Program Details
2026-08-20 13:00:00
Over 1,000+ webinars
Course Overview
2026-08-20 13:00:00
2h CLE Credits
Intermediate
2
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm ESTThis session examines the pre-judgment tools available to defense counsel seeking to cap or eliminate attorney’s fee exposure under federal fee-shifting statutes. Attorneys will work through Rule 68 offers of judgment, voluntary cessation and mootness strategy, the prevailing-party doctrine following Lackey v. Stinnie, and settlement structuring with fee waivers. Attendees will leave with a sequenced playbook for deploying each tool at the right stage of litigation to minimize the fee petition a plaintiff can ultimately file.
Renée M. DudekBridgette C. LehmanEmma C. MeisterTJ Rivera 2:10 pm - 3:10 pm ESTThis session examines the litigation of attorney’s fee petitions under both state and federal fee-shifting statutes or other theories before and after the fee ruling. Attendees will explore the legal framework governing fee orders, including fee/prevailing party entitlement; the lodestar/enhancement methodology; time deadlines for fee proceedings; the anatomy of a fee motion and evidentiary support for the motion; common billing disputes for both sides in a fee motion; anatomy of a fee petition opposition; issues which lead to reductions in a fee request; proposed orders and objections in fee proceedings; and appellate preservation/review issues. Through a practical examination of the issues courts routinely confront, participants will gain insight into how fee petitions are presented, evaluated, challenged, and ultimately decided.
William M. HensleyRenée Dudek is a litigator and appellate lawyer who represents clients in commercial litigation and direct appeals in federal and state courts. She has first- and second-chaired trials, frequently argues critical motions, and regularly writes case-determinative briefs. Renée provides strategic and appeals-oriented advice throughout all stages of disputes, efficiently using discovery, pre-trial motions, and dispositive motions to maximize clients’ legal positions. She regularly assists with post-trial motions and works with trial teams on issue preservation for appeals. Renée also leads litigation regarding breach of contract and business torts, including quasi-contractual claims; allegations of fraudulent inducement and misrepresentation; fiduciary issues; and partnership disputes. In addition, she defends businesses against class and collective actions concerning privacy and consumer protection. Renée frequently represents clients in M&A-related litigation. Renée helps clients favorably resolve disputes stemming from mergers, acquisitions and other corporate transactions with regard to stock and asset purchase agreements; buyouts and buyups; breaches of representations and warranties; indemnification; transfers of liabilities; and other issues.
William M. (Mike) Hensley is counsel at FBT Gibbons LLP in Santa Ana, California. A trial lawyer with close to 40 years of experience resolving disputes through trials, arbitrations, mediations, and appeals, he has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court as well as Southern California state and federal courts, and has appeared pro hac vice in federal and state courts across the country.
Bridgette Lehman represents clients in a wide range of complex litigation matters, including contractual disputes, financial services litigation and real estate conflicts. Bridgette’s practice is also focused on white collar matters, including government investigations, litigation, and internal investigations. From False Claims Act actions to compliance counseling, Bridgette assists clients (whether currently or potentially) facing government scrutiny. Bridgette has experience in both pre-trial and trial proceedings, including drafting pleadings, motions practice, discovery, mediation, pre-trial preparations and trial support. She primarily practices in Pennsylvania and New Jersey state and federal courts. While in law school, she interned at the Federal Community Defender for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the City of Philadelphia’s District Attorney’s Office and for the Hon. Mia Roberts-Perez of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas–Criminal Division. Judge Perez was later nominated and confirmed to serve as U.S. District Judge in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Before law school, Bridgette worked as a mechanical engineer for the U.S. Navy, a project manager for Comcast and a software consultant for Manhattan Associates, a company specializing in logistics software.
Emma Meister counsels clients in litigation and dispute resolution. Emma gained extensive litigation experience through a series of judicial and law firm positions throughout law school. As a judicial intern to Chief Judge Mitchell Goldberg of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, she participated in criminal and civil proceedings, drafted memorandum opinions and orders, and provided legal analysis and oral recommendations to the court. She served as a certified legal intern with the Philadelphia Defender Association, where she represented clients in court. She also interned with Judge Scott O’Keefe of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, assisting in criminal cases and conducting research for post-conviction relief matters. These experiences collectively honed Emma’s courtroom skills, legal writing and analytical acumen.
TJ Rivera focuses on complex commercial and fiduciary litigation representing both plaintiffs and defendants. TJ previously served as a law clerk for the Honorable L. Felipe Restrepo in the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Prior to law school, TJ served as a Teach for America corps member in Las Vegas, where he taught middle school science.
Renée Dudek is a litigator and appellate lawyer who represents clients in commercial litigation and direct appeals in federal and state courts. She has first- and second-chaired trials, frequently argues critical motions, and regularly writes case-determinative briefs. Renée provides strategic and appeals-oriented advice throughout all stages of disputes, efficiently using discovery, pre-trial motions, and dispositive motions to maximize clients’ legal positions. She regularly assists with post-trial motions and works with trial teams on issue preservation for appeals. Renée also leads litigation regarding breach of contract and business torts, including quasi-contractual claims; allegations of fraudulent inducement and misrepresentation; fiduciary issues; and partnership disputes. In addition, she defends businesses against class and collective actions concerning privacy and consumer protection. Renée frequently represents clients in M&A-related litigation. Renée helps clients favorably resolve disputes stemming from mergers, acquisitions and other corporate transactions with regard to stock and asset purchase agreements; buyouts and buyups; breaches of representations and warranties; indemnification; transfers of liabilities; and other issues.
William M. (Mike) Hensley is counsel at FBT Gibbons LLP in Santa Ana, California. A trial lawyer with close to 40 years of experience resolving disputes through trials, arbitrations, mediations, and appeals, he has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court as well as Southern California state and federal courts, and has appeared pro hac vice in federal and state courts across the country.
Bridgette Lehman represents clients in a wide range of complex litigation matters, including contractual disputes, financial services litigation and real estate conflicts. Bridgette’s practice is also focused on white collar matters, including government investigations, litigation, and internal investigations. From False Claims Act actions to compliance counseling, Bridgette assists clients (whether currently or potentially) facing government scrutiny. Bridgette has experience in both pre-trial and trial proceedings, including drafting pleadings, motions practice, discovery, mediation, pre-trial preparations and trial support. She primarily practices in Pennsylvania and New Jersey state and federal courts. While in law school, she interned at the Federal Community Defender for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the City of Philadelphia’s District Attorney’s Office and for the Hon. Mia Roberts-Perez of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas–Criminal Division. Judge Perez was later nominated and confirmed to serve as U.S. District Judge in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Before law school, Bridgette worked as a mechanical engineer for the U.S. Navy, a project manager for Comcast and a software consultant for Manhattan Associates, a company specializing in logistics software.
Emma Meister counsels clients in litigation and dispute resolution. Emma gained extensive litigation experience through a series of judicial and law firm positions throughout law school. As a judicial intern to Chief Judge Mitchell Goldberg of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, she participated in criminal and civil proceedings, drafted memorandum opinions and orders, and provided legal analysis and oral recommendations to the court. She served as a certified legal intern with the Philadelphia Defender Association, where she represented clients in court. She also interned with Judge Scott O’Keefe of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, assisting in criminal cases and conducting research for post-conviction relief matters. These experiences collectively honed Emma’s courtroom skills, legal writing and analytical acumen.
TJ Rivera focuses on complex commercial and fiduciary litigation representing both plaintiffs and defendants. TJ previously served as a law clerk for the Honorable L. Felipe Restrepo in the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Prior to law school, TJ served as a Teach for America corps member in Las Vegas, where he taught middle school science.
Requirements
The Alabama State Bar MCLE Commission requires attorneys to complete 12 credits, including 1 ethics, by December 31 of each year. All credits must be reported by February 15 of the following year. A maximum of 12 credits, including 1 ethics credit, may be carried over for 1 year only.
Formats
