Friday, March 27, 2026

2:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Mad About You: Hello From the Other Side
Plaintiffs’ and defense attorneys vent about how adversaries can
improve each other’s lives.

Panel Chair: Richard E. King, Melchiode Marks King LLC
Panelists: Jimmy Courtenay, JJC Law LLC
Matthew M. Friedman, Taylor, Wellons, Politz & Duhe, LLC
Thomas J. Madigan, Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert, L.L.C.
Carl A. “Trey” Woods, DSW Law Firm

3:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

The X-Files: Intentional Tort Exception
Really scary stuff: an analysis of the intentional tort exception,
specifically in refinery burn/explosion cases.

Panel Chair: Andrew D. “Andy” Weinstock, Duplass
Panelists: Ron Austin, Ron Austin & Associates, L.L.C.
Christopher Mann, Broussard Knoll Law Firm
M. Davis Ready, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP
Nicholas J. Wehlen, Stone Pigman Walther Wittmann LLC

Materials

3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Dawson’s Creek: Maritime Updates
Judge Carl Barbier & Prof. Ben Allums provide a brief
survey of recent important maritime decisions

Panel Chair: Jason P. Waguespack, Galloway
Panelists: Hon. Carl J. Barbier, U.S. District Court, EDLA
Professor Ben Allums, Loyola Law School
Constance C. Waguespack, Pusateri, Johnston, Guillot & Greenbaum, LLC

Materials

4:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Break

5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.





 

TGIF: Meet the Judges
What do judges expect in their courtrooms? What won’t judges tolerate?
Are there special rules that exist particular to each judge’s court? Do you
want to know special practice pointers? Get the answers and more at
“Meet the Judges.” “Meet the Judges” is a rapid-fire, round-robin session
where lawyers will be given the opportunity to meet and interact with
members of the judiciary.

Chair: Hon. Jay C. Zainey, U.S. District Court, EDLA

6:30 p.m.

Special thank to our Cocktails & Dinner Sponsor: Asher Meyers 

Friday night dinner includes a 90s costume contest, so pack your best 90s outfit!
Thanks to our contest judges, Judge Monique Barial, Judge Brandon Long, and Jeff Meyers!

Saturday, March 28, 2026

Breakfast

8:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.




 

Friends: Business Development - Plaintiff (Professionalism)
We’re all friends here: plaintiffs’ lawyers discuss professional tips
for getting more clients. This panel will discuss the Rules of
Professional Conduct and their relation to building and maintaining
your client base.

Panel Chair: Brittany Wolf-Freedman, Gainsburgh, Benjamin, David,
Meunier & Warshauer
Panelists: Caitlin B. Carrigan, Scott Vicknair Injury Lawyers
Justin M. Chopin, Chopin Law Firm LLC
Cassie P. Gailmor, Gailmor Law Goup
J. Christopher Zainey, Jr., Lambert Zainey Smith & Soso

Materials

9:15 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.


 

Dinosaurs: Business Development - Defendant (Professionalism)
No dinosaurs here: the new generation of defense attorneys discusses
professional business development. This panel will discuss how the
Rules of Professional Conduct apply to the business model of
development and success.

Panel Chair: Eric Winder Sella, Plauché Maselli Parkerson
Panelists: Kelly Juneau Rookard, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart Moore & Daniels,
Conference Vice-Chair
Dawn Danna Marullo, Pipes, Miles, Beckman LLC
Tessa P. Vorhaben, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

9:45 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
 

Home Improvement: Settlement Conferences & Mediations
It’s Tool Time! Judge Michael North and Judge Franz Zibilich share
the tools to have in your belt for effective settlement conferences &
mediations.

Panel Chair: Hon. Franz Zibilich, Orleans Criminal District Court
Panelists: Hon. Michael B. North, Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court, EDLA
Roger Javier, The Javier Firm, LLC

10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

Break

10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
 

Family Matters: In-House Counsel
Frank Liantonio leads a discussion with prominent in-house counsel.

Panel Chair: Francis V. "Frank" Liantonio, Jr., Adams & Reese LLP
Panelists: Bedouin L. Joseph, SeaRiver Maritime Inc./ExxonMobil
Kyle L. Potts, Averitt Express, Inc.
Robert Vosbein, Jr., Harvey Gulf International Marine

Materials

11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.


 

Full House: Mass Action Updates
Full house? It sure is. This panel discusses the latest trends in mass actions.

Panel Chair: Kelly Juneau Rookard, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart Moore & Daniels,
Conference Vice-Chair
Panelists: Alec N. Andrade, Liskow & Lewis
Mark P. Glago, Glago Williams LLC
Kerry Miller, Miller Thibodeaux Dysart Veith & Paschal

Materials

12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
 

 Step by Step: U.S. Fifth Circuit Updates
Thomas Flanagan takes us Step by Step through the latest U.S. Fifth Circuit
developments.

Panel Chair: Thomas M. Flanagan, Flanagan Partners LLP
Panelists: Hon. Barry W. Ashe, U.S. District Court, EDLA
H.S. “Tad” Bartlett III, Fishman Haygood LLP
Marcus B. Hunter, Kuchler Polk Weiner LLC
Laurence D. “Lon” LeSueur, Jr., Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver

Materials

8:45 - 9:30 a.m.

 

Oz: Open and Shut
Judge Marcus DeLarge leads a hands-on demonstration of the ideal openings
and closings in criminal cases.

Panel Chair: Hon. Marcus O. DeLarge, Orleans Criminal District Court
Panelists: Hon. Kimya M. Holmes, Deputy Chief Judge, Orleans Criminal District Court
Hon. Sandra Cabrina Jenkins, La. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal
Daniel Engelberg, Chief Public Defender, Orleans Public Defenders

Materials

9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.


 

Law & Order: White Collar Crime
Judge Brandon Long leads a discussion of current issues in white collar crime
and how the cases are prosecuted and defended.

Panel Chair: Hon. Brandon S. Long, U.S. District Court, EDLA, Conference Co-Chair
Panelists: AUSA Nicholas Moses, U.S. Attorney’s Office
AUSA Edward Rivera, U.S. Attorney’s Office
Brian J. Capitelli, Capitelli & Wicker
Avery B. Pardee, Jones Walker LLP 

Materials 1

Materials 2

10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.



 

Seinfeld: Use of Biometric Data
New Orleans’ top transactional specialists discuss the use of biometric data
by landlords, HOAs and businesses.

Panel Chair: Trevor J. Haynes, Phelps Dunbar LLP
Panelists: Jeff P. Green, JJC Law LLC
Cory J. Vidal, Hancock Whitney National Bank
Graham Williams, Sternberg, Naccari & White, LLC 

11:30 - 12:30 p.m.

 

Frasier: Deploying Generative AI
Just like the acclaimed sitcom, these attorneys bring the sophisticated topic
of AI deployment down to earth.

Panel Chair: Trevor J. Haynes, Phelps Dunbar LLP
Panelists: Chad P. Morrow, Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert, L.L.C.
Jesse C. Stewart, Phelps Dunbar LLP
Graham H. Ryan, Jones Walker LLP

Materials

Sunday, March 29, 2026

8:25 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

Welcoming Remarks

8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
 

The Wonder Years: Ethics of AI - How To (Ethics)
This panel will discuss the wonders of AI and how to use it ethically.

Panel Chair: Andrew R. Lee, Jones Walker LLP
Panelists: Hon. Nakisha Ervin-Knott, La. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal
Emily E. Eagan, Laborde Siegel L.L.C.
Jeff P. Green, JJC Law LLC
Bryan C. Reuter, Stanley Reuter Alford Owen Munson & Paul, LLC

Materials

9:00 - 9:30 a.m.

 

Saved by the Bell: Ethics of AI - How to NOT (Ethics)
This panel will discuss how to save yourself from ethical pitfalls while
using AI.

Panel Chair: Justin I. Woods, Clerk of Court, La. 4th Circuit Court of Appeal
Panelists: Hon. Monique E. Barial, Orleans Civil District Court, Conference Chair
Magdalen Blessey Bickford, Gordon Arata Montgomery Barnett
Alex J. Domingue, Mouledoux, Bland, Legrand, & Brackett
Scott Sternberg, Sternberg, Naccari, & White, LLC

Materials

9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.
 

Unsolved Mysteries: Voir Dire
Larry Pugh uncovers the mysteries of effective voir dire.

Panel Chair: Lawrence G. Pugh, III, Pugh Accardo LLC
Panelists: Hon. Jane Triche Milazzo, U.S. District Court, EDLA
Hon. Jennifer M. Medley, Orleans Civil District Court
Hon. Raymond S. Steib, Jr., 24th Judicial District Court

Materials

Bench Bar CLE Priority Registration (By March 3)

$550

Bench Bar CLE Registration (After March 3)

$600

Bench Bar Young Lawyer CLE Priority Registration (By March 3)

$300

Guest Registration 
        Friday Evening Dinner
        Saturday Evening Reception
        Saturday and Sunday Breakfasts

$250