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Find Success at ADTAThe Tradition of Excellence Continues
An ADTA prime membership is, in essence, a statement of the high regard in which that defense trial attorney is held by his or her peers in the defense trial bar of their city and state or province.
Reputation.
Respect. Results.
ADTA invites only one defense trial attorney to be its prime member per one million in population from various jurisdictions who have a trial practice and devote a substantial portion of their professional time to defending businesses, insurance companies or their insureds, associations, or governmental entities in civil litigation. An ADTA prime membership is, in essence, a statement of the high regard in which that defense trial attorney is held by his or her peers in the defense trial bar of their city and state or province.
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We Prefer to ReferOfficers & Executive Council Members
Amanda Cialkowski
A. Johnston Cox
Ronald Austin, Jr.
R. Bruce Barze, Jr.
James P. Craig
Peggy L. Schultz
Jeanne F. Loftis
Class of 2027
Laura K. Beasley
Steven A. Dix
Natalie M. Leon
Class of 2025
David Holler
Heather Mills
Edwin Wallis, III
Class of 2026
Kelly Brilleaux
David Lauritzen
Bharat Varadachari
From the President
It is my honor and privilege to serve as President of the ADTA this year.
The ADTA’s motto of “One in a Million” truly exemplifies the exclusivity and high quality of our members. We are fortunate to have many outstanding trial lawyers, from a wide range of practice areas and geographic locations, in our ranks. Many of our members are leaders in the law firms, other professional organizations, and their legal and local communities. Our members raise the stature of not only the ADTA but also the legal profession.
As we look forward to the coming year, the ADTA will remain focused on remaining relevant to our members and providing benefits of membership that far exceed the dues that are paid. Of course, we will continue to provide high-quality and relevant CLE and and other resources, through webinars, fire-side chats, and the annual meeting. Additionally, we will continue to “Prefer to Refer” and encourage our members to think of their ADTA colleagues when they need to make a referral to another lawyer.
But, as many of you already know, building and maintaining long-lasting relationships are the true heart and soul of the ADTA and the best way to experience this is to be active! Join a Committee and participate in ADTA activities. And, most importantly, make plans to attend the ADTA Annual Meeting!
In 2025, we are excited to be in Lexington, KY! Reserve April 23-27, 2025. on your calendars now – you do not want to miss it as we will continue the Tradition of Excellence at the Annual Meeting!
Dyan
Latest News
2024 Strubinger Award Recipient
During the 2024 Santa Fe Annual Meeting Amanda Cialkowski was presented The Strubinger Award. She was selected from a field of twenty-three nominees. The field is then narrowed down to five finalists from which the winner is selected. Quite an accomplishment! Congratulations Amanda!
The other four finalists were:
- Dyan Ebert
- Chelsey Golightly
- James "Jamie" B. Hood
- Dan Kohane
At the 2009 Annual Meeting in Scottsdale Arizona, the Marketing Committee of ADTA introduced a new client referral network initiative, "We Prefer to Refer." As part of this program, the Marketing Committee created an award that will be given annually to the ADTA member who has best exemplified our commitment to refer business to other ADTA members. The first "We Prefer to Refer" Award was presented to Bobby Hood of Charleston, S.C. at the 2010 Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts.
The participation of the members in the nominating process is vital and ensures that all of those who deserve recognition will have the opportunity to be duly considered for this prestigious award.
The field of 2024 Nominees are listed below. The number in parenthesis details how many nominations they received.
You can submit referral reporting forms year-round! Did someone recently refer a case to you? Fill out a “referral reporting form” (previously a “nomination”) today!
The ADTA encourages self-nominations for the Strubinger Award! If you refer a case to another ADTA member, fill out a referral reporting form for yourself ASAP.
You might be wondering: what does it take for a referral to be considered as a “nomination” for the Strubinger Award?
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- What if someone referred their client to another attorney at my office because I don’t handle that type of litigation?
- What if I referred a case to an ADTA member and they were conflicted out?
Yep, you guessed it, those should ALL be submitted via referral reporting forms as Strubinger Award nominations!
Happy referring!!
2024-25 New ADTA Officers and Executive Council Announced
The 83rd ADTA Santa Fe, NM Annual Meeting is another one for the history books. If you have not attended one of our meetings, then you just don't know what you are missing. It's what ADTA is all about----friends, good times, EXCELLENT CLE and the opportunity to experience the best of the city's activities wherever the meeting is held.
Jim Craig, the now Immediate Past President led the meeting. Past President Evelyn Fletcher Davis, Chair of the Nomination Committee, led the Business Meeting at which time the new slate of Officers and Executive Council were presented and voted upon. Dyan Ebert of Quinlivan & Hughes, P.A., St Cloud, MN was elected the 2024-2025 ADTA President. Following is the complete list of new officers and the Class of 2027.
President: Dyan Ebert, Quinlivan & Hughes, P.A., St. Cloud, MN
President-Elect: Amanda Cialkowski, Nilan Johnson., Minneapolis, MN
Vice President: A. Johnston Cox, Gallivan, White & Boyd, P.A., Columbia, SC
Treasurer: Ronald Austin, Jr., Grant Law, LLC, Chicago, IL
Secretary: R. Bruce Barze, Jr., Barze Taylor Noles Lowther LLC, Birmingham, AL
Immediate Past President: James P. Craig, Lederer, Weston Craig, PLC, Cedar Rapids, IA
Class of 2027
LAURA K. BEASLEY
Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice LLC
23 Public Square, Suite 400
Belleville, IL 62220
[email protected]
STEVEN A. DIX
Dix and Associates, PLLC
805 South Church Street, Suite 18
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
[email protected]
NATALIE M. LEON
Forbes Chochla LLP.
439 University Avenue, Suite 2300
Toronto, ON M5G1Y8
[email protected]