Litigation and Appellate Summit

Speakers:

• Adrieannette Ciccone, Chair, Litigation Section and Co-Chair, Summit Committee
• Carl Chamberlin, Co-Chair Summit Committee
• Jocelyn Sperling, Chair, Litigation Section’s Committee on Appellate Courts

James Wagstaffe and Jordanna Thigpen once again dynamically bring you up to date on the latest and greatest state and federal case law, new state legislation and rules, and procedural developments affecting California practitioners.

Moderator: George Wailes

Speakers:

• James Wagstaffe, Esq., AMMCG, LLP
• Jordanna G. Thigpen, Esq., Thigpen Legal, P.C.

Lorraine Bannai, Professor Emerita at Seattle University School of Law; Rupa G. Singh, Partner at Niddrie, Addams, Fuller, Singh LLP; Justice Martin Jenkins, Supreme Court Associate; and Amit Kurlekar, Deputy Attorney General will present on how bias manifests in legal writing.  In addition, members of the California Supreme Court and Court of Appeal Bias Prevention Committee will discuss the charge of their committee and engage with program attendees regarding their perceptions of bias in appellate proceedings (and other interactions with appellate courts) and how such bias can be prevented. Speakers:

Speakers:

• Professor Lorraine K. Bannai, Professor Emeritus, Seattle University School of Law  
• Rupa G. Singh, Partner, Niddrie, Addams, Fuller, Singh LLP
• Justice Martin Jenkins, Supreme Court Associate Justice
• Amit Kurlekar, Deputy Attorney General

Grab your lunch and make your way into the conference room for the lunch program.

Low-income Californians need help now more than ever.  What can you do?  Pro bono work is a meaningful, rewarding way to use your law degree and help those in need.  This panel will discuss pro bono opportunities in disaster response, housing, immigration, family law, and appeals, and will offer practical information and next steps on how to do this or any other type of pro bono representation.

Speakers:

• Erin Smith, Co-founder & former Executive Director, Family Violence Appellate Project; Author, California Judges Benchbook on Civil Proceedings; Member, State Bar’s Legal Services Trust Fund Commission
• Leigh Ferrin, Program Director, OneJustice
• Juliette Bleecker, Executive Director, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association; Founding member, Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative
• Antonia More, Director/Managing Attorney, Justice & Diversity Center

An interactive session that allows you to rule on objections — and then learn from experts about the trial court’s likely ruling and what you, as counsel, can do about it .

Speakers:

• Hon. Mark B. Simons, Associate Justice, First District Court of Appeal, Division Five
• Professor Tim Hallahan, Stanford University 

2024 Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame and Appellate Lawyer Hall of Fame recipients, Richard Schoenberger and Margaret Grignon, share their exceptional skills and discuss tips and insights on brief-writing, the art of persuasion, and what appellate lawyers and trial lawyers can learn from each other.

Speakers:

• Richard Schoenberger, Walkup Melodia Kelly + Schoenberger
• Margaret Grignon, Grignon Law Firm

Hear from one of the leading lawyers in professional sports — Chief Legal Officer and President of Giants Development Services, Jack Bair.

Speaker:

• Jack Bair

Wrap up the day with an evening of connections and conversations at our networking reception, where we will honor our newest inductee to the Appellate Lawyer Hall of Fame, David Ettinger, Horvitz & Levy, and our newest inductee to the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame, Simona Farrise, The Farrise Law Firm.  This informal gathering is the perfect opportunity to engage with conference speakers, industry professionals, and fellow attendees in a relaxed setting.

Not just one — but three — leading Supreme Court experts update us on recent decisions of the United States Supreme Court.

Moderator: Adrieannette Ciccone, Chair, Litigation Section and Co-Chair, Summit Committee

Speakers:

• Prof. Easha Anand, Stanford Law School
• Prof. Pamela Karlan, Stanford Law School
• Anna-Rose Mathieson, Complex Appellate Litigation Group

Listen to jurists discuss differences in federal and California procedure, effective advocacy, their tips and expectations for counsel, and the state of the courts.

Moderator: Adrieannette Ciccone, Chair, Litigation Section and Co-Chair, Summit Committee

Speakers:

• Hon. Teri Jackson, Presiding Justice, First District Court of Appeals, Division Five
• Hon. Gabriel Sanchez, Circuit Judge, 9th District US Court of Appeals
• Hon. Dena Coggins, US District Judge, Eastern District of California 
• Hon. Rochelle East, Presiding Judge San Francisco Superior Court

Grab your lunch and make your way into the conference room for the lunch program.

Hear from the State Bar on attorney well-being and the duty of competence, a case study, and recommendations and resources for increased wellness.

Speaker:

• Ken Nourse, Senior Program Analyst, Office of Professional Competence  

Key ingredients to successful bench trials, ramifications for appeal — and why you might want to forego a jury.

Moderator: Adrieannette Ciccone 

Speakers:

• Hon. Charles Smiley, Associate Justice First District Court of Appeal, Division One
• Hon. Suzanne Ramos Bolanos, San Francisco Superior Court Judge
• Robert Bodzin, Partner, Gordon Rees 

Best practices regarding attorney fee requests and awards in the trial court and appellate court.

Moderator: Jenn French, Lynch Carpenter LLP

Speakers:

• Hon. Danny Y. Chou, First District Court of Appeal for the State of California, Division Five
• Hon. Jenna M. Whitman, Judge of the Superior Court for the State of California, Alameda County 
• Richard M. Pearl, Esq., author of C.E.B.-published California Attorney Fee Awards

A fireside chat with the Hon. Martin Jenkins, Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court.  Justice Jenkins will be interviewed by the Hon. Kelli Evans, Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court.

Speaker:

• Hon. Martin Jenkins