Twelve sitting federal judges and top defense, plaintiffs’ attorneys featured at 4th annual Class Action Law Forum

The fourth annual Western Alliance Bank Class Action Law Forum™, a hybrid in-person and virtual event held in collaboration with University of San Diego School of Law and program co-chairs from CaseyGerry, Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd, Duane Morris and Morrison & Foerster, and benefitting the Keith F. Park Endowed Scholarship Fund, will take place on March 16-18.

The CALF™ will feature a faculty of prominent speakers and panelists—including sitting federal judges and top defense and plaintiffs’ attorneys—on a variety of the most crucial class action topics, including the growing impact of mass torts, digital payments and cy pres. 

The event comes when legal practitioners must stay particularly ahead of the curve on how domestic and global developments and uncertainties will continue impacting their practices, clients, industries and the legal sector as a whole—from market performance to fluid COVID-19 policies to issues with case backlogs. 

“Western Alliance Bank is honored to present the Class Action Law Forum for the fourth time, and we look forward to all of the important and motivating conversations that will take place,” said Dana Rager, managing director of Western Alliance Bank’s Settlement Services Group. “There couldn’t be a better time to reconnect, network and learn, and we’re thrilled to be with some of you in-person once again.”

During the event, panels of federal judges, top defense and plaintiffs’ attorneys and other experts will discuss the most pressing class action matters. For the first time, panel sessions include a broad range of mass torts topics (such as the evolution and implementation of technology and special challenges in managing mass tort cases). Other panels will discuss the intersection between class action, MDLs and JCCP; how firms can best manage qualified settlement funds; best practices for preparing for and going to trial; consumer class actions; and settlement, notice and claims trends.

“The Class Action Law Forum truly helps the class action landscape evolve by providing highly informative and thought-provoking panels and opportunities to connect and share ideas with some of the finest legal minds—including the truly unique chance to get direct insights from sitting federal judges,” said David S. Casey, Jr., managing partner at CaseyGerry. “It's a can't-miss event for anyone involved in this dynamic legal area."

Members of the judiciary participating in this year's CALF™ include Chief Judge Dana Sabraw, Judge Roger T. Benitez, and Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California); Judge M. Margaret McKeown, Judge Kenneth K. Lee, and Judge William A. Fletcher (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit); Chief Judge Richard Seeborg (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California), Chief Judge Philip S. Gutierrez and Judge André Birotte Jr. (U.S. District Court for the Central District of California); Chief Judge Kimberly J. Mueller and Judge Troy L. Nunley (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California); and Judge Robert M. Dow (U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois).

The event will also feature keynote addresses from University of San Diego School of Law Dean Robert Schapiro, Morrison & Foerster Appellate and Supreme Court practice co-chair Deanne Maynard, and University of San Diego School of Law professor Mike Ramsey. 

"It's rare to have access to such a remarkable group of legal experts and class action leaders for critical insights and in-depth discussions," said Erin Bosman, co-chair of Morrison & Foerster LLP’s Class Actions and Mass Torts Practice Group. "As in the past three years, the Fourth Annual Class Action Law Forum will provide tremendous advantages for all attendees."

Attendees will also get a sneak peek of critical findings from Western Alliance Bank's soon-to-be-released research regarding class action stakeholder perceptions on cy pres and digital payments, two of the field's most impactful and evolving aspects. (Learn more about Western Alliance Bank's 2021 research report here and its recent acquisitions of class action settlement digital payments platform, Digital Disbursements, here).

More information on the 2022 CALF can be found here. To inquire about complimentary media registration, please contact Erin Wojcicki, Greentarget, at [email protected].