DRI Annual Meeting

Mark Your Calendar for DRI’s 2026 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., October 21–23!

By Allen M. Estes

As the Chair of the 2026 DRI Annual Meeting, I am pleased to invite you to join us in Washington, D.C., on October 21–23, 2026. Our nation’s capital is a place where ideas, institutions, and history intersect, creating an atmosphere that encourages thoughtful discussion and meaningful connection. From the landmarks that define the city to the vibrant communities that give it character, Washington, D.C., offers an inspiring setting for our time together.

This year’s Annual Meeting will bring lawyers defending business together again for three days of learning, collaboration, and professional growth. We are developing programming that reflects the evolving challenges and opportunities facing you, with sessions designed to deliver practical insights and spark new conversations. Attendees will also have opportunities to earn CLE credit through engaging formats that highlight both the substance of our work and the unique environment of the city.

Our committee is working to create an experience that feels energizing and relevant, with networking events that help you strengthen existing relationships and build new ones. In the months ahead, we will share more details about speakers, programming, and special events. For now, I encourage you to mark your calendars and sign up for updates about Early Bird savings, schedules, and meeting highlights.

I look forward to welcoming you to Washington, D.C., for the 2026 DRI Annual Meeting and to sharing an unforgettable experience with our community.

Allen M. Estes of Balch & Bingham is the Chair of the 2026 DRI Annual Meeting.

DRI Foundation

A Call to Remember: Reflections on Black History Month from the DRI Cares Chair

By Stacy L. Douglas

As I assume the role of Chair of the DRI Cares committee, I felt compelled to document my thoughts on the importance of Black History Month. We are currently living in very difficult and confusing times, and it is critical for us during these times to remember why we care, why things are important and why we recognize the good, bad and ugly of the past while working towards a better future. Happy Belated Birthday Dr. King. My present to you.

Black History Month is more than a holiday on the calendar that closes businesses, courts and schools. Instead, it is a national invitation to remember, to learn, and to tell the truth about how the United States became what it is. Remembering the ideals, contradictions, progress, setbacks and ongoing struggles is necessary to build upon the foundation of our country. We care about Black History Month because history is not just what happened; it is what we choose to understand, teach, and pass on. For too long, Black history was treated as an optional sidebar rather than a central chapter of the American story. In recent times, an attempt to erase it from our history has made this month even more imperative.

At its simplest, Black History Month matters because Black history is American history. The labor of enslaved Africans and their descendants powered early economic growth. Black inventors, entrepreneurs, artists, and workers shaped everyday life, often without recognition. Black leaders and ordinary people forced the country to confront the gap between its founding promises and its lived reality. When we celebrate Black History Month, we are not adding a niche perspective—we are restoring the full picture.

We must be very clear, historical erasure has consequences. When schools, museums, films, and public discourse omit Black contributions or sanitize the brutality of slavery and segregation, people are denied an accurate portrayal of the country's history, adversely impacting the human connection that is crucial to the success of our nation. Misunderstandings about wealth gaps, health disparities, voting rights, educational inequities, and policing are impossible to resolve if distorted information is delivered to citizens which has a direct correlation to policies, systems, and choices made over generations. Black History Month helps correct the record so conversations about today can be rooted in facts rather than myths.

Black History Month is also a reminder that progress did not “just happen.” Many of the rights and opportunities Americans take for granted such as voting access, fair employment practices, desegregated schools, and civil rights protections were won through organized struggle and personal risk. Individuals such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Edgar Evers, Nat Turner, and Malcom X lost their lives fighting for the protections we enjoy today. We must also not forget the White lives lost because of their support of civil rights such as Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner who were shot by the Ku Klux Klan because of their efforts to register Black voters.

This is only a sampling of the individuals who sacrificed for the greater good. It is easy to celebrate famous names while forgetting the thousands of faceless and nameless people who boycotted, marched, testified, built mutual aid networks, published newspapers, educated children in hostile environments, and insisted on their dignity when the law did not. A month dedicated to Black history pushes us to learn about the movement builders and community leaders, not only the most recognizable figures.

Another reason we care is because Black History Month affirms the humanity and complexity of Black life. Too often, Black history is reduced to suffering and violence. Those realities must be taught honestly, but they are not the whole story. Black history also includes cultural innovations that shaped global music; literature that expanded what language can do; culinary traditions; religious traditions; humor, fashion, sports, science, and everyday acts of care. This teaches that Black people were never merely victims of history; they are also authors of it.

Black History Month is not perfect. It can be commercialized, reduced to a few familiar names, or treated as a brief reference in time returning to business as usual. While Black History Month occurs in one month out of the year, it is important that we take the experiences and knowledge obtained during that month and carry it with us throughout the year in our daily lives to ensure that it is not simply a blip but an integral part of our society. A dedicated month serves as a collective pause. It tells us to learn the names you were not taught, read the books you were never assigned, visit the museums, and listen to those that are different from you. Black History Month is about building a more informed present and honest future.

For Black Americans, Black History Month can be a public acknowledgment and validation of experiences that have often been dismissed or minimized. For non-Black Americans, the month is an opportunity to learn without defensiveness. The goal is not guilt; it is knowledge.

Stacy L. DouglasStacy L. Douglas is a Partner/Director of Diversity & Inclusion at Everett Dorey, a National Director on the DRI Board of Directors, and the DRI Foundation DRI Cares Chair.

Member Spotlight

From Bright-Eyed to Battle-Tested: Lessons from My First Month in Practice

By Dillon K. Memon

Bright-eyed, ambitious, and beyond excited. That’s how I felt on my first day of what I anticipate being a long, rewarding, and fulfilling career in the legal profession. I’m sure many of you remember that feeling, or hopefully similar ones, from day one being a practicing attorney. A few days in however, those bright eyes, with the determined vision of a long and fruitful path in the legal profession quickly became glazed over when the realization hit that neither law school, nor the dreaded Bar Exam, sufficiently prepared me for the practice of law.

As I now mark a little over a month being a practicing attorney, I’d like to highlight what I've found challenging, and what has worked well for me, hoping that it may be helpful to future new associates who find themselves so similarly situated at civil defense firms. Additionally, I would like to highlight what my partners have done to make this initial period as smooth, positive, and rewarding to benefit my professional growth and the firm's practice, with the hope that this may help seasoned partners add value to the experiences of their own new associates and ultimately benefit their firms' practices as well.

One of the biggest challenges I have faced during the past month and change has been figuring out what I am actually supposed to be doing. As abovementioned, law school does not quite adequately prepare you for the plethora of daily tasks that will be required during your first position as an associate. I have been assigned various substantive tasks, and many times, when I was first assigned those tasks, I felt as though I couldn’t differentiate left from right and figure out the direction in which I was expected to take the assignment.

One thing that has helped me in this case has been a systematic approach which I try to follow each time a new assignment is given. First and foremost, I ask the assigning partner within which timeframe this task should be completed. This gives me an idea how much time I should allocate to this assignment while keeping in mind the other tasks I have ongoing for other clients. Once I have established that, I try to get information on if there are similar cases that we have worked on for the current client or previous ones that would help me in drafting the current assignment. At my firm, my partners have been keen on not re-inventing the wheel and have been great about giving me previous cases that I can look to as a starting point for current assignments. This has streamlined my process of getting the work done and has been invaluable to my development, as I can see exemplars of what work is expected of me. I then use these exemplars as blueprints for the task at hand.

Another major challenge has been billing. I admit that am still working on properly billing and will likely continue to work on the same for the foreseeable future. In theory, the concept and idea of billing and capturing all your time worked in 6-minute increments doesn’t seem that complicated. However, when I got feedback for the first time on how I was capturing my time, I realized then how nuanced it really was.

One thing that really helped me was having a partner going through each billing entry with a fine-tooth comb and giving feedback and commentary on what worked and what didn’t, and most importantly, the reason that the parts that did not work, did, in fact, not work. This commentary and feedback were necessary for me to see my work from an objective perspective and understand from a seasoned partner the “why” regarding what wordings would work and would not work. Having that personalized feedback session was fruitful because it forced me to see from the partner’s perspective and think from the insurance adjuster’s perspective, as opposed to narrowly billing based on the work I knew I had done in my own mind.

These two challenges have taught me that 1) I am not alone in this experience, and it is one that those before me have gone through, as will those after me; and 2) having another opinion, perspective, or example of similar work product can make a major difference in how manageable an assignment is, whether it be the substantive work itself, or capturing the work in its billing component. Through these insights I have developed not only a sharper acuity for the expectations of me in this role, but also, a sense of inquisitiveness that will continue to manifest in the form of questions to my partners and fellow associates, with the hope of one day, paying it forward by providing the answers to the next generation of ambitious and dedicated new associates.

Lastly, there are actionable steps that my partners and fellow associates have taken which have made my transition smooth, comfortable, and constructive. For one, showing enthusiasm and openness to questions. My partners and associates have been completely receptive to my questions and have been positive when giving me answers or guiding me, even when I am completely out of the ballpark. Another thing that has been beneficial for me has been keeping open doors. This goes together with being open and enthusiastic to questions because when associates see the partners as approachable for inquiries and guidance, we associates are more likely to ask questions, even if we think they might be “silly.” Finally, my partners have been kind and have made a demonstrable effort to integrate me into the team. They have done a great job of making sure I feel welcome in this new position. It may be cliché, but it really is true that kindness goes a long way.

Dillon K. Memon is an Associate in the Casualty Litigation Department at Post & Schell, P.C. He is based in the firm’s Allentown, Pennsylvania office.

And the Defense Wins

DRI Members Share Their Victories

Complete Defense Victory for Busch Gardens in Hillsborough County Trial

A Hillsborough County jury returned a defense verdict in favor of Busch Gardens following a five-day trial led by RumbergerKirk attorneys Rob Blank, Carie Hall, and Blake Bonsack, with paralegal Susan McClugage, from the firm’s Tampa office. Paulina Jacobs and Madison Temple also assisted with trial preparation and support.

In the case styled, Bauguess v. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment LLC d/b/a Busch Gardens, the plaintiff alleged she slipped on a metal drain cover on a wet walkway during rainy conditions and claimed injuries to her shoulder, elbow, wrist, and knee. She asserted that she had undergone four surgeries since the incident and presented a life care plan seeking future medical expenses for the remainder of her life.

Plaintiff’s counsel asked the jury to award $4,015,620.95, including $16,020.95 in past medical expenses, $108,720 in future medical expenses, $386,880 for past pain and suffering, and $3,504,000 for future pain and suffering. The jury returned a defense verdict, awarding zero damages and finding no negligence on the part of Busch Gardens. Busch Gardens is moving to recover its attorneys’ fees and costs based on the plaintiff’s rejection of its Proposal for Settlement.

Committee Spotlight Series

Alternative Dispute Resolution & Appellate Advocacy

DRI’s substantive law committees are an excellent way to grow your network, exchange ideas, and stay ahead of emerging issues. Joining any of DRI’s 30 substantive law committees is a great way to engage with the broader DRI community, enhance your career, and collaborate with attorneys across the country. This month, we're highlighting Alternative Dispute Resolution & Appellate Advocacy.

2026 Alternative Dispute Resolution Leaders Denise S. Motta chair, Sidney K. Kanazawa vice chairCommittee Spotlight: Alternative Dispute Resolution description

The Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee is no exception, bringing together practitioners with shared interests in arbitration, mediation, and negotiation and offering meaningful ways to contribute.

While traditionally ADR means “alternative” dispute resolution, it is hardly an “alternative.” It is the norm. When more than 98% of all cases filed are resolved by voluntary agreements and arbitrations, and not by a judge or jury, our members need ADR skills as much as trial skills. The goal of the ADR Committee is to be a key resource for identification of DRI members who serve as neutrals and development of ADR skills, as well as to be a catalyst for positive changes in ADR practice for the defense bar.

Join the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee Today!

2026 Appellate Advocacy Leaders Hillary A. Taylor chairCommittee Spotlight: Appellate Advocacy Description

The Appellate Advocacy Committee is specifically designed for those practicing in or interested in maintaining confidence in our legal system. Like all DRI committees, this group offers opportunities to build relationships, contribute to publications, help plan programs, and stay informed about emerging topics in the field.

Join the Appellate Advocacy Committee Today!

New Members and Advocates

DRI Welcomes the Following Members and Advocates

New Members

  • Allissa Aardema
  • Hayden M. Adams
  • Samuel J. Adams
  • Claire Adcox
  • Naomi Ahsan
  • Patrick Aitchison
  • Madison Alder
  • Emily Allen
  • Hilary Allen
  • Paul E. Allen
  • Andrea Almeida Rodriguez
  • Thomas A. Amon
  • Garrett Amorello
  • Brent D. Anderson
  • Caroline Anderson
  • Rachel Anderson
  • Lorianna Anderson Young
  • Nicole Lynn Andrescavage
  • Cayman Angelle
  • Brittney Bullock Ankersen
  • Heather Arias
  • Kimberly R. Arnal
  • Kathy Arp
  • Nikita V. Artaev
  • Suekayna Asgari
  • Gabriela Ruiz Atkisson
  • Lauren Ator
  • Stacy C. Auzenne
  • Rebecca Azar
  • Rebecca Weinstein Bacon
  • Brittany Baker
  • Talida Balaj
  • Hani Baltagi
  • Kevin Clayton Baltz
  • Aaron Baratz
  • Maxwell B. Baroody
  • Chelsea Beaulieu
  • Jacob Beavin
  • Andrew Becker
  • Eileen R. Becker
  • Logan Beckman
  • Bob Bedford
  • Ameen Behbahani
  • Connor Bender
  • Douglas Bennett
  • Christina T.E. Bermejo
  • Emily Bernhard
  • Sean Bernstein
  • Georgia Berthelot
  • Magdee Besharat
  • Olivia Betterton
  • Evelyn Alexis Bevis
  • Taryn Bewley
  • James Brady Biggs
  • Robert A. Biggs
  • Chris Biller
  • Casey Black
  • Noah G. Blechman
  • David Blue
  • William Boeringer
  • Adam Bollaert
  • Patrick Bollman
  • Lisa Bombardieri
  • Haelena Bondi-Camacho
  • Kimberly Bosse
  • Adelaide Bottomley
  • Anna G. Bowden
  • Rachel Boyd
  • Kelscey Boyle
  • Gerald Bradner
  • Hannah Braidman
  • Shawna Nicole Bray
  • James Brennan
  • Amber Lynn Brink
  • Samuel Brodigan
  • Daniel Brookins
  • Nadia Brooks
  • Colin Brown
  • Henry Clayton Brown
  • Jeffrey A. Brown
  • Mike Brown
  • Paige Elizabeth Browne
  • Kyle Brumbaugh
  • Jonathan Dwight Brummet
  • Marisa Brunetti
  • Rylie M. Bucher
  • Clark Bullington
  • Lauren E. Burke
  • Briana Butler
  • Kordell Caldwell
  • Kevin J. Callanan
  • Sofia Camara
  • Mary Katherine Campion
  • Gloria Cannon
  • Pfenne P. Cantrell
  • Chandra Ann Carr
  • Frank Ernest Carrasco
  • Grant Alan Carringer
  • Bethany R. Carroll
  • Sean Cascarano
  • Nicholas Casseb
  • Roselyn Castillo
  • Matthew Cavanaugh
  • Cayman Caven
  • Sophia Cefolia
  • Steven Jeffrey Chackman
  • Nicole Chammas
  • Jerome Cochran Chapman
  • Christopher Chau
  • Alexis Cheatum
  • Gavin Childers
  • Emily Christensen
  • Laurie L. Christensen
  • James Chuong
  • Benjamin Clark
  • Diane Summers Clarke
  • Austin Cole
  • Raechel T.X. Conyers
  • Joshua Cook
  • Cole Corder
  • Glen W. Cosman
  • Zachary Ryan Cotter
  • John Palmer Cottingham
  • Alex Cranford
  • Brooke Nanette Crochet
  • Tyler M. Cuff
  • Ryan M. Cullen
  • Arielle Cummings
  • Jordyn D'Andrea
  • Hunter Daniel
  • Elyse Darcy
  • Devarati Das
  • Govinda M. Davis
  • Caroline Dean
  • David P DeKold
  • Emilie Delannes-Molka
  • William Delgado
  • Grace Delott
  • Michael Delvecchio
  • Cassandra Devaney
  • Billy Joe Devericks
  • Christopher J. Devine
  • Lillian Dickinson
  • Tristin Dierking
  • Rodney Dillard
  • Jared R. DiNicolantonio
  • Madeline Dixon
  • Amanda Elizabeth Dobson
  • Katelyn Dodd
  • Allison Dooling
  • Luke Dorrough
  • Keri Dorwart
  • Patrick Arthur Dougherty
  • Sara Katherine Dramis
  • John Drudi
  • Sarah Dubinsky
  • Sean Duffy
  • Fergal Duggan
  • Cole Duncan
  • Katie Dwyer
  • Ashleigh Dyer
  • Carl Edelman
  • Rachel Edelman
  • David Edgerton
  • Hunter Edmonds
  • Haley Ekhaml
  • Sean Elman
  • Amearah Elsamadicy
  • Daniela Eppler
  • Emilie Erickson
  • Nancy Eriksen
  • Manuela Espinosa
  • Edwyna Estime
  • Anna Evans
  • Lindsee Blair Falcone
  • Brian Farrell
  • Seth Feldman
  • Gillian Felix
  • Kelsey Fiedler
  • Katherine Ann Fillmore
  • Lauren Danielle Fisher
  • Kyle Fleck
  • Maia Fleischman
  • Shavon Fletcher
  • Mark E. Floyd
  • Sheila B. Foley
  • Christopher Fons
  • Maya Foster
  • Sarah Fox
  • Claire Fox Hodge
  • Kathryn Frank
  • Natalie Abigail Frank
  • John-Weston Franke
  • Taylor D. Freed
  • Cheyenne Nicole Freely
  • Katerina Friedberg
  • Seth M. Friedman
  • Peter Ellis Friedrichs
  • Brandon Scott Fuller
  • Michael P. Gaetani
  • Erica Lynn Gajda
  • Brian Gallagher
  • Caleb Michael Gara
  • Hannah M. Garber
  • Angela Garcia
  • Tony Garofalo
  • Liliana Garrido
  • Samantha N. Garza
  • Taylor Gayton
  • Jackie Gellner
  • Mary Gentry
  • Abigail Simone Gershman
  • Dona Gilliland
  • Zachary Gilreath
  • Jillian Hamilton Ginger
  • Deanna Giroux
  • Matthew Goldsmith
  • Erin Gomez
  • Taylor Gooch
  • Paige Goodwin
  • Nathaniel Nate Gordon
  • Dana Goss
  • Jonathan Gottschalk
  • Emily R. Grace
  • Jay Graham
  • Madison Graham
  • Denmark Grant
  • Katie Grayson
  • Julia Greaves
  • Bently Green
  • Callon Green
  • Emily Greentree
  • Lee Greenwald
  • Anna Katherine Gregory
  • Claire Griffin
  • Richard Griffin
  • Eric Grimm
  • Jacob Guerra
  • Kimberly Guest
  • Robert Gundert
  • Nancy Haddad Derleth
  • Derrick Haddox
  • Max Hadley
  • Robert A. Hagenow
  • David Grobow Hahn
  • Rebecca Halbach
  • Bruce Elliott Hall
  • Lorie Hall
  • Kylie Hance
  • Meg Hancock
  • Kathleen Hannan
  • Charles Harkness
  • Lane Harrell
  • Abrianna Harris
  • Richele Harris
  • Samuel Hauke
  • Stephanie Haumschild
  • Kara Haywood
  • Mitch Hedrick
  • Addie Heigel
  • Elise Helton
  • Elizabeth A. Hernandez
  • Kendall Herron
  • Ashley Boyes Hetzel
  • Chaniece Marie Hill
  • Sarah Hillman
  • Lexi Hivner
  • Carol Holley
  • Leonard Paul Hood
  • William Hoover
  • Emma Goodloe Hope
  • Anosheh Hormozyari
  • Kevin Richard Horton
  • Stephen M. Houghton
  • Grant A. Hrabik
  • Joseph Hubble
  • Claire Hughes
  • Erika Hughes
  • Thomas Paul Humann
  • Susan Hummelbaugh
  • Ryan Hunsicker
  • Susan Hunt
  • Abbie Hunter
  • Anita Hurlburt
  • William P. Hurley
  • Claire Hutchinson
  • David Edward Irwin
  • Samuel F. Izzo
  • Raphael Jacob
  • Greggory Jacobs
  • Spenser Jaenichen
  • Tom Jarvis
  • Ashton Jenne
  • Alexis Jones
  • Harriet Jones
  • Robert Duncan Jones
  • Julie Jorgensen
  • Natalie Jostes
  • Ryan Joyce
  • Brittainy Joyner
  • Alaina Kate Jraige
  • Glenn A. Kaminska
  • Cameron Kapperman
  • Kristie Marie Kargus
  • Mackenzie Keffalos
  • Emily R. Keller
  • Isaac K. Keller
  • Jeffrey Keller
  • Katrin Kelley
  • Nate Kelly
  • Kadeejah Jade Kelly-Previl
  • Kevin J. Kennedy
  • William Kennedy
  • Kelsey Leigh Kenny
  • Annie Kenville
  • Garrett Kettle
  • Aaqib Khan
  • Humera Khan
  • Eleanor Kim
  • Jiwon Kim
  • Madeline Kincaid
  • Caitlin Kirk
  • Eleanor Klemsz
  • Amy Klie
  • Andrew Koehler
  • David P. Koller
  • Camille Konopka
  • Kaden Kotinek
  • Madeline M. Krolczyk
  • Michael Krupka
  • Nicole Kuprovska
  • Talia Kutsaftis
  • Sabrina Marie La Rosa
  • James Ceth Land
  • Sophia Landress
  • Megan Lane
  • Lauren Laphen
  • Kathryn L. Larkin
  • Ethan Daniel Lavelle
  • Pamela LeBlanc
  • Holly Lechner
  • Samuel Peter Ledoux
  • Hanna Lee
  • Samuel Leffert
  • Reba Letsa
  • Caroline Elizabeth Lettrich
  • Suzanne T. Lewis
  • Amber Li
  • Weston Scott Light
  • LeeAnn Littlejohn
  • Ryan Loofbourrow
  • Garrett Francis Lucey
  • Kara M. Luebbering
  • Sarah R. Lundgren
  • Dina Lupancu
  • George McKittrick Lusk
  • Phuong Luu
  • Mary Maas
  • Kaelyn Nicole Mack
  • Sarah MacKimm
  • Tim Maffett
  • Judson Mahan
  • Roxanna Maiberger
  • Nadeen Makhzoum
  • Jessica S. Malone
  • Shea Maloney
  • Grace M. Mangan
  • Quinn Mann
  • Joseph James Marino
  • Justine Marlin
  • Sabrina Marquez
  • Lami Mason
  • Kirsten D. Mason-Jones
  • Haley Matthes
  • Kasey Corn McCalla
  • Dennis F. McCarthy
  • James P. McCarthy
  • Anna McCliment
  • Erika Rachelle McClintock
  • Zachary John McCormack
  • Caroline Ellis McCracken
  • Selena McEwen-Wood
  • Matty McGee
  • Robert McGee
  • Teri McHugh
  • Mason McInturff
  • McKell McIntyre
  • Emma McKellar
  • Kelsey McKinney
  • Barnaby E. McLaughlin
  • MJ McMahan
  • Diana Kristine Mejia Whisler
  • Martha Melaku
  • Eloise Melcher
  • Alexander A. Melvin
  • Amy L. Metzgar
  • Emily Maureen Miller
  • Kelli Miller
  • Krista Miller
  • James Conner Mitchell
  • Ryan MItchem
  • John Joseph Mollica
  • Justin Montoto
  • Blake Morain
  • Alexis Taylor Morgenstern
  • Jeanette Morris
  • Taylor K. Morrison
  • Robert D. Morrow
  • Neema Muderhwa
  • Kate Munkittrick
  • William A. Munoz
  • Collin Murdock
  • Laura A. Murray
  • Lesley MuseVincent
  • Catherine Nachman Thigpen
  • Victoria Narezo
  • Charles Joseph Nash
  • William Bryant Neal
  • Emily Neely
  • Tanya Nesbitt
  • Jeremiah Robert Newhall
  • Kristy Nguyen
  • Douglas Nielsen
  • Devon Hideo Alan Nishimura
  • Daniel Alexander Niswonger
  • Heather Nivison
  • Abby Nix
  • Logan Noe
  • Mackenzie Novak
  • Andy Nunez
  • Cameron Obioha
  • Libbi O'Dean
  • Bassam Odtallah
  • Jason Patrick O'Dwyer
  • Lawrence E. Olliver
  • Tracy Olsen
  • Kelly Olszewski
  • Alexa Opdyke
  • M. Paige Chamberlain Ornduff
  • Logan Osborne
  • Alexis Palma
  • Rachel Corinne Palmer
  • Austin Randolph Palmore
  • Amy Parette
  • Sophia Park
  • Alexis Parker
  • Trevor Patschorke
  • Samuel Patterson
  • Josephine Pechous
  • Samantha Justine Pecoraio
  • Camille Peltier
  • Alexandra Perez
  • Lewis Perling
  • Owen Peters
  • Kayla Pfeifer
  • Celine (Chuyen) Pham
  • Megan Pharis
  • Patrick Pickering
  • Carlton Powers
  • Thomas Prible
  • Brandy Gillette Price
  • Madalynn Mckenzie Price
  • Joseph E. Quinn
  • Ashley Racette
  • Kaeleigh Rafield
  • Karen Rai
  • Myrah Ramirez
  • Andrew J. Ramos
  • Andrew Rasbold
  • Jackson Ratcliff
  • Isaac Ray
  • Jeremy Ray
  • Olivia Rayburn
  • Robert Benjamin Reardon
  • Valentina Recchia
  • Emma J. Redinger
  • Jaime L. Regan
  • Olivia Grace Reinhardt
  • Rachel Allis Remke
  • Adam Renfro
  • Chryl A. Resnick
  • Becca Reynolds
  • Samuel Maxwell Rhodes
  • Georgia R. Rice
  • Katelyn G. Richardson
  • Jordyne Richartz
  • Jeremy W. Richter
  • Brianna Riguera
  • Andrew Roach
  • Tiffany L. Roach Martin
  • Shayna Roark
  • Rebecca Roberts
  • Aaron Rodriguez
  • Victoria Rohloff
  • Jonathan G. Roquemore
  • Sam Scott Ross
  • Mark Roth
  • Stephen Rothring
  • Frederick Rudesheim
  • Emily Rule
  • Annick Runyon
  • Eliza Russell
  • Teneil Russell
  • Alex Rychlak
  • Hannah Noelle Ryninger
  • David Safir
  • Cairin M. Sager
  • Elizabeth Sanderson
  • Rachel Santos
  • Aminat Sanusi
  • Benjamin Michael Scheel
  • Taylor H. Scheiner
  • James Schirmer
  • Gemma Caroline Schmidt
  • Jeff D. Scott
  • Keanna Seabrooks
  • Emily Seale
  • Kaylee Secor
  • Alexia Seepersaud
  • Edin Sehic
  • Jenna Seiler
  • Brooke P. Seliger
  • Sidney Sensing
  • Anzario Serrant
  • Christina Jacobson Shahkar
  • Janelle Shankin
  • Dean Shauger
  • Harriet Swann Shelly
  • Stephanie Alise Sheps
  • Alexandria Short
  • Emma Short
  • Candace Hope Shown
  • James K. Simms
  • Chalisa Sims
  • Rohit K. Sinha
  • Kate Slade
  • Catherine B. Slavin
  • Rileigh Smirl
  • Taylor Smith
  • Thomas Zachary Smith
  • Andy Snow
  • Jinsu Sohn
  • Myles Sonnier
  • Olivia Sorg
  • Logan D. Speyer
  • Nikolas Spilson
  • Bradley Spivey
  • Sarah Jayne Steinberg
  • Samuel Stoner
  • Carolyn Strahs
  • Emma Strenski
  • Nelson Suarez
  • Zachary J. Sullivan
  • Adrian Suryajaya
  • Riley Svikhart
  • Mikaila Kalani Sward
  • Kyle Swearengen
  • Cameron Tabrizian
  • Caroline Tague
  • Nao Takada
  • Michael C. Tan
  • Madison Tao
  • Grant Tarleton
  • Jasmine C. Taylor
  • Kristina Michelle Taylor
  • Imelsis Tellez Riquelme
  • Saugat Kumar Thapa
  • Jeffrey M. Thompson
  • Mary Jaclyn Thompson
  • Abigail Thomson
  • Michael Tibbits
  • Beth Ann Tobey
  • Thu Tran
  • Sara M. Trevino
  • Ryan P. Tunink
  • Emily Elise Useman
  • Jason William VanDehei
  • Emily Anne Velcamp
  • Richard F. Waddington
  • Nicole Wagner
  • Yewei Wang
  • John Anthony Wasilowski
  • Tamara H. Waters
  • Margo Watkins
  • Taylor Weatherspoon
  • Erin Elizabeth Weightman
  • Josephine Wenson
  • Cole West
  • Benjamin M. Weston
  • Katherine Whittington
  • Samantha Nicole Whyte
  • Brayden Matthew Williams
  • Hunter Williams
  • Jarrett A. Wilson
  • Stephen Luke Winbery
  • Coby D. Wishert
  • Luke Wolf
  • Sarah Elizabeth Wood
  • Kara Lyn Woods
  • Dean Worley
  • Madison Wurth
  • Hunter Nicole Wyllie
  • Jacqueline Yee
  • Melissa Youngpeter
  • Amon Gregory Younker
  • Leah Younkers-Jodsaas
  • Christopher Yu
  • Zain Ali Zaidi
  • Ashley Zenobio
  • Michelle Zhang
  • Jesse Zilinski
  • Ben Zinnecker

Advocates

  • Kurt Alexander
  • Alexander P. Almazan
  • Erika L. Amarante
  • David A. Anderson
  • John D. Aspland
  • Nicholas W. Bartlett
  • Michael D. Begey
  • Patrick W. Begos
  • Hannah Black
  • Meagan Blackwell-Patterson
  • Michael E. Blumenfeld
  • Kevin Boston
  • Noah Boudreau
  • Fred E. (Trey) Bourn
  • Patrick A. Bousquet
  • Alan G. Brackett
  • Lisa Fontana Brennan
  • Thomas Folger Brink
  • Courtney C. Britt
  • Kaylee Brown
  • Rebecca L. Burroughs
  • Nisha P. Byers
  • Cristina Cambo
  • Jason J. Campbell
  • Gary M. Carter
  • Michael D. Carter
  • Grayson B. Cassada
  • Amy J. Collins Cassidy
  • John V. Cattie
  • Sergio E. Chavez
  • Laurie L. Christensen
  • Susan E. Cohen
  • Martin A. Conn
  • Elizabeth Clare Cooney
  • Mark Craun
  • Steven M. Crawford
  • Sarah M. Cullen
  • Thomas J. Cullen
  • Michelle Thurber Czapski
  • Jordyn D'Andrea
  • Elyse Darcy
  • Andrew DeSimone
  • Pamela J. DeVet
  • Desiree Patrice Dixon
  • John H. Dollarhide
  • Stephanie U. Eaton
  • Sarah T. Eibling
  • June J. Essis
  • Stephanie Fichera
  • Tracy H. Fowler
  • Morissa Fregeau
  • Philip S. Goldberg
  • Daniel I. Graham
  • Daniel J. Griffith
  • Mary M. Griffith
  • Whitney Horak
  • Brian J. Hunt
  • Ryan C. Ing
  • Joel S. Isenberg
  • Damian S. Jackson
  • Thamir A.R. Kaddouri
  • John Karpinski
  • Rachel E. Keen
  • Kalliopi P. Kousis
  • Bradford S. Krause
  • Penny B. Lawson
  • Quyen Thi Le
  • Kevin M. Lesperance
  • Melissa Lin
  • Kelly M. Lippincott
  • Beth A. Lochmiller
  • Madeleine Loeffler
  • Robert L. Love
  • Hannah Lowe
  • R. Jeffrey Lowe
  • Melissa Marie Malloy
  • Chad C. Marchand
  • Brett A. Mason
  • C. Stuart Mauney
  • Daniel R. McCune
  • M. Patrick McDowell
  • Michael McGrory
  • Conor A. McLaughlin
  • Kurtis Robert McManus
  • William K. McVisk
  • William Menzalora
  • Vanessa Merassaint
  • Heather L. Mills
  • Matthew G. Moffett
  • Linda Bondi Morrison
  • Matthew T. Nelson
  • Jennifer F. Nutter
  • David W. Orlandini
  • Kasia S. Park
  • Hillary D. Patterson
  • Irene Porter
  • Courtney Davis Powell
  • Jill Cranston Rice
  • Nicholas E. Richardson
  • John Thomas Rouse
  • Jerry J. Sallings
  • Tracey Salmon-Smith
  • Bret A. Sanders
  • Ryan Thomas Sanders
  • Fred Williams Sartor
  • Stewart K. Schmella
  • Adam M. Shienvold
  • Mark D. Shifton
  • Michael J. Shipman
  • Kenton H. Steele
  • Christopher D. Stofko
  • Rebecca E. Strickland
  • Kelly H. Stringer
  • Daniel Strong
  • Timothy Stucky
  • James N. Tallberg
  • Tobin J. Taylor
  • Morgan S. Templeton
  • Andrew David Tharp
  • Gina Tincher
  • Sara M. Turner
  • Sarah N. Turner
  • Ed Turtle
  • Frederick J. Ufkes
  • David C. Vaughn
  • Kanton Vaverka
  • Kyle Waddell
  • Jared A. Wagner
  • Killian R. Walsh
  • Danielle M. Waltz
  • Meredith A. Webster
  • Katelyn S. Werner
  • Tracey A. Werner
  • Joseph R. Wheeler
  • Kenneth Williams
  • Marc E. Williams
  • Ryan Williams
  • Keely N. Wilson
  • Randi J. Winter
  • Ricardo A. Woods
  • Sandra J. Wunderlich
  • Todd M. Zimmerman

DRI Member News

Congratulations to DRI Members for Their Achievements

If you have a recent achievement or recognition that you would like featured, email your news to membership@dri.org. Please note that DRI reserves the right to review all accomplishments to ensure they are adequate for publishing. All submissions will be reviewed for relevance and compliance with DRI’s mission. Submissions may be edited to conform with our standards, and space limitations.

Hawkins Parnell opens Pittsburgh office with the addition of David Lamm and Anne McFadden. Lamm has been a member of DRI since 2017. McFadden has been a member of DRI since 2019.

Nicole Marklein has joined West & Dunn as a partner at their Baraboo office. Marklein has been a member of DRI since 2013.

Melissa Lin has joined Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani as a partner at their Phoenix office. Lin has been a member of DRI since 2007.

Luca Hickman has been elevated to partner at Dinsmore & Shohl. Hickman has been a member since 2020.

DRI welcomes Bowman and Brooke LLP (Minneapolis, MN) and Brown & James P.C. (St. Louis, MO) as Enterprise Membership firms effective January 1, 2026. They join the growing list of Enterprise Member firms. Contact EnterpriseSolutions@dri.org if interested in learning more about DRI Enterprise Solutions.

DRI Education

Upcoming Webinars & Seminars

Savings of up to $500 for February seminars end on Tuesday, February 17! Click "Continue Reading" below to see the full seminar list.

Webinars

How to Be an AI-Enhanced Defense Lawyer, Not Just a Prompt-and-Verifier
February 16, 2026 | 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Central

Artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance a defense lawyer’s speed and quality. And the more one knows about AI, the greater the enhancement. This webinar will introduce some unexpected and common use cases, with suggestions for how to do them better. It will go over some common pitfalls and risks and how to avoid or troubleshoot problems. Finally, it will introduce ways to think like an AI-enhanced defense lawyer, not just a prompt-and-verifier. The registration is free for DRI members and $50 for non-members. Earn 1.00 General Education credit!

Seminars

2026 Civil Rights and Governmental Tort Liability Seminar
February 18–20, 2026 | Orlando, Florida

DRI is proud to announce the 39th annual Civil Rights and Governmental Tort Liability Seminar in Orlando, Florida. This seminar will provide you with invaluable information and tools to represent government entities from intake through appeal. This year’s faculty includes a renowned Supreme Court advocate, legal scholars, seasoned litigators, in-house government lawyers, and a qualified immunity expert, alongside law enforcement, employment, land use, and education experts from across the United States. Session topics will cover national trends and developments in the realm of civil rights and governmental tort liability litigation. Attendees will learn practical tips and strategies for addressing issues in the areas of qualified immunity, Monell claims, Amicus briefing, law enforcement defense, education, employment, land use, and more. The 2026 program also offers the opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and develop winning strategies with experienced litigators, insurance professionals, government lawyers, and other experts in the field. Save up to $500 when you register by February 17!

2026 Women in the Law Seminar
February 18–20, 2026 | Orlando, Florida

Join us in Orlando–the city where dreams come true–for a transformative seminar designed to help women in the legal field build the skills needed to achieve both professional and personal success! When women in law unite, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish! This event brings together an inspiring lineup of psychologists, top trial litigators, businesswomen, and in-house counsel, all sharing their expertise and insights. From leadership strategies to self-care techniques, you’ll walk away with practical tools to reignite your passion and grow stronger, healthier, and more empowered in your career. Together, we will experience the magic of Women in the Law. Let’s build, grow, and lead in a profession that is stronger when we rise together! Save up to $500 when you register by February 17!

2026 Product Liability Conference
February 18–20, 2026 | San Antonio, Texas

The 2026 DRI Product Liability Conference offers fresh insights into the rapidly evolving field of product liability law. Through interactive sessions, case studies, and technology-focused programming, participants will explore strategies for defending claims, addressing regulatory expectations, and responding to the use of AI in litigation. Attendees will also gain practical tools for improving communication across generations and strengthening trial strategies through innovation. Alongside the education, the conference provides rich opportunities to connect with manufacturers, experts, and peers to build lasting professional relationships. Save up to $500 when you register by February 17!

Artificial Intelligence in Defense Practice: Tools, Prompts, Workflows, Implementation, and Governance Seminar
March 9–10, 2026 | Chicago, Illinois

This one-day CLE seminar focuses on the practical nuts and bolts of AI use in defense practice. Featuring interactive demonstrations from AI product vendors and real-use cases from DRI members, this seminar provides defense attorneys and insurance claims professionals with actionable strategies for selecting, using, and managing AI tools in daily litigation practice. Participants will learn specific techniques, AI prompts, workflows, platforms, and internal policy and guidance that they can apply immediately upon return to their practices. This program was designed and written with assistance from Claude by Anthropic Opus 4.5 Max and Google Gemini 3.0 Pro. Save up to $300 when you register by March 8!

2026 Insurance Roundtable
March 10–11, 2026 | Chicago, Illinois

Roundtables bring thought leaders together for frank discussion on key issues. Every voice matters. Every perspective adds value. Roundtables are for visionaries, problem-solvers, and people like you. DRI's Insurance Roundtable (IRT) is an event like no other. It brings together leaders in the insurance industry and defense bar in an exclusive setting to not only discuss the significant challenges facing the industry today, but to explore strategies for tackling them head-on. Register now to secure your spot and share your voice.

2026 Insurance Coverage and Claims Institute
March 11–13, 2026 | Chicago, Illinois

Join us in Chicago this March for a program that will bring you up to date on cutting-edge topics facing the insurance industry at DRI’s 2026 Insurance Coverage and Claims Institute. Hear from experts on subjects such as business interruption coverage, the impact of towers of coverage, navigating the bad faith minefield, and more. Expand your network while enjoying the Windy City with your DRI community. Save up to $500 when you register by March 10!

2026 Advanced Litigation and Trial Strategies in Retail and Hospitality Seminar
March 25–27, 2026 | Nashville, Tennessee

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. Save up to $500 when you register by March 24!

2026 Construction Law Seminar
March 25–27, 2026 | Nashville, Tennessee

As any experienced construction lawyer will attest, there is no such thing as a flawless construction project. Every phase—whether it’s drafting and negotiating the contract, mobilizing crews, and breaking ground, addressing unforeseen site conditions, identifying, and remediating defects, or navigating costly project delays—presents its own set of risks, complexities, and opportunities for dispute. These challenges are further compounded by the increasing threat of natural disasters and extreme weather events, which have become more frequent and disruptive in recent years. Such events can halt work, damage partially completed structures, and trigger cascading claims involving multiple parties. In this environment, construction professionals face not only traditional contractual and operational issues but also new and unprecedented hurdles that test the limits of risk allocation and project planning. When conflicts do occur, effective litigation and dispute resolution become essential tools. How do attorneys, clients, and insurers work together proactively to identify vulnerabilities before ground is broken, manage claims as they arise, and effectively manage relationships throughout litigation? In today’s construction landscape, risk management is no longer a single step in the process—it is a continuous, strategic effort from start to finish. Join the DRI Construction Law Committee as we share practical strategies for practicing in this challenging and ever-evolving landscape. Save up to $500 when you register by March 24!

2026 Medical Liability and Health Care Law Seminar
March 25–27, 2026 | Nashville, Tennessee

The premier DRI Medical Liability and Health Care Law Seminar is returning to Nashville, TN! Join us at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel, just a short walk from the heart of the city, for an event tailored by defense counsel, in-house counsel, and claims professionals. At this year’s event, you’ll gain access to unparalleled insights, unique networking opportunities, CLE credit, and so much more! The 2026 seminar is complete with exceptional faculty, including a urologist, ophthalmologist, jury consultant, and the attorney who defended the high-profile Kowalski v. Johns Hopkins case ("Take Care of Maya"). Plus, hear from experts on HIPAA, life care planning, damages, "wearable" tracking devices, and finally, an obstetrician/attorney birth trauma specialist. Join us to reconnect with clients and colleagues at on- and off-site networking events and explore all that Nashville has to offer. We look forward to seeing you in March! Save up to $500 when you register by March 24!

2026 Business and Intellectual Property Litigation Super Conference
April 15–17, 2026 | Miami, Florida

Today's business and intellectual property (IP) litigators must understand emerging technologies and their implications for clients while maintaining strong professional relationships and core litigation skills. Join us in Miami to explore innovations shaping the future of law and gain practical strategies to enhance your practice. DRI’s 2026 Business and IP Litigation Super Conference features cutting-edge sessions on AI governance, privacy, advertising technology (AdTech) compliance, and key IP and business litigation issues. You'll tackle real-world ethics challenges, explore trends in art law and greenwashing, and develop strategies for Schedule A litigation and anticounterfeiting cases. Through interactive panels and dynamic networking with leading practitioners, you'll gain actionable insights, professional development, and valuable connections. Save up to $700 when you register by March 2!

2026 Toxic Torts and Environmental Law Seminar
April 15–17, 2026 | Miami, Florida

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! Save up to $700 when you register by March 2!

2026 Life, Health, Disability and ERISA Seminar
April 29–May 1, 2026 | Atlanta, Georgia

Meet and learn from the leaders in the Life, Health, Disability, and ERISA defense community in Atlanta, Georgia, at this preeminent conference from April 29 through May 1, 2026. You will have multiple opportunities each day to engage and network with this welcoming group of practitioners, while hearing about recent developments in this specialized area of law. Plus, obtain strategies for handling your life, health, disability, and ERISA matters. Whether this will be your first or twentieth time attending this annual conference, you will enjoy a fantastic couple of days earning CLE, sharpening your skills, reconnecting with, and expanding your network. Save up to $700 when you register by March 16!

2026 Trucking Law Seminar
April 29–May 1, 2026 | Atlanta, Georgia

The trucking industry is a vital partner in the American economy, providing the framework for sustaining commerce and infrastructure required for national and global trade. The realities of today’s litigation climate require the trucking industry and those defending it to improve effective strategies and techniques to fight back against a rise of inflated demands and excessive verdicts with innovative solutions. Harness the tools necessary for a strong defense in the face of a cottage industry of predatory litigation lenders and plaintiff-oriented experts and doctors, geared towards manufacturing skyrocketing damage models. Save up to $700 when you register by March 16!

2026 Cross-Border Disputes and Compliance Seminar
6–8 May, 2026 | London, England

Join us in London for the annual Cross-Border Disputes and Compliance (formerly DRI International) Seminar, where leading lawyers, in-house counsel, and industry experts will explore the most significant trends shaping international disputes and share strategies for navigating today's increasingly complex global litigation and compliance landscape. This year's program will provide essential insights into the forces redefining risk and strategy for multinational businesses. Sessions will examine product liability in the technology sector amid rapid innovation, approaches to mitigating supply chain risks in a volatile global market, and the growing impact of environmental litigation. The seminar will also address the rise of collective actions worldwide and evaluate the resilience of arbitration in Europe following recent European Court of Justice (ECJ) rulings. A young lawyers panel will discuss cross-border communications and the challenges of representing corporations in cross-border matters. Alongside these forward-looking discussions, the event offers outstanding opportunities to connect with peers from around the globe—all in the dynamic setting of London. Don't miss this chance to gain practical insights, exchange experiences, and prepare for the future of international litigation.. Save up to $700 USD when you register by 23 March!

Quote of the Month

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.