DRI Faculty List
Litigation Skills Seminar Seminar
Paris Las Vegas | Las Vegas, NV | March 18 - 20, 2020
Emily C. Baker Jones Day
Emily C. Baker defends companies in complex product liability and mass tort lawsuits in state and federal courts and has served as trial counsel in more than a dozen high profile cases tried to verdict, including one recently named a "Top Defense Verdict" in California by the Daily Journal Emily has also represented manufacturers in a range of industries in large-scale, multidistrict, and class action litigation, as well as individual personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. |
Christopher D. (Chris) Balch Balch Law Group
Christopher D. (Chris) Balch is the go-to crisis response lawyer for cities and counties in Georgia as well as the City Attorney in Brookhaven, Georgia. He has assisted clients with determining an appropriate course of action for out-of-control elected officials, employees whose conduct and misconduct ends up on CNN, Fox News, or MSNBC, and employees and supervisors who create a hostile work environment and undertake retaliatory acts. In addition, he represents cities and counties throughout Georgia in litigation related to city operations and 42 U.S.C. § 1983. A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Chris is uniquely qualified to assist local governments and their lawyers in navigating the extraordinary challenges presented by the present general distrust of all levels of government. |
Brigid M. Carpenter Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell Berkowitz PC
Brigid M. Carpenter is a trial attorney whose practice includes products liability defense, catastrophic personal injury defense, and prosecution and defense of complex commercial disputes including first-party insurance coverage matters. She has tried cases across Tennessee and in other jurisdictions for more than 20 years and believes that excellent trial skills translate into success across many different types of cases. In 2017 she was named the first female managing shareholder of Baker Donelson's Nashville office, which is its largest. |
Patrick M. Causey Trenam Law
Patrick M. Causey is civil trial lawyer at Trenam Law. He represents clients in commercial matters including non-competition and confidentiality agreements, breach of contract, class actions, fraud, commercial torts, and trade secrets litigation. Patrick also dedicates a significant portion of his practice to defending lawyers in legal malpractice cases. Additionally, Patrick's experience includes assisting clients obtain and protect intellectual property rights in Federal Court and in front of the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office, with a particular emphasis on trademarks. |
Stacy L. Douglas Partner
Collinson Daehnke Inlow & Greco
Stacy L. Douglas is a Partner in the Los Angeles office of Collinson Daenke Inlow & Greco (CDIG), a female-owned law firm. Formerly a partner in a majority-owned national firm, Stacy joined her female colleagues at CDIG, a firm serving Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Northern California, to expand the presence of female litigators in the profession. Stacy has successfully taken cases to trial, focusing on transportation, commercial litigation and employment matters. She was the 2019 Diversity for Success Seminar Chair. |
Brandon W. Ehrie Lewis Wagner LLP
Brandon W. Ehrie is a partner at Lewis Wagner, LLP in Indianapolis where he concentrates his practice defending a variety of civil litigation matters; including wrongful death, catastrophic personal injury, premises liability, product liability and various insurance defense cases. Brandon also specializes in dram shop litigation representing restaurants, bars & taverns and hotels & hospitality clients in liquor liability actions. He also has substantial experience representing Indiana governmental entities and municipalities as well as Hoosier farmers in the defense of lawsuits. |
Stephen E. (Steve) Embry The Embry Law Firm LLC
Stephen E. (Steve) Embry is a litigator and advisor who is experienced in developing simple, successful and elegant solutions to litigation problems primarily in the mass tort, business and consumer class action, and privacy and data breach arenas. Stephen is a frequent speaker, blogger and writer. He is publisher of TechLaw Crossroads, a blog that examines the tension between technology and the law. He is also co-author of the book Mass Tort Claims Resolution Facilities and the American Bar Association's TechReports. |
Brenda Godfrey Volkswagen of America Inc
Brenda Godfrey Bio Requested |
David M. Goodman Partner
Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP
David M. Goodman has over 25 years of experience litigating cases throughout New York in both state and federal courts. His practice focuses on the defense of professional liability, motor vehicle and transportation, premises, products liability, labor law, construction defect and general liability claims.David has represented doctors, health care providers, attorneys and other professionals in the defense of medical malpractice claims and in licensure and disciplinary proceedings. He also serves as a faculty member at many Continuing Legal Education seminars. |
Michael A. Gross Managing Partner
CogentEdge LLC
Michael A. Gross is an AV® Rated Attorney who has litigated high profile cases for 38 years. Michael is the Managing Director of CogentEdge, a group of attorneys who are trained to prepare witnesses in a highly structured, disciplined way to testify at deposition and trial. As a result clients are able to develop the tools and emotional strength they need to testify clearly, confidently and truthfully. CogentEdge has a national practice and is regularly retained by defense counsel, insurance carriers and law firms. |
Jennifer Snyder Heis Partner
Ulmer & Berne LLP
Jennifer Snyder Heisis a partner in the Cincinnati office of Ulmer & Berne, where she represents product manufacturers and sellers, including drug and medical device companies and dietary supplement manufacturers. She defends clients both locally and nationally, in multidistrict litigation and coordinated state proceedings. Ms. Heis is actively involved with DRI's Drug and Medical Device and Product Liability Committees, and serves on the Law Institute. |
John Henley UPC Insurance
John Henley is the Claims Attorney and Litigation Director with UPC Insurance. In this role, John provides legal guidance to the organization, while also leading an exceptional team of claims professionals and legal partners in the handling of litigated and liability/casualty claims. |
Gary L. Howard Partner
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP
Gary L. Howard is licensed in 11 States and admitted in more than 30 federal courts, Gary has litigated cases ranging from class actions to interpleaders in state and federal courts nationwide. Gary's experience allows him to strategically partner with clients to learn their businesses, people, and issues as a means of finding solutions to those clients' needs. His litigation practice includes: commercial, construction, pharmaceutical, insurance coverage, & fraud/bad faith. Gary is program chair for 2020 DRI Diversity for Success Seminar & Expo. |
Guy E. Hughes Partner
Casey Bailey & Maines PLLC
Guy E. Hughes is a partner with Casey Bailey & Maines PLLC in Lexington, Kentucky where he has a broad based litigation practice handling matters in the areas of products liability, fire loss, trucking law, premises liability as well as the defense of professional liability claims. Mr. Hughes work has also included representation of recreational product, automobile and motorcycle manufactures as well as work for a Class I Railroad with trials throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Mr. Hughes is a member of the Defense Research Institute (DRI) and currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Trial Tactics Committee. |
John F. Kuppens Partner
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
John F. Kuppens has over 30 years of experience defending product manufacturers in litigation, including roles a regional coordinating counsel and national trial counsel. He also counsels clients regarding compliance with consumer product safety regulations, including products governed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, corporate product safety risk management, product liability risk prevention, and product literature, warnings, labeling, and warranties. Mr. Kuppens is a past President of DRI (2017-18). |
Kyle A. Lansberry Partner
Lewis Wagner LLP
Kyle A. Lansberry is a litigator and trial attorney with Lewis Wagner LLP in Indianapolis, focusing on personal injury, product liability and premises liability cases. He also represents insurance companies nationwide in environmental and agricultural insurance coverage matters. He is the program-chair of this seminar. |
Pamela N. Lee Partner
Swift Currie McGhee & Hiers LLP
Pamela N. Lee is a partner in Swift Currie's litigation section, devoting her entire practice to litigation, including various tort liability litigation, insurance coverage disputes and the defense of insurance bad faith matters. She has experience in trial and appellate work and secured victories at the Court of Appeals on premises liability and sexual assault matters. Pamela is the vice president of Georgia Defense Lawyers Association and earned her J.D. from the Mercer University School of Law. |
Kathryn S. (Katy) Lehman Partner
King & Spalding LLP
Kathryn S. (Katy) Lehman is a trial lawyer at King & Spalding in Atlanta, where her trial practice focuses on product liability and mass torts. She has represented a wide range of companies in the tobacco, medical, construction, food service, and transportation industries. She brings a strategic focus to discovery and trial. Ms. Lehman has worked on more than two dozen trial teams that have tried cases to verdict in the last five years. |
John R. Owen Harman Claytor Corrigan & Wellman PC
John R. Owen brings a unique perspective to trial practice that has been cultivated during 100-plus trials over the last 20 years. A former member of the DRI Board of Directors, John also previously served as President of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys and the Virginia Chapter of the American Board of Trial Attorneys. He has been named a Leader in the Law in Virginia, honored as a Virginia Business Legal Elite, and has been recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America.. |
Stephen C. Pasarow Knapp Petersen & Clarke PC
Stephen C. Pasarow is a director with Knapp, Petersen & Clarke in Glendale, California. Since being admitted to the State Bar of California in 1980, he has specialized in civil litigation, with an emphasis on the defense of automobile accident, transportation and premises liability cases. Mr. Pasarow is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He is a member of ABOTA with the rank of Diplomate and a past president of the Los Angeles Chapter. Mr. Pasarow previously served as DRI State Representative for California and Program Chair for the Trial Tactics Seminar. |
W. Ray Persons King & Spalding LLP
W. Ray Persons is a senior litigation partner at King & Spalding. Ray has a national practice focused on product liability, mass tort, class action and complex litigation. He has served as lead counsel in more than 90 jury trials. Ray is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Society of Barristers and the Litigation Counsel of America. Ray received his undergraduate degree from Armstrong State College and his law degree from The Ohio State University. |
The Honorable Philip M. Pro, (Ret.) JAMS
The Honorable Philip M. Pro, (Ret.) more than 27 years, he presided over a full range of cases involving intellectual property, commercial disputes, antitrust, securities, employment, and class actions. During that time, he earned a reputation for active case management, fairness, preparation, decisiveness, and a deep understanding of the law. Prior to his service on the Bench, Judge Pro had a distinguished career as a former Assistant U.S. Attorney for Nevada, Deputy Attorney General for the State of Nevada Gaming Division and a civil litigator. |
Nicholas A. Rauch Associate
Larson King LLP
Nicholas A. Rauch is a litigation attorney at Lind, Jensen, Sullivan & Peterson in Minneapolis Minnesota. Nick focuses his practice on professional liability, trucking liability, products liability, and wrongful death claims. He currently serves on both the Publications and Marketing sub-committees. |
Ewing E. (Eddie) Sikes III Partner
Royston Rayzor Vickery & Williams LLP
Ewing E. (Eddie) Sikes III is a Partner with Royston Rayzor, Vickery & Williams. He is 1992 graduate of the University of North Texas and a 1995 graduate of the SMU School of Law. After graduating from law school, he served as a federal law clerk to the Honorable Filemon V. Vela, United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas, Brownsville Division before joining Royston Rayzor. Eddie is an AV rated attorney with a broad civil trial practice. He is based out of South Texas but practices all over the state. He is an active member of the DRI and is a past Program Chair of the DRI Trial Tactics program. His publications include a chapter in the DRI Deposition Manual on deposing architects and engineers. |
Mark A. Solheim Partner
Larson King LLP
Mark A. Solheim is a partner with Larson King in St. Paul and serves on the firm's executive committee. His trial work focuses on litigation of product, professional, oil & gas and transportation liability matters. Mark has served in leadership positions for state and national defense organizations for many years. Mark served as the President of the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, as Chair of the DRI Trial Tactics Committee, as Co-Chair of the MDLA Nursing Home & Assisted Living Committee, and as Chair of the USLAW Network (2008). In addition, Mark served on the Board of Directors for the Regions Hospital Foundation (2012-2014). |
Kile T. Turner Norman Wood Kendrick & Turner
Kile T. Turner Bihas tried over 80 cases in state and federal courts throughout Alabama. Over the last 25 years, he has tried nearly every type of case, from trucking to medical malpractice, from construction to coverage litigation. He has also successfully handled appeals to the Alabama Supreme Court. Mr. Turner is a graduate of the University of New Mexico, and Cumberland School of Law. Kile's wife, Sara, is also an attorney, and they are the proud parents of six children. |
Ricardo A. Woods Partner
Burr & Forman LLP
Ricardo A. Woods is a trial lawyer and shareholder in Burr Forman, LLP's Mobile office. He is a creative problem solver who provides his clients with innovative and cost effective solutions and strategies. He is no stranger to the courtroom and he is experienced in handling all stages of complex litigation. Ricardo has first-chair jury trial experience, as well as extensive pre-trial litigation experience. He has successfully defended matters, which included allegations of wrongful death, paralysis, severe bodily injuries, and catastrophic property loss. Ricardo serves as the Chief Legal Counsel and City Attorney for the City of Mobile. He was appointed to this post by the Honorable William S. Stimpson in 2013. In his capacity as City Attorney, Ricardo manages all of the City's outside counsel, serves as chief legal adviser to the executive branch of the local government, and serves as the executive director of the City of Mobile's internal legal department. Ricardo's insurance litigation experience includes issues related to defalcation, bad agents, fraud and coverage agents. His product liability experience includes industrial grade machinery, warranty claims, automobile components, toxic torts and chemical agents. Ricardo also serves as the Chair of DRI's Diversity Committee and a member of Burr Forman's executive committee. |