Our latest featured speaker is Elizabeth Babbitt from Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP!

Elizabeth is speaking at our upcoming 15th Annual Federal Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts (IL) program on May 16, 2024. At this program you’ll get a unique perspective and an inside look at what the court wants and does not want from attorneys practicing in Federal Court and you’ll get advice from and perspectives from both sides of the aisle.

Elizabeth is an accomplished business litigator. She has significant experience leading large and small businesses, public utilities, and municipalities through complex litigation in both federal and state courts. She recently served a two-year term on the firm’s Executive Committee. Elizabeth has a unique depth of experience representing clients in civil rights, class action, and employment litigation. She regularly advises businesses and individuals on matters relating to breaches of contract, employment discrimination, employee whistleblowing, unfair business practices, trade secrets, restrictive employment covenants, defamation, and breaches of fiduciary duties. Elizabeth has experience in data privacy litigation, including the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA”) and the Illinois Genetic Information Privacy Act (“GIPA”). Elizabeth is often called upon by clients to handle emergent litigation, and regularly handles litigation in the context of temporary restraining orders or preliminary injunctions. Beyond the litigation context, Elizabeth has a passion for advising businesses regarding compliance on equal access and equal employment issues in the workplace. She previously represented the City of Chicago in the litigation and negotiation of the Chicago Police consent decree.

Elizabeth is a proven leader of the legal and civic community. In addition to her service to Taft’s Executive Committee, she participates on the firm’s Associate Advancement and Recruitment Committee and leads the Chicago office’s women’s affinity group. Beyond her firm commitments, Elizabeth is an active member of the Chicago legal community. She previously served as President of the University of Illinois College of Law Alumni Board and remains an active alumna and mentor to law students. She is a member of the Judicial Evaluation Committee of the Chicago Bar Association, which provides an assessment to the public of candidates for state court judges. Elizabeth is a member of the Mother McAuley High School Alumnae Law Society and assists in coaching the school’s mock trial team; she also previously taught trial advocacy to law students at John Marshall Law School. Prior to joining Taft, Elizabeth was a judicial law clerk for the Honorable John W. Darrah of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Elizabeth received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law in Urbana-Champaign. While in law school, she served as an editor of the University of Illinois Law Review, competed on the University of Illinois Mock Trial Team, and participated in the Federal Civil Rights Clinic. Elizabeth holds dual Bachelor of Science degrees in finance and business administration, cum laude, from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

We are excited to have her join us!

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

Chaya is speaking at our upcoming 20th Annual Federal Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts (CA) program on April 30 & May 2, 2024. At this program you’ll get a unique perspective and an inside look at what the court wants and does not want from attorneys practicing in Federal Court. Chaya previously spoke at our 19th Annual Federal Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts (in California) to fantastic reviews from attendees.

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.

Chaya 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 both appointments were confirmed by the California Senate. The Council promotes regulations related to employment and housing discrimination and holds hearings on civil rights issues facing the state.

Before joining REZL, Chaya was a Senior Litigation Counsel at Sanford Heisler. While there, he represented employees in class actions involving wage and hour, discrimination and other civil rights claims.

Chaya previously served as a Trial Attorney in the Office of the Solicitor for the U.S. Department of Labor, where he successfully represented the Secretary of Labor in significant enforcement actions, including a multi-million dollar wage and penalty recovery based on violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. He was successful in both jury and bench trials during his tenure.

Prior to his service at the Department of Labor, Chaya worked in the Labor and Employment Practice Group at Morgan Lewis & Bockius, where he represented employers in matters involving wage and hour, employment discrimination and labor relations.

We are excited to have him join us!

Our latest featured speaker is Kate Lazarus from Kwun Bhansali Lazarus LLP!

Kate is speaking at our upcoming 20th Annual Federal Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts (CA) program on April 30 & May 2, 2024. At this program you’ll get a unique perspective and an inside look at what the court wants and does not want from attorneys practicing in Federal Court. Kate previously spoke at our 19th Annual Federal Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts (in California) and our Depos: How to Master the Deposition (CA) and received glowing feedback from attendees for both programs.

Kate specializes in complex litigation, and has a wide range of experience in both state and federal court. She has handled cases in the areas of intellectual property, contract, fraud, securities, and criminal law.

Kate has tried both civil and criminal cases, in court and in arbitration. Her trial experience includes a copyright case with a damages claim of over a billion dollars, an eight-week federal criminal trial involving corporate accounting, and a week-long confidential arbitration in which the opposing party took nothing and was responsible for her client’s attorney’s fees. Kate has experience in all phases of litigation, from the pleadings stage to depositions to examining witnesses at trial. Kate focuses on digging into the challenges a client faces, and developing efficient and effective solutions with an eye towards her client’s business goals.

Kate has maintained an active pro bono practice, in particular in the area of immigration law. Kate grew up in San Francisco and is active in her community. She serves as the President of the Lowell High School Alumni Association and is on the board of the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.

We are excited to have her join us!

Our latest featured speaker is Laura Reich from Harper Meyer LLP!

Laura is speaking at our upcoming 13th Annual Circuit Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts (FL) program on May 21 & 23, 2024. At this program, attendees receive terrific insight into what judges want and expect – and what mistakes to avoid – when litigating in Circuit Court. And you’ll hear from seasoned attorneys on both sides of the aisle – so you get a well rounded view of your tasks, with advice from multiple perspectives. Laura has previously spoken at our 2020-2022 Circuit Court Boot Camps for Florida, to fantastic reviews from attendees.

Laura Reich is a commercial litigator and arbitrator with a practice focusing on complex, commercial disputes as well as on domestic and international arbitration. She is a partner in Harper Meyer’s Litigation and Arbitration Group, as well as in its Art and Entertainment Law Group and its international law practice. Her clients include U.S. and international businesses and commercial interests, as well as individuals, and she has represented these clients on a wide variety of issues, including breach of contract, violations of consumer protection statutes, breach of fiduciary duties, antitrust, garnishment, business torts, regulatory matters, and more.

Laura is pleased to get to know her clients and their unique concerns to develop a strategy to best achieve their personalized goals. Nothing makes her prouder than when a client describes her as a “Member of the Team.” As a third-generation attorney, Laura honed her debate skills around the family dinner table; after many years of practicing law and arbitrating, however, she also knows that non-stop battle is not always the right way to achieve the best outcome for her clients. Rather, a good lawyer or arbitrator has an entire array of tools, and experience teaches how best to use those tools. While some cases need a negotiator, others need an advocate, and still others need a warrior. Laura is experienced at playing each of those roles as the situation requires.

Laura also serves as a frequent arbitrator and is listed with the American Arbitration Association and the Court of Arbitration for Art, located in The Hague, Netherlands. Her educational background includes the University of Florida College of Law (JD) and University of Florida (BA), both with honors. Laura also serves as an adjunct professor at Florida International University School of Law and instructs paralegals at Florida Atlantic University. She is the current Editor-in-Chief of International Law Quarterly, a publication of the International Law Section of The Florida Bar. A frequent author and lecturer, she recently published “Reversing the Silk Road: The Rapid Rise of the Art Market in Asia and its Implications”; “Prepare to Win: First Steps in International Arbitration”; and “The Art of Arbitration.” She is also a contributor to the American Bar Associations’ handbook on the Class Action Fairness Act.

When not practicing law, arbitrating, writing, or teaching, Laura enjoys spending time with her two school-age daughters, her husband, and her golden retriever Sadie (not necessarily in that order).

We are excited to have her join us!

Our latest featured speaker is Jennie Wang VonCannon from Crowell!

Jennie is speaking at our upcoming 20th Annual Federal Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts (CA) program on April 30 & May 2, 2024. At this program you’ll get a unique perspective and an inside look at what the court wants and does not want from attorneys practicing in Federal Court. Jennie has previously spoken at our 19th Annual Federal Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts (in California) and received rave reviews from attendees.

Jennie Wang VonCannon is a technology trial lawyer and advisor with a proven track record of success in both the courtroom and the boardroom — with over two decades of experience and deep understanding of corporate defense in both criminal and civil contexts, cybersecurity, and intellectual property matters. She is a trained AI Governance Professional who can assist clients with creating or updating compliance programs regarding AI (both generative and otherwise). She served for over eleven years as a federal prosecutor, culminating in her selection to serve with distinction as the Deputy Chief of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section of the National Security Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.

Jennie helps clients in crisis with litigation, internal investigations, law enforcement and regulatory inquiries and subpoenas, and cybersecurity and privacy incidents. In an increasingly interconnected world, Jennie understands the critical importance of safeguarding sensitive information and intellectual assets. With her extensive knowledge of cybersecurity laws, regulations, and best practices, she advises companies on proactive measures to mitigate cyber threats and provides creative solutions to surviving cyber incidents.

Jennie also stays up-to-date on technology advancements and trends, and has a remarkable aptitude for assimilating extensive amounts of information efficiently and effectively. Her keen analytical skills allow her to delve deep into complex legal cases, regulatory frameworks, and new technologies, enabling her to grasp the nuances and key elements crucial to building persuasive arguments or providing comprehensive advice. Jennie’s ability to distill complex information in a clear and concise manner sets her apart. Whether addressing juries, board members, or clients, she is able to convey complex legal and technical concepts in a straightforward and accessible manner with the understanding that her audience will often possess diverse backgrounds and varying levels of legal knowledge. She adeptly tailors her communication to present legal matters in a manner that aligns with her clients’ objectives and provides clarity on potential risks and opportunities, which enables them to make informed decisions that align with their organizations’ best interests.

Jennie is a Certified Information Privacy Professional, a founding member and former Chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association Privacy and Cybersecurity Section, and an executive committee and life member of the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles. She has spoken at numerous industry programs on key topics such as AI and the legal profession and cybersecurity enforcement trends.

We are excited to have her join us!

Our latest featured speaker is Daniel Meyers from Arnold & Porter!

Daniel is speaking at our upcoming 15th Annual Federal Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts (IL) program on May 16, 2024. At this program you’ll get a unique perspective and an inside look at what the court wants and does not want from attorneys practicing in Federal Court and you’ll get advice from and perspectives from both sides of the aisle.

Daniel Meyers represents clients in complex litigations with a focus on products liability, consumer fraud, and class actions. He has extensive experience representing clients as national counsel in mass tort litigations including all phases of litigation. Daniel has worked on teams that have tried cases to defense jury verdicts in multiple jurisdictions in both state and federal court. He also has experience litigating appeals.

Daniel is committed to pro bono legal services, having represented clients in matters ranging from employment contract disputes to child custody disputes. Recently, he was part of an innocence project team that secured the exoneration of an innocent man who spent 14 years in prison — 10 of them on Florida’s death row — after being wrongfully incarcerated and convicted of two stabbing murders in 2004.

Prior to joining the firm, Daniel volunteered as a Special Assistant Corporation Counsel in the City of Chicago’s Labor Division where he represented the City in hearings before the Chicago Police and Human Resources Boards, as well as in arbitrations.

We are excited to have him join us!