Fall Seminar
2025 Fall Seminar | November 14th, 2025
6 CLE Credits (Approval Pending)
Make plans to attend the 2025 OADC Fall Seminar this November at the Marriott in Portland, Oregon. This spectacular event features a panel of knowledgeable speakers, an array of educational classes, a chance to network with industry members, and an opportunity to earn earn CE credit. More information and details to come. Mark you calendars and join us!
Registration Fees
- $225 OADC Members
- $325 Non OADC Members
Agenda
| 7:45 AM | Registration Desk Opens | |
| 7:45 AM - 8:20 AM | Continental Breakfast & Exhibitor Networking | |
| 8:20 AM - 8:30 AM | Welcome Announcements & Introductions | |
| 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM | Adapting to the Modern Jury presented by Chris Dominic |
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| 9:30 AM - 9:45 AM | Break & Exhibitor Networking | |
| 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM | Leadership presented by Lou Radja |
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| 10:45 AM - 10:50 AM | Break & Exhibitor Networking | |
| 10:50 AM - 11:50 AM | Legislative Update presented by Maureen McGee |
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| 11:50 AM - 12:00 PM | Break & Exhibitor Networking | |
| 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Ethical Considerations for Lawyers presented by Elkanich, Cox, and OAAP |
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| 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM | Break & Exhibitor Networking | |
| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Effective Mediation Strategies in the New Era presented by Richard Vangelisti |
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| 2:30 PM - 2:45 PM | Break & Exhibitor Networking | |
| 2:45 PM - 3:45 PM | CLE - More information coming soon! | |
| 3:45 PM - 5:00 PM | Afternoon Social Hour |
Please take the time to read about the offered CLE sessions that will be provided at OADC's 2025 Fall Seminar
Adapting to the Modern Jury
Presented by Chris Dominic
Many of the strategies, tactics, and approaches that attorneys in litigation have developed in the last few decades are less effective today. Adapting to the modern jury requires understanding shifting juror attitudes and utilizing new approaches and tools. This CLE discusses what drives verdicts, where juror attitudes have shifted, how to account for Motivated Reasoning as a variable, applying Framing to your strategy, and executing in a disciplined way.
Chris Dominic
Chris Dominic is a Senior Strategy & Jury Consulting Advisor at IMS Legal Strategies. For more than two decades, he has counseled clients on cases ranging from everyday casework and ADR to some of the nation’s highest-profile, highest-stakes trials. He specializes in strategy and speechmaking, with broad experience that includes commercial, intellectual property, and multidistrict litigation. Chris grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and developed his expertise in the art of compelling communication and advocacy while earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in speech communication and coaching debate at the top-ranked School of Communication at San Diego State University. He went on to teach argumentation, public and persuasive speaking, and business and professional communication. After graduate school, Chris worked as a management consultant for Fortune 500 companies and then became President of Tsongas Litigation Consulting, Inc. Chris was elected by his peers as President of the American Society of Trial Consultants for the 2007–2008 term. He is also an associate member of the Multnomah Bar Association.
Leadership
Presented by Lou Radja
There is no doubt about it, we are living in unprecedented and changing times. There is no question about it, we are still defining and redefining what a ‘new normal’ looks like in the workplace. No matter where we turn, individuals and teams are experiencing isolation, stress, quiet quitting, health challenges, the great resignation, burnout, staff turnover, mental health issues… In addition to it, we are also facing an economic downturn that has amplified and exacerbated the already fragile situation. As OADC strives and stays committed in its mission to collaborate, educate and unify the Oregon defense bar by providing professional development, sharing collective knowledge, advocating for defense concerns and working to protect the civil justice system, it’s paramount that all our Civil Defense Lawyers are equipped with an extensive, people-centric leadership toolbox and mindset to meet new challenges and create new opportunities to carry out their much-needed work. Dancing in the Rain is a great opportunity for all of our Civil Defense Lawyers to come together in our Fall Seminar, unplug from the ‘matrix’ and unpack proven leadership concepts and strategies to help us continue to grow, fill our own cup, lead our teams, be there in our impactful work for the people we serve who need us even more! Some specific themes and concepts we’ll unpack include:
• Leadership Mandates
• Leading through Appreciative Inquiry
• Centering Purpose in Leadership
• Embracing & Leading Change
• Leveraging the exponential power of TEAM
• Going the Extra Mile…
A Social Entrepreneur, Lou Radja continues to work tirelessly to improve the lives of many across the globe. A recognized and award-winning Inspirational Speaker and founder of Lou Radja Enterprises, Mr. Radja has addressed and engaged global citizens all over the world on Leadership, Diversity, Service and Personal Development. As Co-founder and Executive Director of EduCongo, a U.S. based nonprofit organization; Lou’s energy is devoted to generating awareness and support to provide quality education for over 2,000 underprivileged children in the Congo. Lou is a member and Past President of the Portland Pearl Rotary Club, an active member of the World Oregon. Lou and his wife Stacy are proud parents of two boys, Yenga and Senda.
Legislative Update
Presented by Maureen McGee
Join OADC Lobbyist Maureen McGee for an update on the 2025 Oregon Legislative Session. This presentation will include a general overview of the character and scope of legislation introduced in 2025, with a special focus on matters of interest to OADC including legislation addressing insurance bad faith, recreational liability waivers, several developments in health law, access to justice and more. Maureen will also share insights coming out of the August special session related to transportation and thoughts on what policy makers may consider addressing in 2026.
Maureen McGee is an attorney Of Counsel at Tonkon Torp, where she is Co-Chair of the firm’s Government Law and Disputes Group and a member of the State Government Relations & Public Policy Practice Group. Maureen has a deep knowledge of the Oregon legislative process and a wealth of technical and legal expertise in the policy arena. She utilizes her experience and relationships to offer comprehensive legal and government affairs services for corporate, nonprofit and local government clients engaging with Oregon’s legislative and executive branches.
Before joining Tonkon, Maureen served Oregon lawmakers for nine years, most recently as a Senior Deputy Legislative Counsel, providing nonpartisan legal services to the legislative assembly on a wide variety of legally and politically complex legislative discussions. She is a graduate of the University of Puget Sound and the University of Oregon School of Law.
Ethical Considerations for Lawyers
Presented by David Elkanich, Greg Cox, and Kyra Hazilla
More Information Coming Soon!
Dr. Greg Cox
Dr. Greg Cox has practiced psychology for more than 35 years, with approximately two-thirds of his work devoted to clinical practice and one-third dedicated to court-related matters. He began his career in rural Georgia, where the breadth of cases he encountered gave him wide-ranging experience in the forensic realm. Three years ago, he relocated to Portland, Oregon, and currently practices with Behavioral Neuropsychology, LLC.
His areas of specialty include evaluation and testimony in civil cases, neuropsychological assessment, and the study of interpersonal process, particularly as it relates to helping individuals find their personal influence and power.
He went to Manhattan immediately post 9/11 to do psychological trauma intervention, and worked in the Georgia Department of Corrections for five and a half years as a Clinical Director for Mental Health in a maximum security prison. He has seen personal crisis up close.
Dr. Cox describes himself as deeply fascinated by the uniqueness of each human life. He notes that many people carry theories of who they “should” be—smarter, thinner, richer, or more accomplished—but he is most intrigued by the actual life each individual has lived. For him, the lived life itself carries a profound and precious power, one that reveals who a person genuinely is and the possibilities available in their future.
Kyra Hazilla
Kyra M. Hazilla, JD, LCSW, is the director and an attorney counselor with the Oregon Attorney Assistance Program (OAAP). Kyra is a 2006 graduate of the University of Michigan Law School (JD) and School of Social Work (MSW). She was a public defender practicing juvenile law for most of her legal career and also worked as a contract attorney in the areas of personal injury law and civil rights law before joining the OAAP staff in 2014. She is a trained counselor having completed more than 3,500 postgraduate social service hours. She is also a clinical supervisor and provides regular clinical consultation for peers in the therapeutic community. She is a national speaker on trauma-informed lawyering and other topics. Her counseling experience includes crisis intervention; working with victims of sexual assault; drug, alcohol, and substance use counseling; mental health counseling; and survivors of interpersonal violence and their children.
Effective Mediation Strategies in the New Era
Presented by Richard Vangelisti
This presentation on mediation will cover a range of information from the key elements for mediation success to advanced strategies to current challenges facing the mediation process. Topics will include timing of mediation, selection of mediator, preparation of all participants, exchange of critical information, negotiation, mediation format/location, and settlement agreements. The presentation also will cover newer challenges to the mediation process and professionalism.
Richard Vangelisti
Richard Vangelisti has been a full-time mediator since 2017, focusing his practice on personal injury and employment matters. He has mediation training from the National Judicial College, the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, and the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation. Richard is the 2025 recipient of the Multnomah Bar Association’s Professional Award.