Back in the Saddle 2022 Fall Seminar Austin
- September 8 - 10, 2022
- Austin, TX
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Westin Downtown
310 East 5th Street, Austin, Texas 78701 | (512) 391-2333
AnneMarie Rizzo, JD, GC, MS
AnneMarie Rizzo is a former Assistant State Attorney with extensive trial experience in the State of Florida. AnneMarie is the only female in the State of Florida with the Forensic Lawyer Scientist certification. She graduated with her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, Magna Cum Laude, and from the University of Florida Levin College of Law with her Juris Doctorate. AnneMarie also holds a Masters Degree from the University of Florida in Pharmaceutical Sciences and a Graduate Certificate in Forensic Toxicology. AnneMarie feels this advanced education helps her to have a formal background in using science to help build and argue her clients’ cases. AnneMarie teaches on a national and statewide level helping lawyers to better litigate their cases in court. AnneMarie has tried many cases involving complex legal and scientific matters from accident reconstruction to toxicology to proper scientific testing methods. AnneMarie has handled and tried cases from minor misdemeanors to homicide cases such as Vehicular Homicide and DUI Manslaughter.
AnneMarie has been featured on multiple news media stations due to her advocacy for her clients discussing topics high profile cases, personal injury cases, and criminal cases on TV outlets such as the local ABC, CBS, and Fox News affiliates. She was also on CNN when she handled a bond hearing for a high-profile case. The herald tribune has featured AnneMarie on multiple occasions about her cases because of her unique legal arguments and about cases she has handled. Check out this article about AnneMarie’s Lawyer Scientist Certification:
https://www.heraldtribune.com/article/LK/20151208/News/605206357/SH
AnneMarie is the President of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association. She also has served as the President of the local chapter for the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and as a Director At Large for the statewide Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. She also is a member of the American Chemical Society. Moreover, AnneMarie has served in the community as Chair of the local Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Law Week Committee where she recruited attorneys to teach high school students about the legal system. She also has served as a Guardian ad Litem. In addition, she has spent time serving as a presiding judge over Teen Court proceedings. AnneMarie has been involved in other local organizations such as the Florida Association of Woman Lawyers, Inns of Court, and Junior League.
During her tenure as an Assistant State Attorney, she specialized in prosecuting Domestic Violence and Criminal Traffic cases. She assisted hundreds of victims involved in violent relationships in criminal prosecution and assisted victims at hearings seeking protective injunctions. AnneMarie leaves a legacy of winning four separate, consecutive jury trials in the same trial week. She was appointed as a Special Prosecutor by the Governor of Florida to represent the State of Florida on a DUI case in Lee County in 2007 which resulted in another favorable jury verdict for her at trial. She quickly gained the reputation of being an aggressive and zealous advocate for her clients.
AnneMarie has trained law enforcement officers and prosecutors across the state specifically in the areas of evidence based prosecution and trial advocacy in Domestic Violence and Criminal Traffic. She also has trained medical doctors at SHANDS UF and Child Protective Investigators with the Department of Children and Families in the areas of domestic violence and family dynamics. AnneMarie has successfully completed the Advanced DUI School hosted by the Florida Prosecutor Attorney Association. She also has successfully completed the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Course sponsored by the Institute of Police Technology and Management, a course designed to train law enforcement to effectively identify impairment in individuals suspected to be driving under the influence. (A field sobriety exercise regularly used on the roads today) AnneMarie also attended and successfully completed the Trial Advocacy School at the National Advocacy Center held at the United States Department of Justice in South Carolina. AnneMarie also has attended and was awarded the certificate of successful completion for intense studies at the National College of DUI Defense at Harvard University. Furthermore, AnneMarie was awarded multiple certificates of completion for her studies at Axion Labs as it relates to Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry as well as being awarded certificates of completion for Mastering Scientific Evidence Seminars.
In her free time AnneMarie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, and thoroughly enjoys scuba diving (especially with sharks).
Brian Blades
Brian Blades is a Co-founder of Scorpion Internet Marketing and the Sr. Vice President of its criminal and DUI defense division. With over 20 years’ experience, Brian is an expert in digital marketing for DUI attorneys and speaks frequently at both state and national criminal defense conferences about revenue growth strategies for small firms. Brian lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.
Mark Thiessen, JD
Mark Thiessen prides himself on being an aggressive trial lawyer. If the district attorney will not bargain or justice will not be served by allowing the client to plead guilty, Mark passionately and professionally represents his clients at trial. He has won DWI cases from total refusals up to quadruple intoxication manslaughter. Mark has earned formidable reputation for being a tenacious Houston DWI trial lawyer, and he works hard to maintain that status. Mark is licensed and tries cases in Texas and Colorado.
Since opening Thiessen Law Firm, Mark has continued to add to his growing list of accomplishments. In addition to his widely publicized feats as a winning Houston intoxication manslaughter lawyer, Mark Thiessen was the youngest criminal Super Lawyer in Texas in 2013. As of 2021, Mark is a 9 time Texas Super Lawyer, 5 time Top 100 Super Lawyers in Houston and 3 time Top 100 Super Lawyers in all of Texas. For the past two years, Mark has been the only DWI lawyer listed in the Top 100 in Houston and the only criminal Super Lawyer listed in the Top 100 Lawyers in Texas.
Mark is the only lawyer in America who is triple board certified in:
1. Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
2. DUI Defense by the National College for DUI Defense as approved through the American Bar Association
3. DUI Law by the DUI Defense Lawyers Association.
Mark has also earned the American Chemical Society-Chemistry and the Law’s (ACS-CHAL) Forensic Lawyer-Scientist designation — the highest form of scientific recognition available for lawyers.
Mark is also a frequent legal seminar lecturer, author of numerous published legal articles, and a faculty member for various organizations. Mark is an international lecturer and is regularly called on to speak and educate students, police officers, lawyers and judges.
Mark Thiessen was born and raised in Houston, Texas. Mark attended the Village School and St. Francis Episcopal Middle School before graduating from the Kinkaid School in 1996. Mr. Thiessen then attended and graduated from Texas Christian University in 2000 with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Marketing. While at TCU, Mark was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and on the dean’s list.
Following his time at TCU, Mr. Thiessen returned to Houston and began his law school education at South Texas College of Law (STCL). Mark made the most of his time at STCL, actively taking part in mock trials and campus law societies. Mark’s passion for the law also took him abroad: he has studied at the International Criminal Law at the University of Malta, the BPP Law School in London, England, and at the University of Hawaii. Studying in these unique legal environments required Mark to adapt to various social, cultural, ethnic, and economic groups, which is evident in his approach and personality to this day.
After graduating from law school, Mark practiced civil law at Bell, Ryniker & Letourneau and at Brown Sims, P.C. In 2006, he followed his passion for criminal law by joining the team at Trichter & Murphy, P.C., where Mark was able to study under some of the foremost legal authorities in Texas. After five years with Trichter & Murphy, P.C., Mark decided to start his own law firm, thus opening Thiessen Law Firm.
Although his practice includes all areas of criminal defense, Mr. Thiessen specializes in cases regarding DWI, drugs, and controlled substances. The trial of a DWI case dictates that, on any given date, a trial lawyer must be not only well-versed in Rules of Evidence, case law pertaining to DWIs, and constitutional law, but also numerous areas of science such as anatomy, physiology, toxicology, chemistry, computer science, biology, and physics. Additionally, Mark has studied many hours of trial strategies in order to properly educate jurors and judges on the sciences involved.
Mark is the current DWI Committee co-chair and on the Board of Directors for the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCDLA), the 50th President and on the Board of Directors for Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) and a Charter Member and Treasurer and Director for DUI Defense Lawyers Association (DUIDLA).
Mark’s reputation as a fearless, famous Houston attorney extends beyond his presence in the courtroom. In his free time, he competes in Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a black belt for Brazil-021 School of Jiu Jitsu in Houston and also trains Muay Thai. Mark is an avid snow skier, tennis player and waterman. But above all else, he loves going on adventures with his family.
Michael Kessler, JD
Michael Kessler is a Founding Member of DUIDLA, a former member of NCDD, a 1985 graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Law, and is a Board Certified Criminal Trial Specialist, having been so designated by the Florida Bar since 2003.
Mr. Kessler is known throughout Florida’s Treasure Coast as the Go-To-Guy for DUI, and is the co-author of The DUI BOOK: Florida Edition, along with prominent Atlanta DUI lawyer William C. “Bubba” Head.
Mr. Kessler founded and manages The Kessler Law Firm, whose offices are in Fort Pierce and Key West, and is one of the course directors for FACDL’s wildly successful Blood, Breath & Tears program.
Mr. Kessler is a disciple of the Terry MacCarthy School of Cross-Examination, and once performed the one-leg stand for 30 minutes without putting his foot down, all the while drinking very good single malt scotch.
Justin McShane, JD
Justin McShane is a lawyer just like you. He has tried cases: winning some and losing some. He has been trusted by the famous and infamous who find themselves or loved ones in trouble. Most importantly, he is a family man.
Josh Lee, JD, MS, NREMT
Josh D. Lee is an Oklahoma based, AV Preeminent-Rated attorney. He is nationally recognized for his expertise on forensic science related topics and has lectured over 250 times in 22 different states and two countries. In addition to his law degree, he has earned a Master of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Florida. He is also a Nationally Registered EMT. Josh is an instructor and co-founder of the Forensic Chromatography programs at Axion Analytical Labs in Chicago, IL.
Mr. Lee has lectured at the American Chemical Society (ACS) as well as the American Academy of Forensic Science (AAFS) national meetings. In 2011, Josh was elected Forensic Science Co-Chairman for the Chemistry and the Law Division of the ACS. He is also an “Assistant Chromatography Instructor” for the ACS. Josh is the only Oklahoma attorney to be recognized as an “ACS Forensic Lawyer-Scientist” as designated by the Chemistry and the Law Division of the ACS. In 2018, Josh was recognized by Oklahoma Magazine as a top “40 Under 40” young leader in Oklahoma. He has received two Presidents Award’s from the Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and a Dean’s Award from the National College for DUI Defense. The Oklahoma Bar Association honored Josh with its Fern Holland Courageous Lawyer Award in 2018.
Mr. Lee is a published author on various science and law topics including gas chromatography, blood testing, breath testing, oral fluid testing, forensic science reform, drug testing, drug analogues, search and seizure, and trial advocacy.
Mr. Lee is a founding member of the firm Lee|Coats Law, PLC. He is a past Board Member of the non-profit organization Freedom of Information Oklahoma, Inc., and a Past President of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association Justice Foundation. As a volunteer attorney for the Oklahoma Innocence Project he worked to successfully exonerate two men wrongfully convicted of murder after they spent 22 years in prison. He is a Volunteer Captain on the fire department in his hometown of Vinita, Oklahoma. He is certified as Firefighter Levels I & II, Fire Instructor, Hazardous Materials Operations, Swiftwater Rescue Technician Levels I & II, and High Angle Rope Rescue Technician Levels I & II. He also serves as the Director of the Craig County Technical Rescue Task Force.
Rusty Hardin, JD
Though he has a well-established reputation as a civil and criminal defense lawyer, Rusty got his start in the law on the other side. Following graduation from law school at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, in 1975, Rusty began his legal career as an assistant district attorney in Houston. Over a period of 15 years, he tried over 100 felony cases, not losing one. He tried 14 death penalty cases and earned wide recognition for his cross-examination skills in several high-profile trials. In recognition of his trial skills, he was named Texas Prosecutor of the Year by the State Bar of Texas and was featured in numerous publications profiling his work.
Rusty entered private practice in 1991 as a founding partner of Hardin, Beers, Hagstette & Davidson, maintaining a civil and criminal trial practice at both the state and federal levels. In 1994, he was named Chief Trial Counsel for the Whitewater Independent Counsel’s Office, serving under both Bob Fiske and Ken Starr. In 1996, he established Rusty Hardin & Associates. Since then, Rusty has tried over 70 jury trials, split fairly evenly between civil and criminal cases. It’s this work — pleading cases before juries — that Rusty enjoys most. “I love the challenge of trying to persuade a group of strangers to my point of view,” Rusty says. “From my years of experience on both sides of the courtroom, whether prosecuting or defending a client, I have found that juries almost always do the right thing. Even when I disagree, I can see how they got there.”
Rusty and the firm made headlines in a high-profile case involving chemical company Arkema Inc. The company, along with its executives, was charged when tanks full of organic peroxides caught fire at its Crosby, Texas, plant during the Hurricane Harvey disaster in August 2017. Arkema’s CEO and the plant manager were indicted on charges of reckless emission of an air contaminant. In a case plagued by prosecutorial misconduct, Rusty and his team were able to have all charges dismissed. In another matter, Rusty represented Army officer and astronaut Anne McClain, who had been accused by her estranged spouse of hacking into a bank account during her time on the International Space Station. The charges, entirely fabricated, were eventually dropped after a thorough investigation discovered that Ms. McClain’s spouse repeatedly lied under oath to federal prosecutors.
Rusty is also the founder of Texas People Against Crime, a statewide organization dedicated to addressing criminal justice issues from the perspective of crime victims and law enforcement. A nationally recognized speaker on trial tactics, Rusty is often approached to counsel lawyers on dealing with the media during high-profile cases. His three rules for media relations: “Always return their calls. Always tell them the truth. If you can’t talk to them, explain why.”
Rusty is a Senior Fellow and past President of the Litigation Counsel of America, the trial lawyer honorary society. He serves on the Advisory Board for both the Trial Law Institute and the Diversity Law Institute. In 2015, Rusty was named a “Trial Ace” by Law360, given a Lifetime Achievement award by Texas Lawyer, named a “Lion of the Texas Bar” by The Texas Lawbook, and inducted into both the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the American College of Trial Lawyers. A member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, he has been recognized as a Best Lawyer in America each year since 2016 and named on the Texas Super Lawyers listing since 2003. In 2020, he was inducted as a Texas Legal Legend by the Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas.
Before attending law school, Rusty taught American history at Montgomery Academy in Montgomery, Alabama, and spent five years in the U.S. Army, leaving with the rank of captain after 15 months in Vietnam. He also spent a year as a legislative assistant to Congressman Charles R. Jonas, Republican, of North Carolina. He is licensed to practice in the state of Texas, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Rusty and his wife, Tissy, were married in 1970. They have two sons, Russell and Thomas. Russell is a high school teacher in Houston and Thomas is an officer in the Houston Police Department.
Andrew Alpert, JD
Attorney Andrew D. Alpert is a Partner with the law firm of Alpert Schreyer, LLC and one of the leading DUI attorneys in the state of Maryland and the District of Columbia. A former prosecutor, Mr. Alpert has specific training in DUI/DWI law and has earned a reputation as a highly skilled and aggressive criminal defense attorney. He has successfully defended thousands of DUI/DWI, criminal defense, and motor vehicle manslaughter cases, has had many cases covered by the press (Maryland Independent 09/17/2004; Maryland Independent 09/22/2004) and has appeared on national television to offer his legal opinion on high-profile criminal cases. Mr. Alpert has received numerous awards and honors from the legal community. He has been rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell®, carries a 10.0 Superb rating from Avvo, and has been selected several times for inclusion in Super Lawyers in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Mr. Alpert regularly attends the National College for DUI Defense, as conducted at Harvard University where he receives advanced training in DUI/DWI defense law. He is a member of Board of Directors of the Maryland Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association, Chairman of the Legislative Group of the Maryland Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association on Narcotics, the Maryland State Representative of the National College for DUI Defense, a member of the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association, Maryland State Bar Association and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. A graduate of George Washington University School of Law, Alpert is one of only a few lawyers in the state of Maryland and the District of Columbia who is a Certified NHTSA Standardized Field Sobriety Test Instructor.
Amanda Culbertson, JD
Amanda Culbertson is a lawyer, consultant, and expert witness in the areas of forensic toxicology, forensic chemistry and general science. Ms. Culbertson graduated with a Master of Science degree in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Michigan where she also attained Ph.D. candidacy, holds an ACS certified Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology also from the University of North Texas. Ms. Culbertson started her work in forensic toxicology as a Chemical Terrorism Lab Coordinator for the State of Michigan, and has worked for the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Houston Police Department. Ms. Culbertson is trained by ASQ and ANAB as an ISO/IEC 17025 Lead Assessor and utilizes this experience and training in assisting attorneys in case reviews. Ms. Culbertson is a 2016 honors graduate from South Texas College of Law.
Through her reviews and testimony, Ms. Culbertson has exposed several instances of wrong doing in crime laboratories, earning numerous dismissals and acquittals for her clients. Her most recent finds were of evidence tampering in an Intoxication Manslaughter case, resulting in an acquittal, and several instances of dry-labbing by the DPS El Paso crime lab. She has also been on the forefront of the BD vial recall issue since the issue was first reported.
Marisa Feil, JD
McGill & University of Montreal educated Marisa Feil holds both a Bachelor & Master’s of Law. Marisa is the principal and founder of FWCanada, a Canadian law firm specializing in travel waivers for individuals with previous convictions and has become a respected authority on matters of Canadian immigration. Besides being frequently contacted to offer her expertise in lectures, conferences, and webinars, she has also been asked to be a contributor in various publications, including her own book “Inadmissible to Canada”, now in its second edition available on Amazon.
Thomas Grajek, JD
Since starting my legal career over 25 years ago, I have always been a criminal defense trial attorney. I’ve never worked as a prosecutor trying to put people in jail; I have always believed in helping individuals accused of a crime.
Over the course of my career, I’ve earned a reputation for hard-hitting, no-holds-barred representation of criminal defendants. My job is to help people find the way out of a tough situation. I love taking cases that other lawyers wouldn’t touch and earning dismissals or Not Guilty verdicts at trial.
I have an office in Polk County. I know the legal system here, and I have a winning track record in a tough environment for criminal defendants. It’s an arms race, so I’m constantly working to improve my craft. I go to national seminars, talk to the best lawyers and legal experts from around the country, and bring those insights back home to win more cases. Other attorneys frequently refer cases to me because they know I know how to win.
I’m also one of just four Florida attorneys who have earned the American Chemical Society (ACS) Forensic Lawyer-Scientist Designation as recognized by the Chemistry and the Law Division of the ACS. Forensic Lawyer-Scientists study the science that pertains to DUI and drug charges and apply it legitimately in the courtroom. This special training allows me to recognize flaws in the police and prosecution’s use of science and build a stronger defense for my clients.
Douglas Huff, JD
Attorney Douglas Huff was born in Warren, Ohio and was raised in Western Pennsylvania, outside of Pittsburgh, where he attended Mount Pleasant Area High School. After high school, Attorney Huff enlisted in the United States Army and served for four years receiving the Army Achievement Medal and the Army Commendation Medal. He received an honorable discharge after completing his full term of service and relocated to Austin, Texas.
After attending law school, Attorney Huff worked at Barbri, an organization specializing in assisting law students in studying and passing the state bar examination. In addition to being licensed to practice law in the state of Texas, he sat and passed the Oklahoma Bar during this time. Afterwards, he opened his own law practice, The Law Office of Douglas E. Huff in Dallas, Texas where he represented clients charged with various misdemeanor and felony criminal offenses.
In 2013, Attorney Huff accepted a position with the Dallas County Public Defender’s Office where he worked diligently as the lead attorney in many DWI trials and other misdemeanors. Additionally, he has assisted numerous clients through plea negotiations, led many evidentiary hearings, and prepared and took part in felony trials.
Attorney Huff joined Deandra Grant Law in 2016.
On a personal note, Doug has one daughter who is an attorney in Dallas and a rescue dog named “Athena”. He’s a military vet who loves to travel. One of his favorite trips was walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Doug is also a competitive poker player you can often find playing in tournaments around the country.
Paul Doroshenko, QC, LLB
Paul Doroshenko, Q.C. is an experienced Vancouver Criminal lawyer who devotes his practice exclusively to criminal defence and drunk driving law. He ensures first and foremost that his clients avoid a criminal record.
During his career as a leading Vancouver Criminal Lawyer, Paul Doroshenko has handled a wide range of criminal matters, from sexual assaults and white collar thefts to impaired driving and shoplifting. He and his law office have successfully defended over ten thousand cases in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, the Northwest Territories and Newfoundland.
Paul Doroshenko believes that his clients should be fully informed about their case as it progresses. He advances the best interests of his clients. By representing good people who have simply made a mistake and found themselves in trouble with the law, Paul can often turn back the clock and put his clients back in the position they were in before they were arrested.
Paul Doroshenko has been the leading opponent of the British Columbia DUI legislation concerning IRP Immediate Roadside Prohibitions. He has delivered and chaired many presentations to the BC Trial Lawyers Association and the Canadian Bar Association on topics of DUI law in BC and how to handle hit and run investigations. He co-authored a paper on the Latest Developments in the IRP Immediate Roadside Prohibition Regime. He has presented to lawyers on Canadian DUI Law at seminars in California, Illinois, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia. He is often sought after for comment on the developments in DUI law in BC. Because Paul and the lawyers at Acumen law knew so many secrets about the IRP scheme, the Government sued his office and lawyers to keep them from using these secrets to defend their clients. As well, he has been a regular commentator on local and national news programs.
Paul Doroshenko is a member of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association, the National College for DUI Defense, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the California DUI Lawyer’s Association, and the Trial Lawyers Association of BC. He has completed the police training to conduct Standardized Field Sobriety Tests in accordance with the NHTSA guidelines.
He is the only lawyer in British Columbia who owns and operates a vast collection of police breathalyzers including the Intox EC/IR, Breathalyzer, Alco-Sensor FST, BAC Datamaster, Alco-Sensor IV, Alco-Sensor V XL, Alcometer SL2, Intoxilyzer 400 and the Intoxilyzer 5000. He has operated and calibrated the most commonly used Approved Screening Devices (ASD) used in British Columbia. With an understanding of the law, electronics, mechanical engineering and computers, Paul is uniquely skilled to challenge breath test results.
Sanjay Biswas, JD
Sanjay Biswas has been an attorney since 1997 and is licensed in Texas and Louisiana. He has a law degree from Tulane Law School and an LLM in Admiralty from Tulane Law School. His practice mainly focuses on DWI’s and he is a forensic lawyer scientist. He practices in the DFW metroplex and has two children aged seven and eleven.
Shaun Kent, JD
Shaun Kent has been practicing law in the State of South Carolina for over 20 years. From simple Assault and Battery to Murder, Shaun has defended and tried almost every type of case imaginable.
The primary focus of the Kent Law Firm has been the trial by jury. Our fundamental belief is that each case our firm handles should be treated as if it’s going to be tried to a verdict before a jury. That belief has led to some amazing results.
Very few lawyers can claim the successful results that Shaun has obtained in such a wide variety of legal areas throughout his career.
In his civil litigation practice, Shaun has gotten both a million-dollar verdict and settlement for injured clients.
Shaun’s experience trying criminal cases is unrivaled in South Carolina. He has successfully prosecuted and defended multiple murder trials in South Carolina and surrounding states. He is one of the select few lawyers who has obtained not guilty verdicts in multiple criminal trials in Federal Court. He has also tried hundreds of DUI’s and magistrate-level cases in Magistrate’s Courts across the state.
His trial experience is not limited to just criminal and personal injury cases. Shaun has also obtained multiple successful awards before the Workers’ Compensation Commissioners on behalf of injured workers.
Shaun has significant experience in Family Court where he has successfully tried multiple juvenile and divorce cases.
Jay Ruane, JD
Jay Ruane is a serial legal entrepreneur and law firm managing partner with over 20 years of running profitable law firms with multiple 6 and 7 figure practice groups. Jay is an author of the Amazon® best seller law practice management book “Tiger Tactics” and a frequent speaker on the topics of law firm management, systems and digital marketing. He is also the CEO of FirmFlex, a social media marketing agency for attorneys, leader of The Criminal Mastermind™, a twice monthly mastermind for Criminal Defense Lawyers, and curator of the The Law Firm Blueprint™, a free Facebook group for lawyers where he shares his 1500+ plug and play systems for managing a profitable law firm. In addition to running his law firm, Jay has a reputation for fighting on behalf of his DUI clients throughout Connecticut and isn’t embarrassed to admit he once lost 17 DUI trials in a row even though he worked his ass off to try to win them.
Judge Audrey Moorehead, JD
The Honorable Audrey F. Moorehead is the first woman elected Judge of Dallas County Criminal Court No. 3. Based in Dallas for fourteen years, Judge Moorehead had her own practice specializing in Criminal Defense, Domestic Relations, Wills, Trusts and Probate. She is the President of the Texas County Court at Law Judges Association and Treasurer for the Criminal Justice Section of the State Bar of Texas (SBOT). She began her professional career in executive management with the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas. She was a Judicial Clerk for the Honorable Judge Jay Patterson, 101st District Court and Judicial Intern for the Honorable Judge Sam A. Lindsay, Northern District of Texas. Judge Moorehead served as the only African American female on the SBOT Board of Directors from 2015-2018 including the Executive Committee. She is a former Regional Director for the National Bar Association and former President of the SBOT African American Lawyer’s Section. She served two terms on the Board of Directors of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Association (TCDLA) served on the Executive Committee. Judge Moorehead serves on the Board of Trustees and is a faculty member and frequent lecturer for the Texas Center for Legal Ethics. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Dallas Bar Association and the CASA Children’s Council. Judge Moorehead is an esteemed member of the Society of Legal Scholars for the Texas Bar College and serves on the Board of Directors for Legal Hospice of Texas, Advisory Board of Dallas Women Lawyers and Unlocking Doors, an innovative prison reentry program. She is a member of the National Association of Women Judges, Dallas Bar Foundation and Texas Bar Foundation. Moorehead serves on the American Bar Association Judicial Council and is a presidential appointee to the ABA Ethics and Professionalism Committee. She is a frequent speaker and has presented for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, SBOT Advanced Family, Advanced Criminal, UT Bankrupty, Advanced Labor and Employment and many others. She holds a Master of Business Administration and serves on the Alumni Board of Texas A & M School of Law. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, National Council of Negro Women, Top Ladies of Distinction, Incorporated, National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Incorporated, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Incorporated, the Dallas Summit, Lions Club International and is a Trustee for The Rotary Club of Dallas.
Kyla Lee, JD
Kyla Lee is a prominent criminal defense lawyer and impaired driving lawyer in Vancouver BC. She is highly-regarded in the realm of impaired driving thanks to her unparalleled string of successes in courts and tribunals. She has appeared as counsel in all levels of Court in BC and at the Supreme Court of Canada. Kyla is currently serving as Parliamentarian and CLE Committee Co-Chair for the DUIDLA.
Kim Keheley Frye, JD
Kim was born and raised in Cobb County. After graduating from North Cobb High School, she studied Criminal Justice at the University of Georgia and went on to get her J.D. from Georgia State University College of Law.
Soon after graduating she began as an Assistant District Attorney for the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit, and later she worked as an Assistant Solicitor General for the Cobb County Solicitor General’s Office. Her experience as a prosecutor inspired her to open her own law firm – but this time, as a criminal defense lawyer.
Kim founded the Frye Law Group in 2008 as a firm devoted to defending the people from unfair charges from the State. Clients typically come to Kim in crisis, and she takes the time to learn each client’s story thoroughly. This way, she can help her clients to understand the system they’ve been thrust into and what’s at stake in their case.
Thursday: [240 minutes – 4.0 hrs (60 min), 4.8 (50 min)] | |
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9:00 am – 12:00 pm | DUIDLA BOARD CERTIFICATION EXAM] |
10:30 am – 12:00 pm | DUIDLA Committee Meetings |
11:00 am – 11:45 am | Registration |
11:45 am – 12:00 pm | Welcome Remarks (Mark Thiessen, Course Director, Tim Huey, CLE Chair) |
12:00 pm – 1:15 pm | Blood Testing: What Lawyers Must Know (Justin McShane, JD – PA & Josh Lee, JD, MS, NREMT – OK) |
1:15 pm – 1:45 pm | Creating & Achieving Goals for Your Practice (Brian Blades – Scorpion Internet Marketing) |
1:45 pm – 2:30 pm | DWI Tool Kit (AnneMarie Rizzo, JD, GC, MS – FL) |
2:30 pm – 2:45 pm | BREAK (snacks!) |
2:45 pm – 3:15 pm | Nullifying SFSTs Without an Expert (Mark Thiessen, JD) 3:15 pm – 3:45 pm Winning the Unwinnable Case (Michael Kessler, JD – FL) |
3:45 pm – 4:45 pm | Unforgettable War Stories & Trial Tactics (Rusty Hardin, JD – TX) 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm DUIDLA Welcome Reception |
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm | DUIDLA Welcome Reception |
Friday: [285 minutes – 4.75 hrs (60 min), 5.7 (50 min)] | |
8:15 am – 8:45 am | Light Breakfast |
8:45 am – 9:00 am | Announcements (Mark Thiessen, Course Director) |
9:00 am – 9:45 am | Medical Defenses for DWI Cases (Andy Alpert, JD – MD) |
9:45 am – 10:30 am | Spotting Common Breath & Blood Errors (Amanda Culbertson, JD – TX) 10:30 am – 10:45 am BREAK (snacks!) |
10:45 am – 11:15 am | Intoxalock |
11:15 am – 12:00 pm | Canadian Travel After a DWI (Marisa Feil, JD – Canada) |
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | Lunch Presentation followed by DUIDLA Prize Wheel, Awards and ACS-CHAL Forensic Lawyer-Scientist Award Ceremony |
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm | Top 10 Trial Analogies for Every Trial (Thomas Grajek, JD – FL) |
1:45 pm – 2:30 pm | DUIDLA Talks – Dealer’s Choice (Douglas Huff, JD – TX, Paul Doroshenko, QC, LLB – British Columbia, Sanjay Biswas, JD – TX) |
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm | ABC: Always Be Closing (Shaun Kent, JD – SC) |
3:15 pm – 3:30 pm | PHOTOS – DUIDLA Board, Officers, District Reps, State Ambassadors 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm DUIDLA BOARD MEETING (all DUIDLA members welcome to attend) |
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm | Scorpion Event: SpeakeasyAustin.com – Bowling Mezzanine and Kabaret Room 412 Congress Ave |
Saturday: [225 minutes – 3.75 hrs (60 min), 4.5 hrs (50 min), 3 hours Ethics (180 min) | |
8:15 am – 8:45 am | Light Breakfast |
8:45 am – 9:00 am | Announcements (Douglas Huff, Course Director) |
9:00 am – 10:00 am | A Systemized Firm is an Ethical Firm (Jay Ruane, JD – CT) |
10:00 am – 10:45 am | A View From the Bench (Judge Audrey Moorehead, Dallas County Criminal Court #3) 10:45 am – 11:00 am BREAK (snacks!) |
11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Dis is Da Bidness of Law: Ethical Client Intake (Paul Doroshenko, QC, LLB – British Columbia, Jay Ruane, JD – CT, Douglas Huff, JD – TX) |
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | Dis is Da Bidness of Law: Ethical Marketing & Law Office Management (Kyla Lee, JD – British Columbia, Deandra Grant, JD, GC, MS – TX, Paul Doroshenko, QC, LLB – British Columbia, Kim Keheley Frye, JD – GA, Jay Ruane, JD – CT) |
1:00 pm | Final Wrap up (Course Directors) |
TOTAL CLE HOURS | 750 minutes 60 min states = 12.50; 50 min states = 15.00; 180 min Ethics – 3.00 hrs [**Vendor presentations not included in calculation] |