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 here. Alyssa is co-teaching 11^th 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.

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!

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.

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.

Our latest featured speaker is Daniel J. Barsky of Holland & Knight LLP!

Daniel Barsky 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.

Daniel will be co-teaching “What Law Firms Need to Consider when Using AI” 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.

Daniel Barsky is an intellectual property attorney in Holland & Knight’s Miami office. Mr. Barsky regularly represents clients in intellectual property (IP), information technology (IT) and data-related licensing and transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions (M&A), private equity transactions, joint ventures, and multilateral and multinational licensing agreements.

Mr. Barsky’s clients call upon him to navigate complex transactions involving IP, IT and data assets. He assists and advises clients with navigating the complexities of transactions involving intangible assets such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and data, brand licensing and distribution agreements, blockchain technology such as cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), software and technology licensing agreements, and transition services agreements.

Post-closing, Mr. Barsky assists clients with the maintenance and enforcement of their IP and IT portfolios with an eye towards leveraging those portfolios to drive revenue and growth. Mr. Barsky oversees, coordinates and maintains multinational trademark portfolios encompassing thousands of marks registered in more than 100 countries, including the monitoring and enforcement of the portfolios, as well as multinational, anti-counterfeiting activities.

In addition to his transactional and counseling work, Mr. Barsky maintains an active, nationwide IP and IT litigation practice and has represented clients in patent infringement, trademark infringement, anti-counterfeiting, unfair competition, copyright infringement and trade secret theft matters, as well as information technology, data privacy, cyberfraud, data breach and hacking matters, and responses thereto.

Mr. Barsky is an active force and thought leader in South Florida’s entrepreneurial and startup community. He regularly represents startup and new business ventures and has helped multiple startups develop, protect, grow, monetize and enforce their IP and other business assets. His work with startups and entrepreneurs includes advising on software license agreements, user agreements, privacy policies, brand clearance, brand protection and monetization strategies, blockchain and NFT questions, and IP registration.

We have had many attorneys from Holland & Knight teach at our programs over the past two decades Daniel and we are thrilled to have you join us as well!

Our latest featured speaker is Zachary A. Streiff of Downey Brand LLP!

Zachary is teaching all things Discovery related at our upcoming 19th Annual Superior Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts program on September 24 & 26, 2024 (Zachary is co-teaching on September 26th).

This dynamic and information-packed program will teach you all about litigating in California State Court. It will also teach you what you need to know to be a successful litigator in any court. You will hear from four Superior Court judges across California, in addition to plaintiff and defense attorneys from large and small firms and solos, to make sure you get a variety of perspectives on each topic.

The program covers your 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 your case themes, to CMCs, complex case scheduling, discovery, depos, and motions moving on through to your 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. 

Zachary Streiff is joining this program based on the recommendation of several of his partners at Downey Brand and we can’t wait to have him join us. Zach excels at resolving complex business disputes both in and outside the courtroom. Whether through negotiation, mediation, or vigorous litigation, Zach is tireless in pursuing the best possible results for his clients.

Zach’s clients are diverse, ranging from technology companies and Silicon Valley startups to California public entities, retail and hospitality businesses, as well as legal, healthcare, and financial professionals. His broad litigation experience includes actions involving breach of contract, harm to business interests, real property, and family trust disputes, among others.

Prior to joining Downey Brand in 2024, Zach practiced law for five years at a small firm in Monterey County. Before that, he served as a research attorney for the Civil Department of the Monterey County Superior Court, where he honed his legal skills and gained valuable insight into the judicial process. After graduating from law school in 2015, Zach practiced for two years with the U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review, through the U.S. Attorney General’s Honors Program.

We are so happy to have you join us this year Zach!

Our latest featured speaker is Monica V. Castro of Holland & Knight!

Monica is teaching Brief Writing, alongside Rebecca Plasencia, at our 11th Circuit Court of Appeals Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts program. 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 (Monica is speaking on September 19th). It 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.

Monica Vila Castro is a Miami litigation attorney on Holland & Knight’s Appellate Team and in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. She focuses on complex commercial litigation and appellate matters involving a wide variety of legal issues.

In her commercial litigation practice, Ms. Castro has represented clients in cases arising from breach of contract, shareholder disputes, mismanagement and embezzlement of company assets, challenges to the validity of life insurance policies, termination of distributorships, disputes with health insurers and predatory lending. Ms. Castro’s fluency in Spanish has enabled her to effectively assist clients in both English- and Spanish-speaking jurisdictions.

As part of her appellate practice, Ms. Castro has drafted briefs and argued appeals in the Florida District Courts of Appeal, Florida Supreme Court and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fourth and Eleventh Circuits, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court.

Ms. Castro routinely assists trial lawyers from the inception of a case, using her appellate knowledge to ensure that legal issues arising during the course of litigation are well-positioned for a favorable outcome at the trial and appellate levels. Prior to entering private practice, Ms. Castro served as a law clerk to the Honorable Susan H. Black on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

We are so happy to have you join us Monica!

Our latest featured speaker is Jason Liang of Liang Ly LLP!

Jason is teaching Depositions at our upcoming 19th Annual Superior Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts program on September 24 & 26, 2024 (Jason is co-teaching the art of the deposition on September 24th).

This dynamic and information-packed program will teach you all about litigating in California State Court. It will also teach you what you need to know to be a successful litigator in any court. You will hear from four Superior Court judges across California, in addition to plaintiff and defense attorneys from large and small firms and solos, to make sure you get a variety of perspectives on each topic. The program covers your case in state court from the start until right before trial (we now have a separate Trial Training program in the works).  The speakers teach everything from developing your case themes, to CMCs, complex case scheduling, discovery, depos, and motions moving on through to your pre-trial tasks. You can sign up to attend live or pre-order OnDemand Streaming or a recorded package here.

Jason previously spoke at this same program in 2023: 18th Annual Superior Court Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts. He was very popular and so we invited him back!. You can purchase a recorded package or OnDemand Streaming of that program here.

Jason represents corporate and individual clients in various complex civil and criminal matters. His experience includes litigating issues involving trade secret and intellectual property theft, defamation, breach of contract, fraud, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO Act”), the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the Economic Espionage Act, the False Claims Act, conspiracy, anti-trust and unfair competition laws, and cross-border disputes involving Chinese law. In 2019, after a two-week jury trial, Jason successfully obtained a complete defense verdict exonerating his client of any and all civil liability under the federal False Claims Act.

Prior to founding Liang Ly LLP, Jason was an associate at the Los Angeles office of Jones Day and Murphy Rosen LLP, a boutique litigation firm located in Santa Monica. He also worked closely with the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice (“LACLJ”) to represent, on a pro bono basis, victims of domestic violence who seek representation to obtain permanent restraining orders against their abusers. In 2012, LACLJ awarded him with the Excellence in Community Service Award for his pro bono work. In addition, Jason had served on the board of the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association and is a former president of the organization.

Jason earned his Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from Washington University in St. Louis, School of Law, in 2007. He received his BA in Economics from University of California, Irvine (UCI). Jason is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in the State of California, and is also a member of the bar of the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit. Jason has been consistently recognized by his peers as a Southern California Super Lawyers “Rising Star.”

Thank you for joining us again this year Jason – we are glad to have you back!

Our latest featured speaker is Rebecca M. Plasencia of Holland & Knight LLP!

Rebecca is teaching Brief Writing, alongside Monica Castro, at our 11th Circuit Court of Appeals Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts program. You can sign up to attend liver pre order OnDemand Streaming or the recorded package here.

This program is set for September 17 and 19, 2024 (Rebecca is speaking on September 19th). It 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.

Rebecca previously spoke at our Advanced Appellate Practice program, held in 2022, and was very popular with our attendees. You can find the recording available for purchase as a download or via OnDemand Streaming here.

Rebecca M. Plasencia is an attorney in Holland & Knight’s Appellate and Litigation Practice Groups. Her practice areas include appeals, complex commercial litigation, product liability and creditors’ rights. Since joining Holland & Knight’s Appellate Team, Ms. Plasencia has argued appeals in the Florida District Courts of Appeal and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Ms. Plasencia has also worked on numerous appeals before the Florida Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court. She has also litigated cases in state and federal courts and worked on several arbitration disputes.

In her commercial litigation practice, Ms. Plasencia has defended hotels in consumer class actions arising from the imposition of automatic gratuities and service charges at restaurants. Ms. Plasencia also represents financial institutions and law firms in cases alleging a variety of tort claims, including aiding and abetting fraud, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty, and conspiracy. She has also represented a wide range of clients in claims arising from employment agreements, including obtaining emergency injunctions to prevent dissemination of trade secrets.

Ms. Plasencia routinely assists trial lawyers from the inception of a case, using her appellate knowledge to ensure that legal issues arising during the course of litigation are well-positioned for a favorable outcome, both at the trial and appellate levels. Ms. Plasencia has extensive experience in litigating nuanced jurisdictional and venue issues, including forum non conveniens motions and motions to compel arbitration. She also assists in litigation matters that arise after appeal, including postjudgment execution and enforcement of creditors’ rights.

Before entering private practice, Ms. Plasencia served as a law clerk to the Honorable Paul C. Huck of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, from August 2004 to September 2005. While at the University of Miami School of Law, Ms. Plasencia was a member of the University of Miami Law Review and the Moot Court Board. As a Moot Court Board member, Ms. Plasencia participated in numerous competitions and received the Best Oral Advocate Award for her participation in the Advanced Moot Court Competition in 2002. Ms. Plasencia interned for the Honorable Rodolfo Sorondo Jr., at the Florida Third District Court of Appeal and served as a Constitutional Law Dean’s fellow to Professor Keith Rosenn at the University of Miami School of Law. She also interned at the Florida Office of the Attorney General, Criminal Appeals Division, during which time she argued several cases before the Florida Third District Court of Appeal.

So glad to have you back again Rebecca!

Our latest featured speaker is Kristen Fiore of Akerman LLP!

Kristen is teaching Post-Decision Practice at our upcoming 11th Circuit Court of Appeals Boot Camp: The Nuts and Bolts program.

This program is set for September 17 and 19, 2024 (Kristen is speaking on September 19th).  It 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.

Kristen was highly acclaimed by our attendees when she spoke at our Preserving the Trial Record for Appeal in Florida Civil Cases program last year. You can purchase a recording of that program here. 

Board certified in Appellate Practice by The Florida Bar, Kristen Fiore’s practice focuses on complex appellate matters. Prior to joining Akerman, Kristen served as a senior staff attorney for Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara Pariente and a staff attorney for Fourth District Court of Appeal Judge Fred Hazouri. During her clerkships at both the highest and intermediate levels of appellate courts in Florida, she reviewed hundreds of briefs and participated in countless appeals, exposing her to a broad range of appellate issues and providing clients invaluable insight in framing compelling arguments and preservation of error issues during the trial stage of litigation.

Kristen’s extensive experience encompasses civil and administrative cases touching on a wide range of law, including constitutional issues, discovery, class actions, damages, bankruptcy, malpractice, probate, Indian law, taxation, and family, among others. Significant areas of focus in her appellate work include financial, insurance, and labor and employment disputes.

Prior to entering the practice of law, Kristen held several roles in human resources and general management in the financial services and consulting industries. Kristen’s diverse background provides her unique perspective into the intricate issues facing her clients.

We are so glad to have you back Kristen!