Event Schedule
DRI’s 2024 Annual Meeting is Where Relationships Build Business! This year, DRI has a fantastic lineup of speakers, networking opportunities, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) offerings, and more! Discover an entirely new way to learn, engage, and connect with your DRI community and beyond at the flagship event of the year for civil defense attorneys!
Programming for DRI’s 2024 Annual Meeting is updated regularly. As additional details are finalized, please return here to plan your week at DRI’s Annual Meeting!
Schedule at-a-Glance
Schedule and Speakers subject to change
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
| Time (Pacific) | Session |
|---|---|
| 3:30–4:00 p.m. | Leadership Conference Registration* |
| 4:00–5:30 p.m. | Leadership Conference Keynote* |
| 5:30–6:30 p.m. | Leadership Conference Reception* |
| 7:00–9:00 p.m. | Leadership Conference Dine-Arounds* |
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
| Time (Pacific) | Session |
|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Leadership Conference* |
| 12:00–12:45 p.m. | Leadership Conference Lunch* |
| 1:00–1:50 p.m. | DRI Membership Committee Meeting* |
| 1:00–1:50 p.m. | Substantive Law Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs Meeting* |
| 1:00–3:00 p.m. | NFJE Board Meeting* |
| 2:00–2:50 p.m. | Program Chairs & Vice Chairs with the Law Institute* |
| 2:00–2:50 p.m. | Joint Meeting of DRI Cares / DRI for Life* |
| 2:00–2:50 p.m. | Substantive Law Committee Membership Chairs / Vice Chairs* |
| 2:00–2:50 p.m. | Marketing, Social Media and Publication Chairs* |
| 3:00–4:30 p.m. | Substantive Law Committee Meetings (CLE Sessions) |
| 4:30–5:30 p.m. | First & Second Timers Program |
| 5:30–6:00 p.m. | First & Second Timers Reception |
| 5:00–6:00 p.m. | Sisters' Receptions (IADC, FDCC, ADTA)* |
| 6:00–7:30 p.m. | Welcome Reception |
Thursday, October 17, 2024
| Time (Pacific) | Session |
|---|---|
| 7:00–8:00 a.m. | DRI for Life |
| 8:00–10:30 a.m. | Coffee & Pastries in Exhibit Hall |
| 8:30–9:00 a.m. | Welcome |
| 9:00–10:00 a.m. | Keynote Speaker We Can All Do Better (with two-time NBA champion and former US Senator Bill Bradley) |
| 10:00–10:30 a.m. | Break |
| 10:30–11:20 a.m. | General Session Implementing a Culture of Innovation |
| 11:20 a.m.–12:10 p.m. | General Session Artificial Intelligence (AI) – The Future is Here: These are the Practical Tips You Need Now |
| 12:15–12:45 p.m. | DRI Cares – Blessings in a Backpack |
| 12:15–1:00 p.m. | Exhibit Hall / Business & Bites |
| 12:30–1:45 p.m. | State, Local & National Defense Organizations Leadership Luncheon* |
| 1:00–1:50 p.m. | General Session Improving the Behavioral Health and Well-Being of Lawyers |
| 2:00–4:00 p.m. | The Center Meetings |
| 2:00–2:50 p.m. | CLE Session |
| 3:00–4:00 p.m. | CLE on the GO |
| 3:00–4:30 p.m. | Substantive Law Committee Meetings (CLE Sessions) |
| 4:30–5:30 p.m. | Veteran’s Network Committee Huddle* |
| 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. | Premier Networking Event: Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) - Sponsored by LawyerGuard |
Friday, October 18, 2024
| Time (Pacific) | Session |
|---|---|
| 7:00–8:00 a.m. | DRI for Life |
| 8:00–8:50 a.m. | Substantive Law Committee Business Meeting |
| 8:00–11:00 a.m. | Coffee & Pastries in Exhibit Hall |
| 9:00–9:30 a.m. | Welcome |
| 9:30–10:30 a.m. | Keynote Speaker Travel as a Political Act (with popular public television host and best-selling travel writer Rick Steves) |
| 10:30–11:00 a.m. | Break |
| 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. | Executive Director's Program & Lunch* |
| 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | General Session Creating a Culture of Collaboration for Navigating Disputes |
| 12:00–1:30 p.m. | Diversity / Women in the Law Luncheon** |
| 12:00–1:30 p.m. | Lunch (on your own) |
| 1:30–2:00 p.m. | 2025 Annual Meeting Steering Committee Meeting* |
| 1:30–3:30 p.m. | State and Local Defense Organizations (SLDO) Conclave* |
| 1:30–3:00 p.m. | Substantive Law Committee Meetings (CLE Session) |
| 1:30–3:00 p.m. | CLE on the GO |
| 2:00–3:30 p.m. | DRI Foundation Meeting* |
| 3:30–4:30 p.m. | Board Meeting* |
| 7:00–10:00 p.m. | Closing Celebration Dinner** |
* By Invitation
** Ticketed Event
Schedule Details
Schedule and Speakers subject to change
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
| Time (Western) | Description |
|---|---|
| 3:00–4:30 p.m. | Young Lawyers Committee (CLE Session) E-Discovery: Tips, Trick and Tactics for the Young (or Young at Heart) Lawyer If you’re new to e-discovery, just need a refresher or want to learn some new tools of the trade you won’t want to miss this session. We’ll cover everything from legal hold notices to document collection, e-discovery protocols, search term selection, document review, document production, and more. CLE Credit: 1.00 Sunny Rehsi, Bowman & Brooke, Troy, MI Karolyn Perry, Holland & Knight, Nashville, TN Matt Schroeder, Berkley Research Group (“BRG”), Seattle, WA |
| 3:00–4:30 p.m. | Construction Law Committee
Brian Flinn (Vice President and Metallurgist), J.S. Held, Redmond, WA Denise Montgomery, Esq., Sweeney & Sheehan, P.C. , Philadelphia, PA |
Thursday, October 17, 2024
| Time (Western) | Description |
|---|---|
| 9:00–10:00 a.m. | Keynote Session We Can All Do Better Hear from two-time NBA champion, former US Senator, and star of the new Max documentary Bill Bradley: Rolling Along Bill Bradley as he teaches us how to meaningfully connect with those around us. Throughout his storied career, Bradley has worked with individuals from all backgrounds on and off the court. Now, he’s ready to share his stories with you. Join us as he offers a concise, powerful, and highly personal review of the state of the nation, illustrating how we can move our country forward when the path is unclear. Keynote Speaker Bill Bradley, Allen & Company LLC, New York City, New York |
| 10:30–11:20 a.m. | Implementing a Culture of Innovation Amazon prides itself on a culture of innovation and putting the customer first. Join this fireside chat with Daniel Slater, Worldwide Head of Innovation for Amazon Web Services and DRI President-Elect Anne Talcott where they will dig into how this culture of innovation can be applied to other organizations—law firms, our clients, bar associations—as well as to the practice of law. Dan Slater (Worldwide Head of Culture & Innovation), Amazon Web Services, Seattle, WA Anne Talcott (DRI President-Elect), Schwabe, Portland, OR |
| 11:20 a.m.–12:10 p.m. | Artificial Intelligence (AI) – The Future is Here: These are the Practical Tips You Need Now Artificial Intelligence is penetrating virtually every aspect of our daily lives. From personal day-to-day activities to professional offices and courtrooms all over the country, but how can you harness AI in your practice and for your clients? Join our panel of experts for the practical tips you can use now. Alison Grounds (eMerge Managing Partner), Troutman Pepper, Atlanta, GA Linda Mancini (Data Privacy Officer, Senior Attorney), Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston, MA Joe Salvati (CEO), Arcuity ai, Inc., Riverside, CA |
| 12:15–1:00 p.m. | DRI Business & Bites Join us for light appetizers in the exhibit hall and connect with our dedicated solutions providers to discover the resources you need to support your clients, build your cases, and grow your understanding of new tools in the legal space. |
| 1:00–1:50 p.m. | Improving the Behavioral Health and Well-Being of Lawyers Bree Buchanan, JD, MSF, of Krill Strategies, LLC, will share important insights into the importance of building resilience to effectively deal with the ongoing challenges of our highly stressful profession. Bree will share current trends and research of the well-being in law movement that is taking hold in the practice of law. She will discuss science-based strategies that promote an enhanced ability to tolerate – and bounce back from – the effects of stress, uncertainty, adversity, and setbacks. She will also discuss the ethical implications of maintaining – or failing to maintain – one’s health and well-being, including how it affects one's duty of competence. Bree Buchanan, Krill Strategies, Austin, TX |
| 3:00–4:30 p.m. | Litigation Skills Committee (CLE Session) A Flameless Fireside Chat About Next Gen Trial Experience For litigators of yesteryear, trial skills were acquired in trial. Today, there are fewer trials and fewer clients willing to pay for younger lawyers to go to trial. So what does the next generation trial experience look like? What has worked for firms bringing up the next generation? What anxieties are young lawyers experiencing about trial opportunities? How do we scale significant trial experience for them? What will the landscape look like if we don’t take this threat seriously? What are 3 practical things every audience member should do to contribute to solutions to this problem? All of these questions and more will be answered by our esteemed panel. You won’t want to miss it. CLE Credit: 1.00 Moderator Chris Turney, Turney LG – Midwest Litigators, Kansas City, MO Panelists Bill Casey, Swift Currie, Atlanta, GA Pamela Lee, Swift Currie, Atlanta, GA Lauren Motes, Dinsmore & Shohl, Morgantown, WV |
Friday, October 18, 2024
| Time (Western) | Description |
|---|---|
| 9:30–10:30 a.m. | Keynote Session Travel as a Political Act The world gets a little smaller when you realize we’re more alike than different. Embark on a journey with public television host, best-selling author, and activist Rick Steves of Rick Steves' Europe as he delves into the intersection between travel and politics and shares his perspective on travel as a political act. Like Bradley, Steves understands the crucial role that empathy plays in our interactions with others. He has helped millions connect with new cultures and communities as he documents his travels through Europe. Join us as he reveals how Americans can broaden their perspective through travel—and why it’s ultimately a powerful political act. Keynote Speaker Rick Steves, Rick Steves' Europe, Edmonds, WA |
| 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Creating a Culture of Collaboration for Navigating Disputes Mark C. Fava, named Boeing's first organizational ombudsperson in June 2022, serves as a confidential and informal resource for employees to raise concerns about safety, quality, and compliance. An ombudsperson can help foster a culture of collaboration and provide strategies for navigating disputes. Join this fireside chat where Mr. Fava will talk about his development of this unique role at Boeing, how to employ some of the same strategies in your own firms and practices, and why your clients might benefit by establishing a similar role in their own organizations. Mark C. Fava (Vice President & Boeing ODA Ombudsperson), Boeing, Inc., Charleston, SC James E. Weatherholtz, Womble Bond Dickinson, Charleston, SC |
| 1:30–3:00 p.m. | Insurance Law Committee
William Bortles (Senior Accident Reconstructionist), J.S. Held, Greenwood Village, CO Dan Parker (Vice President), J.S. Held, Alpharetta, GA Danielle Waltz, Esq., Dinsmore & Shohl, Charleston, WV |
| 1:30–3:00 p.m. | Employment and Labor Law / Cybersecurity Committee (CLE Session) AI in the Workplace: Opportunities and Threats This combined presentation from DRI’s Employment and Labor Law & Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Committees will provide an overview of AI considerations in the employment context, the hiring process, use by employees, privacy implications, cyber risks in the workplace, and more. If AI is in your future (and we promise—it is), this is the session for you. CLE Credit: 1.00 Colton Driver (Special Privacy Counsel), Nissan North America, Columbia, SC |
An Evening at the Museum of Pop Culture,
Sponsored by LawyerGuard
Connect with Your DRI Community at the Museum of Pop Culture!
Date: Thursday, October 17, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Location: The Museum of Pop Culture | 325 5th Avenue N, Seattle, WA 98109
JOIN COLLEAGUES AND PEERS for an unforgettable evening at DRI's exclusive networking reception at the Museum of Pop Culture. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with old and new friends while exploring the while exploring some of the world's most legendary pop culture artifacts including the Hendrix Collection that explores Jimi Hendrix's storied career and the Nirvana Gallery, which has the "world's most extensive exhibition of memorabilia" with more than 200 rare artifacts, photographs, and oral histories.
Centrally located in downtown Seattle, the Museum of Pop Culture is a short distance away from the Hyatt Regency Seattle. Experience the winner of The Seattle Times' 2023 Best in the Pacific Northwest including Best Art Gallery, Best Attraction, and Best Museum all while networking with your DRI Community and enjoying hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, wine, and assorted beers.
Proudly Sponsored by: LawyerGuard
