While preparing for the “trial of his life” – a seven week trial resulting in a $39 million verdict that all local news channels broke in live to cover – Al Foeckler worked with his mentor and Inner Circle member, Pat Dunphy, to employ the Black Hat Justice method to develop an opening statement and case frame for a construction case involving the wrongful death of a 15 year old boy that is still talked about in the halls of Wisconsin courthouses. This case is commonly referred to as “The O’Donnell Park Case.” Learn how Al, after struggling, crafted a cross examination that took down “the black hat” in the case and resulted in an award of $6.3 million for a three to five second fear of death claim and a $15 million punitive damage award. Al will teach you the same methods used in that trial and his partner, Ed Robinson, will break down a recent seven-figure verdict in a trucking case involving very difficult liability in a very conservative venue.

Al Foeckler

Ed Robinson

TLU Beach 2025 REPLAY - Black Hat Justice – How To Maximize Damages Even In Conservative Venues 

Melissa Scartelli

When I was fifteen, I met the love of my life. As most high school romances go, we dated, broke up, dated again, broke up again etc. Then at 20 the love of life moved to Florida. I thought we were just on a break. She didn’t. She got married and had three kids. I was very single. We didn’t see or talk for twelve years. She got divorced. I had never dated anyone with children. And then she googled me and we started talking. She came back home for a family wedding, and we decided to meet for coffee. That was seventeen years ago. I was lucky to get a do over with the one true love of my life and I was going to make damn sure that I didn’t lose her again. With the addition of our daughter, we now have four beautiful children that are as close as close can be, a grandson who lights up all of our lives, two dogs, two cats and some wild animals on our farm in Northeast Pennsylvania. 

Our big Italian family loves, laughs, yells, cries, eats and drinks with more passion than words can describe. They are the people that allow me to live this crazy and amazing life of being a trial lawyer and I am forever grateful. So how did I become a trial lawyer? That story is almost as good as my marriage.

I went to college to play basketball, at 5’10” I was obviously a point guard and become an engineer. I got hurt, stopped playing basketball and started bartending where I would meet my law partner. It was the early 90’s and Cocktail was all the rage and yes, we could do all the bar tricks that Tom Cruise made famous. Being a bartender without a doubt was one of the best and wildest times in my life. To this day we still have people that remember us from Market Street Station Square. As for being an engineer, I did an internship at an engineering firm and decided that I could never be an engineer. Around this time, I met a Judge through a local charity organization that I was involved in and worked at the local courthouse for the summer. I saw two trials, one criminal and one civil and I was hooked. I loved every minute of being in trial and decided that I would go to law school. For the next two years I went to school around the clock and graduated with a degree in Engineering and Political Science and a minor in Physics. I went to law school thinking I would go into intellectual property law. Boy was I wrong. 

By year two of law school I realized that I hated intellectual property law. I was fortunate enough to have an amazing trial advocacy teacher and competed in moot court which was the moment that I knew I wanted to be trial lawyer. After three years with a local personal injury firm my partner and I decided to open our practice. Talk about humble beginnings, we had a part time assistant who called off more than she worked and a bookkeeper that enjoyed two martini lunches and would shove our bills in a draw, one of which I just found the other day. Somehow we managed to grow our firm into four offices, Philadelphia, Scranton, Kingston and Honesdale and we get to work with fourteen other talented lawyers that are like family to us. I am board certified in Tractor Trailer Accidents, am passionate about teaching and travel all over the country teaching lawyers deposition and trial skills and for some reason have a lot of zero offer cases which I am sure no one else can relate to. I love a good cigar and great bourbon. I make some pretty good wine with a great group of guys and every now and then enjoy an all night poker game. For me the law has allowed a dirt poor kid from a coal mining town in Northeast Pennsylvania to not only travel the world but to represent some of the most wonderful people I have ever met. 

Edward Ciarimboli

Robyn Wishart, personal injury lawyer and founder of Wishart Brain and Spine Law LLP in Vancouver BC, has represented clients in the BC Supreme Court, and Court of Appeal since March 2001. Robyn’s practice focuses on catastrophic and complex personal injury cases, as well as insurance litigation. For the first 7 years of her practice Robyn represented some of the largest insurance companies including Lloyds of London. Robyn is a highly respected trial 

 lawyer in both Canada and the United States.

Robyn Wishart

At the age of 28, Mr. Shaked was one of the youngest lawyers in the United States to achieve a multi-million dollar verdict for a single personal injury lawsuit. Sagi Shaked has been practicing law since 2000 and went on to found the successful Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers in 2007, where he became one of the 

Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the United States

. This highly coveted honor was bestowed upon Mr. Shaked for his exemplary legal expertise, compassion for his clients, and consistently recovering multi-millions of dollars in damages for those he represents. At only 28, Mr. Shaked was one of the youngest lawyers in the United States to achieve a multi-million dollar verdict for a single Personal Injury lawsuit.

Sagi Shaked

Throughout his 30-year legal career, Ben Rubinowitz has made his mark as a leading trial lawyer combining hard work and dedication with his remarkable courtroom skills and presence. Mr. Rubinowitz began his career as a prosecutor, where he honed the trial skills that would become his hallmark. From there, he began serving as a trial lawyer representing severely injured plaintiffs in personal injury cases, eventually joining 

 in 1989. For the past 16 years Mr. Rubinowitz was featured in New York Magazines' article on "Best Lawyers in New York". For the past 2 years Ben has been recognized in the New York Times as one of the "Top 10" lawyers in the New York Metro area, as evaluated by New York Super Lawyers. Ben was honored by being elected to be a member of the prestigious Inner Circle of Advocates. The Inner Circle of Advocates is limited to 100 members considered among the best plaintiffs attorneys in the United States and also to be "lawyers of excellent character and integrity."

Ben's meticulous approach to the preparation and trial of cases has produced 28 verdicts and over 180 settlements in excess of one million dollars in cases arising out of car accidents, premises accidents, 

, medical malpractice, civil rights violations and products liability. Mr. Rubinowitz has a thorough grasp of the nuances of complex issues. This, coupled with his ability to translate complicated information into clear terms for a jury, has left an indelible impression on all those who have witnessed him in action--including even defendants' medical experts that he has cross-examined. In addition to his skills as a trial lawyer, Mr. Rubinowitz has successfully argued appellate cases before the Appellate Division and the highest court in the State of New York, the Court of Appeals.

Ben B. Rubinowitz

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. My father was a lawyer, and my brothers are all lawyers. Growing up, I sold programs at Dodger Stadium, and I had a paper route. I attended St. John Bosco High School and Fresno State University, playing football at both. I returned to Los Angeles following graduation where I taught and coached football at my high school alma mater. Still coaching football my first semester, I began attending Southwestern Law School. During law school, I worked at the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office and conducted almost 100 preliminary hearings. I tried my first jury trial in my first month as a lawyer when I was an insurance defense lawyer. During that time, I tried many defense cases and gained great experience. I later joined a top plaintiff firm where I rose to the rank of partner and stayed 17 years. In 2005, I formed Panish Shea & Boyle LLP in Los Angeles. The firm has grown to include offices in California and Nevada and is now known as Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP. I am the Immediate Past President of the prestigious Inner Circle of Advocates and I have been in more than 150 jury trials in my career. I enjoy fishing, working out, and attending sporting events including as many Fresno State football games as possible. In 2022, I passed the bar in Nevada with my youngest daughter.

Brian Panish

I’m Johnnie Bond. And while I love taking big companies to court and balancing the scales of justice and helping those who have been hurt, I know at the end of the day, what really matters is not me but my clients.

I work hard to ensure I understand your injuries—what caused them and what can be done to make your recovery as complete as possible. If you’re not seeing improvement with one type of treatment, I will investigate to find out whether other options are more promising.

Where other attorneys might give up and try to settle your case so they can get on with the next one, I want to make certain your medical treatment is as comprehensive as possible. Then we’ll move on to the legal process of holding the negligent parties accountable for what they’ve done to your life.

I didn’t start my career this way. I began by working in corporate law for hospitals, handling mergers and acquisitions. I made good money. I impressed some co-workers by proving that I was good at handling litigation and transactional law. They nicknamed me “Agent Bond” after I closed two big cases at once. But that success still left me empty inside. I wanted something more.

I moved to Washington DC to hone my skills as a trial lawyer, and I learned from working with some of the best in the business. While I admired the way they could manage a case in the courtroom, I wanted to do more for the clients themselves.

Now I am in a position to do things my way.

What motivates me is my passion to help. I want to help you get the resources you need and the medical attention you need. After you complete your treatment, I tell your story in a way to get you maximum compensation and the justice you deserve.

Johnnie Bond

I grew up in Birmingham, MI. I am the youngest of eight children and attended an all-boys catholic school my whole life until I went to college at the University of Michigan. I went to night school at Detroit College of Law. My dad, my uncle, two of my brothers, and sister were lawyers. My first job was cutting lawns at age 10. I started working for my brother as a house painter at age 12. When I was 16 I started my own painting business and continued throughout high school, college, and law school, and a few years after until I was 32. I practiced criminal defense for eighteen years in Michigan until ten years ago when my roommate from the Trial Lawyers College, Nick Rowley, encouraged me to move to LA to become a PI lawyer. The California Bar took me four tries. I moved to Las Vegas this past March. I have recently taken up pickle ball, skiing and golf. I also think I'm competitive at connect four, backgammon, chess, and ping pong.

Dan Ambrose

I am a native of Monrovia, Liberia where my Grand Uncle was the president. During his presidency there was a lot of civil unrest which ultimately resulted in a coup d’etat in the early 80’s requiring my family to flee to America. We migrated to Los Angeles, California which has been my home since. I went to UCLA for undergrad where I ran the hurdles, then taught elementary school for a few years prior to attending law school part time. I started my legal career practicing criminal law, then civil rights and now personal injury. I teach at the Gerry Spence Method at Thunderhead Ranch program in Wyoming. I have recently taken up surfing which is even harder than I imagined it would be.

Stephen King

I was born in San Diego, California. I was the 4th of 5 kids and the first son. My Dad was a doctor but as a young man he was part of the fight for the establishment of Israel and it was always his dream to live there. My family emigrated to Israel when I was 5 years old. We lived there through the 1973 war after which we moved back to the United States – first to New York and then to Atlanta. After losing several friends in high school to DUI related crashes, I became a police officer. I investigated many crashes and testified in court a fair amount. I saw first-hand the difference that a good lawyer can make. I attended the University of Georgia School of Law, followed by a federal court clerkship and then entered private practice. I was appointed to serve part-time as a magistrate judge, while working full-time as a trial lawyer. Unlike lawyers who do lots of things at the same time, I have always specialized. I spent the first few years of my practice handling mostly birth trauma cases. I then happened into a case where a woman burned alive following a survivable rear impact crash. This led to me specializing this unique aspect of automotive product liability for about 10 years. I told Ford that I would stop suing them if the fixed the problem with the Mustang and while it took a while they finally did.

After some soul searching, I decided to focus on truck crash cases. At the time, lawyers focusing on truck crash cases was not a thing. I have done my part over the last 18 years to make it a thing. I have spent countless hours developing best practices for handling these cases. Knowing that I could only handle a small number of cases and wanting to have a big impact on highway safety, I set out to train lawyers all over the country on how to best handle truck crash cases. I have served in leadership of just about every organization in the Country for lawyers who handle truck crash cases. I am Co-founder of the Academy of Truck Accident Lawyers and the National Board of Truck Crash Lawyers (an NBTA sub-board responsible for Truck Crash Law obtaining ABA recognition as a legal specialty). Most recently I authored “A Law Enforcement Guide to Truck Driving Safety Standards” and I have worked hard to be the best human being I can be, the best husband and father I can be, and the best lawyer I can be. It is a work in progress. At this point in my life, I am trying to pay things forward. Closing in on 1000 days without missing on the Peloton!

Joe Fried

, a national law firm dedicated to representing real people against insurance companies, the government and big corporations. He has a history of service as a military medic having served both in the United States Air Force and Army.

Accomplishing a bachelor’s degree in Social Psychology by the age of 19 while on active duty, Nick went on to get a law degree, starting law school at 20. Nick is a proud father of his sons and daughters and the husband of Trial Lawyer and author Courtney Rowley.

Nick Rowley

David DeRubertis

I was named after Satchel Paige the baseball player. People often ask me why there is not a “t” in my name and the truth is that my parents were afraid I would be called a satchel bag at school. I was raised in the small town of Viola, Arkansas and give the credit of my success to my wonderful parents, Eddy and Jeanie Oliver. I basically drove my mentor, Frank Bailey, nuts until he agreed to hire me. The first three phone calls to Frank’s office resulted in failure because the office manager simply told me, “Mr. Bailey was not hiring.” I brainstormed magic words with my parents and called back a 4th time asking if I could just spend “5 minutes with Mr. Bailey.” Thank goodness Frank agreed. In those 5 minutes, Frank determined I had great potential and hired me to trim the boxwoods and plant begonias in the firm’s garden. I told Frank that I would do whatever he wanted me to do for little or no money under one condition… If Frank went somewhere on a case for any reason, he must take me with him. We have been together ever since. I am married to Codi Oliver who is a pediatric occupational therapist. We have two daughters, Reesa and Reagan. One of our favorite things to do is ride horses together on our ranch in beautiful Northwest Arkansas. I am passionate about my faith and discipling men to be their best.

Sach Oliver

Its hard to write a paragraph that defines who you are.

Who am I? Do we define ourselves? Or do others define us? Or do our actions define us? Identity is challenging. Am I defined by my journey as a Trial Lawyer who wages epic battles with evil corporations and insurance companies? Am I defined by my 7 and 8 figure verdicts? Am I defined by the confidential settlements I can't talk about? Or am I defined by the $50,000 settlements that change my client's lives? Money is not success. But money is success. Am I defined by my childhood? Growing up in South Florida, always wanting to be an actor, a trial lawyer, or a president of something? Does serving as high school student body president make a doosh? I failed (quit) my movie star pursuit in Hollywood, does that boost my cred or detract from it? Am I defined by family?

My three young boys (1,4,6) mean more to me than any case and I would quit practicing law tomorrow if it was somehow necessary to help my kids. There isn't much I wouldn't do for them. I wish I had more hours in the day to spend with them. And yet, when I look at them, I think of my toxic tort client who was diagnosed with Leukemia at 18, has lost one leg and likely another because of a company's toxic emissions, and I imagine if this happened to one of my children. Or am I defined by my pursuit of Karate and mastery of the bow and spear so that one day I may fight like the Viper of Dorne? I want to be the Champion of those who cannot fight for themselves. Who is John Galt?

Kurt Zaner

I’m Jennifer Gore—a nationally recognized attorney, legal entrepreneur, and the founder of Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group. Today, I serve as the Managing Attorney for Sweet James in Georgia, leading our East Coast operations. I was born and raised in Poughkeepsie, New York, the eldest of three daughters. My entrepreneurial spirit was shaped early on by watching my father build and run his own business. I earned my degree in Business Management with a concentration in Finance and Marketing from Marist College, but it was a serious car accident during college that shifted the trajectory of my life. The legal challenges I faced during my recovery ignited a deep passion for the law. That passion became a mission after the tragic loss of my high school sweetheart in a motorcycle crash—an experience that further cemented my commitment to helping others navigate the aftermath of trauma and injury. After moving to Atlanta, I enrolled in Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School’s evening program while working full time as a personal injury paralegal. I passed the bar and launched Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group in 2013. Over the next decade, I scaled the firm to a powerhouse team of over 35 employees and 6 attorneys across multiple locations. We became known for our tech-driven systems, client-centered care, and the results we delivered. Our growth was recognized nationally, including multiple placements on the Inc. 5000 List of Fastest Growing Companies from 2022 to 2024. In 2025, I merged my firm with Sweet James, a leading personal injury brand, and now lead the expansion of our footprint across the eastern U.S. as Managing Partner. I’m proud to be part of a mission-driven team that’s redefining what exceptional personal injury representation looks like. I’ve been honored with awards like the Avvo Clients’ Choice Award, Avvo Top Personal Attorney, and inclusion in National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40. I also co-authored 

 and regularly speak on legal operations, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Beyond my work in the firm, I actively coach personal injury attorneys and law firm owners across the country—sharing what I’ve learned about growing a business, building strong teams, and developing systems that scale.Community is core to who I am. In 2025, I created the Jennifer Gore Scholarship through the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers Foundation to support women in law school. I also contribute to initiatives like The Backpack Project and regularly sponsor community programs and scholarships for students. I’ve served as Past President of the Alumni Association at Atlanta’s John Marshall and currently serve as President of the GAWL Foundation. I remain involved in the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and other organizations that advocate for access to justice and support plaintiffs’ rights. Most importantly, I’m a proud mom of three. I love traveling, staying active, diving into business podcasts, and making time for the people who matter most. I’m a lifelong learner and visionary at heart—committed to evolving myself while helping others rise with me.

Jennifer Gore

Dale K. Galipo obtained his J.D.from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law in 1984. Mr. Galipo has since earned a reputation as one of the top civil rights attorneys in the nation. With the formation of The Law Offices of Dale K. Galipo in 1991, Mr. Galipo began specializing in personal injury cases and soon thereafter, he started obtaining multi-million dollar jury verdicts on personal injury cases. During the 1990’s, Mr. Galipo also handled numerous criminal cases and was dubbed “The Strikes Man” by the Daily Journal for multiple jury acquittals in “three strikes” cases. From 1995 thru 1996, Mr. Galipo obtained six consecutive jury acquittals on major felony cases.

In 2002, Dale Galipo started to specialize in civil rights cases involving police misconduct and excessive force and shortly thereafter, Mr. Galipo began obtaining multi-million dollar jury verdicts for victims of police misconduct and police abuse. In 2012, Mr. Galipo was awarded the Defender of the Constitution Award by the Inland Empire Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and was more recently the Honoree for the MLK award presented in his name at the UC Davis School of Law. In the last eleven years, he has prevailed in over 50 Jury trials and has obtained over 100 seven-figure verdicts and settlements.

With approximately twenty published opinions in civil rights cases, Dale Galipo has also been selected to the Southern California’s SuperLawyers list every year. Having been awarded the CAALA Trial Lawyer of the Year 2020 and also the CAOC 2020 Consumer Attorney of the Year, he is often asked to speak about his civil rights practice, most often on how to successfully try a civil-rights case. As an active member of The Inner Circle of Advocates and as a Fellow of The American College of Trial Lawyers, Mr. Galipo has gone to trial and won more cases against the police than any other attorney in the country.

Dale Galipo

I’m a tax lawyer who originally planned to be a trial lawyer. Now I serve as Tax and Settlement Counsel to plaintiff firms, focusing on settlement language and arrangements that plaintiffs use to keep far more of their winnings.

As an aspiring trial lawyer at NYU Law I clerked in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Federal Tort Claims Act Section. Everything changed when NYU cancelled my 2L Evidence Course and I switched to a Tax Policy Course. In it I wrote my Law Review Article on a critical plaintiff tax issue raised during my clerkship: the strategic use of Qualified Settlement Funds. To do so I interviewed plaintiff lawyers and advisors across the country, many of whom later became my clients.

I obtained my Tax LL.M at NYU Law and then served as a Fellow in the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Tax Policy. While at the Treasury I focused on plaintiff tax issues in addition to transactional, trust, and international taxation, which would later help me vet and build arrangements used at settlement today.

After my time at the Treasury I joined a Northwest Law Firm and focused my practice on plaintiff and plaintiff firm taxation. I now serve on the ABA TIPS Plaintiffs’ Practice Committee and Chair the Society of Settlement Planners’ Legal Committee. I write and speak on the subject in a Forbes Column, for trial lawyer audiences, and on CNN, Fox News, and CNBC.

Through my law firm Structured Legal I advise plaintiffs and plaintiff firms. Through my consulting firm Structured Consulting I build new settlement arrangements with trust companies, insurance companies, and other financial institutions.

Using my past experience advising nonprofits I worked with other plaintiff supporters to build the Plaintiff Fund, a 501(c)(3) charity that allows plaintiffs to raise medical funds from their community without losing government benefits.

An extra sentence in the settlement agreement can dramatically increase what a plaintiff keeps. Even in tax-free cases you can save your client from significant taxes – for example, by preserving millions in future medical expenses deductions, or by securing valuable tax subsidies.

This is a presentation for trial lawyers, not financial advisors. How can you issue-spot for tax opportunities (and risks) at settlement? And what steps can you take at engagement to protect you and your client from missing them?

The settlement agreement is your best tax tool. You can force the IRS to bear the burden of proof on audit. You can dramatically reduce the risk of audit. And you can memorialize facts needed to secure tax benefits.

To do so we’ll discuss how to spot potential taxation before signing and flag opportunities to avoid it. We walk through the use of the settlement agreement to effect and protect tax-saving strategies.

We’ll also walk through tax-subsidized and tax-advantaged arrangements. Each “solution” solves a unique problem. What is the “plaintiff double tax”? How can you avoid it? How can you settle while still preserving structured settlement options?

Lastly, we’ll cover the plaintiff firm’s ethical obligations on tax and financial issues. What if you don’t spot these issues? Can you exclude them from your scope of representation? What should you know when referring clients to settlement advisors?

No one expects you to become a tax lawyer. But your team may be in the best position to spot tax opportunities and risks. We’ll walk through what to watch for.

Jeremy Babener

Greg Bentley is a civil trial lawyer with substantial experience in complex civil and commercial litigation. He primarily focuses on helping clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries and represents clients in state and federal courts in Colorado and throughout the country. Greg has developed specific expertise in cases involving commercial trucking crashes and in helping clients who have suffered traumatic brain injuries.

Each case is unique, and Greg enjoys mastering the specific facts and legal issues of each case. His experience extends across a broad variety of cases, including class actions, products liability, consumer protection, abuse in sports, real estate litigation, and business disputes. He has helped clients with issues across an array of industries, including transportation and commercial trucking, pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, telecommunications and technology, sports and entertainment, hemp and CBD, and financial services. He has worked closely with key scientific and medical experts from fields such as neurology, orthopedics, embryology, cardiology, urology, genetics, epidemiology, and statistics.

Greg has assisted clients across the country in seeking justice for injuries caused by defective medical products. He was an important member of the trial teams for a number of bellwether trials in the birth defect and polypropylene mesh mass tort litigations. He has represented families regarding birth defect injuries caused by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (SSRIs) and anticonvulsant medications. He has represented women and men injured by the implantation of polypropylene mesh, metal on metal hip implants, and inferior vena cava filter implants (IVC).

Greg Bentley 

Sonia M. Rodriguez, a San Antonio native, has dedicated her legal career to advocating for individuals in need. After graduating from Burbank High School and the University of North Texas, she earned her Juris Doctorate from St. Mary's University School of Law in 1999. During her time at St. Mary's, she co-founded The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Minority Issues, demonstrating her early commitment to addressing legal issues affecting minority communities.

For over two decades, Sonia has focused on representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases, specializing in trial and appellate law. Her exceptional legal skills have earned her numerous accolades, including recognition as a "Texas Rising Star" by Texas Monthly and Law & Politics. In 2004, she made history as the first Mexican American woman to secure a verdict exceeding $2 million in Val Verde County, Texas.

Sonia's professional excellence extends to her leadership roles within the legal community. She has served as president of the San Antonio Trial Lawyers Association and is a Sustaining Member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association. Her peers frequently nominate her as one of the "Best Lawyers in San Antonio," as featured in SA Scene Magazine, further solidifying her reputation as a respected legal professional.

Beyond her legal practice, Sonia is deeply committed to community service and leadership. Her dedication to empowering others extends to her role as an advisor to the Young Women's Leadership Academy and her position on the Board of the SAISD Foundation. From 2005 to 2015, Sonia chaired the Mayor's Commission on the Status of Women in San Antonio, exemplifying her commitment to advocacy and community engagement. Sonia M. Rodriguez's career is a testament to her dedication to justice, community service, and the empowerment of those she represents.

Sonia Rodriguez

I grew up in Detroit as one of seven children. After high school, I attended Grand Valley State University on a full-ride swimming scholarship. After graduating from college, I worked in Washington, D.C., for Congressman Peter Hoekstra. Thereafter, I pursued a Master’s in Political Science at Wayne State University before teaching at Colorado Mountain College in Aspen, Colorado. After three years living in the best place on Earth, I decided I wanted to make a greater impact in my community. I therefore returned to school to earn my law degree from Michigan State University. Upon graduation, I returned to Colorado to start my own practice. Outside of my practice, I travel regularly. In the last 2 years, I have visited Aruba, Bali, Costa Rica, Curacao, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Italy, Mexico, and Spain. Outside of traveling, some of my favorite pastime activities include basketball, snowboarding, surfing, and wakeboarding.

Jerry Bowman

I was born and raised in warm, sunny, Sherman Oaks, Ca. As a child, I loved to dance. Anywhere, anyhow, life was a stage, and I loved performing. Despite my distaste for cold weather, one day in 1997, I strapped into a rented snowboard and fell in love. Like dancing, but on jumps and handrails.

By the following fall, I moved to South Lake Tahoe to attend community college at night, and ride during the day. Almost immediately I was competing on the women’s professional slopestyle snowboard circuit and gaining sponsorship support.

After many years traveling, competing, coaching, and training year-round, I was ready to pass the torch to the next generation of kick assery girls who were just slaughtering it out there. On to law school I went.

People often ask, “Wasn’t it hard to go from Professional Snowboarder to Trial Lawyer?” The answer is an easy, “NO!” It’s almost identical. Nothing beats the feeling of standing on top of your run, about to drop in, all eyes on you, legs shaking in fear and excitement, visualizing the countless practice runs in your head, laser focus, adrenaline pumping, wondering why you keep putting yourself through this! Swearing that you’ll never do it again…. Then you drop in and everything around you just stops, and you’re in your moment. And somehow, it’s absolutely silent. And then you land, and the world comes back, and you sit down and think…. Man, I love this! Can’t wait to do that again!

Today I love sharing my passion for adventure and adrenaline with my ex-pro-freeskier husband and my 3 & 6-year-old boys. Between zoom meetings and trial prep, you'll find us riding dirt bikes while RV camping, skiing or snowboarding, and cheering from the little league or soccer fields.

Sarah Havens

I started trying cases right out of law school, and in my first year of practice, I tried 3 cases and haven't stopped since. I enjoy trying cases and always fight hard to represent my clients. I always wanted to help people, but it wasn't until I recently switched sides and got my first plaintiff verdict that I realized how much better it is to help people on the plaintiff side. I believe my knowledge of what works and does not work from many years and trials on the other side helps me to be a better advocate in seeking justice for my clients, and I have found working on the plaintiff side to be more rewarding and I am excited for what's ahead.

Jennifer Russell

I’m from Milwaukee, WI. I’m the oldest of six kids and three of us are lawyers. I’m married with two girls, 10 and 12. I enjoy skiing, working out, yoga, traveling with my wife and watching my kids play volleyball and going to their dance competitions. I went to Marquette Law School (no Wisconsin bar exam! Yeah) and graduated in 1998. I took the California bar last summer and passed on the first try. Looking forward to learning from all the great lawyers at the conference.

Robert Welcenbach

Tom is an experienced attorney at Brown & Crouppen, dedicated to advocating on behalf of injured persons against insurance companies. Since joining Brown & Crouppen in 2008, Tom has worked tirelessly to obtain fair results on behalf of his clients, including as a member of a team that secured a $618,000 jury verdict in Jackson County, Missouri Circuit Court in 2012. He has been involved in several other successful jury verdicts and appeals in Jackson County, Clay County, Wyandotte County, Johnson County, and the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Western District. He has also recovered several other $1 million to $6 million settlements for his clients in just the past few years. Tom has been named to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 every year since 2012.

Tom is licensed to practice in Kansas and Missouri and has represented clients and resolved cases on both sides of the state line. He received his law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. While in law school, Tom received multiple honors, including placing second in the American Moot Court Association’s National Tournament and named Top Speaker. He also was part of the UMKC Law Review team and earned 5th Place in the CEDA Debate National Championships in 1990. He graduated from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.

In addition to his work at Brown & Crouppen, Tom has been involved in several pro bono juvenile and family court cases in Jackson County, Missouri, including one that went to trial and led to a successful appeal in the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Western District. He also founded a downtown Kansas City business development organization and was involved in Kansas City’s downtown renaissance in the early 2000s. Tom is involved with DEBATE – Kansas City, which encourages student participation in high school debate programs in the inner city.

When not practicing law, Tom enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, jogging, and weight training. He also enjoys cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, and Missouri Tigers.

Tom Davis

The accomplishment that defines who I am in life happened when I was 11 years old - winning a watermelon eating contest for children 13 years and below. The prize was a brand new BMX mountain bike. To understand why, you need to know where I come from. I grew up in a very modest household as one of four children. My parents immigrated from Iran in the 1980s after the Iraq War destroyed the country. My parents made sacrifices so that their children could get an education in the US. In the early 90s, I used to go with my father to work at a clothing factory in Vernon, California. Other days, I went to the hair salon with my mother, who would work for $10 per day. My mother saved that $10 dollar salary every day so that my older brother and I could take SAT prep courses. The greatest gift my parents gave me was the hunger to succeed. Although I always wanted a mountain bike, my parents couldn’t afford those kinds of luxuries. The watermelon eating contest was three rounds and I was the scrawniest contestant. There were kids two years older than me and at least 25 pounds heavier. I was a longshot. My dad told me, “outsmart the other kids, be methodical, don’t just bite.” I woke up early in the morning, jogged two miles to build my appetite and cut water at home for practice to figure out the best way to speed eat. My gameplay was simple, let the other contestants exhaust themselves trying to bite, while I scooped the watermelon with my teeth and ingested with minimal chewing. By the third round, I was sure I would throw up. Fortunately, I held it together and won first place. The same work ethic and determination from 28 years ago has helped me create a multi-jurisdictional personal injury practice today in Georgia and California.

Ray Kermani

Michael Sanchez

Born in Bountiful, Utah, Adam attended the University of Utah, where he obtained bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Sociology. Adam then went on to pursue and earn his Juris Doctorate from the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and has been practicing law since 2009.

Prior to joining Ace Law Group, Adam’s practice focused on personal injury litigation representing plaintiff’s in motor vehicle accidents and premises liability cases. Adam has also practiced as a criminal defense lawyer, being appointed Special Prosecutor on two cases by the Honorable Judge Herndon. Bringing his trial experience and talents to Ace Law Group, Adam looks to utilize his vast array of courtroom skills he’s acquired as a criminal defense lawyer to assist his clients in their personal injury cases.

With strong ties to the Southern Nevada community, Adam is a member of the Nevada Justice Association and previously served on the Henderson Social Service Board.

Adam considers himself a bit of a history buff, with a specific interest in 18th and 19th century American history, which has helped him connect with current and potential clients.

Adam is also a huge sports fan. In his spare time, you can find Adam spending time on the green, as he’s an avid golfer, or cheering on the University of Utah and the Las Vegas Golden Knights.

Adam Gill

I am from a podunk town in Southern California, but moved to Las Vegas just before High School, and basically been here ever since. I grew up in a house with four boys, and only one girl. Somehow, when we got married and started our families, the Universe balanced the scales and we all had girls. I have three of my own.

When I'm not working, I'm usually taking kids to gymnastics events, or attending tea parties hosted by my youngest. I love to travel with my family, but if it were up to me, we'd spend every vacation in Costa Rica. My wife loves to explore new places, so she plans trips both domestic and abroad. (Costa Rica is still my favorite).

Growing up I had a job as a runner at a law office, and swore I would never be a lawyer. I originally intended to go into the FBI, but graduated just in time for the Great Recession, when the federal government imposed a hiring freeze. So I went to law school to pass the time, and increase the strength of my application. However, I ended up not hating it, and eventually, when the FBI recruiter started calling me to come in, I politely declined.

I am a die-hard fan of the UFC, and even worked for them for a short stint when they were still only holding 6-8 events a year. Also, like every other Millennial male, I trained in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for about 8 years. Despite my best efforts, I can't get any of my daughters interested in doing it.

I love disappearing into a good story of any genre, whether in a book, movie, or in the courtroom. Stories shape the way people see and understand the world and I’ve been lucky to spend my career working in a profession built around telling them.

Kyle Tatum

I live and practice in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. I’m one of the few people in the World to experience a Cat 10 hurricane in 2017 - Irma on St Thomas and then Maria on St Croix two weeks later. Really puts “man” in perspective to the power of Nature/God. I hand-planted an orchard and have 30 different Caribbean fruit trees and also I have a “Bush Tea” garden. I’ve sued for federal voting rights for US Citizens in the Territories but lost. I’ve run for the local Senate - and lost too - but I’ll run again and one day you may see a jumbo jet of military veterans from the USVI escorting our 3 representatives to Congress. My wife is from Ukraine and her dad, brother and uncle are fighting for freedom and democracy in Ukraine. We have sent 2 dozen drones to Ukraine which helped target 2 tanks and 3 APVs. Outside of law, I’m likely chasing a 16 month old. And if I have the rare free morning - I may be paddle-boarding or fixing pot-holes.

J. Russell Pate

Alex Guerrero

I grew up in rural Conway, SC, and my first job was at the age of six as a farmhand on my grandfather's tobacco farm in Horry County. I have worked and made money every year since. Hot, humid summer days in the tobacco fields were my inspiration to get a good education and work in a climate-controlled environment. My father was a high school teacher and football coach who had been co-captain of the 1957 South Carolina Gamecock football team. Coach Derrick was very competitive, and his children were raised to compete to win in anything they pursue. Everything was a competition, including who could be the most productive in their summertime farming jobs, who could make the best grades in school, and who could win a particular athletic competition. I earned a football scholarship to Wofford College, where I played for four years. After graduating, I coached college football at East Tennessee State University for one year, where I met my wife, Michelle. We were married in 1985, the same year I began law school at the University of South Carolina. I graduated in 1987 and began practicing in Horry County in 1988. Due to early success in the courtroom, I worked my way into a partnership after just three years. In 1991, I left the partnership and established Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers. I am a founding member and elder of The Rock, Conway's Community Church, and have been involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for over 45 years. My wife and I have two sons, Dakota and Peyton, the perfect daughter-in-law, Taylor, and two grandchildren, Able and Winnie.

Dirk Derrick

Raquel Gomes is the Co-Founder and CEO of Stafi, a company that helps law firm owners grow their practices without sacrificing their personal lives. With a background in psychology and an MBA in International Business, Raquel climbed the corporate ladder in the high-tech industry before founding Stafi.

After hitting a breaking point trying to balance a demanding career and family life, she created Stafi to offer law firms top-tier virtual staffing from Latin America, combined with hands-on support to ensure law firms can scale efficiently while maintaining balance.

Raquel Gomes

Jordan M. Jewkes is the founder and managing attorney of The Jewkes Firm, a results-driven personal injury law firm serving clients all across Georgia, including Fayette County, Coweta County, and the greater Atlanta area. With nearly two decades of legal experience, Jordan brings a rare and valuable perspective to personal injury litigation — before representing injured individuals, he worked as an insurance defense attorney. This background gives him critical insight into how insurance companies evaluate claims, defend lawsuits, and attempt to minimize payouts.

Today, Jordan uses that insider knowledge to level the playing field for victims of car accidents, trucking crashes, slip and falls, wrongful death, medical and dental malpractice, and other serious injuries. His clients benefit from a strategy-driven approach that anticipates insurance tactics and aggressively pursues maximum compensation. His results speak for themselves, having secured millions in compensation for his clients.

But beyond the courtroom, Jordan is a proud husband, father of four, and a man of deep faith. He and his family live in the South Metro Atlanta area, where they’re actively involved in the community — from school events, service outreaches, church activities and local youth sports. The Jewkes family also includes a beloved family cavapoo dog named “Bear,” rounding out a life rooted in values, service, and connection.

Jordan is known not only for his strong trial skills, but for being genuinely trustworthy, responsive, and hardworking. Clients often describe him as someone who listens, who cares, and who gets results.

Jordan is active in and served in leadership roles in various local and state bar associations and has contributed to numerous civic organizations, including speaking and presenting on various topics. He is committed to raising the standard of legal advocacy and overall safety in Georgia, both inside and outside the courtroom.

Jordan Jewkes

 does not remember making the decision to be a lawyer. He does not recall ever considering another profession. This may have been because his father was both a lawyer and judge for most of Aaron’s formative years. While Aaron cherishes the example set by his father, he knows there is something in his core nature that drove him to the law. More than anything, Aaron loves winning when no one else can see the path to victory. Sometimes winning impossible cases takes deep thought and creativity, while other times only sheer determination and a hard head will get the job done. 

Aaron is calm and collective at the office, but he comes to life in the courtroom. Contrary to what the public believes, most lawyers rarely enter a courtroom. Courtroom experience is a key differentiator in law— lawyers who take cases to trial know what really matters and get better settlements.

A big part of being a good lawyer for people is maintaining focus on representing your client’s interests. Aaron believes that loyalty to the client comes before everything, including your own pocketbook and especially your own ego. Their interests come first, and that’s why he sees every case through to the end, exhausting every path available.

When many people meet with a lawyer for the first time they are apprehensive and unsure, but Aaron has a way of putting new clients at ease. Aaron’s client can often feel his dedication in their first meeting with him and they quickly let go of any preconceived fears and worries. They know they are in good hands. Most people just want to know that someone is going to fight for them, win or lose. That is what Aaron provides.

Aaron Broussard

Taylor is a partner at Gideon Asen LLC (www.gideonasen.com). He specializes in medical malpractice and catastrophic injury cases in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Taylor has multiple seven figure verdicts, including the largest sex abuse verdict in the history of Maine.

Taylor Asen

Attorney Christian Petronelli offers aggressive and compassionate representation to his clients, and is pride to represent the “little guy” when the deck is stacked against them. Christian handles all types of employment cases, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, unpaid wages, meal and real break claims, disability claims, and class action claims. He strives to provide excellent representation to his clients, and works tirelessly to obtain the best possible outcome for each of his clients.

Since 2015, Christian has been ranked by Super Lawyers as one of the top Plaintiff’s Employment Lawyers in California. In his career, he has recovered tens of millions of dollars on behalf of his clients.

Christian Petronelli

I grew up on the southside of Milwaukee going to Catholic school, playing tons of baseball, and working at my parents’ ice cream shop at the age of 12. I added a job selling shoes at a local shoe store during high school to help make ends meet for my family. It’s at these jobs I learned at a young age the value of hard work, developing relationships with people, and the art of selling. As the second person to go to college (after my older sister) and the first person to go to law school in my family, I thought a law degree would propel me to a career as a progressive politician. But after clerking for a Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice after graduating from law school, working at big silk-stalking corporate firm, and then taking a leave to run for the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2004 and losing, what I was really meant to do found me. I was recruited to join the firm I’ve been at over 20 years, Cannon & Dunphy, by an attorney I met during the State Assembly campaign. Everything happens for a reason – it’s crazy – and I’m so lucky. I’ve been fortunate to be trained and mentored by Inner Circle member Pat Dunphy. I credit his mentorship for the successes I’ve had including the 2017 Wisconsin Trial Lawyer of the Year, being a member of ABOTA, as well as a member of the International Society of Barristers (ISOB). And I got to itch my political bug after serving as the 2023 President of the Wisconsin Association for Justice (WAJ) and continue to do so as co-chair of WAJ’s Legislative Task Force – so I get to take our fight in the courtroom to Wisconsin’s capitol in Madison.

And here’s a story that will tell you a little bit about me and my family: During the summer of 1994 I interned for a member of Congress in Washington, D.C. 1994 was the summer of O.J. and the white Bronco – and Coolio’s hit “Fantastic Voyage” – and Forrest Gump. One night I may have been stumbling back after a night out with my friends and stopped at a palm reader at like 2 a.m. The palm reader said I’d meet my wife in the next year and have four to six children. I met my wife Sherry eight months later (at a bar – another good story) and we have five children – four boys and our little a girl. Crazy.

Finally, as much as I love being a trial lawyer, if I could do it all over again I wouldn’t be a politician like I originally thought. Rather, I’d be a late-night talk show host, pro golfer, or late 80s to early/mid 90s alternative rock lead singer (think INXS – or maybe even a little Jane’s Addiction – and definitely some Beastie Boys).

I was Born in Bogotá, Colombia, I moved to Los Angeles with my parents at a young age. From the age of 13, I worked weekends and vacations in the family business, which specialized in the aerospace industry. This experience ignited my entrepreneurial spirit. Over the years, I have ventured into several businesses. Ranging from the telecommunications industry to document destruction (shredding) and now a law firm focusing on housing and personal injury. Not all have been successful, however, all have been a learning experience.

As an entrepreneurial lawyer with over two decades of independent law practice, I have honed a deep-seated passion for advocating on behalf of disadvantaged communities. This commitment not only defines my career but also enriches my professional journey, driving me to deliver impactful legal solutions where they are most needed. Outside of my professional life, I am an avid boater, kayaker and hiker. These activities let me connect with nature but also provide a respite from my busy law practice.

Eric Castelblanco

ric Gerard is a former prosecutor and accomplished trial lawyer fiercely committed to protecting our communities. He has recovered over $250 million from reckless corporations and their insurance companies in the last 5 years alone.

Eric brings endless energy and a drive for excellence to everything he does. He graduated in the top 10% of his class from the prestigious University of Virginia School of Law, winning national honors in mock-trial competitions, trying cases as a student prosecutor in Philadelphia and Richmond, and publishing a peer-reviewed journal article on neuroimaging evidence—all while completing a master’s degree at Johns Hopkins University’s top-ranked foreign policy school. He earned the top score in the country when he took the Texas Bar Exam.

Eric began his career as a prosecutor, serving in the Trial Division of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in New York before joining the U.S. Department of Justice as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. His criminal trials spanned a range of offenses and subject matter, from international money laundering and wire fraud conspiracy to murder-for-hire, identity theft, and foreign sex trafficking. Serving in DOJ’s white-collar and major crimes divisions with TS-SCI clearance, he also led complex, often high-profile investigations of pain doctors and pharmacy chains fueling the opioids crisis, arms dealers exporting weapons to terrorists, fraudulent medical clinics and military contractors cheating taxpayers, and a corrupt DEA agent caught laundering money for foreign drug cartels.

Eric Gerard

Douglas “Doug” Wacker is an attorney at The Law Offices of Ted B. Wacker (TBW Law) who represents people at their most vulnerable moments—after serious injuries, when their rights are violated, or when the system is bearing down on them. His practice focuses on personal injury, criminal defense, and civil rights, and he brings one thing to every case: disciplined preparation paired with courtroom-ready advocacy.

Doug is not a “settle-and-move-on” lawyer. He is a trial attorney who has taken felony and misdemeanor cases to jury verdict, and in 2022 he transitioned into civil litigation to broaden his practice and to fight for people harmed by careless individuals and companies, especially when defendants and insurance carriers refuse to be reasonable before litigation. He takes pride in holding wrongdoers accountable and in pushing relentlessly for recoveries that meet and exceed what clients expect, not a discount an adjuster hopes they’ll accept.

Doug’s trial philosophy is rooted in one essential truth: juries decide cases with both mind and heart. He is a graduate of the Gerry Spence Method at Thunderhead Ranch in Dubois, Wyoming, where he spent three intensive weeks alongside top trial lawyers from across the country sharpening the craft of trial advocacy and storytelling, learning how to deliver a client’s story in a way that allows jurors to feel what happened, connect with the human being behind the case, and render justice based on truth rather than tactics. Opposing counsel should understand this up front: Doug prepares cases to win, and he is fully willing, ready, and able to take the fight to a jury.

His goal is simple and personal, to help clients move forward with peace of mind, knowing that even if they face permanent limitations or lasting harm, they will have the resources and security to build the second-best life for themselves and their families.

Doug brings over a decade of criminal litigation and trial experience as a public defender in King County, Washington, serving communities including Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Woodinville, Sammamish, Issaquah, Renton, and Federal Way, and representing more than 3,000 individuals. That work shaped his approach to advocacy: treat every person with dignity, fight with urgency, and never assume the system will “do the right thing” unless someone forces it to.

Clients consistently recognized Doug’s energy and commitment—his refusal to let people be reduced to a file number or a stereotype. He went beyond the four corners of the courtroom to help clients access stabilizing resources and break cycles that kept them trapped in the criminal legal system. He also took special care in cases involving severe mental illness, fighting relentlessly to protect the civil and constitutional rights of individuals found incompetent to stand trial. His tenaciousness pushed both opposing counsel and the courts to ensure his clients received legally required treatment and were not lost to neglect.

Doug served 12 years on active duty in the United States Marine Corps, first enlisting and later commissioning as an officer, and he was honorably discharged. His service included global assignments and deployments supporting OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM and OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (Afghanistan). In 2006, between deployments, he was one of only 10 officers selected for the Marine Corps Legal Education Program.

Doug earned his B.A. from UCLA and his J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law, graduating in the top third of his class. During law school, he gained rare perspective on how courts actually work through internships and externships with the California Superior Court (Orange County Civil Complex Center), the California Court of Appeal (Justice Richard Aronson, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three), the Washington Supreme Court (Justice Susan Owens), and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California (Criminal Division).

While serving in the Marine Corps, Doug volunteered for two years as a Mentor to the Veterans Court in San Diego, helping veterans navigate the criminal justice system and the VA medical network. Through that work, he developed deep familiarity with the realities of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and how those conditions can affect every part of a person’s life. That experience reinforces how he practices today: build trust, investigate thoroughly, and fight for the best achievable outcome, because nothing less is acceptable. For his service and commitment, Doug was awarded the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

Doug understands that hiring a lawyer often happens during one of the most stressful periods of someone’s life. He takes that responsibility seriously as a compassionate counselor, clear-eyed advisor, skilled negotiator, and, when necessary, a tenacious courtroom advocate. He applies Marine Corps leadership principles to every case: plan, prepare, anticipate, act decisively with sound judgment, and adapt, innovate, and overcome to accomplish the mission.

Doug and his wife chose to make their home in the Seattle area with their two sons and daughter. Outside the office, he’s a dedicated Pacific Northwest sports fan—Sounders FC, Seahawks, Mariners, Kraken, Reign, Storm, and UCLA Bruins—and he enjoys traveling with his family and participating in soccer, rugby, skiing, swimming, and running.

Doug Wacker

Timothy C. Felice is the founder and principal of Felice Trial Attorneys, (formerly Felice Law Group), and is a highly skilled personal injury civil trial attorney dedicated to obtaining full justice for those who have been injured or killed because of the negligence of another person, company or defective product. Tim is passionate in his quest for full civil justice. He is not only an aggressive trial lawyer, but also takes the time to listen and get to know each client he is fighting for. In fact, many of the largest personal injury firms in Florida and the country refer cases to Felice Trial Attorneys to litigate and bring to trial.

Born in New Rochelle, NY, in 1976, he spent most of his early years in the little town of Hopewell Junction, NY, before deciding to get away from the cold and move to the paradise of South Florida. He currently resides in Palm Beach Gardens with his wife, Jessica, his three kids, Noah, Annabelle, and Julia, as well as his six (yes SIX!) dogs, Luna, Hugo, Jefferson, Oscar, Sherlock and Poppy. If he is not with his family, he prefers to be in a courtroom.

After graduating magna cum laude in 2001 from Florida Atlantic University, he attended Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center and graduated in 2004. He is admitted to the Florida Bar and licensed to practice before all Florida State courts, state appellate courts, the Florida Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Southern and Northern Districts of Florida as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Tim is also a member of the Palm Beach County Bar, Florida Justice Association, American Association for Justice, and Palm Beach County Justice Association. He is currently a Board Member of the Palm Beach County Justice Association and co-chair of the CLE committee.

He is a member of multiple other merit-based organizations such as the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Elite Trial Lawyers, and Seven Figure Litigators. All of which require the settlement or verdict at trial to be at least $1,000,000.00. Tim has accomplished that feat as lead trial counsel more than 17 times. Very few lawyers in the country have obtained results like this during their entire career. Tim is only 46 years old right now.

Tim is passionate about aiding other trial lawyers in improving their expertise. He has been devoted to the PBCJA, facilitating the growth of educational possibilities for lawyers via webinars and seminars with some of the top trial lawyers in the world. He has taught the intricacies of trial advocacy through both webinar and seminar formats across the country and is now in the process of constructing a modern courtroom in his building to carry on teaching other lawyers trial work.

Tim Felice

I grew up in California and was in trouble a lot in school, but excelled at playing music. I also loved lawyer movies (To Kill a Mockingbird, A Few Good Men, Philadelphia, etc.), but I didn't know any lawyers growing up. It wasn't until my final year of majoring in music theory in college that it occurred to me to go to law school. I loved my time at the University of Oregon School of Law and, for the first time, excelled as a student (the law review, Order of the Coif, Mock Trial Team, etc.). I then worked initially as a public defender, then for a year as a corporate defense attorney, but then decided to work for myself and move back to California. I eventually founded Bay Area Bicycle Law, where I work to this day alongside my partner, Lucy Allen, and a few other family members/friends. These days, I spend the vast majority of my time on TBI and Wrongful Death cases.

Michael Stephenson

 who has focused his career on catastrophic personal injury, product liability, nursing home abuse, police brutality / civil rights, and truck accident cases. At heart, he is a storyteller who takes pride in becoming his client’s voice during the litigation process and trial. His most recent success in achieving a 

 highlights how Shahrad’s dedication to being an ever-improving personal injury trial lawyer paid off for his client in a difficult case.

Since the beginning of his career, Shahrad has worked on catastrophic injury cases such as 

 (TBI), serious orthopedic injuries, including quadriplegia and paraplegia. He has also worked with other law firms as a consultant for trials, litigation in personal injury, police brutality, and 

 that resulted in significant pre-litigation settlements. His wealth of high stakes litigation, trial, and mediation experience, gives Shahrad an edge in protecting his clients’ interests and telling their stories.

Shahrad gained his trial and courtroom experience while working with the district attorney’s office and as a civil trial attorney. He has handled cases from inception to verdict as the primary trial attorney. Over the past 22+ years, Shahrad has handled serious personal injury and 

 involving tires, motorcycles, trucks, big rigs, buses, ATVs, as well as household and industrial products.

Shahrad has been at the forefront of promoting the use of technology in trial presentations and has tried numerous cases to verdicts with significant results. He developed one of the first comprehensive courses on how to effectively use an iPad in a trial. Utilizing his research and understanding of human decision-making and technology, Shahrad has been incredibly effective in telling his clients’ stories in a compelling and human way.

Shahrad is also an experienced mediator who has effectively mediated over 120 cases involving personal injury, product liability, guardianship, property, business and community disputes. His trial and mediation experience make Shahrad a very effective 

 who can see cases from many angles. This provides him with significant advantage against his opponents and allows for a much more effective approach in presenting his clients’ cases.

As an adjunct professor at Golden Gate University School of Law, Shahrad taught trial skills and coached the Golden Gate trials teams between 2001-2014. Shahrad has taught mediation skills to attorneys, mediators, human resources, psychologists, and other professionals. He has taught in training programs for Rosenberg Mediation, Center for Human Development, and the University of San Francisco School of Law. He is also an instructor with the 

National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA)

 teaching in NITA’s trial and deposition training programs. Shahrad is also a proud member of the Board of Directors for 

Shahrad Milanfar

Attorney Brett A. Eckstein has dedicated his career to representing clients in need of experienced personal injury, appellate, and civil rights legal representation. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from Marquette University Law School, where he was a member of the Moot Court, the Marquette Law Review, and was on the dean’s list. Following his graduation, Mr. Eckstein worked as a law clerk under Wisconsin Court of Appeals Chief Judge R. Thomas Cane and Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Louis B. Butler, Jr.

Brett A. Eckstein

I was born in Poland and lived there until the end of second grade, when my family emigrated to what was then West Germany to escape communism. We lived in West Germany for two years before being granted political asylum in the U.S. – my dad’s ultimate goal – and got on a plane to St. Louis. I went on to college at Tulane University and law school at Loyola Chicago. I then hit the trial lottery and went to work for a Chicago defense firm that each year tried the most cases of any law firm in the state, and had a culture built around trying cases. I tried over 100 civil jury trials to verdict, and in 2006 was recognized by the Cook County Jury Verdict Reporter for having tried the 2nd-most jury trials in the state of Illinois. In 2012, I moved to New Orleans for an opportunity to do plaintiff’s work exclusively. Two years ago, I had my first 8-figure verdict, in no small part thanks to what I learned at TLU and from the great trial lawyers Dan Ambrose put me in touch with.

I fought in the Chicago Golden Gloves boxing tournament in the light-heavyweight and heavyweight divisions between 2005 and 2011. Since moving to New Orleans, I’ve taken up competitive pistol and rifle shooting and compete regularly across the country in the Elite Men’s division of The Tactical Games and currently hold an A-class ranking from the United States Practical Shooting Association in Carry Optics pistol. I live in New Orleans with my wife and three daughters, ages 8, 6, and 4.

Przemek	Lubecki

I was born in Moscow and immigrated to the United States when I was six years old. I grew up in Sunnyside, Queens playing stickball on NYC streets and was a big Mets fan. My father worked in a printing company in midtown Manhattan that published magazines like the Heavy Metal magazine Circus among others. My mother worked for Eagle Electric in Long Island City as an engineering aide. We spoke Russian at home and loved to take vacations to a lake in Maine during the summer months. In high school, I was on the debate team competing throughout NYC and continued in college as part of APDA going up against Ted Cruz from Princteon, Austan Goolsbee from Yale, and other top speakers. My favorite debate was a trip from NYC to Stanford where my partner and I made the finals and debated a funny topic about the World Wrestling Federation in front of a large audience. After my undergrad at Vassar College, I backpacked through Europe all summer and started law school at UT Austin in Texas. I am admitted in NY & TX and have been doing plaintiff's personal injury since 1999. I love helping serious injury victims and families. I started a YouTube channel that is growing with over 2 million views. In the year before Covid, I tried nine (9) cases with two seven figure results. I am on a journey to become the best trial lawyer I can be. In my spare time, I play tennis, pickleball, and a little ping pong. My favorite foods are seafood, sushi, and ramen. I am married with 2 kids, a 15 year old boy who can whip me at tennis and a 10 year old girl who is an amazing artist and gymnast. My wife who also plays tennis keeps me balanced and prevents me from overpreparing for trial.

Arkady Frekhtman

Taylor Ernst is recognized throughout the country as a leading brain injury trial lawyer. Named 2024 California Lawyer Attorney of the Year, Taylor secured a $63 million verdict against Chevron and wrote the book on TBI litigation. He now teaches other lawyers how to build stronger TBI cases with greater clarity, stronger proof, and better results.

Taylor Ernst has established himself as a preeminent authority in

 (TBI) litigation, earning recognition as California Lawyer Attorney of the Year by the Daily Journal in 2024. His innovative approach and commitment to scientific excellence recently resulted in a landmark 

, recognized among the Top Verdicts of 2023. The Daily Journal has also named him to their prestigious Top 40 Under 40 list, complementing his national recognition from the National Trial Lawyers (NTL) Top 40 Under 40.

At the core of Taylor’s practice lies an unwavering commitment to scientific rigor and medical expertise. His extensive personal library, comprising peer-reviewed articles, medical texts, and cutting-edge TBI research, reflects his dedication to evidence-based practice. This comprehensive knowledge base ensures that every case evaluation is grounded in current medical science and empirical evidence. His expertise has reached over 20,000 professionals across the legal and medical communities, establishing him as a nationally recognized authority in the field.

Taylor’s groundbreaking initiative, The Manhattan Project, sets new standards in trial strategy through its innovative approach to litigation against powerful opponents. While the project’s specifics remain confidential, its methodologies have transformed the field’s landscape. His practice emphasizes establishing genuine damages through medical evidence and proven methodology, providing opposing counsel and claims professionals with clear, scientifically-supported documentation to understand the full scope of damages and make informed decisions.

As the author of “The Ernst Way,” a comprehensive 300-page TBI litigation guide (currently available by invite only), Taylor continues to shape the future of TBI litigation. His popular podcast, TBI Lawyer Secrets, shares invaluable insights drawn from his extensive experience, extending his influence beyond the courtroom and throughout the legal community.

Through regular presentations and educational initiatives, Taylor advances the scientific understanding of TBI cases within the legal profession. His methodologies have not only earned him prestigious recognition but have also established new standards for valuing TBI cases at trial. His work demonstrates that when scientific rigor meets skilled advocacy, justice becomes achievable even against the most formidable opponents.

 with his wife Ashley and their daughter Dylan. When not advocating for his clients, he enjoys reading, surfing, and spending time with his family.

Taylor Ernst

I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, the oldest boy of six kids. My parents are personal injury attorneys and I’ve grown up wanting to do this my whole life. With that being said, I’ve had plenty of interesting non-legal jobs prior to becoming an attorney. From managing night clubs in New York City to running start-ups across the country, I’ve lived many interesting lives already. But being a trial attorney is definitely the career and passion that I’m meant to pursue. It’s what gives me purpose. This year I was proud to secure my first multi-million dollar jury verdict and I can't wait for many more to come (with the help of TLU of course). When I’m not in a courtroom, you can catch me making moves on the dance floor and kicking Dan Ambrose’s butt in ping pong. I’m looking forward to this TLU conference and all the rest to come!

Ryan Medler

My parents divorced when I was a very impressionable 6-years-old, and my mom could not afford a divorce lawyer. After hearing about the difficult situation that my mom was trying to escape from, a solo practitioner decided to help my mom 

. Ever since, I’ve wanted to be a lawyer so that I could help people in need. A couple of decades later, I find myself doing exactly the kind of work my 6-year-old self hoped I would be doing. As the cherry on top, I get to work with my family, which is a great joy that I do not take for granted.

Melissa Scartelli

Edward Ciarimboli

Robyn Wishart

Sagi Shaked

Ben B. Rubinowitz

Brian Panish

Johnnie Bond

Dan Ambrose

Stephen King

Joe Fried

Nick Rowley

David DeRubertis

Sach Oliver

Kurt Zaner

Jennifer Gore

Dale Galipo

Jeremy Babener

Greg Bentley

Sonia Rodriguez

Jerry Bowman

Sarah Havens

Jennifer Russell

Robert Welcenbach

Tom Davis

Ray Kermani

Michael Sanchez

Adam Gill

Kyle Tatum

J. Russell Pate

Alex Guerrero

Dirk Derrick

Raquel Gomes

Jordan Jewkes

Aaron Broussard

Taylor Asen

Christian Petronelli

Al Foeckler

Eric Castelblanco

Eric Gerard

Doug Wacker

Tim Felice

Michael Stephenson

Shahrad Milanfar

Brett A. Eckstein

Przemek Lubecki

Arkady Frekhtman

Taylor Ernst

Ryan Medler

Brittany Sanders Robb

Mohamad Ahmad

Sharif Gray

Orlando De Castroverde

Colin Cavanaugh

Patrick Kang

Scott Bethune

Maxey Scherr

Michael Kelly

Joseph Camerlengo

Andrew Robb

Ike Kaludi

Randall Sorrels

Michael Karp

Tom Bosworth

Tom Dickerson

Deena Buchanan

George Moschopoulos

Tim Mckey

Ted Wacker

Scott Frost

Michael Bryant

Monte Tynes

Andrew Pickett

Jakob Norman

Bill Smith

Dirk Vandever

Corey Suda

Drew Gilliland

Kelsey Ciarimboli

Tim Garvey

Nick Wooldridge