2023 DRI Women in the Law Seminar

January 23–25, 2023 | Las Vegas, Nevada

Women watching a presentation

Advance Your Personal Development and Your Practice

Now is the time to invest in yourself. After three long years of pandemic-related stressors and restrictions, afford yourself the time to refocus your energy on the future. DRI’s Women in the Law (WITL) seminar provides a multitude of opportunities for you to reenergize both your personal and professional goals.

WITL’s workshops, CLE sessions, and networking opportunities are designed to help women attorneys and their supporters take control of their professional development and prioritize their health and wellness. Expand your knowledge and learn tried-and-true networking techniques that you can put to work immediately. Enjoy WITL’s small group gatherings and also develop your connections through our partnerships with the Construction Law and Civil Rights and Governmental Tort Liability seminars taking place simultaneously in Las Vegas.

View registration information here.

What You Will Learn:

  • Lessons from your peers (no matter your age) on how to be your best and most confident self.
  • What clients really want (and how to be their first call).
  • Why our friendships make us better lawyers and better people.
  • How to maximize technology and win in the courtroom.
  • How to manage challenging public relation situations for clients while still protecting privilege.
  • Ways to reduce your litigation spend without increasing your litigation risk.

Expand Your Network By:

  • Engaging in small group sessions with peers from your same generation/life stage to share and learn from each other.
  • Meeting new friends and reconnecting with old friends through WITL’s signature small group networking that allows us to enjoy Vegas while creating space to truly develop relationships.
  • Collaborating with members of the Construction and Civil Rights committees during joint CLE sessions and shared networking opportunities.

Featured Speaker Ms. Shannon Klinger, Chief Legal Officer of Moderna

shannon-klingerShannon Klinger is the Chief Legal Officer of Moderna, Inc. Prior to joining Moderna, Ms. Klinger served as Chief Legal Officer of Novartis, as well as worked in various leadership positions in the pharmaceutical industry throughout her career. Ms. Klinger will share lessons from her career journey, including the importance of recognizing the Moments that Matter as a purpose-driven leader.

Session: Women in the Law Luncheon and Presentation of the Mary Massaron Award
Tuesday, January 24 at 12:30 p.m. Pacific
See agenda for details

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Thank You to DRI's Women in the Law Committee Leadership

Stephanie Holcombe
Stephanie Holcombe
Program Chair
Sarah Thomas Pagels
Sarah Thomas Pagels
Program Vice Chair
Sandra Wunderlich
Sandra Wunderlich
Committee Chair
Meade Hartfield
Meade Hartfield
Committee Vice Chair
J. Richard Moore
J. Richard Moore
Law Institute

Join the Women in the Law Committee

Registration Information

  Member Pricing Non-Member Pricing
Regular Registration* $1,395 $1,695
Group Registration (Non-Sponsored)** $995/person $995/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.

*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 4 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, please send an email to rstiner@dri.org (online registration is not available for this offering).

Premier Networking Reception | Paris Hotel Rooftop
Sponsored by: Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP

Date: Tuesday, January 24 from 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Pricing: Free when you register for the seminar (guest tickets are $100 each, available at checkout. A limited number of guest tickets may be available on site for $125 each)
Location: Paris Hotel, 3655 S. Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Join Civil Rights and Governmental Tort Liability, Construction Law, and the Women in the Law Seminars for a networking event at what has been named one of the Las Vegas Strip’s best rooftops. Socialize, play games like giant Jenga, pool, darts, karaoke, Skee-Ball, Pop-A-Shot and retro arcade games! Light appetizers and beverages will be served. The Paris Hotel is only a short walk from the Caesars Palace, so be sure to stop by.

Agenda with Speakers

*Schedule and Speakers subject to change

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Monday, January 23, 2023

Time (Pacific) Program Room
1:00 p.m. Registration Palace Pre-Funct I (Emperors Level)
2:00 p.m. More than Just Luck: How Time with Your Friends Really Does Impact Your Work, Wellbeing, and Happiness

Studies show that the “tend and befriend” strategy that many of us naturally employed during the pandemic reduced our stress levels. Our friendships with peers, siblings, partners, colleagues, and, most importantly, gal pals, literally improve our health and make us better people. Focusing on the science of friendship as analyzed in Dr. Marisa Franco’s Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make-and-Keep-Friends and Dr. Robin Dunbar’s Friends: Understanding the Power of our Motion Important Relationships, our speakers will lead us in an interactive discussion about how and why cultivating friendships is a sound investment in your future.

Susan E. Gunter, Dutton Brock LLP, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bridget E. Harris, Lightfoot, Franklin & White, Birmingham, AL
Pompeian Blrm (Promenade Level)
3:00 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. Luck at Any Age: Moderated Roundtable Discussions

Susan E. Gunter, Dutton Brock LLP, Toronto, ON, Canada
Bridget E. Harris, Lightfoot, Franklin & White, Birmingham, AL
 
5:30 p.m. First Time Attendee Welcome

Join committee leaders as they welcome you to your first Women in the Law Seminar and help you make the most of your networking opportunities this week.
Pompeian Blrm (Promenade Level)
6:00 p.m. Networking/Cocktail Hour
Pompeian Foyer (Promenade Level)
7:30 p.m. Dine-Arounds

Join colleagues and friends, and make new ones, at selected Las Vegas restaurants for dinner (on your own).

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Time (Pacific) Program Room
8:00 a.m. Registration and Coffee Service Palace Pre-Funct I (Emperors Level)
8:30 a.m. Coffee & Conversations

The early bird gets the most out of this networking session. Get to know the early risers in the group over a cup of coffee. Rise, shine, caffeinate and connect!
Pompeian Foyer (Promenade Level)
9:00 a.m. Welcome and Introductions

J. Richard Moore, Bleeke Dillon Crandall, Indianapolis, IN
Stephanie Holcombe, Porter Hedges LLP, Houston, TX
Pompeian Blrm (Promenade Level)
9:15 a.m. Life is a Game of Chance: Now is the Time to Embrace the Unexpected and Play a Bigger Game

Following a defined path to success in life is ingrained in us, but it can also be brave and empowering to detour from that defined path and instead choose to do what better serves our needs. Our keynote speaker will share her powerful story about her experience as one of only eighteen female combat pilots above the USS Abraham Lincoln in April 1995 and how you can play a bigger game in life.

Loree Draude, Palo Alto, CA
Pompeian Blrm (Promenade Level)
10:15 a.m. Coffee Break Pompeian Foyer (Promenade Level)
10:30 a.m. Breakouts: Round 1  

Breakout Topic #1: Dealing a Winning Hand: How to Be Your Client’s First Call

Don’t leave it to chance. Learn from clients exactly what they want. Our panel of in-house lawyers and fellow WITL members provide invaluable insider tips on what they want (and don’t want) from their outside lawyers.

Anita Kerin, Nine Energy Service, Houston, TX
Meghann Myers, Shell, Houston, TX
Stephanie M. Wurdock, MedPro Group, Fort Wayne, IN
Messina (Promenade Level)

Breakout Topic #2: Technology is your Ace in the Hole (CLE Worthy)

How to make your iPad work for you. Make the most of all your available tools in your toolbox by embracing new technologies, using new programs more efficiently and effectively. Leave the paper behind without feeling like you are risking it all!

Brett Tarver, Troutman Pepper, Atlanta, GA
Capri (Promenade Level)
11:30 a.m. Breakouts: Round 2
 

Breakout Topic #1: Dealing a Winning Hand: How to Be Your Client’s First Call

Don’t leave it to chance. Learn from clients exactly what they want. Our panel of in-house lawyers and fellow WITL members provide invaluable insider tips on what they want (and don’t want) from their outside lawyers.

Anita Kerin, Nine Energy Service, Houston, TX
Meghann Myers, Shell, Houston, TX
Stephanie M. Wurdock, MedPro Group, Fort Wayne, IN
Messina (Promenade Level)

Breakout Topic #2: Rolling the Dice with Insurance Claims: Am I (Really) Covered?

Lawyers manage risk in all facets of their practice. Even if you are not a coverage lawyer, the rights, rules, and conditions of insurances policies shape many of the decisions made in your cases. These dynamic speakers will discuss a variety of scenarios where questions arise about coverage. By the end of this presentation, you will realize that winning your claims isn’t just based on luck – it is based on knowing your client’s rights under applicable policies and managing the risk effectively at all stages in the litigation process.

Marie T. Holvick, Gordon Rees, San Francisco, CA
John C. Trimble, Lewis Wagner LLP, Indianapolis, IN
Anzio (Promenade Level)
12:30 p.m. Women in the Law Luncheon and Presentation of the Mary Massaron Award

Join us for a special hour as we celebrate the newest recipient of the Mary Massaron Award and hear from Shannon Klinger, Chief Legal Officer of Moderna, Inc.

Prior to joining Moderna, Ms. Klinger served as Chief Legal Officer of Novartis, as well as worked in various leadership positions in the pharmaceutical industry throughout her career. Ms. Klinger will share lessons from her career journey, including the importance of recognizing the moments that matter as a purpose-driven leader.

Luncheon is included in your registration fee. Please indicate on your registration form you plan on attending so we can get an accurate headcount.
Pompeian Blrm (Promenade Level)
1:45 p.m. Hit the Jackpot: Advice from the Top

Ever wonder “How did they do it?” Wonder no more. We have assembled a panel of women at the top of their fields who are willing to share what it takes to get to the top of the profession. Members of this panel of powerhouse women took different paths and are willing to share their “trade secrets” with you. Walk away with the skills you need to get the promotion you want and deserve.

K. Kristann Carey, Constellation Brands, Chicago, IL
Leanne Gould, Gould Consulting Services, Atlanta, GA
Bridget Grimes, Wealth Choice, San Diego, CA
Pompeian Blrm (Promenade Level)
2:35 p.m. Play Your Cards Straight with Privilege

Your company or client is in crisis, and you wisely advise them to hire a consultant to manage the public relations and experts to preserve evidence and conduct a scientific/forensic investigation. Meanwhile, you are interviewing witnesses as part of the overall investigation and pre-litigation strategy. But what can you do to protect the company’s interests while protecting privileged communications and documents? Our dynamic speakers will share lessons learned to make sure that we are not gambling with our client’s privileged information but rather making thoughtful moves within the bounds of the ethics rules to protect the attorney-client and work product privileges.

Kelly Ferrell, Porter Hedges LLP, Houston, TX
Jessie Zeigler, Bass, Berry & Sims PLC, Nashville, TN
Pompeian Blrm (Promenade Level)
3:30 p.m. Women in the Law Committee Business Meeting
Pompeian Blrm (Promenade Level)
4:00 p.m. Small Group Networking Opportunities

Sign up for small group networking options and start building your connections and developing relationships! More details provided following registration.
 
6:00 p.m. Premier Networking Reception | Paris Hotel Rooftop
Sponsored by: Hartline Barger LLP, Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP


Click here for details.
 
8:00 p.m. Large Group Networking Events: After Hours with DRI Women in the Law

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas – and within WITL! Join your new friends (and old) for a chance to enjoy some of the city’s best offerings! Cost and location will be determined by choice of activity. More details will be sent after confirmation of registration.
 

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Time (Pacific) Program Room
7:30 a.m. DRI for Life Walk

Meet in the hotel lobby at 7:30 a.m.
 
8:00 a.m. Registration and Coffee Service Palace Pre-Funct I (Emperors Level)
9:00 a.m. Welcome and Announcements

Sarah Thomas Pagels, Laffey, Leitner & Goode, LLC, Milwaukee, WI
Pompeian Blrm (Promenade Level)
9:10 a.m. Don’t Bet the Farm: – Tips on Bringing Down the Costs While Increasing the Value

Learn tips from private practice and in-house attorneys on how to provide cost-effective yet successful defense of litigation, including advice on managing opposing counsel efficiently, determining when and whether the “legal memo” is truly necessary, evaluating best practices for handling production of records, deciding when summary judgment is worth the expense, and preparing to win at trial without breaking the bank.

Farwa Mohsin, Eagle LNG Partners, The Woodlands, TX
Brannon J. Arnold, Weinberg Wheeler Hudgins Gunn & Dial LLC, Atlanta, GA
Kristen M. Wilson, Nordstrom, Seattle, WA
Pompeian Blrm (Promenade Level)
10:10 a.m. Coffee Break Palace Pre-Funct I (Emperors Level)
10:30 a.m. Joint Session with Civil Rights and Governmental Tort Liability & Women in the Law

Winning the Game with Closing Arguments: Spotlight on the Ahmaud Arbery Trial
In November 2021, a Glynn County jury found the three men who shot Ahmaud Arbery while he was out for a jog guilty of murder. Our speaker developed the powerful trial theme of “driveway decisions” to prosecute these men who took the law into their own hands. Hear from one of the lead District Attorneys from the State of Georgia about what played, and what did not play, at the trial that captured the nation’s attention.

Linda Dunikoski, Senior Assistant District Attorney, Cobb County District Attorney’s Office, Atlanta, GA
Palace I (Emperors Level)
11:30 a.m. Joint Session with Civil Rights and Governmental Tort Liability Seminar, Construction Law Seminar, and Women in the Law Seminar

When the Client Relationship Goes Too Far (Ethics)
Hear from Chief Counsel from the City of Phoenix, Managing Counsel for Transunion, and General Counsel for West Virginia University about when socializing with clients, defense counsel, and insurance professionals, gift-giving and campaign contributions (giving and receiving) go too far and become an ethical issue. The panel will be a roundtable discussion of various situations and the ethical impacts of same.

Moderator
Danielle Waltz, Jackson Kelly PLLC, Charleston, WV

David H. Benton, Esq., City of Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ
Sylvia Winston, TransUnion, Carbondale, IL
Stephanie Taylor, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Palace I (Emperors Level)
12:30 p.m. Adjourn  

Hotel Information

The DRI room block at Caesars Palace has now sold out. Please feel free to use the link below to reserve a room outside of the DRI block at Caesars Palace or at an available nearby hotel.

Find a Nearby Hotel and Reserve your Room

CLE Information

Earn up to 6.75 hours of continuing legal education hours, including one (1) hour of ethics credit from this seminar.

Women in the Law CLE by State

Sponsors

DRI's Women in the Law Seminar is proudly sponsored by:

Campbell Trial Lawyers
Ellis Winters ESi Exponent logo
Hartline Barger LLP
Hawkins Parnell & Young, LLP Kightlinger Gray
Laffey Letiner Goode LLC
GoDaddy .law logo Lightfoot Porter | Hedges S-E-A Know.
Seyfarth Shook Hardy & Bacon
Stanton Barton LLC
Womble Bond Dickinson

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

SafeNest

SafeNest

SafeNest is a local support and advocacy center and domestic violence shelter for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. As January is National Human Trafficking Prevention month, our committee thought it would be a suitable charity for the time and location of our event. The committee would like to encourage attendees to donate a dollar amount equivalent to their billable hourly rate (the “donate a billable hour” campaign). Donations will be collected through the DRI Foundation, and a donation will be made to SafeNest on behalf of the DRI Foundation.

To donate online:

  1. Click the "Donate" button or scan the QR code below.
  2. If you have an account with DRI, log in. Use the same login that you registered for this seminar.
  3. If you do not have an account with DRI, create a guest account.
  4. Select from one of the gift amounts or set your own amount. The default value is $100.
  5. Select “Women in the Law” from "My SLC/Region" dropdown box.
  6. Click “Submit Donation.”
  7. The page will refresh. Click “View Cart” to checkout.
  8. Enter your credit card information and click “Submit Order” once all required information is entered.

Donate

Substantive Law Committee QR Code Foundation Contributions

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. Access to these on-demand programs will expire 30 days after the seminar ends.

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:

  1. the importance of succession planning for the benefit both the law firm and its clients;
  2. how succession planning impacts retention and continuity of the firm and client relationships;
  3. how to approach the subject with senior attorneys; and
  4. 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

Other Information

If you have any questions or concerns regarding DRI programs, please contact DRI Customer Service at 312.795.1101 or custservice@dri.org.