Wednesday, December 3, 2025

The Harvard Club, 374 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02115

I.                Call to Order and President’s Report

Following a networking cocktail hour, President Emily Whelan called the meeting to order and presented welcoming remarks, in which she recapped the Association’s main events of the year and thanked the event’s sponsors, the BIPLA Board, her activities chair, Tim Cook, and the 2025 committee chairs for their service. She also thanked the Association’s Events & Communications Manager, Spencer Jawitz, for his work over the past year. President Whelan also recognized all BIPLA past presidents in attendance. Finally, President Whelan led the meeting in a moment of silent remembrance for BIPLA members who passed away in 2025.

II.             Secretary’s Report

As Secretary Wyley Proctor was unable to attend, President Whelan introduced Treasurer Keith Wood to provide the Secretary’s Report.  Treasurer Wood moved to waive the reading of the minutes from the 2024 BIPLA Annual Meeting, which had been made available to the membership on the Association’s website. Motions to waive the reading and approve the meeting minutes were made and carried; the minutes from the 2024 BIPLA Annual Meeting were accepted.

III.           Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer Wood reported that, as of November 30, 2025, the organization earned $304,054.44 in income and had $288,538.59 in expenses, resulting in a net income of $15,515.85 in fiscal year 2025. As of November 30, 2025, the Association has $201,430.18 in assets.

Treasurer Wood offered to read the balance of the Treasurer’s report and, hearing no requests, requested motions to waive the reading of the balance of the Treasurer’s Report and to accept the Report.  Both motions were made and carried and the Treasurer’s Report was accepted.

IV.           Writing Competition

Board Member Rebecca Simmons presented the winners of the BIPLA’s Annual Writing Competition. 

She announced that the BIPLA had selected as the second-place paper “Owning Intelligence: How Patents Could Shape or Stifle AI Innovation” by Bryce Duprey, a 2026 JD candidate at Roger Williams School of Law.

Board Member Simmons announced that the BIPLA had chosen “Assessing the Efficacy of Third-Party Liability Copyright Doctrines Against Platforms That Host AI-Generated Content,” by Sharon Choi, a graduate of Boston College Law School, as the BIPLA 2025 Writing Competition’s first-place paper.

Board Member Simmons congratulated the winners and presented them with their awards.

V.              Keynote Speech

President Whelan introduced the BIPLA’s 2025 Keynote Speaker, Jack Cushman, Director of the Harvard Library Innovation Lab, a research and development lab at the Harvard Law School Library. In his keynote address, Mr. Cushman discussed potential impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) on the legal field.

VI.           Nominating Committee Report and Election

President Whelan introduced Immediate Past President Josh Dalton to announce the nominations for 2026 Officers and Board Members.  

Immediate Past President Dalton noted the automatic elevation, pursuant to the rules of the BIPLA, of Derek Roller to the office of President.  Mr. Dalton presented the slate of Officers that had been approved by a unanimous vote of the Nominating Committee, comprised of Past Presidents Dalton, Rebecca McNeill, and Keith Toms:

President: Derek Roller, Barnes & Thornburg LLP

President Elect:  Valarie Rosen, Cabot Corporation

Vice President: Keith Wood, Hamilton Brook Smith & Reynolds

Treasurer: Wyley Proctor, McCarter & English

Secretary: Rebecca Simmons, McNeill PLLC

Immediate Past President and Board Member: Emily Whelan, WilmerHale (by automatic ascension)

Board Member: Jonathan Roses, Wolf Greenfield

Board Member: Erin McGuine, Morgan Lewis

Board Member: Peter Karol, Suffolk University of Law

Immediate Past President Dalton requested a motion for acceptance of the nomination of the Officers and Board Members and election of the nominees, which was made and carried.  In accordance with the Bylaws of the Association, the 2026 Board of Governors of the BIPLA was duly elected.

VII.         Remarks of the Incoming President

Immediate Past President Whelan introduced Incoming President Roller. President Roller thanked Ms. Whelan for her service and presented her with a gift. 

In his remarks, President Roller expressed gratitude for his mentors and humility at his ascension into the role of President, and described his goals for continuing the successful programming of the last several years and increasing engagement with and service within the BIPLA.

VIII.      Adjournment

President Roller moved to adjourn the Annual Meeting, and the motion carried.  Following the meeting, the Association enjoyed networking at the venue.