Agenda
Fifth Annual Shades of Mass Conference
Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill | October 8-10, 2026
The Fifth Annual Shades of Mass Conference is here. Join the movement to elevate representative leadership in cases that shape the nation.
Agenda subject to change
Thursday, October 8, 2026
Registration Open
Time: 8:30am - 8:30pm
Lunch
Come grab something to eat, say hello, and connect with everyone before programming gets underway!
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location: Regency A
Speaker
Navan Ward(opens in new tab), Beasley Allen Law Firm
Mass Torts 101 - What is a Mass Tort?
Introduce the fundamentals of mass tort litigation by defining what qualifies as a mass tort, structuring cases, and clarifying how leaders drive and distribute common benefit compensation.
Time: 1:00pm - 1:45pm
Location: Regency Ballroom A
Moderator:
LaRuby May(opens in new tab), May Jung Law
Speakers
Aigner Kolom(opens in new tab), Beasley Allen Law Firm
Breanna Alexander(opens in new tab), Wagstaff Law Firm
Mass Torts 201 - Strategies for Getting a Mass Tort Practice off the Ground
This session focuses on the operational foundations of a mass tort practice, including client intake, case vetting, communication, and risk mitigation for statute-of-limitations issues.
Time: 1:50pm - 3:05pm
Location: Regency Ballroom A
Moderator
M.J. Blakely(opens in new tab), The Blakely Firm
Speakers
Tiffany Carpenter(opens in new tab), Cory Watson
Clinton Richardson(opens in new tab), Beasley Allen Law Firm
Chelsie Green(opens in new tab), Levin Papantonio
Maria Fleming(opens in new tab), Napoli Shkolnik
Mass Torts 301: MDL Leadership & Why It Matters
Explain how leaders take charge of MDLs, fulfill key responsibilities, and strategically guide cases to shape outcomes.
Time: 3:20pm - 4:20pm
Location: Regency Ballroom A
Moderator
Diandra "Fu" Debrosse(opens in new tab), DiCello Levitt LLP
Speakers
Navan Ward(opens in new tab), Beasley Allen Law Firm
Ben Crump(opens in new tab), Ben Crump Law
Sponsor Networking at The Hyatt
Time: 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Location: District B
Opening Reception
Time: 6:00pm - 800pm
Location: DiCello Levitt Rooftop Terrace
Spades of Justice
Time: 9:30pm - 12:00am
Location: Capitol A
Friday, October 9, 2026
Breakfast
Time: 8:00am - 9:00am
Location: Capitol A/B
Legal Funding
Unpack litigation funding by structuring deals, assessing risks, and showing how funding can accelerate case development and law firm expansion.
Time: 9:15am - 10:00am
Location: Regency Ballroom A
Moderator
Ben Crump(opens in new tab), Ben Crump Law
Speakers
Andy Rogers(opens in new tab), Shield Legal
Larry Taylor(opens in new tab), The Cochran Firm
Mass Tort Case Updates (Part 1) - Chemical Hair Relaxer, Infant Formula NEC, Camp Lejeune, Kratom, Tylenol, and Ultra Processed Foods Litigations
Deliver a timely update on key mass tort dockets, highlighting new developments in chemical exposure, pharmaceutical, and consumer product litigation.
Time: 10:00am - 11:15am
Location: Regency Ballroom A
Moderator
Carl Solomon(opens in new tab), Solomon Law Group, LLC
Speakers
Navan Ward(opens in new tab), Beasley Allen Law
Kendra Goldhirsch(opens in new tab), Chaffin Luhana
Diandra "Fu" Debrosse(opens in new tab), DiCello Levitt LLP
Mass Tort Settlements, Lien Resolution and Settlement Administration Strategies for Better Client Outcomes
Provide focused strategies for negotiating settlements, resolving liens, and administering claims to secure efficient, effective outcomes for clients.
Time: 11:20am - 12:20pm
Location: Regency Ballroom A
Moderator
Shreedhar Patel(opens in new tab), Simon Greenstone Panatier, PC
Speakers
Shery Ramezanian(opens in new tab), LitPRO LLC
Samira Bode, Bailey Glasser, LLP
Brooke West Blake(opens in new tab), EisnerAmper
Salvatore Badala(opens in new tab), Napoli Shkolnik
Lunch with Keynote Speaker Cory Booker
Time: 12:35pm - 1:50pm
Location: Capitol A/B
Class Action and Environmental Law MDLs – An Overview
Explore complex MDLs in class action and environmental law by charting how attorneys develop, litigate, and resolve these cases.
Time: 2:05pm - 3:05pm
Location: Regency Ballroom A
Moderator
Marlon Kimpson(opens in new tab), Motley Rice LLC
Speakers
Coral Odiot-Rivera(opens in new tab), Napoli Shkolnik
Larry Golston(opens in new tab), Beasley Allen Law Firm
Abou B. Amara(opens in new tab), Gustafson Gluek, PLLC
Gregory Cade(opens in new tab), Environmental Litigation Group
Fueling Growth: Intake and Lead Generation in Mass Tort Cases
Explore how firms actively source and qualify cases, energize lead generation strategy, cultivate referral networks, and track marketing performance for impactful results.
Time: 3:10pm - 4:10pm
Location: Regency Ballroom A
Moderator
Ron Austin(opens in new tab), Ron Austin Law
Speaker
Sindhu Daniel(opens in new tab), Daniel Law Firm
Sara Williams, Singleton Schreiber
Fireside Chat with Judges
Engage federal judges in a candid discussion, revealing trends in complex litigation, decision-making, and practical tips for attorneys appearing before the bench.
Time: 4:30pm - 5:45pm
Location: Regency Ballroom A
Moderator
Honorable Vanessa D. Gilmore (Ret.)(opens in new tab), JAMS
Speakers
Honorable J. Michelle Childs(opens in new tab), U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
Honorable Darrin P. Gayles(opens in new tab), U.S. District Judge, Southern District of Florida
Honorable Trina L. Thompson, U.S. District Judge, Northern District of California
Honorable Clifton B. Newman (Ret.)(opens in new tab), JAMS
Sponsor Networking & Cocktail Reception with Hearty Food Stations
Time: 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: District B
Evening Entertainment - Rick Ross
Time: 7:30pm - 10:00pm
Location: Capitol View at 400 Rooftop Terrace
Saturday, October 10, 2026
Breakfast
Time: 8:00am - 9:00am
Location: Capitol A/B
Litigating Mass Tort Cases (Part I)
Guide participants through case litigation by creating fact sheets, taking depositions, and using strategies to build strong evidentiary records.
Time: 9:00am - 10:15am
Location: Regency Ballroom A
Moderator
Tricia "CK" Hoffler(opens in new tab), CK Hoffler Firm
Speakers
Larry Rogers(opens in new tab), PowersRogers
Emily Acosta(opens in new tab), Wagstaff Law Firm
Sejal Brahmbhatt(opens in new tab), Williams Hart & Bounds
Tope Leyimu(opens in new tab), Motely Rice
MDL Judicial Panel
Hear directly from the judges presiding over complex cases, what do they expect in the courtroom, how do they handle case management, and what key insights should every attorney bring to MDL proceedings?
Time: 10:20am - 11:20am
Moderator
Honorable Randa M. Trapp (Ret.)(opens in new tab), JAMS
Speakers
Honorable Clifton B. Newman (Ret.)(opens in new tab), JAMS
Honorable Darrin P. Gayles, U.S. District Judge, Southern District of Florida
Larry Taylor(opens in new tab), The Cochran Firm
Honorable Phil Solages
Lunch
Time: 11:50am - 1:30pm
Location: Capitol A/B
Speaker
Linda Lipsen(opens in new tab), American Association for Justice
Litigating Mass Tort Cases (Part 2)
Take your litigation strategy to the next level with a deep dive into advanced tactics. What challenges and opportunities do expert testimony, depositions, and appellate strategy create for your complex cases?
Time: 1:45pm - 3:00pm
Location: Regency Ballroom A
Moderator
Diandra "Fu" Debrosse(opens in new tab), DiCello Levitt LLP
Speakers
Deepak Gupta(opens in new tab), Gupta Wessler
Carasusana Wall(opens in new tab), Bullock Legal Group
Mass Tort Case Updates (Part 2): Social Media Addiction, Depo-Provera, Talc, GLP 1-RA/Ozempic, CA Wildfires, and Video Game Addiction/Roblox Litigations
Present a forward-looking update on emerging mass tort dockets by spotlighting new developments in pharmaceutical, product liability, and technology-related litigation.
Time: 3:55pm - 5:10pm
Location: Regency Ballroom A
Speakers
Ava Cavaco(opens in new tab), Lockridge Grindal Nauen LLP
Danielle Mason(opens in new tab), Singleton Schreiber
Andre Mura(opens in new tab), Gibbs Mura
Closing Event - Potomac River Dinner Cruise
Location: National Elite
Have a Question?
Contact conference@shadesofmass.org if you have any questions.