2026 Advanced Litigation and Trial Strategies in Retail & Hospitality Seminar

Name: 2026 Advanced Litigation and Trial Strategies in Retail and Hospitality Seminar | DRI
Start: 2026-03-25T12:00
End: 2026-03-27T12:25
Location: Renaissance Nashville Hotel

March 25–27, 2026
Renaissance Nashville Hotel | Nashville, Tennessee

Mock Trials and More Connections are waiting in Music City!

Save up to $700 when you register on or before February 9!

Save Your Spot Today

In a groundbreaking experiment, the DRI Litigation Skills and Retail & Hospitality committees are thrilled to present the “Man vs. Machine Mock Trial,” a look into the future of defense litigation and jury evaluations. First, we be presenting a mock trial before a live jury, where their deliberations can be analyzed by seasoned litigators throughout the country. What makes jurors in 2026 tick? What information can be learned from the feedback of actual human jurors? Next, we will then present the same mock trial in a cutting-edge AI Jury Simulation program, which will create artificial “juror personas” to provide us with their own verdict. What information can be learned from the feedback of AI jurors? How do the results of the live and AI juries compare and contrast? How can these tools better prepare defense litigators, our clients, and adjusters to evaluate the value of our cases? We will explore these questions—and more—at our 2026 seminar in Nashville.

What You Will Learn:

Trial advocacy skills from seasoned litigators.
Real-life feedback from modern jurors.
The advancements of AI in jury simulations.

Expand Your Network By:

Connecting with industry leaders through dedicated networking opportunities, including a cocktail hour and small group discussions with peers and experts in litigation.
Engaging with a diverse group of professionals from various sectors, including legal, retail, and hospitality, to broaden your industry perspective and build meaningful relationships.
Participating in hands-on learning experiences like the live and AI jury simulation, offering a unique chance to bond with fellow attendees over shared insights and experiences.
Joining the Dine-Arounds to enjoy informal, on-the-go networking with colleagues and new connections at local restaurants, facilitating deeper conversations and long-lasting professional ties.
Participating in various small group networking activities to explore the great city of Nashville.

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

Thank You to DRI's Litigation Skills and Retail and Hospitality Committee Leadership

Litigation Skills

Murray Scott Flint — **Murray Flint**
Program Chair

**Anelise Codrington**
Program Vice Chair

Pamela Lee — **Pamela Newsom Lee**
Committee Chair

Dwight W. Stone — **Dwight Stone**
Law Institute

Retail and Hospitality

**Jonathan E. Schulz**
Program Vice Chair

**Joseph C. Megariotis**
Committee Chair

**Shawn Y. Libman**
Committee Vice Chair

Discover the opportunities available through Litigation Skills or Retail and Hospitality committees 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 $700 when you register on or before February 9, 2026!

	Member Pricing	Non-Member Pricing	Non-Member Bundle ^
Early Bird Registration * (Now thru Feb. 9)	$1,395	$1,795	$1,715
Regular Registration * (Feb. 10–Mar. 24)	$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 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	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 be held at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel, 611 Commerce Street, Nashville, TN 37203. To speak with the hotel directly, please call 615.225.8400.

A limited number of discounted rooms are available at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. Take advantage of the hotel's group rate of $339.00 Single/Double by making reservations through the link below by February 24, 2026.

Book Online and Secure your Group Rate

Room availability and rates are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservation requests received after this date are subject to room and rate availability.

Networking Events

Premier Networking Reception at JBJ's Nashville
Sponsored by: ABC

Date: Thursday, March 26 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Pricing: Free when you register for the seminar
Location: JBJ's Nashville, 405 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

Step into an evening where business connections meet Nashville energy at the DRI Premier Networking Reception. After a day of learning, join us at the one-of-a-kind JBJ’s Nashville for a truly rocking experience. Unwind with an open bar, live music, and the opportunity to forge lasting connections—this isn’t your average networking event; it’s a night you won’t want to miss. One of the largest bars on Lower Broadway, JBJ’s features the highest rooftop bar on Broadway and offers it all: a tattoo shop, a mechanical bull, with great food and drinks. Every floor is decked out in Bon Jovi memorabilia, making it the ultimate destination for music, history, and entertainment—just a five-minute walk from the hotel.

Full Agenda

*Schedule and speakers are subject to change

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Time (Central)	Session
12:00 p.m.	Registration
5:00 p.m.	Small Group Networking More information to come.
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, March 26, 2026

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 Dwight Stone, Miles & Stockbridge, Baltimore, MD Michael Pivor, Kiernan Trebach, Washington DC
9:15 a.m.	Mock Trial Introduction and Opening Statement Murray Flint, Swift Currie, Birmingham, AL
10:15 a.m.	Coffee Break
10:30 a.m.	Direct and Cross Examinations Leon Silver, Silver Cain PLC, Phoenix, AZ Monica Burkoth, Johnson & Bell, Chicago, IL
11:30 a.m.	Direct and Cross (Cont’d) and Closing Arguments Leon Silver, Silver Cain PLC, Phoenix, AZ Monica Burkoth, Johnson & Bell, Chicago, IL
12:30 p.m.	DRI Networking Lunch
2:00 p.m.	Live Jury Deliberations Nick Polavin, PhD, Jury Connect, Charlotte, NC
3:00 p.m.	Obtain Live Jury Verdict Nick Polavin, PhD, Jury Connect, Charlotte, NC
4:00 p.m.	The AI Jury Simulation Leo Yeykelis, Viewpoint AI, Mountain View, CA Jim Cummings, Viewpoint AI, Mountain View, CA Byron Reeves, Viewpoint AI, Mountain View, CA
5:00 p.m.	Adjourn
5:30–7:30 p.m.	Networking Reception \| JBJ's Nashville Join fellow seminar attendees at JBJ's Nashville. Click here for full details.
7:45 p.m.	Dine-Arounds Join colleagues and friends at selected restaurants for dinner (on your own).

Friday, March 27, 2026 (Litigation Skills)

Time (Central)	Session
8:30 a.m.	Registration and Coffee Service
9:00 a.m.	Welcome and Announcements Anelise Codrington, Chartwell, Atlanta GA
9:10 a.m.	Primer on the Ethical Use of AI Tools in Litigation
10:10 a.m.	Coffee Break
10:25 a.m.	Appellate Considerations for Trial Attorneys
11:25 a.m.	Using Bankruptcy as a Defense
12:25 p.m.	Adjourn

Friday, March 27, 2026 (Retail and Hospitality)

Time (Central)	Session
8:30 a.m.	Registration and Coffee Service
9:00 a.m.	Welcome and Announcements
9:10 a.m.	Trial Advocacy in Retail and Hospitality Cases (Mock Trial Recap) Christian Stegmaier, Collins & Lacy, Columbia, SC Leon Silver, Silver Cain PLC, Phoenix, AZ
10:10 a.m.	Coffee Break
10:25 a.m.	Preserving the Scene: Why Site Inspections Matter and What to Look For Lindsey Lee, Chartwell Law, Atlanta, GA
11:25 a.m.	Walking the Ethical Line: Lawyer Interviews with Corporate Employees Kristie Crawford, Brown & James, Springfield, MO
12:25 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.