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2019SummitTrial LawyersBy Staff ReportsFinding ways to top last year’s Trial Lawyers Summit may have been challenging, but organizersrose to the challenge! The 2019 Trial Lawyers Summit was an exciting event, brimming withpositive energy, and if you missed it, you missed one monumental good time! But it wasn’t just fun— it was also an unmatchable opportunity to meet, greet and learn from the most celebrated trialattorneys in America! In addition to a huge Summit Kickoff Party, six-time NCAA championshipwinning coach Nick Saban was the keynote speaker for the 2019 National Trial Lawyers AwardsLuncheon. At the President’s Reception Grammy-winning Vocal Group Hall of Famers Americaperformed their greatest hits like “A Horse with No Name” and “Sister Golden Hair.” This year’sevent, held once again at the fun and fabulous Loews Miami Beach Hotel from January 20-23,was yet another win for those attending! Nearly 1,000 people attended this year’s Summit, withweather in the mid-70s and wind gusts off the Atlantic. With top attorneys from across the countrysharing expertise and wisdom, and marketing specialists teaching new, innovative ways to improvelaw firm marketing, the 2019 Summit was a fantastic, energetic and dynamic gathering!14 x The Trial Lawyer
Top left: NTL teamCathy Corbo, Darlene Laneand Mark Corbo enjoying theentertainmentMiddle left: National BlackLawyers- Past President KarenEvans working the crowdMiddle: Summit Kickoff Partywith special entertainment byMichael Cavanaugh from theBilly Joel jukebox Broadwaymusical Movin’ OutBottom left: 2019 NTL President Mark O’Mara entertaining the crowdRight: NTL Executive Director Michelle Swanner thanking NTL Past-President Tom Girardi for theincredible entertainment he provided.Attendees raved about this year’s Summit. “This year’senergy was unparalleled!” said Michelle Swanner, executivedirector of The National Trial Lawyers. Mark O’Mara of TheO’Mara Law Group and the 2019 president of The NationalTrial Lawyers said, “The NTL Summit is, without question, thebest gathering of the finest lawyers in the country. It is three16 x The Trial Lawyerdays of learning from, socializing with and networking amongthe highest echelon of true trial lawyers.”This year’s Summit kicked off on Sunday with TheCourtroom Playbook, a day-long seminar on the fundamentalsof building a successful practice, moderated by John and EricRomano. Crowds flocked to the Digital Marketing WorkshopTop Photo: Summit Kickoff Party was sponsored by Counsel FinancialLeft: Tom Girardi and Seth Price networking during a breakRight: NTL Diplomats Fred Cunningham, Gabe Zambrano, MikeBurg (NTL Past- President & Member of the Trial Lawyer Hall ofFame) and the Honorable Judge Sandra Moss (Member of the TrialLawyer Hall of Fame)moderated by Harlan Schillinger Sunday afternoon. The NTLExecutive Committee had its annual meeting where they decidedthat next year will be the year of the woman in celebration of the100th anniversary of women’s suffrage rights.While the Young Lawyers Happy Hour was also a crowdfavorite, Sunday closed with the 2019 Summit Kickoff Partywith Special Entertainment from Michael Cavanaugh who wassponsored by Tom Girardi! This year’s party was once againsponsored by Counsel Financial.Monday began bright and early with Complementary PilatesClass with Jennifer O’Mara followed by Sunrise LitigationTips moderated by Douglas Beam and John Romano. Theday’s general sessions began with Words of Wisdom fromthe Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame, moderated by the HonorableThe Trial Lawyer x 17
Left: Medical Malpractice Trial Team of the YearThomas Dandar, Kennan Dandar, Timothy Dandar,and Michelle SwannerMiddle Left: Class Action Trial Team of the YearMichelle Swanner and Kristofer Riddle (accepting onbehalf of Bob Clifford)Below: Truck Accident Trial Team of the YearJeff Hull, Marty Young, Brent Goudarzi, andMichelle SwannerHall of FameInductee – FrancisHare, Sr.-- KeithGivens, Mike Papantonio, Francis HareIII, (grandson ofFrancis Hare,Sr.)and Ashley PeinhardtAbove: Bobby Kennedy speaking atthe NTL AwardsLuncheonBottom left: MassTorts Trial Team ofthe Year--Mark Burton, Michael Baum,Robert F. Kennedy,Jr., Brent Wisner,Michelle Swanner,and David DickensProduct Liability Trial Team of the Year:Chip Brooker, Debbie Branson, MichelleSwanner, Frank Branson and Eric StahlMiddle Right: Hall of Fame Photo Inductee – James F. Boccardo-- Keith Givens,Mike Papantonio, and Leanne Rees (daughter of James F. Boccardo)Right: 2018 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyer of the Year- Ben Brafman with NTLPast President and Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame member, Mark GeragosSandra Moss and Lisa Blue. Attendees listened to Hall of Fameinductees as they drew upon their experiences and shared theirknowledge.At noon, the awe-inspiring and moving National TrialLawyers Awards Luncheon was held with six-time NCAAchampionship-winning coach Nick Saban delivering thekeynote speech. The Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyer of the Yearaward was given to Mark Lanier for Ingham, et al v. J&J etal., and the Criminal Defense Trial Lawyer of the Year was18 x The Trial Lawyerawarded to Benjamin Brafman. The Mass Torts Trial Teamof the Year award was given to Michael Baum, Mark Burton,David Dickens, Jeff Travers and Brent Wisner for Johnson v.Monsanto, et al. Frank Branson, Debbie Branson, Chip Brookerand Eric Stahl received the Product Liability Trial Team ofthe Year award for Reavis v. Toyota, et al. Steve Blonder, BobClifford and Thomas Thrash were given the award for ClassAction Trial Team of the Year for Hale v. State Farm, et al. TheMedical Malpractice Trial Teams of the Year are Brian McKeen2018 NTL President Mark Lanier earned the2018 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyer of the YearAward and the President’s Award given by NTLExecutive Director Michelle Swannerfor Tran v. William Beaumont Hospital, et al. and The NationalTrial Lawyers member Kennan Dandar, Thomas Dandar andTimothy Dandar. The Truck Accident Trial Team of the Year isThe National Trial Lawyers member Brent Goudarzi, GeoffreyHoover, John Hull and Marty Young for Patterson v. FTSInternational, et al. and McPherson v. Jefferson Trucking, et al.Later that afternoon, a good crowd turned out for the“Champions of Justice” Panel/Press Conference in Honor ofMartin Luther King, Jr. Day. Afterward, Harlan Schillingerand Mike Burg moderated The Business of Law 2019: TheGood, the Bad and the Opportunity where attendees learnedbest practices for marketing themselves and their firms.Monday’s session concluded with the Monday Mix& Mingle with World Renown Mentalist Lior Suchard,sponsored by The Nations Law Firm, American Law FirmCapital and Dalimonte Rueb, LLP. Following the mindboggling performance, attendees gathered at The Villa,formerly known as the Versace Mansion, for the Annual AwardsThe Trial Lawyer x 19
Six-time NCAAchampionshipwinning coach NickSaban speaking atthe NTL AwardsLuncheonJoseph Drayton and Past NTL Lifetime AchievementAward Winner Morris DeesReception sponsored Girardi Keese, co-sponsored by TheCochran Firm, Levin Papantonio Thomas Mitchell Rafferty& Proctor, P.A., Baron and Blue, and Searcy Denney ScarolaBarnhart & Shipley.Tuesday started with Lessons from Lanier, a sneak peekof what attendees can expect at the Lanier Trial Academy.That was followed by the morning session Trial Skills fromthe Legends, Masters and Giants of Trial Law, moderated by20 x The Trial LawyerMark Lanier and Howard Nations. At the NTL for Women’sRights Breakout Session, attendees enjoyed lunch and aprivate screening of Gloria Allred’s Netflix documentary, SeeingAllred. At noon, Mark Lanier, Mike Papantonio, Mike Burg,Michael Waddington, Michael Mogill and Judge Milton Hirschautographed copies of their latest books at the “Meet theAuthor” Book Signing.Tuesday afternoon, Karen Evans and Ibiere Seck moderatedLeft: The Business of Law with Randy Nordstrom,Felix Eckhardt, and Harlan SchillingerAbove: Micheal Mogill with Crisp VideoThe Trial Lawyer x 21
NTL Executive CommitteeMember Betsy Millerparticipates in the showGuests were AMAZED atWorld Renowned Mentalist Lior Suchard onMonday night!Awards Reception sponsor Tom Girardi at The Villa (formerly known asVersace Mansion)Middle: Mike and Terri Papantonio with Judge Sandra MossRight: Four-time Heavyweight World Champion Evander Holyfieldnetworking like a champ!The National Black Lawyers breakout session, Elevating YourPractice from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be 2.0.Harlan Schillinger and Seth Price also moderated Intake andConversion, explaining how attendees can increase net profitsby 25 percent. NTL Past President Mark Geragos and NTLExecutive Committee member Mark O’Mara hosted a CriminalDefense Cocktail Hour following the afternoon session. That22 x The Trial Lawyerwas followed by the Women’s Networking & Cocktails withguest speaker Bridie Farrell, athlete and advocate, sponsored byFilevine. That evening, attendees had the option to attend TheNational Black Lawyers Cocktail Hour or the Criminal DefenseCocktail Hour, which was co-sponsored by O’Mara Law Groupand Geragos & Geragos, before heading to the National Hotelfor the President’s Reception sponsored by HMR Funding.The Trial Lawyer x 23
Below: Attendees participated in “Zen with Jen” asJennifer O’Mara showed them stretches they coulddo at work throughout the dayPrivate screening of the NetflixDocumentary, “Seeing Allred,”followed by a Women’s RightsBreakout SessionRight: National Women Trial Lawyers President Kim Dougherty withAthlete and Advocate Bridie Farrellat the Women’s Networking receptionAttendees filled the venue for excellent food, drinks andnetworking, leading up to the night’s big entertainment:America, sponsored by Mark and Becky Lanier.Concertgoers raved at America’s performance, singing alongand dancing to so many songs they knew by heart!Wednesday’s Rise and Shine Session moderated by EricRomano focused on innovative approaches to depositions,damages and more. The general sessions featured ExpandYour Practice — Med Mal, Mass Torts and Class Actionsponsored by Simpluris. In The Winning Edge in Truckand Auto Litigation Breakout Session, Joe Fried, MichaelLeizerman, Breck McDaniel, F. Tom Langley, John Givens,24 x The Trial LawyerShean Williams, Joe Camerlengo and Tim Whiting gavetips on the basics of working trucking cases, persuadingmillennial jurors, cross examining trucking companycorporate designees, how to get past defense blocks and whatto do afterward. The trucking session was well organized,very informative, highly entertaining, and held the crowd.Make plans now to attend the 2020 Trial LawyersSummit! It will be held January 19–22, 2020, once again atthe Loews Miami Beach Hotel. For more information, goto ntlsummit.com. We hope to see you there next year foran event you won’t want to miss that will be even bigger andbetter!Top Right:Tuesday night’s President’s Reception took place at theNational HotelTop Left: Guest enjoyed great food, networking and a privateconcert by AMERICA poolside at the National HotelMiddle: Mark Lanier joined the band onstage and fit right in!Special thanks to Mark and Becky Lanier for providing the concertby AMERICA!
Steve Blonder, Bob Clifford and Thomas Thrash were given the award for Class Action Trial Team of the Year for Hale v. State Farm, et al. The Medical Malpractice Trial Teams of the Year are Brian McKeen for Tran v. William Beaumont Hospital, et al. and The National Trial Lawyers member Kennan Dandar, Thomas Dandar and Timothy Dandar.
