Speakers

Louis Amato-Gauci is a partner with Miller Thomson LLP in Toronto, where he provides customs and trade advice on the movement of goods across international borders, including the sale of goods, compliance with customs legislation, valuation issues, tariff classification, rules of origin and preferential tariff treatment under free trade agreements.  He represents clients during trade compliance verifications by the Canada Border Services Agency and in connection with administrative monetary penalties, seizures and other sanctions.  He is a recognized leader in the field of transportation law, and is frequently consulted by clients in all modes of transportation and in the warehousing and logistics sectors for strategic advice on regulatory compliance, safety matters, operating procedures and contracting practices.  Louis is a graduate of the University of Toronto: B.A. (Hist. & Engl. – 1995; J.D. – 1998), and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2000.  He served as president of the Canadian Transport Lawyers Association (2008-2009) and is listed in Lexpert® 2018 Guide to US/Canada Cross-Border Lawyers in Canada – Trade; Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory – Transportation (Road and Rail); Best Lawyers in Canada® – Aviation Law, Transportation Law; 2018 Lawyer of the Year – Transportation (Toronto); Chambers and Partners – Transportation: Rail & Road – Canada.

Steve Block is a member of Foster Pepper, PLLC in Seattle.  He has over 30 years of experience as a trial, transactional and regulatory lawyer in four state jurisdictions.  His transportation and logistics experience extends to all modes (domestic and international maritime, trucking, aviation and railroad).  It includes cargo and freight charge litigation, international trade and border security law, employment, insurance coverage, and general commercial disputes.  Steve represents transportation companies in regulatory matters before various state and local government agencies.

Steve received a J.D. from American University Washington College of Law; an LL.M. in Admiralty from Tulane Law School; an M.A. in Russian Studies from Middlebury College; a certificate from the Pushkin Institute in Moscow, Russia; and a B.A. from the University of North Carolina.  He is admitted to practice in Washington, Alaska, New York and the District of Columbia, as well as the U. S. District Courts for the Western District of Washington, the Eastern District of Washington, the District of Alaska, the District of Colorado, and the Southern District of New York; the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals and the U.S. Court of International Trade.

Steve served as the national president of the Association of Transportation Law Professionals in 2005-2006.  He is a Proctor in Admiralty member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States.  He is a prolific writer on transportation law topics, and publishes a newsletter devoted to recent legal developments in all modes of transportation.

Marc S. Blubaugh is a partner with the firm and serves as the Co-Chair of the firm’s Transportation & Logistics Practice Group, which has been designated by U.S. News & World Report as the “Transportation Law Firm of the Year” several times.  Mr. Blubaugh has been recognized as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” in the area of Transportation Law by the “The Best Lawyers in America” publication for over a decade.  He is a Past President of the Transportation Lawyers Association, currently serves as outside General Counsel to the Intermodal Association of North America, and is a Past President of the Columbus Roundtable of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.  Mr. Blubaugh is also active in other industry trade associations, such as the American Trucking Associations, the International Warehousing Logistics Association, the Transportation Intermediaries Association, and the Transportation Logistics Council.  He is a proud recipient of TLA’s Distinguished Service Award.
 
Mr. Blubaugh represents international and domestic carriers of all modes, freight forwarders, transportation brokers, warehousemen, other third-party logistics providers, and commercial shippers, in a wide variety of surface, air, and ocean disputes in state and federal courts throughout the country.  Mr. Blubaugh also regularly consults with transportation and logistics clients regarding contracting and regulatory issues and provides strategic advice to minimize liability.  He frequently presents on the subject of transportation and logistics law at events across North America.  He obtained his Bachelor of Arts from Case Western Reserve University and his Juris Doctorate from The Ohio State University.

Ms. Booth successfully represents clients in jury trials, court trials, administrative hearings, and arbitrations throughout California.  She concentrates on the transportation industry, representing trucking companies, freight forwarders, and brokers regarding freight claims, fee disputes, environmental and safety compliance, casualty claims, and employment disputes, including misclassification disputes.  Ms. Booth prepares the unique documents required by the industry, including bills of lading, shipping agreements, lease agreements, and warehouse agreements.  She provides advice on compliance with California environmental and labor laws, and prepares handbooks for employers.  Ms. Booth is the President of the Transportation Lawyers Association and is a member of the California State Bar, and the Conference of Freight Counsel.  Ms. Booth served for many years as a member of the Board of Directors of the California Trucking Association.  Ms. Booth received her BA degree in Economics from California State University, Northridge in 1983, and her Juris Doctorate degree from Southwestern University School of Law in 1986. 

Scott Carey is the former managing shareholder of Baker Donelson's Nashville office and the former Chair of the Firm's Transportation Group which has been ranked as the #1 Transportation Group in the country by The Best Lawyers in America for the past three years. He concentrates his practice in complex business and tort litigation, with a special emphasis on transportation-related litigation. He also counsels motor carriers on safety issues and provides training to for-hire and private carriers in a variety of areas. Mr. Carey is AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation and Transportation Law, and in Mid-South Super Lawyers. He graduated from Vanderbilt University and received his J.D. from the University of Tennessee.

Greg brings more than 25 years of product development, technology leadership and process management experience to GlobalTranz.
 
Prior to joining GlobalTranz, Greg was CTO and SVP of Product Development at Kewill, a global provider of enterprise logistics software to the world’s largest logistics and transportation companies including FedEx, Volvo, Crane, and DHL. Greg joined Kewill in 2014 to establish a new technology vision for the company and help communicate that vision to the market. At Kewill Greg led a global team of over 500 people and was responsible for product development, IT and cloud operations. Greg moved Kewill’s strategic products to the Amazon cloud, beginning with Kewill’s flagship Customs and Transportation products.

Wesley Chused is one of the nation's leading lawyers on transportation law. He practices from Preti, Flaherty, Beliveau & Pachios, Chartered, LLP's Boston office, focusing on transportation law and litigation. His clients include many of the country’s leading motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and insurance companies specializing in transportation, warehousing, cargo litigation, contract, independent contractor, and related issues. Wes previously practiced at Looney & Grossman in Boston for over 20 years, with an extensive list of clients across industries. His career also includes administrative practice before the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (successor to the former Interstate Commerce Commission) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities involving motor carrier, freight forwarder, and broker regulatory and safety issues. He regularly practices in state and federal courts in Massachusetts and in numerous other jurisdictions on a pro hac vice basis. Wes also speaks at many bar association and industry events, and has authored numerous papers on his practice areas.

David Cote is a bilingual, bijural, Admiralty lawyer from Montreal, Canada. He holds an LL.B. (civil law) from the University of Quebec in Montreal, and a J.D. (common law) from Queen’s University. He was called to the Quebec Bar in February 2017, halfway through his clerkship with the Federal Court in Ottawa. There, he clerked for the Honourable Mr. Justice Sean Harrington, Canada’s foremost Admiralty judge. He is currently legal counsel to the Administrator of the Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund.

Mr. Culver is a pragmatic advocate in litigation, transactional, and administrative matters for clients across a wide spectrum of industries, including transportation, construction, manufacturing, and entertainment.  Mr. Culver is experienced in handling complex freight and cargo claims, accident claims alleging minor to significant injuries involving commercial car, van, and truck services, employee classification and wage and hour disputes, business torts, and general liability defense.  Prior to attending law school, Mr. Culver worked in entertainment, publishing, and environmental advocacy, among other fields.  It is this diverse background that Mr. Culver believes helps him appreciate and understand his clients’ businesses.  While at Loyola Law School, Mr. Culver gained valuable experience serving as a judicial extern to the Honorable Kim McLane Wardlaw, Circuit Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, as a volunteer law clerk for the Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney in the Real Property and Environment Division, and on the Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review.  Mr. Culver received his A.B. from Occidental College and is admitted to practice before all of California’s state and federal courts.

Andrew M. Danas is a partner with the Washington, D.C. law firm of Grove, Jaskiewicz and Cobert LLP, where he represents clients on commercial, regulatory, and litigation issues involving international trade and transportation.

A recipient of the Transportation Lawyers Association’s Distinguished Service Award, Andy currently serves as Co-Chair of the TLA’s Antitrust and Unfair Trade Practices Committee.  In addition to his TLA activities, Andy served as Co-Chair of the American Bar Association Section of International Law International Transportation Committee (2014-2017).  He is a current Vice Chair of the ABA SIL International Contracts Committee.  Andy is also an officer and member of the Management Committee of the EALG, a multinational network of law firms.  

Andy received his undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut and his law degree from the National Law Center of the George Washington University, Washington, D.C.  He is a frequent speaker and writer on topics involving international trade and logistics, including legal issues related to the implementation of new technologies and business models based on such technologies.  His articles have appeared in The Transportation Lawyer, law reviews, and various trade publications. A complete biography can be found on the Grove, Jaskiewicz and Cobert website at http://www.gjcobert.com or Andy’s Linked-In webpage, http://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewdanas/.

Stephen T. Dennis' practice primarily focuses on helping clients find creative solutions to solve legal problems. He strives to educate his clients regarding their legal rights and provides them with several solutions to further their goals. To do this, Steve creates or revises documents that protect client interests, provides pre-litigation counseling, litigation, trial and appellate practice.

While he is capable of serving clients in many industries, he primarily works with clients who need help regarding transportation, energy, and insurance related issues.

I am a trial lawyer and marketing strategist. 
 
I am obsessed with studying and practicing what makes great trial lawyers great and social media infuencers influential, and I’ve been mentored by some of the most successful marketers and trial lawyers of our time. 
 
I help lawyers develop their reputations and their practices, by teaching them how to be more persuasive and magnetic in their marketing materials, and showing them tools to help them leverage social media to grow and scale their practices without having to spend thousands of dollars on expensive marketing agencies.
 
I have run my own boutique litigation practice [Gardner + Associates] since1992 where I have litigated a wide-array of cases for individuals and enterprises involving the entertainment business and real estate disputes, and defended clients accused of serious felonies including rape, murder, kidnapping, assault, elder and child abuse. 
 
I am a hearing officer for the Los Angeles County Civil Service Commission.
 
I created the “M4 Method to 10X Your Referrals” which teaches must-know survival strategies for 21st Century LawHumans who want to skyrocket their referrals, so that they have more impact, work less, earn more and never have to attend another rubber-chicken networking event again. 

Kurt Gerstner is a Senior Foreign Attorney at Lee International IP & Law Group in Seoul, South Korea. He is Co-Chair of TLA's International Trade and Transport Committee. He practiced as a trial lawyer in the US for more than 30 years before moving to his current firm in Korea. He continues to handle litigation matters in the US and Asia, as well as international arbitrations. He assists US attorneys and their Asian clients in complying with their discovery obligations. He also advises foreign companies and lawyers on trade, customs, bankruptcy, government investigations, corporate and regulatory law related to doing business in Korea.

David Hall is a shareholder in the Birmingham, Alabama office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C. (Baker Donelson). He chairs Baker Donelson’s Transportation Practice. He also serves as Chair of Baker Donelson’s 24 Hour Emergency Response Team. Prior to taking over as Chair of the Transportation Practice Group, he chaired Baker Donelson’s Motor Carrier Industry Service Team. He is listed as one of the Best Transportation Lawyers in America by The Best Lawyers in America® and was named by B-METRO magazine as one of Birmingham’s Top Legal Minds. Mr. Hall oversees his transportation clients’ full-service legal needs at the local, regional and national levels. Mr. Hall is a member of the Transportation Lawyers Association (Casualty Committee Chair), the Trucking Industry Defense Association, the Defense Research Institute, the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, the American, Alabama and Birmingham Bar Associations and is liaison attorney for Baker Donelson’s memberships in the American, Alabama, and Mississippi Trucking Associations.

Jeremy R. Handschuh is a founding partner at the Mitchell – Handschuh Law Group located in Atlanta, Georgia. His practice focuses on the transportation and business sectors advising clients in commercial and business litigation as well as corporate, regulatory, administrative, and transactional matters. Core clients in the transportation field include brokers or 3PLs, 4PLs, domestic and international freight forwarders, shippers, receivers; warehouses and consolidators; contract packaging companies; general commodity and refrigerated truckload and less-than-truckload carriers; haz-mat and tank carriers; and a variety of other business involved in handling, arranging, and moving freight. Jeremy handles a broad array of litigation matters in federal and state courts including freight collection matters, advanced collection proceedings such as fraudulent transfer actions and injunctions, cargo damage claims and collections, corporate ownership disputes, restrictive covenant disputes, and insurance coverage disputes. He also drafts, reviews, and revises transportation agreements, commercial law agreements, employment agreements including restrictive covenants, asset sales, and corporate governance agreements and filings. Jeremy has served as Vice Chair of the Transportation Lawyers Association’s Commercial and Business Litigation Committee since 2014. He and his wife, Angela, enjoy running together and, most proudly, raising their two daughters Madelyn and Evelyn.

Craig Helmreich is a partner with Scopelitis.  He received his B.A. from Butler University in 1997 (Political Science and Philosophy) and received his law degree, cum laude, from Indiana University in 2000.  He is admitted in all courts in Indiana.  Craig's practice is almost entirely focused on the issues of cargo claims, freight charges, transportation bankruptcies, technology and related issues.

At Advantage Management Corporation, Sandra K. Hiller acts as in-house counsel to a group of privately owned transportation related entities, the largest of which is for-hire interstate motor carrier, Dart Transit Company. Professional activities include serving as co-chair of the Corporate Counsel Committee of the Transportation Lawyers Association, an international association of transportation attorneys and service on local and international non-profit organization boards.

Hans practices out of the Anchorage, Alaska and Portland, Oregon offices of Lane Powell PC, where he focuses on representing transportation and insurance clients in the state and federal courts in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington.   He is a graduate of Oregon State University, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and Lewis & Clark Law School and clerked for the United States District Court for the District of Alaska.
 
A native of Montreal, Hans is looking forward to returning to his hometown to complete the Air and Space LLM program at McGill’s Institute of Air and Space Law in the 2019-2020 academic year.

Kathleen C. Jeffries, a partner with Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary, LLP in Pasadena, California, has over 35 years of experience in the practice of business litigation, contracts and general transportation law. With an emphasis on freight claim and freight charge litigation, she represents motor carriers, freight forwarders and property brokers, among other transportation entities, in civil litigation, regulatory and transportation-related misdemeanor proceedings, contract development and general business counsel. Ms. Jeffries recently served as Chair of the Conference of Freight Counsel; is past president of the Transportation Lawyers Association; and is a recipient of TLA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Distinguished Service Award and Special Presidential Commendation for Leadership and Mentorship. She is AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer recognition for ethical standards and legal ability; is recognized as a “Top Rated Lawyer in Transportation” by Martindale-Hubbell™ and American Lawyer Media; and has been selected as one of the top Southern California lawyers in the Southern California Super Lawyers Peer Survey Selection. She is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach, (BA, 1980) and University of California, Los Angeles, (JD, 1983).

Diankha Linear is the Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of one of Seattle's fastest growing tech startup companies, Convoy, Inc. Ms. Linear brings over 20 years of legal and business experience with Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, the military, not-for-profit organizations and top-tier law firms.  Diankha is a Seattle native and graduate of both the University of Pennsylvania Law School and the University of Washington. She has served 16 years in the military where she was an Army (Airborne):  Logistics & Transportation, Civil Affairs Special Operations Unit, and Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer. Ms. Linear currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Rainier Scholars, a non-profit organization that creates transformational educational opportunities to highly motivated first generation college students and Lake Washington Girls Middle School, a middle school with a mission to prepare girls to be confident women who are strong in mind, body, and voice. Diankha also has led and served as the president of a number of other local Boards, including Habitat for Humanity Seattle/South King County and the Loren Miller Bar Association. She is passionate about community leadership and giving back.

Israel A. Ludwig was educated at the University of Manitoba obtaining a B Sc in 1968 and a LLB in 1972. He was called to the Manitoba Bar in 1973. Israel is a litigation lawyer having argued cases in all levels of courts and tribunals, including the Supreme Court of Canada. Israel is President of the Canadian Transport Lawyers Association. He is also a member of the Manitoba Bar Association, the Canadian Bar Association as well as the Transportation Lawyers Association (USA). Israel is a supporter of the Robson Hall Law School of the University of Manitoba. He is presently the Chair of its Fund Raising campaign to create a Chair of Aboriginal Law Studies.

Fredric Marcinak is an attorney and founding partner at Moseley Marcinak Law Group LLP, where he represents transportation companies, including both carriers and intermediaries, regionally and nationwide on commercial litigation matters, including cargo/freight claims, collections/contract disputes, FMCSA and state regulatory compliance and permitting matters, and insurance coverage cases. In these litigation matters, Fredric has tried multiple cases to verdicts before juries and handled appeals for transportation clients. Having handled complex litigation matters, Fredric has recognized that having a good game plan in advance is the best way to avoid costly lawsuits. Knowing this, Fredric enjoys assisting with general business matters that transportation companies face every day, such as independent contractor leasing issues, complex workers compensation scenarios, regulatory compliance and safety issues, and contracting with customers and vendors. By working with clients on these issues as they manage their companies, Fredric hopes to help lay the groundwork to stay out of litigation or to successfully defend it when it arises.
 
As a native of the Upstate region of South Carolina, Fredric enjoys hiking, fishing, and camping in the mountains of North and South Carolina. Fredric and his wife and three children enjoy serving the community through their local church and other local organizations.
 
Member, Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association
 
Member, Conference of Freight Counsel
 
Transportation Lawyers Association
Executive Committee
Chair, Freight Claims Committee

Jennifer represents private and public employers in federal and state court and before administrative agencies regarding discrimination, harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, wrongful termination, and numerous other types of employment law matters.  Jennifer also handles complex wage and hour class actions (including off-the-clock claims, meal and rest period violations, exempt misclassification, and contractor misclassification) in federal and state courts, as well as other representative and collective actions under the California Private Attorneys General Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act.  Within the past year, Jennifer second chaired a state court jury trial, obtaining a complete defense verdict for her client on a claim of disability discrimination and failure to accommodate.

In addition to her litigation practice, Jennifer counsels employers on a wide variety of employment issues, such as hiring practices, employment policies, disability accommodations and leave administration, worker classification issues, executive contracts, covenants not to compete, terminations, and reductions in force.  She specializes, in particular, in advising start-ups, early stage companies, and technology companies. In addition to general advice and counseling, Jennifer handles sensitive harassment and whistleblower investigations.
Jennifer also has considerable merger and acquisition experience, assisting clients in structuring corporate transactions to minimize employment-related risks and maximize the value of the transaction from an employment perspective. Jennifer assists clients with post-transaction issues as well, including integration, policy compliance, employee leveling, and restructuring.

Prior to joining Hanson Bridgett, Jennifer practiced in the employment litigation and employee mobility practices at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in Palo Alto.

Gordon McAuley is Of Counsel to Williams & Gumbiner LLP in San Rafael (Bay Area) California, and has been a transportation lawyer for 37 years. An author of more than 50 published transportation and mediation articles, he is a Past President of the Transportation Lawyers Association, and former Chair of its Freight Claims Committee. He received his mediator certification in 1996, and has been a federal district court panel mediator since 1999. Gordon has served as a mediator in more than 125 cases involving transportation, personal injury, real estate, and commercial disputes. He argued 3 cases before the Ninth Circuit, including Hughes Aircraft v. North American Van Lines. While still litigating cases, he also specializes as a Transportation Mediator traveling throughout the nation to assist parties in settling their disputes.
  
Gordon previously was an equity partner with the major San Francisco law firm Hanson Bridgett where he was head of its Transportation and Logistics Practice Group. He is A-V rated by Martindale-Hubbell, has been selected over many years as a Northern California Super Lawyer, and is listed in Best Lawyers in America in the Transportation category. 
 
Gordon earned a Philosophy degree from U.C. Berkeley and J.D. from the Univ. of San Francisco Law School. He also was an air traffic controller in Europe with the U.S. Air Force, and is a licensed private pilot.

Paul represents public and private sector clients in high stakes litigation, including putative and certified wage and hour, misclassification, harassment, and discrimination class actions. His practice focuses on complex employment litigation, and he has significant experience in all aspects of the transportation industry. 

 

Paul’s transportation experience includes representing transportation clients in individual, multi-plaintiff, putative and certified class action litigation.  Paul frequently counsels and advises his transportation clients regarding litigation prevention and compliance issues.  Paul also regularly drafts transportation related agreements and contracts for his shipper, broker, 3PL, and 4PL clients.

Jason Orleans' practice at Orleans Canty Novy, LLC focuses on transportation-related matters, including the defense of casualty and cargo loss under the Carmack Amendment. He also has extensive experience defending construction and premises liability matters. Jason's practice includes trial work in State and Federal courts, the Illinois Court of Claims, and hearings at private mediation and arbitration. HIs practice also includes insurance coverage litigation in State and Federal courts, with an emphasis on coverage disputes arising from construction and transportation-related losses. Jason also provides commercial contract drafting and general consultation related to transportation and construction entities. 

Coby Page serves as Assistant General Counsel for Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings and its domestic and international subsidiaries. He is primarily responsible for commercial transactions and contracts, but also handles general corporate, governance, and securities matters. He values the opportunities to guide management in an effort to limit risk and liability while championing corporate objectives.   Coby graduated from Brigham Young University in 2001 with a B.A. in German. In 2006, he received his Juris Doctor from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. Coby is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, but has called Phoenix home since finishing law school. He has been a member of the Arizona bar since 2006. Before joining Knight-Swift, Coby worked in various private practice and government positions. Outside of work, you can find Coby playing basketball, strumming his guitar, hiking, rockhounding, and spending quality time with his wife, Natalie, and their four children, ages 15 to 6.

Peter G. Pamel graduated from McGill University Law School in 1987 and joined the predecessor firm of Borden Ladner Gervais. He is a partner with the Shipping Group in their Montreal office and practices exclusively in the area of Maritime law. Peter acts as counsel to numerous shipowners, operators, charterers and shipping lines around the world, and is regularly retained by P&I Clubs and other marine insurers. He is actively involved in his firm's Northern Initiative, Team North, and the development of the firm's marketing efforts in the Canada’s Arctic. He is a leader in the field of arctic navigation, often travels to the Canadian polar region, and is Past Chair of the Arctic Issues Committee of the Canadian Maritime Law Association. Peter is a lifetime Montrealer, married, has two boys, and is fluent in English, French and Greek.

 

Tim Pavilonis, from the Coast Guard’s Office of Maritime & International Law, is the legal advisor to the Coast Guard’s Director of Marine Transportation Systems in Washington, D.C. A 1991 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy and retired Commander with the Coast Guard Reserve, Tim has over 30 years of experience with the Service as a maritime safety officer, and both uniformed and civilian attorney. In his present role, Tim provides legal advice to Coast Guard senior leadership and operational commanders on a wide range of Coast Guard authorities including the management of our nation’s waterways, the permitting of major bridge projects and the operation and maintenance of the U.S. Aids to Navigation constellation, which includes electronic systems such as the Automated Identification System, differential GPS and developing eLORAN system.  
 
Mr. Pavilonis also serves as the Coast Guard legal advisor for the U.S. delegation to the International Maritime Organization’s subcommittee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue, where he has focused on the international recognition of vessel traffic routing measures and the integration of new satellite communication systems into the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System. As a private practice attorney, Tim focused on real estate and commercial litigation in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 

William B. Pentecost, Jr. is a partner in the Pittsburgh office of Cipriani & Werner, P.C., and he is a member of the firm’s Transportation Law practice.  For more than 20 years, he has concentrated his practice in civil litigation, focusing on transportation law (with an emphasis on catastrophic trucking cases) and products liability cases (with a focus on automotive, fire and toxic exposure claims).
 
Prior to joining Cipriani & Werner, Mr. Pentecost served as regional counsel for a Fortune 500 corporation's defense of toxic exposure cases in ten western states.  In that capacity, he managed litigation strategy, local counsel, discovery and experts for hundreds of cases.
 
Mr. Pentecost has been a member of the U.S. Army Reserve since he enlisted in 1987.  He is now serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in the JAG Corps, and he currently leads a team of Judge Advocates assigned to the Trial Defense Service in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.   Since 2013, Mr. Pentecost has served as a Commissioner on the Governor of Pennsylvania's Military Community Enhancement Commission.
 
Mr. Pentecost has received the highest rating of AV® Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell.  He is a regular speaker and panelist for a variety of legal and industry professional organizations, and he is an active member of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC), the Defense Research Institute (DRI), the Transportation Lawyers Association (TLA) and the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association (PMTA).  He currently serves on TLA's Executive Committee and is the chair of its Motor Carrier Committee.  He is also a member of the American, Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Bar Associations.

Jeff Pincus' practice at Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP focuses on the defense and trial of catastrophic losses in the trucking and transportation industry.  He also handles matters involving high exposure construction accidents, sexual molestation, construction defect, defamation, claimed product defects as well as those matters stemming from municipal and premises liability, medical and dental malpractice, nursing home liability and vehicular negligence. Jeff is a member of Lewis Johs’ Catastrophic Loss Response Team.  He acts as advisory counsel to companies involved in the transportation industry, either directly or through their insurance carriers. Jeff started his career as Assistant District Attorney where he handled all phases of criminal prosecution.  From there, he joined a boutique law firm concentrating his practice in anti-fraud litigation.   He considers himself privileged to have tried cases for over 25 years. Jeff was admitted to practice in New York in 1990.  He is admitted to the United States District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.  He is a member of the Defense Research Institute, the Risk and Insurance Management Society, the Transportation Lawyers Association, where he served on its Executive Committee, the Nassau County Bar Association, the Nassau Suffolk Trial Lawyer’s Association, the Former Assistant District Attorney’s Association of Nassau County, and Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce.   In 2012, Jeff was selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers, which recognizes the top 5% of lawyers in the region. Jeff has lectured to corporate clients, insurance organizations and attorneys on a variety of issues, including the presentation and cross examination of expert witnesses, the implication of the internet age on employer’s responsibilities, catastrophic loss response, preservation of evidence as well as crisis communication planning.  He has also lectured to attorneys and representatives of municipalities on the access to public information.   He has lectured for the Transportation Lawyers Association on numerous occasions. In 1989, Jeff Pincus received his Juris Doctor from Hofstra University School of Law where he served as Managing Editor of Articles for the Hofstra Labor Law Journal.  He was awarded his Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from the State University of New York at Albany in 1986.

Steve Prelutsky is a Claims Practice Specialist Lead with National Transportation Adjusters, A Gallagher Bassett Company, a third-party claims administration firm specializing exclusively in the resolution of loss activity involving the motor carrier industry. Prior to joining NTA, Mr. Prelutsky was a Partner at Hall, Booth, Smith in Atlanta, Ga and licensed in Georgia and Tennessee. While at Hall, Booth, Smith, Mr. Prelutsky lead the transportation practice group. In addition, Mr. Prelutsky was a former Chairman of USLAW’s transportation group. Mr. Prelutsky has spoken at numerous conferences including DRI, USLAW and American Trucking Associations.
 

Main Areas of Law
Legal service provider to the (Transport) industry; drafting and negotiation of project, delivery and logistics agreements for freight forwarders, shipping companies, airlines, airports, offshore companies, trade and the manufacturing industry; solution oriented advice on transport liability, cargo and hull damage for all carriers, insurers and P&I Clubs, experienced litigator, arbitrator.

Career
Dr. Marco Remiorz studied in Bonn and Lausanne (1993-1998), worked in the legal department of a major German automobile supplier in Hamburg (1998-1999) as well as at an international law firm based in California (2000), Partner at Dabelstein & Passehl since 2008 and Managing Partner at ARNECKE SIBETH DABELSTEIN

Professional Memberships
President of the Commission on Transport Law at the AIJA (International Association of Young Lawyers) 2008-2011, deputy chairman of the Transport Law Committee of the ABA (American Bar Association, International Law Section) 2011-2016, maritime & transport committee officer at the IBA (International Bar Association) since January 2019

Publications
Dr. Marco Remiorz publishes articles on all aspects of transport, maritime and aviation law.

Junior Partner at the firm Sesma, Sesma & McNeese, S.C. in Mexico City. Law degree by the Autonomous National University of Mexico (UNAM), with specialized studies in constitutional law and civil & commercial litigation. Practice areas primarily focused in transportation & logistics, followed by corporate governance, administrative law, government procurement & public tenders; mainly representing international clients expanding into the Mexican transportation and logistics market. Served as general counsel for over six years in two cutting-edge technology companies in the renewable energy and medical sectors, assisting in the creation of multi-national distribution channels into the LATAM region. An active member of the Transportation Lawyers Association and the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico.

Cameron Roberts is a partner at Roberts & Kehagiaras LLP in Long Beach, California, with more than twenty-five years of experience in international trade. His practice areas include customs law, export compliance, domestic and international transportation law, maritime law, trade and insurance issues. He is a member of numerous trade and legal associations. He is the Chairman of the Board of the Foreign Trade Association, and serves as an Advisor to the Board of the Harbor Transportation Club. Mr. Roberts is an adjunct professor at California State University, Long Beach. He is a frequent presenter and author on topics related to his practice areas. He is a licensed customs broker (1989) and former transportation executive. He earned his B.A. degree in political science and international relations from California State University, Long Beach, and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from the Seattle University School of Law. Mr. Roberts has qualified as an expert witness in Federal court, is admitted to practice in California and Washington, the Court of International Trade and before the Federal Maritime Commission.

Alejandro García Seimandi    Attorney at Law graduated from the Escuela Libre de Derecho. He has tariff classification training at the World Customs Organization. Founder of García Seimandi y Asociados, SC (Seimandi), a boutique firm specialized in customs and international trade matters.     Member of the Tariff Classification Council of the Mexican customs authority. Has been Panelist under Chapter XIX of NAFTA. Member of the Asociación Nacional de Abogados de Empresa (ANADE), the Barra Mexicana (BMA), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Instituto Mexicano de Contadores Públicos (IMCP).     Has taught customs topics at the UNAM, the UIA, the ITESM and the Escuela de Clasificación Arancelaria (ESCLA). Has given conferences and seminars at the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, the U.S.- Mexico Law Institute, the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, the Society for Corporate Compliance and Ethics, the Confederación Latinoamericana de Agentes Aduanales, the Instituto Mexicano de Ejecutivos de Comercio Exterior and the Asociación Nacional de Importadores y Exportadores de la República Mexicana. Coauthor of the book Conocimientos básicos de Comercio Exterior and various articles published in specialized magazines and newspapers such as Práctica Fiscal, El Economista and Excélsior.   

Beata Shapiro, a Partner at Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP, has extensive experience working with insurance and transportation companies, including public and private carriers, shippers and intermediaries, on defense of claims for personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, product liability, environmental claims, and claims for freight shortage, theft, and damage. In addition, she has represented numerous entities in suits to recoup for property damages, including cargo damages, and freight charge disputes. Beata also helps clients with preparation of shipping and shipping logistics contracts, employment guidelines, document retention policies, and with regulatory  compliance and has represented clients in administrative proceedings resulting from federal
and state agency nes.  Beata has also worked with numerous clients on emergency response and product recall, including interfacing with government agencies, experts, and adjusters with investigation and evidence gathering, managing environmental clean-ups and assessments, and preparing public statements on behalf of the client.

Beata brings to her cases a wealth of talent and experience gained from diverse ventures, including study of economics and business in Italy and France, clerking for a Massachusetts state court judge, and assisting institutional and private high-value investors with investments in stocks, bonds, mutual funds and non-traditional investment vehicles while working for an international investment corporation. She served as a legislative aide in the office of a Massachusetts state senator, where she researched and drafted legislation in areas such as
stem cell research, child protection, consumer safety, taxation, insurance and constitutional law. Beata was also a legal intern at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation in Washington, DC, a federal agency providing nancing and insurance for high-risk foreign investment, where she researched and analyzed domestic and international law, including provisions of bilateral and regional trade agreements, such as NAFTA, and assisted with real estate closings and commercial nance and political risk insurance claims in Latin America and Eastern Europe. As an attorney, she has also worked extensively with domestic banks and investors in commercial and residential real estate transactions.

Areas of Focus
Transportation 
Beata has published articles and conducted educational seminars for clients and organizations in the transportation industry on topics ranging from state and federal court procedures to substantive legal issues and litigation strategies for defending actions related to catastrophic personal injury, cargo damage/shortage, regulatory compliance, product liability, insurance coverage and subrogation claims. 

Automotive
Beata is the national coordinating counsel for several insurance companies with respect to pre- and post-litigation handling of claims under personal auto and small, medium and large fleet policies.

Product Liability
Beata defends clients against product liability and mass tort actions in a variety of categories, from commercial vehicles to consumer and commercial products. She represents U.S.-based businesses as well as Canadian companies confronting exposures arising from U.S. product liability litigation.

Real Estate/Premises Liability
From transactional real estate to corporate issues and government relations to land use and zoning issues, Beata handles matters that arise from the ownership and management of real property. In addition, she defends clients in premises liability claims.

 

Jeff joined GlobalTranz after spending 30 years in private practice, most recently with the national law firm of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, LLP. He brings 26 years of experience in the transportation industry representing motor, rail, ocean and air carriers as well as brokers, before courts, regulatory agencies and in contract negotiations.

Jeff currently serves as President Elect of the Transportation Lawyers Association and is a past Chairman of the Conference of Freight Counsel. He is also an active member of the Trucking Industry Defense Association.

Jeff has been named in the 2011 through 2016 editions of the Best Lawyers in America® in the field of Transportation Law, and in the 2015 and 2016 editions of the Southwest Super Lawyers® in the area of Transportation/Maritime Law. In 2014, he received the Transportation Lawyers Association’s Distinguished Service Award.

Jeff is a 1983 graduate of Georgetown University and a 1986 graduate of the University of Arizona College of Law.

Lisa Smith is a lawyer, writer and podcast host in New York City. She is the author of GIRL WALKS OUT OF A BAR, her memoir of high-functioning addiction and recovery in the world of New York City corporate law. She also cohosts the podcast, Recovery Rocks, an inclusive discussion of issues affecting people in all kinds of recovery. Lisa is passionate about breaking the stigma of addiction and mental health issues and is a frequent speaker at law firms, law schools, bar associations, and other organizations. She has appeared on TODAY and BBC World News discussing alcoholism and addiction. Her writing has been published in The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and Women’s Health, among others.     Prior to beginning her more than 15-year career in law firm business development and administration, Lisa practiced law in the Corporate Finance group of a leading international firm. She is a graduate of Northwestern University and Rutgers School of Law, where she served on the Editorial Board of the Rutgers Law Review.     More on Lisa’s writing can be found at www.lisasmithauthor.com. She can be reached at [email protected], on Twitter and Instagram @girlwalksout, and on Facebook.  

President and Shareholder,
Beery & Spurlock Co., L.P.A

Practice Areas:  Transportation; Business Litigation; Antitrust and Trade Regulation; Labor and Employment; Transportation-Related Taxation; Corporate Structuring and Business Transactions; Regulatory Compliance; Third-Party Logistics; DOT Audits; and Cargo Claims. 
 
Experience:  Mike has been practicing transportation law for over 35 years representing many types of motor carriers, bus carriers, domestic and international shippers, property brokers, private carriers, and leasing companies.  He has litigated numerous transportation-related cases in Ohio courts, including the Ohio Supreme Court, and the United States District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of Ohio, and the Eastern and Western Districts of Pennsylvania.  Mike successfully represented several transportation companies in a multi-million dollar antitrust suit entitled In Re:  Lower Lake Erie Iron Ore Antitrust Litigation (MDL 587) 998 F.2d 1144 (3^rd Cir. 1993), in which he acted as trial counsel in the 10 week jury trial and as appellate counsel.
  
Admissions to Practice:  Ohio Bar (1974); All Ohio courts, the U.S. Supreme Court, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third, Sixth, Seventh and Ninth Circuits.
 
Education:  The Ohio State University, Business School (B.S. in Accounting, 1971); Member of the Delta Gamma Sigma Honors Fraternity and Beta Alpha Psi Honors Accounting Fraternity (President 1970-1971); and The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law (J.D. 1974, cum laude).

Professional Affiliations:  Columbus and Ohio State Bar Associations; Transportation Lawyers Association (Executive Committee, 1999-2000); Former President of Ohio Transportation Lawyer’s Association; Conference of Freight Counsel; Ohio Trucking Association.

Honors:  Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating (Highest Possible Rating – Based upon Peer Review Ratings); Included in The Best Lawyers in America for 2009 – 2014, Transportation Law; Named “Lawyer of the Year” for 2013, Central Ohio, Transportation Law, in The Best Lawyers in America (Selected by Peer Recognition).

Rick A. Steinberg is Of Counsel to the law firm, Price, Meese, Shulman & D’Arminio, P.C., in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, where he practices bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, transportation and maritime law, and commercial litigation.  Rick is admitted to the bars of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.  He is a graduate of Columbia College of Columbia University and Rutgers University School of Law.  He is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Transportation Lawyers Association, where he is the Chairman of the Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights Committee.  Rick is also a member of the Maritime Law Association, where he is a Proctor in Admiralty.
 
Mr. Steinberg has published numerous articles, including: “Venue in Bankruptcy: To Change or Not to Change,” The Transportation Lawyer, July 2018; “Ocean Carrier Claims in Bankruptcy,” The Transportation Lawyer, October 2017; “The Effect of Bankruptcy on Admiralty Rule B Attachments,” The Transportation Lawyer, December 2016; “The UIIA: A Primer on the Uniform Intermodal Interchange Agreement,” The Transportation Lawyer, July 2015; “The Intersection of Bankruptcy Law and Maritime Law: Selected Topics for the Transportation Law Practitioner,” The Transportation Lawyer, April 2013; “The End of Winter Storms: The End of Prejudgment Attachment of Electronic Funds Transfers under Maritime and Admiralty Law,” The Transportation Lawyer, April 2010; and, “The New Bankruptcy Code’s Ordinary Course of Business Defense to a Preference Proceeding,” In Transit, Summer 2006.
 

Evelyn Suarez provides legal and consulting services to companies engaged in international trade, particularly related to customs, anti-corruption and trade policy. She assists clients with a wide array of issues from those arising at the border in dealing with Customs & Border Protection (CBP) to interpreting changes in U.S. trade policy, such as the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA/ USMCA), modifications to the Korea-U.S. Trade Agreement (KORUS), Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs and Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports. Over the years, she has helped clients with import and export compliance and enforcement in various industries and has worked with all segments of the international trade community, including importers, exporters, customs brokers, transportation and logistics companies.
 
Ms. Suarez represents clients before all trade agencies and in litigation before the U.S. Court of International Trade, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court and on legislative matters.  Ms. Suarez also has extensive experience handling high profile investigations, including the U.N. Volcker Committee and various Congressional investigations into the U.N. Oil-for-Food Programme.
 
Ms. Suarez spent her early professional career at the U.S. International Trade Commission and at the predecessor agency to U.S. Customs & Border Protection.

Greg E. Summy is General Solicitor with Norfolk Southern Corporation, Norfolk, VA.  Previously he served as Associate General Counsel with North American Van Lines and Corporate Counsel with Lee Way Motor Freight.  Mr. Summy received a B. A. and J. D. from the University of Oklahoma, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif.  He is admitted to practice in Oklahoma, Indiana (inactive) and Virginia.    Since coming to Norfolk Southern in 1994, Mr. Summy has provided advice and counsel to the Marketing Division of NS, and provides assistance on a daily basis in the area of transportation contracts, intermodal operations and regulatory matters. Mr. Summy is a Past President of TLA and Past Chair of the Transportation Law Section of the Virginia Bar Association.  At TLA, Mr. Summy has been honored with the Distinguished Service Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award and the coveted Bullshipper's Award.  Presently, Mr. Summy serves as President of the Norfolk Portsmouth Bar Association Foundation, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia.  Mr. Summy has appeared on CLE panels of the TLA, CTLA, Maritime Law Association, the U. S. Law Firm Association and the Virginia Bar Association.

Miriam Tepperman is a partner at Isaacs & Co. She joined the firm in 2014. She has experience handling complex litigation in areas of professional liability, product liability, property damage, subrogation, motor vehicle defence, occupiers’ liability, crown liability, municipal liability, and institutional sexual abuse claims. Miriam has represented clients before the Ontario Court of Appeal, Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Small Claims Court, Financial Services Commission of Ontario, Workplace Safety Insurance Appeals Tribunal, Human Rights Tribunal, as well as the College of Pharmacists. Miriam has been actively involved in giving presentations on a wide variety of topics, including product liability; assessing damages; waivers and releases; mould; pollution and environmental law trends; occupiers’ liability and Mary Carter agreements. Miriam is also a recognized author with publications in The Transportation Lawyer regarding the Trucking Industry in Ontario. Miriam completed her undergraduate degree at York University where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree. She then attended Schulich School of Business and Osgoode Hall Law School graduating with a Masters of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 2002. She was called to the Ontario Bar in July 2003. Miriam lives in Toronto with her husband Lawrence and twin daughters. Miriam is an avid reader, jigsaw puzzler, and enjoys Sudoku.
 

Jason Traff is the co-founder and President of Shipwell, a managed freight platform based in Austin, TX that connects shippers, 3PLs, and carriers together in a single place. Prior to Shipwell, he co-founded and ran CopyCat Paintings, a global art reproduction company based in Shenzhen, China that employed over 1,000 artists and shipped to four continents, and Leaky, an insurance technology startup backed by Y-Combinator that provided over $300 million of insurance quotes. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and holds an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

Eric Zalud is a partner with and Associate Chair of Benesch’s Litigation Practice Group and co-chair of the Transportation & Logistics Practice Group. He is also a member of the firm's Executive Committee. Eric is a Past President of the Transportation Lawyers Association (TLA).
 
Eric has litigated or arbitrated matters in 29 states, before state and federal trial and appellate courts in various jurisdictions, and before the Surface Transportation Board, the U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals, and the United States Olympic Committee. Eric serves on the TLA’s committees on freight claims, motor carrier transportation, litigation, logistics and e-commerce. He received the TLA’s Distinguished Service Award for 2001.
 
Eric has experience in Warsaw Convention litigation matters, Carmack Amendment litigation, COGSA litigation, PUCO dealings, NHTSA matters and DOT and Surface Transportation Board matters. He also has general experience in air and surface freight disputes, freight intermediary issues and litigation, private fleet formation, truck sale and purchase issues, freight undercharge and over length disputes, admiralty litigation, freight loss and damage litigation, motor carrier casualty and personal injury work, regulatory and registration issues, driver leasing issues and general regulatory compliance matters.
 
Under Eric's leadership, Benesch was named Law Firm of the Year for 2014, 2016 and 2017 in the area of Transportation Law by Best Lawyers®/U.S. News & World Report "Best Law Firms". For the sixth consecutive year (2014-2019), Benesch has received a national first-tier ranking in Transportation Law also by U.S. News & World Report/Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms".
 

Gene F. Zipperle Jr., began his litigation career in 1988. He has been licensed in Kentucky since 1988 and Indiana since 1989. Gene has litigated in the state and federal courts of Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio, and federal court in Florida and North Carolina. His current practice focuses on all aspects of fidelity and surety law, transportation litigation, and insurance coverage litigation.

Gene routinely speaks at conferences and practice seminars. He has published several articles in the Defense Research Institute publication “For the Defense”, as well as numerous trade publications on a variety of subjects.

Gene is a member of the Kentucky Bar Association, the Indiana State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section Fidelity & Surety Law Committee, Defense Research Institute Fidelity and Surety and Trucking Committees, Eastern Bond Claims Review, National Bond Claims Association, Transportation Lawyers Association Executive Committee, and other similar trade organizations.