Lady Liberty with the scales of justice among an urban skyline

Find Success at ADTAThe Tradition of Excellence Continues

An ADTA prime membership is, in essence, a statement of the high regard in which that defense trial attorney is held by his or her peers in the defense trial bar of their city and state or province.

Use our extensive database to find an ADTA member
Welcome

Reputation.
Respect. Results.

ADTA invites only one defense trial attorney to be its prime member per one million in population from various jurisdictions who have a trial practice and devote a substantial portion of their professional time to defending businesses, insurance companies or their insureds, associations, or governmental entities in civil litigation. An ADTA prime membership is, in essence, a statement of the high regard in which that defense trial attorney is held by his or her peers in the defense trial bar of their city and state or province.

Officers & Executive Council Members

From the President

Dyan Ebert
Dyan Ebert President

It is my honor and privilege to serve as President of the ADTA this year.

The ADTA’s motto of “One in a Million” truly exemplifies the exclusivity and high quality of our members. We are fortunate to have many outstanding trial lawyers, from a wide range of practice areas and geographic locations, in our ranks. Many of our members are leaders in the law firms, other professional organizations, and their legal and local communities. Our members raise the stature of not only the ADTA but also the legal profession.

As we look forward to the coming year, the ADTA will remain focused on remaining relevant to our members and providing benefits of membership that far exceed the dues that are paid. Of course, we will continue to provide high-quality and relevant CLE and and other resources, through webinars, fire-side chats, and the annual meeting. Additionally, we will continue to “Prefer to Refer” and encourage our members to think of their ADTA colleagues when they need to make a referral to another lawyer.

But, as many of you already know, building and maintaining long-lasting relationships are the true heart and soul of the ADTA and the best way to experience this is to be active!  Join a Committee and participate in ADTA activities. And, most importantly, make plans to attend the ADTA Annual Meeting! 

In 2025, we are excited to be in Lexington, KY!  Reserve April 23-27, 2025. on your calendars now – you do not want to miss it as we will continue the Tradition of Excellence at the Annual Meeting!

Dyan

Latest News

2025-2026 ADTA Officers, Executive Council and Awards Announced - ADTA Law Featured News image

2025-2026 ADTA Officers, Executive Council and Awards Announced

The ADTA held its 84th Annual Meeting in Lexington, Kentucky. If you could not make it, you missed an exceptional CLE Program with some very moving presentations. Ask your friends about them.  Our tours offered extensive knowledge of Bourbon making history along with up-close encounters with many legendary horses, hearing their history and the history of the horse industry.  We had some rain which allowed for extra time in the infamous Hospitality Room to mingle with old friends and make new ones.

Going forward you will see on our social media platforms, and thru various messages to you, the photos from our super-fun events at The Old Courthouse, The Hill at Keeneland and the Saturday night gala.  All, so very different, offering once in a lifetime experiences.

The ADTA Annual Meeting for 2026 will be held in Costa Rica on April 21-25.  It was also announced that the ADTA will be headed to Key West in 2027. 

Immediate Past President, Dyan Ebert conducted the general meeting along with the Saturday Business Meeting. Past President Jim Craig, Chair of the Nomination Committee, led the Business Meeting at which time the new slate of 2025-2026 Officers and Executive Council were presented and voted upon.  

 
  

President: 
Amanda Cialkowski
Nilan Johnson
Minneapolis, MN

President Elect: 
             A. Johnston Cox, Gallivan White and Boyd, P.A., Columbia, SC

Vice President:
             
R. Bruce Barze, Jr., Barze Taylor Noles Lowther LLC, Birmingham, AL
Treasurer: 
             Ronald Austin, Jr., Grant Law, LLC, Chicago, IL 

Secretary: 
            Jeanne Loftis, Baker Sterchi Cowden Rice, Portland, OR

Immediate Past President: 
            Dyan Ebert, Quinlivan & Hughes, P.A.  St. Cloud, MN
Assistant Secretary: 
            Peggy L. Schultz, ADTA, New Port Richey, FL

    Class of 2028
Eileen Buholtz, Connors Corcoran & Buholtz PLLC, Rochester, NY
Rose Marie Joly, Sulloway & Hollis, PLLC, Concord, NH 
Christopher Morris, Lewis Reed and Allen PC, Kalamazoo, MI   

Returning Classes:

    Class of 2026
Kelly Brilleaux, Barnes and Thornburg LLP, Dallas, TX
David Lauritzen, Cotton, Bledsoe, Tighe & Dawson, P.C., Midland, TX
Bharat Varadachari, HeplerBroom, St. Louis, MO

    Class of 2027
Laura K. Beasley, Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice LLC, Belleview, IL
Steven A. Dix, Dix and Associates, PLLC, Murfreesboro, TN
Natalie M. Leon, Forbes Chochla LLP, Toronto, ON

AWARDS

2025 "Strubinger" Award Recipient


James (Jamie) B. Hood, The Hood Law Firm, LLC received nominations from Jim Craig (twice), Rose Marie Joly, Evelyn Davis, Self-Nominated for referrals to Matt Bailey (twice), James Holland, and Tom Schultz.
  
Congratulations Jamie!

There were four additional finalists receiving recognition: 
           DeeDee Gasch
           
Tom Hurney, Jr.
           
Wayne H. Maire
           
Bill Pollock           

We are thankful for each of their efforts in making very worthy referrals.  This is what ADTA is all about. 

Thanks to each of you. 

 

...
2024 Strubinger Award Recipient - ADTA Law Featured News image

2024 Strubinger Award Recipient

During the 2024 Santa Fe Annual Meeting Amanda Cialkowski was presented The Strubinger Award.  She was selected from a field of twenty-three nominees. The field is then narrowed down to five finalists from which the winner is selected. Quite an accomplishment!  Congratulations Amanda!

The other four finalists were:

  •      Dyan Ebert
  •      Chelsey Golightly
  •      James "Jamie" B. Hood
  •      Dan Kohane

At the 2009 Annual Meeting in Scottsdale Arizona, the Marketing Committee of ADTA introduced a new client referral network initiative, "We Prefer to Refer." As part of this program, the Marketing Committee created an award that will be given annually to the ADTA member who has best exemplified our commitment to refer business to other ADTA members. The first "We Prefer to Refer" Award was presented to Bobby Hood of Charleston, S.C. at the 2010 Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts.

The participation of the members in the nominating process is vital and ensures that all of those who deserve recognition will have the opportunity to be duly considered for this prestigious award.

The field of 2024 Nominees are listed below.  The number in parenthesis details how many nominations they received.

You can submit referral reporting forms year-round! Did someone recently refer a case to you? Fill out a “referral reporting form” (previously a “nomination”) today!

The ADTA encourages self-nominations for the Strubinger Award! If you refer a case to another ADTA member, fill out a referral reporting form for yourself ASAP.

You might be wondering: what does it take for a referral to be considered as a “nomination” for the Strubinger Award?

    • What if someone referred a case to me and it settled before I could bill any time to the file?
    • What if someone referred their client to another attorney at my office because I don’t handle that type of litigation?
    • What if I referred a case to an ADTA member and they were conflicted out?

Yep, you guessed it, those should ALL be submitted via referral reporting forms as Strubinger Award nominations!

Happy referring!!

 

 

...