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Agenda

Fourth Annual Shades of Mass Conference

JW Marriott L.A. Live | Los Angeles, CA | September 4-6, 2025

The Fourth Annual Shades of Mass Conference is here. Join the movement to elevate representative leadership in cases that shape the nation.

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.