2025 Women in the Law Seminar

February 26–28, 2025
Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk | San Antonio, Texas

Group of women in a lounge room

Unlock Your Potential and Master Professional Excellence!

Save up to $700 when you register on or before January 13, 2025!
View registration information.

Register Online

Women in the legal field have expended tremendous amounts of time, energy and resources working our way into a professional mold that was built for us, but not by us. We have successfully worked to come into our own in a profession that is challenging for any practitioner and doubly challenging for us. And even with those successes, all too often we tell ourselves it is not enough. As we push ourselves to do more and be more, because we feel that is what we have to do to succeed, we must remember to embrace the courage and tenacity we demonstrate every day as we persevere to overcome the barriers that stand in our way. At this seminar, we will lean into our collective bravery through open and honest conversations about our authenticity and the strengths we demonstrate through our struggles. Together, we will celebrate our victories, even as we share our challenges, as strong, courageous, and audacious Women in the Law.

What You Will Learn:

  • Unique challenges for women’s health and well-being and how your life literally depends upon it.
  • How to approach the defense of claims in litigation from a trauma-informed perspective.
  • Effectively managing your personal and professional life as the female breadwinner.
  • Why investing your time in a passion outside of the law can make you a better lawyer.
  • How to effectively communicate with C-suite executives and other non-legal professionals.
  • What makes Bravo and all those housewives so interesting anyway?

Expand Your Network By:

  • Discussing important topics like women’s health, understanding trauma and its effects on litigants, and making the hard decisions with fantastic speakers, including eight in-house counsel.
  • Making lifelong friends and colleagues at a one-of-kind networking event.

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

  • TBD

*Subject to change

Representatives from These Companies Will Be in Attendance
Engage with claims professionals who either hire or supervise outside counsel:

  • TBD

*Subject to change

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Thank You to DRI's Women in the Law Committee Leadership

Bethany N. White
Bethany White
Program Chair
dennison-kristen-120x156
Kristen Dennison
Program Vice Chair
Meade Hartfield
C. Meade Hartfield
Committee Chair
Jennifer Nutter
Jennifer F. Nutter
Committee Vice Chair
J. Richard Moore
J. Richard Moore
Law Institute

Join the Women in the Law Committee

Registration Information

Save up to $700 when you register on or before January 13, 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

Member Pricing Non-Member Pricing Non-Member Bundle ^
Early Bird Registration*
(Now thru Jan. 13)
$1,395 $1,795 $1,715
Regular Registration*
(Jan. 14–Feb. 25)
$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. 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. Please note that online registration is not available for this offering.
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.

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 Event at the XXXXX
Sponsored by: ABC

Date: Wednesday, Month Day from 7:00–10:00 p.m.
Pricing: Free when you register for the seminar (guest tickets $100 each, available at check-out)
Location: XXXXX, Address, City, State

TBD.

Hotel Information

The seminar will take place at Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk, 600 E Market Street, San Antonio, TX 78205.
To contact the hotel directly, call 210.224.1234.

A limited number of discounted hotel rooms have been made available at the Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk. Take advantage of the group rate of $279.00 Single/Double.

Reserve your Room Online

The hotel block is limited, and rooms and rates are available on a first-come, first-served basis. You must make reservations by February 5, 2025, to be eligible for the hotel's group rate. Requests for reservations made after February 5 are subject to room and rate availability.

Full Agenda

*Schedule and Speakers subject to change

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Time (Central) Session
12:00 p.m. Registration
3:00 p.m. Women's Wellness Workshop

Lawyers live their lives by deadlines, by client expectations, and by the drive to develop sustainable business. Women in the law face additional stresses and health risks that impact their personal and professional wellness. Too often, we as women, make everything a priority but ourselves, including our own health. When that nagging headache won’t go away, or the butterflies in our stomach become constant, we tell ourselves that we will deal with it later or convince ourselves that it’s nothing to worry about. However, prioritizing health and self-care is part and parcel of maintaining our professional responsibilities to our clients and our partners: We can’t be at our best if we are not consciously listening to our bodies and minds. In this workshop, Niki Schaefer, Vice President and General Counsel at ReliabilityFirst, will share her compelling story about her own major health event and its impact on her both professionally and personally. We will then engage in a moderated discussion with experts, including a representative of the Texas Lawyers Assistance Program, about women lawyers' physical and mental health, including how common health issues present specifically (and differently) in women, when and how to seek treatment, and simple ways to incorporate healthier habits into our daily lives.

Niki D. Schaefer, ReliabilityFirst, Cleveland, OH
Kristen Davis, Neurophysique Online Nutrition and Fitness, Alabama
Panelist from Texas Lawyers' Assistance Program
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).

Thursday, February 27, 2025

Time (Central) Session
8:30 a.m. Registration & Coffee Service

Get to know the early risers in our group over a cup of coffee.
9:00 a.m. Welcome and Introductions

J. Richard Moore, Bleeke Dillon Crandall, Indianapolis, IN
Bethany N. White, Arnett Law Group LLC, Chicago, IL
9:15 a.m. Keynote: A True Story of Bravery on Broadway

Join Michele Smith for a thought and emotion-provoking discussion with actress and author, Christine Barker, about her book Third Girl from the Left, her life on Broadway during the height of the AIDS epidemic, and how we find value and strength in living our most authentic life.

Michele Y. Smith, MehaffyWeber PC, Houston, TX
Christine Barker (Author), Greenwich, CT
9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. DRI Cares - Blessings in a Backpack

Click here for details on this DRI Cares session.
10:15 a.m. Coffee Break
10:30 a.m. Empathy Against the Egregious: Navigating Sex Abuse and Other Psychologically Traumatic Injuries Using a Trauma-Informed and Empathetic Approach in Litigation

Cases involving sexual trauma can be particularly challenging to defend given the nature of the injury and the juxtaposition of our human nature to be sympathetic and the need to be an advocate for defendants accused of allowing these types of injuries to occur. Using their experience defending sex trafficking lawsuits, the speakers will discuss the importance of understanding the impact of trauma and how empathy toward litigants can not only be used as an effective strategy in litigation but can also showcase our humanity when defending these types of difficult cases.

Chelsea Mikula, Tucker Ellis, Cleveland, OH
Marcella C. Ducca, Greenberg Traurig LLP, Atlanta, GA
Aleksandra Zivanovic, SGI Canada, Toronto, ON
11:30 a.m. The Litigation of Bravo: What the Real Housewives Teach Us About the Law

For most of us, Bravo’s reality television lineup is a guilty pleasure after slogging through the minutiae of our daily professional lives. However, as entertaining as the Real Housewives' antics are on screen, their off-the-screen legal antics are not only interesting but educational. Join Angela Angotti, the host of the smash hit podcast, The Bravo Docket, and Rachel Frost as they discuss some of the fascinating litigation involving Bravo’s most famous ladies. Our speakers will share their insights on the overlap between the on-screen drama we see on TV and what we just might see in our cases, and how to use humor and grace to address and diffuse any off-screen drama.

Angela L. Angotti, Bowman & Brooke, Austin, TX
Rachel Frost, Bowman & Brooke, New Brunswick, NJ
12:30 p.m. Women in the Law Awards Luncheon

Join the Women in the law seminar attendees for celebratory lunch as we spotlight the annual recipient of the Mary Massaron award.
2:00 p.m. Breakouts

Join a smaller group of attendees for interactive discussion about topical issues that matter to you in our break-out sessions.

Breakout 1
Defying Expectations: Navigating the Professional and Personal as the Primary Breadwinner

Over the last century, women have gone from primarily staying in the home to comprising an equal part of the workforce, which means more and more women have become the primary source of income for their households. Given long-held institutional views of women’s roles in and outside the home, the shift in the power dynamic resulting from this fact can create a variety of issues impacting women personally and professionally. Hear from our panel of women three intergenerational attorneys in different stages of life on the myriad issues they have faced as the primary breadwinner, how they have navigated those issues, and what advice they would give to other women lawyers in the same position.

Ashley Brathwaite, Ellis & Winters, Raleigh, NC
Stephanie Holcombe, Porter Hedges, LLP, Houston, TX
Ericka Esposito, Littleton, Joyce Ughetta & Kelly, LLP, Radnor, PA

Breakout 2
Artificial Intelligence: Best Practices for Counsel in a Brave New World

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way our clients do business, and its use can reduce costs and improve efficiencies for those who are able to adapt. Outside counsel need to be ready to advise clients on emerging trends and provide best practices to properly and ethically leverage this technology. This breakout session will provide an overview of the benefits, risks and mitigation strategies related to AI use; explain the importance of implementing a corporate AI use policy; discuss tools and best practices for AI use; and provide an update on current regulations relating to AI across the globe.

Jennifer L. Steinmetz, Tucker Ellis, Cleveland, OH
Michael Weil, Deloitte Risk & Financial Advisory, Las Vegas, IL
Michelle Bogosh, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) Company, Chicago, IL
3:00 p.m. Women in the Law Committee Meeting (open to all)
3:30 p.m. Adjourn
3:30 p.m. Small Group Networking Opportunities

Sign up for one of these options and start building your connections and developing relationships! Details circulated after registration.
3:30 p.m. Margarita Making Class (3:30–4:30 p.m.)

Join fellow Women in the Law attendees for a fun and interactive event where you’ll connect with others while making your own margaritas! Learn the basics of crafting a classic margarita, experiment with unique flavors, and enjoy great conversations in a relaxed, social environment. Perfect for anyone looking to meet new friends and contacts in a casual environment. Snacks will be provided.

This event will take place onsite at the hotel. Please note this event is an additional cost and can be added when you register for the seminar. This event will cost $85; max is 25 people.
4:45 p.m.
Margarita Making Class (4:45–5:45 p.m.)

Unable to make the earlier slot? You’re in luck! Sign up to join fellow Women in the Law attendees for a fun and interactive event where you’ll connect with others while making your own margaritas!

This event will take place onsite at the hotel. Please note this event is an additional cost and can be added when you register for the seminar. This event will cost $85; max is 25 people.
6:00 p.m. Premier Networking Reception

Join fellow seminar attendees at our Premier Networking Reception. More details to come.
7:00 p.m. Evening Networking

Join fellow seminar attendees at one of our famous evening networking events. Details circulated after registration.

Friday, February 28, 2025

Time (Central) Session
8:30 a.m. Registration & Coffee Service
8:30 a.m. Celebrating Each Other’s Victories

Have a personal or professional victory, large or small, that we should celebrate? We invite anyone to share and celebrate their overlooked successes with the group and receive the accolades you deserve.
9:00 a.m. Welcome and Announcements

Bethany N. White, Arnett Law Group LLC, Chicago, IL
Kristen E. Dennison, Littleton Joyce Ughetta & Kelly LLP, Merritt Island, FL
9:10 a.m. Elevate Your Practice by Elevating Your Communication

As lawyers, we are trained to effectively communicate with other lawyers and in a courtroom. However, what may not come as naturally is effective communication with a non-lawyer, particularly when it comes to educating a person in a position of authority about complex legal issues. Join us for an enthralling fireside chat with two women who know how it’s done. They will share their tried-and-true tips on how to tailor our communication styles to most effectively deliver our message to the C-suite decision makers and non-lawyers found in the board rooms.

Amy Mass, Hanover Insurance Company, Worcester, MA
Elizabeth Freedman, BTS, Boston, MA
10:10 a.m. Coffee Break
10:25 a.m. Building Resiliency and Becoming a Better Lawyer Through Passion Projects

One way to build resiliency and combat the stress of the legal profession is to devote time to a cause that brings you joy. A passion project can refill the gas tank and make us better and more focused lawyers. Join us for a discussion with three Women in the Law committee members about their personal passion projects, how they were able to balance their professional lives while making time to fulfill their passion, and how investing in that passion improved not only their personal but their professional lives.

C. Meade Hartfield, Bradley, Birmingham, AL
Quyen Le, Gordon Rees, San Francisco, CA
Jessica Saunders Eichel, Combe Incorporated, White Plains, NY
11:25 a.m. Making the Hard (but Ethical) Decisions

The practice of law is never more difficult than when the right and most legally sound and ethical decision may also result in a negative impact to your client or organization. Four in-house attorneys will discuss their experience making the hard decisions, including managing ethical quagmires, addressing internal struggles with those decisions, and dealing with the impact those decisions may have on business operations.

Kathleen O’Toole, McDonald’s, Chicago, IL
Sarah Fulkerson, BJC, Kansas City, MO
Erin Villasenor, Energy Transfer, Houston, TX
Patricia Conti, Dollar Tree/Family Dollar, Chesapeake, VA
12:25 p.m. Adjourn

CLE Information

Earn up to TBD 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.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

DRI's Women in the Law Seminar is proudly supported by:

Dorris and Associates International

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

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 Thursday morning. Feeding a child before you feed yourself is a wonderful way to support children and families in the San Antonio 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.