2023 CONFERENCE SPEAKER LINEUP COMING SOON!
In the meantime, please view the 2022 Conference Speakers below for reference and stay tuned!
If you are interested in becoming a speaker in May, submit your request to Bernard Toliver at: [email protected].
If you are interested in becoming a speaker in May, submit your request to Bernard Toliver at: [email protected].
(Speakers are listed alphabetically by last name)
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David P. Abel, M.B.A., J.D.
Managing Attorney U.S. Market Advisors Law Group PLLC |
View Bio
David Abel is the Managing Attorney of USMA Law Group. His practice is focused on representing institutional investors in securities litigation and related matters. Mr. Abel has taken his past and current experiences representing institutional investors to help them and other financial companies navigate novel legal services transactions and commence litigation in foreign jurisdictions where collective actions are increasing. Mr. Abel serves as outside counsel to Battea Class Action Services, a settlement claims servicer for institutional investors. He is also counsel for ISAF Management Company, an international securities litigation servicer.
Mr. Abel began his legal career as a business analysis in the securities litigation practice group for one of the largest plaintiff law firms in the United States. He later became analyst group Director for the law firm, while also practicing as a litigating attorney, where he focused on lead plaintiff motion appointments in securities fraud class actions. In 2016, Mr. Abel co-founded USMA Law Group, a financial markets law firm based in Washington, DC, where he continues his practice.
Mr. Abel began his legal career as a business analysis in the securities litigation practice group for one of the largest plaintiff law firms in the United States. He later became analyst group Director for the law firm, while also practicing as a litigating attorney, where he focused on lead plaintiff motion appointments in securities fraud class actions. In 2016, Mr. Abel co-founded USMA Law Group, a financial markets law firm based in Washington, DC, where he continues his practice.
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Chase T. Brockstedt
Partner Baird Mandalas Brockstedt, LLC |
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A founding partner of Baird Mandalas Brockstedt, LLC, Mr. Brockstedt manages the Mass Tort/Environmental Law/Injury Litigation section of the firm. Chase has developed a flourishing mass tort and class action practice over the last decade, serving as lead counsel, a steering committee member, and class counsel in some of the largest tort class action cases in Delaware. He obtained an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and graduated from Widener University School of Law in 1999. Chase is a member of the American Bar and Delaware State Bar Associations and the American Association of Justice, is Board of Governor and past President of the Delaware Trial Lawyers Association, serves on the Sussex Academy Foundation Board, and is a past board member of the Board of Directors of Kings Creek Country Club and the Delaware State Golf Association.
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Kevin Doyle, MBA
Senior Vice President, Global Head of Marketing Battea Class Action Services |
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Kevin Doyle, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Marketing at Battea, is responsible for front line communication, marketing operations and building results-driven marketing campaigns that increase brand awareness and the organization's global footprint—working to expanding market share within the industry.
Prior to Battea, Mr. Doyle was the Global Marketing Manager for Dow Jones, where he managed a company-wide re-branding, championed two annual global customer surveys, as well as all marketing activities involved with new product launches. Prior to that he held other Digital Marketing & Management roles with SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc., Santander Bank, State Street Bank, and Investors Bank & Trust where he was responsible for developing marketing strategies to strengthen and grow online traffic and brand awareness as well as hosted and third-party event planning.
Mr. Doyle’s specialties include marketing campaign strategy & execution, digital marketing, social media marketing, email marketing, external communications, partner strategy and campaign execution and all aspects of sales support including go-to-market materials, sales playbook, sell sheets, and presentations.
Mr. Doyle graduated from Endicott College and holds both a B.S. and an M.B.A. in Marketing.
Prior to Battea, Mr. Doyle was the Global Marketing Manager for Dow Jones, where he managed a company-wide re-branding, championed two annual global customer surveys, as well as all marketing activities involved with new product launches. Prior to that he held other Digital Marketing & Management roles with SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc., Santander Bank, State Street Bank, and Investors Bank & Trust where he was responsible for developing marketing strategies to strengthen and grow online traffic and brand awareness as well as hosted and third-party event planning.
Mr. Doyle’s specialties include marketing campaign strategy & execution, digital marketing, social media marketing, email marketing, external communications, partner strategy and campaign execution and all aspects of sales support including go-to-market materials, sales playbook, sell sheets, and presentations.
Mr. Doyle graduated from Endicott College and holds both a B.S. and an M.B.A. in Marketing.
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Donald J. Enright
Partner Levi & Korsinsky, LLP |
View Bio
During his 24 years as a litigator and trial lawyer, Mr. Enright has handled matters in the fields of securities, commodities, consumer fraud and commercial litigation, with a particular emphasis on shareholder M&A and securities fraud class action litigation. He has been named as one of the leading financial litigators in the nation by Lawdragon, as a Washington, DC "Super Lawyer" by Thomson Reuters, and as one of the city's "Top Lawyers" by Washingtonian magazine.
Mr. Enright has shown a track record of achieving victories in federal trials and appeals, including:
• Nathenson v. Zonagen, Inc., 267 F. 3d 400, 413 (5th Cir. 2001)
• SEC v. Butler, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7194 (W.D. Pa. April 18, 2005)
• Belizan v. Hershon, 434 F. 3d 579 (D.C. Cir. 2006)
• Rensel v. Centra Tech, Inc., 2021 WL 2659784 (11th Cir. June 29, 2021)
Most recently, in In re Schuff International, Inc. Stockholders Litigation, Case No. 10323-VCZ, Mr. Enright served as Co-Lead Counsel for the plaintiff class in achieving the largest recovery as a percentage of the underlying transaction consideration in Delaware Chancery Court merger class action history, obtaining an aggregate recovery of more than $22 million -- a gross increase from $31.50 to $67.45 in total consideration per share (a 114% increase) for tendering stockholders.
Similarly, as Co-Lead Counsel in In re Bluegreen Corp. Shareholder Litigation, Case No. 502011CA018111 (Cir. Ct. for Palm Beach Cnty., Fla.), Mr. Enright achieved a $36.5 million common fund settlement in the wake of a majority shareholder buyout, representing a 25% increase in total consideration to the minority stockholders.
Also, in In re CNX Gas Corp. Shareholders Litigation, C.A. No. 53377-VCL (Del. Ch. 2010), in which Levi & Korsinsky served upon plaintiffs’ Executive Committee, Mr. Enright helped obtain the recovery of a common fund of over $42.7 million for stockholders.
Mr. Enright has also played a leadership role in numerous securities and shareholder class actions from inception to conclusion. Most recently, he has served as lead counsel in several cryptocurrency-related securities class actions. His leadership has produced multi-million-dollar recoveries in shareholder class actions involving such companies as:
• Allied Irish Banks PLC
• Iridium World Communications, Ltd. • En Pointe Technologies, Inc.
• PriceSmart, Inc.
• Polk Audio, Inc.
• Meade Instruments Corp.
• Xicor, Inc.
• Streamlogic Corp.
• Interbank Funding Corp.
• Riggs National Corp.
• UTStarcom, Inc.
• Manugistics Group, Inc.
Mr. Enright also has a successful track record of obtaining injunctive relief in connection with shareholder M&A litigation, having won preliminary injunctions or other injunctive relief in the cases of:
• In re Portec Rail Products, Inc. S’holder Litig., G.D. 10-3547 (Ct. Com. Pleas Pa. 2010) • In re Craftmade International, Inc. S’holder Litig., C.A. No. 6950-VCL (Del. Ch. 2011) • Dias v. Purches, C.A. No. 7199-VCG (Del. Ch. 2012)
• In re Complete Genomics, Inc. S’holder Litig., C.A. No. 7888-VCL (Del. Ch. 2012)
• In re Integrated Silicon Solution, Inc. Stockholder Litig., Lead Case No. 115CV279142 (Sup. Ct. Santa Clara, CA 2015)
Mr. Enright has also demonstrated considerable success in obtaining deal price increases for shareholders in M&A litigation. As Co-Lead Counsel in the matter of In re Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. Shareholder Litigation, C.A. No. 7328-VCN (Del. Ch. 2012), Mr. Enright was partially responsible for a $93 million (57%) increase in merger consideration and waiver of several “don’t-ask-don’t-waive” standstill agreements that were precluding certain potential bidders from making a topping bid for the company.
Similarly, Mr. Enright served as Co-Lead Counsel in the case of Berger v. Life Sciences Research, Inc., No. SOM-C-12006-09 (NJ Sup. Ct. 2009), which caused a significant increase in the transaction price from $7.50 to $8.50 per share, representing additional consideration for shareholders of approximately $11.5 million.
Mr. Enright also served as Co-Lead Counsel in Minerva Group, LP v. Keane, Index No. 800621/2013 (NY Sup. Ct. of Erie Cnty.) and obtained a settlement in which Defendants increased the price of an insider buyout from $8.40 to $9.25 per share.
The courts have consistently recognized and praised the quality of Mr. Enright’s work. In In re Interbank Funding Corp. Securities Litigation (D.D.C. 02-1490), Judge Bates of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia observed that Mr. Enright had “...skillfully, efficiently, and zealously represented the class, and... worked relentlessly throughout the course of the case.”
Similarly, in Freeland v. Iridium World Communications, LTD, (D.D.C. 99-1002), Judge Nanette Laughrey stated that Mr. Enright had done “an outstanding job” in connection with the recovery of $43.1 million for the shareholder class.
And, in the matter of Osieczanek v. Thomas Properties Group, C.A. No. 9029-VCG (Del. Ch. 2013), Vice Chancellor Sam Glasscock of the Chancery Court of Delaware observed that “it’s always a pleasure to have counsel [like Mr. Enright] who are articulate and exuberant in presenting their position,” and that Mr. Enright’s prosecution of a merger case was “wholesome” and served as “a model of . . . plaintiffs’ litigation in the merger arena.”
Mr. Enright has shown a track record of achieving victories in federal trials and appeals, including:
• Nathenson v. Zonagen, Inc., 267 F. 3d 400, 413 (5th Cir. 2001)
• SEC v. Butler, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7194 (W.D. Pa. April 18, 2005)
• Belizan v. Hershon, 434 F. 3d 579 (D.C. Cir. 2006)
• Rensel v. Centra Tech, Inc., 2021 WL 2659784 (11th Cir. June 29, 2021)
Most recently, in In re Schuff International, Inc. Stockholders Litigation, Case No. 10323-VCZ, Mr. Enright served as Co-Lead Counsel for the plaintiff class in achieving the largest recovery as a percentage of the underlying transaction consideration in Delaware Chancery Court merger class action history, obtaining an aggregate recovery of more than $22 million -- a gross increase from $31.50 to $67.45 in total consideration per share (a 114% increase) for tendering stockholders.
Similarly, as Co-Lead Counsel in In re Bluegreen Corp. Shareholder Litigation, Case No. 502011CA018111 (Cir. Ct. for Palm Beach Cnty., Fla.), Mr. Enright achieved a $36.5 million common fund settlement in the wake of a majority shareholder buyout, representing a 25% increase in total consideration to the minority stockholders.
Also, in In re CNX Gas Corp. Shareholders Litigation, C.A. No. 53377-VCL (Del. Ch. 2010), in which Levi & Korsinsky served upon plaintiffs’ Executive Committee, Mr. Enright helped obtain the recovery of a common fund of over $42.7 million for stockholders.
Mr. Enright has also played a leadership role in numerous securities and shareholder class actions from inception to conclusion. Most recently, he has served as lead counsel in several cryptocurrency-related securities class actions. His leadership has produced multi-million-dollar recoveries in shareholder class actions involving such companies as:
• Allied Irish Banks PLC
• Iridium World Communications, Ltd. • En Pointe Technologies, Inc.
• PriceSmart, Inc.
• Polk Audio, Inc.
• Meade Instruments Corp.
• Xicor, Inc.
• Streamlogic Corp.
• Interbank Funding Corp.
• Riggs National Corp.
• UTStarcom, Inc.
• Manugistics Group, Inc.
Mr. Enright also has a successful track record of obtaining injunctive relief in connection with shareholder M&A litigation, having won preliminary injunctions or other injunctive relief in the cases of:
• In re Portec Rail Products, Inc. S’holder Litig., G.D. 10-3547 (Ct. Com. Pleas Pa. 2010) • In re Craftmade International, Inc. S’holder Litig., C.A. No. 6950-VCL (Del. Ch. 2011) • Dias v. Purches, C.A. No. 7199-VCG (Del. Ch. 2012)
• In re Complete Genomics, Inc. S’holder Litig., C.A. No. 7888-VCL (Del. Ch. 2012)
• In re Integrated Silicon Solution, Inc. Stockholder Litig., Lead Case No. 115CV279142 (Sup. Ct. Santa Clara, CA 2015)
Mr. Enright has also demonstrated considerable success in obtaining deal price increases for shareholders in M&A litigation. As Co-Lead Counsel in the matter of In re Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. Shareholder Litigation, C.A. No. 7328-VCN (Del. Ch. 2012), Mr. Enright was partially responsible for a $93 million (57%) increase in merger consideration and waiver of several “don’t-ask-don’t-waive” standstill agreements that were precluding certain potential bidders from making a topping bid for the company.
Similarly, Mr. Enright served as Co-Lead Counsel in the case of Berger v. Life Sciences Research, Inc., No. SOM-C-12006-09 (NJ Sup. Ct. 2009), which caused a significant increase in the transaction price from $7.50 to $8.50 per share, representing additional consideration for shareholders of approximately $11.5 million.
Mr. Enright also served as Co-Lead Counsel in Minerva Group, LP v. Keane, Index No. 800621/2013 (NY Sup. Ct. of Erie Cnty.) and obtained a settlement in which Defendants increased the price of an insider buyout from $8.40 to $9.25 per share.
The courts have consistently recognized and praised the quality of Mr. Enright’s work. In In re Interbank Funding Corp. Securities Litigation (D.D.C. 02-1490), Judge Bates of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia observed that Mr. Enright had “...skillfully, efficiently, and zealously represented the class, and... worked relentlessly throughout the course of the case.”
Similarly, in Freeland v. Iridium World Communications, LTD, (D.D.C. 99-1002), Judge Nanette Laughrey stated that Mr. Enright had done “an outstanding job” in connection with the recovery of $43.1 million for the shareholder class.
And, in the matter of Osieczanek v. Thomas Properties Group, C.A. No. 9029-VCG (Del. Ch. 2013), Vice Chancellor Sam Glasscock of the Chancery Court of Delaware observed that “it’s always a pleasure to have counsel [like Mr. Enright] who are articulate and exuberant in presenting their position,” and that Mr. Enright’s prosecution of a merger case was “wholesome” and served as “a model of . . . plaintiffs’ litigation in the merger arena.”
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Philip C. Federico
Founding and Senior Partner Schochor, Federico and Staton, P.A. |
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Philip Federico is a founding and senior partner with Schochor, Federico and Staton, P.A. He currently manages the Mass Tort/Environmental Law section of the firm, transitioning into this practice area after beginning his career as a medical malpractice litigator. Mr. Federico has been involved in historic and groundbreaking litigations with verdicts and settlements totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. In recent years, Mr. Federico and his colleagues have been focusing on environmental cases involving contaminated groundwater and air pollution. Mr. Federico is active in his community and sits on boards of many local charities and foundations. He lives in Baltimore with his wife of 39 years, Diane, and has a son, Torin, daughter-in-law Stephanie, and granddaughter, Isabelle. When he is not practicing law or spending time with his family, Mr. Federico enjoys golf, fishing, hunting, surfing, and traveling.
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Adam W. Foulke
SVP, Business Development ISAF Management Company |
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Adam Foulke is SVP, Business Development at International Securities Associations & Foundations Management Company LLC (ISAF), a litigation funding company. Mr. Foulke has a B.A. degree from Roanoke College and a MBA degree from Johns Hopkins University. Mr. Foulke is also a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). Mr. Foulke manages business development for ISAF. He was most recently with Dow Jones Risk & Compliance and Kroll, Inc., where he was responsible for regulatory data and enhanced due diligence sales. Mr. Foulke spent five years at Motley Rice, a securities litigation firm, as the Director of Business Analysis, and began his career in the corporate governance field as a proxy analyst for Institutional Shareholder Services and then as a Senior Analyst at the Nasdaq Stock Market in the listing qualifications department. He has extensive experience in corporate governance consulting, market regulation, litigation analysis and business development for risk and compliance data and due diligence solutions.
Mr. Foulke also serves on the board of directors for Pardee Resources Company (OTC: PDER), a natural resources and energy management and investment company, and The Council of Institutional Investors ("CII") Markets Advisory Council ("MAC"), which advises the CII Board and staff on investment, legal, financial reporting, and other trends.
Mr. Foulke also serves on the board of directors for Pardee Resources Company (OTC: PDER), a natural resources and energy management and investment company, and The Council of Institutional Investors ("CII") Markets Advisory Council ("MAC"), which advises the CII Board and staff on investment, legal, financial reporting, and other trends.
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Marsha J. Indych
Partner Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP |
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Marsha J. Indych is a litigation partner in Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP’s New York office. She handles complex commercial litigation and arbitration matters in jurisdictions throughout the United States, focusing on consumer class actions and domestic and international business disputes. She represents clients from a broad array of industries in consumer-protection matters. She has successfully defended dozens of TCPA actions, including class actions, individual actions, arbitrations, and pre-litigation disputes, in jurisdictions across the country. Her practice includes helping clients navigate evolving—and sometimes conflicting—standards for TCPA compliance. She regularly contributes to the TCPA Blog, providing analysis about recent developments regarding the statute. She is the Newsletter Editor for the ABA’s Consumer Litigation Committee and co-authored the TCPA chapter in the Telecommunications Law Answer Book.
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Deborah E. Jennings
Former Senior Partner DLA Piper |
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Deborah Jennings is a retired senior partner from the Washington, D.C. office of DLA Piper. Her practice focused on litigation and negotiations related to air, water, and hazardous waste permit issues, transportation, cleanup and disposal of hazardous substances and the siting and modification of major air emissions sources. She has also focused on policies addressing ozone, acid rain, and climate change. Deborah is a former Assistant Attorney General of Maryland and Chief, Criminal Investigations Division as well as a former Assistant State’s Attorney for Montgomery County, Maryland. She has been listed in The Best Lawyers of America for the past 24 years in recognition of her environmental law practice and was a charter member and served on the Board of Regents of the American College of Environmental Lawyers. Georgetown University Law Center, J.D.; University of Maryland with honors.
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Kevin Laukaitis
Shub Law Firm LLC |
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Kevin Laukaitis is a Partner at Shub Law Firm. He focuses 100% of his practice on litigation, with a particular emphasis on consumer class actions. Kevin has extensive experience handling complex litigation matters, in state and federal courts, on behalf of consumers who have been wronged by companies that have violated the law.
Kevin, a Philadelphia native, graduated from Drexel University with a B.S. in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing. He received his J.D from Temple University Beasley School of Law, where he was a part-time evening program student. During law school, Kevin worked full-time as a paralegal where he gained practical experience in all aspects of class action litigation. Upon graduating, Kevin worked as an Associate at Kohn Swift & Graf, P.C. before joining Shub Law Firm.
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Kevin, a Philadelphia native, graduated from Drexel University with a B.S. in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing. He received his J.D from Temple University Beasley School of Law, where he was a part-time evening program student. During law school, Kevin worked full-time as a paralegal where he gained practical experience in all aspects of class action litigation. Upon graduating, Kevin worked as an Associate at Kohn Swift & Graf, P.C. before joining Shub Law Firm.
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Mike Lawson
Associate O’Connell and Aronowitz, P.C. |
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Mike is an associate in the Litigation Department for O'Connell and Aronowitz, P.C. in Albany, NY, where he focuses on personal injury litigation and criminal defense. Mike represents clients who have been injured as a result of accidents and professional malpractice. Currently his work involves all stages of pre-trial discovery and representing clients at depositions. He also works closely with attorneys in the department preparing cases for trial, and finalizing cases post-settlement.
Mike brings compassion and empathy to his work with clients from his own personal experience as a Plaintiff in a personal injury matter prior to becoming an attorney.
Mike has a Bachelor of Science from Springfield College, with a major in Sports Management, and minors in Business Administration and YMCA Professional Studies. While at Springfield, Mike interned for the Philadelphia Eagles in the Ticket and Fans Services Office.
Mike attended Syracuse University College of Law, where he developed an interest in Sports Law. While at Syracuse, Mike was the President of the Entertainment and Sports Law Society and worked for the Syracuse Athletics Compliance Office, as well as the Syracuse Orange Club. In 2019, Mike was a summer associate for a boutique firm in Nashville that was outside counsel for professional sports teams, including the Tennessee Titans. In addition to his Juris Doctorate, Mike earned an Entertainment and Sports Law Curriculum Certificate while at Syracuse.
Mike is currently the producer and social media coordinator, and appears on many episodes as a guest host, for THE Sports Law Podcast Conduct Detrimental that discusses the intersection of sports and law.
Mike brings compassion and empathy to his work with clients from his own personal experience as a Plaintiff in a personal injury matter prior to becoming an attorney.
Mike has a Bachelor of Science from Springfield College, with a major in Sports Management, and minors in Business Administration and YMCA Professional Studies. While at Springfield, Mike interned for the Philadelphia Eagles in the Ticket and Fans Services Office.
Mike attended Syracuse University College of Law, where he developed an interest in Sports Law. While at Syracuse, Mike was the President of the Entertainment and Sports Law Society and worked for the Syracuse Athletics Compliance Office, as well as the Syracuse Orange Club. In 2019, Mike was a summer associate for a boutique firm in Nashville that was outside counsel for professional sports teams, including the Tennessee Titans. In addition to his Juris Doctorate, Mike earned an Entertainment and Sports Law Curriculum Certificate while at Syracuse.
Mike is currently the producer and social media coordinator, and appears on many episodes as a guest host, for THE Sports Law Podcast Conduct Detrimental that discusses the intersection of sports and law.
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The Honorable Benson E. Legg
Former Chief Judge United States District Court for the District of Maryland |
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Benson Everett Legg is the former Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. Before joining the federal bench in 1991, he was a partner with the law firm of Venable, Baetjer and Howard (now, Venable LLP). In 2013, after reaching senior status, he retired from the bench and joined JAMS, the world’s largest ADR provider, where he serves as an arbitrator and mediator. He received an A.B. in English Literature, magna cum laude, from Princeton University in 1970. He received a J.D. from the University of Virginia in 1973, where he was a member of the editorial board of the Virginia Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif.
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Christopher Longley
CEO Atticus Administration, LLC |
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Chris is the co-founder and CEO of Atticus Administration LLC (www.atticusadmin.com). Atticus is a full-service claims administration company located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Since the company’s inception in 2016, Atticus has administered more than 670 settlements and distributed close to $700 million.
Prior to co-founding Atticus, Chris was the CEO of Dahl Administration, where he oversaw the administrative services of more than 200 settlements. Among those settlements were high profile cases including In Re Motor Fuel (Hot Fuel) and the Target Data Breach – Financial Institutions class action settlements, to name just a few. An Attorney by training, he practiced law at the Minneapolis law firm of Hessian McKasy & Soderberg, before launching his business career. Chris has had a direct involvement in 14 start-up companies since 1998 and spent more than a decade at the private equity firm of North Central Equity LLC, focusing on the acquisition of mid to small market companies with a $4 to $20 million enterprise valuation.
Chris graduated from William Mitchell College of Law and the University of St. Thomas. He is a member of the Minnesota Bar (retired status), the American Bar Association, where he serves as membership chair of the Consumer Litigation Committee, the 8th Circuit Court and the United States Supreme Court.
Chris currently splits his time between St. Paul, MN and New York City.
Prior to co-founding Atticus, Chris was the CEO of Dahl Administration, where he oversaw the administrative services of more than 200 settlements. Among those settlements were high profile cases including In Re Motor Fuel (Hot Fuel) and the Target Data Breach – Financial Institutions class action settlements, to name just a few. An Attorney by training, he practiced law at the Minneapolis law firm of Hessian McKasy & Soderberg, before launching his business career. Chris has had a direct involvement in 14 start-up companies since 1998 and spent more than a decade at the private equity firm of North Central Equity LLC, focusing on the acquisition of mid to small market companies with a $4 to $20 million enterprise valuation.
Chris graduated from William Mitchell College of Law and the University of St. Thomas. He is a member of the Minnesota Bar (retired status), the American Bar Association, where he serves as membership chair of the Consumer Litigation Committee, the 8th Circuit Court and the United States Supreme Court.
Chris currently splits his time between St. Paul, MN and New York City.
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Dan Lust
Sports & Entertainment Attorney at Geragos & Geragos, Sports Law Professor at New York Law School, and Host of the Conduct Detrimental Sports Law Podcast |
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Dan Lust is an attorney in the NYC Office of Geragos & Geragos and the Sports Law Professor at New York Law School. He is regularly called upon to provide insight on legal issues in the sports arena for TV and Radio programs for national segments with ESPN, Fox Business, Fox Sports, CBS Sports, SiriusXM, Court TV, and Law & Crime, as well as regional outlets from New York, Chicago, Vegas, Miami, DC, Houston, Los Angeles, and everywhere in between.
After working for the New York Giants, Dan went to Fordham Law where he split his focus between Trial Advocacy and Sports Law. At Fordham, he served as President of Fordham’s Sports Law Forum and founded the National Basketball Negotiation Competition. Following law school, Dan embarked on a more traditional legal path for several years in a litigation role before shifting back to a sports focus.
As for his day-to-day role at Geragos NYC, Dan parlays his sports-specific background to his practice, where he represents a wide range of businesses and individuals in matters across the firm’s footprint. He controls cases from their onset to completion encompassing all facets of discovery, depositions, motion practice, and settlement. He has handled all aspects of trial, solo, and argued cases to decision in a number of different forums.
Named a "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers from 2019-2022, Dan’s insights on high-profile legal issues have been featured by sports industry leaders such as Dan Le Batard, Jay Bilas, Doug Gottlieb, J.A. Adande, Darren Rovell, Tony Reali, Kevin Clancy, Keith Olbermann, Bob Nightengale, Ed Werder, and Bomani Jones.
He‘s also been published by Forbes, the American Bar Association, New York Law Journal, New York Business Journal, and Law360 and has been asked to present to judges and attorneys. He’s been the featured speaker for law students in programs with Notre Dame, UPenn, Tulane, Boston College, Tennessee, Fordham, Nebraska, Iowa, Florida St., Texas Tech, Michigan St., Rutgers, Pepperdine, and Villanova, among countless schools. Dan presently teaches his own Sports Law class for New York Law School.
Dan is the Managing Editor of ConductDetrimental.com, a site that focuses exclusively on legal issues impacting the sports realm powered by insights from attorneys and students from around the country. He is also the host of the Conduct Detrimental Podcast, the #1 Sports Law Podcast. Dan's takes on a broad array of issues can be found on @SportsLawLust (Twitter/Instagram).
After working for the New York Giants, Dan went to Fordham Law where he split his focus between Trial Advocacy and Sports Law. At Fordham, he served as President of Fordham’s Sports Law Forum and founded the National Basketball Negotiation Competition. Following law school, Dan embarked on a more traditional legal path for several years in a litigation role before shifting back to a sports focus.
As for his day-to-day role at Geragos NYC, Dan parlays his sports-specific background to his practice, where he represents a wide range of businesses and individuals in matters across the firm’s footprint. He controls cases from their onset to completion encompassing all facets of discovery, depositions, motion practice, and settlement. He has handled all aspects of trial, solo, and argued cases to decision in a number of different forums.
Named a "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers from 2019-2022, Dan’s insights on high-profile legal issues have been featured by sports industry leaders such as Dan Le Batard, Jay Bilas, Doug Gottlieb, J.A. Adande, Darren Rovell, Tony Reali, Kevin Clancy, Keith Olbermann, Bob Nightengale, Ed Werder, and Bomani Jones.
He‘s also been published by Forbes, the American Bar Association, New York Law Journal, New York Business Journal, and Law360 and has been asked to present to judges and attorneys. He’s been the featured speaker for law students in programs with Notre Dame, UPenn, Tulane, Boston College, Tennessee, Fordham, Nebraska, Iowa, Florida St., Texas Tech, Michigan St., Rutgers, Pepperdine, and Villanova, among countless schools. Dan presently teaches his own Sports Law class for New York Law School.
Dan is the Managing Editor of ConductDetrimental.com, a site that focuses exclusively on legal issues impacting the sports realm powered by insights from attorneys and students from around the country. He is also the host of the Conduct Detrimental Podcast, the #1 Sports Law Podcast. Dan's takes on a broad array of issues can be found on @SportsLawLust (Twitter/Instagram).
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Edward Neiger
Co-Managing Partner Ask LLP |
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Edward Neiger’s practice focuses on representing individual victims of mass torts in bankruptcies. He is a passionate advocate for those affected by the opioid crisis. Mr. Neiger is on the board of 2EndTheSitgma and he works to help those suffering from addiction, especially those incarcerated, get the help they deserve. At the same time, he fights to hold those responsible for the opioid crisis, especially governments and elected officials, accountable. He represented victims in The Weinstein Company, PG&E, Mallinckrodt, Boy Scouts and Purdue, among others.
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Kate Porter
Partner Vela Wood P.C. |
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Kate Porter is a partner and head of the sports practice group at Vela Wood P.C. Ms. Porter represents professional sports teams and leagues, national associations and organizing committees for major international sporting events in sports-related disputes, as well as in league and federation investigations. Ms. Porter also works with U.S. professional sports teams to support their in-house legal teams and other business units with drafting and negotiating various commercial agreements, and other
day-to-day legal issues.
day-to-day legal issues.
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The Honorable Irma S. Raker
Former Judge Court of Appeals of Maryland |
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Judge Irma Raker served on the Maryland Court of Appeals, the State Supreme Court, from 1994 until 2008, and since then, has served as a claims adjudicator in class action matters, and a certified Mediator and Arbitrator. She continues to sit on the Court of Appeals and the intermediate appellate court as a Senior Judge. From 1980-1994, Judge Raker served as a trial judge in Maryland. Judge Raker has served as a mediator and arbitrator in over one thousand cases in the past fourteen years. She is known for her insight, persistence, and sensitivity. Her expertise includes complex civil cases, employment disputes, defamation, medical and legal malpractice, eminent domain, business disputes, motor torts, sexual abuse cases, and estates and trusts.
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Michael Reese
Partner Reese LLP |
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Mr. Reese is the founding partner of Reese LLP, which was established in 2008 and has offices in New York, Minnesota, and California. Mr. Reese litigates consumer protection cases as class actions and on behalf of individual clients. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Reese served as an assistant district attorney at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office where he served as a trial attorney prosecuting violent felony and white-collar crime.
Achievements by Mr. Reese on behalf of consumers span a wide array of class actions and have resulted in the recovery of hundreds of millions of dollars for consumers and significant injunctive relief to address corporate misconduct or negligence.
In recognition of his advocacy and experience, Mr. Reese and his firm are frequently appointed as co-lead counsel in multi-district litigations.
Mr. Reese also is a frequent lecturer and author on issues of class actions. Mr. Reese co-hosts an annual two day conference with Professor Michael Roberts of UCLA that includes panels on class action litigation; presents on class action litigation at the annual conference of the Consumer Brands Association; and, presents regularly on U.S. class action practice at the Union Internationale des Advocats Annual Congress.
Recent articles on class actions appear in publications by the American Bar Association; the Union Internationale des Advocats; and the Illinois State Bar Association.
Mr. Reese is also an executive committee member of the Plaintiffs’ Class Action Roundtable, where he lectures on an annual basis on issues related to class actions.
Mr. Reese is also an adjunct professor at Brooklyn Law School where he teaches on class actions.
Mr. Reese is a member of the state bars of New York and California as well as numerous federal district and appellate courts. Mr. Reese received his juris doctorate from the University of Virginia in 1996 and his bachelor’s degree from New College in 1993.
Achievements by Mr. Reese on behalf of consumers span a wide array of class actions and have resulted in the recovery of hundreds of millions of dollars for consumers and significant injunctive relief to address corporate misconduct or negligence.
In recognition of his advocacy and experience, Mr. Reese and his firm are frequently appointed as co-lead counsel in multi-district litigations.
Mr. Reese also is a frequent lecturer and author on issues of class actions. Mr. Reese co-hosts an annual two day conference with Professor Michael Roberts of UCLA that includes panels on class action litigation; presents on class action litigation at the annual conference of the Consumer Brands Association; and, presents regularly on U.S. class action practice at the Union Internationale des Advocats Annual Congress.
Recent articles on class actions appear in publications by the American Bar Association; the Union Internationale des Advocats; and the Illinois State Bar Association.
Mr. Reese is also an executive committee member of the Plaintiffs’ Class Action Roundtable, where he lectures on an annual basis on issues related to class actions.
Mr. Reese is also an adjunct professor at Brooklyn Law School where he teaches on class actions.
Mr. Reese is a member of the state bars of New York and California as well as numerous federal district and appellate courts. Mr. Reese received his juris doctorate from the University of Virginia in 1996 and his bachelor’s degree from New College in 1993.
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Christopher E. Roberts
Partner Butsch Roberts & Associates LLC |
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Christopher E. Roberts is a partner at Butsch Roberts & Associates LLC in St. Louis, Missouri. Much of Mr. Roberts’s practice is focused on representing consumers in class action cases. His cases have resulted in tens of millions of dollars being paid to consumers and millions of dollars of debt being eliminated for consumers. His passion for class action litigation stems from his desire to achieve justice for large groups of people and the intellectual challenges presented by class action litigation. Mr. Roberts serves as a co-chair of the Telephone Consumer Practices Act subcommittee for the ABA’s Consumer Law Committee. Mr. Roberts is a frequent contributor to the ABA Litigation Section’s Class Actions and Derivative Suits Committee and the ABA Litigation Section’s Consumer Law Committee. He also presents lectures on class action issues. He has been named a rising star by Super Lawyers in the area of consumer law from 2018-2021. Mr. Roberts is licensed to practice in Missouri, Illinois and Kansas. He is also licensed to practice in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and various federal district courts in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Texas and Michigan.
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Thomas Rohback
Partner Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP |
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Chambers USA describes Tom Rohback as "a first-class trial lawyer...and a brilliant cross-examiner." Chair of Axinn’s Complex Litigation Group, he has in-depth experience in trial and appellate litigation, and has defended class actions throughout the United States. Chambers USA praised him as being "great at simplifying complex matters for a jury" and “a popular choice for clients seeking representation in high-stakes trials and national class actions.”
Tom’s extensive litigation experience includes:
Tom’s extensive litigation experience includes:
- Won dismissals In re Auto Body Antitrust Litigation, where over twenty cases from around the country were dismissed without any discovery being taken.
- Won summary judgment in PCS v. UPMC in which antitrust claims were directed at the health care provider and its insurance subsidiary where plaintiff alleged that the massive hospital system had monopoly power which was tied to the operation of its insurance subsidiary.
- Secured a complete dismissal on summary judgment of legal malpractice claims brought by rapper 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson, III) against an AmLaw100 law firm in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut.
- Defended a pharmaceutical company in indirect purchaser class action where plaintiff was forced at class certification hearing to substantially narrow its class definition which resulted in a favorable settlement.
- Secured a complete dismissal on behalf of a large insurer in the District of Connecticut.
- Successfully tried a $400M Unfair Trade Practices class action to a jury verdict in the District of Connecticut.
- Won class dismissals, defeated class certification, or substantially narrowed class in courts across the U.S.
- Tried more than 20 cases to verdict, including three jury cases in a three-month period where he obtained a directed verdict in each case.
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Scott Shuchart
Senior Director for Legal Strategy Kids in Need of Defense |
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Scott has led impact litigation for Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) since joining in 2019. He was previously an official at the Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties; a clinical lecturer at Yale Law School; an associate at Boies Schiller & Flexner LLP and Altshuler Berzon LLP; and a clerk on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. His work at KIND focuses on ensuring access to protection for unaccompanied children seeking safety in the United States after fleeing risks abroad. He is a graduate of Yale Law School, Oxford University, and Harvard University.
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Angelo A. Stio III
Partner Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP |
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Angelo is a first-chair litigator who tries cases in courts and arbitration tribunals throughout the United States. His practice focuses on financial services issues, higher education law, and data privacy and security. Angelo has a long track record of handling class actions and complex commercial disputes, and is also experienced in federal appellate court. He is a recognized as a Local Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation (2019-2021) and by New Jersey Super Lawyers (2011-2017) for business litigation.
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Eric J. Troutman
Partner Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP |
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Eric Troutman is one of the country’s prominent class action defense lawyers and is nationally recognized in Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) litigation and compliance. He has served as lead defense counsel in more than 100 national TCPA class actions and has litigated nearly a thousand individual TCPA cases in his role as national strategic litigation counsel for major banks and finance companies. He also helps industry participants build TCPA-compliant processes, policies and systems.
Eric has built a national litigation practice based upon deep experience, rigorous analysis and extraordinary responsiveness. Eric and his team feel equally at home litigating multibillion-dollar telecommunications class actions in federal court as they do developing and executing national litigation strategies for institutions facing an onslaught of individual TCPA matters. They thrive in each of these roles – delivering consistently excellent results – while never losing sight of the client experience.
While many firms now tout TCPA expertise, Eric has been there from the beginning. He built one of the country’s first TCPA-only defense teams and began serving as national TCPA counsel for his clients nearly a decade ago. This perspective allows him to swiftly develop the right litigation strategies for dealing with recurring problems, without wasting time on tactics that are bound to fail.
Eric’s rich historical perspective and encyclopedic knowledge of the TCPA landscape also make him an invaluable resource to institutional compliance teams struggling to comply with the shifting regulatory landscape. No task is too small – or too big. Indeed, Eric and his team have helped build TCPA-compliant systems and processes for some of the largest and most complex corporate entities in the country. He commonly works with in-house compliance counsel to build and implement enterprise and business-line specific TCPA solutions, performs TCPA audits and drafts and reviews proposed TCPA policies and procedures. He and his team also have the technical expertise necessary to assist call centers seeking to develop TCPA-resistant call path architecture or to modify existing telephony and software integration to better insulate from potential TCPA exposure.
Eric has built a reputation for thought leadership. An avid blogger and speaker, he has been at the forefront of the industry’s effort to push for clarity and a return to sanity for the TCPA for years. He was selected to advocate for the financial services industry on important TCPA issues before the Federal Communications Commission and co-authored the nation’s only comprehensive practice guide on TCPA defense.
In his spare time, Eric leads defense teams representing banks and other financial services companies in consumer finance litigation matters. He has experience representing clients in UCC, TILA, RESPA FCRA, CCRA, CLRA, FDCPA, RFDCPA and FCCPA claims, as well as in fraud and bank operations issues.
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Eric has built a national litigation practice based upon deep experience, rigorous analysis and extraordinary responsiveness. Eric and his team feel equally at home litigating multibillion-dollar telecommunications class actions in federal court as they do developing and executing national litigation strategies for institutions facing an onslaught of individual TCPA matters. They thrive in each of these roles – delivering consistently excellent results – while never losing sight of the client experience.
While many firms now tout TCPA expertise, Eric has been there from the beginning. He built one of the country’s first TCPA-only defense teams and began serving as national TCPA counsel for his clients nearly a decade ago. This perspective allows him to swiftly develop the right litigation strategies for dealing with recurring problems, without wasting time on tactics that are bound to fail.
Eric’s rich historical perspective and encyclopedic knowledge of the TCPA landscape also make him an invaluable resource to institutional compliance teams struggling to comply with the shifting regulatory landscape. No task is too small – or too big. Indeed, Eric and his team have helped build TCPA-compliant systems and processes for some of the largest and most complex corporate entities in the country. He commonly works with in-house compliance counsel to build and implement enterprise and business-line specific TCPA solutions, performs TCPA audits and drafts and reviews proposed TCPA policies and procedures. He and his team also have the technical expertise necessary to assist call centers seeking to develop TCPA-resistant call path architecture or to modify existing telephony and software integration to better insulate from potential TCPA exposure.
Eric has built a reputation for thought leadership. An avid blogger and speaker, he has been at the forefront of the industry’s effort to push for clarity and a return to sanity for the TCPA for years. He was selected to advocate for the financial services industry on important TCPA issues before the Federal Communications Commission and co-authored the nation’s only comprehensive practice guide on TCPA defense.
In his spare time, Eric leads defense teams representing banks and other financial services companies in consumer finance litigation matters. He has experience representing clients in UCC, TILA, RESPA FCRA, CCRA, CLRA, FDCPA, RFDCPA and FCCPA claims, as well as in fraud and bank operations issues.
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Baldassare (Baldo) Vinti
Partner Head IP Litigation, Co-Head Patent Litigation Proskauer |
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Baldassare (“Baldo”) Vinti heads Proskauer’s Intellectual Property Litigation Group and co-heads Proskauer’s Patent Litigation Group.
Baldo’s practice focuses on litigating patent, false advertising, trade secret, life sciences, trademark and contractual matters in federal and state courts and before the International Trade Commission. He is a seasoned trial attorney who has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in many notable competitor and consumer false advertising litigations throughout the nation. He has represented clients in high-stakes matters involving a broad range of industries, including medical devices, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, supplements, food and beverages, automotive, energy, telecommunications, computer software, electronic medical records systems, and data encryption. Baldo works in concert with in-house lawyers and marketing executives to limit financial and brand exposure and obtain favorable outcomes.
In the advertising space, Baldo’s clients rely on his expertise for high-stakes class actions, false advertising litigation, regulatory proceedings in federal, state and self-regulatory venues such as the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau. In the high-risk area of class actions where the plaintiffs’ bar has become increasingly well-funded and sophisticated, Baldo and the Proskauer advertising team have achieved precedential results for Proskauer’s clients. This team has routinely won dismissals of class action complaints on the pleadings, defeated class certifications, won at trial and, where the interests of the client warrant, secured successful class-wide settlements with broad client protections.
Baldo’s practice focuses on litigating patent, false advertising, trade secret, life sciences, trademark and contractual matters in federal and state courts and before the International Trade Commission. He is a seasoned trial attorney who has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in many notable competitor and consumer false advertising litigations throughout the nation. He has represented clients in high-stakes matters involving a broad range of industries, including medical devices, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, supplements, food and beverages, automotive, energy, telecommunications, computer software, electronic medical records systems, and data encryption. Baldo works in concert with in-house lawyers and marketing executives to limit financial and brand exposure and obtain favorable outcomes.
In the advertising space, Baldo’s clients rely on his expertise for high-stakes class actions, false advertising litigation, regulatory proceedings in federal, state and self-regulatory venues such as the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau. In the high-risk area of class actions where the plaintiffs’ bar has become increasingly well-funded and sophisticated, Baldo and the Proskauer advertising team have achieved precedential results for Proskauer’s clients. This team has routinely won dismissals of class action complaints on the pleadings, defeated class certifications, won at trial and, where the interests of the client warrant, secured successful class-wide settlements with broad client protections.
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Jeff H. Warshafsky
Senior Counsel Proskauer |
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Jeff Warshafsky is a senior counsel in the Litigation Department. Jeff is a versatile commercial litigator with a particular emphasis on false advertising, trademark, counterfeiting disputes and sports litigation.
Jeff regularly represents clients in consumer class actions, Lanham Act cases, and advertising self-regulation disputes before the National Advertising Division and the National Advertising Review Board. Jeff frequently counsels clients on advertising substantiation issues, anti-counterfeiting strategies, and cybersquatting prevention. He also regularly advises major sports leagues in connection with arbitrations and other confidential matters
Jeff regularly represents clients in consumer class actions, Lanham Act cases, and advertising self-regulation disputes before the National Advertising Division and the National Advertising Review Board. Jeff frequently counsels clients on advertising substantiation issues, anti-counterfeiting strategies, and cybersquatting prevention. He also regularly advises major sports leagues in connection with arbitrations and other confidential matters
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Jennifer Yang
Associate Proskauer |
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Jennifer Yang is a senior associate in the Litigation Department. She is a commercial litigator with a particular emphasis on false advertising and other intellectual property disputes, including Lanham Act and consumer class action false advertising litigation, advertising challenges before the National Advertising Division and the National Advertising Review Board, as well as trademark and trade secret litigation. She has experience representing clients in a variety of industries, including medical device companies, consumer products companies, food and beverage, fashion retailers and art foundations.
Additional speakers will continue to be added to this list so stay tuned!