2025 Spring Conference 

Registration Information:

Member Registration Instructions:

  • Login using your WDC Username/Password
    • If you have not yet received your login info: Select "Retrieve Username" and enter your email. Please be sure to use the same email associated with your current WDC membership. Following the retrieval of your username, on the login page, enter your username in the username box, then select "Reset Password." 
  • Once logged in, complete the Spring Conference Registration form as instructed.
Non-Member Registration Instructions:
  • Select "Retrieve Username" and enter your email. If you do not receive an email, it is because your email is not on file, and you will need to create an account.
    • To create a new account, go back to the form and follow the prompts for "New Users"
  • Following the retrieval of your username, on the login page, enter your username in the username box, then select "Reset Password" and con
  • Once logged in, complete the Spring Conference Registration form as instructed.
View the 2025 WDC Spring Conference Registration Brochure here.
View the 2025 WDC Spring Conference Program Booklet here.
 
Register Here!

Event Details

Date:
Thursday, April 10, 2025 - Friday, April 11, 2025

Location:
The American Club
419 Highland Drive
Kohler, WI 53044

Event Description

The Wisconsin Defense Counsel will be hosting their Spring Conference on April 10-11th, 2025 at the American Club.

Please let the office know if you have any questions at this time:

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 414-276-1881

Program Chair: Chester Isaacson, American Family Insurance Co.

CLE Credits: Approved for 6.0 WI CLE Credits, including 1.0 LPM Credits and 1.0 LAU Credits. 

Hotel Reservations Information: Call the American Club at 844-409-5614 and reference Reservation 586088 to reserve your room. A special rate of $249 for single/double occupancy is available. Please notify the reservation department that you are with the Wisconsin Defense Counsel (WDC) 2025 Spring Conference.

WDC Room Block Deadline: March 17, 2025, 5:00 PM CST

Click here to view the attendee list.  Attendee list is updated weekly.

Each attendee will receive two drink tickets at the Thursday evening Cocktail Reception. A cash bar will also be available. 

Program Agenda 

Thursday, April 10, 2025

12:30 PM
Registration

12:50 - 1:00 PM
Opening Remarks

1:00 - 1:50 PM
A Peek Behind the Curtain:  The Jury Trial Experience from The Jurors’ Point of View Part 1
Heather Nelson, Everson, Whitney, Everson & Brehm, S.C., and Jurors

1:50 - 2:00 PM
Break

2:00 - 2:50 PM
A Peek Behind the Curtain:  The Jury Trial Experience from The Jurors’ Point of View Part 2
Heather Nelson, Everson, Whitney, Everson & Brehm, S.C., and Jurors

 

2:50 - 3:00 PM
Break

3:00 - 3:50 PM
Generational Changes: Teaching An Old Dog New Tricks and A Young Dog Old Tricks
Mike Crooks, von Briesen & Roper, S.C., Alexander Gordon, Bell, Moore & Richter, S.C., Ashleigh Johnson, American Family Insurance Company, Ryan Johnson, Everson, Whitney, Everson & Brehm, S.C., & Brent Smith, Johns, Flaherty & Collins, S.C.

4:00 - 5:30 PM
Cocktail Reception - Each attendee will receive two drink tickets.  A cash bar will also be available.
Sponsored by Corneille Law Group

Friday, April 11, 2025

8:15 - 9:00 AM
Continental Breakfast

9:00 - 9:50 AM
Forensic Accounting: Don’t Be Afraid of Math - It Might Help You Defend Your Personal Injury Case 
John G. Peters, CPA, Peters Financial Consulting, Inc.

9:50 - 10:00 AM
Break and Award Presentation
Sponsored by Simpson & Deardorff, S.C.

10:00 - 10:50 AM
The Personal and Professional Benefits of Pro Bono Advocacy
Megan McKenzie, American Family Insurance Company, Katie Mertz, Marquette University Law School and Maggie Niebler-Brown, Legal Action of WI

10:50 - 11:00 AM
Break and Award Presentation

11:00 AM - 11:50 AM
Anxiety, Your Practice, and You: How to Manage the Profession's Most Common Mental Health Challenge
Matt Shin, Sidebar Counseling, LLC

11:50 AM
Adjourn