Registration Information
Save up to $500 when you register on or before October 16!
Register Now
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Member Pricing |
Non-Member Pricing
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Non-Member Bundle ^ |
| Early Bird Registration* |
$1,195 |
$1,395 |
$1,395 |
| Regular Registration* |
$1,395 |
$1,695 |
$1,695 |
| Group Registration (Non-Sponsored)** |
$1,095 per person |
$1,095 per person |
$1,095 per person |
| Government |
Government members will receive the applicable government rate for the seminar upon login. If the government rate does not appear after logging in, please call DRI directly at (312) 795-1101 to receive the discounted rate. Invoices can be sent after purchase upon request. |
Not a DRI Member? Select the Non-Member Bundle and Save!
^ Not a DRI Member and new to DRI? Take advantage of the Non-Member / Trial Membership Bundle and receive up to 9 months of membership when you register for the DRI Retail and Hospitality Litigation Seminar. You’ll be able to add this special offer to your cart at check out. Note: Trial membership processing can take up to 30 days from the date of purchase, please contact DRI Customer Service with any questions.
Learn more about membership at DRI and get started on your DRI journey today!
*If your membership recently lapsed, please renew your membership prior to registering to ensure you receive your discounted member rate. If you would like to join DRI to receive the member pricing and see the benefits of becoming a member, click here to go to the Application page.
**Group registration is for registering four or more attendees, members and non-members. There is one free registration with every 10 registrations. You must lock in the rate three weeks prior to the seminar. If you want to register for the group pricing, fill out the form here (online registration is not available for this offering).
Networking Events
Premier Networking Reception
Sponsored by Hawkins Parnell & Young LLP
Date: Thursday, November 16 from 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Price: Free when you register for the seminar
Location: Moontower Hall at the Austin Marriott Downtown
Get ready for a night of unparalleled networking at our Premier Networking Reception, happening in the stunning Moontower Hall at the Austin Marriott Downtown. This exclusive event on Thursday, November 16th from 6:00–8:00 p.m. is the perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals in a relaxed and engaging setting. Please join us for an unforgettable evening filled with refreshing cocktails, wine, soft drinks, assorted beers, delectable appetizers, and the chance to mingle with attendees from the Asbestos Medicine Seminar and the Retail and Hospitality Seminar. Don't miss out on this exclusive chance to connect with industry experts and build lasting relationships.
Agenda with Speakers
*Schedule and Speakers subject to change
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
| Time (Central) |
Program |
Location |
| 1:00 p.m. |
Registration |
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| 6:00 p.m. |
Networking / Cocktail Hour
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| 7:30 p.m. |
Dine-Arounds
Join colleagues and friends at selected restaurants for dinner (on your own). |
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Thursday, November 16, 2023
| Time (Central) |
Program |
Location |
| 8:00 a.m. |
Registration & Coffee Service
Get to know the early risers in our group over a cup of coffee. |
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| 9:00 a.m. |
Welcome and Introductions
Tillman J. Breckenridge, Stris & Maher, L.L.P., Washington, D.C.
Christian Stegmaier, Collins & Lacy, P.C., Columbia, SC |
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| 9:15 a.m. |
The Phenomenon of Buc-ee's: This Retailer Has Changed Everything
Buc-ee’s is a cultural phenomenon, especially in the South. This presentation will explore the history of Buc-ee's and the legal challenges that have come with explosive growth and notoriety over the years. H. Tracy Richardson, Deputy General Counsel of Buc-ee’s, will discuss the legal questions that come with unique features of Buc-ee's stores, such as their large size, wide selection of products, and food service. Richardson will also discuss the customer service philosophy of Buc-ee's and how it contributes to the retailer’s success. Richardson will outline how the company culture has translated into the development of its philosophies relating to the retention of local counsel and claims handling, including workers’ compensation, employment, and general liability claims.
H. Tracy Richardson, Buc-ee’s, Ltd., Pearland, TX |
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| 10:15 a.m. |
Coffee Break
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| 10:30 a.m. |
Generative AI: How Retail & Hospitality Companies are Adapting, Assessing Risk, and Asking More of their Outside Counsel
Generative AI is a rapidly developing technology that will revolutionize the way business is conducted. Many companies are already deploying AI to improve the customer experience, automate repetitive tasks, create operational efficiencies, and enhance brand awareness and customer loyalty. Some are also asking their outside counsel to use the technology to create efficiencies and reduce fees. This presentation will feature real-world examples of how this technology is being deployed by businesses and their attorneys, as well as the practical challenges and legal risks as the technology continues to evolve.
Thorne Maginnis, ArentFox Schiff LLP, Washington, D.C. |
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| 11:30 a.m. |
Warning: Danger Will Robinson! Are Waivers and Warning Signs Enough or Do We Need a Big Robot to Follow Us Around?
Waivers and warning signs are a consistent part of risk management in the retail and hospitality world. Whether it is a “Wet Floor” sign, surveillance warnings, or a waiver for a potentially dangerous activity, these perceived protections are everywhere. So why do claims and lawsuits persist in the face of all of these protections? This session will examine the effectiveness of warning signs for potentially hazardous conditions, such as the omnipresent wet floor signs, or how to properly warn users that there is no lifeguard coming to their rescue. The presentation will discuss the proper content of these warnings, placement of the warnings, and how to avoid them becoming “white noise” and ineffective. The second part of this discussion will discuss how to construct waivers that are effective and that can avoid lengthy and costly litigation. This presentation will also include the timing of a dispositive motion (before or after discovery), the language to include in a waiver, and how to anticipate arguments from plaintiffs as to why their situation is not covered by the waiver.
Richard J. Keating, Jr., Swanson, Martin & Bell, L.L.P., Chicago, IL
Kuba J. Glazek, PhD, Rimkus, Irvine, CA
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| 12:30 p.m. |
DRI Networking Lunch
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| 1:30 p.m. |
DRI Cares
More details to come.
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| 2:00 p.m. |
Collateral Source, Tort Reform, and Combatting Economic Damages
In March 2023, Florida House Bill 837 was signed into law and created sweeping changes to tort litigation. This law, and other similar efforts like it, affects medical bills admissibility of evidence, and others. This presentation will provide an overview of this and similar laws, and how they are changing the way tort cases are litigated. With the trend of ballooning medical specials, the methods of defending against them are changing as well. We will discuss the roles Medical Coding and Billing Experts are playing, and will continue to play, in the future of personal injury litigation.
Shawn Y. Libman, Clarke Silverglate, Miami, FL
Megan S. Peterson, Simon Peragine Smith & Redfearn, LLP, New Orleans, LA
Nancy Michalski, Elevate Services, Inc., Los Angeles, CA |
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| 3:00 p.m. |
Retail and Hospitality Committee Business Meeting
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| 3:30 p.m. |
Small Group Networking Opportunities |
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| 6:00 p.m. |
Premier Networking Reception
Sponsored by Hawkins Parnell & Young LLP
Click here for details.
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Friday, November 17, 2023
| Time (Central) |
Program |
Location |
| 8:00 a.m. |
Registration and Coffee Service |
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| 9:00 a.m. |
Welcome and Announcements
Shawn Y. Libman, Clarke Silverglate, P.A., Miami, FL
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| 9:10 a.m. |
What You’re Doing to Screw Up the Insurer-Counsel Relationship (And How to Fix It)
Candid talk from an experienced trial lawyer and claims professional: The insurer-counsel relationship is essential to the success of any litigated matter. However, this relationship can be easily strained if lawyers do not understand the needs of claims professionals. Lawyers can improve the insurer-counsel relationship by being honest and transparent, respectful, and reliable. They can also avoid impairing the relationship by communicating effectively, being cost-conscious, and being proactive.
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| 10:10 a.m. |
Coffee Break
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| 10:30 a.m. |
Navigating In an Insurance Desert: Locating Retail & Hospitality-Related Coverage in a Less Than Robust Market. A Discussion About Captives
The current insurance market is challenging for businesses in the retail and hospitality industries. There are a number of factors that are contributing to this, including environmental issues, trends in litigation, and the increasing cost of insurance. As a result, it can be difficult to find coverage for certain risks, such as property insurance, loss interruption, and liquor liability. One strategy for locating hard-to-place coverage is to work with a knowledgeable insurance insider who can help businesses understand the current market and find the coverage they need.
Matthew Queen, Goldner Capital Management, Atlanta, GA |
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| 11:30 a.m. |
"Looking for Greener Pastures the Right Way" (Ethics)
Whether it’s due to overwhelm, the need to find a new legal setting, or the desire to get out of the legal field altogether while still being able to leverage acquired legal skills and education, there are many lawyers looking for greener pastures in our post-COVID world. Attorneys who are looking for a new position, whether it be in-house, at another firm, or in a non-legal setting, must be mindful of the ethical considerations involved in their job search. This presentation will discuss the ethical rules that apply to attorneys who are seeking new employment, including the duty of confidentiality, the duty to avoid conflicts of interest, and the duty to maintain the integrity of the legal profession.
Karen Delaney, Delaney Legal PLLC, Dallas, TX
Karen Vladeck, Whistler Partners, Austin, TX |
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| 12:30 p.m. |
Adjourn
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Headquarters Hotel Information
A limited number of discounted hotel rooms have been made available at the Austin Marriott Downtown, 304 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701. Take advantage of the group rate of $309.00 Single/Double in one of two ways:
The hotel block is limited, and rooms and rates are available on a first-come, first-served basis. You must make reservations by October 17, 2023, to be eligible for the hotel’s group rate. Requests for reservations made after October 17 are subject to room and rate availability.
CLE Information
Earn up to 6.00 hours of continuing legal education hours (CLE), including one (1) hour of Ethics from this seminar.
Retail and Hospitality CLE by State
DRI's Retail and Hospitality Litigation Seminar is proudly sponsored by:
Thank you to our Official Supporter: TBD
If you would like to contact DRI about seminar sponsorship opportunities, including pricing, or to reserve a spot, please go to Advertising and Sponsorship.
DRI Cares
Blessings in a Backpack
Please join us in supporting Blessings in a Backpack, an organization that mobilizes communities, individuals, and resources to provide food on the weekends for school-aged children across America who might otherwise go hungry. Seminar attendees will have the opportunity to fill bags of food on the way to the joint networking lunch on Thursday, November 16th. Feeding a child before you feed yourself is a wonderful way to support children and families in the Austin community.
Donate to Blessings in a Backpack
On-Demand
NEW in 2023 – Four Additional On-Demand Programs Included With Every Seminar!
CLE Credit will be sought from every state requiring CLE hours in elimination of bias/diversity and inclusion, ethics, substance abuse/mental health, and law practice management. The CLE grid will provide updated information concerning hours that have been approved by each jurisdiction and for which credits. For states not requiring these special credits, general education credits will be sought.
View On-Demand Library
Diversity/Elimination of Bias in the Profession
Invisible or Mixed-Visible Diversity – Combatting Bias
Often diversity programs and initiatives are focused on visible traits such as gender or race, but bias exists related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and some disabilities that are not readily visible to the eye. This panel will discuss how to address these biases and to create an environment where those with invisible or mixed-visible diversity can operate at the highest level.
Stacy Douglas, Everett Dorey LLP, Irvine, CA
Gary Howard, Bradley, Birmingham, AL
Ronna Kinsella, Glassman Wyatt Tuttle & Cox PC, Memphis, TN
Law Practice Management Credit
Succession Planning: Failing to Plan Is a Plan to Fail
Succession planning is considered one of the most pressing issues facing not only law firms but also clients. Senior partners are working into their golden years and can sometimes be reluctant to engage in a succession plan, but clients want to know that there is a plan for the transition of their work without interruption. Join us to learn:
- the importance of succession planning for the benefit both the law firm and its clients;
- how succession planning impacts retention and continuity of the firm and client relationships;
- how to approach the subject with senior attorneys; and
- strategies for implementing a successful succession plan.
Marie E. Chafe, Conn Kavanaugh, Boston, MA
Matthew Cairns, Textron Inc., Providence, RI
Elizabeth M. Brotten, Foley & Mansfield PLLP, Minneapolis, MN
Meade Hartfield, Bradley Arant, Birmingham, AL
Ethics
Technology, Ethics & Remote Work: What You Need to Know Now
The Rules of Professional Conduct regarding competence and diligence require all lawyers to keep abreast of changes in technology. This webinar will provide you with tips and information on new issues related to technology and the practice of law, including the challenges of the remote work environment. You will learn the ethics and professionalism considerations when using technology in your practice and your ethical duties when it comes to “keeping abreast of changes” in technology.
Amber Garcia, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP, New Orleans, LA
Alyssa Johnson, Barron & Newberger PC, Milwaukee, WI
Clare Roubion, Louisiana Legal Ethics, LLC, Lafayette, LA
Mental Health & Attorney Wellness
Lessons for Lawyers from the Science of Well-Being
This presentation will focus on the practical steps that we can take as individuals to improve well-being, drawing on recent research from cognitive science and beginning with the preface that happiness can be learned and applied. Specifically, we will provide an evidence-based arsenal of practical tools that lawyers can apply in their own lives to improve their well-being.
Emma Ross, Goldman Ismail Tomaselli Brennan & Baum, Chicago, IL
Shayna Cook, Goldman Ismail Tomaselli Brennan & Baum, Chicago, IL