IADC Speaks

IADC Speaks is the official podcast of the International Association of Defense Counsel. These largely unscripted interviews take place in about 30 minutes, and episodes will cover a variety of topics of interest to those in the legal arena.

IADC Speaks is a business podcast hosted by IADC, with 113 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

IADC hosts IADC Speaks, a business show with 113 episodes published.

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  Episode #114

  More Than Trial Skills: The IADC Trial Academy Experience

  Sep 29, 202627 minS1

  The IADC Trial Academy has been training defense trial lawyers since 1973, giving participants an immersive, hands-on opportunity to sharpen their advocacy skills and take their practice to the next level. In this episode of IADC Speaks , Host Rebecca Weinstein Bacon (Bartlit Beck LLP) speaks with Jennifer Haltom Doan (Haltom & Doan) and Alba Arriaga Romano (Riley, Hewitt, Witte & Romano, P.C.) about what makes the week-long program so impactful—from full-day sessions and guest speakers to working directly with faculty and trying a product liability case with professional actors as witnesses. They discuss the value of learning by doing, the importance of preparation, and the camaraderie and relationships that make the Academy experience last well beyond the week itself. Hear why the Trial Academy continues to be a defining experience for defense trial lawyers—and why firms should consider sending their lawyers to the program.

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  Episode #113

  The Neutral’s Playbook: Practical Guides for Counsel in Arbitration and Mediation - Part 4

  Sep 21, 202637 minS1

  The Neutral’s Playbook: Practical Guides for Counsel in Arbitration and Mediation is a four-part series exploring the realities of modern dispute resolution. Featuring experienced arbitration and mediation practitioners, the series delivers action-oriented guidance to counsel navigating complex proceedings. Whether addressing domestic or international disputes, each conversation offers practical insight for lawyers, arbitrators, and emerging practitioners alike. In this episode, IADC Speaks Host Al Vance (Vance Dispute Resolution, PC) chats with Christopher A. Kenney (Bowditch & Dewey, LLP) and Trea Southerland (Resolution 38 LLC) as they go behind the curtain to talk mediation secrets. They share what neutrals actually want to see, what parties consistently get wrong, and how their perspectives have changed now that they sit on the other side of the table.

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  Episode #112

  Next Level Lawyering – Visual Storytelling with Ed Sledge

  Sep 14, 202628 minS1

  The best trial lawyers never stop refining their craft. In the Next Level Lawyering , IADC Speaks Hosts Bob Christie (Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice LLC) and Emma Ross (Goldman Ismail Tomaselli Brennan & Baum LLP) sit down with accomplished trial lawyers to examine the decisions, techniques, and habits that shape an effective trial presentation. Each concise episode focuses on one essential stage of trial and offers practical ideas that lawyers across practice areas can use the next time they prepare a case for a judge or jury. In this episode, Bob and Emma speak with nationally renowned trial lawyer and former IADC Trial Academy director Ed Sledge (Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP) about visual storytelling. Ed explains how he incorporates visual information into trial strategy, when that process should begin, and how an initial concept becomes a polished, trial-ready presentation. The conversation also explores how lawyers can interact effectively with visuals in the courtroom—and how emerging technology is changing the way those visuals are developed.

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  Episode #111

  2026 International Corporate Counsel College: Navigating a World in Flux

  Sep 8, 202638 minS1

  The 2026 International Corporate Counsel College returns October 15–16 in Brussels, Belgium, bringing together in-house counsel from around the world for timely programming, meaningful connection, and practical discussion. In this episode, IADC Speaks Host Christopher Parkerson (Campbell Conroy & O'Neil, P.C.) and program Director Cecilia Lahaye (Crowell & Moring LLP) preview this year’s College and its theme, Bridge Over Troubled Waters: How to Navigate Your Company in a World in Flux. They discuss the challenges facing today’s in-house counsel—from AI and economic uncertainty to tariffs, geopolitical risk, and more —and highlight what makes this “by in-house counsel, for in-house counsel” event a favorite IADC gathering. Learn all about the program, the speakers, and a very special guest speaker and register at www.iadclaw.org .

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  Episode #110

  Anger: The Emotional Dynamics of Dispute Resolution

  Aug 31, 202623 minS1

  When we talk about disputes, whether they are resolved through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or in court, we often focus on facts, evidence, legal principles, and remedies. But every dispute has a human element. The Emotional Dynamics of Dispute Resolution series looks at the role of emotions in legal disputes. In this episode, IADC Speaks Host Shelagh Carnegie (Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP) along with guests Bridget Hoy (Lewis Rice LLC), Lindsay Lundholm (Baird Holm LLP), and Scott Kugler (Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP) explore anger as one of the strongest emotions that can emerge in a dispute. Through real-world examples and practical strategies, they discuss how anger can influence behavior, business decisions, and risk assessment—and how lawyers can recognize, understand, and work through emotion while maintaining professionalism and strong advocacy. As the conversation highlights, anger is information, not instruction.

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