Our latest featured speaker is Kristen E. Hudson of Dickinson Wright PLLC!

Kristen is speaking at our upcoming 14th Annual Circuit Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts program on December 10 & 12, 2024 and will also be teaching at our February 2025 program: Trial Essentials: What Every New Litigator Needs to Know. The comprehensive curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including effective complaint and answer strategies, deposition and discovery techniques, navigating case management conferences, honing motion writing skills and heading up to trial. Led by experienced Circuit Court Judges and accomplished attorneys, like Kristen, from a variety of backgrounds, including both large and small firms, this program offers an exclusive insider’s perspective on litigating in Illinois Circuit Court, along with invaluable general litigation skills. Attendees have consistently raved about the program each year.

Kristen will be co-teaching “Discovery & E-Discovery” with Paul Coogan on December 12th. You can see the detailed agenda for her topic and the rest of the program, and sign up to watch it live or purchase OnDemand Streaming or a recorded package download here.

Kristen has spoken at several of our programs and was highly popular with our attendees. She most recently taught “Deposition Objections” at our Mastering the Deposition 101: The Nuts and Bolts program this past July. You can still purchase the recorded package or OnDemand Streaming here.

Kristen Hudson, Of Counsel in Dickinson Wright’s Austin and Chicago offices, represents businesses and business people in complex commercial litigation in state and federal courts in Texas, Illinois and across the country.  Kristen has won high-stakes challenges in a variety of substantive areas, from breach of contract, business and statutory torts, including fraud and the False Claims Act claims, to intellectual property disputes involving the protection of trade secrets and privacy. Kristen has significant experience with Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code and the U.N. Convention on the International Sale of Goods. Kristen also has concentrated experience in lawyer professional liability and fiduciary liability, including high-net worth trust disputes.

Kristen has served as General Counsel of mid-size law firm with offices in multiple jurisdictions. In addition, she has been seconded to clients for extended periods including at a large energy company and with a UK-based insurance company. With this experience to guide her, Kristen works to avoid court wherever possible for her clients, and pursues solutions that make the most business and financial success for her clients, including advocating aggressively when litigation is required.

In addition to her commercial litigation practice, Kristen is knowledgeable about all types of third-party commercial liability policies, including directors’ and officers’ liability, professional liability, employment practices liability, commercial general liability, products liability, cyber liability, among others. Kristen has experience on all sides of an insurance coverage dispute and business disputes involving the insurance industry.  As a policyholder lawyer, Kristen recovered millions of dollars in insurance proceeds for her policyholder clients.  Most recently, Kristen served as coverage and monitoring counsel on behalf of insurers.

Prior to attending law school, Kristen was a French teacher in the North Carolina public schools.

We are always thrilled to have you back Kristen!

Our latest featured speaker is Ryan Erickson of Lewis & Llewellyn LLP!

Ryan is speaking at our upcoming Winning Motions for Summary Judgment program on November 7th, 2024. This is a must-attend program for any attorney wanting to improve not only their writing skills with respect to Motions for Summary Judgment, but also learn how to handle the early parts of their case with the MSJ in mind, to optimize their chances of success on Motion for Summary Judgment. With state and federal judges teaching, as well as seasoned litigators, you will learn not only how to write your MSJs more persuasively, but also how to approach the entire first part of your case with a Motion for Summary Judgment in mind.

Ryan is co-teaching the Planning for the MSJ session.  You can see the detailed agenda for his topic and the rest of the program, and sign up to watch it live or purchase OnDemand Streaming or a recorded package download here.

Ryan has previously spoken at our Superior Court Boot Camp programs, and our attendees raved about how prepared and informed they felt after leaving his sessions.

Ryan Erickson is a tenacious litigator who thrives in the high-pressure environment of civil litigation. As a Partner at Lewis & Llewellyn, Ryan brings years of experience representing plaintiffs and defendants in a diverse array of complex disputes. He enjoys combining strategy, grit, and efficiency to best meet his clients’ litigation objectives. After graduating with High Honors from Princeton University, Ryan received his law degree from UCLA, where he was an Editor of the Law Review and selected as a member of the Order of the Coif (top 10% of his class). Ryan began his career in the San Francisco office of Latham & Watkins LLP, one of the world’s premier law firms, where he represented several Fortune 500 companies in high-profile commercial disputes.

Since joining Lewis & Llewellyn in 2013, Ryan has secured complete defense victories for multiple clients in bet-the-company cases. Crossing the aisle to the plaintiff’s side of the courtroom, Ryan has secured millions of dollars in judgments and settlements through the successful prosecution of his clients’ claims. By litigating on both sides of the bar, Ryan brings a broad perspective to his practice that enables him to efficiently and effectively address the legal needs of his clients.

For four consecutive years, Ryan has been recognized as, a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers Magazine, an honor reserved for only 2.5% of U.S. attorneys. Benchmark Litigation also recently named Ryan to its “Under 40 Hot List,” which honors the achievements of the nation’s “most accomplished legal partners of the age of forty or younger.” In addition to his business litigation practice, Ryan has also earned a reputation as a premier advocate for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Applying the aggressive and exhaustive approach taken in high-stakes commercial litigation to his nationwide sexual abuse practice, Ryan has obtained numerous multi-million dollar recoveries on behalf of his clients.

Along the way, he has become a tireless advocate for the prevention of sexual abuse. Ryan also serves on the Board of Directors of CALICO, one of the largest child advocacy centers in California, which serves approximately 700 abused children every year. During his free time, Ryan enjoys competing in the occasional Ironman triathlon and spending time with his family, usually outdoors in their 1991 Volkswagen Westfalia Vanagon.

We are so glad to have you back Ryan!

Our latest featured speaker is Eva Novick of Miller Nash LLP.

Eva, practicing out of Miller Nash’s Oregon office, is speaking at our upcoming AI and the Practice of Law program this October. This two-part national webinar is set for October 29 & 30, 2024 and will not only discuss how AI is being used in the legal field and how the courts are dealing with AI, it will also teach attendees about the software available, how they can use AI (or should not use AI), how to disclose to their clients, ethical issues and a host of other topics related to the practical use of AI by attorneys and law firms.

Eva will be co-teaching the Introduction session: “What It Is and How It Works” on October 29 with Judge Curtis Karnow of the Superior Court in California. You can see the detailed agenda for her topic and the rest of the program, and sign up to watch it live or purchase OnDemand Streaming or a recorded package download here.

Eva Novick is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US, CIPP/E, CIPM) and a member of the firm’s privacy & data security team. Eva advises clients, both business and individual, on complying with U.S. and international data privacy laws, and remediating and responding to data security incidents. Eva has extensive knowledge and experience in matters of privacy and data security, including enforcing consumer protection laws against particular industries. She works closely with clients on compliance with state and federal privacy laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended (CCPA/CPRA), and international laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Prior to private practice, Eva dedicated nearly two decades of her career to the Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ). During this time, she was able to gain a substantial amount of skill and expertise regarding matters of privacy, data security, and consumer protection. During her time with the Oregon DOJ, Eva led settlement negotiations in Oregon-specific and multistate actions and resolved over 400 investigations, which resulted in distributing over a billion in restitution.

We are so excited to have you join us Eva!

Our latest featured speaker is Cosme Caballero of Deutsch Blumberg & Caballero P.A.!

Cosme is co-teaching “Your Trial Part 1” at our upcoming Trial Techniques 101 program this November 12th, 2024.

This terrific seminar is designed for attorneys new to litigation – and especially new to trials – or attorneys looking for a refresher. Cosme is joined by three Florida Circuit Court judges and several seasoned trial attorneys from both sides of the aisle. You can see the agenda and faculty and sign up to attend live here. You can also pre-order to watch the program via OnDemand Streaming or a Recorded Package Download.

Cosme previously spoke at our Mastering Discovery: The Nuts and Bolts program this March to rave reviews. That program is also available via OnDemand or as a recorded package download here.

Cosme is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law where he served as Articles & Comments Editor of the University of Miami Law Review, where he published an article titled Curbing Corporate Abuse from Jurisprudential Off-Sites: Problematic Paradigms in United States v. Textron Inc. Following graduation, Cosme was admitted to practice law in Florida.  He was also admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a member of the Dade County Bar Association and is a Florida Bar Grievance Committee Member for the 11th Judicial Circuit.

We are so glad to have you back Cosme!

Our Latest Featured Speaker is Matthew A. Braunel of Thompson Coburn LLP!

Matt is speaking at our upcoming AI and the Practice of Law program this October. This two-part national webinar is set for October 29 & 30, 2024 and will not only discuss how AI is being used in the legal field and how the courts are dealing with AI, it will also teach attendees about the software available, how they can use AI (or should not use AI), how to disclose to their clients, ethical issues and a host of other topics related to the practical use of AI by attorneys and law firms.

Matt will be co-teaching “How Attorneys Can Utilize AI to Their Advantage in Their Law Practice” on October 30.  You can see the detailed agenda for his topic and the rest of the program, and sign up to watch it live or purchase OnDemand Streaming or a recorded package download here.

Matt is the vice-chair of the Intellectual Property Practice Group at Thompson Coburn located in their Missouri office. Matt is looked to for his thorough understanding of his clients’ business goals. He tailors his advice and strategies to each client’s needs.

Matt litigates all forms of intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets. Matt has also developed a brand protection practice that incorporates different forms of intellectual property to combat piracy and counterfeiting. He is a registered patent attorney who practices before the Federal District Courts, Federal Appeals Courts, International Trade Commission, the Patent and Trademark Office, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, and is admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States. Representing businesses and organizations of all sizes, Matt provides practical and cost-effective strategies to protect their valuable assets.

Matt was named Lawyer of the Year for Litigation – Patent in St. Louis in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America (by BL Rankings) and has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America (by BL Rankings) for five consecutive years. Held in high regard by clients and peers, a client noted in Lexology Client Choice that, “Mr. Braunel is one of the top trademark practitioners not only in Missouri, but in the United States, and is a valuable asset to all corporate counsel.”

Matt holds degrees in chemistry and mathematics, and completed graduate-level course work toward a doctoral degree in radiopharmaceutical chemistry before attending law school. Matt serves on the Firm’s Innovation Committee and is Chair of the AI Task Force.

We are so glad to have you join us Matthew!

Our latest featured speaker is Khari J. Tillery of Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP!

Khari is speaking at our upcoming Winning Motions for Summary Judgment program on November 7th, 2024. This is a must-attend program for any attorney wanting to know improve not only their writing skills with respect to Motions for Summary Judgment, but also how to handle the early parts of their case with the MSJ in mind, to optimize their chances of success on Motion for Summary Judgment. With state and federal judges teaching, as well as seasoned litigators, you will learn not only how to write your MSJs more persuasively, but also how to approach the entire first part of your case with a Motion for Summary Judgment in mind.

Khari is co-teaching Writing the Motion and the Opposition session during this program.  You can see the detailed agenda for his topic and the rest of the program, and sign up to watch it live or purchase OnDemand Streaming or a recorded package download here.

Khari Tillery is known as a problem solver who happens to be a lawyer.

Whether representing companies or individuals, in civil or criminal matters, he begins every relationship by asking the same three questions: (1) what are the issues my client is facing (legal and otherwise); (2) what are my client’s primary concerns and strategic goals; (3) how can I help my client achieve their desired resolution as efficiently as possible? In some cases, resolution can only be achieved through aggressive litigation tactics, while other cases require a more subtle touch – and, of course, most cases require a little of both. Having tried seven cases in various forums, four as lead counsel, Mr. Tillery knows how to help his clients avoid litigation, set their cases up for a successful pretrial resolution, or win at trial.

During his 15 years of practice, he has advised on, litigated, and tried all manner of commercial disputes, while specializing in contract disputes, trade secret misappropriation, data privacy, unfair competition, and legal malpractice. He has trial experience in both federal and state court (including five jury trials), as well as binding arbitration.

Mr. Tillery maintains a robust pro bono practice, primarily representing wrongfully convicted prisoners in habeas corpus proceedings, individuals whose civil rights have been violated, and criminal defendants. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area.

We are so excited to have you join us Khari!

Our latest featured speaker is Lila Silverstein of Washington Appellate Project! 

Lila is speaking at our upcoming 9th Annual Advanced Appellate Practice program on November 19th and 20th, 2024. She will be co-teaching Amicus Briefs (Lila is speaking on the 20th). You can sign up to attend live, order OnDemand Streaming, or get the recorded package here.

As a faculty member, Lila is joined by former Washington Supreme Court Justice Philip Talmadge (in private practice), 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Hon. Kim McLane Wardlaw, Appellate Judges Hon. Linda Coburn, Hon. Leonard Felman, Hon. Lori Smith, appellate Commissioners Hailey Landrus and Jennifer Koh, and top-notch practitioners, like Lila, who have spoken at our programs on many occasions and received excellent reviews every time!

Lila previously spoke at our 6th and 8th Annual Advanced Appellate Practice programs, held in 2021 and 2023. You can find the recorded packages of all of our annual Advanced Appellate program for Washington, via download or OnDemand Streaming, here.

Lila Silverstein is passionate about protecting the constitutional rights of individuals and ensuring equal access to justice for all. An appellate public defender since 2006, Lila represents indigent clients in the Washington Supreme Court, all three divisions of the Washington Court of Appeals, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Her most notable case is State v. Gregory, 427 P.3d 621 (Wash. 2018) (with co-counsel Neil Fox). Lila commissioned a statistical study on race and the death penalty in Washington and argued the death penalty was unconstitutional because it was imposed in an arbitrary and racially biased manner. In 2018, the Washington Supreme Court agreed and invalidated Washington’s capital punishment scheme.

Outside of case work, Lila volunteers her time presenting CLEs, writing amicus briefs, and serving on bar committees. Lila wrote significant sections of Washington’s General Rule 37, which provides strong protection against race discrimination in jury selection and is being emulated in other jurisdictions. She has served as chair of the King County Bar Association’s appellate practice section, and is an invited member of the Washington Appellate Lawyers Association and the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. For her work, Lila has received the King County Bar Association’s Outstanding Lawyer of the Year Award, the William O. Douglas Award from the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Kathleen Taylor Civil Libertarian Award from the ACLU of Washington, the Distinguished Service Award from the Civil Rights Section of the Washington State Bar Association, President’s Awards from both WACDL and the Washington Defender Association, and the Abolitionist of the Year Award from the Washington Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.

We are always so happy to have you back Lila!

Our latest featured speaker is Robert (Beau) Blumberg of Deutsch, Blumberg & Caballero P.A.!

Robert is co-teaching Pre-Trial Matters at our Trial Techniques 101 program on November 12th, 2024.

This program is designed for attorneys new to litigation – and especially new to trials – or attorneys looking for a refresher. Beau is joined by three Florida Circuit Court judges and several seasoned trial attorneys from both sides of the aisle. You can see the agenda and faculty and sign up to attend live here. You can also pre-order to watch the program via OnDemand Streaming or a Recorded Package Download.

Robert last spoke at our Mastering Discovery: The Nuts and Bolts (FL) and was very popular with our attendees, which is why we invited him back!  That program is also available via OnDemand or as a recorded package download here. 

Robert (“Beau”) E. Blumberg a Partner with the trial law firm of Deutsch, Blumberg & Caballero P.A., where he practices personal injury, medical malpractice, and product liability law. Mr. Blumberg is admitted to practice in Florida and before the United States District Court for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida and is a member of The Florida Bar.

Mr. Blumberg was a Member of the FL Bar Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration Committee from 2017- 2023. He is a Member of the FL Bar Code & Rules of Evidence Committee 2023-2026.

Mr. Blumberg previously served as Chair of the FL Bar Standing Committee on Technology from 2021- 2022, and the Grievance Committee “A” Member, 2020- 2023.  Mr. Blumberg was also appointed to the Florida Courts Technology Commission by the Florida Supreme Court for 2022-2024.

Mr. Blumberg is the Miami-Dade Bar Treasurer for the 2024-2025 term, and Board of Directors of the Young Lawyers Section of the Miami-Dade Bar Association (“MDB YLS”) for the 2020-2024 term. He is also the President of the MDB YLS (2023-2024). Mr. Blumberg earned his B.A. degree from the College of William and Mary and his J.D. degree from the William and Mary School of Law.

We are so glad to have you back Beau!

Our latest featured speaker is Ian Cairns of Smith Goodfriend, P.S.!

Ian is speaking at our upcoming 9th Annual Advanced Appellate Practice program on November 19th and 20th, 2024. He will be co-teaching Discretionary Review (Ian is speaking on the 19th). You can sign up to attend live, order OnDemand Streaming, or get the recorded package here. This program has been so popular we have brought it back for 9 years!

We have again gathered a fantastic group of attorneys, appellate judges and commissioners for our 9th Annual Advanced Appellate Practice two-part webinar for Washington state, on November 19 & 20, 2024. As a faculty member, Ian is joined by former Washington Supreme Court Justice Philip Talmadge (in private practice), 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Hon. Kim McLane Wardlaw, Appellate Judges Hon. Linda Coburn, Hon. Leonard Felman, Hon. Lori Smith, appellate Commissioners Hailey Landrus and Jennifer Koh, and top-notch practitioners, like Ian, who have spoken at our programs on many occasions and received excellent reviews every time!

Ian previously spoke at our 2022 version of this program, the 7th Annual Advanced Appellate Practice two-part webinar for Washington state, and received rave reviews from our attendees.You can find the recorded packages of all of our annual Advanced Appellate program for Washington, via download or OnDemand Streaming, here.

Ian Cairns is a principal of Smith Goodfriend. Ian focuses on civil appellate practice in state and federal courts across a broad range of subject areas including business disputes, trust and estate litigation, and family law.

Ian is the Vice-Chair of the Washington State Bar Association Judicial Recommendation Committee, co-author of the Appellate Practice chapter of the King County Bar Association Young Lawyer Division’s Washington Lawyers Practice Manual, and a former Chair of the King County Bar Association’s Appellate Section. Ian lives in Seattle with his wife Michelle and their two sons, and in his free time coaches and plays lacrosse.

We are so excited to have you back Ian!

Our latest featured speaker is Rory Cosgrove of Carney Bradley Spellman, P.S.!

Rory is speaking at our 9th Annual Advanced Appellate Practice program on November 19th and 20th, 2024. He will be co-teaching Preservation and Other Circumstances that Affect the Scope of Review. You can sign up to attend live, order OnDemand Streaming, or get the recorded package here.

This year we are happy to have Rory Cosgrove join us from Carney Bradley Spellman. We’ve had several partners from his firm speak over the years and everyone has been wonderful.

Rory’s passion is civil appeals in state and federal courts.  He has been counsel of record in over 50 appeals.  He has argued in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and in all three Divisions of the Court of Appeals of the State of Washington.  He has filed amicus briefs in the Washington Supreme Court on behalf of national trade associations, insurance companies, and the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers.

Rory is proud to have represented many major American companies, including Volkswagen, Graco, Pep Boys, and Comcast.  What distinguishes Rory from his peers is his unwavering commitment to serving and building strong relationships with his clients.  He strives to be his clients’ ambassador of Kwan, so it’s no wonder that his favorite movie is Jerry Maguire.

Rory’s philosophy to service is the same for all his clients: deliver exceptional legal work to exceed his clients’ goals.  Clients can always count on Rory to provide the highest quality legal services.

Rory is routinely hired to serve as error prevention/preservation counsel.  In that role, he assists the trial team in preparing dispositive motions, motions in limine or objections to motions in limine, jury instructions and objections to jury instructions, and pocket briefs (among other things).  Through his efforts as error-prevention counsel, he has helped his clients secure defense verdicts or favorable settlements.  Rory’s deep understanding of appeals strengthens his service to clients in the trial court.

Before joining the firm, Rory clerked for the Honorable James R. Verellen at the Court of Appeals of the State of Washington, Division One, for two years.  His clerkship gave him valuable insight into the judicial decision-making process.  Rory uses that insight to assist his clients.  And while in law school, Rory clerked for the Oregon Court of Appeals in the Appellate Commissioner’s Office.

We are so happy to have you join us Rory!