Nima Adabi is a litigation partner in Kirkland’s Chicago office with extensive experience in eDiscovery, AI, information governance and cyber incident response. Nima has served as lead discovery counsel for a variety of matters, including intellectual property, product liability, employment, contract disputes, construction disputes, insurance coverage, and governmental investigations. Nima utilizes his background in law and technology to identify electronic discovery best practices and risk points and to streamline workflows. With over a decade of eDiscovery experience, Nima has consulted both clients and law firms on electronic discovery best practices and procedures and has managed the discovery process across all phases of the EDRM life cycle, from data preservation and collections through review and production. He strives to take a proactive, creative, and analytical approach to each case to help clients comply with discovery requirements while limiting exposure and maximizing efficiency to meet and achieve favorable results. Nima emphasizes a consultative and proactive approach to his matters and practice. He frequently leverages his litigation and technology experience to create and implement unique strategies and workflows. Nima firmly believes in a collaborative and inclusive approach to managing various eDiscovery teams to maximize efficiencies, reduce costs, and achieve favorable results. Additionally, Nima has conducted litigation readiness assessments for Fortune 500 and 1000 companies.

Nima was a founding member and directed the day-to-day operations of another AM Law 3 law firm’s eDiscovery center of excellence. He also chaired an eDiscovery specific committee at another AM 50 law firm. Additionally, Nima has experience with intellectual property law (litigation, registration, licensing), employment litigation, and media litigation.

Hon. Ralph Artigliere (ret.) practiced civil trial law for 24 years before serving as a Circuit Judge of Florida’s 10th Judicial Circuit. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and The Florida Bar’s 2008 Board Certified Lawyer of the Year. His professionalism honors include the Florida Supreme Court Committee on Professionalism’s Hoeveler Award and the Tenth Judicial Circuit Professionalism Award. With an engineering foundation from West Point, Artigliere teaches judges and lawyers nationwide in civil procedure, case management, eDiscovery, evidence, and technology’s impact on the law. He has long served on the faculties of the Florida Judicial College and the UF eDiscovery Conference. Active in The Sedona Conference, he helped build its annual program on effective negotiation in civil discovery. He is editor of the five-volume LexisNexis Practice Guide: Florida Civil Trial Practice and co-author of Florida eDiscovery and Evidence, both updated annually. His work advances a practical, professional, and technology-competent bar and bench.

Doug Austin is the Editor of eDiscovery Today, a daily blog about eDiscovery, information governance, cybersecurity, data privacy and artificial intelligence trends, best practices and case law. Doug is an established eDiscovery thought leader with over 30 years of experience providing eDiscovery best practices, legal technology consulting and technical project management services to numerous commercial and government clients. Doug has published a daily blog since 2010 and has written numerous articles and white papers, receiving the JD Supra Readers Choice Award as a Top eDiscovery Author and Top Cybersecurity Author. Doug has presented at numerous webcasts, events and conferences, including Legalweek, ILTACON, CLOC, Relativity Fest, University of Florida E-Discovery Conference, Georgetown AEDI, Masters Conference and many local and regional conferences.

Julianna R. Bacchus is a Senior Manager at PwC with nearly two decades of experience spanning law firms, eDiscovery vendors, consulting, and enterprise clients. Her work centers on strengthening the critical thinking, workflow design, and communication skills that drive effective eDiscovery far beyond technical execution. Julianna has led complex, high-stakes review programs, built global eDiscovery frameworks, and developed training and knowledge-management initiatives that elevate teams’ problem-solving and collaboration. A Relativity Certified Expert, she also serves as the NYC Chapter Director for Women in eDiscovery and sits on the Legal Advisory Council for Sanctuary for Families.

I am an Attorney and former US litigator, Solicitor of England and Wales, living in Germany for the last 15 years. I have been with EY since 2017 in the role as Partner of EY’s Forensic and Integrity Services in Germany. I lead Innovation across all service lines in the 25 countries across Europe West. I am also the EMEIA Innovation Leader.

At EY’s Forensic & Integrity Services, I’m overseeing eDiscovery. I provide talent and experience in eDiscovery solutions, managed document review, document intelligence, data protection technology and privacy compliance.

Before I joined EY, I earned a Juris Doctor of Law and Master of Business Administration, worked at a prominent German law firm and in-house counsel at a German bank.

Judge Barksdale is a United States Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and a proud "Double Gator." Before assuming office in 2013, she worked at the United States Attorney's Office, at a private company, at a private law firm, and for a United States Circuit Judge and a United States District Judge. She currently serves on the national board for Case Management Modernization of the federal courts.

Lea Malani Bays is a Partner at Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd in San Diego. Robbins Geller
Rudman & Dowd specializes in representing plaintiffs in complex securities fraud, antitrust, and
consumer protection litigation. Lea currently focuses on the firm’s electronic discovery issues
from preservation through production and efficient analysis of incoming productions.  She is
familiar with best practices for the various stages of electronic discovery, including identification
of relevant electronically stored information, data culling, search protocols and predictive coding
protocols, privilege and responsiveness reviews. Lea also has also has experience in post-
production discovery through trial preparation for a wide range of litigation.

Val is a seasoned eDiscovery and project management professional currently leading global eDiscovery at Goldman Sachs. He oversees discovery processes for regulatory, litigation, and internal matters, focusing on operational efficiency, risk management, and innovative technologies. Previously, Val served as Vice President and Subject Matter Expert in Digital Forensics & eDiscovery at a major French bank, managing data preservation and collection across the Americas. His career includes consulting roles supporting Fortune 500 companies and top law firms, with expertise in electronic data management and complex project execution. Val is recognized for his leadership, strategic approach, and consistent delivery of strong results.

Suzanne H. Clark graduated from the University of Florida and began her legal career in 2002. She received her Certified eDiscovery Specialist (CEDS) designation from ACEDS in 2014 and transitioned to a full-time focus on eDiscovery where she has become a nationally recognized speaker and panelist in eDiscovery education. Suzanne works remotely from Jacksonville as Discovery Counsel for the Mass Torts Section of Beasley Allen Law Firm's Montgomery home office. Suzanne’s role at Beasley Allen is to assist the 36 mass torts attorneys with discovery, especially relating to ESI. In furtherance of this concentration, she has earned the Mass-Tort MDL Certificate from the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law.

Suzanne is a frequent lecturer at eDiscovery educational events, including the annual University of Florida College of Law eDiscovery Conference where she serves on the Planning Committee. Further, from 2019 to 2020, Suzanne served as an Associate Professor at Samford University, Cumberland School of Law, where she taught ESI I: Introduction to E-Discovery and ESI II: Discovery to students earning their Master of Studies of Law. She also served as faculty for The Sedona Conference eDiscovery Negotiation Training (eDNT) Program in 2022.

Suzanne co-founded the Jacksonville chapter of ACEDS in 2014, which was later recognized as national Chapter of the Year for its vibrancy and outreach, and continues to serve on the board. She also serves as a Board Member of Complex Litigation eDiscovery Forum (CLEF). In past service, for two years, Suzanne chaired the Jacksonville Bar Association's Legal Technology Committee. 

Stephanie is the Director of Litigation Support at Korein Tillery, one of the country’s leading plaintiffs’ complex-litigation firms, where she leverages almost 20 years of experience in finance, consulting, and data analytics to manage massive litigation projects, as well as the firm’s e-Discovery platform. Working with all departments in the Firm, she understands how to bridge the gap between the legal teams and IT personnel to streamline discovery efforts and design cost-effective solutions for clients. She is responsible for the processing, analysis, review and production of hundreds of terabytes of ESI.Stephanie is an ACEDS Certified e-Discovery Specialist and Relativity Master. She is a Member Liaison for the St. Louis ILTA Community and the current Strategic Partner Liaison for ILTA and Relativity. She is also a member of Women in eDiscovery, the Sedona Conference, an EDRM 2.0 Project Trustee, and is on the Steering Committee for the St. Louis Relativity User Group. Outside the office, she tirelessly dedicates countless hours to several community organizations, including the Make-A-Wish® Foundation.

Scott Cohen is an Executive Vice President at Lineal, a global provider of software and managed eDiscovery services. In this role, he leads the company’s shared services function, aligning technical expertise with customer-facing needs to deliver measurable business outcomes for law firms and corporate legal departments. He is responsible for ensuring operational excellence across forensic collections, processing, hosting, review support, and production workflows, while also advancing internal capabilities through innovation, process improvement, and talent development.  Throughout his career, Mr. Cohen has worked in a consultative capacity with law firms and corporate legal departments, enabling them to effectively leverage technology across all phases of the EDRM. With a focus on electronic discovery, complex data analytics, and litigation readiness, he has advised lawyers and clients on a wide range of discovery-related topics. He is a frequent writer and speaker on subjects ranging from eDiscovery best practices and legal cost control to leadership development, performance management, and staff mentoring.  Prior to joining Lineal, Mr. Cohen was the Managing Director of E-Discovery & Information Governance for Winston & Strawn LLP, overseeing technology innovation, practice and client services, electronic discovery operations, and document review. Earlier in his career, he served as Practice Support Director for Proskauer Rose and as Director of Information Technology for MetLife. He is CEDS certified.

Sharika de Freitas is a legal technology leader with over 20 years of experience bridging law, technology, and innovation. Her career spans both law firms and corporate legal departments, where she has guided teams through the design and implementation of transformative legal systems and processes. She currently serves as Vice President, Legal Operations and Automation at Madison Square Garden Entertainment.

Amanda is an attorney specializing in electronic discovery and complex litigation, advising clients on data strategy, compliance and efficient discovery work flows. She has significant experience managing large-scale investigations and guiding organizations through the evolving intersection of law, technology and information governance. Amanda regularly partners with corporate teams to develop defensible, cost-effective approaches to data preservation, collection and review. She has contributed to industry thought leadership through speaking engagements, training programs and collaborative technology initiatives. In her practice, she emphasizes practical solutions that balance legal risk with operational realities. Amanda is committed to advancing innovation within the eDiscovery community and promoting best practices across the profession.

Mike Gaudet is a Senior Managing Director in J.S. Held’s Global Investigations practice, specializing in Digital Investigations & Discovery.  He has more than 20 years of project experience providing solutions for corporations, law firms, government agencies and insurers, related to data discovery and governance challenges. He is an expert eDiscovery practitioner and technologist, with a master’s degree in Computer Science & Engineering.  His focus has been on leveraging AI and advanced technology to streamline processes for his clients, and to find the most critical information efficiently.  Mike is a frequent speaker on eDiscovery, digital forensics, & AI topics including recent sessions at LegalWeek, National eDiscovery Leadership Institute, Masters Legal Conferences, the PLRB Innovation Summit, and the Loss Executives Association.  When not sifting through large volumes of data, Mike enjoys time with his wife & 3 daughters riding roller coasters, playing board games, finding good BBQ, and driving around the country.

Paul Grimm is a retired United States District Judge for the District of Maryland, where he served for nearly 26 years, first as a Magistrate Judge and then as a District Judge.

Prior to his judicial service, he was in private practice for 13 years (civll litigation), the Maryland Attorney General's Office, the Baltinore County State's Attorney's Office, and served as a U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps attorney for nearly 25 years of combined active duty and reserve service, having retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Following his retirement from the Federal Court in Maryland, Judge Grimm served for three years on the faculty of Duke Law School as a Professor of the Practice of Law and the Director of the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law School. He is an elected member of the American Law Institute, and previously was an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland and the University of Baltimore Schools of Law, where he taught courses on evidence and civil procedure.

He has published extensively on areas of admissibility of evidence, civil discovery, and other litigation related topics.

William Hamilton is an expert in electronic discovery. Prior to joining the faculty, he served as the electronic discovery partner for his national law firm. Professor Hamilton has taught electronic discovery at the University of Florida for the past decade and is the co-author of the LexisNexis Practice Guide, Florida e-Discovery and Evidence, and co-author of A Student Electronic Discovery Primer: An Essential Companion for Civil Procedure Courses. Professor Hamilton is also the General Editor of the LexisNexis Practice Guide: Florida Contract Litigation. He is also a neutral arbitrator and mediator for the World Intellectual Property Organization and the author of numerous domain name dispute decisions. Professor Hamilton has been recognized in Chambers USA, Florida Legal Elite, Best Lawyers in America, and Florida Super Lawyers.

Canaan Himmelbaum serves as a Global Managing Director of Consilio, LLC overseeing business development and consulting services for the Consumer Brands Vertical. Himmelbaum leverages his years of experience in the food and beverage industry working in-house as Litigation and eDiscovery Counsel at Glanbia, PLC where he worked on large scale eDiscovery, litigation and M/A matters. He advises and consults with Clients that are part of Consilio’s Food/ Beverage/Consumer Products and Antitrust Groups, as well as consults on planning and budgeting, internal investigations, class actions, recalls and information governance.

Dawson is presently president of Network for Excellence in Legal Technology (NExT), "where legal tech innovation meets inclusive excellence." He also sits on the Board of Practicing Law Institute (PLI) and the Advisory Board for ALM's LegalWeek. Dawson was previously Vice President, Associate General Counsel, to the Litigation Department at AIG where he was responsible for specified corporate litigation cases, a range of eDiscovery matters, and antitrust compliance. Before assuming that position he was Senior Litigation Counsel with Tyco International and was responsible for a large toxic tort and insurance recovery docket. Prior to that Dawson served for eight years as Assistant General Counsel at Altria Corporate Services where, among other things, he managed Altria’s defense in the multi-billion-dollar RICO lawsuit by the Department of Justice against the major U.S. cigarette companies. At Scott Paper, he managed the company’s defense in breast implant class action litigation and navigated its related insurance issues. His litigation training began at the Pepper Hamilton firm where he gained first chair trial experience and worked primarily on insurance and antitrust cases. Dawson is a frequent speaker on eDiscovery issues have spoken at LegalWeek, the Sedona Conference and the Electronic Discovery Institute. He is also a guest lecturer on eDiscovery Issues at the Temple Univeristy Law School Course on The Role of In House Counsel.

David Horrigan is Relativity’s discovery counsel and legal education director. An attorney, award-winning journalist, law school guest lecturer, and former e-discovery industry analyst, David has served as counsel at the Entertainment Software Association, reporter and assistant editor at The National Law Journal, and analyst and counsel at 451 Research. The author and co-author of law review articles as well as the annual Data Discovery Legal Year in Review, David is a frequent contributor to Legaltech News, and he was First Runner-Up for Best Legal Analysis in the LexBlog Excellence Awards. His articles have appeared also in The American Lawyer, Corporate Counsel, The New York Law Journal, Texas Lawyer, The Washington Examiner, and others, and he has been cited by media, including American Public Media’s Marketplace, TechRepublic, and The Wall Street Journal. David serves on the Global Advisory Board of ACEDS, the Planning Committee of the University of Florida E-Discovery Conference, and the Resource Board of the National Association of Women Judges. David is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia, and he is an IAPP Certified Information Privacy Professional/US.

Rose is dedicated to understanding and managing the intersection of legal and technical issues that now largely dominate American and global litigation, data breach response, and government investigations. She devotes her entire practice to crisis management, eData, and technology. Rose is ranked in Chambers USA and Chambers Global as one of the world’s top lawyers in e-discovery litigation practice. According to Chambers USA, Rose is a “seasoned counsellor to clients on diverse e-discovery concerns as they relate to government investigations” while Legal 500 notes “Rose Jones is particularly experienced in cross-functional collaboration, advising businesses on information governance, data privacy and security, and discovery.”

My practice focuses on eDiscovery, internal investigations, information governance, and data privacy. I counsel clients on various preservation, collection, data processing, document review, privilege logging, and production-related strategies. I primarily focus on intellectual property, product liability, and toxic tort cases, as well as commercial and white collar litigation in US federal and state court. I also counsels clients on legal, technical, and strategic issues involved in the manufacturing, healthcare, software, social media, and investment industries.

Tessa leads Husch Blackwell’s cutting edge eDiscovery Solutions team and has spearheaded the firm’s efforts to provide consistent, defensible and repeatable eDiscovery solutions for our clients.

She is responsible for establishing and implementing best practices for eDiscovery as well as providing the related education and training for our attorneys and litigation technology staff.

A practicing attorney for 29 years, Tessa’s strong understanding of the substantive and strategic aspects of litigation informs the counsel she provides to clients and case teams on all aspects of eDiscovery. She works with clients and case teams to create strategic, cost-effective and defensible discovery plans. 

Tessa is knowledgeable in both the legal and technical aspects of eDiscovery. She has vast experience in using and assessing the value of using data mining tools, technology assisted review and various review platforms. She provides discovery management to our clients, including legal hold implementation, identification, preservation and collection of client data as well as assessment of risks and costs of specific discovery strategies. 

Tessa has served as lead eDiscovery counsel in class action cases and has led eDiscovery efforts for numerous companies that were the target of government investigations by the Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Her skills in early case assessment, search term development and strategy, and the use of analytics and technology assisted review not only saved clients’ money but helped to ensure early favorable results.

Judge Jones has served as a United States Magistrate Judge for 27 years, first for the Middle District of Florida and then for the past 15 years for the Northern District of Florida. Judge Jones currently also serves as a magistrate judge in the District of Columbia through an inter-circuit assignment and as a magistrate judge on recall for the Southern District of New York. Judge Jones received a B.A. in 1975 from Boston University, a J.D. in 1981 from the University of Miami School of Law and an LL.M degree in International Law from New York University School of Law in 1983. Following graduation from New York University Judge Jones practiced commercial litigation in Florida for eighteen years, first as an associate and then as a partner at a large multi service firm in Miami, Florida. Thereafter, for approximately ten years, he practiced complex commercial litigation as a name partner in a Miami firm he founded. Judge Jones was the first magistrate judge appointed to the Financial Disclosure Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States, where Judge Jones served with distinction for six years. Judge Jones recently served for five years as a member of the Magistrate Judges Advisory Committee of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. In addition to his government service Judge Jones also serves on the advisory council for the EDRM, and for the past thirteen years, has served on the planning committee for the University of Florida Levin College of Law annual eDiscovery conference. Judge Jones frequently participates as a panelist for various educational conferences concerning eDiscovery issues in federal courts. Judge Jones also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Purdue Global Law School, where he teaches Constitutional Law.

Hon. Tanya R. Kennedy serves as an Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, First Department, having been appointed to the court in July 2020. Her judicial journey began in January 2006 and encompasses nineteen years of service. Justice Kennedy’s experience spans several New York courts, including Criminal Court, Civil Court—where she also served as Supervising Judge in New York County—Family Court, and Supreme Court. Justice Kennedy is deeply committed to legal education, as reflected in her role as an adjunct professor at Fordham University School of Law. Her dedication extends beyond the bench through her leadership and professional service. She has held various positions, including Immediate Past Presiding Member of the Judicial Section of the New York State Bar Association, President of the National Association of Women Judges, and member of the Board of Overseers of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, her alma mater. Justice Kennedy is a frequent speaker at various conferences and has received numerous awards for her achievements. Among these honors are the 2025 DEI Champion Award from Women in eDiscovery, the 2024 Professor William Hamilton Leadership Award from the University of Florida’s 11th Annual E-Discovery Conference, the 2023 Metropolitan Black Bar Association Jurist of the Year Award, and the 2022 Award of Recognition from the New York Women’s Bar Association.

Following a 20 year career in IT management at Rice Business School, I attended law school at St. Mary's University in San Antonio. I worked as an in house counsel with Rackspace Technology for 10 years. While at Rackspace, I worked on E-Discovery, intellectual property, customer dispute resolutions, marketing, privacy, enterprise risk management, product development, sourcing and mergers and acquisitions. In 2022 I had the opportunity to join the Indycar Timing and Scoring team part time. In 2024 I decided to put my legal career on pause and focus on racing. As a Track Technician, our group sets up and operates the track side data acquisition system, as well as the fiber optic and wireless networks that distribute timing and telemetry data to other officials, teams, television and the internet.

Chief United States Magistrate Judge William Matthewman was appointed
to the federal bench in 2012 and sits in the West Palm Beach division of the United
States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. As a U.S. Magistrate
Judge, he handles both civil and criminal cases.

Prior to joining the bench, Judge Matthewman was a very active trial
attorney who handled both criminal and civil cases, including high profile cases
which were covered on live in-session Court TV, Dateline, 48 Hours, and other
programs. He was previously Board certified by The Florida Bar in criminal trial
practice and is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell. He has been a member of The
Florida Bar and a trial lawyer since 1983, handling numerous cases in state and
federal courts. He began his legal career as an attorney with Holland & Knight in
Miami. He was an associate and partner in litigation firms, and he was also a sole
practitioner during his career. Before becoming an attorney, he was a police officer
and sergeant in Miami, Florida.

Judge Matthewman received his B.S. degree in Criminal Justice and Masters
degree (MPA) from Florida International University in Miami, and he received his
Law Degree, with Honors, from the University of Florida. While at the University
of Florida Law School, he was Research Editor of the University of Florida Law
Review.

Judge Matthewman was born in Miami-Dade County, Florida. He has been
married to his wife, Diane, for over 38 years and he has four children. He is in avid
runner, fisherman and kayaker.

Kelly McNabb is a partner in Lieff Cabraser’s New York office and has over 10 years of experience in complex civil litigation. As a member of the firm’s mass tort and product liability practice group, she has represented people and families who have been injured by dangerous and defective products manufactured by medical device and pharmaceutical companies. Kelly has played an integral role in litigation in state and federal courts across the country and has served as court-appointed leadership in complex litigations, including as a member of the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee for the multidistrict litigation In re Zimmer M/L Taper Hip Prosthesis Litigation, MDL No. 2859 (S.D.N.Y.), and the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the Social Media Cases Judicial Counsel Coordination Proceeding No. 5255 (Los Angeles Superior Court). Kelly has dedicated her practice to holding corporations accountable for injuries that devastate her clients.

Kelly also works for the improvement of the legal profession by participating in ongoing leadership and educational organizations. She specializes in electronic discovery and is Lieff Cabraser’s Partner-in-Charge of ESI, serves on the Sedona Conference Leadership Council, and is a board member of the Complex Litigation e-Discovery Forum. 

Prior to joining Lieff Cabraser, Kelly began her practice in Minnesota and in 2014 Minnesota Lawyer named Kelly as an Attorney of the Year over litigation involving severely injured premature infants, including several deaths. She volunteered at The Advocates for Human Rights in Minneapolis from 2012 to 2015, and continued her human rights work in New York representing a client seeking asylum, which was granted in 2017 after 5 years of advocacy. 

In her spare time, Kelly enjoys traveling, trying new cuisines, and being active, especially weight training, yoga, hiking, and skiing.

Kelly Mickelson is the Head of Legal Operations at Mars, Inc, where she is accountable for technology, outside counsel/vendor management, litigation support, budgets, data & insights, IP operations, compliance operations and communications. She has 20 years of experience in technology, project management and operational roles, but learns something new every day.

Janine A. Morris-Meggett, Esq. is an experienced litigation attorney and discovery strategist with
more than a decade of deep, hands-on expertise managing complex eDiscovery, investigations,
and high-stakes disputes. As Founder and Managing Attorney of Morris Meggett Legal, she
advises clients on litigation strategy, discovery management, and risk mitigation while also
handling select commercial, entertainment, and IP matters.

Janine previously served nearly 14 years as Senior Discovery Counsel at Paramount Global,
where she led eDiscovery strategy and litigation support for major networks including MTV,
BET, Comedy Central, VH1, and Nickelodeon. She played a critical role in all phases of the
EDRM cycle, including preservation, collection, review, and production. She developed
defensible, repeatable workflows that helped save the company millions in outside-counsel and
vendor spend. Her work included managing multi-district litigations, second requests, regulatory
inquiries, subpoenas, and internal investigations; reviewing and negotiating ESI protocols and
protective orders; conducting custodial interviews; and partnering with cross-functional teams to
implement advanced analytics, predictive coding, and AI-driven review methodologies.

Throughout her career, Janine has been a key advisor on litigation readiness and early case
assessment, helping in-house and outside counsel shape strategy, identify critical evidence
quickly, and navigate discovery disputes. She is recognized for her ability to translate technical
complexity into actionable guidance for attorneys, executives, and IT stakeholders.

Today, Janine positions herself as a bridge between transactional, litigation, and discovery worlds,
helping businesses anticipate issues before they surface and navigate them efficiently when they
do. She drafts forward-thinking contracts and operational practices that reduce downstream
discovery risk, and when disputes arise, she guides teams through early case assessment and
strategy, the discovery process focusing on cost-controlled, defensible strategies. Her approach
centers on minimizing disruption, containing legal spend, and ensuring businesses are prepared
for whatever the discovery lifecycle demands.

Michelle M. Newcomer focuses her practice on electronic discovery issues and provides counsel to litigation teams across the Firm on such matters arising in the Firm’s securities, consumer, antitrust, and other complex actions. Michelle is experienced and adept at managing all aspects and phases of the discovery process. She regularly leads discovery conferences and negotiates protocols governing electronically stored information, search, privilege logs, and other discovery issues, and helps litigation teams navigate complex issues regarding the preservation, collection, search and production of electronically stored information. Michelle also briefs and argues discovery motions where necessary. Michelle was appointed to the Sedona Conference Working Group (WG) 1 Steering Committee, which works to develop principles, guidance, and best practice recommendations for information governance and electronic discovery in the context of litigation, dispute resolution, and investigations. She also has served as a Faculty Advisory for Sedona’s E-Discovery Negotiation & Training workshop, a panelist and moderator at various e-discovery conferences where she has helped shape the broader dialogue on e-discovery issues, and is an active member of the Complex Litigation e-Discovery Forum (CLEF), which provides educational and networking opportunities to practitioners in the plaintiffs’ bar who handle complex cases. Prior to serving in this role, Michelle focused her practice in the area of securities litigation, where she represented individual and institutional investors and Sovereign Wealth Funds in class actions, direct actions, and non-U.S. collective actions asserting violations of U.S. and foreign securities laws. She has been involved in dozens of securities class actions in which the Firm has served as Lead or Co-Lead Counsel, through all aspects of pre-trial, trial, and appellate proceedings, and was part of the trial team in the Firm’s most recent securities fraud class action trial, which resulted in a jury verdict on liability and damages in favor of investors. Michelle began her legal career with the Firm in 2005. Prior to joining the Firm, she was a summer law clerk for the Hon. John T.J. Kelly, Jr. of the Pennsylvania Superior Court.

Ashley Picker Dubin is a nationally recognized authority in eDiscovery and information governance, known for her innovative application of artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to complex data challenges. She counsels global organizations, financial institutions, and Fortune 500 companies on defensible, technology-driven discovery strategies and data management frameworks that align with evolving regulatory and litigation demands. With extensive experience leading cross-border discovery and investigations spanning the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia, Ashley brings a rare blend of technical fluency and strategic insight to her work. She regularly collaborates with in-house legal teams, technology departments, and regulators—including the DOJ, SEC, FTC, FINRA, and HHS-OIG—to design efficient workflows and negotiate discovery protocols that withstand judicial and agency scrutiny. An active thought leader in the rapidly evolving intersection of AI and the law, Ashley directs Day Pitney’s use of artificial intelligence in discovery and advises on the implications of emerging technologies.

Mike Quartararo is the President of the Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists (ACEDS), the world’s leading organization for training and certification in e-discovery. For more than 25 years, Mike has been training lawyers, paralegals and legal support professionals at law firms, corporate legal departments, and the government. He is the author of the book Project Management in Electronic Discovery, now in its second edition, and he has been consulting in e-discovery, information governance, project management and legal technology for two decades. Following 10 years as a paralegal, database specialist, and project manager at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP and another 10 years as the director of litigation support at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, Mike launched a successful consulting practice that provides advisory services to corporate legal departments and law firms. He has been an adjunct instructor and guest lecturer at law schools and paralegal schools across the U.S., and he frequently writes and speaks at legal industry events on e-discovery, project management, legal technology topics. A graduate of the State University of New York, he also attended law school in London. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Certified E-Discovery Specialist (CEDS).

Dan Regard is the Founder and CEO of iDiscovery Solutions (iDS), a leading consulting firm specializing in data analytics, digital forensics, and electronic discovery for complex litigation and investigations. Under his leadership since 2008, iDS has grown into an internationally recognized expert services firm that helps law firms, corporations, and government agencies manage, analyze, and interpret data in high-stakes matters. Combining deep expertise in computer science, law, and data strategy, iDS leverages advanced technologies and proven methodologies to uncover facts, manage risk, and deliver clarity from complexity. The firm’s professionals—many of whom are recognized experts and testifying consultants—serve clients worldwide in disputes, compliance, and investigations where data and truth intersect.

Maribel Rivera is the Vice President of Strategy and Client Engagement at ACEDS, where she leads chapters, membership growth, event management, and strategic partner engagement. A seasoned strategist and consultant, she has built a career helping brands and businesses connect with their audiences through marketing, operations, and event experiences that drive measurable impact. Her work spans brand awareness campaigns, industry research, training programs, and large-scale conferences in the legal and technology sectors.

Maribel continues to consult with organizations on marketing, business development, and information governance initiatives, drawing on her background in sales operations and her experience managing high-profile events and reports across the industry. She also served as Director of Sales Operations at Fronteo USA Inc., where she developed training programs that strengthened team performance.

Beyond her professional expertise, Maribel is an active member of Women in eDiscovery and ARMA and devotes her time to causes including Life Preservers Project, Operation Safe Spaces, Volunteers of America, and the Coalition for the Homeless. A frequent speaker on marketing and diversity, equity, and inclusion, she brings authenticity and innovation to every stage, program, and partnership. When she isn’t working, Maribel enjoys traveling, reading, continuing her education, and staying active.

Chad S. Roberts founded eDiscovery CoCounsel, pllc in 2014 after a successful twenty-year career representing consumers in complex litigation. Continuously AV rated since 1996, he holds an Engineering Science degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology and graduated with high honors from Florida State University College of Law. He has been a litigation partner at both a large, multi-national law firm (Holland & Knight, LLP) as well as a small boutique trial firm (Spohrer & Dodd, LLP) and has won multi-million dollar verdicts as lead trial counsel.

​At eDiscovery CoCounsel, pllc he focuses on discovery motion practice in State and Federal Courts, Information Governance, Analytics, and Information Retrieval technology.  His practice includes appointments as Plaintiffs' Electronic Discovery Liaison in Multi-District Litigation (MDL) matters and single event complex litigation matters. He serves on the Steering Committee of The Sedona Conference Working Group 1 and teaches the Electronic Discovery Civil Procedure course at Jacksonville University College of Law.  

Rich Robinson is a nationally recognized legal operations, eDiscovery and legal technology leader with a career spanning law firms, corporate legal departments, legal service providers, and industry organizations. He currently serves as Director of Client Success at Epiq, where he helps clients navigate AI legal tech and data governance. Rich is a frequent speaker, a founding board member of ACEDS Dallas and Law Rocks Dallas, a member of the board of directors for CLOC, and the creator of Legal Power Skills—a content series focused on upskilling legal professionals in communication, collaboration, emotional intelligence, innovation, adaptability, and leadership. He is also an adjunct professor with Southern Methodist University (SMU) Continuing & Professional Education (CAPE) where he teaches eDiscovery and Legal Technology.

Xavier Rodriguez is a former Texas Supreme Court Justice and currently sits on the bench as a United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas. Born in San Antonio, Texas, he received his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, a master’s degree from the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs, a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Texas Law School, and a Master of Laws in Judicial Studies from Duke University, Bolch Judicial Institute. Prior to assuming the bench, he was a partner in the international law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski (now known as Norton Rose Fulbright). He was board certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General's Corps and has served on the board of directors of several charitable organizations across Texas. Judge Rodriguez is a frequent speaker on continuing legal education seminars and has authored numerous articles regarding employment law, discovery, and arbitration issues. He is the editor of Essentials of E-Discovery (TexasBarBooks 2d ed. 2021). He is a member of The Sedona Conference Judicial Advisory Board, the Georgetown Advanced E-Discovery Institute Advisory Board, the EDRM Global Advisory Council, and serves as the Distinguished Visiting Jurist-in-Residence and adjunct professor of law at the St. Mary’s University School of Law. He was elected to membership in the American Law Institute and is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and the Texas Bar Foundation. In 2011 he was awarded the Rosewood Gavel Award for outstanding judicial service from the St. Mary's University School of Law. In 2017, he received the State Bar of Texas Gene Cavin Award for Excellence in CLE, recognizing his long-term contributions to continuing legal education. In 2021, he was presented the Texas Bar Foundation’s Samuel Pessarra Outstanding Jurist Award and the TexasBarCle’s Pat Nester Innovation in Professional Development Award. He is a Past Chair of the State Bar of Texas Litigation Section, Past Chair of the State Bar of Texas Labor and Employment Law Section and Past Chair of the State Bar of Texas Continuing Legal Education Committee.

Jon Rowe is the CEO and founder of Pinpoint Labs, a trailblazing company in digital forensics and eDiscovery, for over 17 years. With a background as a Certified Computer Examiner (CCE) and software developer, Jon’s innovative leadership led to creation of cutting-edge eDiscovery collection tools like Harvester, SharePoint Collector, SafeCopy, Pinpoint Cloud, and CrossCopy.

Before his tenure at Pinpoint Labs, Jon co-founded Image Capture Engineering (ICE). He was the original designer and developer for the industry-leading document scanning application, Legal Access Ware (LAW). His expertise also extended to leading the Z-Print and LAW PreDiscovery development team, pioneering some of the first eDiscovery processing tools. These groundbreaking solutions caught the attention of industry giant LexisNexis, leading to their acquisition in 2007.

Jon’s unwavering dedication to advancing technology in the legal sector continues to empower professionals worldwide in their digital investigations.

MARIA SALACUSE is the Assistant General Counsel, eDiscovery & Information Governance, at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC). As the agency’s lead eDiscovery counsel, she oversees EEOC’s litigation support department and provides strategic advice and training to more than 300 attorneys, paralegals, and legal support staff on the use, retention, storage, retrieval, and preservation of electronically stored information in pending litigation. She also serves as OGC's information governance representative. Prior to assuming this position, she was a Supervisory Trial Attorney in EEOC’s Baltimore Field Office, where she litigated individual and systemic discrimination cases for 20 years, many of which involved ESI matters. She has worked with the EEOC in various capacities, including Trial Attorney, Attorney Advisor to former EEOC Chair Jenny R. Yang, and Administrative Judge. She is currently the Immediate Past President of the Federal Bar Association’s Maryland Chapter, a member of the Federal eDiscovery Working Group, and a member of the Complex Litigation eDiscovery Forum. She is also an active member of The Sedona Conference Working Group 1 and 13, currently serving as a Steering Committee member of Working Group 1 and as a Co-Team Lead for Working Group 13’s AI Tool Drafting Team. She is a frequent speaker at eDiscovery conferences and also is a guest lecturer at the University of Baltimore Law School on eDiscovery matters. Maria is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law and Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.

Nirav Shah serves as Corporate Counsel – eDiscovery at The Home Depot, where he provides critical legal guidance to the in-house team, manages external counsel and vendors, and advises on best practices in eDiscovery. His role encompasses overseeing eDiscovery across various legal domains, including commercial litigation, class actions, general liability, intellectual property, employment, tax, and real estate. Nirav directs the implementation and execution of legal hold and preservation processes, ensuring The Home Depot’s compliance and readiness for legal proceedings. Nirav is widely acknowledged as a thought leader in legal technology. His passion for sharing his expertise and mentoring others is evident in his numerous speaking engagements at conferences, educational forums, events, and webcasts, which are testaments to his significant influence in the industry. Nirav’s commitment to shaping the future of eDiscovery education is further demonstrated by his role on the Planning Committee for the University of Florida Law E-Discovery Conference. Before joining The Home Depot, Nirav practiced with Troutman Sanders as a Senior Discovery Attorney, where he honed his skills in managing complex eDiscovery processes. He also served as a Director within FTI Consulting’s Technology group, further establishing his expertise in legal technology solutions. Nirav Shah’s educational journey includes dual degrees in Mathematics and Organizational Studies from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center. His unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation in eDiscovery is evident in his career achievements and significant contributions to the legal community. Nirav’s dedication to the legal field extends beyond his professional roles. He is actively involved in various volunteer activities and passion projects, demonstrating his commitment to giving back to the community and fostering the next generation of legal professionals.

Hon. Rukhsanah L. Singh is a United States Magistrate Judge in the Trenton Vicinage of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. She is an Adjunct Professor at Seton Hall University School of Law and routinely speaks on topics involving a broad range of discovery issues, such as electronic discovery, as well as pretrial practices, particularly in complex and multidistrict litigation. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Singh was an Assistant General Counsel for Litigation at BASF Corporation and previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. Judge Singh also practiced at a midsize firm in New Jersey and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Joel A. Pisano, U.S.D.J., in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, as well as to the Honorable Roberto A. Rivera-Soto, Associate Justice in the New Jersey Supreme Court. Judge Singh received her B.A. from Davidson College and her
J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law.

Judge Julie S. Sneed was confirmed as a United States District Judge on February 28, 2024, and received her commission on March 4, 2024. Judge Sneed presides over civil and criminal matters pending in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Judge Sneed received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida and her Juris Doctor degree with honors from the Florida State University College of Law. After law school, she served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable James D. Whittemore, United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida, and the Honorable Chris W. Altenbernd, State of Florida, Second District Court of Appeal. Judge Sneed previously served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida from 2015 to 2024. Before her appointment to the court, she worked in private practice handling complex civil litigation as a partner at Akerman LLP. Judge Sneed is a past president of the Tampa Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and the George Edgecomb Bar Association. She is an emeritus member of the Judge Clifford J. Cheatwood American Inn of Court. Judge Sneed is a member of the Florida State University, College of Law Alumni Board and serves on the Florida Bar, Business Law Section Executive Council as the Judicial Chair of the Computer Law and Technology Committee. Judge Sneed is a recipient of awards, including the Judge George C. Carr Memorial Award from the Federal Bar Association for excellence in federal practice, the George Edgecomb Bar Association’s President’s Award for distinguished service, the Delano S. Stewart Diversity Award, and the Inaugural Jurist of the Year Award. She was honored by the Florida Association for Women Lawyers as a Leader in the Law. Judge Sneed was named as an Honorary Member of the Florida Blue Key at the University of Florida in 2021.

George Socha is responsible for increasing market awareness and adoption of Reveal’s platform globally. Additionally, George is tasked with guiding the product roadmap and consulting with Reveal customers on effective deployment of legal technology. In 2005, he co-founded the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM) whose frameworks and content have empowered a generation of legal professionals. He has worked for over three decades as a lawyer, advisor and court-approved expert. George received his JD from Cornell Law School and his BA from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Hon. Danyelle Taylor is a Judge in Division AO@ of the 24th Judicial District Court. She
was elected to her position in 2014. She is a graduate of Loyola School of Law in New Orleans
and Nicholls State University. She practiced law for 18 years before being elected to the bench.
She is a member of several professional organizations, including the Louisiana State Bar
Association, the Jefferson Bar Association, the New Orleans Bar Association, the Louisiana
District Judges Association, the Fourth and Fifth Circuit Judges Association and the National
Association of Women Judges. She was past president of the Fifth Circuit Judges Association
and Chairs the Domestic Commissioner and Hearing Officer committee of the 24th Judicial
District Court. She currently oversees her court=s participation in the Right Services, Right Time
Grant with the National Center for State Courts aimed at using technology and AI to assist self
represented litigants and to identify and track high-conflict cases through the court system.

CRISTIN K. TRAYLOR is the Senior Director of AI Transformation & Law Firm Strategy at Relativity, where she advises law firms, corporations, government entities, and partner organizations on business strategies and practices around the use of AI in e-Discovery and other core legal data intelligence use cases. She previously worked as Discovery Counsel at McGuireWoods LLP, where she led a diverse team of legal professionals providing discovery support and strategic guidance to firm clients. Cristin has written and spoken extensively on discovery topics, including generative AI. She is currently the Meetings Director of Richmond Women in eDiscovery and Project Trustee of the EDRM Discovery Workflows Project. She is a member of the Steering Committee of Sedona Conference Working Group 1 and holds the Relativity Master certification. She received her J.D. in 2000 from Quinnipiac University School of Law and is a member of the Virginia and DC Bar Associations.

Susan Wortzman is a partner in the Toronto offices of McCarthy Tétrault and leads the firm’s e-Discovery and information management practice. Susan is the Founder of MT>3, formerly Wortzmans, which is recognized as Canada’s leading law firm specializing in e-Discovery and information governance. MT>3 was acquired by McCarthy Tétrault in 2016. A widely sought-out expert, she was named one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in 2020 by Canadian Lawyer Magazine and in 2023, Susan was named an AI Visionary by Relativity. She was ranked Band 1 in the Chambers Litigation Support Guide: E-Discovery, and MT>3 was also ranked Band 1, recognizing the expertise of Susan and her team and their innovative approach to law in 2024 and 2025. MT>3 was listed in the 2025 Best Lawyers in Canada Guide for Electronic Discovery and Information Management Law, as well as voted 2025 Canadian Lawyer Readers’ Choice for: Litigation Support and e-Discovery Consultants and Legal Process Outsourcing/ Managed Document Review. Susan is the 2026 Program Director of the Osgoode Certificate in e-Discovery, Information Governance and Privacy. Susan is currently on the Board of the National Gallery of Canada Foundation and acts as Corporate Secretary and sits on the Board of the Toronto Arts Foundation and Toronto Arts Council. She also sits on the AGO Modern and Contemporary Curatorial Committee, the Women’s Art Initiative Committee, as well as the AGO Art Bash Planning Committee.