2026 Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Seminar

April 15–17, 2026
Hyatt Regency Miami | Miami, Florida

Miami beach with view of palm trees and downtown

Essential Insights for Environmental Litigators: New Technologies, Regulations, and Emerging Threats

Save up to $700 when you register on or before March 2!

Save Your Spot Today

The practice areas of toxic torts and environmental law are continuously evolving with new defense strategies, changing case law, and soaring jury verdicts. This year’s conference will be held in sunny Miami. Join us at the nation’s premier conference for toxic tort and environmental law practitioners to reconnect with colleagues and discover the latest strategies in the field. Register today for three days of education, business development opportunities, and more!

What You Will Learn:

  • Trends and recent developments in various areas of toxic tort and environmental litigation.
  • Recent developments and changes in regulatory areas affecting your practice areas.
  • Benefits (and potential pitfalls) of AI uses in your practice and at trial.
  • The pros and cons of citizen science and its effect on your practice.
  • Legal updates on microplastics, asbestos and talc litigation, quartz countertop litigation and more!

Expand Your Network By:

  • Strengthening your defense practice by learning alongside peers facing similar challenges in toxic tort and environmental litigation.
  • Building lasting professional relationships through various networking opportunities, including lunches and panel discussions.

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 in-house counsel, claims professionals, and expert representatives from these companies* and more:

  • TBD

*Subject to change

To save this page as a PDF, click on the "Print Brochure" button and under printer destination select "Save as PDF" or "Print to PDF."

Print Brochure

Thank You to DRI's Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Committee Leadership

Alex Saunders
Alexander Saunders
Program Chair
Kelly Calder Mowen
Kelly Calder Mowen
Program Vice Chair
Roy Prather
Roy D. Prather III
Committee Chair
Elizabeth M. Sorenson Brotten
Elizabeth Sorenson Brotten
Committee Vice Chair
Jaime W. Luse
Jaime Walker Luse
Law Institute

Discover the opportunities available through the Toxic Torts and Environmental Law 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 $700 when you register on or before March 2, 2026!

Register for the Seminar

 Member PricingNon-Member PricingNon-Member Bundle ^
Early Bird Registration *
(Now thru Mar. 2)
$1,395$1,795$1,715
Regular Registration *
(Mar. 3–Apr. 14)
$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.
GovernmentEffective 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 Hyatt Regency Miami, 400 South East Second Avenue, Miami, FL 33131-2197. To speak with the hotel directly, please call 305.358.1234.

A limited number of discounted rooms are available at the Hyatt Regency Miami. Take advantage of the hotel's group rate of $309.00 Single/Double by making reservations through the link below by March 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

TBD
Sponsored by: ABC

Date: XXXX from XX:00–XX:00 p.m.
Pricing: Free when you register for the seminar
Location: TBD

TBD

Full Agenda

*Schedule and speakers are subject to change

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Time (Eastern)Session
12:00 p.m.Registration
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, April 16, 2026

Time (Eastern)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

Jaime Walker Luse, Tydings, Baltimore, MD
Alex Saunders, Irwin Fritchie, New Orleans, LA

9:15 a.m.

Microplastics on the Radar: Key Compliance and Liability Issues

A discussion of the latest science on microplastics, key federal and state regulatory developments, emerging global standards, implications for compliance, enforcement, and potential liability.

10:15 a.m.Coffee Break
10:30 a.m.

DRI Insights Quick Hits

11:30 a.m.

Methodologies on Trial: Sharpening Expert Strategy in Asbestos & Talc

Stay ahead of the curve in asbestos and talc litigation. This session dives into the latest challenges to expert methodologies. Examine which strategies succeed—or fail—in defending or attacking methodologies, and what these shifts mean for discovery, trial prep, and overall case strategy.

12:30 p.m.DRI Networking Lunch
2:00 p.m.

AI for Dummies (Ethics)

AI is transforming toxic tort litigation. Learn what firms are doing now, what works, where risks lurk, and how new ethics guidance and standards can help you set smart guardrails for your practice.

3:00 p.m.

A Discussion with the Decision-Makers

Hear from insurance industry decision-makers on emerging litigation trends and learn how these insights can inform strategy and risk management.

4:00 p.m.Adjourn
4:00 p.m.

Committee Business Meeting (Open to all)

6:00–8:00 p.m.

Networking Reception

Join fellow seminar attendees at our Networking Reception. More details to come.

8:00 p.m.

Dine-Arounds

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

 

Friday, April 17, 2026

Time (Eastern)Session
8:30 a.m.Registration and Coffee Service
9:00 a.m.

Welcome and Announcements

Kelly Calder Mowen, Orndorff Mowen PLLC, Tampa, FL

9:10 a.m.

Citizen Science, Science as Publicized by the Media, and the Quality of Journal Publications

Join a moderated roundtable exploring the evolving role of “citizen science,” the portrayal of scientific findings in the media, and the quality and reliability of journal publications. Experts will weigh the benefits and challenges of these developments, discuss their implications for legal and scientific practice, and consider how these trends may shape the future of evidence, credibility, and public understanding of science.

10:10 a.m.Coffee Break
10:25 a.m.

Cutting-Edge Graphics, Demonstratives, and Uses of AI for Trial

Step into the future of trial practice. This session highlights cutting-edge demonstratives, animations, and AI tools that can elevate courtroom presentations. Learn how to create impactful visuals, simplify complex issues, and navigate the ethical and evidentiary considerations of using emerging technology at trial.

11:25 a.m.

New and Emerging Issues Concerning Quartz Countertop Litigation

This session dives into the emerging landscape of claims related to alleged quartz countertop exposures. Explore the latest scientific findings, regulatory updates, and litigation trends, while gaining actionable insights into navigating these evolving cases and staying ahead of new challenges in this rapidly developing area of toxic tort litigation.

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

DRI's Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Seminar is proudly supported by:

Barnes & Thornburg LLP FTI Consulting Environmental Solutions Geosyntec Consultants Ramboll logo

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

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 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.