Speakers

Dennis VanDerGinst is the managing partner of VanDerGinst Law, P.C.  He is also the CEO of MegaHunter, Inc., a website development company specializing in websites and internet marketing for lawyers.

Dennis is widely considered to be one of the finest attorneys in the country. He has been featured on the National Public Radio program America’s Premier Lawyers and has been profiled in Fortune magazine. Law Dragon Publications has selected Dennis as one of the Top 3000 lawyers in the country, a distinction bestowed upon less than one half of one percent of attorneys in the United States. He has been selected by his peers as a "Leading Lawyer" in the area of personal injury law. Only the top 5% of attorneys in the country earn that honor. He has also been selected as one of the top 5% of attorneys in the country by the "Best Attorneys Network", which considers not only the votes of other attorneys, but importantly, the input of clients as well. Chicago Lawyer magazine has recognized Dennis as one of the “Top Injury Lawyers In Illinois.”

He has earned induction into Who's Who in American Law for the past eleven years, and is a Life Member of the National Registry Of Who's Who in recognition of his efforts and achievements in the areas of law and business. His tremendous success is also illustrated by his membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an honor reserved for attorneys who have secured million dollar and multi million dollar verdicts and settlements, which Dennis has done numerous times.

Dennis is also very active in county, state and national bar associations. He serves on the Board of Managers for the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. He is the Illinois State Delegate for the American Association for Justice. In addition, he serves on the Board of Trustees for the Pound Civil Justice Institute.

Equally impressive are Dennis’s credentials and knowledge in the area of law firm marketing.  His law firm was one of the first in the country to develop a website and do extensive marketing online, having developed their first website in 1990.  In 1999 he began the company now known as MegaHunter, Inc. which is the only website development company to have ever been endorsed by the American Association for Justice.  He has served on that association’s Lawyer Marketing Committee since its establishment several years ago.  He has worked with some of the most established attorney advertising agencies in the country including Network Affiliates, CJ Advertising and Practice Made Perfect.  He has been a regular member and presenter at a number of national seminars and consortiums focusing on attorney marketing and law firm management including M&L Marketing and Management Seminars, the Masters Marketing Group and the Trial Lawyer’s Marketing Roundtable. Most recently Dennis has become an equal shareholder in the advertising agency, TAG Legal Marketing.

Harlan Schillinger is a thirty-two year veteran of the advertising industry who joined Network in 1985 to lead the legal marketing efforts. Prior to joining Network Affiliates, Harlan was Vice President and one of the founding partners of Madison, Muyskens & Jones, in Lakeville, Connecticut. Along with his partners, Harlan founded the first syndication firm for retailers using television commercials.

Knowing your business and searching out opportunities for clients is one of his strongest agendas. Throughout the year, Harlan attends conventions, attorney meetings and several prominent roundtable forums throughout the country in order to help Network clients stay on top of the legal field.

Harlan is an avid motorcycle enthusiast who enjoys being a member of the most unique custom motorcycle club in the world, the Hamsters USA. His passions are building and riding custom motorcycles and playing golf.

Harlan sits on the Board of the Children's Care Hospital of South Dakota.

He has served as a Fellow and a Trustee for the Civil Justice Foundation, and as Trustee, Vice-President and President of the Roscoe Pound Institute (n/k/a the Pound Civil Justice Institute). He has been on the Board of Governors for the Southern Trial Lawyers Association. Richard has also been very active in the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and the Savannah Trial Lawyers Association, having served on numerous committees and as Vice-President for both organizations, and as President for the Savannah association. Richard has also served as President of the Georgia state chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates and as a member of the National Board of Directors for that organization. His service within, and on behalf of, various areas within the bar go on and on.

Richard is also a prolific author. He has written over two hundred published articles and treatises for legal journals, law reviews and other periodicals. He has been a widely respected speaker and faculty member for the National College of Advocacy.

With 25 years of marketing experience, Mike Vondran has helped many clients successfully reach their audience. Through research, expertise, and strategic planning Mike and his team have produced results for clients such as Sprint, General Motors, Diversified Clinical Therapy, and Fox Network, which has established Mike as a “leader in his field.” He is considered a “take charge marketer” by his peers.

Mike began his working career in finance and banking but quickly discovered a passion for marketing and sales. His move to broadcast television landed him the management role of VP of Marketing and Sales for the NBC Affiliate in Davenport, IA. In 1990 he co-founded The Ad Group, a full service advertising agency, which has a client list that extends across the nation. The creation of TAG - Legal Marketing is a natural extension of the firm. TAG utilizes the expertise and strength in retail marketing, and applies this model to the legal profession. This unique breadth of experience is of great value to today’s marketing attorney. Mike and his team of talented professionals are mindful of ethics rules applicable to attorney marketing. Always working within these guidelines, they develop positive, custom creative that delivers a solid message to the target audience. His extensive and eclectic background makes it possible to bring new and exciting insights to a sometimes stagnant legal marketing environment.

Mike also serves his community by offering his expertise with several local charitable/non-profit boards. He resides in Davenport with his wife and son.

C. Gibson Vance
Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C., Montgomery, AL

After graduating from Jones School of Law, C. Gibson Vance helped form the Jones School of Law Future Trial Lawyers Association. Gibson has been the president of the Young Lawyer's section of the Montgomery County Bar Association and a member of the Board of Directors of the Montgomery County Bar Association for the last two years. He also served as the 2002 President of the Montgomery Trial Lawyer's Association and Chairman of the Executive Committee for the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association for 2002-2003. Gibson is currently the President of the Montgomery County Bar Association, and Second Vice-President of the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association. Gibson was President of the Montgomery County Bar Association in 2005. Currently, Gibson is the Vice-President of the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association.

Gibson is also heavily involved in the American Association for Justice, where he was recently elected Treasurer. As Treasurer, Vance will be one of six officers representing ATLA's 60,000 members nationwide. He also serves as the Chairman for the National Finance Committee for AAJ. Additionally, Gibson serves on the Budget Committee, Legal Affairs Committee, Marketing-Client Services Committee, Membership Oversight Committee, Public Affairs Committee and Key Person Committee for the American Association for Justice. He also serves on the American Association for Justice's Public Affairs committee.

Gibson has been a speaker at many State Trial Lawyers Association conferences. He has spoken to the Kentucky Trial Lawyers Association, Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers, The Consumer Attorneys of California, the New York State Trial Lawyers’ Association, the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association and many others. Gibson travels the country speaking on behalf of the Civil Justice Systems.

In addition to his law practice with the firm, Gibson also is heavily involved in politics for the firm. Gibson has helped direct campaigns for candidates on the local, state and nation level. He was a featured speaker at the “First Annual Judicial Symposium on Civil Justice Issues” in December 2006. This event, sponsored by the Brookings Institute, was held at Georgetown University in Washington DC. Additionally, Gibson has monitored and helped draft legislation in order to ensure that our clients and all consumers have their legal rights protected. During the upcoming year, Gibson is the co-chairman of the legislative affairs committee for the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association.

Admissions and memberships: Admitted to bar: 1984, New York; New Jersey; U.S. District Court, Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of New York; U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey; 1985, District of Columbia; 1993, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Queens College of the City University of New York (B.A., 1975); St. John’s University School of Law (J.D., 1983). Employment History: Special Agent, Criminal Investigation Division, U.S. Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service, 1975-1983. Member: Executive Committee for Prozac Multi-District Litigation No. 907; Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for the World Trade Center Bombing Litigation; New York State Diet Drug – Steering Committee for Fen-Phen; New York State Steering Committee for Rezulin Litigation; Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee and Discovery Subcommittee – Zyprexa Multi-District Litigation No. 1596; Nursing Home Litigation Group of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Million Dollar Advocates Forum; Association of Trial Lawyers of America Leader’s Forum; Co-Chair, Ortho Evra Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee, MDL #1742, In re Ortho Evra Products Liability Litigation; Co-Chair, Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA) Ortho Evra Litigation Group. Professional Memberships: American Bar Association; New York State Bar Association (Member, Section of Insurance, Negligence and Compensation Law); New Jersey State Bar Association; District of Columbia Bar; Association of Trial Lawyers of America; New York State Trial Lawyers Association; New York County Lawyers Association; Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association.

Honors: Mr. Parker was honored on March 3, 2005 at the New York Families for Autistic Children’s Awards Ceremony with a Proclamation from the New York City Council (for outstanding service in the City and community). He has been awarded a Citation of Honor from the Office of the Borough President of Queens County; a Proclamation from the U.S. House of Representatives, signed by Congressman Anthony D. Weiner; and a Congressional Achievement Award (in recognition of his outstanding and invaluable service to the community) from the U.S. House of Representatives, signed by Congressman Gregory W. Meeks. Mr. Parker also received a Citation from the New York State Assembly, signed by Assemblywomen Audrey I. Pheffer, and a Proclamation from the New York State Senate, signed by State Senator Serphin R. Maltese, for his outstanding service to the community.
Publications/Presentations: Faculty Member, “Ortho-Evra Birth Control Patch Litigation TeleConference”, Association of Trial Lawyers of American (ATLA), February 14, 2006; Co-author, “The Ortho-Evra Birth Control Patch and Thrombotic Injuries: What Patients and Physicians Needed to Know But Were Never Told”, Mealey’s Emerging Drugs and Devices, January 19, 2006, Volume 11, Issue #2; Speaker, “Ride the Internet – Will It Carry You?”, Mass Torts Made Perfect, November 17, 2005, Las Vegas, Nevada; Speaker, “Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch: Is this the Next Mass Tort?”, Mass Torts Made Perfect, November 18, 2005, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Practice Areas: Mass Torts; Toxic Torts; Defective Drug Liability; Defective Medical Devices; Aviation Accidents; Explosions/Fires; Products Liability; Nursing Home Negligence; Vaccine Injury; Medical Malpractice; Automobile Accidents; General Personal Injury Negligence Litigation; Consumer Fraud; and Computerized Law Office Management Systems (Lectured NYSTLA members on how to incorporate computer based case management into their practice and how to maximize its use). Martindale-Hubbell av rating.

Anne Meyer, BSN, RN, CLNC, MSCC is co-owner of Med-Law Connection, Inc., a legal nurse consulting firm. Med-Law Connection is located in the Mid-west and works with attorneys nationally. Ms. Meyer brings 18 years of professional nursing experience to her work as a consultant. She has worked as a hospital staff and charge nurse in the cardiac and critical care areas, during which time she initiated an inpatient cardiac rehabilitation program. As Director of Nursing in a national home health infusion company a great deal of time was focused on regulatory compliance with Medicare, local and state government agencies as well as educating staff and implementing processes to ensure safe and quality care to the client in their home. As a clinician for an outpatient rehabilitation company she facilitated a vestibular diagnostic and rehabilitation program.

Anne is an advocate for Senior citizens and chairs a local Network to enhance knowledge of employers and their employees as to community resources for elder care.

Ms. Meyer graduated from Marycrest College, Davenport, Iowa with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and has begun classes towards a Master’s degree in Business Administration. Anne has also taken additional coursework to further her knowledge of legal nurse consulting such as Medical-Legal Consulting Institute, Inc.’s Certified Legal Nurse Consultant program and Medipro Seminars & University of Florida for Certification in Medicare Set Aside Arrangement.

Anne is very proud of the nursing profession and supports numerous nursing organizations. She is a member of the National League for Nursing, American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants, American Nurses Association, and National Association of Certified Legal Nurse Consultants.

Through these multi-dimensional areas of medical experience Anne brings to Med-Law Connection the ability to assist the attorney to strengthen their medically related cases in a cost effective manner. “The attorney is able to focus on their area of expertise, while we focus on ours and work together to provide a stronger position for the client.”

Med-Law Connection, Inc. works in the areas of Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation, Wrongful Death, and Criminal Law. They provide services of Nurse Consulting, Life Care Planning, Medicare Set – Asides, Expert Procurement, etc. Med-Law Connection has consultants with diverse experience as well as partnering with information technologists, in order to provide cutting edge service.

Ernest “Ernie” Cory is one the founding shareholders of Cory Watson Crowder and DeGaris, P.C. in Birmingham Alabama. For over 25 years he has devoted his practice exclusively to representing individuals, businesses and classes injured by the wrongful conduct of others. His primary focus is mass torts, class actions and commercial litigation.

Over the past 15 years, the firm has successfully represented clients nationally in mass torts including Dalkon Shield, Breast Implants, Fen-Phen, ProteGen Slings, Pedicle Screws, PPA, Rezulin, Baycol, Smith and Nephew Knee replacement, Depuy Knee replacements, Bextra, lead paint, countless environmental contamination cases and airline disasters. Currently in mass tort litigation, the firm is heavily involved with Kugel Composix Hernia Patch, Guidant and Medtronic Heart Devices, Trasylol, Fosamax, ReNu Contact Lenses Solution, Ortho Evra. Ernie and other members of the firm are currently serving by judicial appointment in leadership roles in many of these coordinated proceedings.

In the area of commercial litigation, Ernie, working with two other firms, has been actively pursuing claims against accounting firms, investment bankers and law firms for their roles in promoting and selling Abusive Tax Shelters to wealthy individuals. To date, their efforts have resulted in class action settlements against the law firms of Jenkens and Gilchrist and Cantley Sedacca as well as confidential settlements against other parties totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.

Ernie is a graduate of The University of Alabama and Cumberland School of Law at Samford University where he has endowed a law scholarship for future attorneys interested in protecting the rights of the injured. He and the firm support many other educational and charitable organizations including The University of Alabama Pre-Law Studies, Legal Services of Alabama, Alabama Appleseed Center, Birmingham Bar Foundation, Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Tum Tum Tree Foundation, United Way and many others.

Jason Smith, vice president of Midland Communications, has extensive experience in matching technology to the business goals of his clients. With his degree in Electronics Engineering, Jason has a technical background to go along with his business solution ideas. Jason is a leader in the telecommunications industry at helping a business become more profitable, or giving them a competitive advantage.

As a member of the “best practices” telecommunications organization, Technology Assurance Group (TAG), Jason has been a featured speaker on the state-of-telecommunications at the national level. His commitment to continuing to research and study new and more effective ways to use technology keeps Midland Communications and his clients on the leading edge.

To contact Jason please email jsmith@midlandcom.com or go to www.midlandcom.com

Suuzen Ty Anderson is an AV-rated attorney who owns LawMarkets.com, a California company that develops attorney websites. Her business specializes in improving the rate of visitor-to-client conversion on attorney websites through reorganization, redesign, and rewriting. She also consults and advises on search engine rank improvement and website promotional techniques.

Suuzen graduated summa cum laude from the Los Angeles Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and received extensive training in marketing and design. She worked for two fashion design companies, where she mastered merchandising: the presentational, organizational, and signage techniques that entice buyers. Suuzen frequently applies merchandizing principles and tactics to increase response to attorney websites. She'll be teaching some of those same tactics at this Professionally Speaking conference.

Suuzen ran her own law office for fifteen years, specializing in high-stakes business, real estate, and injury cases; twenty-one of her cases were selected for publication by the California Supreme Court. Before that, she served as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice. Suuzen graduated from the University of Denver College of Law near the top of her class and is a member of numerous legal and marketing-related associations. She is also the founder of the San Diego County Bar Association Law Practice Management & Marketing Committee, designed to build a bridge between attorneys and marketing / management experts.

As National Sales Manager, Paresky directs the yearly Needles' client User Group sessions, meets with various national and regional legal groups, presents Needles at legal trade shows and educates attorneys regarding the benefits of case management software. He is also actively involved with the company's marketing and advertising initiatives and works to integrate client feature requests into future versions of Needles.

Paresky has attended the yearly meetings of numerous associations of Trial Lawyers, spoken on case management to a variety of attorneys and legal groups and participates in several accredited national CLE meetings.

Rossana is fluent in Spanish, Italian and English, and enjoys talking with and helping others. Always with a positive attitude, she doesn’t let any obstacle block her from carrying on the job. She will figure out a way to keep on moving forward to gain success for the client.

Outside of work, Rossana loves to walk, dance and play castanets, not to mention the love she has for her daughter and family. She has traveled extensively throughout the world and enjoys immersing herself in other cultures. She enjoys her life to the maximum and has even managed to write a book in Spanish for children and a book of Spanish poetry.

“Being part of Network Affiliates is a honor for me. It’s great to be part of a professional team that has a strong reputation for bringing success to their clients.”

Paul Faust is a partner in Primary Wave Media (www.primarywavemedia.com) and is directly responsible for business development. Primary Wave has been licensing highly memorable, industry defining phone number to companies across the United States for use in both local and national marketing for over 6 years.  Some of our numbers include 1-800-HURT-NOW, 1-800-SWITCH-ME, 1-800-GREENCARD, 1-800-QUALITY, 1-800-CABLE-TV and our clients range from Fortune 500 companies to sole practitioners. To learn more about Primary Wave Media, please visit us at www.primarywavemedia.com

Cindy is best known for her work in statistical analysis and the development of word of mouth networks. She focuses her efforts primarily on relationship and technology driven initiatives that are aimed at generating a consistent stream of referrals for her clients. Two of her favorite sayings are “if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it,” and “it’s all about relationships.”

Cindy is the author of Power Marketing for Attorneys, an audio CD series that provides comprehensive information, strategies and tactics relevant to growing a personal injury law firm. She has spoken to attorney groups throughout the country including ATLA, the M&L Legal Management and Marketing Group, the Masters Marketing Group, the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and in 2006 she was a regular speaker at the ComPlus Institute’s National Marketing Conferences for Personal Injury Attorneys. Cindy is currently a marketing and new media consultant and coach to personal injury attorneys throughout the United States.

Mr. Driscoll is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois and licensed to practice in the state courts of Illinois and Missouri. He is a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, The Illinois Trail Lawyers Association, The Illinois State Bar Association, the St. Clair County Illinois Bar Association, and the East St. Louis Bar Association. Mr. Driscoll received his Bachelor’s of Arts from Loyola University Chicago and his Juris Doctorate from Saint Louis University School of Law.

Mohit Kataria is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. He started his career with his entrepreneurial venture of Erasmic Consulting, a firm that specialized is providing turnkey assistance to US companies establishing their offshore operations in India.

Having co-founded Manthan Services in 2003, Mohit has been instrumental in seeding the legal process outsourcing industry in India. Heading Operations at Manthan, he has focused on designing the various processes in the organization including manpower training, resource allocation, delivery processes and strategy development for the organization.

He has taken the lead to grow Manthan to being the largest focused LPO firm in India, wherein Manthan services over 85 law firms across 30 states in US. His focus has been to work closely with law firms to precipitate their growth by bring in focus strategic planning and organizational efficiency.