Speakers

John F. Wilcox, Jr. is a Director/Shareholder with Dysart Taylor Cotter McMonigle & Montemore, P.C. in Kansas City, Missouri. For more than 20 years, he has represented clients in the trucking industry, advising motor carriers, drivers, 3PLs, shippers, manufacturers and governmental entities in wrongful death, serious personal injury and property claims.

Mr. Wilcox is the current President of The Transportation Lawyers Association and is the Co-Chair of the Missouri Bar’s Tort and Transportation Committee. He is a recipient of TLA’s Distinguished Service Award.

Mr. Wilcox earned his Bachelor of Science from Missouri State University and his Juris Doctorate from The University of Kansas.
 

John has practiced litigation for more than four decades, representing his clients in admiralty, transportation, construction, product liability, insurance, and business law. He served as a military lawyer in the U.S. Coast Guard and as a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice, before entering private practice in New York and New Jersey, serving in leadership capacities in law firms in both states.  John is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey, and Virginia, in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, and Eastern Districts of New York and the District of New Jersey, and in the Second and Third U.S. Courts of Appeals.

In 1997, John formed the Law Offices of John C. Lane (the Lane Law Firm), continuing in his fields of practice in the state and federal trial and appellate courts of New York and New Jersey, including the Second and Third U.S. Courts of Appeals. John’s practice now emphasizes admiralty, transportation, trucking defense, insurance, and business litigation. John is also an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and an arbitrator and mediator for the Transportation ADR Council of the Transportation Lawyers Association. He also serves as a mediator for the Superior Court of New Jersey.

Active in professional associations, John is a member of the Transportation Lawyers Association, the Trucking Industry Defense Association, the Conference of Freight Counsel, and the Defense Research Institute. He is a Proctor in Admiralty and a lifetime member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States and is a member of The American, New York State, and New Jersey State Bar Associations, and the Virginia State Bar, where he is also licensed to practice law.  John has authored numerous articles on transportation and arbitration law for The Transportation Lawyer, and has served as a speaker for both the Transportation Lawyers Association and the Trucking Industry Defense Association.

John remains active in the VMI Alumni Association, having served on its Board of Directors and as president of the Northern New Jersey Alumni Chapter. He is also active as an Elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Sparta, New Jersey.

John is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, and earned his Juris Doctor degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law (serving on the Law Review), both located in Lexington, Virginia.
 

Bill is a partner in the Pittsburgh office of Cipriani & Werner, P.C. and he is the co-chair of the firm’s Transportation Law Practice Group.  For more than 20 years, he has concentrated his practice in civil litigation, focusing on transportation law (with an emphasis on catastrophic trucking cases), construction defect claims, and products liability cases (with a focus on automotive, fire, and toxic exposure claims).

Prior to joining Cipriani & Werner, Bill 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.

Bill served in the U.S. Army Reserve since he enlisted as a private in 1987 until he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the JAG Corps in 2019.  Bill 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 is an active member of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC), the Defense Research Institute (DRI), the Pennsylvania Defense Institute (PDI), the Transportation Lawyers Association (TLA), the Canadian Transportation Lawyers Association (CTLA) and the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association (PMTA).  From 2017 to 2019, he served on TLA's Executive Committee.  He also served as co-chair of TLA's Casualty Litigation Committee and currently serves as chair of its Motor Carrier Committee.  He is also a member of the American, Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Bar Associations.

Mr. Pentecost is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as the U.S. District Courts for the Western, Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania, the District of New Jersey, and the Northern District of Ohio.  He is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Mr. Pentecost is originally from Massachusetts, and he attended Providence College in Rhode Island.  In 1992, he graduated with a major in accounting. After moving to Pittsburgh, Mr. Pentecost graduated summa cum laude from Duquesne University School of Law in 1996.  He was first in his class and a member of the Duquesne Law Review.
 

Thomas C. Martin concentrates his practice primarily in the areas of transportation law, community association law and commercial litigation. He serves as legal counsel to internationally recognized motor carriers, freight brokers and related transportation business entities. Mr. Martin addresses a multitude of issues including defense of cargo loss and damage claims, personal injury, workplace issues, claims management, risk assessment and federal and state compliance. Mr. Martin is in the forefront of this sophisticated and constantly evolving field of transportation law. As a member of the nationally recognized Conference of Freight Counsel, Mr. Martin works with industry insiders to consider and address legal issues facing carriers on a nationwide basis. He has authored numerous articles in the field and has been an active speaker as a member of the Transportation Lawyers Association, the Conference of Freight Counsel and the Transportation Loss Prevention & Security Association. Currently, Mr. Martin is a member of the Freight Claims Committee of the Transportation Lawyers Association.

Mr. Martin is also counsel to a substantial number of community associations and is actively engaged in a wide range of unique and complex areas of litigation and regulatory practice. He has extensive knowledge of all aspects of this increasingly complex field. As a member of the Legislative Action Committee of the New Jersey Community Associations Institute, Mr. Martin works with members of the New Jersey State legislature to help educate and clarify issues on pending legislation. Mr. Martin is on the forefront of this evolving practice area. He worked with others on amicus briefs for the Appellate Division and Supreme Court on the landmark Twin Rivers case – the first in the nation to address the contours of public constitutional free speech within private common interest associations. He has also been quoted as an authority in the field by leading publications, is the author of numerous articles and is a frequent speaker.

Mr. Martin is a graduate of the University of Maryland and Seton Hall School of Law. While attending law school, he volunteered for the Honorable Seymour Margulies, J.S.C., Hudson County and served with the New Jersey Bureau of Securities. As a member of the Seton Hall Legislative Journal, he authored the Note, The Comprehensive Terrorism Prevention Act of 1995. He also served as judicial law clerk for the Honorable Frank M. Donato, J.S.C., Passaic County.

Mr. Martin is admitted to bar of the State of New Jersey, the United States District Court, for the District of New Jersey, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third and Sixth Circuits. Mr. Martin has been granted pro hac vice admission status in several State and Federal Courts throughout the country.

Jason works in the area of casualty defense, with an emphasis on transportation litigation, including the defense of 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.
 

Louis Amato-Gauci is a partner at Miller Thomson LLP (Toronto), and Co-Chair of the firm’s Transportation and Logistics Team. He provides strategic advice to shippers, carriers, warehouse operators, freight forwarders and 3PLs in connection with safety and regulatory compliance, and is routinely engaged in the negotiation of a broad range of industry-specific agreements, with an emphasis on road and rail. He serves as lead counsel in mid-market M&A and financing transactions, and assists U.S. companies seeking to expand their operations into Canada. As a member of the firm’s Customs and International Trade team, Louis is frequently consulted in connection with the international sale of goods, trade compliance verifications, and preferential tariff treatment under free trade agreements, serving domestic, non-resident and global businesses in a variety of industry sectors including automotive, agriculture, direct sales, e-commerce, traditional retail, manufacturing, equipment leasing and mining.
 
Louis is a graduate of the University of Toronto (B.A. 1995; J.D.1998), and was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2000.  He is a past-president of the Canadian Transport Lawyers Association and currently serves as treasurer of the Association of Transportation Law Professionals. He is recognized in the Lexpert^® Guide to US/Canada Cross-Border Lawyers in Canada, the Canadian Legal Lexpert^® Directory, and The Best Lawyers in Canada^®. He is ranked by Chambers and Partners with regard to Transportation: Rail & Road (Canada), and received the Best Lawyers™ Transportation Law "Lawyer of the Year" award for 2018 and 2020 in Toronto.
 

Kate Ballengee, Esq. serves as Counsel and Director of Business Development for Metro Group Maritime in New York, NY. She has worked at Metro Group Maritime since 2007, overseeing the litigation department on behalf of Metro Group Maritime’s ocean carrier and wider transportation industry clients including chassis-leasing companies, Class 1 railroads, NVOCCs, freight forwarders, and motor carriers amongst others. Kate received her undergraduate degree from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA and her law degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law in Lexington, VA. Kate recently obtained an Executive MBA in Shipping and Logistics through Middlesex University Business School and Lloyd’s Maritime Academy in London.
 

Elizabeth Bass oversees the Nashville office of Walters Richardson, PLLC.  She defends commercial carriers in state and federal courts in Kentucky and Tennessee.  A significant portion of her practice is dedicated to insurance coverage, including commercial trucking policies. 
 

Brad represents both large and small corporations and individuals, as self-insureds and as insureds on behalf of insurance companies. Brad's practice focuses on the defense of insureds and self-insureds with his primary concentration of legal representation in tort defense in all areas of construction litigation, transportation litigation, construction injury, construction defect litigation and insurance defense. His practice includes handling matters from the initial inception of a claim though trial, including post-judgment appellate work.  Responsibilities include management of files from initial filing through resolution; establishing and implementing all phases of preparation from initial investigation and strategy for complicated and complex litigation.  Litigation experience extends throughout the State of Illinois.

In addition, Brad is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, Transportation Lawyers Association and the Trucking Industry Defense Association. The TLA and TIDA are an independent associations dedicated to the issues of the transportation industry both nationally and internationally.
 

William D. Bierman is a senior partner in the law firm of Price, Meese, Shulman & D’Arminio, P.C. in New Jersey and New York where he leads a unique Transportation Law Group. He has been actively engaged in the practice of transportation law for more than forty years.  Recently Bill was presented with the LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD by the Transportation Lawyers Association at its annual meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona.  

Bill is the long time Executive Director of the Transportation Loss Prevention and Security Association (TLP&SA) an industry trade group which acts as a spokesman for claims and security interests.

He was Former Chairman of the Conference of Freight Counsel a group made up of the foremost transportation attorneys in North America.

In 1997 Bill was presented with the Chairman’s Award by the Transportation Loss Prevention and Security Council of the American Trucking Association for his outstanding contribution to the industry. 

Bill serves on the Advisory Board of The Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Country-Wide Insurance Company and he represents the New Jersey Motor Truck Association.

Bill is a graduate of Rutgers University (B.A. 1964) and both Rutgers University School of Law (J.D. 1967) and the New York University School of Law (L.L.M. 1970). He served as an adjunct professor of law at the William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey from 1978-1981. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey and the federal courts of New Jersey and New York as well as before U.S. Supreme Court, various Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal and Federal District Courts throughout the United States.

Bridgette Blitch is a shareholder of Blitch Westley Barrette, S.C. Bridgette’s practice includes handling the defense and prosecution of high dollar cargo claims, insurance coverage claims, and business law disputes. Bridgette has successfully prosecuted and recovered freight charges for her trucking clients against property owners, insurers, and general contractors. Bridgette has represented numerous logistics providers in the drafting and implementation of numerous corporate due diligence documents, including employment policies, supervisor’s policies, driver’s manuals, code of conduct and record retention policies.

Bridgette is admitted in the state courts of Florida, Wisconsin, and Colorado. Bridgette is also an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. Bridgette received her J.D. from University of Denver Sturm College of Law where she was the Editor in Chief of the Transportation Law Journal. Bridgette has received several accolades during her career, and most recently, in 2019, Bridgette received the TLA’s Distinguished Service Award.
 

Andrew Boyle is co-president of Boyle Transportation, a specialized trucking firm that provides exceptional quality, safety, and security to select clients in government & defense and life sciences.  Prior to returning to the company in 2003, Andrew was an investment banker with J.P. Morgan. He earned an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and an AB from Bowdoin College.
 
Andrew is vice chair of the American Trucking Associations and a board member of the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI).  He is past chair of the Trucking Association of Massachusetts and is a member of Northwestern University Transportation Center’s business advisory committee.  He’s also a trustee of Eastern Bank and serves on boards and committees of several non-profit organizations including House of Hope and The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. He is a spectacular youth basketball coach.
 

 
Kevin is active in industry groups and organizations related to his practice.  He served on the Executive Board of the Southern Motor Carrier’s - Loss Prevention Conference.  He also served as Chair of the Advanced Seminar Committee for the Trucking Industry Defense Association. He is currently a member of the Transportation Industry Defense Association, Transportation Lawyers Association, Conference of Freight Counsel, Claim Litigation Management Alliance, Georgia Defense Lawyers Association, Georgia Motor Trucking Association and the Defense Research Institute.
  
Kevin resides in Milton, Georgia with his wife Merideth and sons Shaw & James Edward (Jeb). He enjoys running,  coaching sports, sailing, fly fishing and  other outdoor activities, which includes  spending  time  at  his  farm  in  Lax,  Georgia.    He  attends  Alpharetta  First  United Methodist Church and is the past Chair of the Trustees Committee for that church.
 

Mr. Culver is a partner in the Los Angeles, California law firm Booth LLP and has been with the firm since it was founded in 2012.  He is an accomplished lawyer with success in handling litigation, transactional, and administrative matters for clients small and large doing business in a wide variety of industries.  Among other things, Mr. Culver is experienced in handling complex freight claims, employment disputes, business torts, and general liability defense.  Mr. Culver has had success in jury and non-jury trials, arbitrations, administrative hearings, appeals, and complex law and motion matters.  Mr. Culver has had opinions reported in the Central, Eastern and Northern Districts of California, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.  Prior to attending law school, Mr. Culver worked in television production, environmental advocacy, and publishing.  During law school, Mr. Culver served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Kim McLane Wardlaw, Circuit Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and as a legal extern for the Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney in the Real Property Division.  Mr. Culver’s previous practice emphasized environmental, entertainment, and construction litigation.
 

Steve is a Member of Clark Hill Strasburger’s San Antonio office where he actively represents clients throughout the State of Texas.  Steve’s practice focuses on assisting motor carriers, transportation brokers, and other transportation related businesses in pre-litigation advice, litigation, and trial work.  Steve enjoys working with transportation clients to resolve issues related to cargo claims, freight charges, commercial disputes and accidents of all kinds. 

As an active member of the Transportation legal community, Steve regularly participates or speaks at various conferences sponsored by the Transportation Lawyers Association, Conference of Freight Counsel, and the Texas Trucking Association.  Steve is also a Past President of the San Antonio Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and a current Board Member of the San Antonio Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. 

Steve obtained his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and his Juris Doctorate from St. Mary’s University School of Law graduating Summa Cum Laude.  In addition to honing his transportation law skills, Steve enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, playing tennis, and watching the SMU Mustangs (and Texas Longhorns) play football.
 

Keith is a Senior Vice President, Transportation Practice Leader at Gallagher Bassett - Transportation in Scottsdale, AZ.  This Scottsdale based third-party claims administration firm specializes exclusively in the resolution of loss activity involving the motor carrier industry. 

Megan is by nature, drawn to helping other people. As an experienced litigator, she assists companies and individuals in the transportation industry to grow and protect their businesses inside and outside the courtroom. She guides clients in minimizing risk and maximizing opportunity in their business operations. She  is often called upon to analyze complex claims and provide innovative legal strategies to effectively serve her clients when disputes arise, whether through pre-litigation settlement negotiations or at trial.

Megan focuses her practice on the representation of insurance companies, transportation carriers, freight brokers, and logistics companies. As an experienced litigator, she provides clients with regional and nationwide guidance on commercial litigation matters, including broker liability, broker tort, catastrophic injury and property damage litigation. 
 
 

Jason Engkjer is the co-chair of Lommen Abdo’s transportation law practice.  His practice is primarily devoted to commercial litigation and corporate planning and transactions with a unique experience in transportation law.   He represents a diverse array of clients ranging from small closely held companies to multi-national organizations on a nationwide basis, but primarily in the upper Midwest.  His clients include national motor carriers and brokers, banking institutions, insurance companies, and financial institutions.  Jason is also frequently asked to speak to private groups and national audiences on a variety of business law matters including litigation, transactional, regulatory and transportation law topics.  Jason’s clients appreciate his practical views on complex matters, as well as his ability to keep their business needs in mind when considering legal issues. His previous business experience provides him with a solid understanding of how businesses operate on a daily basis.

Jason is active with the Minnesota Trucking Association, North Dakota Motor Carrier Association, Transportation Lawyer’s Association and is a member of the Conference of Freight Counsel. He is a former board member and general counsel for the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota and continues to actively support the organization. Jason is also a current board member and general counsel for Farm Rescue and Farm Rescue Foundation. He regularly provides volunteer pro bono legal services through a variety of organizations and is a former ethics investigator for Hennepin County’s Fourth District Ethics Committee. Jason has also been listed as a Rising Star by Minnesota Super Lawyers.

 

Sheila Finnegan is a United States Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Illinois.  She began her legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Milton Shadur in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. She then worked in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago where she prosecuted federal criminal cases for a dozen years, and was appointed Chief of the Criminal Division.  In 2000, she joined Mayer Brown, LLP as a litigation partner and served as co-chair of the Chicago Litigation practice.  She remained at the firm until taking the bench in 2010.  Judge Finnegan is now heavily involved in mediation and the resolution of discovery disputes.  On consent, she conducts civil trials and rules on summary judgment motions.  Judge Finnegan is also an Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy at Northwestern Law School, and a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.  She earned her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, and her law degree from The University of Chicago Law School.
 

Mr. Fiorilla is a partner in the New Jersey firm of Dyer & Peterson, P.C.  John focuses his practice in the railroad industry and helping to create and present railroad management policy and positions with diversified management and litigation experience as both house counsel and local counsel for Class I and Short Line Railroads. He has specific experience in presenting finance, real estate, operations, engineering, government affairs, and customer service positions. John also served as a Captain in the Transportation Corps, U.S. Army Reserve from 1971-1986.

John is admitted to practice in New Jersey and numerous other jurisdictions, including the United States Supreme Court, the United States Courts of Appeals for the Third and Fifth Circuits.

John has also been admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the District of New Jersey, Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania, Southern District of Texas, Northern District of New York, Northern District of Illinois, District of Maine, Northern District of Texas, Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin, Eastern District of Michigan, Northern District of California, District of Colorado, the District of Nebraska and the United States Court of Federal Claims.

Among his many honors, John was selected to New Jersey Super Lawyers (2006-2010); “South Jersey’s Top Attorneys” by SJ Magazine; Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated Preeminent; “South Jersey’s Awesome Attorneys” by South Jersey Magazine; and “Best Attorney in Business” by South Jersey Biz.  In addition, John was the receiver of the historic rail equipment owned by the Pemberton Township Historic Trust, and Morristown & Erie Railway locomotive #22 was christened the “John K. Fiorilla” as a thank you for work done for the M&E.

John is a member of many professional associations, including the American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association; Association for Transportation Law Professionals; Conference of Freight Counsel; National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel; New Jersey State Bar Association, (Federal Practice and Procedure Section)

John’s experience includes his service as Legislative Aide to Congressman Robert A. Roe (1971 – 1974); Surface Transportation Board (1975); Central Railroad Company of New Jersey, Assistant General Attorney (1975 – 1976); Consolidated Rail Corporation, Senior General Attorney – Litigation (1976 – 1990); National Railway Historical Society, General Counsel (1995 – present); Tri-State Railway Historical Society, General Counsel (1975 – present).

John earned is A.B. from Seton Hall University, and his J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center.
 

Patrick E. Foppe is a member of Lashly & Baer, P.C. and practices throughout Missouri and Illinois. He frequently handles claims involving complex commercial motor vehicle accidents, cargo disputes, transportation-related contract disputes, premises liability, products liability, wrongful death and general negligence. Also, he advises insurance companies on a wide variety of insurance coverage issues and handles declaratory judgment and bad faith actions. In addition, he advises transportation companies regarding compliance issues with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. He leads rapid response investigations to serious accidents as a part of Lashly & Baer’s Rapid Response Team.
 
Patrick serves as Co-Chair of the Transportation Lawyers Association’s Membership and Regulatory Committees. He also serves on Defense Research Institute, Inc.’s Trucking Law Committee’s Steering Committee and is Chair of Publications. Patrick has an “AV Preeminent” Peer Rating™ with Martindale-Hubbell^®.  He has received numerous awards for his pro bono work, community service, and professional accomplishments. Patrick is also a regular author and is an invited speaker by many industry groups. Patrick and his wife Kate have seven children.
 

Attorney at Law graduated from the Escuela Libre de Derecho in 1996, with the thesis “The Mexican Customs Tariff System”. He has attended training in the Knowledge Academy of Customs and Trade of the World Customs Organization. He is certified in tariff classification by the Mexican Ministry of Education.
 
In 2004 he founded García Seimandi y Asociados, S.C., a boutique firm specialized in Mexican customs and international trade matters.
 
He has been appointed as panelist under Chapter XIX of the North America Free Trade Agreement. He is President of the Customs Committee of the National Chamber of Transformation Industry (CANACINTRA), part of the Tariff Classification Council of the Mexican tax authority (SAT), member of the Directive Board of the Mexican Corporate Counsel Association (ANADE), chair of the tariff classification Committee of the National Confederation of Chambers of Commerce, member of the Mexican Bar (BMA) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and participates in the Mexican Institute of Public Accountants (IMCP).
 
He has taught customs topics at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), the Universidad  Iberoamericana  (UIA)  and  the  Instituto Tecnológico  y  de  Estudios  Superiores  de Monterrey (ITESM). He has given conferences and seminars on trade and customs topics at the SAT, the ANADE, the ICC, the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA), the National Association of Importers and Exporters, the U.S.- Mexico Law Institute, the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, the Society for Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE), the Latinamerican Confederation of Customs Brokers, the Mexican Institute of International Trade Executives (IMECE), the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) and the Canadian Institute of Traffic and Transportation (CITT), among others.
 
Coauthor of the book Foreign Trade Basic Concepts published by the IMCP. Coauthor of the book Foreign Trade and Customs Consultant published by the IMCP. He has published articles in specialized magazines such as Práctica Fiscal, Carta ANIERM, IMMEXPORTA and Estrategia Aduanera, as well as in newspapers as El Economista and Excélsior.
 
 
 

Derek Goodman currently serves as Corporate Counsel for the Real Estate and Global Sourcing team at Expeditors International of Washington, Inc., where he is responsible for real estate transactions and procurement for Latin America, the US, and Asia. His work also includes the management of bankruptcy issues involving both service providers and customers whose freight is handled as part of Expeditors’ freight forwarding activities. Previously, Derek was in-house counsel for a warehouse and shipping supply company in the Midwest, and before that represented corporate clients in Chapter 11 bankruptcies and receiverships at a law firm in Milwaukee. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin- Madison, and his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School. He currently resides in Seattle.
 

Lea Kapral is General Manager – Central Claims at Acuity, A Mutual Insurance Company where she oversees multi-line inside claims operations across Acuity’s operating territory.  
 
She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, with a Bachelor of Science in English.  Lea holds her Casualty Claim Law Associate (CCLA) designation through the American Educational Institute, Inc. and obtained her Mid-Management Development Certificate through the UW Madison Executive Education School of Business. 
 
Throughout her 23 years in the P&C industry, Lea has worked with adjusters and counsel to investigate, evaluate, and negotiate a variety of complex personal and commercial litigation cases.   She has worked on projects within Acuity promoting Litigation Management, Legal Bill Review, and has presented claims training on Large Loss Investigation as well as Alternative Dispute Resolution.  Lea has participated in Strategic Initiative Groups, Customer Service Project Teams, as well as provided expert input to Acuity’s Policy Forms Committee. 
 
Lea is active in the Claims & Litigation Management Alliance as a Member of the Insurance Coverage Committee, Committee Conference Committee Member, Publication Magazine Committee Member, and is currently serving as a Co-Chair of the Transportation Committee as well as the Insurance Committee.  She resides in Chilton, WI with her husband and two sons, where she is an active member of the Chilton Athletic Club as well as a former advisory member of the Chilton Area Catholic School Board of Education
 

Steve is a trial attorney and regional managing partner of Wilson Elser’s Mississippi office.  He serves as national and regional counsel for several trucking companies. Steve has significant experience defending catastrophic damages claims against motor carriers and product liability suits against automobile, fire extinguisher, smoke alarm and ATV manufacturers. He also served as national counsel for a major tire distributor in negligence, breach of warranty and employment matters.

In addition, Steve defends clients in single plaintiff and mass tort asbestos, welding rod and tobacco litigation, including second-hand smoke allegations. He also has experience defending against allegations of soil and groundwater contamination, pollution and nuisance, as well as insurance coverage litigation concerning underlying allegations of environmental contamination/torts.

Steve is a member of his firm 24-hour Emergency Response Team and its primary contact for incidents that occur throughout Mississippi. He has tried more than 30 cases, handling matters across multiple states, including Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee, Wyoming, Colorado and California, among others. Steve's current trial practice also includes representation of insurance clients in coverage and bad faith litigation and architects and design professionals against claims of construction negligence. In addition, Steve provides pro bono representation of indigent clients in divorce, child custody and personal injury matters.

Steve is admitted to practice in Mississippi as well as before the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi and the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas.

Steve is a member of many notable organizations, including the American Bar Association, and its Automotive Product Liability Subcommittee; Capital Area Bar Association; Mississippi State Bar Association; Transportation Lawyers Association; Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association; DRI: The Voice of the Defense Bar; Trucking Industry Defense Association; International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC); Make-A-Wish Mississippi, Board of Directors; and the Mississippi Baptist Convention Education Commission, Board of Directors.

Among his many awards and distinctions, Steve was selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America® in Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, 2015−2021 and the Mid-South Rising Stars, 2013- 2014.  He also received the American Jurisprudence Award for Constitutional Law, Trial Practice and Commercial Paper.

Steve earned his B.A. summa cum laude, from Mississippi College and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Mississippi College School of Law, where he served as articles editor for the Mississippi College Law Review.
 

Dr. Phil Levy is Chief Economist at Flexport where he leads qualitative and quantitative economic research informed by public policy developments and proprietary data. Dr. Levy's research informs the market on global trade trends and helps Flexport teams make product and business strategy decisions to best serve clients. Before Flexport, Dr. Levy spent two decades researching and forming global trade policy. Prior to joining Flexport, Dr. Levy served as Senior Fellow on the Global Economy at Chicago Council on Global Affairs and Adjunct Professor of Strategy at Northwestern Kellogg. Previously, Dr. Levy served twice at the White House on the President's Council of Economic Advisors, most recently as Senior Economist for Trade, and was a member of the Policy Planning Staff for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He has testified before numerous congressional committees and has written regularly for Forbes, The Hill, and Foreign Policy. He is the author of Rebuilding a Bipartisan Consensus on Trade Policy. He has also taught global economic policy and international trade at Georgetown, Columbia, the University of Virginia, and Yale. Dr. Levy holds a Ph.D in Economics from Stanford University.
 
 

As a former prosecutor, Meghan Litecky learned how to think critically and make decisions under extreme pressure – a skill she carries with her today as a civil litigator.

Meghan’s prowess in the courtroom strengthens her ability to lead clients as a litigator, with attention to detail and the ability to make rapid decisions. Meghan’s practice focuses on a variety of civil litigation and personal injury defense matters, ranging from advising trucking companies in wrongful death actions to defending small businesses in professional liability claims.

Clients seek Meghan’s ability to defend them in trial and protect their businesses. For example, she successfully defended clients against an $8.5 million claim alleging a breach of their duty of loyalty and tortious interference with business expectancy.

Prior to joining Dysart Taylor, Meghan was an assistant prosecuting attorney for the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office. She is currently a Trial Advocacy Ad Junct Professor for the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law, a Master in the Robert T. Ross Trial Academy, Co-Chair of the Association for Women Lawyers Women’s Trial Institute, the vice-chair of the Continuing Legal Education Committee for the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Membership Chair of the Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City, member of the Board of Directors for the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association Foundation and member of the Transportation Lawyers Association.

Fredric has over a decade of experience representing transportation companies, including both carriers and intermediaries, regionally and nationwide on casualty/accident and 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, he 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 be well positioned to defend it when it arises. 

Before starting in private practice, Fredric served as a law clerk to the Honorable Dennis W. Shedd, Circuit Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the Honorable Henry F. Floyd, U.S. District Judge, District of South Carolina. 
 

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.
 

Mr. Pierre-Olivier Ménard Dumas’s practice is mainly focused on transportation law and he is involved in all aspects of surface transportation law including commercial, penal and regulatory litigation as well as in the contractual aspects of the transportation of freight and passengers in Canada.

Mr. Ménard Dumas frequently represents domestic and international clients, such as surface carriers, shippers, warehouse operators, third-party logistics providers, owner operators and lessor or lessee of equipment with regards to the negotiation of various transportation agreements and the litigation of issues arising from such agreements, or its prevention. . He is often involved in claims for cargo loss, delay or damage and unpaid freight charges. He has sound technical knowledge of the various laws and regulations governing the motor carrier’s civil liability.

He is also routinely involved in the Commercial and Labor teams. His expertise with regards to federal and provincial laws and regulations, and the provincial application of the Canadian National Safety Code of the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators allows for a better, safer and seamless repositioning and licensing of the commercial vehicles during merger and acquisition and reorganisation of corporation entities involved in the transportation industry.

Mr. Ménard Dumas’s collaboration also extends to our labour and employment section where he is in a position to have the firm’s clients benefit from his advices on and his knowledge of industry best practices with regards to the drafting of company policies, provincial or federal nature of a business, employment of commercial drivers, record keeping of drivers’ regulatory files, substance abuse for commercial drivers and disciplinary actions following safety issues. He is also very much involved on issues relating to subcontracting and qualification of drivers as employees.

He also give advices to clients and appears on their behalf before the courts in connection with regulatory compliance issues for motor carriers. He frequently appears before de Criminal division of the Court of Quebec to handle moving violations under federal and provincial laws and regulations, He also has a sharp knowledge of the laws and regulations applicable to the carriers’ business.

Mr. Ménard Dumas regularly pleads before the Commission des transports du Québec, in public show-cause hearings in connection with conduct monitoring following the deterioration of a record made pursuant to the Conduct review policy for heavy vehicle owners and operators (namely in connection with a fatal road accident, a critical event or any failure in an on-site inspection). He also often appears before the regulatory enforcement authorities, such as the Contrôle routier Québec and the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec

Dustin is a skilled litigator who practices in the Norfolk, Virginia office of Vandeventer Black, LLP.  Dustin finds creative solutions for his clients in Virginia state and federal courts.  He excels in using the depth and breadth of his knowledge to achieve cost-effective resolution of disputes.  Some of the nation’s most successful companies have trusted him to represent their interests throughout Virginia, at the Fourth Circuit, and at the U.S. Supreme Court. 

Because of his representation of marine terminals, trucking companies, railroads, transportation suppliers, and an airport, Dustin appreciates the complexities of intermodal transportation.  His membership and participation in the Hampton Roads Global Commerce Council, the Transportation Lawyers Association, the Maritime Law Association, the Southeast Admiralty Law Institute, the Virginia Maritime Association, and the Virginia Bar Association Transportation Law Section allow him to keep abreast of the current legal landscape and other changes in the transportation industry.  He has authored articles in the “The Transportation Lawyer” and the “Maritime & International Trade Guide.”

Both Virginia-based small businesses and some of the nation’s largest companies have relied upon Dustin’s advice to resolve commercial disputes.  He has an aptitude for understanding the business realities of a conflict and seeking creative resolutions in lieu of prolonged litigation.  But when litigation is the only choice, Dustin has the experience to bring the case to verdict, through appeal, and beyond.

Working with some of the nation’s largest firms and companies as a key resource for cases in the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA), Dustin has appeared in more than 50 cases covering a wide variety of topics including patent, antitrust, maritime, employment, and contract matters.  He has also provided advice in countless other cases for which he has not entered an appearance.  As the editor of www.edvanorfolk.com, a blog dedicated to studying and monitoring the actions of the EDVA’s District Court in Norfolk, he is well-prepared to advise counsel throughout the country on how to file, prosecute, and try cases in the “Rocket Docket.”  He also serves on the Board of the Tidewater Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. 

Dustin earned his B.A. in Political Science from Duke University and his J.D. from Vanderbilt University.
 
 

Stephanie S. Penninger is a Senior Director, Legal Counsel at XPO Logistics, a publicly traded, Fortune 500 transportation logistics services provider with over 1,500 locations in 32 countries, and over 100,000 employees.  In her role, Stephanie assists XPO in navigating the ever-changing regulatory landscape in the transportation and logistics industry, developing operational best practices and global customer solutions.  Stephanie works close to the business in its performance of freight forwarding, NVOCC, indirect air carrier, and customs brokerage operations.  She also tends to day-to-day legal matters that arise on the domestic side of XPO’s operations.

Stephanie’s expertise in advising on global supply chain legal matters has also proven valuable to industry associations.  For instance, Stephanie is the Immediate Past Chair and a Current Vice President of the American Bar Association’s Admiralty and Maritime Law Committee and a Member-at-Large, serving on the Transportation Lawyers Association’s Executive Committee.  She is also a proud member of the Association of Corporate Counsel’s International Affinity Group and the Transportation Intermediaries Association’s Food Advisory and Carrier Selection Committees.  Stephanie has spoken before various industry groups and their membership throughout North America and written numerous published articles regarding maritime law matters, avoiding and litigating cargo claims and mitigating risk when transporting or arranging the transportation of food.
 

 

Robert Roginson is the Managing Shareholder of the Los Angeles office of the international labor and employment law firm, Ogletree Deakins, and Chair of the firm’s Trucking and Logistics Industry Group.  His practice focuses on all aspects of California and federal wage and hour and pay practice counseling and class action defense.

Mr. Roginson represents employers in administrative agency investigations and state and federal individual and class action litigation. Mr. Roginson has defended dozens of employers, motor carriers, and other companies in class actions and PAGA lawsuits involving a variety of allegations, including worker misclassification, meal and rest period violations, reimbursement claims, off-the-clock claims, and record keeping violations.  He also counsels employers and companies on California and federal wage and hour and pay practice laws, arbitration, federal preemption matters, labor relations and union matters.  Mr. Roginson is regarded by clients as a trusted strategic advisor focused on developing effective and practical solutions to complex legal employment challenges.  He is adept at developing compliant policies and practices to avoid and minimize litigation. 

As the lead counsel for the California Trucking Association’s lawsuit against the State of California to enjoin AB 5, which adopted the ABC test concerning worker classification, Mr. Roginson and his team obtained a preliminary injunction enjoining California from enforcing AB 5 against motor carriers.  Mr. Roginson also co-authored an amicus brief in the California Supreme Court case, Oman v. Delta Airlines, and the brief formed the basis for the Court’s opinion upholding the use of incentive compensation plans in California.

From November 2007 until March 2010, Mr. Roginson served as Chief Counsel for the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE). Appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mr. Roginson represented and advised the California Labor Commissioner and her staff in all aspects of enforcement and interpretation of California’s labor and wage/hour laws, licensing requirements, and retaliation statutes.  While at the DLSE, Mr. Roginson implemented a reformed California’s meal period enforcement policy by requiring employers make meal periods available only.  Mr. Roginson authored the DLSE amicus brief in the landmark California Supreme Court Brinker case, and his brief set forth the standard adopted by the Court for what constitutes lawfully providing a meal period under California law. 

Mr. Roginson is actively engaged and regularly attends or presents at several transportation professional organizations including the American Trucking Association, the California Trucking Association, the Transportation Lawyers Assocation, and the North American Transportation Employee Relations Association.
 

Daniel is a transportation attorney with more than five years of in-house legal experience. He is currently the Director of Legal and Risk at Transplace, in Lowell, Arkansas, a leading provider of transportation management services and logistics technology where he is responsible for contracting, leases, litigation management, risk mitigation, and insurance management across the company. Prior to Transplace, he worked as the director of legal affairs for ER Assist, a software development company focused on emergency grant management.

Mr. Sbanotto earned his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Central Arkansas and his J.D. from the University of Arkansas School of Law where he contributed to the Arkansas Real Estate Review and was a five semester Dean’s list recipient. He is currently an active member in the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, Conference of Freight Counsel, and Transportation Lawyers Association.

Henry E. Seaton is a graduate of Duke University and Vanderbilt School of Law.  He has practiced law for over 45 years with the Law Office of Seaton & Husk, LP in the Washington D.C. area representing motor carriers and brokers. The firm specializes in freight claims, freight charge collection, contracting issues, carrier representation before the FMCSA and bankruptcy issues.
 
He serves as counsel for the National Association of Small Trucking Companies, the Air & Expedited Motor Carriers Association, The Expedite Alliance of North America, the Tennessee Motor Coach Association, the American Home Furnishings Alliance and the Auto Haulers Association of America.
 
Mr. Seaton is a member of the Conference of Freight Counsel. He also serves as Co-Chair of the Transportation Lawyers Association Federal Regulatory Practice Committee and is a frequent speaker and lecturer regarding cargo claims, freight charges, contracting and risk/insurance issues affecting carriers and brokers.
 
Mr. Seaton serves on the Editorial Board for the Airforwarders Association Quarterly Magazine.  He published Rules of the Road: A Practical Guide to Legal Issues in Truck Transportation (2016) which is available for purchase at www.transportationlaw.net.
 
In 2014, Mr. Seaton was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Transportation Lawyers Association. 
 

Education

• Lawyer from the Escuela Libre de Derecho, 2000.
• Master in Business Management for Executives with Experience from the Pan-American Institute of Senior Business Management (IPADE), 2007.
• Law and Finance at Nebraska Wesleyan University, 1995.
• Specialization in American Corporate Law, University of Michigan, 1998.

Areas of experience

Corporate, Contracts, Logistics and Transportation; Insurance

Publications

• Bachelor's Thesis, "Proposal to modify the Law of Roads and Bridges and Federal Motor Transportation to guarantee Legal Security to Foreign Investment", 2000
• Magisterial Thesis "Strategic Controls for Twenty-first Century Law Firms", 2007.

Memberships

•  National Association of Importers and Exporters of the Mexican Republic (ANIERM)
• Mexican Association (AMPPI)
• Transportaion Lawyer Association (TLA)
• International Chamber of Commerce,
•  American Chamber of Commerce Mexico
• Conference of Freight Consuel
• Canadian Transportation Lawyers Association

Mr. Sizemore represents commercial drivers, motor carriers, and insurers in the transportation industry. He defends personal injury, wrongful death, and cargo claims, and he evaluates and litigates casualty and cargo insurance coverage disputes. Multiple insurers ask Mr. Sizemore to consult on liability and coverage issues across the country. In addition to his transportation practice, Mr. Sizemore represents companies in arbitration proceedings involving disputes over vehicle service agreements.

As a member of Roetzel’s Emergency Response Team, Mr. Sizemore is experienced in the coordination of the early response and investigation of accidents of varying size and severity across multiple jurisdictions. He works a case from the rapid response call until the case is complete—whether that occurs in mediation, with summary judgment, a verdict, or on appeal.

Mr. Sizemore is also proactive in analyzing and anticipating a client’s needs, regularly communicating with clients on updates and changes in the law that may affect their business. Before attending law school, Mr. Sizemore worked as an insurance adjuster for Westfield Insurance Company and Grange Mutual Casualty Company, giving him an inside perspective on the work of adjusters as they resolve accident and injury-related claims. 

Dan Sonneborn is a Director in the Boston, Massachusetts office of Preti Flaherty Beliveau & Pachios, LLP.  Dan is licensed to appear in the state and federal courts in Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire, and has been admitted pro hac vice in several courts throughout the United States.  Dan regularly represents motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and insurance companies in transportation related matters and litigation (including cargo loss and damage, warehousing, contractual issues, casualty, and employment matters).  Dan’s other practice areas include professional liability, construction, financial services, and commercial litigation. 

Dan received his undergraduate degree from Bowdoin College and his law degree from Suffolk University School of Law. 
 

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 University and Rutgers University School of Law.  He is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute; the Transportation Lawyers Association, where he is Chairman of the Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights Committee; and, the Maritime Law Association, where he is a Proctor in Admiralty.
 
Rick 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 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.
 

Lisa Stephenson is a Vice President and General Counsel of CRST International, Inc. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Lisa’s role is focused in the areas of transportation and logistics, employment and agency law, corporate transactional work, real estate matters, regulatory law, and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to joining CRST, Lisa was in private practice with Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman. She also served as a federal law clerk in the Northern and Southern districts of Iowa. Lisa practiced primarily in employment and labor law, as well as commercial litigation. Lisa earned her bachelor’s degree (magna cum laude, with honors) from Mt. Mercy College in 1995 and graduated (with distinction) from the University Of Iowa College Of Law in 1998.

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 with Customs & Border Protection (CBP) to the interpretation of changes in U.S. trade policy, such as those reflected in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).  She has worked with clients in regard to the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs and Section 301 tariffs on imports from China and to obtain product exclusions. Over the years, she has assisted 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.
 
Today, Ms. Suarez is a frequent speaker on current trade policy initiatives, most especially USMCA and the Section 301 and 232 tariffs and product exclusion process. She has written extensively on the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. She is a past President of the Association of Women in International Trade (WIIT) (2016-2017 term) and serves on the District Export Council for D.C. and Virginia, the Advisory Council to George Washington University Center for International Business Education & Research, and on the Advisory Board to Georgetown University Law Center International Trade Update.
 
She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Douglass College, Rutgers University and her juris doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center. She is a member of the DC Bar. She is proud to have received the Martindale-Hubbell 2019 Judicial AV Preeminent rating and is consistently listed in The Best Lawyers in America for International Trade and as a “Super Lawyer” in International Trade law in Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers magazine.
 

Greg resides in Virginia Beach, VA has recently retired from Norfolk Southern Corporation, Norfolk, VA, where he served as Deputy General Counsel. Previously he served as Associate General Counsel with North American Van Lines and Corporate Counsel with Lee Way Motor Freight.

Greg received a B. A. in History from the University of Oklahoma in 1974 and a J. D. from the University of Oklahoma in 1977, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif. He is admitted to the Bars of Oklahoma (1977), Indiana (1985 – inactive) and Virginia (1994).

Among his professional activities, Greg is a Past President of the Transportation Lawyers Association, and Past Chair of the Transportation Law Section of the Virginia Bar Association. At TLA, Greg has been honored to receive the Distinguished Service Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award, and the coveted Bullshipper’s Award.  Mr. Summy has served as President of the Norfolk Portsmouth Bar Foundation, remains on the Board and that organization, and is a member of the Board of Directors (Treasurer) of the Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia. He has appeared on continuing legal education panels of the Transportation Lawyers Association, Transportation Law Institute, Canadian Transport Lawyers Association, Maritime Law Association, the U. S. Law Firm Association and the Virginia Bar Association.
 

Bill maintains both a transactional and litigation business practice.  He represents all types of business ventures, both publicly and privately owned.

His transactional practice includes M&A advice and counsel for both domestic and international deals, corporate reorganizations and other strategic business plans.  Bill has assisted many clients in the formation of business strategies and implementation of founder's business plans and goals.  When necessary, he has also assisted with shareholder disputes and resolution of associated business conflicts.

His significant experience in all aspects of the transportation industry throughout the U.S. and global markets allows him to be well-versed in all areas of domestic and international logistics law and policy as well as develop a keen understanding of the intricate contractual arrangements central to the movement of products in intrastate, interstate and foreign commerce.  Bill regularly consults clients regarding co-employer claims related to independent contractor relations in this industry, and is, along with his partner Paul Mello, a strong advocate for and oversee the implementation of the so-called "Broker Model."

Whether in transportation or any other enterprise, Bill has significant experience in asset and equity-based mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, successorship planning, complex contract strategies and negotiations.  He provides day-to-day counseling assistance for business clients in both internal and external legal requirements, including regulatory compliance matters before local, state and federal administrative agencies.  He regularly represents clients in hearings before administrative agencies with jurisdiction over enforcement and compliance issues, including the California Public Utilities Commission, the state's Air Resources Board and various employment-related agencies.

Bill is frequently called upon to address industry associations regarding contract issues and related litigation or transportation strategies.

Bill is a past president of the Transportation Lawyers Association and the founder of Hanson Bridgett's Transportation and Logistics Practice Group.  He recently served as President of Globalaw LTD, an international legal network consisting of 95 firms and nearly 4,500 lawyers located throughout the world. Hanson Bridgett is the Northern California representative of Globalaw.  In addition, Bill has been recognized on a continuous basis with Super Lawyer and Best of the Bar recognition.
 

Tamara (Tammy) L. Warn is currently the Litigation Department Manager for Superior Risk Management a claims administration company for United Specialty and State National Insurance Companies.  In this role she oversees all litigation throughout the continental United States and leads a department of 6 other adjusters. 

Before joining Superior Risk Management she was the Corporate Counsel, VP of Risk Management and Safety Director for several intermodal and full load trucking companies.  In that role she worked directly with truck drivers, company executives and insurance carriers to control claims costs and ensure the drivers operated safely. 

She was the President of TIDA and sat on the Board of Directors for 9 years.  She is currently the co- chair of the CLM Webinar Committee and has made presentation on several trucking industry topics over the course of her career. 

She has obtained an Associate in Risk Management designation, the CLM Certified Litigation Management Professional certificate, is a NATMI Certified Safety Director and is a licensed attorney in Illinois and Minnesota.  As part of her work in the trucking industry she obtained her CDL and used this knowledge when conducting driver safety meetings as a Safety Director.  She has been deposed numerous times as a corporate representative.

She started her career over 30 years ago as a trial attorney in Chicago defending aviation claims and administrative actions against pilots from the FAA.