Time

Topics and Speakers

7:30- 8:15 am

Registration and Continental Breakfast with Exhibitors

8:15- 8:30 am

Welcome and Announcements

8:30- 10:10 am

Trial Organization: The Blueprint for Your Trial presented by The Honorable John Marshall Kest, Circuit Court Judge for the Ninth Judicial Circuit. 

Summary of Presentation: Reduce your stress at your next trial. Judge Kest will focus on the importance of trial organization, developing an Order of Proof, and will provide a blueprint for success. Topics will include: witness preparation; redirect and cross examination matters; admitting and tracking exhibits; tips to locate files to witnesses; and presentation of electronic documents at trial.

Biographical Information:  Judge Kest has been a Circuit Judge since 2002.  Before taking the bench, he had a distinguished career as a Board Certified Trial Lawyer.  Judge Kest has served as President of the America Board of Trial Advocates and he served for 5 years on the Florida Bar Board of Govenors.  He has served as President of the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) and the Legal Aid Society of the OCBA.

10:10- 10:30 am

Break and Door Prizes Awarded

10:30 - 11:20 am

 Arbitration in a Nutshell presented by Gary Salzman, Esq., Gray Robinson, P.A.

Summary of Presentation: Many more cases are going to arbitration instead of court.  Mr. Salzman will go through the arbitration process and address the following areas: considerations and differences with binding and non-binding arbitration decisions; evidence; and awards. This engaging presentation will be useful for those experienced and inexperienced in arbitration matters.

Biographical Information:   Mr. Salzman has extensive experience as neutral and advocate in numerous arbitrations. He is certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a circuit-civil mediator and trained as an arbitrator. Mr. Salzman has served as a member of the Executive Council of the Orange County Bar Association from 2009 to present.  

11:20- 12:10 pm

Mediation Advocacy: Preparing Your Team for Mediation presented by Sandra Upchurch, Esq., Upchurch, Watson, White & Max Mediation Group, Inc.

Summary of Presentation: Make mediation preparation a cinch. Ms. Upchurch will show you how to streamline the mediation preparation process. She will address the following areas: preparing the client and mediator for mediation; creating a quality PowerPoint; and preparing for caucus sessions and the settlement agreement.

Biographical Information:  Ms. Upchurch has been a certified circuit civil mediator since 1996. In 2009 she was elected by her peers to represent The Florida Bar as the Board of Governors Representative for the 7th Circuit, which encompasses Volusia, Flagler, St. John's and Putnam Counties. She has a background in personal injury matters and many years of experience providing general counsel services to state and local governments.

12:10-1:15 pm

Lunch/Special Presentation by our Platinum Sponsor and Grand Door Prize Award

1:15- 2:55 pm

Recent MEAC Ethics Opinions for Mediators and Cultural Diversity/ Afghanistan presented by Arve A. Wikstrom, MBA, JD of Alternative Dispute Resolution, LLC

Summary of Presentation: Mr. Wikstrom will present recent MEAC opinions. He will then present about negotiating with an Afghan Warlord who would not permit women to vote in the first parliamentary election while serving as a Combat Advisor for the U.S. Army

Biographical Information: Arve Wikstrom is certified as a county, circuit, family, dependency and appellate mediator by the Florida Supreme Court, a FINRA arbitrator, ombudsman for the ESGR (Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve), listed as a neutral with the Department of Defense and a volunteer arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau. Mr. Wikstrom teaches the Florida Supreme Court certified county mediation class. He has a BA, MBA and JD. He is a Major in the U.S. Army Reserves and a combat veteran of Afghanistan.

2:55- 3:05 pm

Fresh-Baked Cookie Break! 

3:05- 3:15 pm

Announcements

3:15- 4:55 pm

Time Management Tips, Billing Practices and Ethics presented by Jamie Billotte Moses, Esq., Fisher, Rushmer, Werrenrath, Dickson, Talley & Dunlap, P.A.

Summary of Presentation: You can do it all! Ms. Moses will address the ethical concerns that one may face when balancing a heavy caseload. Some topics will include organization, file management, time management, balancing personal and professional demands and billing practices. Learn how to stop losing valuable time and billable hours. 

Biographical Information:  Ms. Moses is a partner at Fisher, Rushmer, Werrenrath, Dickson, Talley & Dunlap, P.A. She is currently the Secretary of the Orange County Bar Association, the Chair of the Judicial Relations Committee and has served as a President of the Legal Aid Society of the OCBA. Ms. Moses is also a member of the Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers. Outside of the office, she is a very active mother of two and a triathlete.

4:55- 5:00 pm

Closing Remarks