On-Demand Options

Prior to his service at TVA, Mr. Savage was in private survey practice for 10 years specializing in dispute resolution and expert witness services. He has surveyed several disputed state boundaries to resolve jurisdictional conflicts. Mr. Savage is an adjunct professor at Cleveland State Community College where he teaches courses in boundary law, geodesy, GIS, and surveying fundamentals. He has researched and retraced the historical surveys of Henry David Thoreau and has published several articles on the subject. Mr. Savage teaches exam review and continuing education seminars at various state and local conferences across the country.

Mr. Barnard assists clients in many areas of civil litigation with an emphasis on serious personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death. He is a graduate of Texas Christian University and the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. Prior to joining civil practice, he worked as an assistant prosecutor in Platte County, Missouri, where he was able to grow his passion for the courtroom by taking several jury trials to verdict. Mr. Barnard also supervised Platte County’s Mental Health Court treatment program and served as the main author and attorney for the creation of the county’s first diversion program. He currently serves as Chair of the CLE Committees for the Missouri Bar Young Lawyers Section Council and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Board of Directors. Mr. Barnard is also a proud member of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys.

Mr. Crompton specializes in complex civil cases across the United States. He has led numerous large-scale litigations, obtaining significant verdicts, settlements, and results on behalf of his clients. A native of Herrin, Illinois, he grew up in a hardworking, union family. Mr. Crompton’s family and close family friends have worked in heavy, dangerous industries, trades and services including railroading, agriculture, mining, natural resources, manufacturing, construction, labor, maintenance, machinery, transportation and trucking, towing/road service, electrical linemen, structural/steel, teaching, and engineering. He has successfully taken on some of the largest, most aggressive corporations and industries, including pharmaceutical, agricultural, asbestos, petroleum/oil, banking, automotive, and manufacturing. Mr. Crompton’s cases have been featured in various media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Time, CNBC, MSNBC, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, Law360, New York Times, LA Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Missouri Lawyers Media, St. Louis Post Dispatch, St. Louis Business Journal, and the St. Louis Record, to name a few. Additionally, his legal writings, teachings, and materials have been published in and widely circulated by well-known industry publications. He has received numerous awards and recognitions, including a Martindale-Hubbell preeminent AV rating (5.0/5.0), a Top 100 Trial Lawyer, in the Global Directory of Who’s Who (Top Lawyers), a designation by Super Lawyers, and being ranked in the top 5% of private practice attorneys nationwide by Best Lawyers in America.

Ms. Crompton is an experienced trial attorney and dedicated advocate for justice. Her passion to try cases led her to join the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s office prosecuting some of the most serious and egregious offenses in St. Louis City. Ms. Crompton tried over 40 jury trials and countless bench trials during her 11+ year tenure, having an impressive record of felony convictions. It was during her time there that she sought justice on behalf of many women and children who were survivors of sexual crimes and domestic violence. Standing up and giving a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves is the reason she chose to attend law school. Ms. Crompton continued her career at a woman owned plaintiffs law firm concentrating her practice in the areas of catastrophic trucking cases, product liability, wrongful death, medical negligence, employment litigation, and personal injury. Just prior to joining the firm, she operated in a business role as Director and Counsel for a private legal services company. There she managed all services to facilitate resolution of civil litigation matters. Additionally, she was accountable for training and management of employees and independent contractors, marketing, sales, purchasing, budgeting, and ultimately viability. She also created and managed a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) program offering insight on a wide range of legal topics to lawyers and other professionals across the country. Ms. Crompton is committed to assisting many causes and organizations including the Missouri Bar and local affinity bar associations. She is a past President of the Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater St. Louis (WLA) and currently serves as Vice President for the Missouri Bar. Ms. Crompton is actively involved with many committees furthering the missions of access to justice, women in the profession, and educational outreach including past Chair of the Government Lawyers Committee, Chair of the CLE Committee and co-Chair of the ADR Committee. She serves as an adjunct professor of law at St. Louis University School of Law teaching courses on Mediation and Trial Advocacy.

Mr. Kurtz practice includes wrongful death personal injury, products’ liability, medical malpractice probate law, elder law, wills and trusts, business and tax law, and real estate. His personal injury practice allows him to help people who have been seriously injured or lost a loved one in an accident. Mr. Kurtz has extensive trial experience and works hard to get clients the compensation they deserve. He is admitted to practice in Missouri, Kansas, and before the U.S. Federal Courts. Mr. Kurtz earned his A.B. degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia, his M.A. degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and his J.D. degree from the University of Missouri Columbia School of Law.

Ms. Longfellow is a civil trial lawyer with more than 20 years of experience in civil litigation. She is admitted to practice in both Missouri and Kansas. Ms. Longfellow regularly defends companies and individuals in lawsuits in state and federal courts, including class action litigation. She also routinely defends employers facing charges of discrimination filed with local, state and federal agencies. Ms. Longfellow’s clients include companies in a variety of different industries, including real estate development, entertainment districts, construction, as well as the retail and service sectors.
In addition to her litigation practice, she regularly trains, counsels, and advises her clients on various employment issues, workplace policies, and compliance with local, state and federal laws. Ms. Longfellow understands the importance of providing practical and preventative advice to assist her clients in assessing and minimizing their risks in a cost-effective and efficient manner. She regularly prepares policies, employee handbooks, employment agreements, including non-compete, non-solicitation and confidentiality agreements, as well as severance agreements for her clients. Ms. Longfellow is a frequent speaker on a wide range of employment-related topics both regionally and nationally.

In over 35 years of practice, Mr. Monsees has handled cases in over 20 states. In the past, he worked for law firms specializing in defense of insurance companies and product manufacturers. That experience now helps him understand his opponent, since he restricts his practice to representing victims of wrongdoing. Mr. Monsees is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he attended both undergraduate and law school. A Kansas City, Missouri native, he returned home to practice law upon graduating law school in 1981, where he graduated in the top 10% of his law school class and was awarded the distinction of “Order of the Coif.” In 2011, he was honored to become a member, by invitation, to the American Board of Trial Advocates, the most prestigious organization of trial attorneys in the United States. In 2021, Mr. Monsees was recognized by Missouri Lawyer’s Media, the publisher of the primary legal publication for Missouri attorneys, as an “Icon” of the profession, recognizing his career achievements in the practice of law. A year later, he was similarly honored by the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association as a “Dean of the Trial Bar.” In 2013, Mr. Monsees published Preparing For a Personal Injury Case, a quick and comprehensive guide to the most commonly asked questions about personal injury cases and what to expect. It continues as a solid reference to the kinds of questions clients can and should ask as they choose an attorney and venture into personal injury litigation.

Mr. Uhrig’s firm focuses on auto and truck crashes, personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, nursing home abuse, and workers’ compensation claims. He is a renowned personal injury attorney with over 24 years of experience in representing clients who have been harmed due to the negligence of others. His unwavering commitment to justice and his compassionate approach to client care have made him a trusted advocate in the legal community. Mr. Uhrig earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri after completing his undergraduate studies also at Mizzou. Early in his career, Mr. Uhrig worked with Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, where he honed his skills in litigation and victim advocacy. This foundation laid the groundwork for his successful career in personal injury law.

Mr. Simpson founded Gradelta Engineering in 2020 with the intent to help clients better understand the combination of geotechnical and structural engineering that he has worked with for the past 20 years. He earned his B.S.C.E. and M.S.C.E. degrees from Georgia Institute of Technology. He currently provides engineering services to contractors and fellow engineers for earth structure pricing, along with the plans and calculations needed for construction. He frequently consults with clients regarding the optimal structure type and location on the construction site to minimize risk and maximize useable space. He also works in the education sector providing not just seminars such as this one, but also acting as a subject matter expert creating study guide and test prep content for the NCEES Professional Civil Engineer exam. Mr. Simpson has also worked with lawyers and insurance companies during forensic investigation and lawsuits surrounding retaining walls and slope failures. His hope is that through the instructional services that he currently provides, slopes will remain stable and retaining wall failure will be eliminated.

Mr. D’Arcy’s primary practice areas include commercial litigation, construction litigation which he litigates in federal and state courts, and in arbitrations. He is a proponent of resolving matters early in mediation and through alternative dispute resolution if possible so clients can focus on their companies and not on litigation. Additionally, Mr. D’Arcy crafts and reviews construction contracts so that clients are protected on the front end of projects. He has over 18 years of litigation experience. Mr. D’Arcy graduated cum laude from Loyola Law School and now teaches a Construction and Surety Law class there as an adjunct professor. He has also presented numerous lectures on construction and surety issues over the last 18 years and he continues to speak on these subjects on a regular basis. Mr. D’Arcy is licensed to practice law in all Louisiana State courts; the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Western and Middle Districts of Louisiana; the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals; the United States Second Circuit Court of Appeals; the United States Court of Federal Claims; and other federal district courts across the country. 

Ms. Lombardo has successfully litigated matters before the state and federal courts of New Jersey and New York, as well as the American Arbitration Association, with a focus on construction matters. Her experience in commercial litigation and construction litigation is unique in that she represents both plaintiffs and defendants. She was co-lead counsel in a three-year long arbitration representing a major university in a claim involving extensive and complex design and construction defects, which resulted in a multimillion-dollar award in client’s favor and the arbitrator striking down a limitation of liability clause. Unlike most litigators in the construction arena, Ms. Lombardo also has experience drafting and negotiating contracts. She has worked with owners, contractors, subcontractors, and designers on contracts for projects involving academic centers, public schools, laboratory facilities, office buildings, energy facilities, public-private projects, and building additions of varying sizes. Ms. Lombardo works with the firm’s longstanding corporate clients in addition to the Northeast region’s top universities, retailers, and professionals in the design and construction field. Ms. Lombardo is currently on the American Arbitration Association Panel of Construction Arbitrators and a member of the Roster of Mediators. She has also been included on the New Jersey Superior Court Roster of Mediators, where she has mediated a variety of civil matters. Ms. Lombardo earned her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Montclair State University, and her J.D. degree, summa cum laude, from Rutgers School of Law.

Mr. Pence is a shareholder in the Tampa, Florida office of Carlton Fields where he is a member of the Construction Practice Group and the Real Estate and Finance Practice Group. He is Board Certified in Construction Law by The Florida Bar and his practice focuses primarily on representing developers, owners, contractors, subcontractors and design professionals in the preparation, negotiation, modification and administration of all types of contracts and forms related to construction and development transactions. Mr. Pence’s practice also includes reviewing and advising clients with respect to insurance and risk management issues. He is a member of the Florida Bar’s Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section, serving as a past chair of both the Construction Law Committee and the Insurance & Surety Committee. Mr. Pence is currently the chair or the Construction Law Board Certification Review Course. He also is a member of the ABA RPTE Section where he serves as the chair of the Commercial Real Estate Transactions Group. Mr. Pence is a frequent writer and speaker on various matters related to construction contracting and insurance/risk management issues.

Mr. Scotti focuses his practice in the areas of construction law, complex commercial litigation and real estate with an emphasis in construction litigation, construction contracts and project counseling. He has represented owners, developers, architects, engineers, EPC contractors, general contractors and subcontractors on a wide variety of construction projects including power plants, steel plants, dams, bridges, roads, aerial tramways, hospitals, prisons, sports stadiums, schools, churches, office buildings, public housing, mixed-use developments and housing developments. Mr. Scotti has extensive experience in drafting and negotiating design and construction contracts and in providing project counseling regarding dispute avoidance. He has represented clients regarding both domestic and international disputes in federal and state trial and appellate courts, the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, the Pennsylvania Board of Claims, the International Chamber of Commerce, the International Centre for Dispute Resolution and the American Arbitration Association. Mr. Scotti has concentrated his practice in the area of construction law for over 30 years.

Mr. Vicknair worked as a software engineer for a major medical manufacturer and as an electrical engineer for a major chemical manufacturer prior to entering law school. He graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a BS degree in both Electrical and Biomedical Engineering and obtained his law degree from Loyola Law School in New Orleans. Mr. Vicknair has taught Louisiana Construction Law at Loyola law school as an assistant adjunct professor. He is licensed to practice law in the states of Louisiana, Texas and New York and is a licensed patent attorney. Mr. Vicknair regularly uses his prior work experience as a part of his legal practice. He is one of the founding partners at D’Arcy | Vicknair, L.L.C. His primary practice areas include construction law, construction litigation, surety law, and all phases of intellectual property, including litigation, prosecution, and transactional matters. Mr. Vicknair also practices in commercial litigation and claims related to construction defects, payment disputes, subcontractor claims, owner claims, and claims by general contractors. He lectures on construction law topics such as Louisiana lien law and general Louisiana construction law as well as intellectual property law topics, including trademarks, patents and copyrights.

Mr. Carter, founder and owner of Carter Custom Construction, has been transforming homes and outdoor spaces for over 26 years. Raised in White Bear Lake, MN, his passion for construction began at the young age of 18 when he started building decks and porches. In 2008, he officially launched Carter Custom Construction, and since then, he has designed and built thousands of decks, porches, kitchens, bathrooms, and more. Known for his attention to detail and commitment to quality, Mr. Carter has become a trusted name in the construction industry. His company’s reputation is built on a foundation of craftsmanship, customer satisfaction, and innovative design. From concept to completion, Mr. Carter and his team deliver projects that not only enhance the beauty of homes but also improve the way clients live in them.

Dr. Hoskins earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland. He also received his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland in 2011 with an emphasis on building egress. Dr. Hoskins spent one year working for Arup on projects primarily dealing with life safety design and people movement. He then spent two years working for the National Institute of Standards and Technology working on projects dealing with building evacuations and emergency messaging. He is a registered fire protection engineer in the state of Oklahoma. Professor Hoskins is the chair of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) working group that developed a research roadmap for fire protection and a member of the Human Behavior in Fire Task group for SFPE. He serves on multiple code and standards committees. He has authored more than 20 articles related to building evacuations and human behavior in fire.

Professor Opfer teaches coursework in construction management, cost control, cost estimating, structural design, and facility systems (MEP design). He is also an industry consultant on design and construction issues, construction safety/defects, methods/materials, and production issues. Professor Opfer has been a consultant to numerous ENR Top 600 Design Firms, Top 400 Contractors, and Fortune Top 500 Corporations. He received his B.S. in Building Theory, B.A. in Business, and B.A. degree in Economics, all from Washington State University. Subsequently he received his M.S. in Management (MBA) from Purdue University and his P.D. in Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Professor Opfer has been involved as an estimator, lead estimator, chief estimator, and estimating consultant on billions of dollars of construction projects over his career. 

Dr. McKelvey is the director of the Geotechnical Design Division at Earth Engineering Inc. in East Norriton, Pennsylvania. He is a registered professional engineer (P.E.) in California, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Dr. McKelvey is also a Diplomate (D.GE) of the Academy of Geo-Professionals and a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (F.ASCE).

Dr. McKelvey has extensive experience in geotechnical engineering including site assessment and field investigations, deep and shallow foundation design for buildings, bridges, and other structures, retaining wall design, embankment stability, mechanically stabilized soil structures, and subsurface hydrology.

He also has significant experience in mitigating heavy construction claims and in litigation support pertaining to impacted heavy construction projects. Dr. McKelvey has also handled construction support and construction quality assurance projects. His environmental engineering experience includes technical contributions to the remediation of many Superfund sites and over 50 landfill design projects.

Dr. McKelvey has published over 30 technical papers in journals, conference proceedings and trade magazines. He is the past chair for the Delaware Valley Geo-Institute (DVGI) and is a voting member in ASTM committees Soil and Rock (D18), and Geosynthetics (D35). He is an editorial board member of the Geotechnical Testing Journal. Dr. McKelvey also serves on two Geo-Institute committees: Earth Structures and Embankments and Dams. For the latter, he is a member of the subcommittee on landslide risk assessment.

Mr. Westbrook designed his own solar home in north Texas in 1996, which won the Energy Value Housing Award for Innovative Design. It still ranks as one of the most efficient homes in Texas. While serving as Sustainable Development Manager at Texas Instruments International Facilities, Mr. Westbrook was the LEED AP for the 1.1 million square foot Texas Instruments factory, which was the first LEED Gold semiconductor factory in the world. He led the effort to improve the energy and water efficiency of TI’s 20 million square feet of existing global facilities. They were able to double the company energy and water efficiency in less than 10 years. In 2012, Mr. Westbrook was named a Senior Fellow for the US State Department’s Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas program. He visited Honduras, Bolivia, Columbia, and Peru where he worked with governments, universities, and industry on efficiency and renewable energy. Mr. Westbrook received his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1982.

Mr. Iliff has been a certified building official for 10+ years serving communities in Texas, Illinois, and Missouri. He has taught classes on the residential, building, and property maintenance codes with a focus on preparing students for certification exams and effective administration. Mr. Iliff has 30+ years of experience as a city planner, floodplain manager, and code enforcement officer. He earned an undergraduate degree in Urban Planning and Development from Ball State University.

Mr. Horton has provided technician training and continuing education seminars for the land surveying industry since 2005.

Mr. Horton served in the US Air Force and with the Illinois Department of Transportation in planning, design, construction, surveying and maintenance of civil engineering projects including commercial structures, airfields, utility systems and highways. He joined the full-time faculty at Parkland College in Champaign, IL, where he taught land surveying and construction management courses for 25 years. He founded the land surveying associate degree program at Parkland College in 2001.

Having retired from full-time teaching, Mr. Horton has joined Farnsworth Group Inc. as a part-time senior project land surveyor. You can reach him at todd@meridiangeospatial.com.

Dr. Michael Liptak is a senior ecologist at EnviroScience, Inc, where he specializes in wetland ecology, wetland restoration, and mitigation wetland design. Dr. Liptak earned a B.S. degree in Biology at the University of Toledo and a Ph.D. degree in Environmental Science at Ohio State University under the noted wetland ecologist Dr. William Mitsch. He has over 25 years of experience in wetlands research and consulting and is a Certified Senior Ecologist (Ecological Society of America). His primary responsibilities at EnviroScience Inc. include wetland mitigation planning, wetland assessments and delineations, technical report preparation, and permitting. Dr. Liptak is a member of the Society of Wetlands Scientists and the Ecological Society of America, and regularly gives seminars on wetland issues and regulations.

Mr. Boecker is an Architect Emeritus from both the State of Ohio and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and a graduate of The Ohio State University. Having been employed in Ohio, Florida, and Missouri, he has worked on projects of many types in various parts of this country and overseas, consulting in accessibility needs for owners, developers, and architects. Occasionally, he has provided plan review services for governmental agencies. Additionally, he has worked as an expert witness for several FHA complaints. His involvement with the International Code Council and as a voting member of the ANSI A117.1 committee has resulted in a number of codes and standards being revised and updated. Mr. Boecker has been a speaker at AIA conferences, NFPA conferences, the National ADA Symposium and numerous conference presentations for the Accessibility Professionals Association (APA). He is currently President-Elect for the national APA organization.

Mr. Nuño is a 2008 graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a specialty in structural and environmental engineering, he has established himself as a leader in the field of drainage and erosion and sediment control. In his 18-year career, Mr. Nuño has excelled in the design of land development projects including grading, utility design, stormwater management, and erosion control. Through his experiences as a consulting engineer, he has prepared civil construction plans for such clients as Marriott International, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), Lennar Homes, Oakwood Homes, and Kiewit Infrastructure West. In the field, Mr. Nuño has provided stormwater inspection services for SDG&E, Caesars Entertainment Group, and public agencies such as the City of Carlsbad, California, and the Town of Elizabeth, CO. He has managed civil projects in 19 different states and prides himself on working with developers, architects, and contractors to bridge the gap between regulatory compliance and constructability in the field. Mr. Nuño is a registered professional engineer in Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and California; a Certified Floodplain Manager; a certified professional in erosion and sediment control, a Colorado LEED accredited professional, and a qualified SWPPP developer/practitioner. He is an active member in the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Urban Land Institute, and the Colorado Association of Stormwater and Floodplain Managers. 

Samah (“Sam”) T. Abukhodeir was born and raised in Lake Wales, Florida. Following high school, Ms. Abukhodeir moved to Tallahassee, Florida, to pursue a B. S degree in Psychology with a minor in Arabic and Child Development at Florida State University. Ms. Abukhodeir obtained her J.D. degree from Florida International University College of Law, where she was on the Dean’s List and earned two CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Islamic/Sharia Law and Judicial Externship. While in law school, Ms. Abukhodeir worked as a graduate assistant to law professor Cyra Choudhury and was a judicial intern for the Honorable Marisa Tinkler Mendez, Circuit Court Judge in the Criminal Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade, Florida, and the Honorable Maria M. Korvick, Circuit Court Judge in the Probate Division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade, Florida.

Ms. Cabrera was born and raised in Miami, Florida, has been committed to serving her community from a young age. Starting her legal career at 16, she gained early experience that confirmed her passion for law. Ms. Cabrera earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Florida International University in 2002 and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law in 2005. Licensed to practice law in Florida since 2006, she specializes in Probate and Guardianship, with additional experience in Family and Real Estate Law. Fluent in English and Spanish, she effectively serves a diverse client base. In addition to her legal practice, she previously owned her own firm, showcasing her leadership and entrepreneurial skills. Ms. Cabrera is committed to helping individuals and families navigate complex legal issues, particularly in the areas of probate and guardianship, where her experience and personalized approach make her a trusted advocate for her clients.

Ms. DiLella Freidzon focuses her practice on the administration and litigation pertaining to estates, trusts, and guardianships, in addition to performing estate planning. Born and raised in New Jersey, she relocated to Florida to attend the University of Miami School of Law, graduating cum laude in 2015. Prior to joining FLPFL, Ms. DiLella Freidzon worked as a law clerk and thereafter an associate attorney, practicing in the areas of probate, guardianship, and trusts. Additionally, she was an Assistant State Attorney, prosecuting an array of criminal offenses and trying misdemeanor and felony cases to verdict. She focused much of her time prosecuting violent crimes of domestic violence and has maintained an interest in advocating for vulnerable families in our community. Ms. DiLella Freidzon is admitted to practice in Florida and New Jersey.

Ms. Gross has focused her legal practice on trusts and estates for more than thirty years, which includes the drafting and administration of wills and trusts as well as probate administration. Additionally, she has been serving other law firms as Of Counsel since 2011 where she handles estate planning and administration as well as represents individuals and businesses in connection with integrating estate planning with asset protection plans. Ms. Gross graduated with a B.A. from the Florida International University. She went on to receive her law degree from New York Law School in 1992 and her Masters in Law (LL.M.) in the Heckerling Program in Estate Planning from the University of Miami, School of Law in 1993. Ms. Gross is currently admitted to the New York and Florida bar. Since 2010, she has served as an adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University where she currently teaches Trusts, Estates and Probate for the Legal Assistant Program. Ms. Gross serves on the many boards for the South Florida Jewish Federation and Trustbridge Hospice Foundation of Broward. She is also a member of the Greater Boca Raton Estate Planning Counsel.

Born, raised, and educated in South Florida, Mr. Leon attended Florida International University where he earned a degree in International Relations from the School of International and Public Affairs. Upon completing his undergraduate studies in 2010, Mr. Leon enrolled in the Florida International University College of Law where, while completing his Juris Doctor, he clerked for the Honorable Maria M. Korvick, the Administrative Judge for the 11th Judicial Circuit Probate Division. He has been involved in the Probate and Guardianship community since before his admission to law school. Upon his graduation and licensing, he continued practicing in the areas of Estate Planning, Probate, and Guardianship until eventually starting his own law firm to better serve his clients in late 2016. Mr. Leon also served as a Supervising Attorney/Adjunct Professor for the Florida International University College of Law Clinical Program in the areas of Probate, Guardianship, Elder Law, and Special Needs. He is personally involved with all the cases in the firm, from start to finish, and thoroughly discusses each specific need with any prospective client prior to accepting representation.

Ms. Mallol was born in Cuba, and she migrated to the United States at the age of 4 with her parents. She graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science, a major degree in Criminology and a minor degree in Sociology from Barry University in Miami Shores, FL. After graduating college, Ms. Mallol worked closely with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office as a Victim/Witness Counselor and working there confirmed her desire of attending law school and becoming an attorney. Thereafter, she attended Florida International University College of Law and obtained her Juris Doctorate in 2017. While in law school, Ms. Mallol was a probate law clerk for a solo practitioner, where, with the oversight of an attorney, she worked cases such as estate planning, probate administration, guardianship administration, and trusts and estates litigation. After graduating from law school, Ms. Mallol passed the Florida Bar and began practicing as a Trusts, Estates, and Family attorney. She practices in the areas of Estates, Trusts, Guardianships, Estate Planning, and Family Law. Ms. Mallol is fluent and highly proficient in speaking, reading, and writing English and Spanish.

After working in engineering and design management with award-winning structural and construction firms for nearly 10 years, Mr. Woods founded his own firm, Woods Residential Engineering & Inspection. Mr. Woods is a licensed professional engineer in multiple states, and he holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Civil Engineering (with a focus on structures) from Washington University in St. Louis. He has earned “Accredited Professional” status from the U.S. Green Building Council. Mr. Woods is a member of the Woods Educational Enrichment Foundation, The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) (director of programs for the Chicago professional chapter), The American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois.

Ms. Brown Holmen represents clients who have been injured, or family members of those killed, in car crashes, injured by slip and falls, dog attacks, boating and snowmobile crashes, downed powerlines, sexual abuse victims and other people injured by the wrongful acts of others. She is a strong advocate for people who have suffered injuries because of another person’s negligence and is always keen to fight for justice on their behalf. Ms. Brown Holmen also acts as a Conciliation Court Referee in both Ramsey and Dakota Counties. She has been an Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association for many years. Ms. Brown Holmen was a member of the Ramsey County Ethics Committee for 6 years. Thereafter, she was appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court to the Board of Professional Responsibility, an organization that is responsible for the oversight and administration of the Minnesota lawyer discipline system. She was recently honored as a Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyer in Minnesota by the exclusive National Trial Lawyers organization. Ms. Brown Holmen earned her B.A. degree from the College of St. Benedict and her J.D. degree from the University of North Dakota School of Law.

 Mr. Garner has nearly 25 years of experience in representing the injured. During his time in law school, he clerked for five judges in the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings Workers’ Compensation Division and interned with a Hennepin County District Court judge. Following law school, he began working in a Minneapolis small firm representing injured workers and injured persons and later experienced representing insurance companies with a medium-sized law firm in St. Paul. In 2002, he left defending insurance companies and opened Gardner Law Office, LLC, focusing on serving the needs of the injured. He earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota and his J.D. degree from William Mitchell College of Law.

Ms. Keller is the managing partner of Keller, Woods & Thompson, P.A. She is an impassioned advocate for her clients. Ms. Keller’s clients view her as caring, compassionate, and thoroughly knowledgeable about insurance law and the full range of avenues for redress of their injuries. Her competitive nature, knowledge of insurance law, work ethic, tenacity, and strategic aggression in a courtroom or negotiation setting has allowed her to successfully close hundreds of cases through settlement, jury trial, arbitration, or appeal. Aside from her litigation practice, Ms. Keller was appointed to the governing committee of the Minnesota Automobile Insurance Plan. She is a qualified ADR neutral on the State of Minnesota Roster, and serves as mediator for both civil and family law cases. Ms. Keller also frequently serves as a FINRA financial dispute arbitrator and chairperson, as well as a Minnesota No-fault arbitrator. She has been named as a Super Lawyer from 2023 to present, and a Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2015 to 2022. Ms. Keller recently earned a Certificate of Completion for Women and Power, which she attended at the John F. Kennedy School, Harvard University. She is a past chair of the Civil Litigation Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association and continues to serve on the governing council. Ms. Keller is also the president of the Richard T. Oakes American Inn of Court. She taught as an adjunct professor at William Mitchell College of Law and the University of St. Thomas Law School, where she developed courses on insurance law.

Mr. Kestner has extensive experience with truck accident cases, both as a private attorney and representative for trucking insurers. He is the current chair of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA), past chair American Association of Justice’s (AAJ) Interstate Trucking Litigation Group, he is a member of the Amicus Committee for AAJ’s Interstate Trucking Litigation Group and he also holds a Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) professional designation in insurance. has litigated truck accident cases in 24 different states in both State and federal Court. Mr. Kestner is also Board Certified in Truck Accident Litigation in Minnesota by the National Board of Trial Advocates (NBTA). He earned his B.S. degree from Skidmore College and his J.D. degree from William Mitchell College of Law.

Mr. Mulligan applies a practical approach to each case he works on. He  knows what it is like for his clients who find themselves involved in a lawsuit with no idea about the many moving parts of the legal system. In each case, he takes a pragmatic approach to ensure the best results for his clients. Mr. Mulligan first started his legal career working in primarily construction law before broadening his practice to include insurance defense, personal injury defense, wrongful death claims, insurance coverage analysis, trucking accidents, property appraisals, and subrogation actions. He is admitted to practice law in the Minnesota State Bar, Wisconsin State Bar, and is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association as well. Mr. Mulligan earned his undergraduate degree from Marquette University and his J.D. degree from William Mitchell College of Law.

Mr. Palmer’s is a seasoned trial lawyer with Keller, Woods & Thompson, P.A. In a world where many personal injury lawyers shy away from the courtroom, he is known for his eagerness to take cases to verdict when necessary. His reputation for securing significant jury verdicts has established him as one of the premier personal injury litigators in Minnesota. Mr. Palmer focuses his practice on truck collisions and catastrophic injury. He has represented families that have lost loved ones in fatal collisions and also people that have endured life-altering injuries. No matter the circumstances, he strives to tell each the impactful story of each client in a sincere and compelling way. In 2023, Mr. Palmer was recognized as Attorney of the Year by Minnesota Lawyer, the largest legal publication in the state. He was also named Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Minnesota Association for Justice, Minnesota’s largest collective of plaintiff’s attorneys. These honors arrived after Mr. Palmer secured multiple significant jury verdicts for his clients, including the largest personal injury verdict in Sherburne County history. Through his compassionate engagement, he understands the injuries and their impact on each client’s life. He often pays home visits and walks collision scenes to fully immerse himself in the situation. Mr. Palmer also regularly leads technology-driven collision reconstruction and vehicle inspections to assure a complete understanding of the collision specifics. This level of understanding is part of how he tells the personal story of each client. He earned his undergraduate degree from St. Olaf College and his J.D. degree from the University of St. Thomas School of Law.

Mr. Weimer’s main areas of practice include personal injury, insurance defense and construction defect litigation. He earned his B.A. degree from Truman State University and his J.D. degree from the University of Minnesota Law School.

Mr. Aragon specializes in litigating complex, nationwide class actions on behalf of plaintiffs. Before joining HBSS, he handled initiative, referendum and redistricting matters, including representing the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission in lawsuits related to Arizona’s congressional and legislative redistricting . Mr. Aragon has also represented candidates from all levels of state and federal government and every major hospital in Arizona state. In addition to his private practice , he is committed to pro bono and community service. Mr. Aragon has represented numerous pro bono clients in the areas of rights of publicity, insurance, immigration, family law, and contract law, and served as the chairman of EMPACT-SPC (one of Arizona’s largest behavioral health organizations).

Ms. Mayer is an Advanced Certified Paralegal in Trial Practice and Criminal Litigation with over 30 years’ experience in the legal field. She works for the Yavapai County Public Defender’s Office in Arizona. Ms. Mayer is a member of NALA and serves on NALA’s Professional Development Committee. She enjoys writing articles that relate to the paralegal field and help paralegals obtain information to enrich their professional and personal wellbeing. In her free time, Ms. Mayer enjoys spending time with her husband and son, cooking, volunteering, and watching sports.

Swanson & McNamara LLP is a trial and appellate law firm specializing in high-stakes criminal, civil, and regulatory defense and internal investigations. Prior to joining Swanson & McNamara, Ms. McGuigan worked for the Federal Public Defender in the Northern District of California for 15 years where she assisted in several trials including four complex death penalty cases, one of which resulted in an acquittal. She is a certified eDiscovery specialist holding multiple ACEDS eDiscovery certifications, as well as certifications in Cellebrite mobile forensic fundamentals (CMFF), and digital forensics, and she has over 21 hours of digital forensic training in FTK. Ms. McGuigan is the acting president of San Francisco Paralegal Association, chair of the San Francisco Bar Paralegal Section, and the director of the San Francisco Chapter of Women in eDiscovery. When she isn’t working, she enjoys spending time crafting and hanging out with her four dogs. She will be presenting at the NALA Boston conference in July, on ethical considerations in criminal law cases, text and smartphone evidence for paralegals – how to identify, preserve, collect, and produce and assisting at trial.

Ms. Moss earned her B.A. in Communication Studies from the James Madison University Honors College in 2018. In 2021, she graduated from the Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law with a Juris Doctorate. Ms. Moss joined Attorneys for Freedom in 2020 as a law clerk, where she assisted the firm’s attorneys with criminal cases and postconviction relief matters. In January 2022, she was licensed as an attorney in the State of Arizona and rejoined the firm as a criminal defense attorney. Ms. Moss is proud to have defended clients in state misdemeanor and felony cases, as well as helped clients regain their civil rights in court.

Mr. Sapelli focuses his practice primarily on domestic relations. He offers experience representing clients in all family law-related matters. These include divorce, with or without children, and all issues that may arise in both types of cases. Mr. Sapelli effectively and compassionately advances his clients’ interests in matters involving legal decision-making, parenting time, child support, division of property and debts, spousal maintenance, and other issues. Mr. Sapelli also has experience in complex divorce matters including complex custody and property issues. Aside from divorce matters, his practice also focuses on paternity issues and third-party rights issues, such as grandparents’ rights, step-parents’ rights, and other non-parental rights for children. Giancarlo attended The S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah. In law school, Mr. Sapelli was the assistant to the editor of the Utah Journal of Family Law. He earned a Bachelor’s in Political Science, with a History minor from the University of Arizona. Mr. Sapelli also has a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University, where he graduated with distinction. After an eight-year term of teaching junior high school, Mr. Sapelli’s love for family and children inspired him to work in family law. That same passion continues to inspire him today.

Mr. Turk has thirty years of litigation experience which he uses on behalf of businesses and business owners in commercial litigation, including contract disputes, trade secrets, unfair competition, and other business torts. Whether representing a doctor, a family business, or a large company, he believes in developing relationships and works closely with his clients to achieve their goals. Importantly, Mr. Turk’s experience allows him to help clients explore all their available options and allows him to recognize when traditional litigation will not meet a client’s needs. Mr. Turk has served as a volunteer judge pro tem since 2000. In that capacity, he has presided over more than 15 jury trials, scores of civil, criminal, and juvenile hearings and over a hundred settlement conferences. Mr. Turk brings the experience gained as a pro tem to bear when serving as a neutral in private mediations and arbitrations, providing alternative dispute resolution services in a wide range of matters. He assists parties to resolve disputes arising from torts, professional malpractice, and business disputes, including business “divorce.”

Mr. Peel is a renowned expert in the field of Passive House buildings. He is the founder and principal of Peel Passive House Consulting, a consulting firm that specializes in supporting the design and constructing of high-performance, low carbon buildings. Mr. Peel has over 15 years of experience in the field and is an accredited Passive House certifier, consultant, and trainer. His passion for sustainable building began early in his career, and he has been dedicated to promoting energy efficiency and sustainability ever since. Mr. Peel has worked on a wide range of projects, including residential homes, multi-family dwellings, and commercial buildings, all with the aim of improving occupant quality of life, reducing energy consumption, and minimizing environmental impact. As a certified Passive House consultant, he is well-versed in the principles of energy-efficient design and construction. Mr. Peel has a deep understanding of building science and can apply this knowledge to create buildings that are not only energy-efficient but also comfortable and healthy for their occupants. He is also an active member of the sustainable building community, regularly attending conferences and events to stay up to date on the latest developments and innovations in the field. Mr. Peel is committed to educating others about the benefits of sustainable building and is always eager to share his expertise with clients, colleagues, and industry partners. With his passion, expertise, and commitment to sustainability, he is a leading figure in the industry and a valuable asset to any project.

Mr. Taylor is a certified Passive House consultant and Passive House rater. He is a HERS Rater, and he is certified by Energy Star, DOE Zero Energy Ready Home, IECC and BPI. Mr. Taylor has served on the ANSI/RESNET National Committee for water efficiency; on the Environmental Committee for the Town of Fairview, Texas, and as project manager for large commercial data centers. This is a second career after the US Navy, a computer science degree and 35 years in the computer services industry.

Mr. Westbrook designed his own solar home in north Texas in 1996, which won the Energy Value Housing Award for Innovative Design. It still ranks as one of the most efficient homes in Texas. While serving as Sustainable Development Manager at Texas Instruments International Facilities, Mr. Westbrook was the LEED AP for the 1.1 million square foot Texas Instruments factory, which was the first LEED Gold semiconductor factory in the world. He led the effort to improve the energy and water efficiency of TI’s 20 million square feet of existing global facilities. They were able to double the company energy and water efficiency in less than 10 years. In 2012, Mr. Westbrook was named a Senior Fellow for the US State Department’s Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas program. He visited Honduras, Bolivia, Columbia, and Peru where he worked with governments, universities, and industry on efficiency and renewable energy. Mr. Westbrook received his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1982.

Dr. Gregory H. Nail is a professor in the Engineering Department at the University of Tennessee at Martin where he teaches a variety of courses including fluid mechanics, hydraulics and hydrology, and hydraulic and hydrologic modeling. He holds a professional engineer’s license based on having passed both the Civil and Mechanical discipline-specific exams. Prior to coming to UT-Martin in 2002, he worked as a research hydraulic engineer for the United States Army Corp of Engineers for 11 years. He continues to be professionally active by working summer internships, carrying on consulting work, supervising senior design projects, and regularly delivering continuation programs, all oriented around computational hydraulic and computational hydrologic modeling. Dr. Nail earned his B.M.E. degree from Auburn University and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Texas A&M University.