Thank you to our past sponsors for supporting diversity in MDL Leadership. We are now accepting new sponsorships.
Thursday, September 4, 2025
Registration Open
Time: 11:00am - 8:30pm
Shades of Mass Board Meeting (Private)
Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
SOM Board Members
Sponsor & SOM Board Reception - Invitation Only
Time: 3:00pm - 4:00pm
From Individual Cases to Bellwethers - The Art of Winning at Trial
Time: 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Moderator
Khaldoun Baghdadi, Khaldoun Baghdadi - Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger
Speaker
Rahul Ravipudi, Panish Shea Ravipudi
Private Event
Time: 5:00pm - 5:45pm
Federal Judges' Fireside Chat
Time: 5:45pm - 7:15pm
Moderator
Larry Taylor, The Cochran Firm
Speaker
Senior District Judge William H. Orrick, United States District Court, Northern California
Honorable J. Michelle Childs, United States Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
Honorable David Cunningham, Superior Court of Los Angeles County
Honorable Philip S. Gutierrez (Ret.), JAMS
Opening Reception & Sponsor Networking
Time: 7:30pm - 8:30pm
Spades for Justice
Time: 9:30pm - 12:00am
Location: TBA
Friday, September 5, 2025
Breakfast
Time: 8:30am - 10:00am
Sponsor Networking
Time: 9:00am - 9:50am
Welcome Video from Minority Leader Jeffries
Time: 9:50am - 10:00am
Speaker
Marlon Kimpson, Motley Rice
Litigating Sexual Assault Claims En Masse
Time: 10:00am - 10:45am
Speaker
Ben Crump, Ben Crump Law PLLC
Jessica Pride, The Pride Firm
Mary Liu, Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, PLLC
Courtney M. Thom, Manly, Stewart & Finaldi
Mass Tort Overview I: Hair Relaxer, NEC, Heavy Metal Baby Food and Ozempic/ GLP-1
Get up to speed on some of the most active dockets in mass tort litigation, including Hair Relaxer, NEC, Heavy Metal Baby Food, and Ozempic/GLP-1. This session will cover recent developments, legal strategies, and key considerations for firms navigating these high-impact cases.
Time: 10:45am - 11:30am
Moderator
Diandra "Fu" Debrosse, DiCello Levitt
Speaker
José Rojas, Levin, Rojas, Camassar & Reck LLC
Navan Ward, Beasley Allen Law Firm
Experts, Experts, Experts - Recent Wins and Challenges
Top litigators will unpack the strategic development and hurdles of high-stakes mass tort trials-from GLP-1/Ozempic and Elmiron product liability leadership to bellwether verdicts in earplug and testosterone therapy cases-delivering real-world insights on expert witness deployment and courtroom tactics.
Time: 11:30am - 12:15pm
Moderator
Juan Martinez, Morgan & Morgan
Speaker
Kenzo Kawanabe, Olson Grimsley Kawanabe Hinchcliff & Murray LLC
Kendra Y. Goldhirsch, Chaffin Lahuna, LLP
Carasusana Wall, Bullock Legal Group
Ibiere Seck, Seck Law Trial Lawyers
Keynote Panel Luncheon - Opening Remarks from Julia Duncan
Time: 12:15pm - 1:45pm
Speaker
Julia Duncan, American Association for Justice
Ben Crump, Ben Crump Law PLLC
Raúl Torrez, Attorney General of New Mexico
Aaron Ford, Attorney General of Nevada
Settlement! - Lien Resolution & Distribution Realities
From navigating complex lien negotiations to managing client expectations, this session breaks down the critical final steps of mass tort resolution. Experts will share practical guidance on distribution logistics, ethical obligations, and the often-overlooked challenges post-settlement.
Time: 1:45pm - 2:30pm
Moderator
Navan Ward, Beasley Allen Law Firm
Speaker
Shery Ramezanian, LitPRO
Brooke West Blake, EisnerAmper
Sindhu Daniel, Scott + Scott
Joel Caldwell, Cory Watson, P.C.
Building Bridges: Coalition Advocacy for Underrepresented Communities
ICE enforcement continues to disproportionately target Black and Brown communities through raids, detentions, and deportations. This session examines how legal and grassroots coalitions are confronting these practices, pushing back on unconstitutional tactics and working toward lasting immigration reform.
Time: 2:30pm - 3:15pm
Moderator
John Gomez, Gomez Trial Attorneys
Speaker
Michael Blake, Founder & CEO, KAIROS DEMOCRACY PROJECT & Atlas Strategy Group and Former New York Assembly Member & White House aide to President Obama
Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, California Federation of Labor Unions
15-Minute Break
Environmental Justice Mass Litigation - An Overview & Pending Cases
This session highlights mass tort cases at the intersection of ecological harm and community impact, focusing on equity, access, and accountability issues. Learn how environmental justice shapes litigation strategies and drives new waves of advocacy and legal action.
Time: 3:30pm - 4:15pm
Moderator
Gregory Cade, Environmental Litigation Group
Speaker
Emily Acosta, Wagstaff Law Firm
Daniel R. Flynn, DiCello Levitt
Verónica N. Vázquez, NSPR Law Services, LLC
Shreedhar Patel, Simon Greenstone Panatier
Simona Farrise Best, Farrise Firm, P.C.
Mass Tort Overview II: Depo Provera, Camp Lejeune, Social Media, CPAP, Ultra Processed Foods
An in-depth look at several active and emerging mass torts-including Depo Provera, Camp Lejeune, Social Media addiction claims, CPAP devices, and ultra-processed food litigation. Panelists will examine current legal theories, challenges, and what's on the horizon for each docket.
Time: 4:15pm - 5:00pm
Moderator
Previn Warren, Motley Rice LLC
Speaker
Ava Marie Cavaco, Nigh Goldenberg Raso & Vaughn
Carl Solomon, Solomon Law Group, LLC
Ron Austin, Ron Austin Law
Clinton Richardson, Beasley Allen
Sponsor Networking & Evening Reception
Time: 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Private Event
Time: 5:45pm - 6:45pm
Buffet Dinner
Keynote / State of the Union
Time: 6:45pm - 8:15pm
Keynote
Ebony M. Thompson, City Solicitor, Baltimore City Department of Law
An Evening with Miguel Sponsored by LitPro
We told you this year would be different. This isn't just a party. It is an unforgettable night in L.A. with a private performance by Grammy-winning artist Miguel.
Time: 8:30pm - 10:30pm
Saturday, September 6, 2025
Breakfast
Time: 8:00am - 9:00am
Litigation Funding - Realities, Proposed Rules and Ethical Dilemmas
This session explores the evolving landscape of third-party litigation funding, including emerging regulations, ethical considerations, and practical realities for plaintiffs and firms. Hear from experts navigating the fine line between financial opportunity and professional responsibility.
Time: 9:00am - 9:45am
Moderator
LaRuby May, May Jung
Speaker
Andy Rogers, Shield Legal
John Gomez, Gomez Trial Attorneys
Ruth Rizkalla, Carlson Law Firm
Michael Kelley, Parker Poe
Class Action and Antitrust MDLs - An Overview
This session provides a practical overview of emerging and ongoing class action and antitrust multidistrict litigation (MDLs), including trends in certification, settlements, and coordination. Attendees will learn how these complex cases are structured and litigated across industries.
Time: 9:45am - 10:30am
Moderator
Marlon Kimpson, Motley Rice LLC
Speaker
Sabita Soneji, Tycko Zavareei LLP
Phong-Chau G. Nguyen, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP
George C. Aguilar, Robbins LLP
15-Minute Break
Judicial Panel - Mass Tort Challenges - From First Day Orders to Resolution
Judges with mass tort experience discuss the procedural and practical hurdles that arise throughout the life cycle of a case, from initial filings and pretrial coordination to settlement and resolution. This session provides key insights into judicial expectations, courtroom efficiency, and best practices for case management.
Time: 10:45am - 12:00pm
Moderator
Honorable Randa M. Trapp (Ret.), JAMS
Speaker
Senior District Judge Edward M. Chen, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
Honorable J. Michelle Childs, United States Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
Honorable David Cunningham, Superior Court of Los Angeles County
Larry Taylor, The Cochran Firm
Sponsor Networking
Time: 12:00pm - 12:30pm
Keynote Panel Luncheon - Opening Remarks from Sharon McGowan
Join us for a special keynote luncheon featuring a panel of State Attorneys General discussing their roles in public health, mass tort enforcement, and national litigation trends. Hear firsthand how AG offices collaborate across jurisdictions and shape the legal landscape.
Time: 12:30pm - 1:45pm
Bellwether Trials - From Selection to Verdict
This session unpacks the lifecycle of bellwether trials, from the selection of cases to the implications of verdicts for broader resolution strategies. Learn how these trials shape mass tort outcomes, influence settlement posture, and impact future litigation.
Time: 1:45pm - 2:30pm
Moderator
Kimberly Perkins, Perkins Trial Lawyers LLC
Speaker
Shreedhar R. Patel, Simon Greenstone Panatier
José Rojas, Levin, Rojas, Camassar & Reck LLC
Maria Fleming, Napoli Shkolnik PLLC
Aigner Kolom, Beasley Allen
Federal Rules & Supreme Court/Appellate Developments Impacting Mass Tort Cases
Stay ahead with this timely discussion on Supreme Court and appellate developments and proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure affecting mass tort practice. Panelists will break down what is on the table and what it could mean for litigators nationwide.
Time: 2:30pm - 3:45pm
Moderator
Navan Ward, Beasley Allen Law Firm
Speaker
Deepak Gupta, Gupta Wessler
Sue Steinman, American Association for Justice
15-Minute Break
Special Keynote
Time: 4:00pm - 4:45pm
Keynote
Rob Bonta, Attorney General of California
State Court / Federal MDL Court Coordination - Lessons Learned & Strategies
Explore the complexities of coordinating parallel litigation across state and federal courts in mass tort cases. This session covers key lessons, communication strategies, and best practices for ensuring consistency and efficiency across jurisdictions.
Time: 4:45pm - 5:30pm
Moderator
Priscilla Jimenez, Kline & Specter PC
Speaker
Michael Blakely, The Blakely Firm
EricaRae Garcia, Weitz & Luxenberg
California Fires Litigation
Time: 5:30pm - 6:15pm
Speaker
Steven Lopez, GibbsMura
Diandra "Fu" Debrosse, DiCello Levitt
Closing Ceremony
Time: 6:15pm - 6:45pm
Shades of Mass Closing Party - Lucky Strike Bowling at L.A. LIVE
Join us Saturday evening for a private event at Lucky Strike Bowling at LA Live to unwind after a great conference; you won't want to miss it!
Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Have a Question?
Contact conference@shadesofmass.org if you have any questions.