18th Annual Conclave on Diversity in the Legal Profession

General Information

August 7, 2026
Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans, 2 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA

The LSBA’s inclusion of a program in its CLE programming is not to be deemed a statement or an endorsement of the views expressed therein by the LSBA or any member of the LSBA. Speakers on LSBA programs were carefully selected for their knowledge, but neither the LSBA nor the speaker warrant that the presentations or materials were free of errors, or will continue to be accurate. Statements in the presentations and their materials should be verified before relying on them. Opinions expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect opinions of the LSBA, its sections, or committees. Views expressed are those of the authors and contributors only.

Registration:
Registration (BEFORE July 10, 2026) $110
Registration (AFTER July 10, 2026) $135

The LSBA is not responsible for any expenses associated with travel, lodging, or other costs incurred by the registrant. This also applies in the event that the LSBA must cancel the conference for any reason.

Audio or video recording or transcription of any portion of the conference is prohibited unless express consent is granted by the LSBA.

ON-SITE REGISTRATION WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE

The LSBA must adhere to facility capacity constraints, so please indicate during the registration process if you will attend the Excellence in Diversity reception.

Registration Cancellation Policy:
All cancellations must be received in writing and sent to diversity@lsba.org.

Telephone cancellations will not be accepted. Cancellations received in writing by July 24, 2026, will be fully refunded minus a $30.00 administrative fee. If written confirmation of cancellation is not received by July 24, 2026, no refunds or credits will be issued of any kind. Credits will be processed within two weeks of the cancellation request.

On-site Registration Policy:
It is the policy of the LSBA that NO CASH shall be accepted for any transaction. Payment may be made by personal check or via the LSBA registration portal if open on the day of registration.

Online
Attorney Registration

Paper Registration
Louisiana Attorney/Out of State Attorney Form

Paper Registration
Non-Attorney Form

Paper Registration
Student Form

Sponsorship
Opportunities

Exhibitor Opportunities Are Available
View Fees and Details

Speaker Highlights

Exhibitors

Luncheon

SOUP STARTER

OR

Vegetarian

ENTRÉE

OR

OR

Vegan

DESSERT

OR

Vegetarian

Special Requirements / Questions

Please contact the LSBA if you have a disability, dietary restrictions or a food allergy which may require special accommodations at this conference. The LSBA is committed to ensuring full accessibility for all registrants.

Lactation Room:
A lactation room for breastfeeding individuals to express milk while attending conclave is available. You are responsible for requesting access to the space and following the guidelines for use.

Lactation Room Guidelines:
Attendee must request use of the room via email at diversity@lsba.org.

Please provide name, LSBRN, phone number, time room is needed and length of time that lactation room is needed.

Pumping equipment:
Should you choose to leave any items in the room, know that these are not the responsibility of LSBA or host hotel.

Please keep the space neat and orderly. If there is a cleaning issue, please report the issue to LSBA staff at the check-in desk.

If you have any additional comments or questions regarding lactation space or access, please email the Member Outreach and Diversity team at diversity@lsba.org.

Questions?
Contact the Member Outreach and Diversity team members by email at diversity@lsba.org.

Hotel Information

The LSBA has reserved a block of rooms at the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans at a discounted rate of $260 per night (excluding taxes and fees). You are urged to make reservations early, as there are only a limited number of rooms available at the discounted rate listed above. The LSBA room block is reserved for conference attendees only.

Make Hotel Reservations

Hotel cancellation policy:
All reservations must be guaranteed with a credit card by TBD and the credit card will be charged a deposit of night's room and tax when the reservations are made. Any request received after July 7, 2026 will be handled on a space and rate availability basis only. Please note that if your plans changed and you do not timely cancel your room reservation by 3:00 p.m.on August 3, 2026, you are responsible for the room charge.

Wi-Fi Access
Wireless access will be available in the conference area and main lobby. Please note, electrical outlets will be limited.

Excellence in Diversity Reception

The Excellence in Diversity Reception honoring Sponsors will be held on Friday, August 7, 2026, at the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans at 8:00 a.m. – 8:40 a.m. Speakers, sponsors, and registrants are invited to attend.

We hope you can join us and look forward to your continued support of the LSBA's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs.

Agenda
5.00 CLE Credit Hour(s)

Time:	Details:
8:00 a.m.	Registrant Check-in Plimsoll Ballroom Foyer, 3rd Floor
8:00 a.m. – 8:40 a.m.	Excellence in Diversity Reception Honoring Sponsors Plimsoll Ballroom Foyer, 3rd Floor Open to speakers, sponsors, and registrants.
8:40 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.	Welcome Remarks Plimsoll Ballroom Foyer, 3rd Floor Monica M. Vela-Vick, The Dugan Law Firm, APLC, New Orleans, LA, Conclave Chair Kellen J. Mathews, Partner, Adams and Reese, L.L.P., New Orleans, LA, Conclave Co-Chair Rachel M. Scarafia, Special Counsel, Jones Walker LLP, New Orleans, LA, Conclave Co-Chair Chair and Co-Chairs, LSBA Committee on Diversity in the Legal Profession
8:50 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.	Recognition and Introduction of Associate Justice Piper D. Griffin, Louisiana Supreme Court Plimsoll Ballroom, 3rd Floor Monica M. Vela-Vick, The Dugan Law Firm, APLC, New Orleans, LA, Conclave Chair
9:00 a.m. - 9:10 a.m.	Welcome Remarks Associate Justice Piper D. Griffin, Louisiana Supreme Court, New Orleans, LA
9:10 a.m. - 9:20 a.m.	Introduction of Plenary Session One Speaker Plimsoll Ballroom, 3rd Floor Monica M. Vela-Vick, The Dugan Law Firm, APLC, New Orleans, LA, Conclave Chair
9:20 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.	Plenary Session One - DEI 1.00 Credit Hour Plimsoll Ballroom, 3rd Floor Michelle Silverthorn, Founder & CEO, ThriveHero, Ann Arbor, MI
10:20 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.	Networking Break
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.	Plenary Session Two - Emerging Technologies 1.00 Credit Hour Plimsoll Ballroom, 3rd Floor Anna Mercado Clark, Partner, Phillips Lytle LLP, New York, NY Donald L. X. DePass, Counsel, Global Regulatory, Hogan Lovells, Washington, D.C. Seth M. Nehrbass, Patent Attorney, Garvey, Smith and Nehrbass, Patent Attorneys, L.L.C., New Orleans, LA Graham H. Ryan, Moderator, Partner, Jones Walker LLP., New Orleans, LA
11:30 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.	Transition Break
11:40 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.	Luncheon, Presentations, Committee on Diversity in the Legal Profession Award River Ballroom, 3rd Floor 11:40 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. Acknowledgments Sponsor Recognition/Sponsor Representative Photos 11:50 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Introduction of Recipient of Committee on Diversity in the Legal Profession Award Monica M. Vela-Vick, The Dugan Law Firm, APLC, New Orleans, LA, Conclave Chair Committee on Diversity in the Legal Profession Award Recipient, Susan R. Laporte, Attorney at Law, New Orleans, LA 12:00 p.m. - 12:10 p.m. Introduction of Keynote Speaker Monica M. Vela-Vick, The Dugan Law Firm, APLC, New Orleans, LA, Conclave Chair
12:10 p.m. - 1:10 p.m.	Keynote Session 1.00 Credit Hour River Ballroom, 3rd Floor
1:10 p.m. - 1:20 p.m.	Transition Break
1:20 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.	Plenary Session Three - Criminal Law 1.00 Credit Hour Plimsoll Ballroom, 3rd Floor Brian Steel, Partner, The Steel Law Firm, P.C., Atlanta, GA
2:20 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.	Networking Break
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.	Plenary Session Four - LGBT Legal Issues 1.00 Credit Hour Plimsoll Ballroom, 3rd Floor Christopher M. Erchull, Senior Staff Attorney, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, Boston, MA Paul M. Smith, Visiting Professor from Practice, Georgetown Law School, Washington, D.C.

Materials

The LSBA is working on ways to reduce the amount of paper we use at conferences and symposia. This is an effort both to be responsible toward our environment and to increase the quality and timeliness of the resources provided through this learning experience.

To view the course materials for this year's Conclave, please click the download link beside a session title below to obtain the materials available for that session. We recommend that you do so PRIOR to the conference.

If you choose to review the materials from an electronic device, we strongly suggest that you charge the device's battery, as electrical outlets are limited.

9:20 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. – Plenary Session One

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Plenary Session Two

12:10 p.m.- 1:10 p.m. – Keynote Speaker

1:20 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. – Plenary Session Three

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Plenary Session Four

Speaker Biographies

Dignitaries

Plenary Session One - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Michelle Silverthorn, Founder, ThriveHero, Ann Arbor, MI

Plenary Session Two - Emerging Technologies

Graham H. Ryan, Moderator, Partner, Jones Walker LLP, New Orleans, LA
Donald L. X. DePass, Counsel Global Regulatory, Hogan Lovells, Washington, D.C.
Seth M. Nehrbass, Patent Attorney, Garvey, Smith and Nehrbass, Patent Attorneys, LLC., New Orleans, LA

Keynote Speaker

Plenary Session Three - Criminal Law

Brian Steel, Partner, The Steel Law Firm, P.C., Atlanta, GA

Plenary Session Four

Thank You to Our Sponsors...

The LSBA Diversity Committee and Conclave Subcommittee would like to take the time to thank all of our generous sponsors who support the Conclave on Diversity in the Legal Profession.

Sponsorship Form

CONCLAVE BREAKFAST LEVEL

Jones Walker L.L.P

PLATINUM PLUS LEVEL

Kean Miller

Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert, LLC

PLATINUM LEVEL

LSBA Civil Law and Litigation Section

GOLD LEVEL

LSBA Class Action, Mass Tort and Complex Litigation Section

Liskow

Louisiana District Judges Association

Fishman Haygood, LLP

Kelly Hart Pitre

Stone Pigman Walther Wittmann L.L.C.

McCranie, Sistrunk, Anzelmo, Hardy, McDaniel & Welch LLC

Louis A. Martinet Legal Society, Inc., Greater New Orleans Chapter

LSBA Trusts, Estate, Probate, and Immovable Property Section

SILVER LEVEL

Ogletree Deakins

Laborde Siegel, LLC

COFFEE SERVICE SPONSOR *No Longer Available*

LSBA Inclusive Practice Section

Blue Williams, LLC

BRONZE LEVEL

LSBA Art, Entertainment and Sports Law Section

The Kullman Firm

Taylor Porter

MG+M The Law Firm