Program Agenda
- Thursday November 6, 2025
- Friday November 7, 2025
- Saturday November 8, 2025
Welcome Cocktail Hour and Dinner on the Ocean Lawn
Hospitality Suite (Executive Suite 266)
Sunrise Yoga at the Studio Garden
Breakfast and Program Registration in the Grand Ballroom Foyer

Tony Rospert
Opening Statement from The Trial Network Chair
Wecome from the Seminar Chairs

Katheleen Ehrhart
Dear AI: You’re Great, But Now We’re Being Sued!
Artificial intelligence can be a powerful tool to increase efficiency and productivity, but it can also increase a company’s litigation exposure. Using an interactive conversation with AI, Kathy Ehrhart from Illinois member Smith Gambrell Russell will explore lawsuits tied to AI use, evolving legal theories used by the plaintiffs’ bar, and new strategies and claims may be on the horizon. Learn how your business can reduce risk and prepare strong defenses before finding itself on the receiving end of an AI-related complaint.

Mark Clark
Tort Reform: Separating the Silver Bullets from Window Dressing
In the summer of 2025, several state legislatures rolled out tort reform measures to combat nuclear verdicts. In this session, Mark Clark from Texas member Parsons McEntire McCleary will walk you through the new tort reform tools to limit risk, effectively litigate and settle matters, and defend tort claims at trial.

Kerri Wright
What to Do When ICE Comes Knocking
How should your company respond when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requests information, including access to your computer systems to inspect I-9 data? Kerri Wright from New Jersey member Porzio Bromberg & Newman will consider the intersection of compliance, digital privacy, and due process, offering practical guidance to prepare for and navigate increasingly aggressive ICE enforcement.

David Lacy
Depp v. Heard: A Treasure Trove of Critical Issues in Defamation Litigation
Defamation claims are on the rise. Using the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard litigation as a springboard, David Lacy from Virginia member Christian & Barton will dive into the complexities of defamation litigation in the age of viral online content. Attendees will learn how to navigate key issues such as jurisdiction and liability to protect businesses in an era where a single click can spark multimillion-dollar claims.
Refreshment Break

Moheeb Murray
From Courtrooms to Contacts: Developing Law Affecting Supply Chain Requirements Contract
The UCC permits requirements contracts—agreements to purchase goods as needed in good faith—even without a fixed quantity term. These contracts offer flexibility in uncertain markets but carry legal risk unless properly structured. A wave of recent court decisions is reshaping when such agreements are enforceable and what happens when they are not. Moheeb Murray from Michigan member Bush Seyferth will examine the latest developments and practical considerations for buyers and sellers seeking to mitigate risk in contractual relationships.

Nikki Nesbitt
Panel - Beyond Bias: Winning Strategies for Navigating Jurors’ Gender Perceptions
Data shows that the gender of a presenter influences how an audience receives information. As a result, attorneys must adapt to all players in the courtroom, from attorneys to witnesses and even to the judges presiding over a trial. This panel, moderated by Nikki Nesbitt from Maryland member Goodell DeVries Leech & Dann, will discuss new research on gender bias in trial settings and offer practical strategies for lawyers to mitigate, manage, or even leverage juror perceptions.
Panelists:
Kelly Theard – Deutsch Kerrigan
Name – Company/Firm
Name – Company/Firm
Gather Lunch for Breakout Sessions

Joshua Metcalf
Breakout Track A - GenAI: Separating Hype from Reality
If you believe the hype, Generative AI (“GenAI”) has completely changed the practice of law, simplifying even the most complicated tasks to a single prompt. However, the promise and potential of GenAI are very different from reality. Joshua Metcalf from Mississippi member Forman Watkins & Krutz will lead a collaborative discussion on how law firms and legal departments are using GenAI—what tools are being adopted and how they are being leveraged, what is (and is not) working, and how to use GenAI responsibly.
Discussion Leaders:
Jason Lien – Maslon
Tiffanee Wade-Henderson – International Paper
Name – Company/Firm
Name – Company/Firm

Katie Reilly
Breakout Track B - State Law Challenges: Play Chess, Not Checkers
As states more aggressively—and creatively—impose regulatory restrictions on businesses, every move counts. Join Katie Reilly from Colorado member Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell and in-house counsel for an engaging discussion on litigation and government relations strategies, knowing when to fight, and how to develop a chess—not checkers—approach to contest unlawful regulations.
Discussion Leaders:
Name – Company/Firm
Name – Company/Firm
Name – Company/Firm
Name – Company/Firm

Adam Stephens
Breakout Track C - Driving Change: Current Issues in the Automotive Industry
From EVs and tariffs to autonomous vehicles, new developments in the automotive industry raise novel legal questions. Join in-house and outside counsel in this breakout, led by Adam Stephens from Canadian member Miller Thomson, for a forward-looking conversation on navigating complex issues like evolving regulations, supply chain instability, and potential liability raised by technological advancements.
Discussion Leaders:
Karen Karvat – Magna International
Moheeb Murray – Bush Seyferth
Name – Company/Firm
Name – Company/Firm

Ted LeClercq
Breakout Track D - Neither Divided nor Conquered: A Unified Approach to Nuclear and Thermonuclear Verdicts
With nuclear and even “thermonuclear” verdicts on the rise, effective communication, cooperation, and compromise between inside and outside counsel is more important than ever. This breakout session, led by Ted LeClercq from Louisiana member Deutsch Kerrigan, will share strategies for forming trial teams, responding to time-limited and early demands, and mitigating excess verdict exposure.
Discussion Leaders:
Kevin Fisher – Allied World Insurance
Name – Company/Firm
Name – Company/Firm
Name – Company/Firm
Recreation: Monarch Beach Golf, Laguna Shuttle, Pickleball, Newport Beach Biking, Surfing, Kayaking/SUPs, Bubbles & Brushes, Art Museum
Buses Board for Dinner at [seven-degrees] Gallery
Reception and Dinner at [seven-degrees] Gallery
Hospitality Suite (Executive Suite 266)
Sunrise Yoga at the Studio Garden
Breakfast and Program Registration in the Grand Ballroom Foyer
Welcome Back from the Seminar Chairs

Steve Finley
RICO Liability for Manufacturers?
The Supreme Court decision in Medical Marijuana, Inc. v. Horn could expose product sellers and manufacturers to RICO liability for conduct that once gave rise only to state law claims. As a result of the ruling, plaintiffs may now bring civil RICO claims for business or property harm resulting from a personal injury. Steve Finley from Pennsylvania member Gibbons will explain the limited nature of the Court’s decision and how to protect manufacturers and distributors from RICO liability.

Haley Cox
Beyond PowerPoint: Trial Graphics That Win
Today’s judges and jurors expect more than slides—they expect compelling graphics. Haley Cox of Alabama member Lightfoot Franklin & White argues that successful trial lawyers must abandon traditional wordy slide decks in favor of punchy, impactful visuals. Using a show-and-tell of modern trial visuals, Haley will demonstrate strategies to simplify complex information, boost credibility, and drive home your arguments.

Greg Marshall
So You’ve Been Cyber-Attacked. Now What?
Cybersecurity attacks are epidemic, more sophisticated than ever, and on the rise. Just a single click by one person in your organization can trigger a cybersecurity nightmare—and litigation. Greg Marshall from Arizona member Snell & Wilmer will walk you through legal and strategic responses to data breaches, from reporting requirements to defense tactics.

Jessica Salisbury-Copper
Geofencing the Jury Box: Digital Influence in Trial Practice
What if you could influence factfinders with targeted digital content before or during a trial? Geofencing and geomarketing technologies now make that possible, raising serious ethical questions and strategic considerations. In this session, Jessica Salisbury-Copper from Ohio member Thompson Hine will explore real-world applications and risks of these technologies and consider whether legal safeguards should be used to preserve trial integrity.
Refreshment Break

David Harless
DEI in the Crosshairs: Legal Challenges and Compliance Strategies
DEI and other social equity initiatives face increasing legal scrutiny and shifting federal regulations, and companies are left scrambling to adapt. David Harless from Virginia member Christian & Barton will explain the current landscape, including executive orders and DOJ enforcement, and offer practical strategies for navigating these changes.

Tony Lathrop
Flying Cars and Air Taxis: Legal and Regulatory Updates in Transportation
From autonomous vehicles on public roads to air taxis announced for the 2028 Olympics, tomorrow’s transportation has arrived—and so have the legal and regulatory challenges. Tony Lathrop from North Carolina member Moore & Van Allen will explore recent updates in this space, including the interplay between state and federal regulation, cybersecurity and privacy, liability and insurance, intellectual property, and securities.

Derek Stikeleather
The Hidden Psychology of Judging
Faith in the rule of law requires trust in judges to evenly apply the law as neutral arbiters, regardless of their personal or political views. But even the most principled judges are human—and research shows that the human brain’s wiring can cause wide swings in judicial decisions. Derek Stikeleather from Maryland member Goodell DeVries Leech & Dann will consider how trial tactics can play on a judge’s (or juror’s) conscience and how to counter these innate tendencies.

Joshua Metcalf
Special Presentation by The Trial Network Vice-Chair

Tony Rospert
Closing Argument by The Trial Network Chair
Gather Lunch for Breakout Sessions

Charlie Stoia
Breakout Track A - Does ESG Matter Anymore?
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives are being reevaluated across industries as a result of political backlash and shifting enforcement. What are companies doing about carbon offsets, DEI, and other efforts in today’s climate? In this breakout, led by Charlie Stoia of New Jersey member Porzio Bromberg & Newman, participants will discuss aligning ESG priorities and risks with shareholder value.
Discussion Leaders:
Name – Company/Firm
Name – Company/Firm
Name – Company/Firm
Name – Company/Firm

Roger Meyers
Breakout Track B - Are Contractual Controls Still Worth the Paper They Were Written On?
For many years, companies have used contract provisions such as liability limits, non-competes, damage caps, and equitable remedies to protect their interests—but those provisions are facing growing legal and regulatory obstacles. This breakout, led by Roger Meyers from Michigan member Bush Seyferth, will explore how companies are adapting their contracts in a climate increasingly hostile to contractual controls.
Discussion Leaders:
Name – Company/Firm
Name – Company/Firm
Name – Company/Firm
Name – Company/Firm

Hugh Gottschalk
Breakout Track C - Climate Change Litigation: A Litigation Storm is Brewing
Over the past decade, oil and gas companies have been under siege as states and municipalities pursue massive damages related to global climate change, with varying results. Drawing on his experience representing Suncor Energy in high-stakes litigation, Hugh Gottschalk from Colorado member Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell will walk attendees through current climate change litigation and lead a discussion on potential paths forward as the Justice Department works to curb these cases.
Discussion Leaders:
Name – Company/Firm
Name – Company/Firm
Name – Company/Firm
Name – Company/Firm

Chandler Bailey
Breakout Track D - Admit and Defend: Trying Cases When Liability Is Off the Table
Admitting liability is often a strategic move to resolve disputes on more favorable terms. However, thanks to plaintiffs’ counsel pushing for outsized damages and litigation funding driving inflated procedures, more and more of these cases are heading to trial. In this breakout, Chandler Bailey from Alabama member Lightfoot Franklin & White will share tactics for defending cases where liability is admitted, including jury selection, framing the defense, and protecting a client’s bottom line.
Discussion Leaders:
Name – Company/Firm
Name – Company/Firm
Name – Company/Firm
Name – Company/Firm