Commercial Litigation Academy 2026

The Commercial Litigation Academy program brings together an outstanding panel of distinguished and well-known commercial litigators, current and former in-house counsel and judges who provide you with valuable insights on commercial litigation – from choosing the proper venue through the appellate process. There is a focus on litigating commercial cases efficiently, including the use of technology in case management. You receive training and enhance your skills in all aspects of commercial litigation; from drafting the pleadings and seeking injunctive relief, through disclosure and discovery (including expert discovery and e-Discovery), and finally to the trial and the appeal. The expert faculty also discusses key ethical and evidentiary issues confronted by the commercial litigator. 

Speakers

Laurel R. Kretzing, Esq., Moderator, Jaspan Schlesinger Narendran LLP

Matt Maron, Esq., Golf Entertainment Group

Michael C. Rakower, Esq, Rakower Law PLLC

Hon. James E. D’Auguste, NYS Commercial Division

Melissa S. Geller, Esq, Duane Morris LLP

Ross J. Kartez, Esq., Moderator, Ruskin Moscou Faltischek P.C.

Helene R. Hechtkopf, Esq., Hoguet Newman Regal & Kenney, LLP

Hon. Helen E. Freedman, JAMS

Jay G. Safer, Esq., Moderator, Dunnington Bartholow & Miller LLP

Jovana Crncevic, Esq., Withers Bergman LLP

Ignatius Grande, Esq., Berkeley Research Group, LLC

Brian Friedman, Esq., Moore Friedman LLP

Nathaniel E. Marmon, Esq., Baughman Kroup Bosse

Joshua Lathrop, Esq., Berkeley Research Group, LLC

Benjamin I. Bassoff, Esq., Moderator, Foley & Lardner LLP

Damian R. Cavaleri, Esq., Hoguet Newman Regal & Kenney, LLP

Karen M. Steel, Esq., Schindler Cohen & Hochman LLP

Eddy Salcedo, Esq., Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Lauren J. Wachtler, Esq., Moderator, Wachtler LLP

Hon. Melissa A. Crane, NYS Commercial Division

Paul F. Downs, Esq., Nixon Peabody LLP

Michael T. Stolper, Esq., Seiden Law LLP

Seth M. Rokosky, Esq., Moderator, Duane Morris LLP

Andrew Rhys Davies, Esq., Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP

Gabriel Herrmann, Esq., Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

Scott Eisman, Esq., Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP

Andrew Amend, Esq., Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP

Paul D. Sarkozi, Esq., Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP

Jeremy R. Feinberg, Esq., New York County Supreme Court

Rachel A. Gupta, Esq., JAMS

Maryann C. Stallone, Esq., Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP

Tasha Thompson, Esq., Kaplan Martin LLP

Russel Squire, Esq., Reed Smith LLP

Jeffrey T. Zaino, Esq., American Arbitration Association

Bonnie Trunley, Esq., Hoguet Newman Regal & Kenney, LLP

Vincent Chang, Esq., Commercial Division Law Clerk, Hon. James E. d’Auguste

John P. Curley, Esq., Hoguet Newman Regal & Kenney, LLP

Andrew Lorin, Esq., Principal Law Clerk, Hon. James E. d’Auguste