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.

Speakers:

Jonathan Amarilio, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, CBA Treasurer 2025-2026
Patricia Bobb, Patricia C. Bobb & Associates, CBA President 1997-1998
Robert Clifford, Clifford Law Offices, CBA President, 2011-2012
Elizabeth Kaveny, Kaveny Sarmas
Daniel Kotin, Tomasik Kotin Kasserman, CBA President 2016-2017
Patricia Kuehn, J.D., M.A., Kuehn Trial Consulting, LLC
Jon Loevy, Loevy + Loevy
Hon. Thomas V. Lyons, II, Presiding Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County, Law Division
Terri Mascherin, Jenner & Block, CBA President, 2010-2011
Hon. Eileen O’Neil Burke, Cook County State’s Attorney
Matthew Passen, Passen Powell Jenkins, CBA CLE Committee Co-Chair, 2025-2026
Hon. Nichole Patton, Trial Section, Circuit Court of Cook County, Law Division and current CBA President
Patrick Salvi, II, Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard
Mark Smith, Smith Blake Hill LLC
Dan Webb, Winston & Strawn LLP, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois 1981-1985

Topics: 
Voir Dire: Selecting an Impartial and Favorable Jury
Opening Statements: Setting Tone & Framework from the Outset
In the Trenches: Direct & Cross-Examination
Jury Consultant Insights: What Moves Jurors, What Doesn’t
Winning Trial Strategies
Closing Arguments that Empower Jurors
High Stakes Damages: Maximizing & Controlling Damages in Major Injury Litigation
Trial Tips from an Appellate Lawyer       
Connecting with the Judge & Jury: Tips from the Bench
Perspective of Cook County State’s Attorney Hon. Eileen O’Neil Burke, Cook County State’s Attorney

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. 

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 an in-person that will take place at Venue SIX10, 610 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605.

The AI 2035 Symposium is a landmark three-day convening that will bring together 500+ legal professionals, technology innovators, judiciary members, and industry leaders to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and the law. Taking place May 11-13, 2026, at the prestigious Venue SIX10 in downtown Chicago, this immersive experience will feature keynote addresses from leading AI experts, interactive CLE sessions, live technology demonstrations, panel discussions on emerging ethical challenges, and networking opportunities designed to foster collaboration across practice areas. Attendees will gain practical insights into implementing AI tools in their practice, understand regulatory developments, and participate in shaping the future of the legal profession in an increasingly digital world.

SPEAKERS:

Adam Aft, Partner, Baker McKenzie
Benjamin Altschul, Partner, Levenfeld Pearlstein
Olivia Anderson, Framework IT
Christopher Bojar, Director of EDiscovery and Litigation Support, Barrack Ferrazzano
Jessi Brooks, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, Ribbit Capital
Charles Elliott, Head of Industry Architects, Google
Judge Jeffrey A. Goffinet, Circuit Court of Williamson County
Marcus Harris, Partner, Taft
Professor Daniel Linna Jr., Director of Law and Technology Initiatives, Senior Lecturer, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
Chad Main, Founder, Percipient
Samuel Oh, Co-Founder & CEO, Concorda
Michael O’Malley, Executive Director, Illinois Property Tax Appeals Board
Professor Eric Posner, The University of Chicago Law School
Michael Riesen, Partner, Smith Gambrell & Russell
Daniel Shulman, Partner, Vedder
Eric Stadel, Litigation Support Manager, McAndrews
Hillard Sterling, Partner, Roetzel & Andress
Elizabeth Winkowski, Partner, Taft
William Zimmerman, Partner, Holland & Knight

AGENDA:

DAY 1 — Monday, May 11 (6.00 IL MCLE Credit)

8:00 – 8:45 AM Registration 

8:00 – 8:45 AM Continental Breakfast

8:45 – 9:00 AM Welcome Remarks

9:00 – 10:00 AM - Opening Plenary Session: AI and the Integrity of the Legal System: Competence, Accountability, and Leadership in the Era of Intelligent Tools 

10:00 – 10:30 AM Vendor Hall & Coffee Break 9th Floor

10:30 – 12:00 PM Breakout Sessions
Track 1 (Litigation): AI & Litigation Risk: Causes of Actions, Defenses, and Liability in the Evolving Age of AI Reliance
Track 2 (Transactional): Drafting with AI: Quality Control, Confidentiality, and Contract Risk Allocation
Track 3 (Administrative/Operational): Building an AI‑Ready Law Department: Governance, Policies, and Change Management 

12:00 – 1:30 PM Luncheon + Speaker

1:30 – 3:00 PM Breakout Sessions
Track 1 (Litigation): AI in E‑Discovery: Managing Volume, Bias, and Validation Duties
Track 2 (Transactional): AI‑Driven Due Diligence: Speed, Accuracy, and Ethical Boundaries
Track 3 (Administrative/Operational): Vendor Selection and Risk Assessment for AI Tools 

3:00 – 3:30 PM Vendor Hall & Coffee Break 

3:30 – 5:00 PM Vendor Demonstrations / Interactive Product Labs

5:00 – 6:30 PM Welcome Reception & Vendor Showcase 

DAY 2 — Tuesday, May 12 (6.00 IL MCLE Credit)

8:00 – 9:00 AM Continental Breakfast & Networking with Vendors 

9:00 – 10:00 AM Plenary Panel: AI, Regulation, and the Law: What Lawyers Need to Know About Emerging Federal, State, and Global Frameworks 

10:00 – 10:30 AM Vendor Hall & Coffee Break 9th Floor

10:30 – 12:00 PM Breakout Sessions
Track 1 (Litigation): Predictive Analytics in Case Strategy: What’s Real, What’s Hype?
Track 2 (Transactional): Negotiation Support Tools: How AI Is Changing Deal Dynamics
Track 3 (Administrative/Operational): AI for Knowledge Management and Workflow Automation 

12:00 – 1:30 PM Box Lunch + Speaker

1:30 – 3:00 PM Breakout Sessions
Track 1 (Litigation): AI & Legal Research
Track 2 (Transactional): AI & Contract Drafting 
Track 3 (Administrative/Operational): AI & Time Keeping and Billing 

3:00 – 3:30 PM Vendor Hall & Coffee Break 9th Floor

3:30 – 5:00 PM Vendor Demonstrations / Interactive Product Labs

DAY 3 — Wednesday, May 13 (6.00 IL MCLE Credit)

8:00 – 9:00 AM Breakfast & Vendor Networking  

9:00 – 10:00 AM Plenary Panel: Human + Machine Collaboration: Redesigning Legal Workflows for the Next Decade 

10:00 – 11:30 AM Breakout Sessions
Track 1 (Litigation): AI & Jury Selection
Track 2 (Transactional): AI & Intellectual Property Rights
Track 3 (Administrative/Operational): AI & Investigations 

10:00 – 10:30 AM Vendor Hall & Coffee Break 

12:00 – 1:30 PM Box Lunch + Speaker

1:30 – 3:00 PM Breakout Sessions
Track 1 (Litigation): Judicial Perspectives on AI: Expectations, Concerns, and Courtroom Protocols
Track 2 (Transactional): AI in M&A: Automating Target Analysis and Post‑Closing Integration
Track 3 (Administrative/Operational): Budgeting and ROI for AI Investments in Legal Departments 

3:00 – 3:30 PM Vendor Hall & Coffee Break 

3:30 – 5:00 PM Vendor Demonstrations / Interactive Product Labs

To become a Symposium sponsor click here.

Early Bird Pricing (ends 3/31/2026)
Member 3-Day $450 
Member 1-Day $300 

Nonmember 3-Day $550 
Nonmember 1-Day 400 

Regular Pricing (after 3/31/2026)
Member 3-Day $550 
Member 1-Day $400 

Nonmember 3-Day $650
Nonmember 1-Day $500

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 seminar will provide a practical primer on consumer law issues in the public utilities space, with a focus on rising utility costs and their impact on consumers. Panelists will break down how utility rates are set, examine key drivers of increasing costs, review available assistance programs for consumers, and discuss emerging and ongoing issues in utility law, including fraud and consumer protection concerns. Designed for practitioners seeking a clear, nuts-and-bolts understanding of utility regulation and its consumer law implications.

TOPICS and SPEAKERS:
How Residential Utility Rates are Set 101, Rising Consumer Costs, and Consequences of Each
Daniel Schneider, Of Counsel, Legal Action Chicago; Chair, CBA Consumer Law Committee (Moderator)

Summary of the Laws the IL AG Uses in this Area, Update on Consumer Utility/Energy-Related Enforcement Efforts from the Past 5 Years or So, and a Preview of Emerging Issues in this Space
Christopher Kim, Deputy Bureau Chief, Public Utilities Bureau, Office of the Illinois Attorney General

Steps Illinois has Taken, and is Considering, to Provide Assistance to Low-Income Utility Consumers in the Past 5 Years, and Legal Questions Related to these Programs
Karen Lusson, Senior Attorney, National Consumer Law Center

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: Meditation Practice for Lawyers

Speaker: Brendan Cournane, Lawyer/Professional Development Coach

(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. 

Topic: Confidentiality Risks Posed by Artificial Intelligence 

Speaker: Sari Montgomery, Partner at Robinson, Stewart, Montgomery & Doppke LLC; Chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Professional Regulation

(IL Professionalism 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. 

Topic: Perspectives on Leadership & Change

Speaker: Christopher Punongbayan, Executive Director, California ChangeLawyers

(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. 

Interesting Arbitration Decisions from Illinois and Other Places

This seminar will consist of updates and highlights of several interesting arbitration decisions from Illinois and other places. 

Speaker, 
Daniel A. Cotter, Member, Aronberg Goldgehn; Co-Chair, CBA Cyber Law & Data Privacy and CBA Insurance Law Committees and Vice-Chair, CBA Financial & Emerging Technologies Committee

Moderator:
John Levitske, HKA Global, LLC; 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. 

This in person event will take place at The Chicago Bar Association (321 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago, IL 60604). Networking reception immediately following.

Join us for an engaging discussion on, “Pageants, Professionalism, and Power: Unexpected Lessons for Lawyers from Pageantry,” followed by a networking reception.

Take a behind-the-scenes look at how the skills our panelists developed through pageantry have shaped their success in legal careers.  

Discover how to apply techniques of the pageant trade—such as confident public speaking, maintaining composure and civility under pressure, defying biases and stereotypes, and overcoming imposter syndrome—to your legal practice and the legal profession.

These transferable skills can elevate your performance in oral arguments, trial work, negotiations, business development, and other high-stakes professional legal settings.

Moderators:
Miss Alabama prelim competitor
Judge Nichole C. Patton, President, The Chicago Bar Association

Miss America 2003
Erika Harold, Executive Director, Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism

This program is co-sponsored by The Chicago Bar Association, the CBA Alliance for Women, the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, LexisNexis and Carlson Dash.

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. 

Helping Attorneys Build Mental and Emotional Fitness for Greater Success and Satisfaction

This seminar introduces a neuroscience-based mental fitness framework designed to help attorneys reduce stress, manage emotional reactivity, and improve both performance and satisfaction. Participants will explore how common mental patterns, known as “Saboteurs”, undermine effectiveness, decision-making, and resilience in legal practice. Through practical, evidence-based tools and brief daily exercises, attorneys will learn how to strengthen the brain’s capacity for calm, clarity, and wise action under pressure.

Learning Objectives:
-Identify common mental patterns that contribute to stress, burnout, and reduced effectiveness in legal practice
-Understand the neuroscience of emotional reactivity and sound decision-making
-Learn practical techniques to improve focus, emotional regulation, and resilience
-Apply mental fitness tools to navigate professional and personal challenges with greater awareness, wisdom and    ease
-Build skills to approach legal practice and life with increased clarity, confidence, and well-being 

Guest Speaker: 
Michael Kaplan is the Founder of Vigorous Life and a Chicago-based, national board-certified health and wellness coach, with a deep passion for helping men overcome habits that are getting in their way, become more connected to their authentic selves, and live a more satisfying and vigorous life. 

Moderator: 
Jonathan Beitner is the Founder of Beitner Coaching & Consulting. Jonathan is a frequent speaker and author on topics related to the intersection of professional development and well-being.  He helps individuals identify and achieve their goals, and works with firms, law schools, and Fortune 500 companies to help their lawyers, students, and staff be more productive, happier, and healthier through individual coaching and evidence-based group programming. As a co-creator of the American Bar Association’s Well-Being Pledge, a lead organizer for the inaugural Well-Being Week in Law, and one of the drafters of the Mental Health and Substance Use CLE requirement in Illinois, Jonathan has experience creating and implementing industry-wide initiatives to help lawyers thrive.  He also serves as the Featured Well-Being Coach for the Chicago Bar Association. Jonathan previously practiced as a commercial litigator at an Am Law 100 firm and clerked for federal judges on the Sixth Circuit and Eastern District of Michigan after graduating from the University of Michigan Law School. He lives in Chicago with his wife and two young daughters.

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.