2021 Annual Meeting

July 14–17, 2021

The Grand Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa
One Grand Boulevard
Point Clear, AL 36564


Join your colleagues and friends at the 144th Annual Meeting of the Alabama State Bar at the Grand Hotel Golf Resort and Spa in Point Clear, Alabama!  The Annual Meeting provides the ultimate environment to network with colleagues, judges and friends. There will be dozens of CLE opportunities, Section and Committee meetings, luncheons and special events.

NEW!!

We have added a Virtual-Only track for the 2021 Annual Meeting registration. It’s our goal to offer CLE opportunities to those who cannot attend in-person. The $99 virtual registration includes up to 14 hours of CLE credit, including one ethics hour. The CLE course which are available for the virtual attendees are denoted with a check mark below.

Attendee Information



REGISTRATION & HOTEL INFORMATION

To register, login to your member dashboard.

Once you are logged in, you’ll see “Annual Meeting Registration” and “Virtual Track Annual Meeting Registration” on the Dashboard Navigation on the left side of the page. FYI – The Alabama State Bar’s room block at the Grand is full and has now been released. We no longer have discounted rooms available.  You may contact the hotel directly (251) 928-9201 to check for availability outside of our room block.  For alternative lodging, the Hampton Inn is conveniently located in downtown Fairhope.  Their telephone number is 251-928-0956

SPONSORSHIP & EXHIBITOR INFORMATION

Sponsor/Exhibitor Overview and Registration

AGENDA

All event listed below are in-person.
The *asterisk denotes the program track for the virtual-only attendees.  

Wednesday, July 14

Time

Event

Noon – 6:30 p.m.

Registration and Check-in

1 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.

Elder Law for the Non Elder Law Attorney

This program will assist the practitioner to better serve aging and disabled clients by recognizing the implication of specialized situations such as SSI and Medicaid benefits, VA benefits, and the use of various tools such as special needs trusts and ABLE accounts to suit the clients’ needs.

presented by the Alabama State Bar Elder Law Section

Speaker: Kyla Kelim
CLE: 1.0 hour

2 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.

Family Law Case Update

presented by the Alabama State Bar Family Law Section

CLE Credit: 1.0 hour

3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.

Moving Forward

This CLE features a heart-to-heart conversation between longtime friends and colleagues, Cassandra Adams, dean of students at Wake Forest University School of Law, and the Honorable Martha Reeves Cook, Jefferson County District Court Judge. Dean Adams and Judge Cook will discuss the increasing importance of lawyers and mediators in promoting professionalism, civility, and equality in post-2020 America.

presented by the Alabama State Bar President’s Council on Unity and Diversity

Speakers: Cassandra Adams and Judge Martha Reeves Cook
CLE: 1.0 hour

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Opening Night Family Reception

Join us poolside for a southern-style BBQ featuring music by “Outside the inside (OTI).”

7:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Children’s Activity

Children 15 and under can create their own tie-dyed t-shirt.

presented by ISI

8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

S’mores at the Grand

Roast marshmallows and relax beachside while bringing back old memories and making new ones, too!

***Parents, please accompany children***

Thursday, July 15

Time

Event

7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Registration/Check-in

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Legal Expo

Meet representatives from suppliers who tailor their products and services to the legal community. Be sure to have your drawing card signed by the exhibitors so you can enter to win prizes, including the Grand Prize!

NOTE: The Legal Expo is intended for registered lawyer attendees and their office administrative staff. We regret that children unaccompanied by a parent cannot be admitted to the Legal Expo.

8:00 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.

A View From the Backside of the Pandemic: Turning Burnout into Opportunities for the Future

Burnout in the legal profession has occurred at record numbers over the past year. Pre-pandemic, lawyers were already navigating demanding workloads. New, unprecedented challenges have created additional layers of stress, leaving many lawyers feeling unsure about how to navigate their careers moving forward. In this presentation, participants will hear stories from lawyers who have first-hand experience with burnout. Participants will also glean additional insight as they learn about ways burnout has “shown up” and affected lawyers at all ages and stages in their careers. A focus will be on teaching participants how to notice, manage, and prevent burnout as they move forward and help them realize and pursue new opportunities that have developed as a result the pandemic.

presented by the Alabama State Bar Quality of Life, Health and Wellness Task Force

Speakers: Dr. Rachel Fry & Christy Crow
CLE Credit: 1.0 hour

8:00 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.

Trial Tips in our New World with the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association (ADLA) and the Alabama Association for Justice (ALAJ)

The panel of four experienced trial lawyers will discuss trial tips from both the plaintiff’s and the defendant’s perspective.

presented by the Alabama State Bar Solo and Small Firm Section

Speakers: Mark Debro, Kendall Dunson, Derrick Mills and Sharon Stuart
CLE
Credit: 1.0 hour

*

9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.

Supreme Court of Alabama Roundtable

CLE Credit: 1.0 hour

9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.

What Every Lawyer Should Know About Employment Law

This program will provide you with essential knowledge every attorney should know to identify and address employment and labor issues from defense and plaintiff standpoints and highlight key statutes, regulations, and caselaw applicable in Alabama.

presented by the Alabama State Bar Labor and Employment Law Section

Speakers: Abby Richardson and Yvonne Maddalena
CLE Credit: 1.0 hour

*

10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

Embracing Generational Diversity

Chris De Santis is an independent consultant specializing in the design and delivery of management and organization development interventions. He brings
with him 37 years of experience in training and development, graduate degrees in organization development and marketing, and work experience in manufacturing, service, and not-for-profit environments. his client base includes multiple first-tier consulting, accounting, financial services, technology, and law firms.
Chris assists individuals and groups in identifying obstacles to effectiveness and subsequently works with them to create user-friendly solutions aligned with the firm’s strategic initiatives. He has special expertise in dealing with generational dynamics in the workplace, gender socialization at work, developing mentoring relationships, giving and receiving feedback, embracing one’s lopsidedness, and applying the principles of emotional intelligence to leading, developing, and building long-term relationships.

He has an undergraduate degree in business from the University of Notre Dame, an MBA from the University of Denver, and an MA in organization development from Loyola University. For more information about Chris and the assistance he can provide, visit cpdesantis.com.

presented by the Alabama State Bar Litigation Section

Speaker: Chris DeSantis
CLE Credit: 1.0 hour

*

10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

The Intersection of Civil and Criminal Laws

Speaker: Barry Matson
CLE
Credit: 1.0 hour

10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

Goal Setting and Practice Metrics

Jeremy Richter is a shareholder with Webster Henry in Birmingham. His civil defense practice focuses on general business liability, transportation litigation, and insurance coverage questions. Jeremy is the author of Building a Better Law Practice, Stop Putting Out Fires, and most recently, Level Up Your Law Practice. He also hosts the “Lawyerpreneur” podcast and writes about litigation and law practice management topics at jeremywrichter.com.

presented by the Alabama State Bar Young Lawyers’ Section

Speaker: Jeremy Richter
CLE Credit: 1.0 hour

11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.

Cell Phone Tracking for Legal Professionals

Specializing in cellular location analysis at Envista Forensics, Eric Grabski has experience in utilizing pen register trap and trace devices, historical call detail record analysis, social media records analysis, IP address analysis, and mobile phone device forensics to assist local and federal agencies on major cases. He has provided expert testimony of cellular location analysis in both state and federal courts.

presented by Hawk PI

Speaker: Eric Grabski, Envista Forensics
CLE
Credit: 1.0 hour

*

11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.

Effective (and Ineffective) Appellate Practice – Tips from the Bench and Bar

What makes an appellate argument truly stand out–for good or ill–to an appellate court? In this panel discussion and short but entertaining mock oral argument, members of the state and federal appellate courts, and experienced appellate litigators, share often-forgotten tips (and warnings) designed to help ensure that your argument is presented well–and is memorable for the right reasons.

Speakers: Chief Judge Bill Pryor, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit; Justice Jay Mitchell, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama; Marc James Ayers
CLE Credit:
1.0 hour

12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Reception Honoring Terri Lovell

12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

Bench & Bar Luncheon

The Life and Times of an American Hero: Question and Answer with Fred Gray.

Speaker: Fred Gray
CLE Credit: 1.0 hour

2:00 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.

Spy the Lie

Michael Floyd is a founding partner in QVerity and a NY Times best-selling co-author of Spy the Lie: Former CIA Officers Teach You How to Detect Deception and Get the Truth: Former CIA Officers Teach You How to Persuade Anyone to Tell AllMichael provides training, employment screening, and consulting services for local, state, and federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies; high net-worth families; and large corporations and firms throughout north America, Europe, and Asia. He is widely recognized as a leading authority on interviewing, detection of deception, and elicitation in cases involving criminal activity, personnel screening, and national security issues.

Speaker: Michael Floyd
CLE
Credit: 1.0 hour

*

2:00 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.

What is the New Normal?: Practicing Law in the Immediate Aftermath of a Pandemic

A panel discussion on the current state of the practice as we emerge into the post-COVID era.

presented by the Alabama State Bar Leadership Forum Alumni Section

Speakers: Judge Craig Cargile; Pooja Chawla; Judge Bess Creswell; Derrick Mills; and, Zach Peagler
CLE
Credit: 1.0 hour

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Children’s Poolside Ice Cream Social

3:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.

Pardons and Paroles Update

A lot of statutory changes have occurred at the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles since 2019. The agency has a new mission focused on reducing recidivism and improving legal reentry and rehabilitation efforts for those formerly incarcerated. The discussion will revolve around those changes, as well as new programing for those on parole.

Speaker: Cam Ward
CLE
Credit: 1.0 hour

3:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.

Access to Justice and Mediation

The session is ideal for lawyers and mediators. In the post-pandemic world, with courtroom access potentially curtailed and delays in civil cases, mediation plays a more critical role than ever in providing access to justice for disputants. Our panelists will share information on mediation since the pandemic and how mediation can assist litigants and our courts. They will also share their insights on what makes mediations successful.

presented by the Alabama State Bar Dispute Resolution Section and Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution

Speakers: Judge Martha Reeves Cook, Jon Lewis, Eileen Harris and Boyd Miller
CLE

Credit: 1.0 hour

*

3:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.

The Legacy of John Lewis in Alabama: Fairness, Justice and Hope in Action

A panel discussion on the
legacy of John Lewis (featuring
Sheyann Webb-Christburg, writer, civil rights activist, and Congressman Lewis’s lifelong friend) and highlighting how Legal Services Alabama is honoring his vision of a more just future.

presented by Legal Services Alabama

Speakers: Sheyann Webb-Christburg, Felecia Pettway, Frederick Spight, Victoria Shoots and Nell Brimmer
CLE
 Credit: 1.0 hour

4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Alabama Law Foundation Reception

5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

VLP Reception

5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Children’s Party and Dinner

Children can enjoy a kids’ meal and a movie while their parents attend law school receptions.

presented by ISI

6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Cumberland School of Law Reception

 

6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Birmingham School of Law Reception

 

7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Faulkner University Thomas Goode Jones School of Law Dessert Reception for Alumni and Friends

Friday, July 16

Time

Title

7:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon

Registration/Check-in

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Legal Expo

Meet representatives from suppliers who tailor their products and services to the legal community. Be sure to have your drawing card signed by the exhibitors so you can enter to win prizes, including the Grand Prize!

NOTE: The Legal Expo is intended for registered lawyer attendees and their office administrative staff. We regret that children unaccompanied by a parent cannot be admitted to the Legal Expo.

8:00 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.

Attorney and Firm CyberSecurity

Companies all over the world are being breached, so how can you keep your firm cyber-safe? Awareness and education are the best practices for keeping your firm proactive in the digital age. In this session with Heather Meadows of Dynamic Quest, we will review the critical mistakes and the impacts on some well-established companies, we will examine some of the malicious tactics used by cybercriminals, and we will discuss entry-level steps and policies for mitigating these losses on your company’s front lines.

Speaker: Heather Meadows, Dynamic Quest
CLE
Credit: 1.0 hour

8:00 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.

Smalll Business Reorganization Act of 2019 (SBRA)

An introduction to the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019 (SRBA), which was enacted to provide a more accessible and streamlined path for small businesses to restructure their debts.

presented by the Alabama State Bar Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section

Speaker: Evan N. Parrott, Maynard Cooper
CLE
Credit: 1.0 hour

*

9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.

From Zealous Representation to Threat Assessment: Identifying When a Client Becomes a Threat

How prepared are you to avoid becoming the victim of violence?
Walk through Sharon Muse’s experience of being kidnapped by a former client, and learn to recognize the red flags that might one day save your life. Discover the importance of situational awareness, mindset, and tactics to aid your defense. Analyze when–and when not–to trust your instincts and delve into the brain’s reaction to a traumatic situation, which may cause you to hesitate when you need to take action. conclude with an assessment to determine your current self-protection IQ and suggestions for preparation of your own safety plan.

Speaker: Sharon Muse
CLE
Credit: 1.0 hour

9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.

Panel: Marketing for Lawyers

This session will provide thoughts and strategies on creating a brand and reputation that will cultivate client relationships. Successful lawyers and firms are those that build a distinguishable brand and sell that brand to the market, commit to client communication, and position themselves to find opportunities.

Speakers: Tom Methvin, Kira Fonteneau and Jeff Grantham
CLE
Credit: 1.0 hour

*

10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

Myths and Misinformation about Voter Fraud and Voter Suppression

America faces a crisis of confidence in our elections. This crisis of confidence became all too clear during the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol, but it did not begin only after the 2020 election. The Georgia Secretary of State’s office has been at the center of that controversy and targeted by both sides of the political aisle. Ryan Germany, general counsel for the Georgia Secretary of State, will explore the overlap between political rhetoric about “voter fraud” and “voter suppression” and how that rhetoric creates disinformation that is used to undermine confidence in our elections.

presented by the Alabama State Bar Election, Ethics and Governmental Relations Section

Speaker: Ryan Germany
CLE
Credit: 1.0 hour

*

10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

Federal Judges Roundtable

CLE Credit: 1.0 hour

11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.

From Prominence to Purpose: A Life of Second Chances

Former lawyers Dickie
Scruggs and his son,
Zach, are changing the
lives of their fellow Mississippians. Dickie is best
known as the architect of the litigation that resulted in the multi-billion-dollar Tobacco Settlement. Dickie and Zach, prominent attorneys and working side by side, spent time in federal prison for their role in a judicial corruption scandal. In prison, they helped their fellow inmates prepare for the GED. In doing so, they found purpose. Upon their release, they created 2nd Chance MS. Their nonprofit provides vital support to lower-income adult students who are working to earn their high school diploma and an employable workforce certification. Since inception in 2016, 2nd Chance MS has provided direct support to over 1,000 adults, helping 306 obtain their high school equivalency and 302 obtain an employable workforce credential. Their journey from prominence to purpose was a difficult road. But their story is a testament to receiving and giving second chances.

Speakers: Dickie Scruggs and Zach Scruggs
CLE Credit: 1.0 hour

11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.

“Who Are You? Mentorship, Sponsorship and Allyship Throughout Your Career

A panel discussion regarding recent themes in leadership and career development, centering on the value of mentors, sponsors, and allies throughout your legal career. Emphasis will be placed on viewing your legal career on a timeline so that at all points you are serving as a mentor/sponsor/ally while simultaneously receiving the benefit of being a mentee/ protegee/ally.

presented by the Alabama State Bar Women’s Section

Speakers: Susan Kennedy, Karen Laneaux, Merceria Ludgood and Anil Mujumdar
Moderator: Sherrie Phillips
CLE
Credit: 1.0 hour

*

12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Women in the Law Reception

1:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.

“Zoom for Attorneys: Practical Tips and Ethical Obligations”

Speakers: Autumn Caudell, Director of the Practice Management Assistance Program and Morris Lilienthal, Huntsville Attorney
CLE Credit: 1.0 hour (ETHICS HOUR)

*

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Annual Maud McLure Kelly Award Luncheon

12:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Friends of Tony McLain Golf Tournament

2:00 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.

Ask the Experts: Answers to Common Questions in Real Property, Probate & Trusts

Join a panel of experts in the fields of Real Property, Probate, and Trusts to discuss common questions of practitioners in these fields. There will be time for Q & A at the end of the session.

presented by the Alabama State Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Section

Speakers: Judge Stephanie Kemmer, Duane Graham, Clay Lanham, Peter Wright
CLE Credit: 1.0 hour

*

2:00 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.

Alabama Law Institute Council and Membership’s 2021 Summer Meeting and Legislative Update

In this meeting, the Alabama Law Institute council and membership will hear about the results of the ALI and sponsoring legislators’ efforts in the just-completed 2021 regular session of the legislature and upcoming projects.
Also, the leadership of the Senate and House Judiciary committees will share their observations about this session’s accomplishments.
The institute will also be conferring the status of “Fellow of the Alabama lLaw Institute” upon a member of the institute.

Speakers: David Kimberly, Deputy Director of ALI; Senator Tom Whatley; and Representative Jim Hill
CLE Credit: 1.0 hour

3:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.

Top Ten Things You Need to Know about Administrative Law (You Won’t Believe #7)!

This CLE introduces the audience to key guiding principles of administrative law and practice, with a focus on matters governed by the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act (AAPA). Topics include how the Alabama Rules of Evidence and Civil Procedure apply (or do not apply) under the AAPA, due process in the administrative law context, the rule-making process under the AAPA, dealing with state agencies and their counsel, and tips for practitioners new to the field.

presented by the Alabama State Bar Administrative Law Section

Speakers: James Ward and Gregg Everett
CLE Credit:
1.0 hour

2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Family Tennis Tournament

3:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.

Racial Microaggressions in the Legal Profession

Workplace racial discrimination has evolved in the years since the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 from blatant discrimination to a subtler, more insidious discrimination that includes
racial microaggressions. Lawyers and legal workplaces are not immune from racial microaggressions or the harm they cause. This CLE will explain what microaggressions are, how attorneys of color experience them, and how they destroy motivation and relationships, using the words of the participants of a research study published by the presenter. Solutions will be offered for how attorneys and firms can begin to eliminate microaggressions from their workplaces.

presented by the Alabama State Bar Diversity and Inclusion in the Profession Committee

Speaker: Kuryakin Rucker, JD, PhD
CLE
Credit: 1.0 hour

*

3:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.

Alabama Workers’ Comp Jeopardy

This presentation by Civils Mediation LLC of Alabama workers’ compensation trivia will be in a question-and-answer format. How well do you know your workers’ compensation law? The attendees will be divided into teams and choose their questions from various categories. There will be verbal interaction on the questions, and we can keep score. Very fast-paced!

presented by the Alabama State Bar Workers’ Compensation Section

Speaker: John Civils
CLE: 1.0 hour

6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Women’s Section Silent Auction Fundraiser

(No ticket required)

Come bid on fabulous items at incredible prices!

7:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m.

President Bob Methvin’s Presidential Reception

Join us as we say thank you to Bob Methvin for his leadership this past year as the 145th president of the Alabama State Bar. He has planned an evening of fun and fellowship with food and music from the “Big Night Dynamite” band. “Big Night Dynamite” gets their name honestly because their performance is dynamite and makes for a big night! They play a wide variety of music from Motown, ’90s, and Top 40. There is something for everyone, so bring your dancing shoes!

Casual dress is recommended.

Saturday, July 17

Time

Event

7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

Veritext 5K and Fun Run

Advanced registration is required. First-place male and female attorney winners in the 5K will receive a complimentary registration to the 2022 Annual Meeting in Sandestin. T-shirts will be given to all participants who complete the course. Water will be provided.

Presented by Veritext Legal Solutions

7:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.

Christian Society Legal Society Breakfast

sponsored by William T. Coplin, Alyce Spruell and Stone Crosby

Speakers: Justice Sarah Stewart & Raymond Bell

9:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Grand Convocation

CLE Credit: 2.0 hours (in-person attendees only)

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

146th President Taze Shepard’s Presidential Reception

Sponsors

WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FROM OUR 2021 SPONSORS.

PLATINUM

GOLD

Litigation Section

SILVER​

 

BRONZE

2B Solutions

Alabama State Bar Administrative Law Section

Alabama Court Reporting

Alabama MedScreen

Alacourt.com

Badham Buck

Bedford Rogers Bowling & McReynolds

Carr Riggs & Ingram

Cory Watson, P.C.

Alabama State Bar Family Law Section

Fresh Managed It

Jinks Crow & Dickson

Lewis & Feldman

Maynard Cooper & Gale

Richard Raleigh & Christopher Lockwood of Wilmer & Lee, PA

Strategic Tax & Accounting

Alabama State Bar Workers’ Compensation Section

FRIEND OF THE BAR

Alabama State Bar Appellate Practice Section | Alyce Spruell | William T. Coplin, Jr. | Copeland Franco Screws & Gill P.A. | Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution | Dynamic Quest | PEG, Inc. | Alabama State Bar International Law Section | Cain and Associates Engineers & Contractors | Stone Crosby | Legal Directories Publishing Co. Inc. | Alabama State Bar Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section

PLATINUM SPONSOR VIDEOS

GOLD SPONSOR VIDEOS