Past DRI Seminars

Defending businesses, churches, schools, and other institutions against liability for sexual abuse is a daunting challenge for defense lawyers. Attendees will gain valuable education about investigation and discovery, statutes of limitation, evaluation of damages, and insurance coverage issues from experienced lawyers and professionals. They will also gain practical insight into how children who are abused are interviewed, evaluated, and treated while learning about the science of repressed memory. This seminar will equip attendees against opposing counsel’s tactics when handling these sensitive and emotional claims.

The Fidelity and Surety Roundtable focuses exclusively on important legal issues involving fidelity and surety claims and litigation. A portion of our program is dedicated to addressing ethical dilemmas faced by claims handlers when dealing with settlement and related issues. The size of the seminar encourages lively group participation from the many surety company representatives and attorneys who attend.

Join us this spring in Chicago at DRI’s flagship seminar for insurance executives, claim professionals, and outside counsel. The 2023 Insurance Coverage and Claims Institute promises to provide an array of outstanding speakers to keep you up-to-date on the latest developments in the industry and current trends in insurance coverage. This seminar will also provide skills-based instruction and litigation guidance for coverage attorneys as well as multiple networking opportunities. The Windy City welcomes you!

Join us in Chicago for a seminar that has something for everyone, including analyses of high-profile legal events that “broke the internet.” Topics include medical practice after Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the impact of live-streaming trials, and the ethical minefield that is representing a provider in a malpractice claim when the provider is also facing criminal charges for medical decisions. Each day features networking opportunities in a variety of settings, including our Premier Networking Reception at AceBounce, with the Insurance Coverage and Claims Institute attendees, on Thursday evening.

Join us in Austin, Texas, for the 2023 DRI Product Liability Conference. Hear from world-class speakers on topics that impact defense practitioners in product liability cases while expanding your professional network. Learn the latest in product recall news, elevate your expertise on product liability issues arising from the expansion of artificial intelligence, and examine the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on jury selection strategies. A special Fireside Chat on Supply Chain (the New Normal) will also address how issues in the supply chain affect product liability cases.

Cases being set for trial are on the rise as courts emerge from the pandemic, and counsel must be prepared. Set yourself up for success through DRI’s 2023 Litigation Skills Seminar, featuring presentations from skilled trial lawyers across the country on new developments in litigation techniques, jury behavior, and strategies for optimal trial preparation. The seminar will also focus on insights from the client perspective with two panels of nationwide claims executives touching on the most important aspects of litigation practice. Join us in Austin, Texas, to learn about the latest and greatest in trial techniques while networking with colleagues and building new relationships. The new post-pandemic reality is here. Let’s get back in action!

DRI is proud to announce the 36th annual Civil Rights and Governmental Tort Liability Seminar at Caesars Palace Las Vegas! This seminar will provide you with invaluable information and tools to represent your governmental clients. This year’s faculty includes preeminent insurance professionals, a renowned Supreme Court advocate and an expert public opinion jury analyst. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in an interactive presentation with a jury expert to learn how they can mold their trial theme to result in winning verdicts in connection with a police liability case before stepping into the courtroom. As always, in addition to the outstanding programing, attendees will have opportunities to network and exchange ideas, techniques, and winning strategies with experienced litigators and insurance professionals. See you in Las Vegas!

Now is the time to invest in yourself. After three long years of pandemic-related stressors and restrictions, afford yourself the time to refocus your energy on the future. DRI’s Women in the Law (WITL) seminar provides a multitude of opportunities for you to reenergize both your personal and professional goals.

WITL’s workshops, CLE sessions, and networking opportunities are designed to help women attorneys and their supporters take control of their professional development and prioritize their health and wellness. Expand your knowledge and learn tried-and-true networking techniques that you can put to work immediately. Enjoy WITL’s small group gatherings and also develop your connections through our partnerships with the Construction Law and Civil Rights and Governmental Liability seminars taking place simultaneously in Las Vegas.

The future of construction defense is happening now. During challenging legal and economic times, how do we, as insurance and industry leaders, as well as lawyers, stay relevant and successful as we represent our insureds, companies, and clients. Join the DRI Construction Law Committee in Las Vegas as we share thoughts and strategies for advancing the defense construction practice moving forward.

Our world has changed—and keeps changing—since “the before time.” Before COVID-19 hit, Bostock v. Clayton County was decided, and a billion dollars became the new million dollars, times were different. With a newly sensitized pool of jurors and remote workers in every profession, people handling professional liability claims have had to adjust. Attend the 2022 Professional Liability Seminar in New York City and explore some of the significant changes—and similarities—in professional liability claims in 2022, 2023, and beyond.

The insurance industry is changing. And we want to help you keep up. At DRI's Insurance Coverage and Practice Symposium, you will learn about the biggest challenges and opportunities facing our industry. Our faculty of insurance industry leaders, experts, and coverage lawyers will cover emerging issues such as ESG, climate change, biometrics, and more, along with key everyday issues like bad faith and time limited demands. You'll have an unparalleled opportunity to engage with this distinguished faculty on timely topics, recent court rulings, national trends, and the future of insurance coverage law.

Connect with leaders in asbestos litigation to further your career and network. Don’t miss DRI’s interactive and informative meeting that brings together industry experts and asbestos litigation practitioners to share their experience and knowledge. Discover emerging trends and groundbreaking developments in the field, including how the role of genetics and cancer causation impact the investigation and outcome of cases. Expert lecturers, panelists, and moderators will provide insight into the most current, best legal practices in asbestos and cosmetic talc litigation. There will also be a basic skills session for practitioners new to litigation.

The 2022 Law Firm Leaders and Managing Partners Conference is exploring what it means to manage a law firm in these post-pandemic times. Scarce human resources, increasing overhead expenses, cyber-security threats, and changing client expectations have come to the forefront of law firm management since the world shut down in March 2020. This conference will arm law firm leaders with knowledge from numerous sources on the best ways to address and attack the challenges law firms continue to face following the COVID-19 Pandemic!

Join us in sunny San Diego for a two-day seminar that will help improve your appellate skillset and grow your network. Ideal for all attorneys who are involved in appeals, this program offers sessions on many key topics including state constitutionalism and stare decisis after the U.S. Supreme Court’s monumental recent term. Plus, attendees will benefit from tips for oral argument from both sides of the bench and principles for improving legal writing. Our diverse speaker lineup is comprised of federal appellate judges and state court justices as well as experienced appellate advocates from across the country. As a bonus, the committee is teaming up with the Asbestos Medicine Committee for a joint session on effective persuasion with Dr. Jeffrey Rachlinski from Cornell University. And, as always, there will be receptions and frequent networking opportunities with other appellate attorneys and attendees at the Asbestos Medicine and Managing Partners Conferences.  This includes an incredible Premier Networking Event at the USS Midway Museum, where you’ll have the chance to network and reconnect with fellow DRI members while enjoying the floating city of the sea!

Connect with the most influential civil defense attorneys and in-house counsel from across the county at the DRI Annual Meeting in Philadelphia! From October 25–28, engage with our passionate legal community, expand your knowledge base with cutting-edge education, meet leaders from the field, celebrate past achievements and future goals with friends, and explore historic Philadelphia. We look forward to seeing you in the City of Brotherly Love!

Join us in Nashville for the 2022 Drug & Medical Device Seminar! The seminar will provide countless opportunities to network with clients, potential referral sources, and colleagues from across the country who are in the pharmaceutical and medical device industry. You will hear from a panel of judges about their approaches to key MDL and mass-tort litigation issues, and you do not want to miss presentations about better company witnesses and juror perceptions of drug & medical device companies. Gain insight from in-house lawyers, outside counsel, and judges about diversity and inclusion in the legal industry. This seminar continues to be the "go-to" event year after year for in-house and outside counsel to the pharmaceutical and medical device industry.

Don’t miss a beat in Music City! Join us in the heart of downtown Nashville for the 2022 DRI Senior Living and Long-Term Care Litigation Seminar, September 7–9, at the Omni Nashville Hotel. The annual seminar includes two days of learning and networking for healthcare providers, defense attorneys, in-house counsel, claims specialists, insurance brokers and other professionals involved in the defense of senior housing providers across the country. Not only will the seminar cover the latest topics and trends affecting the senior living industry, but also this year’s seminar will hit the right note with numerous networking opportunities such as: First Timers/Young Lawyers networking reception, three networking receptions (one of which is an off-site event at Ole Smoky), dine-arounds, Women in the Law Lunch (open to all), DRI Cares service project, and DRI for Life yoga session.

The 2022 DRI Cannabis Law Seminar will provide you with the opportunity to enhance your knowledge on cannabis law, while expanding your professional network in this exciting industry. Earn multiple CLE credit hours, while learning about current trends in the developing field of cannabis law. Expect interesting presentations and panel discussions on the state of cannabis law, insurance coverage concerns, industry insights, products liability in cannabis, cannabis M&A, diversity/social justice in the industry, and so much more!

Come down to A-Town with DRI’s Young Lawyers Committee! The seminar will focus on litigation skills from the initial investigation to closing arguments, and everything in between. In addition to the dynamic programming, attendees will have face-to-face learning experiences with in-house counsel during the Fast Pitch Program as well as ample networking opportunities with attorneys from around the country at an Atlanta Braves game and dine-arounds.

The retail, restaurant, and hospitality industries have proven to be the backbone of our country and shown remarkable resilience in the face of unparalleled challenges. Litigation Lawyers will hear from industry experts on how to adapt to the needs as they have shifted over the past two years. This seminar will focus on the crucial perspective of those experiencing the day-to-day in the industry – keeping premises safe and secure, dealing with third parties, managing employees and their needs and more. We look forward to welcoming everyone back!