have all submitted friend-of-the-court briefs on behalf of Frankfurt Kurnit's clients in the J.D. Salinger v. Colting case. Edward Rosenthal leads our team.
July 27, 2009
We provide tailored, industry-specific legal updates to our clients and other friends of the firm.
