2024 DRI Young Lawyers Seminar

June 12–14, 2024
Renaissance Nashville Hotel | Nashville, Tennessee

Downtown Nashville at night

Grow your legal knowledge and professional network!

Join us in Nashville for DRI’s Young Lawyers Seminar! If you are an attorney within your tenth year of practice, this seminar is designed for you. Gain expert insight into how the practice of law is, first and foremost, a business. You will discover that to grow your law practice, you need to hone your legal skills, and learn what it takes to run a successful business - from building and nurturing client relationships, to staying on top of current trends and developments and using technology to your advantage. In addition to exciting programming, there will be ample networking opportunities with attorneys and in-house counsel from across the country!

What You Will Learn:

  • How to become a trusted and reliable business partner to your corporate clients.
  • Tips for developing your legal practice in the post-pandemic world.
  • How to recognize diversity and create an inclusive workplace.
  • Effective communication methods to best advocate your client.
  • Recent developments in legal ethics applicable to law firm management.

Expand Your Network By:

  • Participating in creative networking events to help you grow your professional network.
  • Forging connections with DRI members and in-house attorneys at the Premier Networking Reception.
  • Building relations and expanding your referral network with your peers during small, curated networking events.
  • Developing connections with outside and in-house counsel during dine-arounds and local restaurants.

Counsel Meetings with Major Companies
Take advantage of the opportunity to engage with key industry companies* including:

  • TBD

*Subject to change

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Thank You to DRI's Young Lawyers Committee Leadership

Valerie Phan
Valerie Phan
Program Chair
Kenton H. Steele
Kenton Steele
Program First Vice Chair
Christian Castile
Christian Castile
Program Second Vice Chair
Emily Ruzic
Emily Ruzic
Committee Chair
Tom Wyatt
Tom Wyatt
Committee First Vice Chair
Melissa H. Rose-DeMartini
Melissa H. Rose-DeMartini
Committee Second Vice Chair
J. Richard Moore
J. Richard Moore
Law Institute

Join the Young Lawyers Committee

Registration Information

Member Pricing Non-Member Pricing Non-Member Bundle ^
Onsite Registration $1,695 $2,095 $2,015
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 want to save on your registration? Take advantage of the Non-Member / Trial Membership Bundle when you register for the DRI Young Lawyers Seminar. Select the bundle and get up to 9 months of membership with the membership add-on when you 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: Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

Date: Thursday, June 13 from 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Pricing: Free when you register for the seminar
Location: Bridge Lounge (3rd Floor Atrium), Renaissance Nashville Hotel

Step into the vibrant heart of Nashville where ambition meets opportunity at the DRI Young Lawyers Premier Reception. Immerse yourself in an evening designed for the rising stars of civil litigation at the Bridge Lounge in Renaissance Nashville. Connect with your contemporaries, exchange stories over cocktails, DRI signature mocktail, and savor carefully crafted small bites. This exclusive gathering is more than a networking event—it's a launching pad for the next phase of your inspiring legal journey. Don't miss this chance to be among peers who will shape the future of the legal landscape.

Agenda with Speakers

*Schedule and Speakers subject to change

View Schedule with Room Locations

Women of Color Roundtable (Wednesday 1:00–4:00 p.m.)

Despite diversity and inclusion being a daily topic within the legal profession, the needle is barely moving, in particular, for women of color within the profession. The DRI Women of Color Roundtable will be a candid discussion on challenges facing women of color within the legal profession and will provide insight on how women of color attorneys can overcome those challenges.

Session
Welcome and Introduction

Stacy L. Douglas (Partner and Director of Diversity & Inclusion), Everett Dorey LLP, Los Angeles, CA
Can I Get Close to You? Networking Panel

Moderator
Christina A. Gonzales (Shareholder), Marshall Dennehey, Philadelphia, PA

R. Matt Cairns (Associate General Counsel), Textron, Providence, RI
Geneau M. Thames (General Counsel – VP, General Counsel and Secretary), Harford Mutual Insurance Group, Bel Air, MD
The Path to Promotion

Moderator
Darleene Peters (Partner), Irwin Fritchie Urquhart Moore & Daniels, LLC, New Orleans, LA

Charissa N. Walker (Partner), Tucker Ellis LLP, Cleveland, OH
Sandra Diggs-Miller (Vice President, External Affairs), Entergy, New Orleans, LA
Deborah St. Lawrence Thompson (Partner), Nelson Mullins, Baltimore, MD
Amy Stewart (Owner), Stewart Law Group, Dallas, TX
Show Me the Money

Moderator
Tyrra V. Walker (Associate), Chartwell Law, Atlanta, GA

Reginald Johnson (Chief Diversity Officer & SVP NA Field Human Resources), Signet Jewelers, Dallas, TX
Ron Jordan (Founder), Carter-Whie & Shaw, Chestertown, MD
Douglas K. Burrell (Partner), Chartwell Law, Norcross, GA

Small Networking Opportunities (Wednesday 4:15–6:00 p.m.)

Time (Central) Program
4:15 p.m. Wednesday Wellness Event
F45 Training: 139 12th Ave North, Nashville, Tennessee 37203

Make time for some self-care! Work up a sweat during this afternoon workout at F45 Training. Attendees will be challenged, have fun, and leave feeling stronger. F45 Training is a 45-minute class suitable for all skill levels. Please meet in the hotel lobby no later than 4:00 p.m. so we can walk together (15-minute walk from the hotel) as a group.

Follow the steps below to register:
1. The class is $25 and is not included in your registration.
2. Those who plan on attending, please click here to reserve your spot.
3. Let attendees know you’re attending by adding your contact information here.
5:00 p.m. Lawyers of Color Social Hour

Meet with like-minded professionals from 5-6 p.m. at the world-Famous Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, 422 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203. All are welcome!

Meet in the Renaissance lobby around 4:50 p.m. if you’d like to walk with the group to Tootsie’s. Please note this social hour is a pay-your-own-way event.
6:00 p.m. Young Lawyers Welcome Reception

Breakout Sessions: Deposition Track (Thursday 3:30–5:00 p.m.)

The deposition track will cover high-level strategies and best practices for taking, defending, and preparing for depositions. Over three presentations from eight experienced litigators, attendees can expect to learn practical ways to make the most of the deposition process. Whether defending and taking depositions is a new part of your practice, or if you already have significant deposition experience, this series of presentations will provide valuable insight and techniques that can be applied to ensure you are positioning your client for success.

Tour Guide: Kenton H. Steele, Reminger, Columbus, OH

Time (Central) Program
3:30 p.m. Best Practices for Preparing for and Taking a Deposition

Brendan P. Hall, Harris Beach PLLC, New York, NY
Brian P. Cadigan, Reed Smith, Los Angeles, CA
Brandon M. Pellegrino, Bowman and Brooke LLP, Detroit, MI
4:00 p.m. Best Practices for Defending a Deposition

Noah J. Mason, Locke Lorde, Atlanta, GA
Aditi Deal, Locke Lord LLP, Houston, TX
Kristen A. Soucy, Rogers Townsend, Columbia, SC
4:30 p.m. Best Practices for Preparing a Corporate Witness for Deposition

Brice Nengsu Kenfack, Shook, Hardy & Bacon, Kansas City, MO
Ericka Esposito, Littleton, Joyce, Ughetta & Kelly LLP, Philadelphia, PA
Matt Nathanson, Community Health Systems, Nashville, TN

Breakout Sessions: Motions Track (Thursday 3:30–5:00 p.m.)

Explore the strategic landscape of brief writing and oral argument in the motion track. From crafting effective responses to complaints, to mastering motions in limine and expert witness challenges, this series will take you through the life of a case and offer essential tools for shaping the trajectory of litigation. Whether you're honing your skills or seeking advanced techniques, join us over three insightful sessions to elevate your motion practice and position your clients for success.

Tour Guide: Christian W. Castile, Reed Smith, LLP, Philadelphia, PA

Time (Central) Program
3:30 p.m. Responding to Complaints: Answers, Motions to Dismiss & Removals

W. Chadwick Lamar, Jr., Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, Birmingham, AL
4:00 p.m. Best Practices for Non-Daubert Motions in Limine

Jason R. Hodge, Nelson Mullins, Richmond, VA
4:30 p.m. Best Practices for Daubert Motions

Killian R. Walsh, Knight Nicastro MacKay LLC, St. Louis, MO

Headquarters Hotel Information

The seminar will take place at Renaissance Nashville Hotel, 611 Commerce Street, Nashville, TN 37203.
To contact the hotel directly, call 615-255-8400.

The DRI room block at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel is now sold out. Please use the link below to reserve a room at a nearby available hotel.

Alternative Hotels

If you are planning on attending the conference and have not secured a hotel reservation, search for hotel availability via our trusted partner aRes Travel**. Book online or call 800.559.3186 for assistance; for International callers 619.546.5773.

**aRes Travel is a third-party travel planner. Rates, deposits, and cancellation policies may vary and are the responsibility of the guest. Questions on hotel policies or payments made on aRes website should be directed to the aRes Reservation Center or to the hotel directly.

CLE Information

Earn up to 11.00 hours of continuing legal education hours (CLE), including 1 hour of Ethics from this seminar.

View CLE Credit by State

In some states that charge late CLE submission fees, there will be a $100 late fee to report CLE credits submitted more than 30 days after a seminar/virtual event. Click the button below for more details.

CLE Late Fees

Sponsors

DRI's Young Lawyer Seminar is proudly sponsored by:

Bradley
ESi
Exponent logo
Harris Beach PLLC Attorneys at Law Discover True Engagement
Hartline Barger LLP
Hill Ward Henderson Attorneys at Law
S-E-A Know.
Sturgill Turner
Troutman Pepper
Wilson Turner Kosmo LLP logo

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

Blessings in a Backpack Who Will Feed the Kids this Weekend?

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, June 13. Feeding a child before you feed yourself is a wonderful way to support children and families in the Nashville community.

Donate to Blessings in a Backpack

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.