March 6, 2025 – Miami, FL — Becker & Poliakoff, in partnership with the University of Miami School of Law, is pleased to announce that Horacio Gutierrez, Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at The Walt Disney Company will serve as the next keynote speaker of the Alan S. Becker and Gary A. Poliakoff Preeminent Leaders in Law Speaker Series.
The event, scheduled for Tuesday, March 18, 2025, will feature a thought-provoking lecture titled “Artificial Intelligence and the Creative Industries.” Gutierrez, a globally recognized leader in technology, intellectual property, and corporate law, will explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping creative fields, including entertainment, media, music, and the arts.
The Alan S. Becker and Gary A. Poliakoff Preeminent Leaders in Law Speaker Series, established to honor Becker & Poliakoff’s founding members, Alan S. Becker (J.D. ’69) and Gary A. Poliakoff (J.D. ’69), serves as a platform for legal professionals to share their insights and experiences with the broader community. Held twice a year, the Series aims to bridge the gap between theoretical legal education and practical application by bringing renowned legal minds to share insights on pressing legal and business issues shaping today’s world.
Gutierrez (J.D. ’98) is the Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Compliance Officer of The Walt Disney Company. In this role, Gutierrez serves as the Company’s chief legal officer. His areas of accountability include litigation, compliance, transactional law, securities law, regulatory matters, privacy protection, global ethics, and patent, copyright, and trademark issues, among others. Before joining Disney in February 2022, Gutierrez was Head of Global Affairs and Chief Legal Officer for Spotify, and Corporate Vice President and General Counsel for Microsoft. Gutierrez holds a Master of Laws degree from Harvard Law School; a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami School of Law; and a Bachelor of Laws degree and post-graduate diploma in corporate and commercial law from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in Caracas, Venezuela.
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the way content is produced, distributed, and consumed. From AI-generated art and music to scriptwriting and digital animation, emerging technologies are raising critical questions about copyright, intellectual property, ethical considerations, and the balance between innovation and human creativity. This lecture will delve into these pressing issues, providing legal and industry perspectives on how AI is redefining creative expression.
Becker shareholder Jon Polenberg will lead the Q & A session of the event and said, “Horacio Gutierrez is at the forefront of navigating AI’s impact on intellectual property and the creative economy. His extensive experience with global tech and entertainment giants like Disney and Spotify makes him the ideal speaker to explore the legal and ethical considerations surrounding AI’s influence on creativity and commerce.”
Becker Managing Shareholder Gary C. Rosen emphasized the importance of this discussion in today’s rapidly evolving legal landscape. “AI is reshaping nearly every industry, and the legal profession must adapt to address new challenges in intellectual property, privacy, and regulation,” Rosen stated. “Having an industry leader like Horacio Gutierrez share his expertise is an invaluable opportunity.”
The keynote lecture will take place on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 6:00 PM, followed by a reception at the Gail D. Serota Reading Room inside the Law Library, at 1311 Miller Dr, Coral Gables, Florida. Registration is required, and you can do so by clicking here.
Previous speakers in the Series have included Julissa Reynoso, Former U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra, Florida Supreme Court Justice John D. Couriel, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke. To learn more about the Alan S. Becker and Gary A. Poliakoff Preeminent Leaders in Law Speaker Series, please click here.
About Becker
Becker, with headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is a multi-practice commercial law firm with attorneys, lobbyists, and other professionals at offices throughout the East Coast. More information is available at www.beckerlawyers.com