Our latest featured speaker is Michael Sachs from Clark Hill PLC!

Michael will be on the faculty panel at our upcoming 13th Annual California Superior Court Boot Camp in San Francisco on November 8!

Michael has previously spoken for us at our 12th Annual CA Superior Court Boot Camp, and our 2018 Mastering the Deposition seminars, where seminar attendees raved about his presentations. Welcome back, Michael!

Michael’s practice focuses on a variety of civil litigation matters, including toxic tort and product liability, Proposition 65, lemon law and employment law. He has handled these matters in all phases of pre-litigation, litigation and appeal. Michael has tried several matters to verdict in the various Bay Area Superior Courts and the Northern District of California and has argued before the California Court of Appeal. Michael is devoted to his clients and seeks to find cost-effective ways to manage their cases while still vigorously defending their interests in and out of the courtroom. He has achieved numerous successful results for his clients through settlement negotiations, mediations, dispositive motions and trial.

Our latest featured speaker is Steven Hart from Hart McLaughlin & Eldridge!

Steven will be on the faculty panel at our upcoming The Art of Jury Selection: Getting it Right in Chicago on November 29! This is Steven’s first year speaking with us, and we can’t wait for his presentation!

A seasoned trial lawyer with more than two decades of experience, Steven litigates a wide variety of civil matters including class action, mass torts, personal injury, products liability, toxic tort, environmental, automotive, and transportation cases. He also has a record of success representing both defendants and plaintiffs, from Fortune 500 companies, medium, and small businesses to individuals, in class action cases. Most recently, Steven obtained a $100 million-plus settlement for a class of farmers and small businesses in an antitrust class action suit in the Northern District Federal Court in Chicago. Steven received a 2013 Jury Verdict Reporter Trial Excellence Award for his work on this case, the highest reported Illinois verdict/settlement in 2013.

Steven has tried cases to successful jury verdict throughout the country and has argued before State and Federal courts of appeal. His practice includes State and Federal trial work in construction and premises liability actions. It was Steven’s work in the latter arena that led Kohl’s to nominate Steven’s firm as a “Go-To” Litigation Law Firm in American Lawyer’s 2012 survey. Steven also represents corporations and individuals in employment-related matters.

Steven serves as National Coordinating and Trial Counsel for several Fortune 500 companies in asbestos and environmental litigation. He is National Coordinating and Trial counsel for DHL transportation litigation. He has tried cases in Illinois, New York, Texas, Indiana, California, and Wisconsin for manufacturers and premises owners. He has developed extensive experience in epidemiology, medical causation, industrial hygiene, accident reconstruction, and biomechanics.

Steven is a published legal author and frequent lecturer. His writings have been published by the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, including “Using Expert Witnesses: Principles and Pitfalls.” Steven is also an adjunct professor in trial advocacy at Chicago-Kent College of Law. Numerous bar associations and legal organizations have asked him to speak at distinguished events.

Steven was recently appointed to the 47th Ward Democratic Organization Judicial Review Committee, where his committee will be responsible for interviewing, vetting and slating Cook County Judicial Candidates for election.
A resident of Chicago, Illinois, Steven is married to Jill Hart, and together they have two daughters and a son.

Our latest featured speaker is Brian Eldridge from Hart McLaughlin & Eldridge!

Brian will be on the faculty panel at our upcoming The Art of Jury Selection: Getting it Right in Chicago on November 29! Brian first spoke for us at our 9th Annual Federal Court & Litigation Boot Camp, where seminar attendees raved about his presentation. Welcome back, Brian!

Brian Eldridge is a trial lawyer who devotes 100% of his practice to civil litigation. Brian has a wide range of experience successfully litigating multi-million dollar, high-stakes cases on behalf of his clients. He concentrates his practice in products liability, construction/construction defect, transportation, premises liability, commercial litigation, mass torts, and class action matters. He has handled numerous cases involving death and catastrophic injuries, including paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, amputations and other significant permanent disabilities.

Within the commercial litigation context, Brian has successfully litigated cases involving breach of contract and allegations of fraud and bad faith. He has also handled numerous consumer class action lawsuits under federal statutes including the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). In addition, Brian has litigated cases involving alleged environmental exposure to mold, vinyl chloride, and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB).

Brian was selected for inclusion in the Illinois Rising Stars list for eight straight years, from 2008 to 2015. No more than 2.5% of lawyers under the age of 40 in the state of Illinois are selected for this honor. In 2013, Brian was honored to be named to Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s “40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch” list. In 2015 and 2016, Brian was named an Emerging Lawyer by Leading Lawyers. The distinction of being named an Emerging Lawyer is reserved for the top 2% of Illinois lawyers who are 40 years old or younger and have been identified by their peers as proving themselves to be professional, ethical, and experienced at an early point in their legal career. In 2017, Brian was selected as an Illinois Super Lawyer, which is limited to 5% of attorneys in the state.

Brian’s practice philosophy focuses on being accessible and responsive to clients at all times. He is on the rapid response team for several clients and is frequently called upon to orchestrate immediate investigations. Through his years of practice, Brian has developed an extensive expert network, having worked with consultants in various specialized areas including medicine, engineering, construction, epidemiology, pharmacology, economics, federal regulations, safety standards, risk assessment and psychology.

Brian lives in Highland Park with his wife, Jodi, and their three daughters.

Our latest featured speaker is Nick Callahan from Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg!

Nick will be on the faculty panel at our upcoming The Art of Jury Selection: Getting it Right in Chicago on November 29! This is Nick’s first year speaking with us, and we can’t wait for his presentation!

Nick is a trial lawyer. He has tried more than 30 jury trials, bench trials and arbitrations, including nine jury trials as lead attorney. He splits his time between the Firm’s Chicago and Minneapolis offices.

Our latest featured speaker is Meghan Loisel from Rudy, Exelrod, Zieff & Lowe LLP!

Meghan will be on the faculty panel at our upcoming 13th Annual California Superior Court Boot Camp in San Francisco on November 8! This is Meghan’s first year speaking with us, and we can’t wait for her presentation!

Ms. Loisel advocates on behalf of employees in individual and class action litigation in a range of employment matters. She has experience with discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to accommodate, and constitutional claims.

Before joining Rudy, Exelrod, Zieff & Lowe LLP, Ms. Loisel was a deputy county counsel for Santa Clara County. She defended the County and its employees in employment, civil rights, and tort cases. She also litigated complex affirmative cases on behalf of the County and the People of the State of California, and was a member of the trial team who litigated a public nuisance action against former lead paint manufacturers, People v. Atlantic Richfield Company. Ms. Loisel also litigated civil rights cases as a fellow at the American Civil Liberties Union’s Reproductive Freedom Project in New York City.

Ms. Loisel graduated from New York University School of Law where she was the symposium editor for the Review of Law and Social Change. During law school, she worked as a law clerk for the Legal Aid Society Employment Law Center and the Bronx Defenders. Ms. Loisel received her undergraduate degree in History and Government from the University of Texas at Austin.

Our latest featured speaker is Jiyun Lee from Folger Levin LLP!

Jiyun will be on the faculty panel at our upcoming 13th Annual California Superior Court Boot Camp in San Francisco on November 8! Jiyun first spoke for us at our 12th Annual California Superior Court Boot Camp, where seminar attendees appreciated her precise delivery. Welcome back, Jiyun!

Jiyun is a commercial litigator with extensive experience in financial litigation, contract disputes, trade secret misappropriation, computer forensics, advising and defending public accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and defending employers in labor and employment disputes, including class action lawsuits alleging violations of wage-and-hour laws, ERISA, and the WARN Act. She has represented financial institutions, rental car companies, law firms, hotels, technology companies, and non-profit organizations as both defendants and plaintiffs.

Jiyun is an experienced trial lawyer who has conducted trials in both federal and state courts, as well as evidentiary hearings before courts and administrative agencies. She has extensive experience handling claims involving injunctive relief, and has successfully obtained preliminary injunctions and specific performance decrees on behalf of clients in contractual and intellectual property disputes.

Since 2011, Jiyun has served as a volunteer mediator for the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.  In 2014, Jiyun served as a Commissioner of the California State Bar’s Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation, and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Star Academy, a private school in San Rafael, California, for students with learning differences.  Jiyun is an active member of the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area and the Korean American Bar Association of Northern California.

Jiyun obtained her law degree, cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 1992, and received her B.A. in Politics and Legal Studies with Honors, Phi Beta Kappa, in 1989 from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is a member of the California Bar.

Our latest featured speaker is Patrick Gregory from Shook, Hardy & Bacon!

Pat will be on the faculty panel at our upcoming 13th Annual California Superior Court Boot Camp in San Francisco on November 8! Pat first spoke for us at our Legal Editing: Got Skills? seminar, where attendees raved about his presentation! Welcome back, Pat!

For over 20 years, Pat’s emphasis has been on complex litigation at both the trial and appellate levels, including work on tobacco litigation, automotive cases, complicated contractual disputes, business tort claims, environmental litigation, and antitrust matters. Pat’s innovative legal analysis, writing and advocacy have frequently led to the dismissal of “bet the company” cases long before they reach trial. Pat has also contributed to the successful defense of these cases at trial by creating compelling case-specific motions in limine, developing creative case strategy and themes, arguing for appropriate jury instructions, and advocating for directed verdict and additional limits on the scope of plaintiff’s evidence, claims, damages, and arguments to the jury. He has contributed to several jury research exercises and legal strategy projects performed on behalf of firm clients. In addition, Pat has advised clients on eDiscovery and domestic and foreign data protection issues.

Pat is an active member of SHB’s Professional Development Committee and has often presented at firm seminars on a variety of topics, including punitive damages, deposition strategy, legal writing, state and federal motion practice, and summary judgment oral advocacy. Pat helps organize and often presents at an annual joint CLE for the firm’s San Francisco and Orange County offices and has helped devise California-specific in house CLEs for those firm offices. Pat also participates as a judge in regional and national oral advocacy competitions in the San Francisco Bay Area, and is an active participant in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ pro bono program.

Pat is a member of the firm’s Global Product Liability Group, Antitrust Practice and Appellate Practice. Pat also assists the firm’s Public Policy Group with amicus curiae briefing before the California appellate courts.

Our latest featured speaker is Barbara Adams from Clark Hill LLP!

Barbara will be on the faculty panel at our upcoming 13th Annual California Superior Court Boot Camp in San Francisco on November 8! Barbara first spoke for us at our 2013 Legal Editing seminar, and has returned to speak at our 9th Annual CA Superior Court Boot Camp, 2015 Jury Selection seminar, and our 12th Annual California Superior Court Boot Camp! Seminar attendees have raved about her presentations, and we can’t wait to have her back!

Barbara R. Adams 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. Ms. Adams 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.

Ms. Adams also has significant experience and expertise in appellate law. She has filed and defended appeals, writs, and petitions before the California Courts of Appeal, the California Supreme Court, and the Federal Courts of Appeal. Ms. Adams handles appeals in which she has not been involved in the underlying litigation.

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

Ms. Adams received her B.A. in Political Science from California State University at Fullerton in 1977 and her J.D. from the University of Santa Clara School of Law in 1981. She is admitted to practice in California, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. District Court for the Northern and Eastern Districts of California.

Our latest featured speaker is Dante Tosetti!

Dante will be on the faculty panel at our upcoming Recreational and Medical Marijuana Law and Business in California seminar in Los Angeles on November 1-2! This is Dante’s first year speaking with us, and we can’t wait for his presentation!

Dante Tosetti is a regulatory compliance and risk management consultant to financial institutions. He has over twenty years of risk management experience within private equity, the Federal Reserve and commercial banking. Dante has been covered by the Wall Street Journal, American Banker, Fortune, Geekwire, Reuters PE Hub, and Credit Union Management Magazine for his expert analysis on banking the nascent cannabis industry in a safe and sound manner. He has presented his views on banking marijuana related business at the Power of Collaboration Global Summit at the United Nations in New York and Innovation Project at Harvard University in Cambridge. He also presented at the Cannabis Banking Working Group convened by California State Treasurer John Chiang, the California Bankers Association’s Directors Conference and Bank Counsel Seminar, and the Trigild Fall Conference.

Dante is currently a Regulatory Liaison for a bank which was under a BSA related public enforcement action. Dante was formally recognized as “instrumental” to the bank’s successful release from the public enforcement action. Dante is also consulting for the City of Oakland, City of Berkeley, City of Richmond, and County of Alameda’s feasibility study for a public bank initiative. He consulted to a lobby group pursuing marijuana related banking legislation in the State of Colorado. He has been a regulatory advisor to a marijuana related Fintech startup. He was an invited guest to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s cannabis affinity group to discuss marijuana banking policy.

Prior to his independent practice, Dante was the Director of Treasury Compliance with Privateer Holdings, Inc. a global private equity firm shaping the future of the legal cannabis industry. As Director, he oversaw the firm’s compliance with laws and regulations, the Department of Justice Cole Memorandum and corresponding FinCEN guidance. He fostered and established first of its kind relationships with banks, credit unions, insurance providers and merchant service providers in the United States, Canada and the EU. Prior to Privateer, Dante was a Bank Examiner with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco where he led and supported safety and soundness examinations of community, regional, and large banks throughout the nine western states. He was responsible for the evaluation of a bank’s financial condition and operating performance, including capital, asset quality, earnings, liquidity and sensitivity to market risk, assessment of management performance and the effectiveness of risk management practices and control environment, including internal audit, accounting, and credit review. Other roles included review of the investment portfolio, CRE concentrations, and BSA/AML compliance. He received his credentials from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors as a commissioned Bank Examiner. Prior to the Fed, Dante was a commercial banker with credit related responsibilities including underwriting, elationship management, portfolio management, and distressed debt.

Dante earned a degree in Business Administration from the University of San Diego and is a graduate from the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington. He resides in Northern California.

Our latest featured speaker is Amir Sadr from Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP!

Amir will be on the faculty panel at our upcoming Recreational and Medical Marijuana Law and Business in California seminar in Los Angeles on November 1-2! This is Amir’s first year speaking with us, and we can’t wait for his presentation!

Amir is a real estate transactional attorney with extensive experience in all aspects of real estate transactions, including commercial leasing, real property acquisitions and dispositions, development, and management of real estate assets.

Amir has served a wide variety of real estate clients, including national and regional commercial landlords and tenants, real estate investment groups, individual investors, property management companies, and developers. In his representation of his clients, Amir has drafted and negotiated all types of agreements for a variety of office, industrial, retail and medical properties, including, lease agreements, purchase and sale agreements, property management agreements, and other related contracts.

Amir has developed a diverse practice relative to the emerging California cannabis industry which includes advising and representing commercial real estate owners and investors intending to transact business with cannabis operators. Amir’s experience includes the application of the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (“MAUCRSA”), the relevant provisions of Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (“MCRSA”), Adult Use of Marijuana Act 2016 (“AUMA”) and various local city and county regulations. Amir represents various commercial owners and investors in connection with the lease and sale of real property to some of the largest cannabis operators in California. Amir has also lectured and written articles on the regulatory framework governing medical and recreational cannabis in California and addressing the opportunities and risks for commercial property owners.

Amir graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, summa cum laude, with a degree in Political Science. He received his J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law, where he served as the President of the Real Estate Law Association, the Executive Officer of External Affairs for the UCLA Moot Court Honors Board, and Executive Scholarship Editor of the Journal of Law and Technology.