Steven A. Adelman is the head of Adelman Law Group, PLLC in Scottsdale, Arizona. His national practice focuses on risk management and litigation regarding safety and security at live events and in public accommodations, and he also serves as an expert witness in crowd-related lawsuits. Steve is Vice President of the Event Safety Alliance and one of the authors of its Event Safety Guide; he has taught "Risk Management in Venues," a graduate seminar offered jointly through Arizona State University's law and business schools; he writes the monthly "Adelman on Venues" newsletter, and he frequently appears as a safety analyst in national and local media.

Michael F. Aylward chairs the Complex Claims Resolution Group at Morrison Mahoney LLP. For the past 35 years, he has represented insurers in significant coverage and bad faith matters and has played a leading role in the major defense bar and insurance CLE organizations. He presently serves on the Board of Directors of the American College of Coverage and Extra-Contractual Counsel and, since 2014, has served an ALI-appointed Advisor to the Reporters for the Restatement of the Law of Liability Insurance.

Maria Bella is an expert in sports and recreation and specializes in aquatic safety with Robson Forensic, Inc. She is one of only four Aquatic Facility Operator Instructor Trainers in the United States and has been active in the aquatics industry for more than 30 years. Maria holds a degree in Aquatic Engineering, has designed swimming pool complexes, and has participated in the research and development of chemical treatment systems. In addition to providing forensic consulting, she personally provides instruction to directors of college/ university, municipal, school district, hotel/motel, and water park facilities in standard of care for plant operations as well as training and supervision of lifeguards and maintenance staff.

Bradford D. Box is an equity member at Rainey Kizer & Bell PLC in Jackson, Tennessee. Brad currently serves on the firm's executive committee and focuses on civil litigation and trial practice, with emphasis on the areas of insurance coverage, premises owner defense, commercial and insurance litigation. Brad is an experienced litigator having tried numerous cases in state and federal court. He is an AV-Preeminent rated lawyer, which is the highest rating available in the Martindale-Hubbell evaluation system. Brad was recognized in Law & Politics magazine's list of "Super Lawyers" in Tennessee. Brad regularly represents national and regional corporations in insurance litigation, business litigation, and tort litigation. His practice is regional in nature with a focus on matters arising in the western half of Tennessee, the northern half of Mississippi, and eastern portion of Arkansas. Brad is licensed to practice in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas.

Brian Carney is a former prosecutor of the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2001, Brian founded WIN Interactive for the purpose of helping lawyers visually express their most effective cases in mediations, arbitrations, and trials. Along with his work at WIN Interactive, Brian frequently lectures for MCLE training courses, the National District Attorney's Association summer conference, the National College of Trial Attorneys Evidence courses, and at various law schools. He also trained prosecutors in several states across the country.

Bryan P. Couch is a Shareholder in the Newark, New Jersey office of LeClairRyan. He is the Chair of the Firm's Retail & Hospitality Team and its Franchise Team. Bryan focuses his practice on contractual disputes arising from a wide variety of business relationships, primarily in the franchise and hospitality sectors. Bryan also defends clients in a broad array of casualty matters including premises liability, negligent security and vicarious liability claims.

Elizabeth A. DeConti focuses her practice in the area of alcohol beverage compliance and litigation. Her experience includes compliance review of the rules and regulations governing the marketing, sale, and consumption of distilled spirits, wine, beer, and other licensed beverages for licensed beverage manufacturers and suppliers, distributorship and industry relations contracts, and industry litigation including trade regulation, beer franchise and trademark litigation. Before joining GrayRobinson, Elizabeth was a partner in the Tampa office of Holland & Knight and clerked for the Honorable Antoinette L. Dupont, Chief Judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court. Elizabeth is a member of The Florida Bar and The Connecticut Bar, and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeal for the Eleventh Circuit, and the United States District Courts for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Florida. Additionally, she is a member of the American Bar Association, and serves on the Executive Steering Committee of the ABA's Committee on Alcohol Beverage Practice. Elizabeth earned her B.A., cum laude and With Distinction in Renaissance Studies from Yale University. She received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law, where she was a Harvey T. Reid Scholar.

Barry Dillard is the Director of Claims Management with The Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. With over twenty-six years of industry experience, he has spent the last nineteen at Walt Disney World where he blends claim management, compliance, and consulting expertise. Barry leads a team of sixty Cast Members who manage all aspects of the Company's claim management program, including Workers' Compensation and General Liability claims, as well as Compliance and Auditing. Barry is a graduate of Hampton University and received his Master's in Business Administration from Webster University, George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology.

Jamal M. Edwards is a partner in the Chicago office of Culhane Meadows PLLC, where he primarily advises clients as an outside general counsel to small cap and mid-cap companies, leveraging his 15 years of experience in intellectual property and technology, business litigation, healthcare and real estate matters. Adding to his value as a trusted counselor, Jamal has had a distinguished business career, ranging from two executive positions at Equifax, Inc., to leading several small businesses, including serving as CEO to a Detroit real estate company, a tech start-up, and a federally qualified health center in Chicago. In 2011, Crain's Chicago Business named him top "40 under 40" and he has received several prestigious awards for his work in law, healthcare, business, real estate and fundraising.

Jeanine Flaherty holds a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Social and Behavioral Health from Boston University School of Public Health. She has over 20 years of experience in the health field in various professional capacities, including working in research at Massachusetts General Hospital, as a regulator for local government for many years, as an advisor and consultant for numerous municipalities as well as private clients, and experience in the private sector in retail food and food manufacturing. Jeanine joined Legal Sea Foods, LLC, as Director of Quality Assurance and Food Safety in February of 2015, where she has been since. As Director of Quality Assurance and Food Safety, she recently and successfully led the company through a Global Food Safety Initiative certification. Jeanine is passionate about food safety and is very active in the retail food and food manufacturing industry, academia and the regulatory arena.

Don Fox is Chief Executive Officer of Firehouse of America, LLC, in which he leads the strategic growth of Firehouse Subs, one of America's leading fast casual restaurant brands. Under his leadership, the brand has grown to more than 1,000 restaurants in 44 states, Puerto Rico and Canada, and is recognized as one of the best franchises in the country. Don sits on various boards of influence in the restaurant community, and is a respected speaker, commentator and published author. He was recognized by Nation's Restaurant News as 2011's Operator of the Year. In 2013, he received the prestigious Silver Plate Award from the International Food Manufacturers Association (IFMA), and was recognized by FastCasual.com as the No.1 Executive in the fast casual restaurant community. Also in 2013, Don received the National Restaurant Association's Advocacy Leadership Award. Don is the 2017 incoming chairman of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association and is a member of the National Restaurant Association Board of Directors with a specific role in leadership in industry advocacy.

Kelly Hassenfelt is Senior Counsel in Tort Litigation at Walgreen Co. She graduated from the University of Illinois (BA) where she was a Deans List recipient. She earned her law degree at St. Louis University, where she also received a Certificate in Health Law Studies. Before assuming her role at Walgreen Co., Kelly worked in private practice in Chicago where she specialized in medical malpractice defense, representing hospitals, health care systems, physicians, nurses, and specialists in a variety of fields. She also has experience working in insurance defense as well as product liability and aviation litigation, representing both international and domestic corporations in that capacity.

Jennifer Snyder Heis is a partner with Ulmer & Berne LLP in Cincinnati, where she practices in the areas of product liability and complex litigation, including multi-district litigation and mass tort proceedings. She also has significant experience representing healthcare providers in all aspects of professional malpractice suits, including trial. Ms. Heis is a member of DRI's Law Institute.

Richard Heller serves as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Legal Sea Foods, LLC, a nationally acclaimed seafood and restaurant company. Mr. Heller is responsible for business planning and commercial real estate. He is a graduate of Harvard College (cum laude) and Boston University School of Law and is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and before the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts.

Samantha (Sam) D. Holmes, Ph.D., is a partner and principal consultant for Edge Litigation Consulting, LLC. Dr. Holmes has consulted on hundreds of cases and helped clients develop strategy for trial, mediation and arbitration strategy, and has developed juror profiles on numerous civil and criminal matters around the country. She also has studied the effects of juror and attorney characteristics and attitudes on verdicts, giving litigators insights into the psychological and courtroom factors that influence jurors' decision-making. Dr. Holmes has written several articles on juror persuasion and also lectured at numerous professional conferences nationwide, including DRI.

Richard J. Keating, Jr., a partner at Swanson Martin & Bell LLP in Chicago, defends clients in the retail and hospitality industry. He routinely combines his litigation and criminal prosecution experience with his understanding of corporate business objectives to advise clients.

Hallie Kennedy joined New Media Campaigns in early 2016 as a Project Manager, where she collaborates with NMC designers and developers to make clients' web design visions a reality. Shortly after graduating from Wofford College with a degree in English, Hallie turned her lifelong love of writing and an interest in the then-burgeoning world of social media into a career in digital brand management. Since then, she has represented multiple organizations in the hospitality, nonprofit and legal sectors.

John Lupfer is the Director of Claims, Claims Counsel at Suffolk Construction Company. Suffolk is one of the most successful privately held building contractors in the country. With annual revenue of $2.5 billion, Suffolk provides preconstruction, construction management, design-build and general contracting services to clients in the healthcare, science and technology, education, federal government and commercial sectors. Engineering News-Record ranked Suffolk #27 on its 2016 national list of "Top 400 Contractors." At Suffolk, John oversees a team of adjusters supervising a broad range of national claims. These claims arise out of numerous lines of coverage including general liability, workers compensation, pollution, professional liability, subcontractor default insurance, builder's risk, auto, and various wrap-up insurance programs. Prior to joining Suffolk, John worked at AIG managing complex, high exposure construction defect and coverage claims

Marc Merriweather is vice president-legal of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation in Parsippany, New Jersey, where he is part of the company's litigation team. He has been at Wyndham and its predecessors for six years and his responsibilities primarily focus on the company's hotel group business unit. Prior to Wyndham, Mr. Merriweather was an associate at a New York City law firm.

Joseph B. Pereles is Vice President and General Counsel for Drury Hotels Company, LLC. Drury Hotels is a privately held hotel company, which presently manages 135 hotels in 21 states. Joe handles a variety of general legal matters including coordinating the defense of legal issues that arise as a result of accidents or incidents at the hotels and the review of contracts affecting the hotel chain, be it a national vending agreement or internet marketing contracts. He received his JD/MBA in 1978 from Washington University and his BS from the University of Utah in 1974.

Kenna Plangemann is the Senior Director of Claims, Associate General Counsel at Suffolk Construction Company. Suffolk is one of the most successful privately held building contractors in the country. With annual revenue of $2.5 billion, Suffolk provides preconstruction, construction management, design-build and general contracting services to clients in the healthcare, science and technology, education, federal government and commercial sectors. Engineering News-Record ranked Suffolk #27 on its 2016 national list of "Top 400 Contractors." At Suffolk, Kenna is responsible for the Claims Department and manages a team of adjusters supervising a broad range of national claims. These claims arise out of numerous lines of coverage including General Liability, Pollution, Professional Liability, Errors and Omission, Subcontractor Default Insurance, Builders' Risk, Auto, and various Wrap-Up insurance programs. Prior to joining Suffolk, Kenna worked at AIG managing complex, high exposure construction defect and coverage claims.

Stephanie Gaston Poley has been practicing defense litigation in the Raleigh office of Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP since 2003. She serves as chair of the firm's Retail, Restaurant and Hospitality Practice Group. Stephanie has represented individuals and companies in a wide variety of general liability matters including motor vehicle negligence, products liability, premises liability, and business disputes. She has obtained favorable results for clients in litigation before the District and Superior state courts. Stephanie has also minimized damages and successfully negotiated favorable settlements for numerous clients in a variety of civil litigation matters. She is the chair of DRI's Retail and Hospitality Committee.

Jerry C. Popovich practices in the area of general civil litigation, specializing in cases with complex personal injuries, but which can include any matter litigated in the civil courts. His practice is focused on cases that have a high probability of being tried, with trial experience in product liability, asbestos, toxic exposure cases, commercial auto, personal auto, premises liability, pharmacy and doctor malpractice, construction accidents, construction defects, breach of contract and business disputes. As a result of his extensive trial experience (over 60 trials), Jerry has been elected into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and has now been elevated to an Advocate-level member of the Orange County Chapter. Jerry has also been selected to be a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.

Amy E. Richardson is a partner with the law firm of Harris Wiltshire & Grannis LLP. Amy's practice focuses on white collar criminal defense, regulatory compliance and government enforcement. She counsel clients in identifying and complying with complex and evolving regulatory requirements. Amy has counseled corporations in the areas of whistleblower reporting, online payment systems, and the ADA. Amy also has successfully represented companies before federal and state regulatory agencies and Offices of Inspector General in enforcement matters.

Howard E. Rosenblum is Director and Managing Counsel at Walgreen Co. charged with managing a team of attorneys and paralegals responsible for complex, high-exposure litigation involving professional, product and general liability matters in the western half of the United States, an area that covers over 4,000 stores. Howard also leads Walgreen's nationwide Early Case Assessment program and is responsible for the in-house management of the relationship with the company's third-party administrator. Prior to joining Walgreen Co., Howard spent over 12 years in private practice and was a partner in a law firm concentrating on defense litigation, including professional and general liability matters.

Eric Rupe, Executive Vice President for Lerch Bates, provides oversight for the Elevator Consulting Group. He also provides vertical transportation analysis and design services as needed for clients and Lerch Bates Consultants. Eric's home base is in the Central and East Regions. He has 20 years' experience in the Vertical Transportation industry. Prior to joining Lerch Bates, Eric worked for KONE as Sales Manager, MRL Product Manager, Traction Elevator Product Manager and Marketing Director in Chicago IL, Cleveland OH and KONE's North American Headquarters in Moline, Illinois.

Ari Sherwin is corporate counsel of intellectual property for The Sherwin-Williams Company. A former drug-free weightlifter he is a national collegiate gold medalist and American record holder. Ari was awarded a Presidential Commendation for his nationwide substance abuse education efforts in 1995. He was selected as a 2008 American Marshall Fellow and traveled throughout Europe to meet with leaders in the business, legal, political, and Olympic communities. Ari earned his B.S. in Biological Sciences from Ohio State University, M.S. in Anatomical Studies from Case Western Reserve University, and J.D. from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

Jerome C. Simon received his B.A. in English Literature in 1974, cum laude, from Saint Louis University and his J.D. from Saint Louis University in 1978. Jerry is licensed to practice in the States of Missouri and Illinois. He is also admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri and Southern District of Illinois as well as the United States Courts of Appeals for the Federal, Seventh and Eighth Circuits. Jerry authored, "Attacking the Crimes on Premises Problem" and co-authored "Premises Liability Survey and Product Liability Law Update". He also lectures frequently at Continuing Legal Education seminars and trial practice seminars, particularly in the area of premises and hospitality litigation, construction, and toxic torts.

Daniel I. Small, a litigation partner in Holland & Knight's Boston and Miami offices, focuses on witness preparation, government and internal investigations, white-collar criminal law and complex civil litigation. He has extensive investigation, jury trial and other litigation experience. Mr. Small has been involved in a wide range of LTC litigation, and has represented, prepared, and defended LTC executives as witnesses around the country. He was outside GC for a national nursing home group, and a former prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice. Mr. Small has written several books on litigation for the ABA, including Preparing Witnesses and Going To Trial, and is also a frequent television, radio and newspaper commentator.

Sara M. Turner is a shareholder in the Birmingham, Alabama, office of Baker Donelson. She serves as co-chair of the firm's Hospitality Industry Service Team. Sara's trial experience includes product liability, drug and medical device, hospitality, timeshare, complex commercial litigation, class action and franchise claims. She regularly serves as outside general counsel and coordinates her clients' defense of claims nationwide.

Robert F. Ulrich is a Vice President in the Excess Casualty Claim Department at AIG in New York, NY. Bob oversees catastrophic damage, tort liability cases pending throughout the United States in cases where AIG is the excess carrier or has excess exposure.

Allison A. Waase is an associate with Kaufman Borgeest & Ryan LLP, in the firm's general liability practice. Allison focuses on fire related litigation and handles property damage and personal injury cases from pre-suit fire investigation through trial. Allison authored portions of the written materials for the New York State Bar Association's 2015 Fire Law CLE. Allison is also an active member of the Defense Research Institute where she serves on the Young Lawyers Steering Committee as well as the Fire Science & Litigation Committee. She earned her J.D. from Fordham Law School in 2012 and she graduated from Boston College in 2007.

Grant D. Waterkotte is a shareholder at Pettit Kohn and a highly accomplished trial attorney in Southern California. He has tried over 20 cases to verdict in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura and Kern counties, and routinely achieves very favorable results for his clients. Grant's extensive jury trial experience and exceptional results led to his induction into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) in October 2010. He is one of the younger members to have the privilege of being inducted into this prestigious organization.

Paul E. White has more than 25 years of experience as a trial lawyer, having tried numerous civil jury trials to verdict. He represents manufacturers, retailers and others in commercial disputes, primarily in claims arising from the manufacture and sale of goods and commercial lease disputes. Paul has particular expertise in disputes involving complex contractual provisions such as those at issue in supply chain litigation and in shopping center lease disputes. Paul also represents lawyers and other professionals in claims arising from law firm breakups, in disputes involving allegations of fiduciary breaches and in professional liability claims. Paul is the Chair of the Complex Commercial Litigation Section of the Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA). He also serves as Chair of the MBA's Marathon Bombing Victims Legal Assistance Program and was honored with the 2014 Volunteer Recognition Award for his efforts to help victims of the bombings at the 2013 Boston Marathon. Paul is also an active member of the Defense Research Institute (DRI) and serves as a Commercial Litigation SLC Liaison to the Retail and Hospitality Committee of DRI. In addition to his civic involvement, Paul is a frequent writer and speaker on deposition and trial techniques, the enforcement of commercial contracts and litigation-related topics. He has also served as a faculty member of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. Paul has been elected a Massachusetts Super Lawyer in the area of business litigation since 2005 (a distinction conferred on fewer than 5% of the Massachusetts bar). He was trained as a barrister in the U.K. before moving to the United States in 1984.

Allyson Wilcox is the Associate General Counsel for the Americas Region at Beam Suntory Inc. She joined the company in 2009 as Sr. Counsel, was promoted to Assistant General Counsel in 2011 and has held her current position since 2014. Allyson has a wide range of responsibilities for the company's legal and regulatory strategies. In addition to her general corporate practice, she is a member of the Americas' Leadership Team and Beam Suntory's Environmental Management Committee. Allyson oversees the Industry Affairs group which is responsible for legal and corporate social responsibility compliance for the marketing, advertising and sales functions. Allyson is a graduate of the University of California at San Diego. She earned a Juris Doctorate degree at Pepperdine University of Law. In her spare time, Allyson enjoys yoga, swimming and, of course, sampling the company's wonderful line of spirits.