Speaker Bios and Segment Descriptions

Segment Descriptions & Speaker Bios

SUPREME COURT UPDATE

Nicole Saharsky, Esq.

Nicole Saharsky, Esq.
Mayer Brown LLP

AGGREGATED LITIGATION OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES: Is US-style Litigation Coming to OUS Jurisdictions?

Larissa Eustice, Esq.


Larissa Eustice, Esq.
Bayer Corporation 

 Sylvie Gallage-Alwis, Esq.


Sylvie Gallage-Alwis, Esq.
Signature Litigation AARPI 

Robin Linley, Esq.


Robin Linley, Esq.
Blakes, Cassels & Graydon LLP

THE CHANGING DEFINITION OF ADULTERATED FOOD—LESSONS IN FOOD LITIGATION

Blake Angelino, Esq.


Blake Angelino, Esq.
Senior Counsel
Newly Weds Foods, L.L.C.

Scholastica N.S. Baker, Esq.


Scholastica N.S. Baker, Esq.
Senior Litigation Counsel
McDonalds Corporation

Barb Bergen, Esq.


Barb Bergen, Esq.
Associate Corporate Counsel
Hormel Foods Corporate Services, LLC

Dadri-Anne Graham, Esq.


Dadri-Anne Graham, Esq.
Senior Commercial Counsel
Cargill

Kate Homolka, Esq.


Kate Homolka, Esq.
Counsel Food Law & Commercial
General Mills

Anthony Finnell, Esq.


Anthony Finnell, Esq. - Moderator
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath

HEAVY TRUCKS—THEY AREN’T JUST “BIG CARS”: The Unique Challenges of ADAS and other Product Defect Litigation in Heavy Trucking

There are significant differences between passenger cars and heavy trucks in the development and roll-out of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. These differences inform both the challenges and strengths of the defense of “failure to equip” and “failure to perform” ADAS product liability claims. The heavy trucking industry faces other unique challenges when compared to passenger vehicle manufacturers, including how perceptions of the trucking industry is reflected in inflated verdicts in trucking products liability cases.

Jesse Blaisdale, Esq.

Jesse Blaisdale, Esq.
Senior Counsel
PACCAR

Marc Carlton, Esq.

Marc Carlton, Esq.
Corporate Legal Counsel
Daimler Trucks North America

Darin J. Lang, Esq.

Darin J. Lang, Esq.
Bush Seyferth PLLC

STRATEGIES FOR DEFENDING CANCER CAUSATION CASES

Lawsuits alleging consumer products and environmental substances have increased significantly over the last decade. Nuclear verdicts and attorney-advertising campaigns have fueled the litigation surge, and litigation developments suggest the risk for corporate defendants will continue to expand. The presentation will provide an overview of cancer litigation and address strategies simplifying the science, presenting alternative causes without undertaking the burden of proof, and exposing bias in science relied on by plaintiffs.

Sabrina Mizrachi, Esq.


Sabrina Mizrachi, Esq.
Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Litigation & Global Product Regulatory
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Peter J. Pliszka, Esq.


Peter J. Pliszka, Esq.
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP

Jason M. Zager, Esq.


Jason M. Zager, Esq.
Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP

HOW TO WIN YOUR CASE IN THE FIRST 90 DAYS: Focusing on Mediation and Early Substantive Evaluation of New Litigation  

Product liability defense lawyers should assess the risks of their case from the moment it begins – and should always be mindful of when the timing is right to mediate a case. A moderated panel, including two experienced in-house counsel and a seasoned mediator, will discuss the best practices for early case assessment during the first 90 days of a case, best practices for mediation, and potential legal pitfalls to avoid when undertaking early assessment and mediation.

Edward Blakemore, Esq.


Edward Blakemore, Esq.
General Counsel, Global Litigation and Records Management
Rockwell Automation Inc.

William J. Ricci, Esq.

William J. Ricci, Esq.
Ricci Tyrrell Johnson & Grey

Raul E. Tellez, Esq.


Raul E. Tellez, Esq.
Chief Legal Officer & VP of Information Technology
Luminex Home Décor & Fragrance Co.

George D. Sax, Esq.

George D. Sax, Esq. – Moderator
Scharf Banks Marmor LLC

Product Recalls: Bridging Consumer Perceptions and Regulatory Expectations

This session will highlight recent findings from the consumer survey on product safety and recalls, conducted by Sedgwick Brand Protection. Panelists will discuss the results of the survey, how they compare to that of regulatory expectations, and ways companies can bridge the gap when facing a product recall. These insights will help companies understand consumer behavior, what motivates them to respond to a recall and emerging trends companies need to plan for as part of their recall strategy.

Ryan Gooley

Ryan Gooley
Director, Business Development - Brand Protection Solution

Sedgwick

POTENTIAL SAFETY IMPLICATIONS IN THE RIGHT TO REPAIR MOVEMENT

The Right to Repair movement is reshaping industries and consumer perceptions, with significant legal, environmental, and economic implications. Stakeholders must prioritize innovation and collaboration to design sustainable solutions and ensure compliance with evolving regulations. The panel will address the current state of regulation in the US and Canada and will discuss the impending challenges facing the consumer and automotive industries as they adapt to this changing landscape.

Marie Chafe, Esq.


Marie Chafe, Esq.
Conn Kavanaugh Rosenthal Peisch & Ford, LLP

Elizabeth V. McNulty, Esq.


Elizabeth V. McNulty, Esq.
Evans Fears Schuttert McNulty Mickus

TELEMATICS DATA COLLECTION: BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR (AND COLLECT)

Steve Como, Ph.D., P.E.


Steve Como, Ph.D., P.E.
Vehicle Engineering, Managing Engineer
Exponent

Joseph L. Olson, Esq.


Joseph L. Olson, Esq.
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

Troy Schick

Troy E. Schick, P.E.
Private Engineering Consultant

NEW RULE 702 PROVISIONS

James M. Beck, Esq.

James M. Beck, Esq.
Reed Smith LLP

L. Michael Brooks, Jr., Esq.

L. Michael Brooks, Jr., Esq.
Wells, Anderson & Race, LLC

Nadine S. Kohane, Esq.

Nadine S. Kohane, Esq.
Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Hon. James Metcalf

Hon. D. Douglas Metcalf
Arizona Superior Court, Pima County

Amanda Heitz, Esq.

Amanda Heitz, Esq. - Moderator
Bowman and Brooke LLP

EMBRACING EQUITY: WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN ALLY

In this panel, we will discuss the intersection of these two different concepts of allyship, and we’ll explore how both companies and law firms can thrive when they embrace an ally mentality.

Nicole Brunson, Esq.

Nicole Brunson, Esq.
Associate General Counsel
A. O. Smith Corporation

Kristine Campbell, Esq.

Kristine Campbell, Esq.
General Counsel
U-Haul International, Inc.

Jennifer White, Esq.

Jennifer White, Esq.
Corporate Counsel - Automotive Products Liability & Litigation
Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Haley A. Cox, Esq.

Haley A. Cox, Esq. – Moderator
Lightfoot, Franklin & White, L.L.C.