Registration Information
EARLY REGISTRATION*
DRI Member Pricing: $995
Non-Member Pricing: $1,295
REGULAR REGISTRATION*
DRI Member Pricing: $1,295
Non-Member Pricing: $1,595
GOVERNMENT MEMBER
Early Bird Pricing: $695
Regular Pricing: $995
Register by January 10, 2022 to receive the early registration rate.
*If your membership recently lapsed, please renew your membership prior to registering to ensure you receive your discounted member rate. If you would like to join DRI to receive the member pricing and see the benefits of becoming a member, click here to go to the Application page.
Agenda with Speakers
*Schedule and Speakers subject to change
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
| Time (Central) |
Session Description |
| 10:30 a.m. |
DRI Cares Community Service Event (optional)
Click here for more details about Caritas of Austin.
|
| 1:00 p.m. |
Registration |
| 3:00 p.m. |
Construction Law 101
Construction litigation is a complex animal. Properly working up a case from the outset can be critical to ensuring the smooth resolution of a case. Hear from experienced panelists who will provide time-honed strategies for managing a complex construction case, including such topics as gathering client documents, attending to risk transfer issues, and early retention of experts. Because we were all junior lawyers once in our lives…
Diana M. Gerstberger, Arch Insurance Group, Alpharetta, GA
Brooks Saible, Saible Law Group, Saint Petersburg, FL
Mark Hopkins, Guardian Group, Torrance, CA |
| 4:00 p.m. |
How to Win Clients and Influence Partners
What defines excellent client service? Nothing is more important to the long-term success of a young attorney than learning how to provide clients with what they need, when they need it. Hear from two experienced insurance professionals about what they expect from their outside counsel, what makes their lives easier, and what simply wastes their time.
Moderator
John W. Hays, Jackson Kelly PLLC, Lexington, KY
Stephanie Petras, Phelps Dunbar LLP, New Orleans, LA
Timothy Donnelly, Sompo, New York, NY |
| 6:00 p.m. |
DRI Networking Reception (and Memorial Event in Honor of David Wilson)
Former Committee Chair David Wilson was a leader, mentor, ambassador, and passionate advocate for both DRI and our committee. Dozens of committee members owe their roles in DRI to David’s guidance and mentorship. David made such an impact on DRI and our committee that DRI sanctioned an annual award in his honor. Join us at this reception honoring David’s legacy in his home State of Texas.
|
| 7:30 p.m. |
Dine-Arounds
Join colleagues and friends at selected restaurants for dinner (more details to come). |
Thursday, January 27, 2022
| Time (Central) |
Session Description |
| 7:00 a.m. |
Registration and Continental Breakfast |
| 8:00 a.m. |
Welcome and Introduction
Program Chair
Mark D. Shifton, Gfeller Laurie LLP, Princeton, NJ
Danielle Waltz, Jackson Kelly PLLC, Charleston, WV |
| 8:10 a.m. |
The Aging of America’s Housing and Infrastructure
Recent events and tragedies have drawn a harsh spotlight onto America’s aging structures and infrastructure. A panel of experts will discuss the likely implications over the next decade, such as expanded third-party liability, greater regulation and government oversight, and the importance of maintaining structures.
Moderator
Joshua W. Mermis, West Mermis, Houston, TX
Susan Asmus, National Association of Home Builders, Washington, DC
Matthew Pavelchak, PE, Walter P. Moore Associates, Houston, TX |
| 9:10 a.m. |
Corporate Sustainability Goals – Net Zero by 2030?
Many corporate entities have set aggressive renewable energy goals such as achieving net zero by 2030. Some have likened these steep goals to President Kennedy’s declaration of putting a man on the moon. To meet these challenges, some entities have developed partnerships with utilities to develop useable commercial and industrial programs and economic structures targeted to function within the regulatory compact and with minimal impact to non-participating customers. These programs can be developed to serve larger commercial and industrial customers of a particular utility and can have a community approach to provide renewable energy resources to all customers in the utility’s service area.
Stephanie Eaton, Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC, Winston-Salem, NC
Dianne Triplett, Duke Energy Florida, St. Petersburg, FL |
| 10:10 a.m. |
Refreshment Break |
| 10:30 a.m. |
The New Normal – Balancing Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives with Remote/Hybrid Work Policies
Corporate diversity and inclusion initiatives serve the important function of ensuring the diversification of the entity’s workforce and leveraging that diversity to meet the entity’s business goals. Achieving these initiatives requires a company-wide commitment to taking concrete steps to measurably increase diversity while supporting a culture of inclusion. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many employers to reevaluate their office footprints. How can a corporate entity maintain a culture supporting diversity and inclusion initiatives while balancing the need for remote/hybrid work policies over the next few years?
Moderator
Toyja E. Kelley, Locke Lord LLP, Washington, D.C.
Lenore R. Chouinard, Hartford Steam Boiler, Alpharetta, GA
Ashley Welvaert, Liberty Oilfield Services, San Antonio, TX
Michelle M. Arbitrio, Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman LLP, New York, NY |
| 11:30 a.m. |
Lunch (On your own) |
| 1:00 p.m. |
Breakout Sessions (Track A) |
|
Case Law Update: Race Against the Clock
Stay on the cutting edge of the law by hearing a panel of attorneys discuss the latest developments in the field. But there’s a catch – all speakers will be operating under strict time limits. Can they inform and entertain within the designated time? AND begin…
Chris Begeman, Righi Fitch Law Group, Phoenix, AZ
Seth Alhadeff, Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP, Miami, FL
Moheeb H. Murray, Bush Seyferth PLLC, Troy, MI |
|
Insurance Coverage 101
Construction cases nearly always involve significant coverage issues, and even counsel retained only to defend an insured must be conversant with basic issues of insurance coverage. Learn what you need to know, even if you don’t know an exclusion from an exception.
Jacob Esparza, Holman Fenwick Willan LLP, Houston, TX |
| 2:00 p.m. |
Breakout Sessions (Track B) |
|
Hot Topic Potpourri
There are so many interesting topics to discuss we could barely fit them all! Hear three speakers present “bite-sized” presentations on various timely and interesting topics. The word of the day is “brevity!”
Stacy L. Moon, Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP, Birmingham, AL
Peter T. DeMasters, Flaherty Sensabaugh Bonasso PLLC, Morgantown, WV
John M. Sier, Kitch Drutchas Wagner Valitutti & Sherbrook, Detroit, MI |
|
Insurance Coverage (But No Potent Potables)
Think you know about insurance coverage? We invite you to test your mettle by participating in an interactive session of insurance coverage “Jeopardy.” Audience participation will be strongly encouraged.
Diana L. Winfrey, Selman Breitman LLP, Los Angeles, CA
Roderick Reed, Arch Insurance Group, Los Angeles, CA
Sandra Klingbeil-Heiden, Arch Insurance Group, Omaha, NE |
| 3:00 p.m. |
Refreshment Break |
| 3:30 p.m. |
What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
For better or for worse, most construction lawyers only get involved when things go pear shaped. Luckily, there’s often a lot of “wrong” to go around, and figuring out who is responsible takes some doing. Join us for an interactive (and competitive!) session where we’ll explore some typical construction problems, discuss some of the likely causes, and demonstrate failure mechanisms. Do your clients like to criticize and blame other parties during litigation? If so, this is the session for you!
Bob Bailey, Exponent, Houston, TX
Cliff D. Bishop, Ph.D., Exponent, Atlanta, GA
Kasra Ghahremani, Exponent, Houston, TX
Richard W. Vose, Jr., Exponent, Denver, CO |
| 5:00 p.m. |
Business Meeting/SLG Meetings |
| 5:30 p.m. |
Women’s Networking Reception |
| 6:30 p.m. |
Networking Reception (In Collaboration with DRI’s Women in the Law Seminar) |
| 7:30 p.m. |
Dine-Arounds
Join colleagues and friends at selected restaurants for dinner (on your own). |
| 9:00 p.m. |
Premier Networking Event: Speakeasy Austin
Join attendees from the Construction and Women in the Law Seminars for this premier networking event at Speakeasy Austin. Engage in friendly competition games (darts, shuffleboard, pool table and bowling), soak up the roaring 20’s vibe, relax with a cocktail and mingle with friends and colleagues. Could there be a better way to expand your network and build your book of business to start the new year? We don’t think so. There is a maximum of 2 tickets per person.
Registration for this event will be on the DRI seminar registration page. You will need to scroll down after the Questions to purchase a ticket.
*The cost is $100 per ticket and ticket is non-refundable.
|
Friday, January 28, 2022
| Time (Central) |
Session Description |
| 6:00 a.m. |
DRI for Life Event
Join your colleagues for an early morning run/walk along the river to lift your spirits and start your day. |
| 7:00 a.m. |
Registration and Continental Breakfast |
| 8:00 a.m. |
Welcome and Introductions
Lisa J. Black, Black Marjieh & Sanford, Elmsford, NY
Melissa Lin, Righi Fitch, Phoenix, AZ |
| 8:10 a.m. |
Filling the Coverage Void: Exhaustion Issues
The resolution of complex construction defect cases often turns on the availability of insurance coverage. When insurance policies become exhausted, however, parties are often forced to reevaluate their strategies, and tailor their claims against parties with more insurance coverage. Learn how to deal with these thorny issues before they derail the settlement of your next case!
Moderator
Rinaldo J. Cartaya III, Quinteros, Prieto Wood & Boyer, P.A., Orlando, FL
Amanda K. Anderson, Boyle, Leonard & Anderson, P.A., Tampa, FL
Mike Moore, CCIS Construction Consultants, Fort Lauderdale, FL |
| 9:10 a.m. |
View From the Other Side of the "V"
While we are defending our clients, our friends and colleagues across the aisle are honing their strategies and identifying their next targets. Hear from a distinguished plaintiff’s attorney about the new trends and strategies being employed in construction litigation by those who represent owners against contractors, manufacturers, design professionals, and insurers.
Brian K. Carroll, Sanderford & Carroll, P.C., Temple, TX |
| 10:10 a.m. |
Defending Crane Cases
We have seen tragic collapses that have led to millions of dollars in property damage, delay, and bodily injury claims. Learn from a panel of experts who deconstruct a crane collapse and discuss how these events occur and how to respond when they happen.
Jeffrey D. Schulman, Pillinger Miller Tarallo LLP, Elmsford and Syracuse, NY
Fred A. LeSage, AXA XL, Chicago, IL
James Mason, Ph.D, P.E., ARCCA, Oakland, CA |
| 11:10 a.m. |
Refreshment Break |
| 11:30 a.m. |
The Use of Technology to Simply Trials (Joint Session with DRI’s Women in the Law Seminar)
Construction cases are replete with voluminous documents and esoteric concepts, and effectively translating these issues to a jury can often be problematic. Savvy practitioners can leverage technology solutions to effectively communicate difficult concepts. Learn from a distinguished Judge how this can be done.
Hon. Jessica Mangrum, Civil District Court, Austin, TX
Emilio Carlock, Carlock Design, Houston, TX |
| 12:30 p.m. |
Litigation Ethics in Federal Court (Joint Session with DRI’s Women in the Law Seminar)
When lawyers are sworn in as members of the bar, they agree to abide by their jurisdiction’s ethical rules. Despite the existence of these rules, and all lawyers’ agreement to follow them, violations of the rules may still occur. This presentation will discuss how attorneys should conduct themselves in Federal Court in order to adhere to the ethical rules, as well as what lawyers should do to maintain the positive reputation of the profession.
Hon. Thomas Kleeh, United States District Court, Northern District of West Virginia |
| 1:30 p.m. |
Adjourn |
On-Demand
NEW in 2022 – 4 Additional On-Demand Programs Included With Every Seminar!
CLE Credit will be sought from every state requiring CLE hours in elimination of bias/diversity and inclusion, ethics, substance abuse/mental health and law practice management. The CLE grid will provide updated information concerning which courses have been approved by which states and for which credits. For states not requiring these special credits, general education credits will be sought.
Diversity/Elimination of Bias in the Profession
Batson v. Kentucky and its progeny were meant to eliminate bias in jury selection. But has that happened? This program will address that question and discuss issues of bias in the courtroom more broadly and will challenge viewers to recognize their own biases and to learn how those biases could affect their assessment of potential jurors, witnesses, judges, and adversaries. The program also will provide viewers with skills on how to identify the biases of potential jurors and how those biases could come into play during deliberations.
Stacy Douglas, Everett Dorey LLP, Irvine, CA
Gary Howard, Bradley, Birmingham, AL
Ethics
Investigating claims and lawsuits often requires interviews with employees. Corporate in-house attorneys and their outside counsel need to be able to identify potential conflicts of interest and confidentiality issues with employees who may leave their employment and become opposing counsel’s best witness.
Kristie S. Crawford, Brown & James, Springfield, MO
Lauren Buford, Walgreen Co., Deerfield, Illinois 60015.
Mental Health & Attorney Wellness
Study after study suggests that lawyers aren’t happy. Continued unhappiness impacts performance, relationships, and physical health. That’s the bad news. The good news is that research proven interventions exist that increase happiness without requiring a radical change in circumstances. Even a slight increase in happiness has a lasting impact on both your current performance and resilience, not to mention, happier just feels better. This program will quickly, efficiently, and practically explain why happiness matters and offer tools you can use today to work, lead, and live happier.
Rebecca Morrison, Aldie VA
Law Practice Management
Law firms must operate more efficiently to ensure they can deliver high-quality services, handle more volume and maintain a profit margin in today’s climate of rate pressure and rising costs. Understanding Key Performance Indicators and law firm analytics concerning financial, operational and client service data are key to mastering law firm performance management. This presentation will address methods to collect information necessary for evaluating key areas of performance, identify tools and techniques to analyze data and generate action items and more.
Brian Kennel, PerformLaw, New Orleans, LA
Jan Sander, PerformLaw, New Orleans, LA
Sean Kennel, PerformLaw, New Orleans, LA
Hotel and Travel Information
A limited number of discounted hotel rooms have been made available at the Austin Marriott Downtown, 304 East Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, TX 78701. Take advantage of the group rate of $299.00 Single/Double in one of two ways:
The hotel block is limited and rooms and rates are available on a first-come, first-served basis. You must make reservations by January 7, 2022 to be eligible for the hotel’s group rate. Requests for reservations made after that date are subject to room and rate availability. A small portion of your room rate offsets the costs of the seminar.
Travel Discounts: DRI is pleased to announce that discounted air fares are available on various major air carriers for DRI seminar attendees. To receive these discounts, please contact Direct Travel Ltd., DRI’s official travel provider, at 800.840.0908. If you would like to have access to the DRI online travel booking tool, you must complete a Business Travel Profile form at www.dt.com. Within 24 business hours, you will receive information on accessing the system.
CLE Information
Earn up to 13.50 hours of continuing legal education hours, including 1 hour of ethics credit from this seminar.
Construction Law CLE Grid (PDF)
DRI's Construction Law is proudly sponsored by:
DRI Thanks Our Official Supporter: Gunther Legal PLLC
If you would like to contact DRI about seminar sponsorship opportunities, including pricing, or to reserve a spot, please go to Advertising and Sponsorship.
DRI Cares
Join DRI’s Construction Law Committee (and the DRI Women in the Law Committee) in our DRI Cares event. This year, members of our Committee with be assembling care kits to be delivered to Caritas of Austin, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending homelessness for people in the Greater Austin area. Thanks to the generosity of our members, our Committee will be purchasing items such as socks, hand sanitizer, bottled water, and toiletries, which we will be assembling on site for delivery. Please join us in this worthwhile effort, and meet some of our Committee members in the process! Donations to this event are not necessary to participate, but if you do wish to donate to help defray the costs of these items, please contact our Committee Chair Danielle Waltz.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding DRI programs, please contact DRI Customer Service at 312.795.1101 or custservice@dri.org.