California SB 574 and the Responsible Use of Generative AI in Legal Practice

Ryan Wu, Partner | Capstone Law APC

Ryan Wu is a partner at Capstone Law APC, where he leads the firm’s appeals and complex motions team. A State Bar of California Certified Specialist in Appellate Law and an expert in class and PAGA procedure, he has won several important victories for consumers and workers before the California Supreme Court. He also oversees the firm’s high-stakes fee disputes and settlement approval work.

• Education & Credentials

Ryan earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 2001, where he served as an associate editor of the Michigan Journal of Law Reform and contributed to the law school newspaper. He received his undergraduate degree in political science, with honors, from the University of California, Berkeley. Licensed in California since 2002, he is admitted before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Courts of Appeals for the Third and Ninth Circuits, and the United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Central, and Southern Districts of California. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.

• Recognition & Leadership

Ryan received the California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) award for Iskanian v. CLS Transportation Los Angeles, 59 Cal.4th 348 (2014). The Daily Journal has twice named one of his cases a Top Appellate Reversal of the year, including the seminal McGill v. Citibank N.A., 2 Cal.5th 945 (2017). He was named a Southern California Super Lawyer in 2023 and 2024, and Worksafe recognized him as its 2024 Worker Health & Safety Hero for his work advancing workplace safety and justice.

• Professional Involvement

Ryan serves on the Committee for Appellate Courts of the California Lawyers Association (CLA) and is an editor of CLA’s monthly Litigation Update. His writing has appeared in the California Litigation Review, the California Labor & Employment Review, the Daily Journal, and Los Angeles Lawyer. He contributes to Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) and is a frequent invited speaker at professional conferences.

• Experience

Ryan’s practice centers on appellate briefing and complex motion practice in class and PAGA litigation, from the trial court through the California Supreme Court. Alongside his appellate work, he played a central role in achieving the widely publicized Ford transmission settlement, valued at over $100 million.

John Stobart, Senior Counsel | Capstone Law APC

John Stobart is senior counsel at Capstone Law APC and a State Bar of California Certified Specialist in Appellate Law. He has drafted more than two dozen writs, petitions, and appeals, and has drafted and argued scores of dispositive motions at the trial court level. His practice focuses on representing employees and consumers in complex litigation, primarily wage-and-hour class actions and PAGA representative actions.

• Education & Credentials

John graduated cum laude from Thomas Jefferson School of Law, where he was a member of the mock trial competition team, and earned his undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University. Licensed in California since 2007, he is admitted before the United States Courts of Appeals for the Third and Ninth Circuits and the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Central, and Southern Districts of California.

• Recognition & Leadership

John received the 2019 Daily Journal Reversal of the Year Award for his work before the Ninth Circuit in Nguyen v. Nissan N.A., No. 18-16344 (9th Cir. 2019). He is also a member of the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers (CAAL), an election-only organization devoted to excellence in appellate practice.

• Professional Involvement

John’s appellate work extends to the California Supreme Court, where he handled amicus work on behalf of Bet Tzedek in Kim v. Reins, 9 Cal.5th 73.

• Experience

John has built his entire career in litigation, combining appellate briefing with significant complex and long-cause trial experience, and has successfully upheld judgments and verdicts on appeal. Before joining Capstone in 2018, he defended clients against civil liability in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, including as an associate at Veatch, Carlson, Grogan & Nelson. His clients included a railroad, public schools, small businesses, and commercial and residential landowners.

SESSION 1 – Understanding SB 574 and the Lawyer Duties Governing Generative AI | John Stobart & Ryan Wu | 2:30pm – 3:30pm

This session explains what SB 574 requires and how its requirements fit into everyday legal practice. Examples address AI features embedded in research platforms and office software, handling client information, reviewing generated work, and retaining professional judgment.

BREAK | 3:30pm – 3:40pm

SESSION 2 – Applying SB 574 to Litigation and Firm Workflows | John Stobart & Ryan Wu | 3:40pm – 4:40pm

This session follows a matter from research and drafting through final review, filing, and correction. It addresses citation verification and court disclosure while showing how responsibility, supervision, and tool selection fit into a workable process.