THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS
If the government is still shutdown on Wednesday, October 15, we will likely have no choice but to make the difficult decision to postpone the Judicial Conference. No final decision has been made, but we have begun contingency planning and if we must postpone, the new date will be announced at that time. We appreciate your patience as we seek to make the most informed decision possible. Please reach out to us here with any questions.
THURSDAY
OCTOBER 23
2025
The National Press Club
529 14th NW, Washington, D.C. 20045
9:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Registration opens at 8:30 a.m.
Agenda
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Check-in
Refreshments available​
9:30 AM – 9:55 AM
Ballroom
Welcome Remarks & State of the Court
Julia Collison, Bar Association President
Chief Judge Matthew H. Solomson
Chief Special Master Brian Corcoran
Lisa Reyes, Clerk of Court
10:00 AM – 10:50 AM
TRACK A
Ballroom
Introduction to Pro Bono Program and Military Pay Primer
Esther Liebfarth, Senior Managing Attorney, National Veterans Legal Services Program
Nathan Mammen, Partner, Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.
Will Rayel, Senior Trial Counsel, Civil Division, U.S. Dep’t of Justice
Moderator: Hon. Edward H. Meyers
10:00 AM – 10:50 AM
TRACK B
Holeman Lounge
Government Perspectives on Bid Protests at the Court
​
Doug Mickle, Assistant Director, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division, U.S. Dep’t of Justice
Robert B. Neill, Chief, Bid Protests, U.S. Army Legal Services Agency
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Moderator: Tracye Howard, Partner, Wiley Rein LLP
10:00 AM – 10:50 AM
TRACK C
First Amendment Lounge
Special Masters Panel
Moderator: Chief Special Master Brian Corcoran
10:50 AM – 11:10 AM
Break
11:10 AM – 12:00 PM
TRACK A
Ballroom
What’s Enough? Tort / Taking Divide and Fires and Floods After Cedar Point
Prof. Dave Owen, UC Law San Francisco
Prof. Michael Allan Wolf, Levin College of Law, University of Florida
Prof. Danaya C. Wright, Levin College of Law, University of Florida
Moderator: TBD
11:10 AM – 12:00 PM
TRACK B
Holeman Lounge
Dispositive Motions Practice in the Court of Federal Claims
Jason Bergmann, Assistant Chief, Tax Division, U.S. Dep’t of Justice
Stephanie Fleming, Trial Attorney, Civil Division, U.S. Dep’t of Justice
Meghan Largent, Rails to Trails Practice Group Leader, Lewis Rice LLC
Moderator: Hon. Kathryn C. Davis
11:10 AM – 12:00 PM
TRACK C
First Amendment Lounge
No Fault Vaccine Compensation in Comparative Perspective—Lessons from International & National Systems Established during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Prof. Sam Halabi, Director, Center for Transformational Health Law, Georgetown University
Moderator: Colleen Hartley, Assistant Director, Civil Division, U.S. Dep’t of Justice
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Lunch (on your own)
*Advisory Council luncheon in the Fourth Estate Room.
1:30 PM – 2:40 PM
KEYNOTE
Ballroom
The Impact of the Supreme Court’s Recent Cases on the Court of Federal Claims
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Trent McCotter, Partner, Boyden Gray PLLC
Melissa Patterson, Assistant Director, Appellate Staff, Civil Division, U.S. Dep’t of Justice
Jaime A. Santos, Partner & Co-Chair, Appellate & Supreme Court Practice, Goodwin Procter LLP
Prof. Kate A. Shaw, Penn Carey Law, University of Pennsylvania
Colleen Roh Sinzdak, Partner, Milbank LLP
Prof. Christopher J. Walker, University of Michigan Law School
Moderator: Hon. Molly R. Silfen
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM
Ballroom
Third-Party Litigation Finance and the Legal Ethics
Anthony J. Sebok, Joseph and Sadie Danciger Chair in Law, Cardozo Law School
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Moderator: Julia Collison, Assistant Director, Civil Division, U.S. Dep’t of Justice
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Ballroom
CAFC/CFC Judges Panel
Hon. Richard G. Taranto, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Hon. Kara F. Stoll, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Hon. Richard A. Hertling, U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Hon. Zachary N. Somers, U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Hon. Armando O. Bonilla, U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Hon. Robin M. Meriweather, U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Moderator: Hon. Elaine D. Kaplan
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Reception in Holeman Lounge and First Amendment Lounge
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