Page 2 - 2026 FDCC Winter Meeting

2026 FDCC WINTER MEETING
FEBRUARY 24, 2026 – FEBRUARY 28, 2026
WELCOME BACK TO SCOTTSDALE
FOR OUR 90TH ANNIVERSARY!
CONVENTION CHAIRS’ WELCOME
Ninety years ago, in 1936, a small group of civil
defense lawyers formed a fellowship with one goal:
to advance the defense of civil claims through skill,
professionalism, and community.
They had no way of knowing what lay ahead. With-
in a few short years, the world would be at war.
Wartime shortages would shape civil litigation, the
return of veterans, the emergence of new industries,
and the rise of insurance and corporate defense
practices. But through it all, the Federation stood
firm—growing, evolving, and connecting the best of
the defense bar.
Since then, we have witnessed the unimaginable—
and endured.
We’ve lived through World War II, the Cold War,
the Vietnam War, and the 9/11 attacks. We’ve seen
the civil rights movement reshape American law,
the fall of the Berlin Wall, the internet revolution,
and a global pandemic that brought courtrooms to
a halt. We’ve seen lawyers argue in front of black-
boards, then on projectors, and now on laptops and
AI. We’ve seen the role of the civil defense lawyer
expand beyond the courtroom, into boardrooms,
classrooms, war rooms, and digital platforms.
At each turn, the FDCC has adapted. And more than
that, we’ve led.
Our members have shaped precedent, trained
generations, and built a community rooted in trust.
We’ve gathered year after year—across coasts,
across eras, across world events—not just to sharp-
en our craft but to support one another. That is what
sets the Federation apart. We don’t just practice
law. We carry forward a tradition of excellence and
fellowship.
Through decades of change, we’ve never lost sight
of who we are.
We’re trial lawyers, corporate counsel, insurance
professionals, and thought leaders. Friends. We
advocate for clients, for fairness, and for each other.
We weather storms—not just professionally, but
personally—and return stronger. We thrive because
we’re grounded in something greater than any one
case or any one year.
And now, as we enter our 90th year, we gather
again.
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2026 FDCC WINTER MEETING