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FDCC MEETINGS / LOOKING AHEAD
Saturday: Ethics, Politics, and
Playbooks
Saturday begins on a reflective
note with Socrates Defends the
“Professional Parables.” FDCC
stalwarts Mills Gallivan and Ned
Currie lead a Socratic journey
through civility, ethics, and the
lessons found in their acclaimed
book, Professional Parables:
Lessons in Civility. Expect equal
parts philosophy, humor, and
humanity—and yes, opportunities
to buy the book to support the
FDCC Foundation’s scholarship
fund. Socrates may have been
condemned by his jury, but this
session promises redemption
through self-examination and
dialogue.
The pace quickens with From
Crackdowns to Cutbacks:
Navigating the New Rules under
the New Administration (Trump
2.0)—a sharp look at shifting
federal enforcement practices in
employment, civil rights, and data
privacy. Bring your hypotheticals
and your energy; this one’s bound
to provoke spirited debate!
For a playbook on defeating
damages, attend Plaintiff’s Life Care
Plans—How to Evaluate, Counter,
and, If Necessary, Destroy them—a
tactical and strategic approach for
the defense.
In a first of-its-kind session,
the Marketing and Business
Development Within the FDCC
program promises to teach our
members how to make the most
of their membership within the
FDCC within the bounds of FDCC’s
most dearly-held tenets: making
corporate counsel and insurance-
industry professionals feel
comfortable while providing them
the information they need to meet
their legal needs.
The plenary session after the FDCC
business meeting will address
perhaps the most buzzworthy topic
of all: Forks Up, Wallets Open: The
New Playbook in Collegiate Sports
in the Era of NIL. With a former
NCAA coach among the panelists,
this closing plenary will bridge
the worlds of sports, law, and
commerce in ways both timely and
entertaining.
Finally, the program concludes
with keynote speaker Natalia
Cohen—an explorer, author, and
champion of resilience—reminding
attendees that leadership, like the
law, is as much about endurance as
expertise.
Whether the issue is corporate
communication, courtroom
innovation, or professional civility,
the FDCC’s 2026 Winter Meeting
will challenge members to think
beyond precedent—to lead,
collaborate, and evolve together.
As the profession braces for another
year of rapid change, the desert
gathering will be a welcome oasis
for reflection, reinvention, and, of
course, a bit of friendly debate.
Ninety years have built a Federation
grounded in excellence, fellowship,
and vision. Now, we gather in
Scottsdale to honor that legacy
and ignite the future. Together, we
learn, lead, and lift one another. We
celebrate our past, but we do not
stand still to rise. This anniversary
is more than a milestone; it is a call
to action. We embrace challenges,
welcome change, and carry forward
the strength of our community.
The FDCC endures because its
members give their best, demand
the best, and inspire others to
do the same. Together We Rise
from the Valley, we go above and
beyond—always forward, never
back.
Frank Ramos
Ana Ramos
Convention Chairs
Micalann Pepe
Brad Pepe
Program Chairs
Frank Ramos is a partner with Goldberg
Segalla LLP in Miami, Florida and is a
Senior Director of the FDCC. Frank and his
wife, Ana Ramos, are chair persons of the
Scottsdale meeting.
Micalann Pepe is a partner with Jaburg Wilk
in Phoenix, Arizona and an FDCC Director.
Micalann and her husband Brad Pepe are
program chairs of the Scottsdale meeting.
www.thefederation.org
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