Thank You to Center's Climate Change and Sustainability Task Force Leadership
Steve Siros
Task Force Chair
Holly J. Stanford
Task Force Vice Chair
Learn More About This Task Force
Hotel Information
This event has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience. For questions, contact custservice@dri.org.
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.
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.
DRI North American Seminar is proudly supported by:
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
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 XXXXX. Feeding a child before you feed yourself is a wonderful way to support children and families in the XXXXX community.
Donate to Blessings in a Backpack
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.