Join colleagues and friends at selected restaurants (on your own). Sign up here.

10^th Annual Women in the Law Networking Luncheon (a reprisal!) on February 7

Our fun PL Conference Women’s Networking Luncheon is back on track for its 10^th year (we’re going to forget last year’s cancelled plans due to the crazy ice storm in Austin and celebrate our decade together)!!

Come join a special buffet luncheon designed for us at the Hilton Denver City Center (that’s the conference location).  We will have many meal options, including Winter spice roasted carrot-ginger soup, Tri color quinoa salad with spinach, feta, and Meyers lemon vinaigrette, Turkey lettuce wraps, Grilled Salmon with chimichurri, Winter squash sauté, Vegan strawberry cake, and much more.

The Luncheon is on Wednesday, February 7 -- just at the start of the conference -- from 11:30am until 1:00pm.  This is a great opportunity to make new connections and reconnect with friends before the conference begins.

The cost is $60/person and is a ticketed event.  Please sign-up when you register for the conference and we look forward to seeing you in beautiful Denver!

Heather Bub, Program Chair

Kristy Wedell, WITL Committee Liaison

Marie Chafe, DRI Board and past WITL Committee Chair

Ticket Purchase Deadline:  February 2, 2024 

The Women in the Law Luncheon is a ticketed event and registration is required. Space is limited and is on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

Tickets are non-refundable unless DRI cancels the lunch because the minimum of 20 tickets sold has not been met. 

Upstairs Circus
Date: Wednesday, February 7 from 3:30–5:45 p.m.
Pricing: $42, plus 20% gratuity
Location: 1500 Wynkoop Street #100, Denver, CO 80202 (20 min walk, ~one mile from hotel)

Where DIY workshop meets bar. Create concrete coasters, 6-pack carriers, leather wallets, hip flasks, jewelry, artwork, or anything else on their menu of projects while drinking happy-hour priced cocktails (not included) with your DRI friends. Decorate a fedora and wear it all day Thursday…No prepayment, but RSVP required.
Sign Up for Upstairs Circus

Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre
Date: Wednesday, February 7 from 3:30–5:45 p.m.
Pricing: Free
Location: 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison, CO (~20 min via Uber/Lyft/Taxi)

Located just west of Denver near the town of Morrison, Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre combines awe-inspiring natural scenery with natural acoustic splendor. Not only a concert and event venue, but also a Denver park with walking trails, a visitor center, a trading center, and the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. Tours are self-guided. Closes one hour after sunset.
Transportation on your own. Meet in hotel lobby for sharing rides with others ~3:30 p.m. RSVP requested.
Sign Up for Red Rocks Park

Denver Graffiti Tour
Date: Wednesday, February 7 from 3:45–5:45 p.m.
Pricing: $35, plus Eventbrite fees, prepaid
Location: 2314 N. Broadway, Denver, CO (15 min walk, ~0.6 miles from hotel)

Denver Graffiti Tour is a 2-hour walking showcase of the best street art in the city. Learn the story behind the murals, graffiti and street art, as well as the historical, political and social contexts of that art. Discussion of approximately 30 murals, with a brief break for rest or drinks at Denver Central Market. See the Denver Graffiti Tour for more details.
Sign up for Denver Graffiti Tour

Join colleagues and friends at selected restaurants (on your own). Sign up here.

Join us at the ViewHouse (Ballpark) for an after dinner meet-up. With its vibrant atmosphere, the ViewHouse caters to the city’s biggest sports fans, backyard game junkies & casual diners alike. Come enjoy the ViewHouse experience – along with your fellow attendees.

Any time on Thursday or Friday, enjoy rock climbing at The Spot Denver (1235 Delaware St.) - 19,000 sq. ft. of rock climbing and fitness with sweeping boulders, beer on tap, and a ton of natural light. We negotiated a $15 discounted rate for a day pass that includes the mandatory shoe rental. Save time by purchasing your pass in advance and filling out the required waiver. Links: Discounted Group Rate and Fill out our Waiver!

Learn how game theory can impact mediation strategies, including case valuation, from the perspective of this panel, consisting of outside counsel, in-house counsel, and a mediator. One presenter, a former professional poker player, has found his experience to be invaluable to his current law practice.

Chris Fitzgerald, Conn Kavanaugh Rosenthal Peisch & Ford, LLP, Boston, MA
Nate Walker, Husqvarna Group, Charlotte, NC
Hon. Sandy Brook, Judicial Arbiter Group, Inc., Denver, CO

From Professor Bernard Chao’s research applying social science insights and experimental methods to test jury decision-making, learn the effectiveness of different damages arguments and how particular evidence, as well as jury instructions, can impact a jury’s decision making.

Prof. Bernard Chao, University of Denver School of Law, Denver, CO

Dr. Boelhouwer will discuss a new ANSI Z535 standard for electronic media that should be published later this year.  This new standard will have potential product liability implications for manufacturers, retailers, and their law firm partners.

Eric Boelhouwer, PhD, CSP, CPE, Dorris & Associates International, Atlanta GA

You have clients – now how do you keep them? Gain insight from a panel of experienced in-house counsel and insurance adjusters, which goes beyond the obvious advice on how to keep your clients happy, and learn how to become an indispensable partner with your clients.

Moderator
Eric Probst, Schindler Elevator Corporation, Morristown, NJ

Hernan Lacuesta, Sompo International Insurance, Los Angeles, CA
Craig Dupen, Kubota, Grapevine, TX
Sally Bowman, Mack Trucks, Inc. and Volvo Group North America, Greensboro, NC

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) claims have become more prevalent than ever and, now, serve to increase verdict potential and settlement value of cases. Hear how the plaintiffs’ bar is finding new ways to try and get around scans that do not show evidence of brain injury and learn strategies for defending against these claims.

Anthony J. Novak, Larson King, LLP, Saint Paul, MN

In the ever-changing landscape of smart products and online marketplaces, product liability claims are evolving. Through the expansion of existing theories of liability, the law’s definition of what constitutes a "product," and the Court’s interpretation of "who" can be held liable, reports of product liability litigation's "death has been greatly exaggerated."

Scott Maidment, McMillan LLP, Toronto, Canada
Merton Howard, Hanson Bridgett, LLP, San Francisco, CA
Rod Freeman, Cooley LLP, London, England

On your way to lunch, support Blessings in a Backpack, DRI Cares, and the DRI Foundation by filling a bag with food for a child experiencing food insecurity in our community. Feed a child before you feed yourself to make a difference in the lives of children and families all over our country and in this local community.

Click here for details on Blessings in a Backpack.

Have you ever wondered what Judges find to be particularly effective? Without having to travel to Dagobah, gain insight from members of the Bench that will help take your practice to the next galaxy (not so far, far away).

Moderator
Marsha Piccone, Fox Rothschild, LLP, Denver, CO

Justice Sandra Corbett, Alberta Court of Justice, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Hon. Regina Rodriguez, United States District Court for the District of Colorado, Denver, CO
Chief Justice Brian Boatright, Colorado Supreme Court, Denver, CO

To use, or not to use ChatGPT in the legal realm? By now, everyone knows the pros: efficiency and cost savings. What about the risks, though: liability, concerns with sharing confidential information, potential for bias, etc. Learn why law schools are teaching students how to use it, why some law firms are instituting policies prohibiting its use, and why client billing guidelines may someday require it to be used.

Ricardo Woods, Burr Forman LLP, Mobile, AL

Now more than ever technology, in reliance on data from various sources, can help reconstruct an accident when an incident was not witnessed or when witnesses prove unreliable. This presentation will educate attorneys on what types of data are relevant to request during discovery and how to build a foundation for this data (and, ultimately, the reconstruction) to be admissible at trial.

Edderek (Beau) Cole, Butler Snow, Ridgeland, MS
Charles A. Fox, PhD, ESi, Peachtree Corners, GA
Brian L. Mims, Tadano America Corporation, Willis, TX

As more product warning labels and instructions are being provided to consumers in digital format (via QR codes, YouTube videos, and even TikTok), juries are left to determine what is (or is not) compliant with the applicable standards. Learn more about the best practices for manufacturers to communicate with consumers about product warnings and instructions in this digital age.

Tara Troxel, S-E-A, Ltd., Columbus, OH
Mohamed Bakry, Marshall Dennehey, Philadelphia, PA
An Nguyen, S-E-A, Ltd., Columbus, OH

Get ready to mix, mingle, and make meaningful connections at the Premier Networking Reception. Join us on Thursday, February 8, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the vibrant Wynkoop Brewing Company. This is your chance to expand your professional network while enjoying the relaxed and inviting atmosphere of one of Denver's most iconic breweries. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to connect with fellow attorneys, exchange ideas, and pave the way for future collaborations. See you there!

Location: Wynkoop Brewing Company, 1634 18th St, Denver, CO 80202

Sponsored by: Bowman and Brooke LLP, Campbell Conroy & O'Neil PC, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Gordon Rees Skully Mansukhani LLP

Join colleagues and friends at selected restaurants (on your own). Sign up here.

Date: Friday, February 9–Saturday February 10
Pricing: See links below
Location: Winter Park Resort, 85 Parsenn Road, Winter Park, Colorado 80482

The DRI Products Committee invites you to join them in Winter Park for a weekend of skiing and fun following the DRI Product Liability Conference meeting in Denver. The Ski Weekend Committee is also planning an after ski gathering for Saturday, February 10. More information on that event as we get closer to the date. Please let us know if you are planning to join us, so we can reserve the perfect sized space. For questions, email Lynne Jones Blain at lblain@hccw.com.

Following are links for planning your trip! Buying in advance is recommended.

Transportation - Amtrak has a dedicated train that leaves from the station near our conference hotel. Avoid the hassle of driving – take the train!

Lodging - We have picked a hotel at the base of the mountain with relatively reasonable rates. However, there are lots of options on this site.

Equipment Rental - Rental includes: skis, poles, boots, and helmet; Or snowboard, boots, and helmet. Clothing is not included with rentals.

Lift Tickets - Lift tickets for all ages, ski or ride more than 3,000 acres of terrain at Winter Park Resort.