Staffing and Morale in the Age of AI and Robotics

Natalie is co-chair of the firm’s Robotics, Artificial Intelligence and Automation practice group, which is focused on providing representation and compliance assistance to employers in the robotics industry and employers integrating automation, AI, telepresence and robotics into their workplaces. This practice group partnered with a major insurance provider to create the first integrated policy covering users of robotics and robots with ingrained artificial intelligence. She is also a member of the firm's Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets practice group, Wage and Hour practice group, a core member of Littler’s Business Restructuring practice group and is co-chair of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Council. She has served as a member of Littler's Board of Directors.

Christine Kurek is the Vice President of Legal at Activision Blizzard.
She is a seasoned legal executive with experience in employment, litigation, and benefits, as well as contracts, mergers and acquisitions and public policy. As a former entrepreneur, understands concerns of business partners who must drive results in fast-paced business environments and require creative and personalized solutions to complex legal problems. Adept at working in creative and corporate environments.

Clare McCown has served as Associate General Counsel of Rakuten USA since 2013, previously serving as General Counsel for one of its subsidiaries, Rakuten Commerce (formerly Buy.com). She is responsible for managing litigation, labor / employment, risk mitigation and compliance matters, as well as providing general corporate and commercial legal support. She works with approximately ten Rakuten US subsidiaries in the e-commerce, online marketing, and logistics sectors. Clare also serves as a key legal interface between the company’s American subsidiaries and it’s Japanese parent and global affiliates.

In 2007, Clare left private practice to help build a technology company in the social commerce sector. She headed Legal, Operations, and Corporate Governance for the company through its acquisition by Rakuten in 2010. Prior to her in-house roles, Clare focused her practice in mass tort and commercial litigation.

Clare received her JD from the University of Maryland with a certificate in Environmental Law, and earned a dual Bachelors in Political Science and History from University of North Carolina Wilmington.