ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section to host conference May 11-15

Cyberliability, resolving insurance disputes and millennial jurors are among an array of topics that will be discussed by plaintiff, defense, insurance and corporate counsel from across the country during the American Bar Association's 2nd Annual TIPS Section Conference on May 11-15 in Atlanta.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, a former partner of Holland and Knight LLP, will give opening remarks at the featured gala reception and dinner on Friday, May 13, from 7-11 p.m. at the World of Coca-Cola Museum.

Program highlights include:

- "Resolving Insurance Disputes as Quickly as Possible: Strategies to Get it Settled or to Win on Summary Judgment" - Given the often-exorbitant cost of trial, many litigants to insurance disputes are eager to dispose of the case before trial, either by settling or prevailing on summary judgment. Panelists will explore negotiation tactics and steps to take that will establish a strong negotiating position, as well as offer advice on how to obtain the ultimate victory - winning on summary judgment. Speakers include Judge Catharina Haynes, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans; and Judge Charles Clevert, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

- "Women in the Law: Getting to the First Chair and Tips for In-House Counsel for Finding a Diverse Trial Team" - According to an ABA-published study "First Chairs at Trial: More Women Need Seats at the Table," women trial lawyers are grossly underrepresented in the critically important roles of first chairs and court-appointed lead counsels that are necessary to give them credibility in high-stakes and complex litigation. The authors of the study will share their insights and observations of the study's findings and best practices to achieve better diversity in the courtroom. The panel will include moderator Roberta Liebenberg, attorney at Fine, Kaplan and Black in Philadelphia and co-author of the report; Sandra Phillips, attorney, group vice president, chief legal officer and general counsel, Toyota Motor North America in Torrance, Calif.; Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, District of Columbia Court of Appeals, Washington, D.C.; Maureen Mulligan, attorney at Peabody & Arnold Boston.

- "Cyberliability: Planning for the Risk" - Panelists will discuss data attacks, electronically perpetrated frauds, privacy breaches and the related threats to corporate clients and law firms. The panel, moderated by Brendan Kelley, attorney, vice president specialty claims, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies in Warren, N.J., will also discuss planning for those risks, methods to manage these risks and the role of insurance to offset the losses caused by the identified risks and breaches.

- "A View from the Bench: Can We Be Professional if We Can't Be Civil?" - A panel of federal and state judges who have experience at both the trial and appellate levels will discuss ethics and civility in the profession-civility between lawyers, civility between lawyers and their clients and civility between lawyers and the bench. These judges will share their perspective on the erosion of civility in the profession over the years, and what attorneys can do to maintain civility, professionalism and ethics. Panelists include Judge Andre M. Davis, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit Baltimore; Judge Eleanor L. Ross, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia in Atlanta; Judge Louise D. Bjorkman, Minnesota Court of Appeals in Minneapolis; Nannette A. Baker, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of Missouri in St. Louis; and Judge Alvin T. Wong, DeKalb County State Court in Atlanta.

- "Communicating with Millennial Jurors" - Persuading jurors is always a challenge, and communicating with millennial jurors adds an extra layer of complexity to that endeavor. This panel features speakers who have extensive trial experience and will share their insights into both jury selection and jury persuasion. Among panelists will be moderator Jennifer S. Kilpatrick, attorney at Swanson, Martin & Bell in Chicago; and Karen Wells Roby, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana in New Orleans.

Published: Fri, Apr 22, 2016