Deepfake Evidence in Family Court: Detection and Sanctions

Jonathan D. Steele, Partner | Beermann LLP

Jonathan D. Steele is a Divorce and Family Law Partner at Beermann LLP in Chicago. His practice concentrates on high net worth dissolution, contested allocation of parental responsibilities, orders of protection, and complex valuation disputes. He has appeared before the Illinois Appellate Court, the Illinois Supreme Court, and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, handles matters pro hac vice outside Illinois, and has taken more than one hundred depositions, including of expert and forensic witnesses. Jonathan pairs his litigation practice with a working cybersecurity practice and leads Beermann’s internal artificial intelligence committee.

• Education & Credentials

Jonathan earned his J.D. from The John Marshall Law School and his B.A. from Indiana University. He is licensed in Illinois and admitted to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He is a Certified Financial Litigator and holds multiple cybersecurity and privacy credentials, including CompTIA Security+, ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity, Cisco Ethical Hacker, and privacy law training from the University of Pennsylvania.

• Recognition & Leadership

Jonathan has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America (2026), as a Leading Lawyer by the Leading Lawyers Network (2026), and among the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s 40 Under Forty Attorneys to Watch (2025). He is the founder of Steele Fortress LLC, a cybersecurity and privacy consulting firm, and leads Beermann’s internal artificial intelligence committee.

• Professional Involvement

Jonathan is a frequent author and presenter on the intersection of technology and family law, including for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education.

• Experience

Jonathan concentrates on high net worth dissolution, contested allocation of parental responsibilities, orders of protection, and complex valuation disputes. His cases routinely turn on digital evidence, from hidden cryptocurrency to manipulated media. He has taken more than one hundred depositions, including of expert and forensic witnesses, and has appeared before the Illinois Appellate Court, the Illinois Supreme Court, and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

SESSION 1 – Detecting AI-Fabricated Evidence in Contested Custody and Divorce Cases | 1:00pm – 2:00pm

Map the authentication landscape as of mid-2026, including the federal Advisory Committee’s May 2026 deferral of proposed Rule 707, the New York Court of Appeals’ 2026 video authentication reversal, Louisiana Act 250, detection science, and evidence hygiene protocol.

BREAK | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

SESSION 2 – Sanctions Motions and Fee Awards for AI-Fabricated Evidence | 2:10pm – 3:10pm

Examine sanctions options in family courts, including contempt, discovery sanctions, and fee-shifting statutes, while exploring Mendones v. Cushman & Wakefield, the TAKE IT DOWN Act, and the “Liar’s Dividend” in addressing AI-fabricated evidence.