DRI Faculty List
Retail and Hospitality Virtual Seminar Seminar
Virtual | | September 18 - October 2, 2020
Sashi Bach Boies Schiller & Flexner LLP
Sashi Bach, Boies Schiller, Fort Lauderdale, FL is a partner at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP. Her practice focuses on representation of law firms and lawyers in all aspects of attorney-client disputes, including defense of high-stakes legal malpractice claims, legal ethics inquiries, pre-suit analysis, and mediation. Sashi also represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a wide array of other complex litigation matters, including shareholder derivative actions, class actions, fraud claims, intellectual property, technology disputes, and liquidation proceedings. Sashi's past achievements include helping to secure over $200 million in settlements for a class of investors in Fairfield Sentry, the largest feeder fund into the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme, and successfully representing a class of Florida's children on Medicaid in a pro bono suit to force Florida to comply with federal Medicaid requirements in providing health care to Florida's children. |
Chantelle Elsner Harvest Health and Recreation
Chantelle Elsner is the Senior State Director for Harvest House of Cannabis. Harvest has grown into a powerful Multi-State operator in the Cannabis sector and Chantelle recognized the need for decentralization of the leadership model. While operating as the National Director of Retail she developed the role that she now inhabits, building a template to be replicated in each state and providing an example for future leaders. She has also been a spokesperson for Harvest to City and State officials in the acquisition of operating licenses. Prior to Harvest, she was the Chief Operations Officer for Flourish Kitchen, a nationally recognized innovator in cannabis edibles and cuisine. With 15 years of operational, service, and executive experience, Chantelle is a driving force behind company culture and corporate responsibility. She is a Sommelier, has been the operating force behind two James Beard Award-winning Chefs, and still maintains the spirit of service excellence that she cultivated in her previous experience in Hotel and Restaurant Management. With Harvest, she is implementing the framework on which the future of the cannabis industry will be built. |
Stephanie B. Gitnik Kaufman Borgeest & Ryan LLP
Stephanie B. Gitnik, Kaufman, Borgeest & Ryan LLP, Valhalla, NY. Stephanie B. Gitnik is a partner with Kaufman Borgeest & Ryan LLP in New York. Her practice focuses on defending complex personal injury, product liability, construction liability and fire and explosion litigation. She handles matters directly and serves as excess counsel on matters locally, regionally and nationally. Stephanie is a contributing writer to legal publications on areas of general liability and construction law and lectures nationally on various litigation related topics. Stephanie is the current Chair of the Premises Liability SLG for the DRI Retail and Hospitality Committee. |
Jennifer Anderson Hoffman Partner
Marlow Adler Abrams Newman & Lewis
Jennifer Anderson Hoffman, a partner in the law firm of Marlow, Adler, Abrams, Newman & Lewis, P.A. in Coral Gables, Florida concentrates her practice in complex litigation matters in the area of general liability matters including construction defect, professional liability, negligent security, products liability, employment discrimination and insurance coverage matters. She served as Chair of the Retail and Hospitality Committee from 2014 to 2016 and was the recipient of the Davis Carr Outstanding Committee Chair Award in 2016. In addition to DRI, she is a member of the Federal of Defense and Corporate Counsel. |
Erin Conway Johnsen Garner Ginsberg & Johnsen PE
Erin Conway Johnsenwith Garner Ginsberg & Johnsen PE, focuses her practice on assisting franchisees and dealers resolve their disputes with franchisors. Erin has assisted franchisees in all stages of their franchise relationships, including reviewing franchise agreements and franchise disclosure documents for prospective franchisees, drafting franchise agreement addenda, negotiating agreement changes with franchisors, and helping franchisees exit their franchise relationships as smoothly as possible. |
Joseph J.(Joe) Kadow
Joseph J.(Joe) Kadow, former General Counsel Bloomin' Brands, retired in July 2019 after serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Bloomin' Brands, Inc. He joined Bloomin' Brands in 1994. Bloomin' Brands is the operator of Outback Steakhouse, Carabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar. While at Bloomin' Brands, Kadow led the company's global legal, communications, and government relations functions. Prior to that, he served as a partner in the Orlando, Florida office of the national law firm, Baker Hostetler LLP. Additionally, Kadow has served as chairman of the board of directors of the National Restaurant Association. Kadow received his Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from the University of Scranton and his J.D from the Dickinson School of Law at Pennsylvania State University. |
Joy Boyd Longnecker Baker Donelson
Joy Boyd Longnecker with Baker Donelson's Nashville office is fortunate to have a diverse client base. She is an active member of the Firm's Government Enforcement and Investigations Group and frequently conducts internal investigations for corporate clients, including long term care companies and other health care providers. Joy frequently assists clients with government subpoena responses and matters arising under the False Claims Act. She also regularly defends timeshare companies, franchisors, hotel chains, emerging companies, and other businesses in contract and other commercial disputes. |
Ann H. MacDonald Schiff Hardin LLP
Ann H. MacDonald is a partner in Schiff Hardin LLP's Chicago office where she handles litigation and pre-litigation matters for a range of clients. She spends much of her time representing hospitality and retail companies, including franchisors, in litigation across the country and helping clients assess litigation risk for changes to their business terms and resolve disputes relating to business partnerships gone sour. Ann has been recognized by the Chicago Law Bulletin in its annual Leading Lawyers publication. She graduated from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, where she was an editor for the Global Studies Law Review, and has served as President of the Chicago Council of Lawyers.Ann is the Retail and Hospitality Seminar Program Chair |
Henry Lee Mann Schiff Hardin LLP
Henry Lee Mann leverages a broad skillset to deliver efficient, client-focused results. Henry has a wealth of experience in transactional matters, representing clients ranging in size from startups to the Global 500 across a range of industries. His practice spans mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and other private fundraising, and complex commercial agreements. He also routinely handles intellectual property matters, including copyright and trademark issues, licensing, and Internet law. Earlier in his career, Henry also practiced complex commercial litigation. His litigation experience continues to guide him in resolving disputes for his clients in a pragmatic and cost-effective manner. |
J. Richard Moore Shareholder
Bleeke Dillon Crandall
J. Richard Moore is a shareholder with BleekeDillonCrandall in Indianapolis, Indiana. His practice focuses on the defense of professional liability claims against physicians, nurses, long-term care providers, architects, engineers, and attorneys; advising businesses and insurers regarding large property losses, catastrophic casualty claims, complex insurance coverage questions, fraud and bad faith; and assistance in the resolution of a variety of business and commercial disputes before litigation where posible, and through trial where necessary. Richard is licensed in Indiana, Alabama and Tennessee, and has assited in the assessment and handling of matters in Arkansas, Illinois, Ohio, West Virginia, Missouri, Mississippi and Georgia. Richard is an actve member of DRI, having served as Program Chair for the 2011 and 2012 DRI Nursing home/ALF Litigation seminars, and as Program Chair for the Sexual Torts seminar. He is the pas Chair of the DRI Medical Liability and Health Care law Committee and currently serves on the DRI Law Institute. |
Megan S. Peterson Simon Peragine Smith & Redfearn LLP
Megan S. Peterson is an attorney at Simon, Peragine, Smith, & Redfearn in New Orleans, Louisiana. She represents a range of local, regional, and national clients in matters of litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Although she handles a variety of civil litigation matters, her practice focuses on defense of business clients in premises liability, retail and hospitality litigation, and trucking and transportation. Megan is licensed in all state and federal courts in Louisiana and Mississippi. She has experience obtaining favorable defense rulings before both trial and appellate courts. Megan has consistently been selected by Super Lawyers as a Louisiana "Rising Star" in Civil Litigation Defense since 2014. Megan is the 2019 Retail and Hospitality Program Vice Chair. |
Leon B. Silver Co-Managing Partner
Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP
Leon B. Silver is the leader of Gordon & Rees, Scully Mansukhani's Retail & Hospitality Practice Group and Co-Chair of DRI's Retail & Hospitality Commercial Litigation SLG. He handles complex commercial and real estate disputes for national retailers, restaurants, hotels and management companies, manufacturers, developers and investors. A former Board Chair and current Trustee for Planned Parenthood Arizona, Leon has expertise in personal privacy and gender equality issues. Leon serves on the board of Take the Lead, a women's leadership training organization, is the founder and leader of the Liberty Project, a reproductive rights think tank, and has lectured and published articles on the importance of inclusion and gender parity in law firms. A Southwest Super Lawyer since 2008, Leon has been named a "Top Ten Commercial Litigator" and one of the "100 Best Lawyers in Arizona." |
Christian Stegmaier Collins & Lacy PC
Christian Stegmaier is chair of the Collins & Lacy Management Committee, as well as chair of the firm's Retail & Hospitality Practice Group. He defends national and regional leaders in the retail, hospitality, and entertainment sectors doing business in South Carolina in claims involving premises liability, loss prevention, food adulteration, third party torts, and alcohol liability. Additionally, he represents a national restaurant concept throughout the United States as its coordinating counsel in alcohol liability litigation. He is also an active appellate advocate. Outside of practice, he is an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina College of Hospitality, Retail & Sport Management and is member of the executive committee of the Indian Waters Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He is a captain in the JAG detachment of the South Carolina State Guard.Christian is the Retail and Hospitality Committee Vice Chair |
John F. Stinneford University of Florida Law School
John F. Stinneford, is a Professor of Law at the University of Florida. His scholarship has been cited by the United States Supreme Court, several state supreme courts and federal courts of appeal, and numerous scholars. He teaches courses in legal ethics, constitutional law, criminal law and procedure, and a seminar on law and literature. He is currently a member of a state task force convened to recommend reforms to Florida's Criminal Punishment Code, and has previously worked as a federal prosecutor and as a civil and criminal defense attorney. |
Sara M. Turner Shareholder
Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz PC
Sara M. Turner is a shareholder in the Birmingham, Alabama, office of Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell and Berkowitz, PC. She serves as co-chair of Baker Donelson'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. Sara serves as the Committee Chair for the DRI Retail and Hospitality Committee |
Jason T. Vuchinich Weinberg Wheeler Hudgins Gunn & Dial LLC
Jason T. Vuchinich practice focuses on catastrophic injury cases. Licensed in both Alabama and Georgia, he has represented a broad range of clients in the retail and hospitality industry against negligent security and dram shop theories of recovery including restaurants, hotels, retail stores, and bars. Jason strives to provide the optimal outcome for clients be it through direct settlement negotiations, mediation, or trial. He takes pride in his thoughtful and resourceful approach to the relentless representation of his clients. |