The Summit officially kicked off Sunday afternoon with conference registration and Ethicspalooza, as Doug Beam, Cashton Sessler, Ginger Jirik, and fifteen other top trial lawyers led attendees through complex legal ethics scenarios. One standout Ethicspalooza session,“ Lost in Translation: Ethics, Interpreters, and Cultural Competence in Trial Practice,” led by Linda D. Tran, explored the ethical and practical considerations of navigating language and cultural barriers in the courtroom.
The evening concluded with the NLVA Reception at Preston’ s Terrace, followed by an unforgettable National Black Lawyers Hall of Fame Celebration, sponsored by The Cochran Firm, Precedent, ZipLiens, and Blazeo. The room was filled with admiration and inspiration as Governor L. Douglas Wilder, Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun, and Attorney LaBarron Boone were inducted for their remarkable contributions to the legal field. The Honorable Colette D. Honorable was also recognized for her leadership and continued impact on the profession as the inaugural recipient of the Ben F. Wilson
8 x The Trial Lawyer
Legacy Award. The ceremony was both moving and celebratory, setting the stage with leadership and legacy that carried through the week.
Monday marked the first full day, with a networking breakfast sponsored by Stafi, followed by sessions on trial strategy and law firm evolution. Ilya Lerma addressed modern jury challenges in Truck and Automobile cases during“ Voir Dire That Survives Tort Reform and Defense Conditioning,” while Chase Givens and Glen Lerner examined how consolidation and modernization are reshaping the legal market. In the Criminal Justice session, Tom Grajek demonstrated how advanced trial exhibits are transforming courtroom presentation.
Midday networking continued during the Networking Lunch, sponsored by FirmPilot, and an Extended Book Signing Session featuring Shane Read, before afternoon sessions turned to catastrophic injury strategy, ethical firm growth, and criminal justice reform.
To kick off the afternoon, Mike Alder outlined the framework for building catastrophic brain injury cases during“ The Legal Lens:
Building the Foundation for a TBI Case.” Conversations about firm growth and responsibility followed in“ Supporting Survivors,” led by Kim Dougherty, Jill Hightower, Brad Lakin, and Dr. Laura McGuire, which focused on ethical marketing, intake, and client communication. A powerful Criminal Justice session,“ Injustice and Redemption: The Bone Valley Call to Action,” featuring Pulitzer Prize – winning author Gilbert King and wrongfulconviction survivor Leo Schofield, challenged attendees to confront systemic failures and the role of advocacy in driving reform.
After a PILMMA breakout session led by Ken Hardison, who examined how AI and institutional funding are reshaping the personal injury landscape, the day culminated with the Criminal Justice Cocktail Hour, sponsored by 4LegalLeads, and the First-Time Attendees Networking Hour, sponsored by ChartSquad, followed by the mostattended Summit Kickoff Party yet, sponsored by Broughton Partners and featuring the perfect mix of groovy hits by DJ Richi.