LCJ 2024 Spring Meeting Overview

Plan to join us for LCJ’s Spring member meeting at the St. Regis Hotel in Washington, D.C., on May 1-3. Amidst one of the most consequential years for litigation rule developments, this is a meeting not to be missed!

LCJ will continue to update this overview with speaker announcements and will post the agenda as the meeting approaches. The program is subject to change.

Wednesday, May 1st

Reconnect with colleagues at our opening reception from 6-7 PM at The Wharf, Washington’s premier dining and entertainment location. Williams & Connolly Chairman Joe Petrosinelli and LCJ President John Kuppens (Nelson Mullins) welcome us for an hour of conversation and unparalleled views of the Potomac River.

Some of Washington’s best restaurants are just steps from Williams & Connolly’s offices. Click here for a link to restaurants within a short walk of the reception.

Thursday, May 2nd

LCJ Spring Meeting Co-Chairs John Parker Sweeney (Bradley Arant Boult Cummings) and John Guttmann (Beveridge & Diamond) have organized an insightful and interactive two-day program.

Featured speakers on May 2 include:

  • Cynthia Randall, Microsoft’s Deputy General Counsel for Litigation, headlines a conversation with corporate heads of litigation. Ms. Randall brings a wealth of litigation experience and extensive engagement in LCJ to this conversation.

  • Hon. Michael Morell, former Deputy Director, and two-time Acting Director of the CIA, now with Beacon Global Strategies, joins us for a special “fireside chat” on global security developments impacting our politics and courts, as well as the interests of our companies and firms at home and abroad.

  • Lisa Blatt (Williams & Connolly) and Hon. Paul Clement (Clement & Murphy), two stars of the Supreme Court bar, analyze the most important high court decisions to date and share insights on what to expect from the remainder of the term.

  • James Duff, former Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, now Executive Director of the U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society, and Hon. Paul Friedman, U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Columbia, share their perspectives on the problems and solutions for the public’s waning trust in our courts.

  • Mary Massaron (Plunkett Cooney) and Doug Lampe (Ford Motor Company) join John Kuppens to announce LCJ’s newest committee—Public Trust in the Courts—and highlight ways LCJ members can engage in the effort.

  • Lee Mickus (Evans, Fears & Schuttert) leads a panel discussion on the implementation of the recent FRE 702 amendment in federal courts as well as efforts in states to secure similar improvements in rules governing admissibility of expert evidence.

  • Alex Dahl updates us on LCJ’s advocacy programs and emerging rules issues. While the Civil Rules Committee is working on several potential amendments of high interest to LCJ members, including the proposed MDL and privilege log rules, new issues are coming to the fore, including privacy and cyber security, corporate and TPLF disclosures, filing under seal, service of Rule 45 subpoenas, and virtual testimony.

Thursday, May 2nd, Reception and Annual Dinner

Join your LCJ colleagues at our past presidents’ reception and our annual dinner at the St. Regis Hotel on Thursday evening, where we will recognize LCJ leaders and our 2024 Founders’ Award recipient. This is always a fun and inspiring event for attendees to reconnect and re-energize.

All attendees are invited to the reception and dinner, which are included in the meeting registration.

Friday, May 3rd

We begin the day with breakfast meetings where LCJ corporate and law firm attendees will provide input on LCJ’s advocacy priorities and share thoughts about current and emerging litigation issues. Following the breakfast breakout meetings, we have a terrific lineup of speakers on tap:

  • Hon. Rachel Brand, Walmart’s Chief Legal Officer, joins us for a conversation on key legal developments and the impact of litigation rules reform. Prior to her role at one of America’s most respected companies, Ms. Brand served as U.S. Associate Attorney General and in other leading law enforcement roles.

  • Hon. Michael Baylson, U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and Professor Steven Gensler, University of Oklahoma College of Law, co-authors of a proposed FRCP amendment to provide guidance on cross-border discovery, join us to discuss the need for new guidance on cross-border discovery issues. Cases referencing international or cross-border discovery have risen dramatically in recent years, yet the FRCP currently provide little guidance for courts and parties navigating the production of documents and ESI outside the U.S.

  • Additional programming to be announced.

LCJ President-Elect Molly Craig (The Hood Law Firm) joins President John Kuppens for a hand off of the leadership gavel and a meeting wrap up at noon.