DRI Faculty List

2021 Managing Partners Conference

The Gwen, Michigan Avenue Chicago | August 26 - 27, 2021


Jessica Alsop
West Virginia University Health System

Jessica Alsop serves as Vice President and General Counsel for the WVU Health System, a regional health system comprised of sixteen hospitals across West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. In this role, Ms. Alsop's responsibilities include directing the day-to-day legal affairs of the health system and affiliated physician practice plans, working as a member of the senior leadership team, and advising the health system and subsidiary boards of directors on legal matters. Ms. Alsop joined the WVU Health System in 2015. Previously, she served as counsel for Noble Energy overseeing the Marcellus Business Unit and practiced with Jackson Kelly for 12 years, where she served on the executive committee and as the chair of the recruiting committee. She earned her B.S., with an emphasis in accounting, from West Virginia University in 1998 and graduated Order of the Coif with her J.D. from West Virginia University College of Law in 2002. She also received an L.L.M. in taxation from New York University. She has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Mergers and Acquisitions and Chambers USA Guide to Leading Business Lawyers for Corporate and Commercial Law.


Troy Bell
Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore LLC

Troy Bell has a litigation practice as an associate attorney at Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore. He earned his law degree from Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He entered his law practice after 20 years of experience working in the medical device and pharmaceutical industry. He concentrates his legal practice in mass-tort litigation that involves medical device and pharmaceutical companies, toxic torts, product liability, and class-action claims.


Ellen S. Cappellanti
Jackson Kelly PLLC

Ellen S. Cappellanti is Managing Member/CEO of Jackson Kelly PLLC, a regional law firm in six states from West Virginia to Colorado with over 160 attorneys. She is recognized in Best Lawyers In America and in Super Lawyers. Ellen is a member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and is recognized by Chambers USA, America's Leading Business Lawyers, as a preeminent corporate lawyer. Ellen graduated from the West Virginia University College of Law


Koriambanya S. (Kori) Carew, Esq.
Inclusion & Diversity Officer
Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Koriambanya S. (Kori) Carew, Esq., an attorney, TedX speaker, and community builder who generates awareness and understanding of critical human issues by creating the space and climate for open dialogue that is meaningful, enables people to expand their perspective and drive positive change. With grace and truth, she is a disruptor, womanist and social justice advocate. With a multi-national, multi-religious, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual family background, she brings a keen sensitivity to belonging and inclusion across differences. Kori is the Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer at Seyfarth Shaw, LLP, an international AmLaw 100 firm. Using advocacy and organizational strategy to address structural barriers to diversity in the workplace, she brings an incisive voice, unapologetic questioning of the status quo, and a lifelong fascination of human potential to empowering women and marginalized people. She is a nationally sought-after speaker on topics of diversity, inclusion and belonging, inclusive leadership, talent engagement and development, authenticity and leveraging power.


Joseph C. Chancey
Partner
Drew Eckl & Farnham LLP

Joseph C. Chancey is the managing partner for all offices of the Firm. As managing partner, he is responsible for guiding and implementing the strategic vision of the partnership. Additionally, he is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the firm, including oversight of the human resources, information technology, accounting and marketing departments. Additionally, he continues to serve the role of in-house counsel for small to medium-sized companies and consults on day-to-day employment and compliance issues. Joseph has been practicing for over 30 years and focuses in the areas of commercial and employment law.


Mario J. Delano
Campbell Foley Delano & Adams LLC

Mario J. Delano is a Certified Civil Trial Attorney and a partner with Campbell, Foley, Delano & Adams, LLC in Asbury Park, New Jersey. He concentrates his practice in the areas of worker's compensation and civil litigation (handling matters involving automobile law, property and casualty, bodily injury and fraud law). He was born in Brooklyn, New York, received a B.B.A. in Accounting Information Systems from Pace University in 1985 and his J.D. from Rutgers School of Law - Newark in 1992. He is a member of the Monmouth Bar Association and New Jersey Defense Association (President 2014 – 2015). Mr. Delano has been instructor for the New Jersey Defense Association Trial College, the New Jersey Special Investigator's Association, Insurance Council of New Jersey and the Insurance Fraud Management Conference. He is the Attorney for the Ocean Grove Sewerage Authority and the Township of Ocean Municipal Prosecutor. He has been the Chairman of Ocean Township Festival since 2002.


Stephen Embry
The Embry Law Firm LLC

Stephen Embry is a frequent speaker, blogger and writer. He publishes TechLaw Crossroads, a blog devoted to legal technology and innovation. He is Vice Chair of the ABA's Law Practice Division and chairs the Kentucky Bar Association's Law Practice Task Committee. He is also a Steering Committee member of Defense Research Institute's Law Practice Management section. Stephen is a national litigator in the mass tort, class action, and privacy and data breach arenas. He now practices with his own firm, embryLaw LLC.


Amie Gartenberg, Esq.
Marcum LLP

Amie Gartenberg, Esq. is a principal in Marcum LLP's New York City office. She concentrates her practice in estate and succession planning, as well as complex probate and estate administration. She advises high net worth (often multigenerational) clients regarding sophisticated estate and business succession planning, with an emphasis on tax-efficiency. Ms. Gartenberg has been peer review rated as a pre-eminent lawyer ("AV" rated) by Martindale-Hubbell and is a recipient of the AVVO Clients' Choice Award, and is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey.


Gary Grubler
Columbus House Counsel
Grange Mutual Insurance Co

Gary Grubler received his undergraduate degree from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, and his law degree from the Ohio State University. He has practiced in insurance defense for 36 years, and with Grange Insurance Company in Columbus currently defends the company and its insureds in litigation as well as manages house counsel attorneys and staff defending litigation throughout the State. He served on the board of the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys (OACTA) from 2000 to 2016, serving as President in 2010 and 2011. From 2017 to 2020 he served on DRI's Board of Directors.


Rosary A. Hernandez
Shareholder
Tiffany & Bosco PA

Rosary A. Hernandez, a Shareholder at Tiffany & Bosco, PA, is first generation Cuban American. Her areas of practice include commercial and business litigation, professional liability defense, construction law, and tort defense including tortious interference and related claims. Since 1993 she has represented clients in litigation and arbitration in Texas, Arizona, and California. Ms. Hernandez's professional affiliations include DRI, Executive Board of Diversity Committee, Co-Chair of Construction Seminar 2015, State Bar of AZ – Past Board of Directors for Construction Section, Past Chair of MCBA Construction Section and Past Board of Directors for Arizona Association of Defense Counsel. Ms. Hernandez is on the DRI Board of Directors as a National Director.


Brian Kennel
CEO and Lead Consultant
PerformLaw

Brian Kennel, CEO and Lead Consultant at PerformLaw, has 20 years of experience in law firm & professional firm management & consulting., Using a personal hands-on approach, Brian works with law firms to achieve their goals in areas of performance improvement, partner and associate compensation, financial management, new partner admittance, lateral evaluation and business development. Helping clients to see their issues from a competitive market perspective, Brian helps law firms and lawyers become market aware and fiercely competitive.


Robert A. Luskin
Partner
Goodman McGuffey LLP

Robert A. Luskin is a partner and an experienced trial lawyer in the Atlanta office of Goodman McGuffey Lindsey & Johnson LLP who represents clients in a wide range of insurance matters and employment litigation in Federal and State Courts across Georgia and the Southeast. Robert represents various companies regarding employment related matters including discrimination and harassment issues. He has experience in defending corporations and individuals in various complex litigation matters as well as extensive experience in the areas of products liability, premises liability, professional negligence, and questionable insurance claims. Robert has been recognized by Atlanta Magazine as a Georgia "Rising Star Super Lawyer" from 2008 to present.


Bonnie R. Moss
Managing Attorney
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company

Bonnie R. Moss has been the Managing Attorney for the San Diego and Riverside, CA staff counsel offices of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company since 1998. Prior to that time, Bonnie practiced insurance defense for 17 years in private firms in San Diego, CA. She has been a member of DRI for over 20 years, both as a private insurance defense attorney and as staff counsel. For the last 13 years Bonnie has managed attorneys remotely and been a remote manager.


Claire E. Parsons
Adams Law

Claire E. Parsons is a Member at Adams Law, PLLC in Covington, Kentucky where she practices in the areas of litigation, local government, and school law. She is a frequent writer and speaker, a certified meditation teacher, the founder of the Brilliant Legal Mind blog, and a co-author of the bestselling anthology, #Networked, which relates how she and 19 other woman lawyers used LinkedIn to network during the pandemic.


Jeremy W. Richter
Richter
Webster Henry Lyons Bradwell Cohan & Speagle PC

Jeremy W. Richter is a shareholder with Webster Henry in Birmingham, Alabama. His civil defense practice focuses on general business liability, transportation litigation, and insurance coverage issues. Jeremy is the author of Building a Better Law Practice, Stop Putting Out Fires, and Level Up Your Law Practice. He also writes at jeremywrichter.com and hosts the podcast, Lawyerpreneur.


Marta-Ann Schnabel
Shareholder
O'Bryon & Schnabel PLC

Marta-Ann Schnabel is the majority shareholder of O'Bryon & Schnabel, PLC. In over 35 years as a litigator, she has handled a wide range of cases, including business disputes, professional malpractice, and lawyer ethics. She is a graduate of Memorial University of Newfoundland, Loyola College of Law, and Pepperdine University's Straus Institute. She was the first woman President of the Louisiana State Bar. She is Chair of DRI Law Practice Management Committee and a contributor to the DRI Center for Law and Public Policy.


Richard D.(Dick) Tucker
Tucker Law Group

Richard D.(Dick) Tucker with the Tucker Law Group in Bangor, Maine brings diverse, complementary skills and experience to his legal work for the clients of Tucker Law Group. A native of Waterville, Maine, Richard went on to complete his undergraduate work in biology at St. Anselm College in 1979, graduating magna cum laude. Richard attended St. Louis University School of Law, where he earned his J.D. and also a Master's Degree in Health Administration. Richard practiced medical malpractice defense litigation in Chicago, Illinois before moving back to Maine in 1986. In Maine, Richard served as in-house counsel and workers' compensation administrator for Dexter Shoe Company before returning to private practice in 1993. Founder of Tucker Law Group and it predecessors in 1993, his practice over the past 4 decades has been focused on the defense of workers' compensation and general liability matters, as well as consulting for large self-insured's in Maine. Richard is a member of DRI, the Maine State and Penobscot County Bar Associations and the Tri-State Defense Lawyers Association. Richard served on the Board of Directors of DRI from 2016 to 2019, is a former Chair of DRI's Membership Committee as well as a past Maine State Representative. Richard is admitted to the State and Federal Bar in Maine and Illinois.


Pauline C. Will
Partner
Bennett Schechter Arcuri & Will LLP

Pauline C. Will is a founding partner of Bennett Schechter Arcuri & Will LLP and focuses her practice on complex tort litigation including trucking and transportation law, toxic torts, products liability and insurance defense litigation. Ms. Will started her career as a prosecutor with the Erie County District Attorney's Office. She entered private practice in 2002 where she began representing insured and self-insured companies as well as insurance carriers and their policy holders in state and federal courts. She has taken cases to jury verdict, and has extensive experience representing clients in alternative dispute resolution.