Paws & Presence: The Power of Connection for Lawyer Well-Being

This is an in-person program hosted at The Chicago Bar Association building (321 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago, IL 60604).

Join the CBA’s Animal Law and Well-being and Mindfulness Committees for a unique program focused on therapy animals and how they can reduce stress and improve well-being. This program will educate lawyers about the legal frameworks surrounding therapy animals, their therapeutic potential, and how they can be used to reduce stress, particularly in high-pressure environments like legal workplaces. Lunch will be served, courtesy of Kaveny Sarmas.

Attendees are encouraged to stay after the presentation to interact with therapy animals from the SOUL Harbour Ranch, Chicagoland's most experienced comprehensive non-profit (501(c)3) animal therapy program. Therapy dogs and miniature horses will visit The Chicago Bar Association to interact with attendees at this unique event.

Speakers:
Jodie Diegel, RN, MBA, LNCC, Certified Legal Nurse Consultant, Kaveny Sarmas & Founder/President, Soul Harbour Ranch Animal Therapy Program 
Tracy McGonigle, McKenna Storer, Co-Chair, CBA Animal Law Committee
Karen Munoz, Founder & Wellness Advocate, Roaring Grace Mindful Wellness, Co-Chair, CBA Well-being and Mindfulness Committee 
Lisa Velez, Claim Consultant, MedPro Group, Co-Chair, CBA Animal Law Committee

Moderator: 
Gina Crumble, Assistant State’s Attorney, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office & Co-Chair of the CBA Well-being and Mindfulness Committee

About SOUL Harbour Ranch

SOUL Harbour Ranch Animal Therapy Program is proud to be Barrington and Chicago surrounding area's most experienced & comprehensive all-volunteer Animal Therapy Program (IRS nonprofit 501(c)3. SOUL Harbour Ranch offers visits with Therapy Miniature Horses, Therapy Dogs, Miniature Donkeys, Big Horses, Therapy Cats, Miniature Pigs, and our newest herd member, a Therapy Rabbit! Our Animal Therapy Program's Mission is to enrich lives by promoting the unconditional love and healing of the human animal bond while advocating for animal therapy standards of excellence. Smiles, joy, love, laughter & healing happen when our specially trained therapy animals visit hospitals, nursing homes, schools, veterans, & more. Our registered Pet Partners therapy animal teams offer therapy animals in hospitals including Animal-Assisted Crisis Response teams, trained to provide emotional comfort & support to those affected by crisis.

To confirm you are ready to participate in an on demand webcast, please take the browser test here: http://eventcenter.commpartner...

Live CBA Committee meetings and seminars will take place via Zoom webinar.  You will click on "view video" and be directly connected to the meeting/seminar on Zoom.  (You will not receive a Zoom link.)

You MUST have Zoom Desktop Client on your Mac or PC to view a live program. If using a mobile device, you must have the Zoom App (available in the App Store or Google Play).

System requirements for Mac & PC can be found here. System requirements for mobile devices can be here.  

Please note that audience members do not need video or audio access.  Audience members are able to submit questions via the chat or Q & A features of Zoom. 

Chat: Open in-meeting chat, allowing you to send chat messages to and send a message to the host, panelists, and attendees (if permitted). Question & Answer: Open the Q&A window, allowing you to ask questions to the host and panelists. They can either reply back to you via text in the Q&A window or answer your question live. 

The Power of “Yes, And...” : Building Practical Lawyer Skills Through Improv

This is an in-person program hosted at The Chicago Bar Association building (321 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago, IL 60604).

Join the CBA Well-Being and Mindfulness Committee and CBA Media and Entertainment Law Committee for an interactive session in partnership with members from Wolf Town Improv, focused on building practical lawyering skills through improv techniques. The program will emphasize active listening, communication skills aligned with Rule 1.4, and civility in practice. 

Moderators:
Karen Munoz, Founder, Roaring Grace; Co-Chair, CBA Wellbeing & Mindfulness Committee
Jonathan Safron, Esq., Vice Chair, CBA Media & Entertainment Law Committee 

To confirm you are ready to participate in an on demand webcast, please take the browser test here: http://eventcenter.commpartner...

Live CBA Committee meetings and seminars will take place via Zoom webinar.  You will click on "view video" and be directly connected to the meeting/seminar on Zoom.  (You will not receive a Zoom link.)

You MUST have Zoom Desktop Client on your Mac or PC to view a live program. If using a mobile device, you must have the Zoom App (available in the App Store or Google Play).

System requirements for Mac & PC can be found here. System requirements for mobile devices can be here.  

Please note that audience members do not need video or audio access.  Audience members are able to submit questions via the chat or Q & A features of Zoom. 

Chat: Open in-meeting chat, allowing you to send chat messages to and send a message to the host, panelists, and attendees (if permitted). Question & Answer: Open the Q&A window, allowing you to ask questions to the host and panelists. They can either reply back to you via text in the Q&A window or answer your question live. 

Trial Superstars on Presenting Your Case: Trial Strategies and Innovations

This in person program will take place at The Metropolitan Club (233 S. Wacker Dr. 67th Floor Chicago, IL 60606) and includes a luncheon, and a networking reception following the program. Early registration prices are available! Price increase May 1, 2026.

Trial Superstars on Presenting Your Case will feature top trial lawyers, judicial voices, and jury experts sharing practical strategies for persuading jurors, presenting evidence effectively, and winning high-stakes cases. Through real-world insights from the courtroom, appellate perspective, and the Cook County State’s Attorney, this program will focus on how to frame a case, connect with judges and juries, and deliver powerful advocacy from start to finish.

CLICK HERE FOR THE PROGRAM BROCHURE

TIMED AGENDA:

8:30 – 9:00 AM - Registration / Coffee / Networking

9:00 – 9:05 AM - Welcome Remarks
Hon. Nichole Patton, Trial Section, Circuit Court of Cook County, Law Division and current CBA President 

9:05 – 9:50 AM - Voir Dire: Selecting an Impartial and Favorable Jury
Speakers: 
Elizabeth Kaveny, Kaveny Sarmas 
Mark Smith, Smith Blake Hill LLC 

9:50 – 10:20 AM - Opening Statements: Setting Tone & Framework from the Outset
Speaker: Daniel Kotin, Tomasik Kotin Kasserman, CBA President 2016-2017

10:20 – 11:05 AM - In the Trenches: Direct & Cross-Examination
Speaker: Jon Loevy, Loevy + Loevy  

11:05 – 11:50 AM - Jury Consultant Insights: What Moves Jurors, What Doesn’t
Speaker: Patricia Kuehn, J.D., M.A., Kuehn Trial Consulting, LLC 

11:50 AM – 12:45 PM - Lunch Break  

12:45 – 1:30 PM - Winning Trial Strategies 
Speakers: 
Robert Clifford, Clifford Law Offices, CBA President, 2011-2012 
Dan Webb, Winston & Strawn LLP, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois 1981-1985
Moderator: Matthew Passen, Passen Powell Jenkins, CBA CLE Committee Co-Chair, 2025-2026

1:30 – 2:00 PM - Closing Arguments that Empower Jurors
Speaker: Patrick Salvi, II, Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard

2:00 – 2:10 PM - Break

2:10 – 2:55 PM - Winning Strategies for Plaintiffs in High Stakes Commercial and Personal Injury Cases
Speakers:
Patricia Bobb, Patricia C. Bobb & Associates, CBA President 1997-1998 
Terri Mascherin, Jenner & Block, CBA President, 2010-2011 

2:50– 3:20 PM - Trial tips from an Appellate Lawyer
Speaker: Jonathan Amarilio, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, CBA Treasurer 2025-2026

3:15 – 4:05 PM - Connecting with the Judge & Jury: Tips from the Bench
Speakers:
Hon. Thomas V. Lyons, II, Presiding Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County, Law Division
Hon. Nichole Patton, Trial Section, Circuit Court of Cook County, Law Division and current CBA President 
Moderator: Matthew Passen, Passen Powell Jenkins, CBA CLE Committee Co-Chair, 2025-2026

4:05 – 4:35 PM - Perspective of Cook County State’s Attorney
Speaker: Hon. Eileen O’Neill Burke, Cook County State’s Attorney

4:35 – 6:30 PM - Networking Reception

Thank you to our Premiere Sponsor:

Networking Reception Sponsor:

Event Sponsors:

To confirm you are ready to participate in an on demand webcast, please take the browser test here: http://eventcenter.commpartner...

Live CBA Committee meetings and seminars will take place via Zoom webinar.  You will click on "view video" and be directly connected to the meeting/seminar on Zoom.  (You will not receive a Zoom link.)

You MUST have Zoom Desktop Client on your Mac or PC to view a live program. If using a mobile device, you must have the Zoom App (available in the App Store or Google Play).

System requirements for Mac & PC can be found here. System requirements for mobile devices can be here.  

Please note that audience members do not need video or audio access.  Audience members are able to submit questions via the chat or Q & A features of Zoom. 

Chat: Open in-meeting chat, allowing you to send chat messages to and send a message to the host, panelists, and attendees (if permitted). Question & Answer: Open the Q&A window, allowing you to ask questions to the host and panelists. They can either reply back to you via text in the Q&A window or answer your question live. 

Strength in Practice: Self-Defense & Mental Well-Being for Legal Professionals

This is an in-person program hosted at The Chicago Bar Association building (321 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago, IL 60604).

Legal professionals often find themselves involved in matters which can lead to threats, intimidation, and even physical violence.  This two-hour course equips attorneys and judges with essential knowledge and skills to enhance their personal safety, both inside and outside of the office and courtroom. 

The first hour will discuss the potential for violence against attorneys and judges, by providing a sample of some real-life situations, discussing techniques for coping with trauma after a violent encounter, suggesting some simple strategies to help prepare your office to deal with active aggressors, and discuss the many health benefits of engaging in martial arts and self-defense training. 

The second hour is a low impact, stress free, hands-on class that will teach the fundamentals of situational awareness and de-escalation, with a focus on teaching attendees some basic defensive skills and concepts for addressing some of the most common unarmed attacks.  Attendees are encouraged to participate, but it is not required. Attendees will leave the class with a greater understanding of the type of violence legal professionals may encounter during their career, while learning a range of verbal and physical skills they can continue to hone on their own, which can contribute to personal and professional safety, as well as a healthier lifestyle. 

Speaker: 
Peter Honigmann, has been a practicing attorney for 27 years, focused on civil litigation in state and federal courts, and currently works as a supervising attorney for CARPLS legal aid in Chicago. Peter is also the founder and head instructor of Best Defense Concepts, LLC, a company that focuses on teaching adults and seniors simple and effective self-defense. Peter began his journey in Kenpo Karate in 1984, and since then he has also studied: Krav Maga, Hapkido, Aikido, Escrima, Boxing, and knife-focused combatives. Peter is also licensed as an armed security guard in the State of Illinois, and holds teaching certifications for: pepper spray, expandable baton and handcuffing. Peter has given numerous presentations on self-defense to various groups, including: high schools, private companies and organizations, senior centers, park districts, libraries, and martial arts schools. Learn more at: bestdefenseconcepts.com. 

To confirm you are ready to participate in an on demand webcast, please take the browser test here: http://eventcenter.commpartner...

Live CBA Committee meetings and seminars will take place via Zoom webinar.  You will click on "view video" and be directly connected to the meeting/seminar on Zoom.  (You will not receive a Zoom link.)

You MUST have Zoom Desktop Client on your Mac or PC to view a live program. If using a mobile device, you must have the Zoom App (available in the App Store or Google Play).

System requirements for Mac & PC can be found here. System requirements for mobile devices can be here.  

Please note that audience members do not need video or audio access.  Audience members are able to submit questions via the chat or Q & A features of Zoom. 

Chat: Open in-meeting chat, allowing you to send chat messages to and send a message to the host, panelists, and attendees (if permitted). Question & Answer: Open the Q&A window, allowing you to ask questions to the host and panelists. They can either reply back to you via text in the Q&A window or answer your question live. 

Practical Tech Tips for Lawyers: Tools, Tweaks, and Time-Savers

This fast-paced, practical session focuses on technology tips lawyers can put to work immediately. Drawing on real-world experience with the tools lawyers use every day, we’ll cover simple tweaks, overlooked features, and smart workflows that can save time, reduce frustration, and improve efficiency. Expect practical demonstrations, pros and cons, and guidance on what’s worth adopting now versus what can safely be ignored—all with a focus on getting better ROI from your existing technology.

Speaker:
Catherine Sanders Reach, Director of the Center for Practice Management, North Carolina Bar Association 

To confirm you are ready to participate in an on demand webcast, please take the browser test here: http://eventcenter.commpartner...

Live CBA Committee meetings and seminars will take place via Zoom webinar.  You will click on "view video" and be directly connected to the meeting/seminar on Zoom.  (You will not receive a Zoom link.)

You MUST have Zoom Desktop Client on your Mac or PC to view a live program. If using a mobile device, you must have the Zoom App (available in the App Store or Google Play).

System requirements for Mac & PC can be found here. System requirements for mobile devices can be here.  

Please note that audience members do not need video or audio access.  Audience members are able to submit questions via the chat or Q & A features of Zoom. 

Chat: Open in-meeting chat, allowing you to send chat messages to and send a message to the host, panelists, and attendees (if permitted). Question & Answer: Open the Q&A window, allowing you to ask questions to the host and panelists. They can either reply back to you via text in the Q&A window or answer your question live. 

Topic: Trauma Informed Lawyering - Holistic Practices To Cultivate Ease and Trust Within Yourself 

Speaker: Kirtana Kalavapudi, Attorney, Social Security Administration

(IL Mental Health/Substance Abuse PR-MCLE credit for live webcast only. No MCLE credit for on demand webcast.)

To confirm you are ready to participate in an on demand webcast, please take the browser test here: http://eventcenter.commpartner...

Live CBA Committee meetings and seminars will take place via Zoom webinar.  You will click on "view video" and be directly connected to the meeting/seminar on Zoom.  (You will not receive a Zoom link.)

You MUST have Zoom Desktop Client on your Mac or PC to view a live program. If using a mobile device, you must have the Zoom App (available in the App Store or Google Play).

System requirements for Mac & PC can be found here. System requirements for mobile devices can be here.  

Please note that audience members do not need video or audio access.  Audience members are able to submit questions via the chat or Q & A features of Zoom. 

Chat: Open in-meeting chat, allowing you to send chat messages to and send a message to the host, panelists, and attendees (if permitted). Question & Answer: Open the Q&A window, allowing you to ask questions to the host and panelists. They can either reply back to you via text in the Q&A window or answer your question live. 

This is a hybrid event with an in-person and a webinar option. Please select the appropriate button when registering if you plan to attend in-person. Event will take place at The Chicago Bar Association (321 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago, IL 60604).

The seminar is geared towards candidates of the 2026 General Election and those individuals who will be running for office for the 2027 municipal election cycle, as well as the attorneys who will be representing them. We will cover the requirements for getting on the ballot, defending and prosecuting petition challenges, ethical and finance issues relating to campaigns, and an overview of campaign-related communications and avoiding defamation claims.

Topics and Speakers:
Getting on the Ballot & Basic Campaign Finance Compliance
Michael C. Dorf, The Law Offices of Michael C. Dorf, LLC

Navigating the Petition Objection Process
Thomas A. Jaconetty, Law Office of Thomas A. Jaconetty

Defamation Nation: Taking the Pain out of Campaigning
Ryan B. Jacobson, Amundsen Davis
Danessa P. Watkins, Amundsen Davis 

Moderators:
Ross D. Secler, Odelson, Murphey, Frazier & McGrath, Ltd.; Chair, CBA Election Law Committee
Priscilla E. Centeno, Odelson, Murphey, Frazier & McGrath, Ltd.; Vice Chair, CBA Election Law Committee 

To confirm you are ready to participate in an on demand webcast, please take the browser test here: http://eventcenter.commpartner...

Live CBA Committee meetings and seminars will take place via Zoom webinar.  You will click on "view video" and be directly connected to the meeting/seminar on Zoom.  (You will not receive a Zoom link.)

You MUST have Zoom Desktop Client on your Mac or PC to view a live program. If using a mobile device, you must have the Zoom App (available in the App Store or Google Play).

System requirements for Mac & PC can be found here. System requirements for mobile devices can be here.  

Please note that audience members do not need video or audio access.  Audience members are able to submit questions via the chat or Q & A features of Zoom. 

Chat: Open in-meeting chat, allowing you to send chat messages to and send a message to the host, panelists, and attendees (if permitted). Question & Answer: Open the Q&A window, allowing you to ask questions to the host and panelists. They can either reply back to you via text in the Q&A window or answer your question live. 

From the Neutral’s Chair: How to Excel as a Mediator or Arbitrator

This seminar will be a discussion from a highly experienced mediator and arbitrator, visiting law school faculty, and former business litigation attorney, about how to excel as a neutral mediator or arbitrator.

Speaker:
Michael A. Zuckerman, Esq., JAMS, Mediator and Arbitrator

Moderator: 
John Levitske, Partner, HKA, Forensic Accounting & Commercial Damages, Chicago; Chair, CBA Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee 

To confirm you are ready to participate in an on demand webcast, please take the browser test here: http://eventcenter.commpartner...

Live CBA Committee meetings and seminars will take place via Zoom webinar.  You will click on "view video" and be directly connected to the meeting/seminar on Zoom.  (You will not receive a Zoom link.)

You MUST have Zoom Desktop Client on your Mac or PC to view a live program. If using a mobile device, you must have the Zoom App (available in the App Store or Google Play).

System requirements for Mac & PC can be found here. System requirements for mobile devices can be here.  

Please note that audience members do not need video or audio access.  Audience members are able to submit questions via the chat or Q & A features of Zoom. 

Chat: Open in-meeting chat, allowing you to send chat messages to and send a message to the host, panelists, and attendees (if permitted). Question & Answer: Open the Q&A window, allowing you to ask questions to the host and panelists. They can either reply back to you via text in the Q&A window or answer your question live. 

Law, Technology, and Data-driven Governance with Chicago Chief Information Officer Nick Lucius

This is an in-person program hosted at The Chicago Bar Association building (321 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago, IL 60604). May 19, 2026, 3:30-5:00pm, with CLE taking place from 4:00-5:00pm.

Join The Chicago Bar Association and the Lawyers Club of Chicago for a program featuring Nick Lucius, Commissioner and Chief Information Officer for the City of Chicago, as he discusses the intersection of law, technology, and data-driven governance in Chicago.

Nick Lucius serves as Commissioner and Chief Information Officer for the City of Chicago’s Department of Technology and Innovation, where he steers data-driven urban modernization and secure digital services. A lawyer with a Master’s in Computer Science and degrees in psychology and political science, Mr. Lucius uniquely blends regulatory acumen with engineering rigor and analytics. He previously shaped the city’s technology and data strategy as Chief Technology Officer and Chief Data Officer, overseeing data science initiatives, privacy, and cross-agency programs spanning public safety, transportation, health and human services, and legal affairs. He is the author of numerous scientific articles on data analytics in biology and public health, as well as a book on privacy and the legal implications of new technologies. Having served four mayors and two governors, Mr. Lucius brings a rare and compelling perspective on how policy goals and technology strategy can—and must—work together.

To confirm you are ready to participate in an on demand webcast, please take the browser test here: http://eventcenter.commpartner...

Live CBA Committee meetings and seminars will take place via Zoom webinar.  You will click on "view video" and be directly connected to the meeting/seminar on Zoom.  (You will not receive a Zoom link.)

You MUST have Zoom Desktop Client on your Mac or PC to view a live program. If using a mobile device, you must have the Zoom App (available in the App Store or Google Play).

System requirements for Mac & PC can be found here. System requirements for mobile devices can be here.  

Please note that audience members do not need video or audio access.  Audience members are able to submit questions via the chat or Q & A features of Zoom. 

Chat: Open in-meeting chat, allowing you to send chat messages to and send a message to the host, panelists, and attendees (if permitted). Question & Answer: Open the Q&A window, allowing you to ask questions to the host and panelists. They can either reply back to you via text in the Q&A window or answer your question live. 

Prevailing in the Courtroom: Discovery, Summary Judgment, Trial, and Dealing with Difficult Opposing Counsel

This is an in-person program hosted at The Chicago Bar Association building (321 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago, IL 60604). Reception immediately following program.

Please join the CBA Commercial Litigation Committee for its annual in-person seminar on May 14, 2026. During the seminar, Cook County Circuit Clerk Mariyana Spyropoulos will discuss Cook County’s filing system and the responsibilities of the Cook County Clerk’s Office. After the presentation, the Committee will host U.S. District Judge Andrea Wood, U.S. District Judge Franklin Valderrama, U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura McNally, Cook County Circuit Judge Stephen Swedlow, and Cook County Circuit Judge Thomas Donnelly for a panel discussion on discovery, summary judgment, trial, and dealing with difficult opposing counsel. Committee members will also have the opportunity to ask their own questions at the end of the session. 

Moderators:
Garreth A. DeVoe, Buchalter
Joshua H. Burday, Goodman Law Group
Co-Chairs, CBA Commercial Litigation Committee

To confirm you are ready to participate in an on demand webcast, please take the browser test here: http://eventcenter.commpartner...

Live CBA Committee meetings and seminars will take place via Zoom webinar.  You will click on "view video" and be directly connected to the meeting/seminar on Zoom.  (You will not receive a Zoom link.)

You MUST have Zoom Desktop Client on your Mac or PC to view a live program. If using a mobile device, you must have the Zoom App (available in the App Store or Google Play).

System requirements for Mac & PC can be found here. System requirements for mobile devices can be here.  

Please note that audience members do not need video or audio access.  Audience members are able to submit questions via the chat or Q & A features of Zoom. 

Chat: Open in-meeting chat, allowing you to send chat messages to and send a message to the host, panelists, and attendees (if permitted). Question & Answer: Open the Q&A window, allowing you to ask questions to the host and panelists. They can either reply back to you via text in the Q&A window or answer your question live.