Defending Accessibility

Since 2013, website accessibility lawsuits have risen exponentially in the US. A growing prevalence of "drive by" lawsuits as well as non-plaintiff driven cases are also becoming more common. Whether you work for a large corporation or own a small business, chances are increasing that you may deal with a digital accessibility legal suit now or in the future.

But there are proactive ways you can avoid and prepare for potential digital accessibility lawsuits.

Leading this month's discussion will be Attorney Amanda J Beane and Brandon H Johnson of Perkins-Coie, a legal firm with experience in defending digital accessibility for the clients. Amanda and Brandon will share their expertise on current legal trends, popular claims, the state of law & regulations, and some tips for not coming to the attention of plaintiffs.

Please note: This MeetUp will not be recorded, so don't miss out on attending this informative and captivating discussion!

About our speakers:
Amanda Beane serves as co-chair of the Advertising, Marketing & Promotions practice. She counsels and defends clients on matters related to consumer protection and unfair competition, particularly marketing and advertising law, as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Regularly counseling and defending clients against claims under the ADA and related state laws, Amanda’s ADA practice focuses on Title III public accommodations claims. Her counseling and litigation experience includes claims related to digital access for consumers who are blind and visually impaired, accommodations for deaf and hard-of-hearing consumers, and issues related to physical access, such as parking lots and hotels. In over 15 years of practice, Amanda has represented clients such as Zillow, Nuun, Philz Coffee, Coinstar, and CenturyLink. Amanda is licensed in Washington and California, and she has extensive experience in state and federal courts across the country, including appeals and arguments before the Washington Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Brandon H. Johnson is a Counsel in the Technology Transactions & Privacy group at the law firm of Perkins Coie LLP. Brandon is a leading expert in digital accessibility law, having advised clients in a wide range of industries on compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), and other accessibility laws and regulations, including in the context of new and emerging technologies such as augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) and the Internet of Things (IoT). In addition, Brandon has significant experience drafting and negotiating complex technology transactional agreements and counseling clients on regulatory requirements imposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Brandon received his B.A. from Yale College and his J.D. from Harvard Law School, where he served as an Executive Editor of the Harvard Law Review. He is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and a member of the American Bar Association.