| 11:00 a.m. |
Registration Opens |
| 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. |
Lunch & Keynote Speaker
The Hon. S. Bernard Goodwyn, Justice, Supreme Court of Virginia
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| 1:15 – 2:15 p.m |
General Session – 1 hr. CLE Ethics (pending*)
Topic: Electronic Era Ethics
- Speaker: Thomas E. Spahn, Litigator, McGuire Woods, LLP
- Session Moderator: Paul DeRosa, Crenshaw, Ware & Martin, PLC
This interactive program uses hypotheticals to highlight the dramatic effect email, texts and other electronic communications have had on lawyers’ ethics duties. The program generally follows the lifespan of an attorney-client relationship, including: creation of the relationship (such as the effect of an unsolicited email from a would-be client); the ethical propriety of electronic communications with clients (especially lawyers who practice “virtually”); communications with adversaries (including “reply all” emails, lawyers’ response to inadvertently transmitted communications, and metadata); dealing with third parties (such as service providers and outsourced colleagues); discovery (such as accessing adverse witnesses’ social media); jurors’ research and communications; judges’ research and “friending” of lawyers; attorney-client relationships’ termination.
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| 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. |
Breakout Sessions - 1 hr. CLE (pending* for each topic)
Session 1: Confronting the Inner Critic: Managing Imposter Syndrome to Thrive in the Legal Profession
Panelists:
- Charlene P. Reilly, Esq. VJLAP Education and Outreach Manager
- Barbara Mardigian, LPC, VJLAP Clinical Director
- Session Moderator: Makenzie Pensyl, Crenshaw, Ware & Martin, PLC
Have you ever questioned your competence, felt like a fraud, doubted your accomplishments, or wondered how you made it this far in your career? If so, you are not alone. Imposter syndrome is a widespread issue among attorneys, judges, and legal professionals—distorting thoughts, undermining confidence, and potentially impacting professional performance. This session will explore the topic of imposter syndrome in the legal profession and:
- Define imposter syndrome and types.
- Examine contributing factors, including evolutionary programming, early and other life experiences, socio-cultural influences, discrimination and other contributing factors.
- Analyze the impact of imposter syndrome on individual attorneys and organizations, including the ethical and business risks it poses to firms and clients. Lawyers who overwork themselves to compensate for feelings of imposter syndrome risk burnout, poor decision-making, and ethical lapses. Others may hesitate to seek guidance for fear of exposing perceived incompetence, leading to costly mistakes that could impact clients, firms, and even licensure.
- Provide practical strategies to enhance psychological flexibility, manage self-doubt and counter the inner critic and discuss organizational approaches to addressing imposter syndrome, including mentorship programs, professional development and other well-being initiatives that foster a supportive legal culture.
By addressing imposter syndrome head-on, the legal profession can recognize the importance of well-being and ultimately strengthen the profession.
Session 2: Corporate Counsel
Panelists:
- Jonathon Leiken, Chief Legal Office and Corporate Secretary, Dollar Tree
- Michael Bermudez, Legal Executive for the Americas, Swisslog Logistics
- Wiley Grandy, Deputy General Counsel, CMA CGM
- Session Moderator: Jason E. Ohana, Member, Willcox & Savage, P.C.
Attendees will learn about professional responsibility for in-house Counsel; sources of ethical duties; the company and its constituents; confidentiality and conflicts of interest; derivative suits, ownership contests, and parent-subsidiary conflicts and other duties and ethical issues.
Session 3: Local Rules and Best Practices
Panelists:
- Chief Judge Mark S. Davis, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- The Honorable David W. Lannetti, 4th Judicial District of Virginia Norfolk Circuit Court
- Session Moderator: Audrey Ruffin, Crenshaw, Ware & Martin, PLC
This session will present local rules and best practices—from a judicial perspective—for both local state and local federal courts. The goal is to provide guidance to local attorneys regarding how they can contribute to the efficient administration of justice.
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| 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. |
General Session – 1 hr. CLE (pending*)
Topic: Significant Statutory Changes and Judicial Opinions from the Past Year
Panelists:
- The Hon. Everett A. Martin, Jr., Norfolk Circuit Court
- L. Steven Emmert, Partner in Sykes, Bourdon, Ahern & Levy
- Session Moderator: Rachel VanHorn, Glasser & Glasser, P.L.C.
A summary and analysis of the significant changes in Virginia law and of significant opinions from the past year.
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| 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. |
Reception
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Many Thanks to our 2025 Bench Bar Conference Sponsors!
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