Defense Bar Schedules Conference in Barcelona

The Chicago-based Defense Research Institute (DRI), the organization which represents the insurance defense bar, announced hat it has joined other legal associations to hold an international conference in Barcelona, Spain, May 11-12.

“Hundreds of defense attorneys, corporate counsel and insurance executives are expected to attend the 2004 Joint International Conference presented by DRI-The Voice of the Defense Bar; The Association of Defense Trial Attorneys; The Federation of Defense Corporate Counsel; and the International Association of Defense Counsel,” said the announcement.

The conference will focus on cross-border litigation concerns to businesses and insurance companies. Prominent speakers include “Executives such as Allen P. Waxman, senior assistant general counsel of Pfizer Inc., and Richard Wiseman, U.K. general counsel of Shell International Limited, will speak at the conference regarding international litigation concerns,” the bulletin continued. “Additional speakers include Santiago Nadal of Ernst & Young, Barcelona; Paul Llewellyn of Eversheds, London; Emily Q. Freeman of AIG eBusiness Risk Solutions, San Francisco; and Josep M. Mayor of MAPFRE, Barcelona.”

“The Joint International Conference will gather some of the world’s most seasoned and well-respected litigators and businesses to address the crucial issue of international litigation–from jurisdiction to insurance issues,” stated John Kouris, DRI Executive Director. “No business can operate in a vacuum, and product manufacturers and insurers worldwide must be able to assess what is occurring in the international arena at the earliest possible moment.”

The bulletin also noted that “Additional representatives from companies such as Nike Europe, Deere & Company, Rockwell International, The Sherwin-Williams Company, Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe Ltd, and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company will discuss how to avoid pitfalls in product liability and insurance defense litigation.”

The conference will offer educational sessions including:
— What is “Hot” in the Product Liability Arena
— Discovery Issues from Both European and U.S. Perspectives
— Mediation, Arbitration and Other Alternative Methods of Resolving Disputes
— What European Companies Look for in U.S. Lawyers and What American Companies Look for in European Lawyers
— Punitive Damages, Class Actions and Bad Faith

The announcement gave the following details concerning attendance at the conference: “Registration is limited, and attendees are encouraged to register early. For more information about the conference and to register, call DRI headquarters at 312-795-1101, or visit DRI at www.dri.org. The 2004 Joint International Conference has been approved for mandatory continuing legal education (CLE) credit by the State Bar of California in the amount of 15.25 hours.”