ONLINE
Thursday, December 10, 2026 - Friday, December 11, 2026
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
The Event of the Year for Minnesota Civil Litigators!
Join colleagues from across the state at the Civil Litigation Institute, Minnesota’s leading educational program for civil litigators. This comprehensive event features practical and substantive sessions designed to strengthen the skills and knowledge of attorneys at every stage of practice.
Explore timely topics spanning pretrial strategy, trial advocacy, post-trial practice, the evolving role of AI in litigation, and specialized substantive areas of law. Whether you are looking to sharpen your courtroom skills, stay current on emerging developments, or gain practical insights you can put to work immediately, the Institute has something for you. Plus, don’t miss out on connecting with friends, colleagues, judges, and practitioners from all around the state!
If you attend only one civil litigation program this year, make it the Civil Litigation Institute. Nowhere else can you learn so much and have such a good time in the process!
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
David J.F. Gross
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Minneapolis | Scottsdale, AZ
A nationally recognized trial lawyer and leading voice on using AI in litigation, David J.F. Gross, shows you how to use AI to strengthen case strategy, prepare more effectively, and gain an edge in your case.
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER
Michelle M. Greene
The Lanier Law Firm
New York, NY
The Lanier Law Firm took on Meta and YouTube in the first successful social media addiction trial. Michelle M. Greene provides an inside look at the case and how her firm prevailed.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE
8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
CHECK-IN & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
9:00 – 9:05 a.m.
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
9:05 – 10:05 a.m.
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
5 AI Skills Every Trial Lawyer Needs Right Now – Work Faster, Think Smarter, and Build Stronger Cases
– David J.F. Gross
10:05 – 10:15 a.m.
BREAK
10:15 – 11:15 a.m.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Inside the Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial: How the Lanier Trial Team Won the First Case of Its Kind Against Meta and YouTube
– Michelle M. Greene
11:15 – 11:25 a.m.
BREAK
11:25 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION A
101
The First Moves Matter: 6 Strategic Decisions That Shape Business Litigation
– Allison M. Lange Garrison
102
Working with Jury Consultants: What They See That Trial Lawyers Miss
– James H. Kaster & Diane Wiley
103
From RAG to Riches: Building Better Case Strategy with AI
– David J.F. Gross
12:10 – 1:15 p.m.
JOIN US FOR LUNCH – Food & Fun at Fogo!
Join fellow attendees for a complimentary lunch at Fogo de Chão, conveniently located in the same building as the Conference Center. Enjoy Fogo’s Market Table which has over 40 different options, refreshing beverages, and casual conversation with colleagues in a relaxed setting.
1:15 – 2:00 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION B
201
Discovery: It’s Not Just E-mail Anymore – Texts, Teams, Slack, Social Media, Cloud Data, and Other Sources Litigators Can’t Ignore
– Courtney E. Ward-Reichard
202
Bench or Jury Trial? 5 Key Differences When Trying a Case
– Janel M. Dressen
203
AI as Your Consulting Expert: Stress-Testing Theories, Arguments, and Case Strategy
– David J.F. Gross
2:00 – 2:15 p.m.
BREAK
2:15 – 3:00 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION C
301
Building the Social Media Addiction Case: From Discovery Management to Trial-Ready Strategy
– Michelle M. Greene
302
Proving Damages: Building the Record from Discovery Through Trial
– Bryan K. Washburn
303
AI in Civil Litigation: Tools, Tactics, and Risks
– Prof. Tammy Pettinato Oltz
3:00 – 3:15 p.m.
BREAK
3:15 – 4:00 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION D
401
Summary Judgment Strategy: What Actually Moves the Needle Whether You Are the Moving or Opposing Party
– Amy E. Boyle, Paola K. Maldonado, Christopher J. Moreland & Andrew E. Tanick
402
When the Case Goes Sideways: What to Do with Difficult Clients, Bad Facts, Hostile Counsel, and Other Litigation Problems
– Michael H. Frasier
403
Privilege, Work Product, and AI: Where Experienced Litigators Can Get Into Trouble
– Courtney E. Ward-Reichard
4:00– 4:15 p.m.
BREAK
4:15 – 5:00 p.m.
BREAKOUT SESSION E
501
Outgunned, Not Outmatched: How to Compete When the Other Side Has More Money, People, and Resources
– Michael H. Frasier
502
Protect Your Record: Preserving Appeal Issues at Trial
– Caitlinrose H. Fisher & Virginia R. McCalmont
503
Expert Witnesses + AI: Developing Better Direct and Sharper Cross-Examination
– Kate S. Razavi
5:00 – 5:30 p.m.
CONFERENCE RECEPTION – WITH PRIZE DRAWINGS!
Join your friends and colleagues for tasty refreshments, great conversation, and fun prize drawings!
8:30 – 9:00 a.m.
CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
9:00 – 9:05 a.m.
DAY 2 WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
9:05 – 10:05 a.m.
Trial by Fire: Hard-Earned Lessons from Some of Minnesota’s Most Experienced Trial Lawyers
– Samantha H. Bates, B. Todd Jones, William Z. Pentelovitch & Steven Andrew Smith
– Kyle R. Kroll (moderator)
10:05 – 10:15 a.m.
BREAK
10:15 – 11:15 a.m.
From the Bench: What Works and What Does Not
– Judge Thomas J. Conley, Judge Martin S. Fallon & Judge Douglas L. Micko
– Janel M. Dressen (moderator)
11:15 – 11:25 a.m.
BREAK
11:25 – 11:55 a.m.
Fireside Chat with the New Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court
– Chief Justice Theodora Gaïtas
– Kyle R. Kroll (moderator)
LIVE IN-PERSON
Thursday & Friday, November 5-6, 2026
Minnesota CLE Conference Center
600 Nicollet Mall, Suite 370
Seventh Street & Nicollet Mall, Third Floor City Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota
ONLINE REPLAY
Thursday & Friday, December 10-11, 2026
Attend online
Online replay includes all plenary and breakout sessions. A moderator will be available to answer questions by email.
$445 MSBA members / $445 paralegals / $495 standard rate
Other discounts that may apply:
Scholarships available!
Need-based scholarships are available for in-person and online seminars. For further information or to obtain a scholarship application, contact us at 800-759-8840 or customerservice@minncle.org.
Minnesota CLE is applying to the Minnesota State Board of CLE for 8.25 standard CLE credits. The maximum number of total credits attendees may claim for this program is 8.25 credits.
Minnesota CLE also has applied to the Minnesota State Bar Association for 8.25 civil trial specialist credits.
