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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.

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Agenda subject to change

Thursday, October 8, 2026

Registration Open

Time: 8:30am - 8:30pm

Shades of Mass Board Meeting (Private)

Time: 9:00am - 11:00am

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, May Jung Law

Speakers
Aigner Kolom, Beasley Allen Law Firm
Breanna Alexander, 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, The Blakely Firm

Speakers
Tiffany Carpenter, Cory Watson
Chelsie Green, Levin Papantonio
Maria Fleming, 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, DiCello Levitt LLP

Speakers
Navan Ward, Beasley Allen Law Firm
Ben Crump, Ben Crump Law

Sponsor Networking at The Hyatt

Time: 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Location: District B

Opening Reception

Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Location: DiCello Levitt Rooftop Terrace

 

Spades for Justice

Shades of Mass proudly supports the Hawkins Family Fund.  The tournament is presented in partnership with May Jung LLP and their co-sponsors for the event - Milestone and Rubris.  Its story began long before LaRuby May and Je Yon Jung became law partners.  Their friendship started over a game of Spades, where friendly competition around the card table grew into a lasting friendship and, ultimately, a professional partnership.  Learn more about the Hawkins Family Fund, give to the cause, and register for the event via the sections below.
A minimum of $50 donation per person is strongly suggested to participate in the tournament.
 
 
Time: 9:30pm - 12:00am
Location: Capitol A
 

Friday, October 9, 2026

Breakfast - Remarks from Lauren Barnes with Public Justice

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
Kimberly Perkins, Perkins Trial Lawyers(opens in new

Speakers
Andy Rogers, Shield Legal
Ben Crump, Ben Crump Law

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, Solomon Law Group, LLC

Speakers
Navan Ward, Beasley Allen Law
Jackalyn Olinger Rochelle, Bailey Glasser LLP
Kendra Goldhirsch, Chaffin Luhana
Diandra "Fu" Debrosse, 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, Simon Greenstone Panatier, PC

Speakers
Michelle Prince, LitPRO LLC
Samira Bode, Bailey Glasser, LLP
Brooke West Blake, EisnerAmper
Salvatore Badala, Napoli Shkolnik

Lunch with Keynote Speaker Cory Booker

Time: 12:35pm - 1:50pm
Location: Capitol A/B

Moderator
Navan Ward, Beasley Allen Law Firm

Speakers
Linda Lipsen, American Association for Justice
Gregory Cade, Environmental Law Group
U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ)(opens in new ta                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Class Action and 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, Motley Rice LLC

Speakers
Coral Odiot-Rivera, Napoli Shkolnik
Larry Golston, Beasley Allen Law Firm
Abou B. Amara, Gustafson Gluek, PLLC
Gregory Cade, Environmental Law 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
Emily Acosta, Wagstaff Law Firm

Speaker
LaRuby May, May Jung Law
Jessie Hoerman, SimplyConvert
Sindhu Daniel, 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.), JAMS

Speakers
Honorable J. Michelle Childs, 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.), JAMS
Honorable Rukhsanah L. Singh, United States Magistrate Judge, District of New Jersey

Sponsor Networking & Cocktail Reception with Hearty Food Stations

Time: 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: District B

Evening Entertainment - Raheem DeVaughn

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, CK Hoffler Firm

Speakers
Larry Rogers, PowersRogers
Emily Acosta, Wagstaff Law Firm
Sejal Brahmbhatt, Williams Hart & Bounds
Tope Leyimu, Motley 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 - 11:35am

Moderator
Honorable Randa  M. Trapp (Ret.), JAMS

Speakers
Honorable Clifton B. Newman (Ret.), JAMS
Honorable Darrin P. Gayles, U.S. District Judge, Southern District of Florida
Larry Taylor, The Cochran Firm
Honorable Phil Solages

Lunch

Time: 11:50am - 1:30pm
Location: Capitol A/B

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, DiCello Levitt LLP

Speakers
Deepak Gupta, Gupta Wessler
Clinton Richardson, Beasley Allen Law Firm
Cara Wall, Bullock Legal Group

Mass Tort Case Updates (Part 2): Social Media Addiction, Depo-Provera, Talc, GLP 1-RA, 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

Moderator
Ron Austin, Ron Austin Law

Speakers
Ava Cavaco, Lockridge Grindal Nauen LLP
Danielle Mason, Singleton Schreiber
Andre Mura, Gibbs Mura

Closing Event - Potomac River Dinner Cruise

We’re closing out our 5th Annual Conference with a private evening on the Potomac aboard the yacht-style National Elite!
 
Join us for dinner, drinks, music, and incredible views of D.C. as we celebrate another Shades of Mass Conference together. The cruise is complimentary for registered conference attendees, but space is limited, so please RSVP if you plan to join us.
 
Time: 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: National Elite
 

Have a Question?

Contact conference@shadesofmass.org if you have any questions.