Robert (Beau) Blumberg is our Latest Featured Speaker!

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!

Ian Cairns is our Latest Featured Speaker!

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!

Rory Cosgrove is our Latest Featured Speaker!

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.

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. This program will be taught 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 who have spoken at our programs on many occasions and received excellent reviews every time!

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!

Kimberly Wald is our Latest Featured Speaker

Our latest featured speaker is Kimberly Wald of The Haggard Law Firm! 

Kimberly is teaching Your Jury at our Trial Techniques 101 program on November 12th, 2024. Given that less than 3% of cases ever make it to trial, if you are one of the lucky few that do get your case to trial, you need to know how to get it right. This program is designed for those attorneys who are new to litigation – and especially new to trials. Your faculty includes judges and seasoned trial attorneys from both sides of the aisle. This includes topics such as jury selection, jury instructions and jury verdict forms as well as how jury instructions and jury verdict forms shape your trial theme. You can sign up to attend live, order OnDemand Streaming, or get the recorded package here

Kimberly has spoken many times at our program, most recently at our 13th Annual Circuit Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts program in May of this year, which our attendees thoroughly enjoyed. You can purchase the recorded package or OnDemand Streaming of this popular program here.

Kimberly L. Wald is a partner and trial attorney at The Haggard Law Firm.  Her focus areas of practice include sexual assault, catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, products liability, drowning, and boating injuries.

In 2023 Ms. Wald was inducted in the National Trial Lawyers Association in their Top 40 Under 40 section and in 2021 she was honored to be selected by the Broward County Trial Lawyers Association to receive the inaugural “Rising Star Award.”  She also was named a “Rising Star” by the Super Lawyers organization in both 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 and additionally was named one of the Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch” in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023.

She has been recognized by the Daily Business Review as one of the “Most Effective Lawyers” for her involvement in a million medical malpractice arbitration.

Career: Ms. Wald began her legal career as a law clerk with Kelley|Uustal in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, specializing in complex product liability and medical malpractice cases. During her last year of law school, she served as a Certified Legal Intern with the Office of the State Attorney for the 17th Judicial Circuit where she tried numerous misdemeanor cases.

Ms. Wald graduated with honors from Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business in 2011 where she received her Bachelor of Science in Management. She earned a double major in Legal Studies and Business and Marketing, with a minor in Jewish Studies. Upon graduating summa cum laude from Nova Southeastern University Law School in 2014, Ms. Wald returned to Kelley|Uustal to help victims of negligence and their families.

Ms. Wald has served as a guest lecturer at NSU Shepard Broad Law Center and serves on the faculty of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy.

We are thrilled to have you back Kimberly!

Sebastian Kaplan is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Our latest featured speaker is Sebastian Kaplan of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP!

Sebastian is teaching Pre-Trial Matters at our upcoming 19th Annual Superior Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts program this week, on September 24 & 26, 2024 (Sebastian is speaking on September 26th).

This dynamic and information-packed program teaches attorneys all about litigating in California State Court. It also teaches attorneys what they need to know to be a successful litigator in any court. The program covers a case in state court from the start until right before trial (we now have a separate Trial Training program in the works for February of 2025). Topics include everything from developing case themes, to CMCs, complex case scheduling, discovery, depos, and motions moving on through to pre-trial tasks.

You can sign up to attend live or pre-order OnDemand Streaming or a recorded package here 

Sebastian has twice before at our programs. He is so popular with our attendees that we frequently invite him back. Most recently Sebastian spoke at our 17th Annual Superior Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts program in 2022. If you can’t wait for the program this week, or can’t attend live, you can purchase OnDemand Streaming or a recorded package download of last year’s program at this link: 18th Annual Superior Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts. 

He has also spoken at our Annual Advanced Appellate Practice programs in 2020 to rave reviews.

Sebastian litigates disputes concerning trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and complex commercial transactions. He represents clients in both federal and state courts and has successfully resolved claims at all stages from pre-litigation cease and desist letters through trial. In addition to intellectual property litigation, he defends technology innovators from privacy, false advertising, and other consumer-related class actions.

Sebastian is an active member of local and national bar associations. In 2016, he was appointed by the president of the American Bar Association to sit on the Advisory Commission of the Standing Committee on Public Education. He is a director of the Justice and Diversity Center of the Bar Association of San Francisco (“BASF”) and chair of the BASF Intellectual Property Section. In 2013, he served as the president of BASF’s Barristers Club, comprised of BASF attorneys with less than ten years of practice, and was named Outstanding Barrister of the Year in 2016. © 2024 Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP.

He is also committed to pro bono homelessness prevention and regularly represents indigent tenants facing eviction. In 2015, Sebastian was awarded BASF’s annual Housing Justice Award for first-chairing a four-day unlawful detainer trial.

Before joining BCLP, Sebastian clerked for the Hon. Carlos T. Bea on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and practiced law at firms in San Francisco and Oakland.

We are so glad to have you back Sebastian!

Jesse Lanier is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Our latest featured speaker is Jesse Lanier of Conrad | Metlitzky | Kane LLP!

Jesse is co-teaching Motions for Summary Judgment at our upcoming 19th Annual Superior Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts program in two weeks, on September 24 & 26, 2024 (Jesse is speaking on September 26th).

This dynamic and information-packed program teaches attorneys all about litigating in California State Court. It also teaches attorneys what they need to know to be a successful litigator in any court. The program covers a case in state court from the start until right before trial (we now have a separate Trial Training program in the works for February of 2025). Topics include everything from developing case themes, to CMCs, complex case scheduling, discovery, depos, and motions moving on through to pre-trial tasks.

You can sign up to attend live or pre-order OnDemand Streaming or a recorded package here 

Jesse most recently taught Witness Preparation at our Mastering the Deposition 101: The Nuts and Bolts (CA) program in August, which is still available for purchase of the OnDemand Streaming or a Recorded package here. This program will help you understand how to create a strategic plan for your depositions, how to prepare your lay and expert witnesses, and how to take and defense depositions effectively without fail. Jesse’s positive reviews by our attendees are just one highlight of this popular program.

Jesse Lanier is Of Counsel at Conrad | Metlitzky | Kane where her practice focuses on complex civil litigation including business torts, contracts, and intellectual property disputes.

Jesse has over a decade of experience in all aspects and stages of litigation, including trial. Her keen ability to present a cogent and compelling narrative, honed by her time as a journalist, makes her an effective advocate for her clients.

Before joining Conrad | Metlitzky | Kane, Jesse was a litigator at Durie Tangri (which was acquired by Morrison Foerster), and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Jeffrey S. White on the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Prior to her clerkship, Jesse was an associate at Holland & Knight.

Jesse received her law degree, cum laude, from the Boston University School of Law, where she served as an Articles Editor for the Journal of Science & Technology Law and directed the law school’s sketch comedy show. She has a master’s degree in documentary filmmaking and a bachelor’s degree in journalism—both from New York University, where she was elected Phi Beta Kappa. She is currently a member of the Edward J. McFetridge American Inn of Court and serves on the Association of Business Trial Lawyers Leadership Development Committee.

We are always so happy to have you back Jesse!

Alyssa M. Reiter is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Our latest featured speaker is Alyssa M. Reiter of Wicker Smith!

Alyssa is speaking next week at our Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts program, which is set for September 17 and 19, 2024. You can sign up to attend live, or pre order OnDemand Streaming or the recorded package hereAlyssa is co-teaching 11th Circuit Motion Practice on September 17th.

This program is designed to teach the attorney new to appeals at the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals Boot Camp everything – or most everything – they need to know to handle an appeal at the 11th Circuit. Attorneys looking for an Eleventh Circuit refresher will also benefit from the program. It is based on our very popular 9th Circuit program, held last year and in 2021.

Alyssa previously spoke at our Preserving the Trial Record for Appeal in Florida Civil Cases (FL) program last year. If you ever litigate, you will find this course invaluable – it is essential to know all the areas where you can accidentally mess up your potential appeal, regardless of how much experience you already have as a trial attorney. It’s a complicated, nuanced area that even expert trial attorneys get wrong sometimes. Alyssa was very popular with our attendees at this program. You can purchase the Recorded package here.

Alyssa Reiter is a partner at the Wicker Smith Fort Lauderdale office where she focuses her practice primarily on handling appeals, litigation support, and insurance coverage matters.

In a career spanning over 30 years, Alyssa has handled over 100 appeals and is counsel of record in dozens of reported opinions. She has represented clients in a wide range of cases, including products liability, professional malpractice, commercial litigation, insurance coverage and bad faith, vehicular accident, premises liability, and aviation. She has argued cases in the Florida Supreme Court, the Illinois Supreme Court, the 11th Circuit and the 7th Circuit, and numerous appellate courts throughout not only Florida and Illinois but the entire United States.

After the first 10 years of her practice in Florida, Alyssa moved to Chicago, Illinois. There, she headed the appellate department of a prominent litigation firm for many years. She achieved leadership roles in the Appellate Lawyers Association, being one of the only members to be asked to serve on the Board of Directors for three different terms. Alyssa was selected by her peers as a Leading Lawyer and a Super Lawyer in the field of civil appeals. In 2015, Alyssa was ranked #6 in the state of Illinois for women civil appellate lawyers. Alyssa also has earned an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating awarded by that organization.

Alyssa has been a speaker at numerous Continuing Legal Education seminars, primarily on legal writing. She co-authored a chapter of an Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education book on product liability. For several years she also was one of three civil appeals lawyers the Illinois State Bar Association selected to write summaries of Illinois Supreme Court opinions for an ISBA publication.

Alyssa earned her Bachelor of Arts degree, with honors, from the University of South Florida in 1984 and then earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida in 1987, graduating cum laude and Order of the Coif.

We are so glad to have you back Alyssa!

Matthew Friedlander is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Our latest featured speaker is Matthew Friedlander of Webb Daniel Friedlander LLP in Georgia!

Matthew is speaking at our upcoming Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts program this month. You can sign up to attend live, or pre order OnDemand Streaming or the recorded package here.

This program is set for September 17 and 19, 2024. On September 19th Matthew is co-teaching Oral Argument with 11th Circuit Court of Appeals Sr. Judge Charles Wilson and Christopher Bellows of Holland & Knight.

This program is designed to teach the attorney new to appeals at the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals Boot Camp everything – or most everything – they need to know to handle an appeal at the 11th Circuit. Attorneys looking for an Eleventh Circuit refresher will also benefit from the program. It is based on our very popular 9th Circuit program, held last year and in 2021.

Matthew Friedlander is an appellate litigator and founding partner of Webb Daniel Friedlander, LLP. He spent years honing his research, writing, negotiation, and trial skills at two international law firms, litigating a variety of complex, high stakes matters. Mr. Friedlander joined Laurie Webb Daniel to start Webb Daniel Friedlander, LLP as an appellate boutique to focus on the work he loves: motions, appeals, and strategic trial support.

While the focus of Mr. Friedlander’s practice is appellate advocacy in state and federal courts, he has experience representing a diverse array of clients in complex, high-value commercial and casualty disputes at all stages of the litigation process. This well-rounded litigation experience makes him a better appellate advocate.

Mr. Friedlander is a “lawyer’s lawyer.” Clients hire him before trial to provide a thorough analysis of all legal issues in the case and to draft complex discovery and dispositive motions. At trial, he works with trial counsel to preserve all potential appellate issues. This typically involves drafting and arguing motions in limine, making contemporaneous objections to improper testimony, documentary evidence, and arguments of counsel, drafting and arguing directed verdict motions, and guiding the court through the charge conference. After trial, he often drafts and argues post-trial motions and, of course, provides appellate representation by drafting appellate briefs and conducting oral argument before a panel of appellate judges.

We are so excited to have you join us Matthew!

Elliot Kula is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Our latest featured speaker is Elliot Kula of Kula & Associates, P.A.!

Elliot Kula is speaking next week at our Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts program, which is set for September 17 and 19, 2024. You can sign up to attend live, or pre order OnDemand Streaming or the recorded package here.

Elliot is such a rock star he is teaching on both days!  His sessions include “Initiating the Appeal in Civil Cases” on September 17th and “The 11th Circuit Mediation Program” on September 19th.

This program is designed to teach the attorney new to appeals at the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals Boot Camp everything – or most everything – they need to know to handle an appeal at the 11th Circuit. Attorneys looking for an Eleventh Circuit refresher will also benefit from the program. It is based on our very popular 9th Circuit program, held last year and in 2021.

Elliot has previously spoken at our appellate and trial programs over many years, including our Annual Circuit Court Boot camps in 2020 and 2021 where he taught How to Preserve the Record for Appeal and Post Trial Motions.

Elliot is very popular with the attorneys who attend our programs!

Elliot Kula practices exclusively as an appellate attorney, and earned his Board Certification in Appellate Practice from The Florida Bar in 2010. He has experience representing clients in both state and federal courts, in a variety of substantive areas of the law, and is among a select few appellate practitioners in Florida who maintain a focus on bankruptcy appeals. Kula also provides litigation support during every phase of the litigation in order to optimize the client’s position and create efficient and effective strategies for trial counsel. Kula has argued in every District Court of Appeal in Florida, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the Tenth Circuit, and the United States District Court for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida.

Previously a shareholder with the Greenberg Traurig law firm, where he served as the Administrative Head of the Appellate Practice Group, Kula established his own appellate boutique in 2011. Kula graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1989 with a BA in English, and earned his law degree from Hamline University School of Law in 1993. Following his schooling, Kula moved to Miami and became a member of The Florida Bar in 1994.

We are so glad to have you back Elliot – it is alway terrific to have you speak at our seminars.

Becca Furman is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Our latest featured speaker is Becca Furman of Lewis & Llewellyn LLP!

Becca is teaching Motions for Summary Judgment at our upcoming 19th Annual Superior Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts program in two weeks, on September 24 & 26, 2024 (Becca is co-teaching on September 26th).

This dynamic and information-packed program teaches attorneys all about litigating in California State Court. It also teaches attorneys what they need to know to be a successful litigator in any court. The program covers a case in state court from the start until right before trial (we now have a separate Trial Training program in the works for February of 2025). Topics include everything from developing case themes, to CMCs, complex case scheduling, discovery, depos, and motions moving on through to pre-trial tasks.

You can sign up to attend live or pre-order OnDemand Streaming or a recorded package here If you can’t wait for the program later this month, you can purchase OnDemand Streaming or a recorded package download of last year’s program at this link: 18th Annual Superior Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts.

Becca spoke at this program back in 2022 to rave reviews and we are thrilled to have her speak again.

Becca Furman is a litigator who regularly represents clients in complex breach of contract, trade secret, and privacy disputes.

Becca understands the importance of aggressive litigation and always litigates with an eye toward trial.  Her trial experience includes defending a company against breach of contract, trade secret misappropriation, and CFAA/CDAFA claims in a multi-million-dollar federal trial.  Becca also litigated a two-month jury trial against a local school district involving the sexual assault of multiple students at the hands of their teacher.  The case resulted in a successful post-trial settlement.

Becca underpins her trial advocacy with pragmatic litigation strategy, and regularly obtains successful settlements on behalf of her clients that avoid the cost of trial.   As just one recent example, Lewis & Llewellyn LLP obtained a settlement of .75 million for a sexual assault victim.  Becca has negotiated multiple settlements involving Bay Area start-ups, allowing the parties to move on from the potentially business-ending expense of litigation.  She also regularly negotiates on behalf of individuals accused of trade secret theft after leaving a company.

Becca has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star every year since 2016. Becca serves as a member of the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Barristers Board of Directors and formerly served on the Associate Board of Girls of the Run of the Bay Area, an after-school nonprofit that teaches elementary school girls life skills and confidence through a running-based curriculum.

We are so glad to have you join us again Becca! Welcome back.