Improve the management of your family law practice and offer better service to your clients by enhancing your practice knowledge and skills. New for 2025, the Midyear Meeting provides a reimagined CLE program. Gone are the days of traditional lectures — this year offers interactive sessions to ensure your firm can quickly adapt to changes in the family law landscape, implement innovative solutions and maintain high standards of practice.
*Please note all times are in Central Time. Subject to change.
To learn more about each speaker, either view the Facilitator and Keynote Speaker Biographies page, the Speaker Biographies page or click their names below. To view the entire Midyear Meeting schedule, view the Schedule page.
Wednesday, March 12 - Investing in Your Clients
8:45-9 a.m.
Opening Remarks
9-9:30 a.m.
Best Practices in Law Firm Management
John Remsen, Jr., President, TheRemsenGroup
9:30-10:30 a.m.
Start to Finish: Attorney Relationships With Our Clients
David W. Griffin, Partner, Rutkin, Oldham & Griffin, LLC
Cheryl L. Hepfer, Esq., Partner, Offit Kurman Attorneys at Law
Louis I. Waterman, Partner, Goldberg Simpson, LLC
In this interactive and informative session, we will discuss the attorney-client relationship from initial contact to the “close” of the relationship. We will cover essential topics such as effective methods for gathering initial information and strategies for optimizing and personalizing client interactions to ensure they know how to best work with your firm. From providing documents and asking questions to setting expectations, the panelists, along with input from the audience, will explore this ever-changing landscape. Expect to take away practical tips to begin or reinstitute in your practice to enhance the client experience.
10:30-10:45 a.m.
Break
10:45-11:45 a.m.
Building an Effective Team for Complex Divorces
P. Lindley Bain, Managing Partner of Goranson Bain Ausley, PLLC
Daniel L. Gray, Founding Partner, Cooper Ginsberg Gray, PLLC
Thomas J. Sasser, Esq., Managing Partner, Sasser, Cestero & Roy
Representing clients in difficult divorces – whether involving complex financial issues, child-related matters or a combination of both – rarely relies solely on the efforts of one person. This discussion will offer insights on how to build an effective team, ensure confidentiality within the team and when you should leverage someone as a “consultant,” “expert,” “co-counsel” or other appropriate titles. While handling complex cases may not be new to you, maximizing the team so the client has the best understanding is sometimes an afterthought. Expect to take away valuable tips for integrating these concepts into your practice.
11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Strategies for Investing in Your Client – Roundtable Discussions
Conclude the first day of CLE with engaging roundtable discussions designed to recap the day’s insights and explore additional strategies for investing in your clients. This collaborative session will provide a platform to share experiences, challenges and innovative approaches to enhancing the client experience in family law practice. Whether you’re looking to refine existing practices or discover new methods, this roundtable offers the perfect opportunity to brainstorm and collaborate with fellow professionals.
Thursday, March 13 - Investing in Your Firm
8:45-9 a.m.
Opening Remarks
9-10 a.m.
Artificial Intelligence Developments in Legal
Justin McCallon, Founder and CEO, CallidusAI
This cutting-edge presentation will focus on the use of AI in the legal field – covering how to utilize AI, emerging best practices and the latest developments in this rapidly evolving market. Expect up-to-the-minute, invaluable information on integrating AI into your practice and insights into how it's being used by those we interact with in the profession.
10-11 a.m.
Ethically Integrating Technology into Your Practice
Kristal Cordova Thomson, Shareholder, Langley & Banack
Justin McCallon, Founder and CEO, CallidusAI
John Francis Schutz, Partner, John F. Schutz, P.L.
J. Benjamin Stevens, Esq., Sr. Partner, The Stevens Law Group, LLC
Tune into this collaborative discussion on the benefits and necessity of integrating technology into your family law practice. Our panel will discuss available technology and how to leverage those tools to streamline processes, enhance efficiency and drive profitability. Learn about the latest innovations while also considering the possible ethical concerns lawyers can face.
11-11:30 a.m.
Break
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Creating a Positive Work Environment and Culture in Your Family Law Firm
Ronique Bastine Robinson, Sr. Partner, Bastine Law Group
Meghan Clary, Partner, Chorowski Clary Saoji Epstein, P.A.
Mark C. Smith, PsyD., Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Coral Gables Counseling Center
Create a more positive work environment in your family law practice to improve morale, increase productivity, enhance client service and reduce turnover. The panel will explore key elements and strategies for fostering wellness in your family law firm, demonstrating employee appreciation, team building and social events and overcoming potential obstacles to creating a positive work environment. Towards the end of the presentation, the panel will open the floor for a Q&A session and invite participants to share additional strategies they are using to foster a productive and positive work environment in their law firms.
Friday, March 14 - Investing in Your People
8:45-9 a.m.
Opening Remarks
9-10 a.m.
Navigating Expectations and Workstyles in a Multi-Generational Environment
10-10:30 a.m.
Staffing Trends Reshaping the Legal Industry
John Remsen, Jr., President, TheRemsenGroup
10:30-10:45 a.m.
Break
10:45-11:45 a.m.
Building and Sustaining Legal Talent: Strategies for Recruitment, Retention and Professional Growth
Caryn M. Green, Managing Principal at Green Family Law, P.A.
Anita M. Ventrelli, Senior Partner, Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP
Brian C. Vertz, Partner, Pollock Begg
Explore effective strategies for recruiting, retaining, and mentoring top legal talent within your firm. This session will cover the importance of clear career paths, including training, development and structured mentoring programs that guide attorneys toward long-term success and partnership. Discuss best practices in onboarding, compensation models and how to market an attractive employee experience to both current and prospective talent. Leave with new ideas for how firms of all sizes can adapt these strategies to their unique environments, including navigating ethical considerations in professional advancement.
11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Preparing for the Future: Succession Planning and Growth Strategies
Robert Schwartz, Consulting Member, Dickinson Wright, PLLC
Lisa Spencer, President, Henson Efron
Many state bar organizations now require firms to implement succession planning, but focusing on the future can be challenging when dealing with immediate issues today. This session will provide an interactive deep dive into building and nurturing a team, ensuring coverage when needed and eventually managing transitions. Topics will include strategic planning, evaluating your needs, leveraging existing relationships, compensation, partnership growth and more. We will cover different law firm structures that encourage growth and retention, ensuring that firms can continue to survive and thrive as generations come and go.
12:30 p.m.
Closing Remarks