Metaverse event image is a video still by multi media artist Agni Zotis

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Join us for EMBCA’s “ The Metaverse in the 21st Century” Panel Discussion Tuesday May 3, 2022 at the 3 West Club (3 West 51st) at 6 P.M.. The panel discussion will be Introduced by Lou Katsos EMBCA’s President, and Moderated by James P. Gerkis a partner in the Corporate Department at Proskauer Rose LLP. The distinguished panel includes Angel Investor, Blockchain-Digital Professor, Speaker, Advisor, Philanthropist Donna Redel; Michael Maloney, a Blockchain Technology and Strategy expert, Founder of DeFi and Validation Services Company, Chief Technology Officer and Professor; and Jeffrey Neuburger Partner; Co-Chair, Technology, Media & Communication Group at Proskauer Rose LLP.

The Panel will feature a discussion of the background, origins and modern uses of the Metaverse. Further topics will include: (i) currency and transactions in the Metaverse; (ii) digital payment processes, platforms and operations; (iii) how the Metaverse interacts with Crypto and other Blockchain technologies; (iv) governance structures used in the Metaverse; and (v) legal structures and issues related to the Metaverse generally and Metaverse transactions in particular. The panel will conclude with a discussion of our interaction with the Metaverse going forward, focusing on existing content, servicesand assets in the Metaverse and the future of the Metaverse.

High Level Discussion Outline

1. Background on the Metaverse
   1. What is the Metaverse?
   2. Origins of the Metaverse
   3. The Metaverse Today – Modern Uses of the Metaverse
2. NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens)
   1. What is an NFT?
   2. NFTs and the Metaverse
3. Economics in the Metaverse
   1. Currency and Transactions in the Metaverse
   2. Digital Payment Process, Platforms and Operations
   3. Crypto and Blockchain Technologies
4. Governance/Legal Issues in the Metaverse
   1. Governance Structures of the Metaverse
   2. Legal Issues in the Metaverse
   3. Legal Structure of Metaverse Transactions
5. You and the Metaverse
   1. Interacting with the Metaverse: Content, Services, Assets
   2. Future of the Metaverse

James P. Gerkis -
James P. Gerkis is a partner at Proskauer with extensive experience in sophisticated U.S. and global corporate transactions, including mergers & acquisitions, media, venture capital, real estate, capital markets and restructuring transactions. He has represented a wide variety of financial institutions, Fortune 500 companies and growth companies. James currently focuses on matters for clients in the technology, media and real estate industries.

Among other clients, James has represented iHeartMedia, Preferred Apartment Communities, Financial Guaranty Insurance Company, Beach Point Capital, Atalaya Capital, Central Park Group, Oxford Analytica, Financial Guaranty Insurance Company (FGIC), the Financial Oversight and Management Board of Puerto Rico in restructuring Puerto Rico’s outstanding debt, and the Creditors Committee in the chapter 11 cases of Westinghouse Electric Company.

James received his law degree from Columbia University School of Law in 1983, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and a Teaching Fellow. He did his undergraduate work at Columbia College, where (having been admitted without finishing high school) he received a BA degree in Political Science in 1980.

James has made presentations at numerous conferences and has authored articles on different legal topics. James is the President of the Columbia University Club of New York and has received a Columbia University Alumni Medal.

Donna Redel -
Donna Redel was the managing director of The World Economic Forum, the foremost global organization combining business, political, academic and other leaders of society committed to improving the state of the world. Ms. Redel was the first woman to chair a USA exchange, The Commodity Exchange. Following her work in global organizations, Ms. Redel began a second career as a New York City-based advisor and investor focusing on Fintech, Blockchain and emerging technologies. She is an active participant in the startup community with New York Angels, serving as a board member, the co-founder of the Blockchain Committee, co-chair of the Israeli Investment Committee and chair of the Education Committee.

Ms. Redel lecturers at Wharton at UPenn where is teaching Blockchain-Digital Assets, She is an Adjunct Professor at Fordham Law School and Fordham Gabelli Business where she developed and is teaching two courses : Blockchain-Crypto-Digital Assets and Smart Contracts-DeFi . She is an advisor to Securitize, a board member of The Wall Street Blockchain and a member of The Digital Chamber of Commerce. The focus of her public service efforts are the environment, the arts, health and promoting women’s leadership.

Michael Maloney -
Michael Maloney is a leading blockchain technology and strategy expert, and has been active in the blockchain space since 2011. He has extensive technology advisory, architecture design, and blockchain experience, and is frequently featured on panels to discuss the future of blockchain. Currently Michael is serving as interim CTO and advisor for several early stage ventures, and is an active commentator on the current market.

In 2017 Michael helped co-found Galaxy Digital, the first merchant bank to serve the blockchain space, as the Head of Advisory. In this position, he directed both the Digital Strategy and Transaction Advisory practices to assist clients in the build and financing of blockchain technologies. Michael also supported the development of trade and compliance technologies and provided technical critiques for the venture group.

Michael was a founding member of Ernst & Young’s (EY) Distributed Ledger Technology group, and led blockchain development for the firm. There he developed numerous blockchain applications for clients across a variety of industries, including; digital goods and games trading, supply chain management, anti-money laundering and KYC regulatory compliance, and language processing and machine learning marketplaces.

Extremely active within the larger blockchain community, Michael works across multiple protocols to grow general adoption and ensure the technology develops with human interests in mind. To this end he serves as CTO for eduDAO, an innovative education nonprofit that leverages Ethereum to raise funds and ensure accountability for local education efforts.

Jeffrey Neuburger -
Jeff’s practice focuses on technology and media-related business transactions. For example, Jeff represents many clients in blockchain implementations as well as digital strategies associated with products, services or content, including distribution through the Internet and, mobile platforms, print publishing and other channels of distribution. He works with clients on cryptocurrency investment opportunities, and advises in connection with Initial Coin Offerings ("ICOs"). He also represents many organizations in large infrastructure-related projects, such as outsourcing, SaaS and cloud computing, technology acquisition and related services.

Jeff counsels clients on privacy and data security issues, including data breach response and remediation. He advises on issues including open source, electronic direct marketing, intellectual property (including issues relating to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act), publisher liability (particularly related to issues under the Communications Decency Act), electronic signatures, “terms of use,” digital rights management, etc.

Specialties: Blockchain, Internet, entertainment, consumer products, e-commerce, media, software, television, cable, publishing, patent, copyright, licensing, litigation, mobile, privacy, data security, outsourcing.