Page 10 - FDCC_February2026_Flyer

FDCC MEETINGS / LOOKING AHEAD
which the FDCC is known. Then,
Communications Chief for the
State Bar of Arizona and Arizona
Attorney Senior Editor Tim Eigo
will deliver the welcome address
with an artful blend of insight and
humor that will set the tone for the
days ahead: collegiality, curiosity,
and a touch of desert wit.
Thursday: Where Counsel Meets
Collaboration
Thursday opens with substantive
programming that mirrors the
evolving diversity of the defense
bar. One panel tackles Effective
Relationship Development with
Corporate Counsel—a practical
guide to communicating with
business clients without losing
your legal soul. With voices
from US Steel, Meritage Homes,
Shelter Insurance, and Eldredge &
Clark, LLP, attendees can expect
candid advice on aligning legal
strategies with corporate goals,
building relationships and trust,
and, perhaps most challenging,
translating “lawyer-speak” into
business English.
At the same hour, those drawn to
the rougher edges of construction
and product litigation will find
Dual Dueling Defenses: Who’s to
Blame When Building Products
Fail? equally irresistible. As extreme
weather and material failures
create new fault lines, this panel’s
seasoned litigators will unpack how
contractors and manufacturers
can survive the blame game. The
conversation promises to be lively—
especially where “acts of God” meet
acts of negligence.
A third Thursday session, Is
the Litigation Privilege Headed
Over a Cliff?, explores whether
the traditional shield protecting
insurers during coverage litigation
is beginning to fray. For defense
counsel who rely on that protection,
this discussion will be both timely
and sobering.
The morning continues with a
plenary that blends inspiration
and instruction. Keynote speaker
Craig Thompson will take the stage
for Elevate Together: The Power of
Effective Leadership in Changing
Times, followed by the ever-popular
Trial Masters’ Ted Talks. Expect
fast-paced, focused insights on voir
dire, openings, cross-examinations,
and directed verdicts from some
of the FDCC’s most seasoned trial
talent. If you think you’ve seen it all
in court, these short-form power
sessions will make you think again.
Rounding out Thursday’s offerings,
Justice for Sale? Third-Party
Funding and the Economics of
Mass Litigation tackles one of the
most disruptive trends in modern
litigation. With third-party capital
reshaping how—and why—cases
are pursued, this panel will explore
the ethical and tactical minefields
facing defense counsel and
their clients when money meets
motivation.
Friday: Courts, Chemicals, and
Cutting-Edge Tech
Friday’s morning lineup begins with
fresh perspectives from appellate
veterans in Amicus Briefs at the
Trial and Appellate Levels—a
session for those who believe the
best arguments sometimes come
from the sidelines. Meanwhile,
PFAS Forever Chemicals – Forever
Litigation dives into one of the
most complex environmental and
public-entity battlegrounds of our
time. For those seeking something
more psychological than chemical,
Psychological Warfare – Positioning
Yourself as an “Advocate” for
the Plaintiff will challenge even
seasoned trial lawyers to rethink
their approach to persuasion and
strategy.
The day’s marquee moment may
arrive when Arizona Supreme
Court Justices Kathryn Hackett
King and Maria Elena Cruz sit
down to discuss The Modern
Judiciary: Perspectives from the
Arizona Supreme Court. Moderated
by Alison Christian of Meritage
Homes, this fireside chat promises
candid reflections on judicial
philosophy, change, and the
evolving role of courts in an era of
technological and societal flux.
From there, attendees can shift
gears for a tech-fueled finale to
Friday’s sessions. Leveraging
Cutting-Edge Trial Technology
will showcase the latest tools
transforming courtroom
advocacy—from motion capture
and virtual reality to AI video and
interactive jury surveys. It’s a live
demonstration of how modern
trial work increasingly resembles a
high-stakes production—minus the
director’s chair.
6 February 2026 | Federation Flyer www.thefederation.org