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
Registration Information
Save up to $400 when you register on or before September 23, 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.
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Member Pricing |
Non-Member Pricing |
Non-Member Bundle ^ |
Regular Registration*
(Now thru Sept 23) |
$695 |
$895 |
$815 |
Onsite Registration* |
$895 |
$1,095 |
$1,015 |
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 |
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.
Networking Events
Networking / Cocktail Hour at South Branch
Date: Wednesday, September 24 from 6:00–7:00 p.m.
Pricing: Free when you register for the seminar
Location: South Branch, 100 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606
Kick off your evening at our Welcome Networking Reception at the South Branch Tavern and Grill along the Chicago riverfront. Join us for an unforgettable evening of connections and Chicago charm.
Hotel Information
The seminar will take place at DRI Headquarters, 222 S. Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606.
DRI has secured a discounted rate for anyone in Chicago on a DRI business trip at two Hyatt properties downtown (both are a short walk to the office). To book your room at a discount rate, please access one of the links below.
Full Agenda
*Schedule and Speakers subject to change
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Time (Central) |
Session |
8:00 a.m. |
Coffee & Pastries at DRI Headquarters
|
8:30 a.m. |
Welcome and Introductions
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8:45 a.m. |
Overview of PFAS Litigation: Federal and State Developments
PFAS litigation is exploding in state and federal courts across the country. Learn about the latest developments in the Aqueous Film Forming Foams (AFFF) MDL as well as litigation in other federal and state courts across the country. This session will explore the various personal injury, property damage, water contamination and natural resources claims that plaintiffs are asserting and highlight some of the issues and defenses that have arisen and how they have been addressed. Whether you’re involved in PFAS litigation or simply want to keep clients apprised of the latest developments, this session will provide an overview of where PFAS litigation stands and what’s likely to come next.
Peter Condron, Crowell & Moring LLP, Washington, DC
Dominique Savinelli, Husch Blackwell LLP, Washington, DC |
9:45 a.m. |
What You Need to Know About Testing for PFAS in Products and the Environment for Litigation and Regulatory Compliance
We will explore issues with how scientists identify and quantitate PFAS in consumer products, waste streams, and environmental media, including the limitations and potential complications of these analyses. We’ll explore the questions you should ask when an expert reports the type and amount of PFAS in your sample, and why you shouldn’t always take “the numbers” at face value.
Tiffany Thomas, Ph.D., Exponent, Bellevue, WA
Matt Perricone, Ph.D., RJ Lee, Pittsburgh, PA |
10:45 a.m. |
Break
|
11:00 a.m. |
What Can You Expect from a PFAS Blood Test?
PFAS have been detected in the blood of many people in the U.S. What can these blood tests tell us and what are their limitations? What is the current state of the science connecting PFAS exposure to potential health effects? In this session, we’ll discuss issues of exposure and health effects.
Robert P. DeMott, PhD, DABT, Ramboll, Tampa, FL |
12:00 p.m. |
DRI Networking Lunch
Join seminar attendees for lunch and networking opportunities.
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12:45 p.m. |
Regulating PFAS in Products: Where Are We and Where Are We Going?
Manufacturers, importers, and retailers are all facing a rapidly evolving set of disclosure requirements and bans for products that contain PFAS. Join this discussion of lessons learned in early-adopting states, with a look ahead to the likely landscape of state and federal regulatory requirements for products that may contain PFAS. As regulatory scrutiny intensifies, companies at all levels of the product supply chain will need strategies to navigate this emerging patchwork of legal risks and responsibilities.
Moderator
Shelly Geppert, CHG Group, Inc., Downers Grove, IL
Panel
Graham Zorn, Beveridge & Diamond PC, Washington, DC
Leah Kaiser, Husch Blackwell LLP, Washington, DC |
1:45 p.m. |
Break
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2:00 p.m. |
Insurance for PFAS Claims
This session will cover new PFAS exclusions introduced by individual insurers and ISO, as well as case law addressing the application of pollution exclusions to PFAS claims. In addition, this discussion will note the sometimes-nuanced insurance questions posed in relation to whether PFAS-related claims are product liability or nonproduct BI or PD claims. In a review of PFAS insurance cases, it will also touch on jurisdictional issues raised in one of the early PFAS coverage cases. Finally, the segment will look beyond CGL policies and consider different policy types such as Pollution Legal Liability (PLL) policies, which may offer some PFAS-related coverage.
Seth Lamden, Blank Rome LLP, Chicago, IL
|
3:00 p.m. |
Adjourn |
CLE Information
Earn up to 5.00 hours of continuing legal education hours (CLE) 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.
Center's PFAS 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.