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.

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.

How should your company respond if 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.

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.

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.

Modern juries represent an unprecedented convergence of generational perspectives, spanning nearly a century of distinct worldviews and communication preferences. Today’s jury pools include members from the Silent Generation through Generation Z, each bringing fundamentally different expectations about how information should be presented, processed, and evaluated. This generational diversity presents both challenges and opportunities for trial attorneys seeking to maximize their persuasive impact.

Panelists:

Diane Averell – Church & Dwight

Maithilee Pathak – R&D Solutions

Kelly Theard – Deutsch Kerrigan

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:

Stephanie Laws – Maslon

Rob Lovett – Bitfarms

Jennifer Sova – Amazon

Tiffanee Wade-Henderson – International Paper

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:

Randy Haimovici – Albertsons

Emily Harris – Corr Cronin

Marcy Heronimus – Lumen Technologies

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

Tony Lathrop – Moore & Van Allen

Moheeb Murray – Bush Seyferth

Tom Vanderford – Hyundai North America

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

Bobby Hood – Hood Law Firm

DeeDee Stephens – LiquidPower Specialty Products

Jurgen Suuck – TM Claims

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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:

Rob Lovett – Bitfarms

Christallyn Williams – Sigma-Aldrich

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:

Brandon Caire – Air Liquide

Tony Rospert – Thompson Hine

Joe Sadler – Dematic

Anthony Valentine – United Wholesale Mortgage

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:

Mark Clark – Parsons McEntire McCleary

Tim McCormick – Christian & Barton

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, Rachel Lary 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:

Todd Williams – Corr Cronin