The Honorable Peggy L. Ableman is special counsel in the Products Liability Practice Group of McCarter & English LLP in Wilmington, Delaware. A former Delaware Superior Court judge, she had responsibility for the state's asbestos litigation docket for almost two years. She has testified before the U.S. House of Representatives, the Wisconsin State Judiciary Committee, and the ABA Task Force on Asbestos Litigation on compensation to victims of asbestos exposure. In 2013, she received the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform Judicial Leadership Achievement Award.

Jennifer E. Adams defends her clients in cancer claims related to alleged asbestos exposure in the work place or as "take-home" exposure claims. She has successfully litigated thousands of occupational exposure claims in both state and federal courts. Ms. Adams is a regular speaker at the American Conference Institute's National Advanced Forum on Asbestos Claims & Litigation, among other national conferences, discussing products liability, work place exposures, and talcum powder issues. She was named to the New Orleans Magazine 2015 Top Lawyers list and has been named to Thomson Reuters's list of "Louisiana Rising Stars" published in Louisiana Super Lawyers magazine.

Whitney K. Barrows is an attorney with Cetrulo LLP in Boston, Massachusetts. Her practice focuses on toxic tort and asbestos litigation. She has been handling asbestos matters for nearly 10 years. She serves as both national coordinating counsel and local counsel for a number of asbestos clients. Whitney has practiced in the area of complex civil litigation, with a focus on toxic tort and asbestos litigation, since she started with the firm in 2006. She is well-versed in the steps required to mount a successful defense, from pre-suit investigation through trial, for a wide variety of clients, including product manufacturers and distributors. She has focused, in particular, on the development defense experts, marshalling and coordination of discovery, and preparation of cross-examinations and motions to challenge key plaintiffs' experts. Whitney has extensive experience, both as local and national counsel, working with opposing counsel and developing case-specific defenses resulting in the successful dispositions of clients' cases.

Kay Barnes Baxter is a partner at Cosmich Simmons & Brown PLLC and recently opened and manages its New Orleans, Louisiana office. Admitted to practice law in Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas, Kay's litigation practice has been concentrated in toxic tort and environmental law in both state and federal courts. Kay is also active in her community serving on various local boards, volunteering at both Tulane and Loyola Law Schools and assisting the Louisiana State Bar Association in its Professionalism Program for incoming law students.

Frank Kendo Berfield is Counsel in the San Francisco office of Dentons US LLP where his focus is product liability, general liability and complex torts. Over the years, Frank has acted as trial counsel for some of the nation's leading corporations in a wide variety of claims ranging from premises liability arising out of a gang shoot-out to cancers arising out of exposures to asbestos. He has been lead counsel in over 50 trials to verdict.

Bruce T. Bishop is a member of Willcox & Savage PC in Norfolk, Virginia. Mr. Bishop has extensive experience since 1977 in toxic tort and environmental litigation. Mr. Bishop has developed a nationwide reputation in the medical and state-of-the-art issues associated with toxic tort litigation, appearing at numerous national seminars on the topic and trying cases throughout the country involving such issues. Mr. Bishop received his B.S. from Old Dominion University and his J.D. from the University of Virginia.

Christopher (Chris) B. Bruni, a partner with Sinunu Bruni LLP, has defended contractors, employers, distributors, retailers and manufacturers in asbestos and toxic tort litigation for over 30 years. He has litigated matters involving diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, colon cancer and kidney cancer. He obtained a defense verdict in his first trial for OCF. Since then, he has tried asbestos cases throughout California, including a five-month, multi-plaintiff jury trial that resulted in two defense verdicts for his client.

Demetra Arapakis Christos, a partner in Foley & Mansfield's Chicago and Detroit offices, is an experienced commercial and civil litigator with more than a decade of successfully defending businesses and select individuals. Her litigation and trial experience includes assisting in numerous asbestos trials, serving as both local counsel and National Coordinating Counsel for product manufacturers and premise owners, and successfully defending contractors, product manufacturers, suppliers and premise owners in product liability cases. Demetra is licensed in Illinois, Michigan, and New York.

Melanie Chung-Tims focuses her practice on products liability and civil litigation. Before joining the Bice Cole law firm, Mrs. Chung-Tims was an associate at two Miami law firms, where she focused her practice on products liability, general commercial litigation, real estate litigation, family law, and real estate transactional work. She brings diversity and strong litigation experience to the firm. Mrs. Chung-Tims received her Juris Doctor from Florida International University in May 2006, and her Bachelors of Science from Florida International University in 2002. She is a member of the Florida Bar, and is admitted to practice before all federal and state courts in Florida. Additionally, Mrs. Chung-Tims was selected to be a member of Class III of the Florida Bar Wm. Reece Smith, Jr. Leadership Academy for 2015-2016 and in 2015 was chosen as a Florida Legal Elite Up and Comer.

Evelyn Fletcher Davis is a partner at Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young LLP in its Atlanta office. She serves as local, regional and national counsel for numerous clients and is one of the nation's leading asbestos, silica, benzene, and product liability lawyers, with a strong presence in the Alabama, Florida, and Georgia jurisdictions. Ms. Davis is a board member of the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, and an active member of DRI, FDCC, and IADC. She is the program chair of this seminar.

Commander James Delaney is a certified Project Management Professional with over 40 years experience in new construction, operation and repair of U.S. Navy surface ships and submarines. His experience includes over 32 years of active duty in the United States Navy as an enlisted Boiler Technician and Machinist Mate and as a Commissioned Officer responsible for management and oversight of overhauls and repairs to U.S. Navy ships at several naval and private shipyards. Mr. Delaney has worked more than 14 years as a consultant and as an expert witness in litigation involving asbestos exposure aboard U.S. Navy ships.

Robert E. Dille is a partner in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller LLP. He joined the firm in 1994 and practices in the products liability, toxic tort defense, asbestos litigation, and commercial litigation areas. Rob represents industrial and energy industry clients in cases involving toxic tort, chemical exposure, pipeline expropriation, products liability, and class action defense. He has successfully handled hundreds of class action and individual claims involving alleged exposure to asbestos products and other hazardous materials. Rob has extensive experience in complex litigation management and oversees the organization and management of cases involving hundreds of plaintiffs, expert testimony, and thousands of documents. Rob has taken to verdict over 15 bench and jury trials.

Jason P. Eckerly is a shareholder in Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney Ltd.'s Chicago office focusing his practice on litigating toxic tort, product liability, general liability, and complex commercial matters nationwide. Mr. Eckerly serves as national coordinating counsel, trial counsel, and local counsel for large corporations in toxic tort litigation, developing global defense strategies and trying cases to verdict. He has acted as trial counsel in courts throughout the country.

Jennifer L. Filippazzo represents Fortune 500 manufacturers, retailers, and other corporate entities in a variety of litigation matters. With degrees biology and in public health, she focuses her practice on civil litigation, general commercial disputes, product liability, negligence and mass tort litigation. Jennifer has significant experience defending corporations in complex and/or multi-jurisdictional toxic tort matters. As a national trial team member, she handles matters and trials in New York, Pennsylvania and Florida.

Shawnette A. Fluitt has focused on developing innovative solutions to difficult strategic problems arising in toxic tort and complex civil litigation. Shawnette defends several clients on all levels of litigation within New York City's asbestos litigation.

Stanley J. Geyer, M.D., practices pathology at Indiana Regional Medical Center, provides pathology consultation services through Geyer Pathology Services, L.L.C., and lectures at Georgetown University School of Medicine, where he served as the Medical Director of Laboratory Medicine and Professor of Pathology. Dr. Geyer has had a career-long interest in pulmonary pathology, diseases of the pleura, and the study of immunopathology.

Catherine E. Goldhaber is a senior shareholder at Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney Ltd in Chicago. She defends companies in toxic tort litigation as both national trial counsel and local trial counsel. Ms. Goldhaber regularly consults on Medicare Secondary Payer Act compliance, assisting in resolving related disputes. She is the vice chair of DRI's Medicare Secondary Payer Task Force. Ms. Goldhaber is the program co-vice chair of this seminar.

Julie E. Goodman, Ph.D., DABT, FACE, ATS, is an epidemiologist and board-certified toxicologist specializing in human health risk assessment. She is a Principal at Gradient and an adjunct faculty member in the department of epidemiology at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. She focuses on assessing human health risks from chemicals in the environment and in consumer products. Her responsibilities include the analysis and interpretation of epidemiology and toxicity data, disease clusters, and chemical exposures.

Kevin P. Greene of Willcox & Savage PC, in Norfolk, Virginia focuses his practice on asbestos defense, products liability, and toxic torts. Kevin tries asbestos cases in jurisdictions around the country. He developed an expertise in medical and state-of-the-art issues associated with toxic tort litigation, and routinely handles expert development, deposition, and trial examination issues.

Mark C. Greene is an AV Preeminent rated trial attorney and Practice Group Leader at Banker Lopez Gassler PA in Tampa, Florida. He received his JD from the University of Florida in 1987. Over his career he has received numerous awards including Florida Super Lawyers, Florida Legal Elite and Best Lawyers in America. Mr. Greene's practice includes representation of corporate clients in multi-district toxic tort litigation, defense of product liability claims and representation of attorneys in legal malpractice actions. In the course of his career, he has defended cases involving many diverse products, including construction materials, breast implants, toys, maritime vessels, household and industrial chemicals, tires, heavy equipment, sports equipment and various asbestos and benzene-containing products.

Tracey McDevitt Hagan's areas of concentration include the representation of defendants involved in the mass tort litigation in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including asbestos, silica, and pharmaceutical litigation. Additionally, Ms. McDevitt Hagan has handled the defense of a variety of environmental toxin personal injury cases, including benzene, diacetyl, carbon monoxide poisoning, and welding rod litigation. She defends clients in other types of general civil litigation, including hearing loss, construction accidents, products, dram shop, and premises liability. Her firm serves as local, regional and national counsel for several defendants sued in the asbestos litigation, and she has taken numerous cases to verdict in Philadelphia and New Jersey in both their state and federal courts. She was appointed as defense liaison counsel in the Philadelphia silica litigation, and has served as a liaison to both sides of the asbestos bar in Pennsylvania and New Jersey regarding issues stemming from the negotiation of Medicare release language. Among her other non-legal activities, Ms. McDevitt Hagan is the founder and chair of "Not Just a Walk in the Park," an annual community fundraising event that benefits the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. She also coached track for a North Philadelphia grade school, St. Malachy's, from 1997 through 2012, and now sits as a member of their charitable board.

Kevin E. Hexstall focuses his practice on the defense of insured and self-insured clients, in claims made and suits brought against them involving environmental, toxic torts and mass torts litigation. He is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully defended insureds in complex wrongful death cases claiming exposure to asbestos as well as other alleged toxic substances. Kevin is experienced in the defense of higher education institutions and various retail businesses in matters involving premises liability, product liability and employment law matters. In addition to his experience in civil litigation, Kevin has developed a successful criminal defense practice. Prior to joining Marshall Dennehey, Kevin served as chairman of the Criminal Defense Section for a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, law firm. Here he defended NFL and NBA athletes as well as entertainers, in civil and criminal proceedings. In 1994 Kevin graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he earned a Bachelors of Arts degree. He then attended Ohio Northern University College of Law in Ada, Ohio, where in 1997 he earned a juris doctor, graduating with dean's list honors. While attending law school, Kevin served on the executive board of the Moot Court Program and received the Book Award for the Criminal Law Clinic.

Laura Kingsley Hong is a partner, resident in Cleveland at Tucker Ellis LLP. Laura serves as national and Ohio counsel for many companies, having defended asbestos lawsuits for 30 years. Laura has tried several asbestos cases to jury verdict, is a former Case Western Reserve University School of Law professor of trial tactics and testified before the Ohio General Assembly in support of Ohio's Asbestos Medical Criteria Bill.

Sherman Tiger Joyce is President of the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA), a national coalition of more than 300 nonprofit organizations, professional societies, trade associations and corporations working through in-state coalitions to bring fairness and efficiency to the civil justice system. As President of ATRA, Mr. Joyce is the Association's Chief Executive Officer and a member of its Board of Directors. Mr. Joyce assumed his current position in 1994.

Jennifer Judinjoined DeHay & Elliston, L.L.P. in September 2002 and is an Equity Partner with the firm. Ms. Judin concentrates her law practice in the areas of mass tort litigation, personal injury, product liability, and labor and employment matters. She has first chaired many asbestos-related personal injury trials in Texas, California, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington, primarily undisputed mesothelioma cases. Ms. Judin received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from Baylor University in 1977. She attended Baylor University Law School, where she received her Juris Doctorate in 1982. Ms. Judin has been a member of the State Bar of Texas since 1982 and the State Bar of California since 2008. She is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States District Courts for Texas. Ms. Judin is a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and a member of the Texas Association of Defense Counsel and the Defense Research Institute. She is a frequent lecturer and speaker at continuing legal education programs and is a trained mediator. Ms. Judin is AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell.

Timothy L. Krippner represents dozens of manufacturers in product liability and toxic tort matters throughout the United States. His current responsibilities include retention as trial, local, regional and national coordinating counsel. Mr. Krippner also has considerable experience defending general product liability, professional liability, medical malpractice and construction matters. At Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney, Mr. Krippner is a member of the firm's Board of Directors and has served on the firm's Executive, Marketing and Budget Committees during a period of growth from one local office, to offices in Chicago, Austin, Detroit, Jersey City, New York, Philadelphia, and St. Louis.

John (Jack) J. Laffey has an extensive Product Liability and Commercial Transportation Catastrophic Injury practice that regularly takes him to courts in Wisconsin and across the nation. In his 30 years of practice, Jack has been proud to represent clients in litigation in more than 25 states. He has had more than two dozen jury verdicts since he started practicing law in 1985. Jack has had the unique experience of having been a winning plaintiff's attorney during that time (1989-1995); this provides Jack with a very interesting and productive insight into the thought processes and motivations of his clients' adversaries. Jack's Product Liability experience ranges from industrial machinery (conveyors and overhead cranes) to consumer products (furnaces and smoke detectors) to toxic torts (asbestos, silica and mold) to pharmaceuticals (diet drugs), to outline a few. Jack has been asked to handle and resolve some of his clients' most problematic and dangerous cases in some of the most challenging venues in this country, oftentimes after the discovery has been completed. These engagements have been particularly rewarding personally because of the faith and trust his clients have placed in him. Jack takes that trust very seriously. His Catastrophic practice always presents very "interesting" problems to solve and it centers upon Wrongful Death, Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury matters. Jack's specialties include: Catastrophic Case oversight and resolution, Trial and Appellate work as well as an extensive mediation practice on behalf of corporate litigants.

F. Ford Loker, a principal in Miles & Stockbridge PC's Baltimore office, has been a trial lawyer for 43 years, with a primary focus since 1981 on asbestos litigation. He has represented a broad spectrum of defendants--locally and nationally--since his first jury trial and appeal in Lohrmann v. Pittsburgh Corning, which established the widely applied frequency, regularity and proximity test. He has written and presented on numerous subjects including trial tactics and asbestos medicine.

David C. Marshall is a senior partner in the firm of Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young LLP in Atlanta. Mr. Marshall was an Assistant District Attorney before entering private practice. He serves as national trial counsel and national coordinating counsel for various product manufacturers, distributors and premises owners. He has successfully tried cases to verdict in California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Texas and is licensed in Georgia, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, Missouri and West Virginia.

Charles R. Medlin is a leader on the complex settlement development team, providing settlement advisory and consulting services. Charles received his B.A. in French and Political Science from Appalachian State University and his J.D. with honors from the Charlotte School of law where he clerked for Judge Sam J. Ervin on the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Charles has extensive experience in driving success in multiple operational and commercial business units of Garretson, including in-depth work and oversight of Asbestos exposure programs. Prior to getting involved in Environmental and Toxic exposure cases, Charles served as a Subject Matter Expert in Garretson's Private and ERISA lien resolution group.

Barrye Panepinto Miyagi is a partner with the Louisiana firm of Kean Miller LLP. She practices in the areas of general litigation, toxic tort defense, and alternative dispute resolution. She has defended some of the region's most prominent petrochemical, energy and manufacturing companies with a focus on premises defense and products liability. Barrye has significant experience in handling Medicare-related issues and routinely assists clients with their internal procedures for compliance and their mandatory reporting requirements.

Catherine A. Mohan is one of the nation's top asbestos defense lawyers, having resolved thousands of cases over the past 30 years. She has worked with every major firm representing asbestos claimants and collaborated with many leading asbestos defense counsel. Ms. Mohan co-founded McCarter's Hartford office and currently serves as the firm's first-ever female Treasurer. A James W. Cooper Fellow of the Connecticut Bar Association, she is active in pro bono and diversity initiatives.

Steven B. Moore is a founding member of Rasmussen Willis Dickey & Moore LLC and serves on the firm's management committee. Steve has extensive trial and appellate experience defending personal injury, products liability, construction, and professional liability actions. In asbestos cases, he has defended manufacturers, contractors, and premises owners. Steve currently serves as National Coordinating Counsel and Local Counsel and Trial Counsel for firm clients. He is admitted to practice in Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas.

John R. Osburn's practice focuses on asbestos trial and litigation, eminent domain and condemnation, real estate litigation, and representing private citizens, business, and government in all aspects of their interaction, including public contract formation and litigation, land use matters and regulatory matters. As the leader of Bullivant Houser Bailey PC's Casualty Law Practice Group, John has tried well over 90 civil cases, including 25 asbestos cases, and is renowned for his skill with expert witnesses. John represents companies and individuals seeking government approvals, and in disciplinary proceedings. He also represents landowners in their relations with other landowners or tenants and in property development, and advises public bodies in all aspects of litigation and their interaction with other public bodies. He represents both landowners and non-profit land trusts in land acquisition and conservation.

Albert H. Parnell is a nationally recognized trial attorney with Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young LLP (Atlanta, Austin, Charleston, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Napa, St. Louis, and San Francisco). He has spent his entire career preparing, managing, and trying product liability, environmental and toxic tort cases. Mr. Parnell has tried more than 300 cases in 32 states. Mr. Parnell, an authority on asbestos medicine, is frequently requested to speak on medical, state-of-the-art, firm management, and ethics issues. He is a founding member of DRI's Law Institute and a former member of the DRI Board of Directors.

Sarah L. Paszkiewicz is the owner and president of Paszkiewicz Court Reporting and Records Retrieval based in Madison County Illinois. She has been a court reporter for over 20 years. She takes asbestos depositions in many jurisdictions across the country as well as reporting trials.

Dennis J. Paustenbach, Ph.D., CIH, DABT, is a board-certified toxicologist and industrial hygienist with nearly 30 years of experience in risk assessment, environmental engineering, ecotoxicology, and occupational health. He is the President of Cardno ChemRisk LLC. Dr. Paustenbach specializes in the areas of industrial and environmental toxicology, occupational health, historical state-of-knowledge regarding environmental issues, and ecological and human risk assessment and has also directed the scientific aspects of toxic tort cases. He has provided expert testimony in public meetings, in hundreds of depositions, and in two dozen trials.

Katharine Scott Perry is a litigator with a growing reputation for effective representation in complex product liability, commercial law, insurance coverage, and toxic tort cases. Katharine has won noted victories for her regional, national and multinational clients. She's built her practice on a deep foundation of experience, serving on national asbestos litigation defense teams and coordinating complicated, multi-jurisdictional toxic tort litigation.

R. Thomas Radcliffe, Jr., is a partner in the Baltimore firm of DeHay & Elliston LLP. His practice areas include general litigation, mass torts, product liability and insurance. He has trial experience in Maryland, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. Mr. Radcliffe maintains a trial case load nationally and actively supervises attorneys in jurisdictions throughout the country. He is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Kurt L. Rasmussen has practiced law for over thirty years and has tried well in excess of fifty cases. In addition to asbestos products, he has defended actions involving fireworks, scaffolding, nail guns, trailer hitches, printing presses, exercise equipment, gas valves, and combustible drums. In addition to products liability cases, Kurt is experienced in employment law, nursing home litigation, commercial litigation, and class actions. Kurt serves as the managing member of the firm's Los Angeles office.

Ricky A. Raven is a partner at Reed Smith LLP and focuses his practice on civil litigation, toxic tort, product liability, fracking litigation, and white collar criminal defense. He has more than 30 years of experience in the resolution of complex litigation involving multiple plaintiffs and multiple defendants, as well as in handling single-party disputes, and he has first-chaired more than 100 jury trials to verdict. Ricky's practice includes trial of cases to verdict, resolution of cases before trial, and managing investigations of reported violations of company policies.

Charles F. Redinger, Ph.D., MPA, CIH, received a PhD in industrial health from the University of Michigan, and is a Certified Industrial Hygienist. He has performed complex occupational health risk assessments for the U.S. Public Health Service, DOD and EPA, and has worked in OSHA's policy office. He has served in numerous leadership positions in the AIHA. He is currently a member the CDC/NIOSH Board of Scientific Counselors. He has received numerous awards for contributions to the IH field

Stewart S. Richmond, Jr. is an Assistant Vice President of Claims for RiverStone Claims Management LLC and oversees a complex claims unit that handles the Company's largest APH exposures. Stewart has significant experience and expertise in the management of complex high exposure liabilities including asbestos, pollution, product liability, mass tort, medical malpractice, legal malpractice, construction defect, property, and public entity claims. Prior to joining RiverStone in 2004, Stewart worked as a trial attorney for McLane Graf Raulerson & Middleton PA on insurance, environmental, professional liability and personal injury matters. Stewart received his law degree from Boston College Law School and his under graduate degree from Colby College

Victor L. Roggli, M.D., was born on April 23, 1951 in Winchester, Tennessee. He graduated summa cum laude from Rice University in 1973 with a BA degree in biochemistry and environmental engineering. He graduated with honor from Baylor College of Medicine in 1976, and completed residency training in pathology at Baylor Affiliated Hospitals in 1980. Dr. Roggli joined the faculty of Duke University Medical Center in July, 1980 and trained in pulmonary pathology under Dr. Philip C. Pratt. He was appointed Professor of Pathology in 1994, and was the Director of the Electron Microscopy Laboratory at the Durham VA Medical Center from 1992 to 2006. His research interests include pneumoconioses, asbestos-related diseases, and analytical electron microscopy. Dr. Roggli has published more than 200 articles and 35 chapters in textbooks. He has also written five books, including Microprobe Analysis in Medicine, Biomedical Applications of Microprobe Analysis, and Pathology of Asbestos-Associated Diseases, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Editions, and edited two monographs, both related to the diagnosis of mesothelioma. He is a member of the American Thoracic Society, the International Academy of Pathology, the Pulmonary Pathology Society, the Society for Ultrastructural Pathology, the International Mesothelioma Panel and the U.S.-Canadian Mesothelioma Panel.

Valerie E. Ross is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Schiff Hardin LLP. She manages product liability litigation, primarily for toxic tort matters arising out of exposure to asbestos. She oversees every component, from high-level strategy to the collection and analysis of related research. She has extensive experience working with experts and corporate witnesses. She has litigated in state and federal courts across the country.

Mark D. Sayre, a partner in Foley & Mansfield's Los Angeles office, is an experienced senior "first-chair" trial attorney in catastrophic injury and toxic tort matters. Mark has defended hundreds of complex cases, and has served as national coordinating counsel for several manufacturers, overseeing and directing local counsel in state and federal litigation. Mark also served as a Los Angeles Superior Court Arbitrator and Mediator. He is regular presenter on asbestos issues and related defense tactics for organizations including Harris-Martin and DRI.

Eliza Jane Schneider is a voice expert, celebrity dialect coach, and voice trainer for businesses and CEOs, politicians, and law firms. She has taught Dialects and Accent Reduction at UCLA, Brown University, and the Screen Actor's Guild. Eliza is best known for her voice work on Comedy Central's 'South Park'. She is currently the founding president of Competitive Edge Voice Training, providing professionals with the tools to upgrade their sound and significantly grow their effectiveness.

David A. Speziali is a partner at Speziali Greenwald & Hawkins PC in Williamstown, New Jersey. Since 1981, he has managed and tried asbestos-related claims on behalf of dozens of corporate defendants in more than 40 states. Mr. Speziali has conducted dozens of training programs and lectured across the country.

Lawrence J. Sugarman's practice has been focused on the defense of toxic tort claims, complex product liability claims, and insurance defense litigation in New England for the last thirteen years. Larry also assists in the day-to-day management of the firm's role as court appointed Defense Liaison Counsel in the Rhode Island consolidate asbestos docket, where he works extensively with the court and defense counsel in the coordination of pretrial schedules, depositions, trial settings, and docket management.

Linda M. Tatka, Claims Director at Allianz Resolution Management; San Francisco Reinsurance, is responsible for the management of Asbestos and Sports Litigation nationwide. She is also involved in addressing emerging trends and key strategic issues. Additionally, she manages a team of claim professionals.

Robert E. Thackston is a senior partner at Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young LLP. He has experience in commercial, product liability and toxic tort cases involving personal injury, wrongful death, premises liability, theft of intellectual property, civil nuisance, land use and property damage. Working with teams from his local offices in New York, Atlanta, Charleston, Dallas, Austin, St Louis, Los Angeles and San Francisco, he manages to practice literally coast to coast. Robert routinely hosts client and firm educational events at Thackston Farm, a training retreat in East Texas. He believes in developing young attorneys to become "Renaissance Lawyers," capable in all areas of their practice, especially professionalism.

Kevin M. Toner is a partner at Faegre Baker Daniels LLP in Indianapolis. He has practiced for thirty years in the firm's Business Litigation Group. Mr. Toner primarily represents and advises corporate policyholders, including some of the largest manufacturing and pharmaceutical companies. He has extensive experience obtaining coverage for long-tail liabilities, including asbestos, environmental, and products claims. Mr. Toner is a DRI member and a graduate of Indiana University-Bloomington and Harvard Law School.

Amanda Webber is a Claims Specialist at Allianz Resolution Management/San Francisco Reinsurance. Ms. Webber handles asbestos and toxic tort litigation for Allianz insureds nationwide. She also works on strategic initiatives and emerging trends in the industry.

David Weill, M.D., is the former Director of the Center for Advanced Lung Disease at Stanford University Medical Center and a Principal in the Weill Consulting Group. In addition to his own practice specializing in end-stage lung diseases, Dr. Weill has testified before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee and the Environment and Public Works Committee and the Texas State Legislature regarding legislation addressing the handling of asbestos and silica claims. He is also am currently the Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board for the National Sand, Stone, and Gravel Association, a role that involves evaluating the health risk posed by a variety of exposures. Dr. Weill has also been the author of book chapters discussing the asbestos related diseases and was the lead researcher of a study involving asbestos exposure, radiographic analysis, and pulmonary function evaluation of members of the Libby, MT community.

Forrest Ren Wilkes is a partner in Cosmich Simmons & Brown PLLC's New Orleans office. Since 1989, he has defended numerous clients in mass tort cases, as local counsel, national trial counsel, and national coordinating counsel in state and federal courts throughout the United States. He has tried cases to verdict in Arkansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Texas and Washington. He has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® in the field of Mass Tort Litigation and by New Orleans Magazine as a "Top Lawyer" in the fields of Mass Tort Litigation and Bet-the-Company Litigation.

H. Lane Young, II, is a senior partner at Hawkins Parnell Thackston & Young LLP with more than 35 years of experience defending corporations and individuals in complex litigation throughout the United States. He has tried more than 85 trials to verdict involving a wide range of high-risk catastrophic injury, toxic torts, and professional negligence. As one of the nation's preeminent asbestos defense lawyers, Lane has tried over 50 cases to verdict while serving as lead defense counsel. He currently serves as national trial counsel for Ericsson, Inc., Celanese Corporation, Scapa Dryer Fabrics, Inc., and Federal-Mogul Corporation. He has also served as lead trial counsel for a number of other major corporations, including Sherwin-Williams and American Biltrite, Inc.

Mark G. Zellmer is a partner with the firm of Husch Blackwell LLP and part of its Technology, Manufacturing and Transportation team. He handles asbestos litigation throughout the nation and acts as national counsel for various firm clients. He has published and spoken extensively on the asbestos litigation, including concepts of asbestos medicine, the interplay of workers' compensation and asbestos litigation in civil courts, application of OSHA to asbestos litigation and numerous other topics. Over the last several years, he has concentrated much of his litigation work, publishing and speaking on the subjects of the causation and epidemiology of mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. His most recent work relates to the role of genetics in the causation of mesothelioma.