As we bid farewell to the vibrant city of San Antonio in this issue of For The Defense, I am filled with gratitude for the tremendous success of the 2023 DRI Annual Meeting. During our time together, we witnessed the power of connection, education, and celebration within our legal community—proving without a doubt that at DRI, It’s All About Connections.
First and foremost, I want to express my sincere appreciation to each of you who joined us in San Antonio. Your presence contributed to the dynamic energy that showed through every aspect of the meeting. At DRI, we believe in the strength of our community, and it was truly heartening to see so many of the most influential civil defense attorneys and in-house counsel from across the country come together to share insights, experiences, and camaraderie.
One of the hallmarks of the DRI Annual Meeting is the opportunity to expand our collective knowledge base with cutting-edge education. The diverse range of topics covered in our sessions, panels, and keynotes showcased the depth and breadth of expertise within our community. I hope you all left San Antonio feeling intellectually invigorated and ready to implement newfound knowledge in your practice.
Beyond education, the meeting also provided a platform for engagement and collaboration. The DRI community truly came together to exchange ideas, share best practices, and forge new connections. I hope you took advantage of all the networking opportunities offered throughout the meeting, and I encourage you to continue building on these connections in the months ahead at DRI seminars, through any of our 29 substantive law committees, and more.
As we celebrate 2023 and welcome 2024, I’m energized by the sense of unity and purpose in the DRI community. DRI is not merely an organization; it is a community of dedicated professionals committed to advancing the practice of civil defense law. Your membership reflects your dedication to this shared mission, and I am inspired by the greater impact we can make when we join forces.
I also want to thank those who helped us make the 2023 DRI Annual Meeting possible, especially those who served on the Steering Committee. The meeting would not have been possible without your leadership and energy. I am grateful to have had you by my side from day one.
Looking ahead, I am excited to invite you to the 2024 DRI Annual Meeting, which will take place in the iconic city of Seattle. As we continue our journey of professional growth and collaboration, I am confident that the 2024 meeting will be another milestone in the legacy of DRI.
Thank you once again for your commitment to DRI. I look forward to seeing the great things you and the DRI community will accomplish in 2024.
Patrick J. Sweeney of Sweeney & Sheehan is the president of DRI.