2025 DRI North America

Name: 2025 DRI North America
Start: 2025-08-21T8:00
End: 2025-08-21T16:00
Location: Ontario Bar Association Conference Centre

August 20–21, 2025
Ontario Bar Association Conference Centre | Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Navigate the New USMCA with Confidence!

View registration information.

Recent evolving trade policies within North America will have significant legal and financial implications. Join DRI and the Canadian Defence Lawyers (CDL) for a discussion about the renegotiated United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and its broader implications for the legal and business communities. Hear from legal experts in Canada, Mexico and the United States who will prepare you and your clients for the new normal under a renegotiated USMCA Trade Agreement.

What You Will Learn:

The history and importance of North American trade agreements.
How to help clients navigate international trade in an era of rapidly changing tariffs and regulations.
The regulatory and business environment in which multi-national clients are operating. Want to gain a new client? Know their business.
How to advise clients on matters relating to international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution.

Expand Your Network By:

Meeting and networking with lawyers from Canada, Mexico and the United States at: Dine-Arounds, Roundtable Discussions, and Opening Reception
Engaging with in-house counsel from multi-national companies.
Exchanging ideas in roundtable discussions with peers about challenging issues in international trade.
Developing relationships with members of the Canadian Defence Lawyers joining us for this event.

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Registration Information

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 conference, 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*	$695	$895	$815
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	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 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.

Hotel Information

The seminar will take place at Ontario Bar Association Conference Centre, 20 Toronto Street, 2nd Floor, Toronto, ON M5C.

There are several hotels near the conference that you can book online. Please use one of the links below to make your reservation.

The Omni King Edward Toronto – 37 King Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 1 E9
Marriott W Toronto – 90 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4W 1A7
Nobu Hotel – 33 Mercer St, Toronto, ON M5V 1H2, Canada
One King West Hotel – 1 King Street West Toronto, ON M5H 1A1

Full Agenda

Presented by DRI in collaboration with Canadian Defence Lawyers.

*Schedule and Speakers subject to change

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Time (Eastern)	Session
5:00 p.m.	Networking Reception Start the seminar off with a reception at the newly renovated Ontario Bar Association Conference Centre with great views of downtown Toronto.
6:30 p.m.	Dine-Arounds Join colleagues and friends at selected restaurants for dinner! We’ll book the reservations at some great local restaurants. All you have to do is sign up and get ready for a great meal and even better networking and conversations. Dinner not included in the cost of registration.

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Time (Eastern)	Session
8:00 a.m.	Continental Breakfast and Networking
9:00 a.m.	Welcome and Introductions Dean Martinez (CEO), DRI, Inc., Chicago, IL Danielle Russell, CAE, C.Dir (Executive Director), Canadian Defence Lawyers, Markham, Ontario, Canada
9:10 a.m.	The Implications of a Renegotiated USMCA for Attorneys that Represent Business José María San Juan Orozco (Co-Founder), Expand 2 Mexico (E2M), Mexico City, Mexico Dean Martinez (CEO), DRI, Inc., Chicago, IL
10:10 a.m.	The Past is Prologue: The History of NAFTA → USMCA Juan Morado, Benesch, Chicago, IL Martha Harrison, McCarthy Tetrault, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Jorge de Hoyos, De Hoyos Y Aviles SC, Mexico City, Mexico
11:10 a.m.	Break
11:30 a.m.	Dispute Resolution in Uncertain Times: Navigating Legal Challenges in a Shifting Landscape As the USMCA reshapes regional trade frameworks, looming tariffs strain international commerce, and Mexico undertakes transformative reforms to its judicial appointment system, businesses face a rapidly evolving dispute resolution environment. This panel will explore how legal practitioners are advising clients amidst these uncertainties, focusing on strategic risk assessment, the use of treaty-based protections, and agile approaches to arbitration and litigation. Panelists will share insights on staying ahead of legal disruptions while preserving clients’ commercial interests across borders. Ann Ryan Robertson, C.Arb FCIArb, Independent Arbitrator, Houston, TX Cecilia Flores Rueda, FloresRueda Abogados, Mexico City, Mexico Sonia Bjorkquist, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
12:30 p.m.	Networking Lunch
1:30 p.m.	International Tariffs – Next Steps for Businesses and Their Counsel Nicolas Guzman, Faegre Drinker, Chicago, IL Sabrina A. Bandali, Bennett Jones, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Roberto Sarralde Rodriguez, Garrigues, Monterrey, Mexico
2:30 p.m.	Break
3:00 p.m.	International Roundtable Our speakers have done most of the talking, but now it’s your turn! We will open the floor for a lively discussion about the issues of the day and how best to tackle the current legal and administrative environment while zealously representing your clients.
4:00 p.m.	Adjourn

CLE Information

Earn up to 4.00 hours of continuing legal education hours (CLE) from this conference. CLE is also being sought from Canadian provinces.

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

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

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.