2025 Asbestos Medicine Seminar

Name: 2025 Asbestos Medicine Seminar | DRI
Start: 2025-11-12T12:00
End: 2025-11-14T12:25
Location: Tampa Marriott Water Street

November 12–14, 2025
Tampa Marriott Water Street | Tampa, Florida

Sun, Science, and Strategy in Tampa, Florida!

Save up to $500 when you register on or before November 11!
View registration information.

Join us in sunny Tampa for DRI’s premier Asbestos Medicine Seminar, where top-tier defense litigators, leading medical and scientific experts, and timely topics come together in one unforgettable event. Set along Florida’s stunning Gulf Coast, Tampa offers the ideal backdrop for learning, networking, and recharging. This must-attend seminar features cutting edge content that allows attendees to dive into key issues, explore evolving strategies, discover new defense tactics, gain insights from nationally recognized faculty, and engage in meaningful discussions with peers and experts. The best news? You’ll be within walking distance of the Tampa Riverwalk, fresh seafood spots, and the famous Florida sunshine! Don’t miss your chance to be part of the conversation in one of the most vibrant and welcoming cities in the Southeast!

What You Will Learn:

Hear from world-renowned pathologist Dr. Michele Carbone and join us for a meet-and-greet following his session.
Genetics, susceptibility and spontaneous mesotheliomas.
Medical advancements in mesothelioma treatments.
Receiverships in asbestos litigation.
Overcoming the public’s perception of lawyers.
A mock expert hearing and deposition.
An overview and update of talc litigation by seasoned trial lawyers.
The different experiences of LGBTQ+ attorneys in the fourth and final installment of our multi-year diversity initiative.

Expand Your Network By:

Attending the much-anticipated Golf Tournament on Tuesday, November 11.
Forging connections through the Premier Networking Reception included with your registration fee.
Meeting defense counsel from across the US, in-house attendees, and members of the insurance industry.

Introducing the DRI Asbestos Medicine Litigation Awards
We’re proud to launch the first-ever DRI Asbestos Medicine Awards, recognizing excellence and dedication within the asbestos defense bar. This inaugural year features two distinct honors: the Rising Star Award, celebrating emerging attorneys who exemplify promise and professionalism, and the Trial Advocate Award, spotlighting seasoned litigators who have taken cases to verdict with resilience and skill. Both awards will be presented at the 2025 Asbestos Medicine Seminar in Tampa, FL. Nominate a deserving colleague today and help us honor those shaping the future of asbestos litigation.

The deadline for submission is Friday, October 24, 2025.

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

Cooper Industries
Cummins Inc.
Eaton Corporation
Hawkins Parnell & Young, LLP
J-M Manufacturing
Marks, O'Neill, O'Brien, Doherty & Kelly, P.C.
Nissan North America
P&H
Travelers

*Subject to change

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Thank You to DRI's Asbestos Litigation Committee Leadership

**Bruce T. Bishop**
Program Co-Vice Chair

**Mahsa Kashani Tippins**
Program Co-Vice Chair

Join the Asbestos Litigation Committee

Registration Information

Save up to $500 when you register on or before November 11, 2025!

Worry-free registration: Cancellations received thirty (30) days or more before an in-person seminar are entitled to a full refund.

Save Your Spot Today

In registering for this seminar, I attest that I devote a substantial portion of my professional time to defending the interests of individuals, business, associations, or governmental entities in civil litigation. I understand that DRI reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel my registration, without a refund, if I do not meet the criteria described above.

	Member Pricing	Non-Member Pricing	Non-Member Bundle ^
Regular Registration* (Now thru Nov. 11)	$1,595	$1,995	$1,915
Onsite Registration*	$1,695	$2,095	$2,015
Group Registration (Non-Sponsored)	Group registration is for registering four or more attendees. Members and non-members receive a 15% discount off the member and non-member rates respective to the time the group registration is initiated (i.e. Early Bird, Regular or On-Site registration periods). There is one free registration with every 10 paid registrations. If you want to register for the group pricing, fill out the form here. Please note that online registration is not available for this offer.
Government	Effective November 1, 2025, DRI is expanding the Corporate Membership category to include attorneys working for a government entity. Corporate Membership includes complimentary registration for DRI seminars. If you are not already a DRI member, join as a Corporate Member before registering to take advantage of this benefit. If you are a current Government Member, please contact DRI Membership at membership@dri.org and the team can assist in converting your membership, which will allow you to take advantage of the complimentary registration.

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 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. Please note renewing members and members with recently lapsed memberships are not eligible for a Non-Member Bundle.

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.

Networking Events

Premier Networking Reception at the American Social
Sponsored by: ABC

Date: Thursday, November 13 from 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Pricing: Free when you register for the seminar
Location: American Social, 601 S Harbour Island Blvd, Tampa, FL 33602

Connect with top asbestos and health litigation professionals at Tampa’s premier waterfront venue!

Join us for an exclusive evening at American Social on Harbour Island, where you'll enjoy an open bar with craft cocktails, gourmet appetizers and the chance to network with industry leaders—all set against stunning views of Tampa Bay and the Hillsborough River. This stylish venue, known for its modern cuisine and award-winning drinks, offers the perfect backdrop for building meaningful professional connections in a relaxed, scenic atmosphere.

Young Lawyers Get Together (Morning) at Oxford Exchange
Sponsored by: ABC

Date: Wednesday, November 12 at 10:00 a.m.
Pricing: Pay-your-own-way
Location: Oxford Exchange, 420 W. Kennedy Blvd. Tampa, FL 33606

The Young Lawyers Committee is kicking off the 2025 Asbestos Medicine Seminar with brunch at Oxford Exchange on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. It's the perfect chance to connect and chat with fellow young lawyers before the seminar officially begins. To RSVP or for any questions, please contact Brianna Bailey.

Young Lawyers Get Together (Evening) at Predalina
Sponsored by: ABC

Date: Wednesday, November 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Pricing: Pay-your-own-way
Location: Predalina, 1001 E. Cumberland Avenue Tampa, FL 33602

After the networking reception on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, the Young Lawyers Committee invites you to dinner at Predalina at 7:30 p.m. Let's build those essential connections before our Thursday breakout session! To RSVP or for any questions, please contact Brianna Bailey.

Hotel Information

The seminar will take place at Tampa Marriott Water Street, 505 Water St, Tampa, FL 33602.
To contact the hotel directly, call 813.221.4900.

The DRI room block at the Tampa Marriott Water Street 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.

Full Agenda

*Schedule and Speakers subject to change

Tuesday, November 11, 2025 (Golf Outing)

Golf Outing at TPC Tampa Bay Golf Course
Time: Tee times starting at 8:00 a.m.
Pricing: $199/player; $95 rental clubs
Location: TPC Tampa Bay, 5300 W Lutz Lake Fern Rd, Lutz, Florida 33558

Join us Tuesday morning, November 11^th, for the DRI Asbestos Golf Outing at TPC Tampa Bay Golf Course!

Contact Janis Ercambrack for reservations or any questions.

Organized by:
Douglas Simek, Hawkins Parnell & Young, Dallas, TX
Robert C. Manlowe, Williams Kastner, Seattle, WA

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Time (Eastern)	Session
10:00 a.m.	Young Lawyers Get Together at Oxford Exchange Click here for full details.
12:00 p.m.	Registration
1:00 p.m.	Litigation Trends and Verdict Analyses Litigation Trends Michelle Potter, KCIC, Washington, DC Verdict Analyses Moderator Jennifer A. Whelan, MG+M Law, Boston, MA Verdict Analyses Trial Attorneys Michael W. Drumke, Swanson Martin & Bell, LLP, Chicago, IL Tim McGowan, Kelley Jasons McGowan Spinelli Hanna & Reber, Philadelphia, PA Claire C. Weglarz, Womble Bond Dickinson, Los Angeles, CA
2:00 p.m.	Final Installment of the Multi-Year Diversity Initiative: LGBTQ+ Capping off years of conversation and progress, this final panel brings the LGBTQ+ legal experience into focus with perspective, candor, and vision. Moderators Jonathan Terrell, KCIC, Washington, DC Mahsa Kashani Tippins, DCo LLC, Nashville, TN Panelist Michael Silverman, Goldberg Segalla, New York, NY Raymond Rushing, Cummins Inc., Chicago, IL Kerryann M. Cook, The Cook Group, New York, NY
3:00 p.m.	Receiverships in Asbestos Litigation Peter Kelso, Roux, Inc., Washington D.C. William P. Early, Pierce Sloan Kennedy & Early LLC, Charleston, SC
4:00 p.m.	Approaches for Identifying a Virtually Safe Dose (VSD) for Asbestos: The Impact on Toxic-Tort Litigation Dennis J. Paustenbach, PhD, DABT, CIH, TRC Companies, Jackson, WY Michael Stevens, TRC Companies, Denver, CO
5:00 p.m.	Asbestos Committee Meeting (open to all attendees)
6:00 p.m.	Networking / Cocktail Hour
7:30 p.m.	Dine-Arounds Join colleagues and friends at selected restaurants for dinner (on your own).
7:30 p.m.	Young Lawyers Get Together at Predalina Click here for full details.

Thursday, November 13, 2025

Time (Eastern)	Session
8:00 a.m.	Registration & Coffee Service
8:45 a.m.	Welcome and Introductions June J. Essis, Weber Gallagher LLP, Philadelphia, PA Evelyn Fletcher Davis, Hawkins Parnell & Young LLP, Atlanta, GA
9:00 a.m.	Developments in BAP1 Inherited Mutations/Mesothelioma Research Compared to asbestos-induced mesothelioma, mesotheliomas that develop in BAP1 mutant carriers are a different disease, biologically, histologically, and clinically: These patients' lives can be saved with proper medical care. Michele Carbone, M.D., Ph.D., University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI
10:00 a.m.	Break and Meet-and-Greet with Dr. Carbone
10:30 a.m.	Historical Cosmetic Talc Consumption and Incidence of Mesothelioma in the U.S. Jennifer Pierce, MS, PhD, Benchmark Risk Group, Chicago, IL
10:55 a.m.	Spontaneous Mesotheliomas Mark Zellmer, Husch Blackwell, St. Louis, MO
11:20 a.m.	DRI Insights Quick Hit - KCIC (No CLE)
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.	Medical Advancements: Increased Survivability Among Mesothelioma Patients Are plaintiffs staying alive longer due to misdiagnoses or new cancer treatments? Stasha Novakovic, MD, VA Miami Medical Center, Miami, FL
12:30–2:00 p.m.	DRI Networking Lunch
12:45–3:55 p.m.	Talc Breakout Sessions Click the "Talc Breakout" blue tab below for full schedule. Box lunch will be provided.
12:45–3:55 p.m.	Young Lawyers Breakout Sessions Click the "Young Lawyers Breakout" blue tab below for full schedule. Box lunch will be provided.
1:00 p.m.	Lessons in Leadership Breakout An inspiring power hour where female influencers in asbestos defense share key insights on leadership and are recognized for outstanding contributions to our industry. Moderator Bernadette W. Catalana, Thompson Coe, New York, NY Jessica Burgasser, Hawkins Parnell & Young LLP, Buffalo, NY Jennifer Cormier, MG+M Law, San Francisco, CA Jennifer Jousma, Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI
2:00 p.m.	Mock Daubert / 702 Hearing re Plaintiffs' Occupational Medicine Expert Attorney Kevin P. Greene, Willcox Savage, Norfolk, VA Expert Witness Susan J. Cole, MG+M Law, Miami, FL
2:50 p.m.	Mock Cross-Examination of Plaintiffs' State of the Art Expert Attorney David Ongaro, Ongaro PC, San Francisco, CA Expert Witness Bruce T. Bishop, WillCox Savage, Norfolk, VA
3:50 p.m.	Break
4:00 p.m.	Issues Facing Law Firms: Associate Retention, Building a Strong Firm Culture, Growth Strategies Michael J. Cahalane, Cetrulo LLP, Boston, MA Eric T. Hawkins, GRSM LLP, New York, NY
4:00 p.m.	Breakouts (In-House or Insurance Roundtable)
	In-House / Corporate (Open to Defense Counsel) Frank Fletcher, J-M Eagle, Los Angeles, CA Humma Siddiqi, Toyota North America, Dallas, TX
	Insurance Roundtable Frederick Schaefer, Nationwide, Wausau, WI Alexandra Nassopoulos, Resolute Management, Boston, MA Jay Surdukowski, The Riverstone Group, Concord, NH Amanda Webber, Allianz, Petaluma, CA Jerry Begley, Travelers, Suffield, CT
5:00 p.m.	Adjourn
5:30 p.m.	Premier Networking Reception \| American Social Join fellow seminar attendees at American Social, 601 S Harbour Island Blvd, Tampa, FL 33602. Click here for full details.
7:45 p.m.	Dine-Arounds Join colleagues and friends at selected restaurants for dinner (on your own).

Friday, November 14, 2025

Time (Eastern)	Session
8:30 a.m.	Registration and Coffee Service
9:00 a.m.	Welcome and Announcements Bruce T. Bishop, Willcox Savage, Norfolk, VA Mahsa Kashani Tippins, DCo LLC, Nashville, TN
9:10 a.m.	Overcoming Challenging Laws and Jury Instructions Jerry C. Popovich, Hawkins Parnell & Young LLP, Santa Ana, CA Robert R. Rigolosi, Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney, New York, NY Tobin Taylor, Heyl Royster, Chicago, IL
10:10 a.m.	Break
10:25 a.m.	Counter Anchoring Robert C. Manlowe, Williams Kastner, Seattle, WA David C. Marshall, Hawkins Parnell & Young, LLP, Atlanta, GA Melissa Loberg, PhD, Loberg Litigation Consulting, Safety Harbor, FL
11:25 a.m.	Scoundrels & Saints: Lessons from History’s Worst and Best Attorneys (Ethics) The presentation will review some of the most significant historical contributions made by attorneys to our world, both positively and negatively. We will also review public attitudes towards attorneys the legal profession, our obligation as professions to enhance the public’s view of the legal profession and practical steps we can all take to make the law better and more respected to the public at large. James A. Lowery, GRSM LLP, Dallas, TX
12:25 p.m.	Adjourn

Talc Breakout (Thursday 12:45–3:55 p.m.)

Time (Eastern)	Session
12:45 p.m.	National Coordinating Counsel Meeting (box lunch provided) This meeting is for lawyers who manage talc litigation nationwide. It is designed to give them one hour to discuss litigation strategy and paths forward in a unified way. Box Lunch to be provided.
1:45 p.m.	Review of Recent Scientific Literature Caroline M. Tinsley, Tucker Ellis LLP, St. Louis, MO Todd C. Alley, Hawkins Parnell & Young LLP, Atlanta, GA
2:10 p.m.	FDA Testing R. Thomas Radcliffe, DeHay & Elliston LLP, Baltimore, MD
2:35 p.m.	IARC Monograph Update Will Stute, King & Spalding LLP, Miami, FL
3:00 p.m.	Cleavage Fragment Studies Jennifer Pierce, MS, PhD, Benchmark Risk Group, Chicago, IL
3:30 p.m.	Update on Dr. Moline Case Series Litigation/Exclusion Robert E. Thackston, Nelson Mullins, Dallas, TX Kaitlin Del Vecchio Motley, Nelson Mullins, Baltimore, MD

Young Lawyer Breakout (Thursday 12:45–3:55 p.m.)

Time (Eastern)	Session
12:45 p.m.	Bankruptcy Trust Panel: How to Get the Alternative Exposure You Need (box lunch provided) Speaker Sarah Beth Jones, Gay Jones & Kuhn PLLC, Jackson, MS Insurance Representative Amanda Webber, Allianz, Petaluma, CA Litigator Jenni L. Young, Hawkins Parnell & Young LLP, Chicago, IL Medicare Reporting Lawyer Catherine E. Goldhaber, Lathrop GPM, Chicago, IL
1:30 p.m.	Deposition Training: How to Develop a Story Heather S. Kirkpatrick, DeHay & Elliston, Walnut Creek, CA Thomas H. Balestracci, DeHay & Elliston, Boston, MA
2:15 p.m.	Expert Witnesses: Different Types and How they Help Case Progression Michele Fanney Dallman, Willcox Savage, Norfolk, VA
2:45 p.m.	How To Effectively Cross-Examine a Plaintiff’s Causation Expert Witness Amorya M. Orr, Cosmich Simmons & Brown, PLLC, Jackson, MS
3:20 p.m.	Mock Direct Examination of a Defense Expert Douglas R. Simek, Hawkins Parnell & Young, LLP, Dallas, TX Dennis J. Paustenbach, PhD, DABT, CIH, Paustenbach & Associates, Jackson, WY

CLE Information

Earn up to 12.50 hours of continuing legal education hours (CLE), including 1.00 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 here for details on CLE late fees.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

DRI's Asbestos Medicine Seminar is proudly supported by:

Medical Records Retrieval Record Speed Record Retrieval

McCaffery & Associates Inc Historical Research

If you would like to contact DRI about seminar sponsorship opportunities (including pricing) or to reserve a spot, please visit the sponsorship page.

DRI Cares

Soldiers' Angels

Please join us in supporting Soldiers’ Angels. With a global network of volunteers, Soldiers’ Angels works to ensure that those who serve or have served are supported, uplifted and remembered though a variety of programs. During our conference, attendees will have the opportunity to provide a little holiday cheer and help brighten the spirits of service members and veterans. Additional details on where and when will be updated soon. All are welcome. If you are interested in helping with coordination and setting up the event, please contact Carolyn Husmann.

Learn More and Donate

Additional Resources

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