Registration Information
Save up to $700 when you register on or before March 24, 2025!
Worry-free registration: Cancellations received thirty (30) days or more before an in-person seminar are entitled to a full refund.
Save Your Spot Today
In registering for this seminar, I attest that I devote a substantial portion of my professional time to defending the interests of individuals, business, associations, or governmental entities in civil litigation. I understand that DRI reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel my registration, without a refund, if I do not meet the criteria described above.
|
Member Pricing |
Non-Member Pricing |
Non-Member Bundle ^ |
Early Bird Registration*
(Now thru Mar. 24)
|
$1,395 |
$1,795 |
$1,715 |
Regular Registration*
(Mar. 25–May 6) |
$1,595 |
$1,995 |
$1,915 |
| Onsite Registration* |
$1,695 |
$2,095 |
$2,015 |
Group Registration
(Non-Sponsored) |
Group registration is for registering four or more attendees. Members and non-members receive a 15% discount off the member and non-member rates respective to the time the group registration is initiated (i.e. Early Bird, Regular or On-Site registration periods). There is one free registration with every 10 paid registrations.
If you want to register for the group pricing, fill out the form here. Please note that online registration is not available for this offer. |
| Government |
Government members will receive the applicable government rate for the seminar upon login. If the government rate does not appear after logging in, please call DRI directly at (312) 795-1101 to receive the discounted rate. Invoices can be sent after purchase upon request. |
Not a DRI Member? Select the Non-Member Bundle and Save!
^ Not a DRI Member and new to DRI? Take advantage of the Non-Member / Trial Membership Bundle and receive up to 9 months of membership when you register for the seminar. You’ll be able to add this special offer to your cart at check out. Note: Trial membership processing can take up to 30 days from the date of purchase, please contact DRI Customer Service with any questions. Please note renewing members and members with recently lapsed memberships are not eligible for a Non-Member Bundle.
Learn more about membership at DRI and get started on your DRI journey today!
*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.
Networking Events
Premier Networking Reception at the Fogg Street Lawn Club
Sponsored by: ABC
Date: Thursday, May 8 from 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Pricing: Free when you register for the seminar
Location: Fogg Street Lawn Club, 648 Fogg St, Nashville, TN 37203
Get ready for an unforgettable evening at the DRI Premier Networking Reception! After a day of learning, join us at the one-of-a-kind Fogg Street Lawn Club for a truly unique experience. Picture this: you're sipping cocktails on Nashville's first rooftop lawn bowling green, chatting with fellow attendees, and soaking in the British-inspired atmosphere. It's like bocce ball with a twist! Unwind with light bites, an open bar, and the chance to forge lasting connections. Trust me, this isn't your average networking event – it's a night you won't want to miss!
Hotel Information
The seminar will take place at Renaissance Nashville Hotel, 611 Commerce Street, Nashville, TN 37203.
To contact the hotel directly, call 615.225.8400.
A limited number of discounted hotel rooms have been made available at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. Take advantage of the group rate of Single Rate: $339.00 (plus taxes and fees) or Double Rate: $349 (plus taxes and fees).
Reserve your Room Online
The hotel block is limited, and rooms and rates are available on a first-come, first-served basis. You must make reservations by April 7, 2025, to be eligible for the hotel's group rate. Requests for reservations made after April 7 are subject to room and rate availability.
Full Agenda
*Schedule and Speakers subject to change
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
| Time (Central) |
Session |
| 12:00 p.m. |
Registration |
| 3:00 p.m. |
Young Lawyer Breakout
More information coming soon. |
| 3:00 p.m. |
"The Post-Chevron Blues"
For almost four decades and in more than 18,000 judicial opinions, federal courts have used the Chevron doctrine to defer to an agency's reasonable interpretation of an ambiguous statute. However, in June of 2024, that all changed when the U.S. Supreme Court issued the Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo decision which overruled the long-standing Chevron precedent. Consequently, the deference to federal agencies such as the FDA has been narrowed, and courts now have discretion to determine whether an agency’s actions are consistent with the words of the statute and intent of Congress. Our panel will explain the import of the Supreme Court’s Lopez decision for the pharmaceutical and medical device industry and provide insights regarding the way in which litigants and lower courts are now treating agency interpretations in this new post-Chevron era.
Margaret O’Neill, Merck, Philadelphia, PA |
| 4:00 p.m. |
Jury Selection in a Post-Pandemic World
In product liability lawsuits, trials are often won or lost at jury selection before the presentation of any evidence. Post-pandemic, juror views have shifted and factors that were once important in assessing whether a juror is undesirable are no longer as relevant to weeding them out. Join this panel for an interactive discussion of the latest data on juror perceptions of life sciences companies, how to deal with the impact of the current political and social landscape when it comes to juror biases, best practices through voir dire questioning and cause challenges for eliminating undesirable jurors and identifying stealth jurors who have negative perceptions toward your client, and the strategic use of juror questionnaires.
Jill Liebold, IMS Legal Strategies, Los Angeles, CA
Ursula Henninger, King & Spalding, Miami, FL
Lucy Savorgnan, J&J, New Brunswick, NJ |
| 5:00 p.m. |
Adjourn
|
| 6:00 p.m. |
Networking / Cocktail Hour
|
| 7:30 p.m. |
Dine-Arounds
Join colleagues and friends at selected restaurants for dinner (on your own). |
Thursday, May 8, 2025
| Time (Central) |
Session |
| 8:30 a.m. |
Registration & Coffee Service
Get to know the early risers in our group over a cup of coffee. |
| 9:00 a.m. |
Welcome and Introductions
Ted McDonald, McDonald Veon, Kansas City, MO
Archie Reeves, McDowell Knight Roedder & Sledge, Mobile, AL |
| 9:15 a.m. |
What is Keeping In-House Counsel up at Night?
Substantive discussion will revolve around what are essentially “hot-topics” for in-house counsel. Topics will include government actions impacting the pharmaceutical industry, global products liability and aggregate litigation trends, changes to the federal rules, and managing risk and expectation in the age of nuclear verdicts.
Topics subject to change as current events evolve.
Moderator
Caroline Power, Dechert, Philadelphia, PA
Lisa Floro, Coloplast, Pittsburgh, PA
Chris Guth, Bayer, Pittsburgh, PA |
| 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. |
DRI Cares | Blessings in a Backpack
Click here for details on DRI Cares project. |
| 10:15 a.m. |
Coffee Break |
| 10:45 a.m. |
DRI Insights Quick Hits |
| 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. |
Data Driven MDL Management
This panel will explore strategies for early vetting and the use of Lone Pine orders in Multi-District Litigations (MDLs), focusing on the role of data analysis in identifying no-injury cases. Panelists will discuss the timing and effectiveness of presenting data at various stages, including bellwether trials and Lone Pine motions, drawing from successful examples like the Taxotere litigation. The session will highlight key tactics, emphasizing the importance of early and repeated data presentation. We will also address the impact of the newly adopted Rule 16.1 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. A demonstration of a data analysis technology tool will also be incorporated, showcasing how these tools can support case vetting and decision-making.
Cami Capodice, Irwin Fritchie, New Orleans, LA
Christine Kain, Faegre Drinker, Minneapolis, MN |
| 12:30 p.m. |
DRI Networking Lunch
|
| 1:30–3:00 p.m. |
Corporate Counsel Breakout |
| 2:00 p.m. |
Liability at the Intersection of FDA Regulation, Science, and Off-Label Use
When scientific evidence outpaces FDA approvals, companies face a unique dilemma: how to effectively communicate the risks and benefits of off-label uses to the medical community, while navigating the complexities of regulatory restrictions. FDA prohibits off-label promotion, but some courts have imposed liability of manufacturers for failing to disclose risk information related to unapproved uses. This disconnect between medical practice, scientific publications, and regulatory constricts raises important questions about duty and transparency. This panel will dive into real-world and hypothetical examples, explore strategic communication approaches, and critically examine the legal implications and litigation risks at play.
Sonali Gunawardhana, Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, NJ
Megan Krebs, Novo Nordisk, Philadelphia, PA
Chris Campbell, DLA Piper, Atlanta, GA |
| 3:00 p.m. |
Drug and Medical Device Committee Business Meeting |
| 3:30–5:45 p.m. |
Small Group Networking | Bourbon Tasting
Available either 3:30–4:30 p.m. or 4:45–5:45 p.m.
Click on "Small Group Networking" tab below for details. |
| 3:30 p.m. |
DRI Cares | Soldiers' Angels
More information coming soon.
|
| 6:00 p.m. |
Premier Networking Reception | Fogg Street Lawn Club
Click here for details on the reception. |
Friday, May 9, 2025
| Time (Central) |
Session |
| 8:30 a.m. |
Registration and Coffee Service |
| 9:00 a.m. |
Welcome and Announcements
Eric Rumanek, Troutman Pepper, Atlanta, GA
|
| 9:10 a.m. |
Zoom Depositions: Early Trial Strategy, Offensive and Defensive Positioning, and Improving Technology
This panel will discuss the “new world” of Zoom depositions and trial strategy. Topics will include the increasing ease of use at trials, with upsides and downsides for defendants; jurisdictions with preferred practices and what those mean for trial; implications for “discovery” versus “trial” depositions; and demonstration of technological advancements that can make the most of a Zoom deposition.
Brett Mason, Troutman, Atlanta, GA |
| 10:10 a.m. |
Coffee Break
|
| 10:25 a.m. |
In-House Privilege (Ethics)
In-house and outside counsel often serve multiple roles when providing advice to their corporate clients. Their communications cover a broad range of topics, some of which are purely legal, but others are more nuanced, involving both legal and non-legal purposes. In the United States, the question of the extent to which those dual-purpose communications are protected by the attorney-client privilege and/or attorney work product doctrine varies. Some courts have adopted a “primary” or “predominant” purpose test which shields only those communications for which the principal purpose is to seek or offer legal advice. Other courts apply a more practical “significant legal purpose” test which protects communications whenever the seeking or giving of legal advice is “one of the significant purposes” of the communication. This issue becomes even more complicated when multi-national corporations are involved because of the varying laws of privilege in other jurisdictions. This presentation will focus on the current state of the law on attorney-client privilege as related to such dual-purpose communications, including an update on recent notable Circuit Court and Supreme Court rulings. The presenter(s) will offer insight both on post-communication privilege reviews and pre-communication guidelines [best practices] to ensure that communications seeking and providing legal advice are protected.
Professor Kristi Arth, Belmont University, Nashville, TN |
| 11:25 a.m. |
Hot Topics
Join us for an engaging panel presentation where industry experts will delve into the latest hot topics in the drug and medical device space. The discussion will cover the latest issues, cases and trends in drug and device litigation, in the US and abroad. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the industry today.
Bradley Matta, Viatris, Pittsburgh, PA
Gordon McKee, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Sharon L. Caffrey, Duane Morris, Philadelphia, PA |
| 12:25 p.m. |
Adjourn |
Small Group Networking
Bourbon Tasting
Date: Thursday, May 8 from 3:30–4:30 p.m. OR 4:45–5:45 p.m.
Pricing: $85/person - can be added when you register for the seminar*
Location: Onsite at Renaissance Nashville hotel
Are you ready to discover the perfect way to cap off your seminar day? Join us for a cozy and intimate small group bourbon tasting featuring the exquisite Belle Meade Bourbon. Gather with fellow attendees and let our beverage navigator guide you through a delightful exploration of this local icon. Discover the nuances of this smooth and flavorful spirit through interactive tastings and engaging conversation. Don't miss out on this unique chance to indulge your senses and make meaningful connections.
*Space is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis (25 max). Tickets are non-refundable unless DRI cancels the event due to not meeting the minimum attendance requirement.
CLE Information
Earn up to TBD hours of continuing legal education hours (CLE) from this seminar.
View CLE Credit by State
In some states that charge late CLE submission fees, there will be a $100 late fee to report CLE credits submitted more than 30 days after a seminar/virtual event. Click here for details on CLE late fees.
DRI's Drug and Medical Device Seminar is proudly supported by:
If you would like to contact DRI about seminar sponsorship opportunities (including pricing) or to reserve a spot, please visit the sponsorship page.
DRI Cares
Blessings in a Backpack
Please join us in supporting Blessings in a Backpack, an organization that mobilizes communities, individuals, and resources to provide food on the weekends for school-aged children across America who might otherwise go hungry. Seminar attendees will have the opportunity to fill bags of food on the way to the joint networking lunch on Thursday, May 8. Feeding a child before you feed yourself is a wonderful way to support children and families in the Nashville community.
Donate to Blessings in a Backpack
Additional Resources
If you have any questions or concerns regarding DRI programs, please contact DRI Customer Service at 312.795.1101 or custservice@dri.org.