Fall Symposium

Preliminary Agenda

A blend of panel discussions, live polling, breakout sessions, and networking over two days.

~ Cristina Gonzalez, Esq.

It helped to know that I am not alone and that there are other like-minded women leaders out there.

Capital Partner | Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson
New York, NY
~ John E. Harrity, Esq.

The Managing Partner Forum is a go-to resource for not only what’s currently important to law firm leaders, but how law firm leaders are dealing with the issue of the moment and preparing for those of the future.

Co-Managing Partner | Harrity LLP
Fairfax, VA
~ Heather L. Rosing, Esq.

We have enjoyed working with John Remsen and his talented team. The Managing Partner Forum provides excellent content that truly assists in operating a successful business in today’s challenging environment.

Founding Partner | Rosing Pott & Strohbehn
San Diego, CA
~ Lisa Ramsay Cole, Esq.

The MPF programs always provide relevant, timely educational content. They are high energy and interactive which makes them fun to attend, too.

President & Managing Shareholder | Lewis Thomason
Nashville, TN
~ Mark A.B. Carlson, Esq.

Great conference, thank you for the invitation.

Chief Growth Officer | Baker Donelson
Atlanta, GA
~ Kellie L. Howard, Esq.

The information sharing at the MPIEs is especially valuable.

Chief Executive Officer | Collins Einhorn Farrell PC
Southfield, MI
~ Eileen R. Fullerton, Esq.

My partner and I really enjoyed the conference and we look forward to attending again next year.

Managing Partner | Fullerton Beck LLP
White Plains, NY
~ Ms. Natasa Karambatsos

Connecting with other firm leaders, as it felt more like a ‘retreat’ than a ‘conference.’ Fantastic format allowed for great information and advice sharing.

Managing Partner | KRB Lawyers
Montreal, QC
~ Charles B. Jimerson, Esq.

I go to a lot of conferences, and your event is the one I look forward to and gain the most from each year. The power of this group is incredible. So privileged to be a part of it. Thank you for what you do for our industry.

Chief Executive Officer | Jimerson Birr, PA
Jacksonville, FL
~ Linda Perez Clark, Esq.

Connecting with other firm leaders, as it felt more like a ‘retreat’ than a ‘conference.’ Fantastic format allowed for great information and advice sharing.

Managing Partner | Kean Miller
Baton Rouge, LA
~ Evan D. Schein, Esq.

ATL was a great time, and I really enjoyed the conference, as always.

~ Parker J. Lavin, Esq.

That was my first experience at the conference, and it was tremendously valuable.

Founding Member | Lavin Rindner Duffield LLC
St. Simons Island, GA
~ Whitney Cunningham, Esq.

Great job! Keep it going. Thank you for the excellent work you do for the profession.

Managing Partner | Aspey, Watkins & Diesel PLLC
Flagstaff, AZ
~ Russ Brown, Esq.

The collegiality and brainstorming opportunities can’t be beat.

Managing Partner | Brown Fox PLLC
Dallas, TX
~ Talon J. Powers, Esq.

The MPF Conference is always a great event. The MPIEs and Workshops were really good this year.

~ William O. London, Esq.

I love this conference!

Partner | Kimura London & White LLP
Irvine, CA
~ Eileen M. Letts, Esq.

The program topics are timely and well presented. Every time I attend, I learn something new.

Partner | Zuber Lawler
Chicago, IL
~ Ms. Lisa Armstrong

MPF is on top of the issues facing firm leaders, often before we even see them coming in our own firms, and provides timely advice from industry experts to see us through them.

Managing Partner | SBA Lawyers LLP
Kitchener, ON
~ Thomas C. Grella, Esq.

I highly recommend the MPF Leadership Conference. I’ve participated many times, as have several of my partners. We leave with new ideas and fresh perspectives every time.

Past Managing Partner | McGuire Wood & Bissette
Asheville, NC
~ Robert A. Young, Esq.

Hands down the best leadership conference for managing partners I’ve ever attended.

Managing Partner | English Lucas Priest Owsley
Bowling Green, KY
~ Marc D. Chapman, Esq.

This is my 12th or 13th time attending, and it’s always the best conference I attend every year.

President | Dean Mead
Orlando, FL
~ Wilbur E. Johnson, Esq.

The MPIEs are interesting, informative and very useful!

Partner | Clement Rivers, LLP
Charleston, SC
~ Jason P. Waguespack, Esq.

I look forward to this Conference every year. It really helps me to be a more effective firm leader.

Managing Director | Galloway Johnson
New Orleans, LA
~ Jason M. Casini, Esq.

MPF provides tremendous value and excellent resources. Great information. Great speakers. Great networking opportunities.

Past Managing Partner | Whitfield & Eddy Law
Des Moines, IA

Preliminary Agenda

THE MPF 2026 FALL SYMPOSIUM — Empowering Women in Law Firm Leadership   October 6–7, 2026 - Chicago, Illinois

Preliminary Agenda

The preliminary agenda for The MPF 2026 Fall Symposium is presented below. Participants valued the high-level, interactive format and, each year, we introduce new faculty to keep our content fresh.

Tuesday, October 6, 2026
8:00am
REGISTRATION OPENS

400 FOYER

8:30am
BREAKFAST

450 LOUNGE

9:00am
WELCOMING REMARKS

An Introduction to The MPF Fall Symposium (400 STADIUM CLASSROOM)

We will open this year’s Fall Symposium - Empowering Women in Law Firm Leadership - with opening remarks from our co-hosts, as well as a few live polling questions and panel discussion with selected faculty members.

Jacqueline Newman, Esq. — Managing Partner, Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein LLP

John Remsen, Jr. — President & CEO, Managing Partner Forum

9:15am
SESSION #1

PANEL DISCUSSION: Big Picture Trends Impacting Smaller and Midsize Law Firms (400 STADIUM CLASSROOM)

John Remsen, Jr. (Moderator) — President & CEO, Managing Partner Forum

Elise Holtzman, JD, PCC — Founder & CEO, The Lawyer's Edge

Amanda Koplos, CLM, CPA — Chief Operating Officer, Shuffield Lowman & Wilson PA, Past President, Association of Legal Administrators

Jacqueline Newman, Esq. — Managing Partner, Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein LLP

10:15am
REFRESHMENT & NETWORKING BREAK

450 LOUNGE

10:30am
SESSION #2

PANEL DISCUSSION: Recruiting and Retaining Top Talent at Your Firm (400 STADIUM CLASSROOM)

Jacqueline Newman, Esq. (Moderator) — Managing Partner, Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein LLP

Erin K. Higgins, Esq. — Managing Partner, Conn Kavanaugh

Analynn M. López-Córdova, Esq. — President & Managing Shareholder, Toro Colón Mullet

Fiona S. Trevelyan — President & CEO, NALP (National Assn of Law Placement) Foundation

11:30am
SESSION #3

BREAKOUT SESSION: Best Practices in Talent Recruiting and Retention: What Works. What Doesn't. (400 STADIUM CLASSROOM/450 LOUNGE/BREAKOUT ROOMS)

Pre-assigned breakout groups of 10-12 persons.

12:30pm
OPENING LUNCHEON

450 LOUNGE

Presented by Laurel

1:15pm
SESSION #4

BREAKOUT SESSION REPORTS: Best Practices in Talent Recruiting and Retention (450 LOUNGE)

Report backs on breakout discussions.

Jacqueline Newman, Esq. — Managing Partner, Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein LLP

Fiona S. Trevelyan — President & CEO, NALP (National Assn of Law Placement) Foundation

1:45pm
REFRESHMENT & NETWORKING BREAK

450 LOUNGE

2:00pm
SESSION #5

PANEL DISCUSSION: Strategies to Improve Profitability in 2027 (400 STADIUM CLASSROOM)

Deborah L. de Vries, CPA, CGMA (Moderator) — Principal, Baker Tilly x Anchin

Katherine Gloede — Regional Vice President, American Arbitration Association

Amanda Koplos, CLM, CPA — Chief Operating Officer, Shuffield Lowman & Wilson PA, Past President, Association of Legal Administrators

Eileen M. Letts, Esq. — Managing Partner, Zuber Lawler LLP

3:30pm
REFRESHMENT & NETWORKING BREAK

450 LOUNGE

3:45pm
SESSION #6

PANEL DISCUSSION: Trends in Law Firm Compensation Models (400 STADIUM CLASSROOM)

Jenna Hatch, Esq. — Managing Partner, Pearson Butler

Amanda Koplos, CLM, CPA — Chief Operating Officer, Shuffield Lowman & Wilson PA, Past President, Association of Legal Administrators

Analynn M. López-Córdova, Esq. — President & Managing Shareholder, Toro Colón Mullet

Yulissa Zulaica, JD, LLM — Managing Shareholder, JKZ LLP

5:00pm
WELCOME RECEPTION

PIMCO MIDWAY BAR & VERANDA

Enjoy cocktails and hors d’oevres with peers and faculty.

6:30pm
MPF DINE-AROUND EVENTS

Join your peers for dinner at one of Chicago’s finest restaurants.

Morton's The Steakhouse — Laurel
Ocean Prime — The Lawyer's Edge
The Evie — Baker Tilly x Anchin
Western Alliance Bank — To be determined

Wednesday, October 7, 2026
8:30am
NETWORKING BREAKFAST

THE GLEACHER CENTER - 450 LOUNGE

9:00am
SESSION #7

PANEL DISCUSSION/CASE STUDY: How Firms Are Approaching AI Integration (400 STADIUM CLASSROOM)

Maggie T. Watkins (Moderator) — Chief Executive Officer, Maggie T. Watkins Consulting

Sarah Binau — Account Executive, Laurel

Linda Perez Clark, Esq. — Managing Partner, Kean Miller LLP
10:30am
REFRESHMENT & NETWORKING BREAK

450 LOUNGE

10:45am
SESSION #8

PANEL DISCUSSION: The Benefits of Coaching for You and Your Firm (400 STADIUM CLASSROOM)

Elise Holtzman, JD, PCC (Moderator) — Founder & CEO, The Lawyer's Edge

Kirsten Scheurer Branigan, Esq. — Managing Partner, KSBranigan Law PC

Ella Kay Gower, Esq. — Managing Shareholder, Miller Starr Regalia

Yulissa Zulaica, JD, LLM — Managing Shareholder, JKZ LLP
12:15pm
LUNCHEON

450 LOUNGE

1:15pm
SESSION #9

PANEL DISCUSSION: Law Firm Business Models of the Future (400 STADIUM CLASSROOM)

Jacqueline Newman, Esq. (Moderator) — Managing Partner, Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein LLP

Jenna Hatch, Esq. — Managing Partner, Pearson Butler

Amanda Koplos, CLM, CPA — Chief Operating Officer, Shuffield Lowman & Wilson PA, Past President, Association of Legal Administrators

Trisha M. Rich, Esq. — Partner, Holland & Knight LLP, President, Chicago Bar Association
2:30pm
CLOSING REMARKS

LESSONS LEARNED AT THE MPF FALL SYMPOSIUM (400 STADIUM CLASSROOM)

3:00pm
RECEPTION

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