Rich Matthews is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Our latest featured speaker is Rich Matthews from Jurology!

Rich is a popular and knowledgeable speaker on jury issues. Rich repeatedly presents at our jury selection programs such as our two-part  Art of Jury Selection California program from July 12, 2022-July 14, 2022.

Rich will speak at our upcoming Mastering Jury Selection and Winning Jury Trials: The Right Story for the Right Panel, a two-part webinar on December 12, 2023 and December 14, 2023.

For more than 20 years, Rich has been an attorney, trial consultant, and “mythbuster” for a lot of the widespread but often incorrect beliefs about jurors and jury selection. Rich combines research with psychology with artistic craft to create the best frames and themes for your case . . . and get the best results from jurors or in settlement.

His expertise includes separating jury issues from the legal issues; crafting the themes and frames that will shape juror perception of a case; writing openings and closings like a human actually speaks to other humans and in a story format that will bring your audience to your case (rather than the reverse); witness preparation; and all things related to jury selection from juror questionnaires and voir dire questions to exercising cause and peremptory challenges.

Rich has innovated the use of focus group results at mediations and in negotiations to achieve better settlements in a shorter time than clients had experienced without them.

Rich has appeared on national television and in major publications offering commentary on high profile trials. He serves on the California Bar’s Litigation Section’s committee for comment on proposed revisions to California’s standard jury instructions, lending his juror expertise to improving the understandability and clarity of jury instructions.

Rich works nationwide and is located in San Francisco and received his J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law.

Megan E. Thibert-Ind is our Latest Featured Speaker

Our latest featured speaker is Megan E. Thibert-Ind from Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP!

Megan is a frequent speaker at our Illinois circuit court boot camp programs, most recently at our 12th Annual Illinois Circuit Court Boot Camp in December 2022.

Because of her in-depth knowledge and insight on civil litigation, Megan will be speaking at our upcoming 13th Annual Circuit Court Boot Camp program, which will be held in-person with a live streaming format in Chicago on December 8, 2024.

Megan Thibert-Ind is a health care and civil litigation partner in Manatt, Phelps & Phillips’s Chicago office. She has extensive experience representing businesses across Manatt’s industry sectors, including a focus on health care stakeholders—such as hospital systems and academic medical centers, ambulatory surgery and urgent care centers, pharmacy services providers, and life sciences companies—as they navigate a variety of complex business controversies, contractual and regulatory disputes, and post-acquisition challenges.

Megan also advises pharmaceutical companies on 340B Drug Pricing Program reimbursement and indemnification claims and provides guidance to life sciences companies facing product liability exposure.

Megan represents clients in litigation pending in state and federal courts nationwide and has handled numerous matters before the American Arbitration Association and other alternative dispute resolution tribunals. Additionally, she regularly navigates complex expert witness issues, including financial analysis, lost profits and damages, and causation and other liability issues.

Alongside her litigation work, Megan is noted for her service as an active member of the Chicago community and is dedicated to providing pro bono services across a range of subject matters. She has represented undocumented immigrants; victims of gender-based hate crimes, domestic violence and employment discrimination; not-for-profit arts organizations; and parents wrongfully indicated for abuse. She also serves on the board of directors of Legal Aid Chicago, the largest nonprofit civil legal services provider in Cook County.

Thank you for joining us again, Megan!  We appreciate you coming back.

 

Kimberly Valentine is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Our latest featured speaker is Kimberly Valentine from Valentine Law Group!

Kimberly spoke most recently our 18th Annual Superior Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts (CA) webinar on October 13, 2023 as part of the Southern California faculty. The program was also held late October with Northern CA judges and faculty. Both programs are available as Recorded Packages.

Kimberly has taught a few times at our annual Superior Court Boot Camps every October, to rave reviews, which is why we keep inviting her back.  Kimberly is a terrific teacher who always provides a ton of practical information and is very much appreciated by our attendees.

Kimberly  is the principal attorney at Valentine Law Group where she has dedicated her career in the practice of law to advocating for the vulnerable, the injured and the infirm. She practices in the areas of elder abuse, medical malpractice, products liability, serious personal injury, and government tort claims litigation.

Outside of the firm, Kimberly is an Associate with the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and serves as the National Board Representative for the Orange County ABOTA Chapter. She has received the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association’s Top Gun award as an exceptional Elder Abuse litigator multiple times and has been recognized as a California Trial Lawyers Associations “Street Fighter” Award finalist. She was also named a Super Lawyer each year since 2014. Super Lawyers Southern California Magazine named her as one of the top 50 Orange County lawyers and Top 50 Women lawyers in Southern California multiple times and did so again in 2021.

Kimberly’s passion for supporting the community led her to found Operation Helping Hands, a non-profit providing community college scholarships/stipends to housing insecure students as well as providing backpacks full of necessity items to the homeless population. Kimberly received the 2019 Trial Lawyers Care award from the American Association for Justice for her work in the community with Operation Helping Hands. She is one of the founding members and serves on the Board of Directors for Stop Elder Abuses, a non-profit organization which educates the public on the issue of abuse. She also sits on the Advisory Committee to the Los Angeles Elder Abuse Forensic Center. Ms. Valentine also serves on the advisory board for the non-profit organization Together We Rise which is dedicated to improving the lives of foster children.

Thank you for joining us again, Kimberly and we hope to see you again next year!

Ryan Moore is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Our latest featured speaker is Ryan Moore from Fox Rothschild LLP!

Ryan most recently spoke at our 18th Annual Superior Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts (CA) webinar on October 13, 2023 as part of the Southern California faculty. The program was also held late October 2023 as a webinar with Northern California judges and attorneys teaching.  Both programs are available as Recorded Packages.

Ryan received top-notch reviews at this program and we can’t wait to have him back.

Ryan is a partner at Fox Rothschild LLP, where he defends businesses against personal injury, product liability, toxic tort, property damage and other claims at trial and on appeal in state and federal courts as a seasoned commercial litigator.

With his vast experience representing businesses in the manufacturing and rail transportation industries, Ryan has garnered much success in complex commercial litigation. He has achieved summary judgment in the Western District Court of Washington in FELA lawsuit involving railroad defendant. Successfully drafted 9th Circuit Respondent’s Brief and Opposition to Appellant’s Motion to Certify Issues to State Supreme Court. Achieved summary judgment in Los Angeles Superior Court in FELA toxic injury (benzene) lawsuit involving railroad defendant. Summary judgment granted based on procedural argument raised in reply papers.

Thank you for joining us again, Ryan!

Chaya Mandelbaum is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Our latest featured speaker is Chaya Mandelbaum from Rudy, Exelrod, Zieff & Lowe, LLP!

Chaya will be speaking at our upcoming 18th Annual Superior Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts (CA) webinar on October 27, 2023 as part of the Northern California faculty. The program was also held on October 13, 2023 as a webinar with Southern California judges and attorneys teaching. 

Most recently, Chaya spoke at our 19th Annual Federal Court Boot Camp (CA) program, where he was complimented for his practical strategies. Chaya is a frequent speaker with Pincus – he has taught at our Annual Federal Court Boot Camp for almost a decade.  We always invite him back because the attendees always give him great reviews and he is such a great teacher.

Chaya Mandelbaum is a Partner at Rudy, Exelrod, Zieff & Lowe, LLP where he represents employees in individual and class action litigation and negotiations across the spectrum of employment law. He has extensive experience in wage and hour, discrimination, retaliation, harassment and leave of absence matters.

Before joining Rudy, Exelrod, Zieff & Lowe, Chaya was a Senior Litigation Counsel at Sanford Heisler.  At Sanford Heisler, he represented employees in class actions involving wage and hour, discrimination and other civil rights claims.

Previously, Chaya was a Trial Attorney in the Office of the Solicitor for the United States Department of Labor.  In that capacity, he successfully represented the Secretary of Labor in numerous significant enforcement actions, including a multi-million dollar wage and penalty recovery based on violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act.  He obtained successful results in both jury and bench trials during his tenure. 

Chaya also recently served as Chair of the California Fair Employment and Housing Council.  He was appointed and re-appointed to the position by former California Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. and his appointment and re-appointment were confirmed by the California Senate.  The Council promulgates regulations related to employment and housing discrimination and holds hearings on civil rights issues confronting the state.

Thank you for joining us again, Chaya!

Barbara Adams is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Our latest featured speaker is Barbara Adams from Steptoe & Johnson LLP!

Barbara will be speaking at our upcoming 18th Annual Superior Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts (CA) webinar on October 27, 2023 as part of the Northern California faculty. The program started on October 13, 2023 as a webinar with Southern California judges and attorneys teaching. 

This will be the sixth time Barbara has taught this program. Barbara is a frequent speaker with Pincus and we have continued to invite her back because the attendees always have great things to say about her. Recently, Barbara spoke at our The Art of Jury Selection in California program, where she was praised by attendees for her knowledge and excellence as an attorney. 

We are excited to have her back!

Barbara is of counsel at Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where she specializes in the defense of toxic tort and product liability litigation involving asbestos, lead, food toxins, underground tanks, and other chemicals in personal injury, property damage, and long-term/latent injury litigation actions. Barbara has completed numerous jury trials in most of the Bay Area Superior Courts, otherwise successfully resolved complex cases, and has participated in the development of complex litigation rules for the Superior and Federal courts.

Barbara has a diverse litigation background that includes an emphasis on Proposition 65 litigation and toxic torts claims involving asbestos, lead, and mold. Barbara’s courtroom background is extensive. An experienced lead trial and appellate attorney, she has taken over 20 cases to verdict and has commenced more than 30 trials. She also has experience litigating personal injury, product defect, premises liability, and wrongful termination claims, as well as claims arising under California’s Lemon Law.

With a keen focus on providing superior quality work, Barbara is equally adept at resolving cases without resort to litigation. Barbara has briefed and argued cases before the California Courts of Appeal and the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Northern California Super Lawyers has included Barbara among the area’s top attorneys for many years in recognition of her litigation excellence.

You can read Barbara’s views on toxic tort and chemical exposure issues at her blog, Toxics Defense.

Thank you for joining us again, Barbara!

Angel Horacek is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Our latest featured speaker is Angel Horacek from the Law Offices of Angel J. Horacek, PC!

Angel will be speaking at our upcoming 18th Annual Superior Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts (CA) webinar on October 13, 2023 as part of the Southern California faculty. The program is also scheduled for October 27, 2023 as a webinar with Northern California judges and attorneys teaching.

This is the third year in a row that Angel has taught at this program. We have invited her back each time because the attendees had great things to say about her.  She most recently spoke at our 17th Annual Superior Court Boot Camp program, where she was complimented by attendees for her well-stated and concise summary judgment presentation.

We are excited to have her back!

Angel is the owner of the Law Offices of Angel J. Horacek, PC, where she practices employment and civil rights law on behalf of employees. Angel focuses her practice primarily on anti-discrimination and harassment; anti-retaliation and whistleblowing; and fair pay for employees. 

At the Law Offices of Angel J. Horacek, PC, Angel represents employees in litigation, trials, arbitrations, hearings, and administrative processes. She also advises individuals regarding workplace or employment issues that arise prior to or during employment.

Angel is the co-chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Saturday Seminar Committee, which presents cutting-edge continuing legal educational programs for lawyers and law students several times throughout the year. Angel also participates on the California Employment Lawyers Association Fair Employment & Housing Council Committee, which drafts comprehensive comments to ensure that FEHA regulations accurately reflect California’s laws. She volunteers with the Los Angeles Black Workers Center in View Park, most recently as legal supervisor to its 2020 Peggy Browning Fellow.

Additionally, Angel has been named as a Southern California Super Lawyer from 2017 to 2021. Angel has been a featured speaker and moderator for the State Bar of California, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and a variety of other entities. She is a member of the California Bar, the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the California Employment Lawyers Association, Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, and Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles. She is a lifetime member of the John M. Langston Bar Association.

Thank you for joining us again, Angel!

Courtney Abrams is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Our latest featured speaker is Courtney Abrams from Courtney Abrams, PC!

Courtney will be speaking at our upcoming 18th Annual Superior Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts (CA) program on October 13, 2023 . The program is also scheduled for October 27, 2023 with Northern CA judges and faculty. Courtney has spoken several times at ours seminars, most recently spoke at our 17th Annual Superior Court Boot Camp program, where she received compliments on her breakdown of good and bad motions, her beneficial advice throughout the presentation, as well as her terrific teaching style.

Thank you for joining the program, Courtney!

Courtney is the owner of Courtney Abrams, PC, where she specializes in employment representation. Courtney litigated for nearly ten years before starting her own practice offering representation to individuals who have experienced unlawful employment practices and estate planning clients.

Additionally, Courtney has been quoted in Forbes and Variety, and from 2014-2019, she was recognized as one of the top Women Attorneys by Los Angeles Magazine and named to the Southern California Rising Star list, an honor received by no more than 2.5 percent of lawyers in California. In 2020 and 2021, Super Lawyers, a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement selected Courtney as a Southern California “Super Lawyer” in the category of Labor and Employment law. 

During law school, Courtney worked for the ACLU of Southern California on federal cases involving wrongful deportation, mental health and prison reform, and she clerked in the Office of the Los Angeles County Public Defender. Courtney also served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Terry Hatter, Jr., U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, and clerked for civil rights firm Hadsell, Stormer, Keeny, Richardson and Renick (currently Hadsell, Stormer, Renick, and Dai).

We are looking forward to her promising presentation!

Matthew Slentz is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Our latest featured speaker is Matthew Slentz from Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley!

Matthew will be speaking at our upcoming 18th Annual Superior Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts (CA) program on October 13, 2023 in Sierra Madre/Pasadena, California. The program will also be held in San Francisco on October 27th (Matthew is speaking at our Sierra Madre/Pasadena program. Most recently, Matthew spoke last at our 17th Annual Superior Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts (CA) program as well as our Art of Jury Selection in California: The Nuts and Bolts Webinar. Matthew has been consistently described as a knowledgeable and informative speaker.

We are excited to have him back with us!

Matthew is an associate with Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley’s litigation practice group. Matthew litigates a range of disputes for our public agency clients in both trial and appellate courts, including suits involving inverse condemnation, utility user taxes, Public Records Act disputes, post-redevelopment disputes, rates and fees, government contracts, land use and cannabis regulation.

Before joining CHW, Matthew served as Chief Deputy Public Defender for Stanislaus County. In this role, Matthew managed a team of attorneys defending misdemeanor cases, including violations of local ordinances, coordinated with city and county officials on nuisance abatement strategies, and helped formulate his agency’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a deputy public defender, Matthew conducted 25 jury trials to verdict in felony and misdemeanor cases. He has filed writs and appeals in local and appellate courts and has extensive motion-practice, including Pitchess motions and Cervantes hearings.

Thank you for joining us again, Matthew!

Rachel Gezerseh is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Our latest featured speaker is Rachel Gezerseh from Panish, Shea, Boyle, Ravipudi!

Rachel will be speaking at our upcoming 18th Annual Superior Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts (CA) program on October 13, 2023 in Sierra Madre/Pasadena, California. The program is also scheduled for October 27, 2023 in San Francisco, California (though Rachel is only speaking at the Sierra Madre/Pasadena location). This will be her first time speaking with us and she comes highly recommended by other long-time speakers.

Welcome, Rachel! We are excited to have you join us this year.

Rachel is a trial attorney with Panish, Shea, Boyle, Ravipudi LLP. Rachel specializes in litigating complex catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death and products liability cases.

Throughout her career, Rachel has gained substantial experience in a broad range of litigation phases, including discovery, motion practice, mediation, and trial. She has taken and defended numerous party and corporate witness depositions and has extensive drafting experience with summary judgment and other critical motions at the trial level.

Rachel was previously an attorney at top international law firm, Jones Day, where she litigated large scale product liability and aviation disaster cases.  She regularly obtained outstanding results for her clients, which included consumer product and aircraft manufacturers, healthcare companies, and pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers.  Rachel has now taken the skills she gained at Jones Day and dedicated her practice to vigorously seeking justice for individuals who have been wrongfully harmed.

Recognized by her peers as a Southern California Super Lawyers “Rising Star,” Rachel  was named to the Super Lawyers list in 2020.  She has also been featured in Bloomberg Law and ABA for Law Students and is the author of the Law Career Playbook, the leading networking guide for law students and new lawyers.  Rachel is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law.

Thank you for joining us, Rachel!