2026 Boot Camp for New Life, Health, and Disability Lawyers

July 15–16, 2026
DRI Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois

Downtown Chicago with Chicago River view

Boost Your Life, Health, and Disability Knowledge at Litigation Boot Camp!

Save up to $400 when you register on or before July 14!

The DRI Life, Health, and Disability Committee is once again sponsoring a program for lawyers who are new to the practice. The program will be led by highly experienced attorneys and will be aimed at providing a basic understanding of the concepts applicable to life, health, and disability litigation. This program receives rave reviews each year it is held. Lawyers who are new to the practice or who wish to brush up on their skills are encouraged to attend!

To encourage a classroom atmosphere, registration will be limited to 50 people.

What You Will Learn:

Basic policy provisions in individual and group life insurance and disability insurance.
ERISA basics as they apply to life, health, and disability litigation.
Strategy for defense of life, health, and disability litigation.
Essential information about life, health, disability, and ERISA litigation for Young Lawyers and lawyers who are new to this area.

Expand Your Network By:

Engaging with program speakers who collectively have decades of experience litigating life, health, disability, and ERISA disputes throughout the United States.
Connecting with colleagues practicing throughout the country to get ahead of building your network!

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Committee Leadership
Registration Information
Hotel Information
Networking Events
Full Agenda
CLE Information
Sponsors
Additional Resources

Thank You to DRI's Life, Health and Disability Committee Leadership

Sarah J. Delaney — **Sarah Delaney**
Committee Chair

Patrick Begos — **Patrick W. Begos**
Committee Vice Chair

Discover the opportunities available through the Life, Health and Disability committee and and learn how you can get involved.
Join today and make a difference

Registration Information

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

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.

Save up to $400 when you register on or before July 14, 2026!

	Member Pricing	Non-Member Pricing	Non-Member Bundle ^
Regular Registration * (Now thru Jul. 14)	$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.
Corporate/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.
Non-Member Bundle ^	If you're new to DRI and not a DRI member, 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 checkout. Discover the benefits of DRI membership. Note: Trial membership processing can take up to 30 days from the date of purchase. Renewing members and members with recently lapsed memberships are not eligible for a Non-Member Bundle.

*If your membership has recently lapsed, please renew it before registering to ensure you receive the discounted member rate. If you are interested in joining DRI to receive the member pricing, click here to visit the Application page.

Hotel Information

The seminar will take place at DRI Headquarters, 222 S. Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606.

DRI has secured a discounted rate for seminar attendees at the Hyatt Centric, conveniently located in the Loop and just a short walk from the hotel to DRI Headquarters. To book your room at a discounted rate, please use the link below.

Hyatt Centric The Loop Chicago – 100 W. Monroe St., Chicago, IL 60603

Networking Events

Networking / Cocktail Hour at South Branch

Date: Wednesday, July 15 from 5:30–6:30 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 at 5:30 p.m. for an unforgettable evening of connections and Chicago charm.

Full Agenda

*Schedule and speakers are subject to change

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Time (Central)	Session
5:30 p.m.	Welcome Reception at South Branch Click here for details on the reception
6:30 p.m.	Dine-Arounds Join colleagues and friends at selected restaurants for dinner (on your own).

Time (Central)

Session

5:30 p.m.

Welcome Reception at South Branch

Click here for details on the reception

6:30 p.m.

Dine-Arounds

Join colleagues and friends at selected restaurants for dinner (on your own).

Thursday, July 16, 2026

Time (Central)	Session
8:00 a.m.	Coffee Service and Assorted Pastries
8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.	Registration
8:30 a.m.	Welcome and Opening Remarks Sarah Delaney, Goldberg Segalla, Buffalo, NY
8:40 a.m.	Disability Insurance Basics Learn the differences between group and individual disability insurance policy clauses, defenses, and bad faith. Kristina Holmstrom, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., Phoenix, AZ
9:40 a.m.	Life Insurance Basics Discussion of life insurance coverage, insurable interest, stranger-originated life insurance (STOLI) and accidental death coverage. Sarah Delaney, Goldberg Segalla, Buffalo, NY
10:30 a.m.	Refreshment Break
10:40 a.m.	Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance Basics Discussion of group accidental death and dismemberment insurance policy clauses, bases for claims, and defenses. Brooks Magratten, Pierce Atwood LLP, Providence, RI
11:30 a.m.	Analyzing the Claim File and Preparing for Litigation Practical tips for the ERISA life, health, and disability defense lawyer. Joshua Bachrach, Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP, Philadelphia, PA
12:30 p.m.	DRI Networking Lunch Onsite
1:00 p.m.	Discovery Issues and Strategies Learn how to analyze and respond to discovery issues in life, health, and disability litigation. Jason A. James, Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, Irvine, CA Moheeb H. Murray, Bush Seyferth PLLC, Detroit, MI
1:50 p.m.	ERISA Litigation Primer Discussion of the substantive and procedural legal issues that apply in ERISA-governed life, health, and disability litigation. Mark E. Schmidtke, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC, Valparaiso, IN
2:50 p.m.	Break
3:00 p.m.	Health Insurance and Review of Health Claim Files Discussion of the basic terms and coverage issues that arise in medical and health plan disputes and methods for reviewing health benefit claim files. Partick W. Begos, Robinson Cole, Stamford, CT
3:45 p.m.	Adjourn

CLE Information

Earn up to TBD hours of continuing legal education hours (CLE), including TBD hour of Ethics credit 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

If you would like to learn about seminar sponsorship opportunities, including pricing, or to reserve your spot, please fill out the form to get started.

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 that are not addressed on our website, please contact DRI Customer Service at 312.795.1101 or custservice@dri.org.