Renee Henson, Visiting Assistant Professor of Law | University of Missouri School of Law

Professor Renee Henson is a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri School of Law, specializing in artificial intelligence and products liability law. Before joining academia in July 2023, she practiced at Stinson LLP, where she handled complex business and commercial litigation, including products liability and intellectual property disputes, earning accolades such as Missouri Lawyer’s Media’s Top Verdict and Settlement Winner in 2023 and the Lawyers of Color “Hot List” in 2022. Professor Henson’s scholarship explores the intersection of AI and tort law, with articles forthcoming in the Georgia State University Law Review and published in the Missouri Law Review and Temple Law Review. Professor Henson teaches Lawyering: Problem-Solving and Dispute Resolution and Products Liability, and she serves on the Missouri Supreme Court’s Committee on Jury Instructions and Charges – Civil. A sought-after speaker, she frequently presents on AI’s legal and ethical implications and is also a mediator at Henson & Henson Dispute Resolution, LLC. She earned her J.D. from the University of Missouri School of Law, where she was Editor-in-Chief of the Business, Entrepreneurship & Tax Law Review, and graduated magna cum laude with distinction from Columbia College.

Antone Melton-Meaux, Founder and CEO | Work Resolve Mediation

Antone Melton-Meaux is the Founder of Work Resolve Mediation and has over 25 years of experience in the law. Antone began his legal career as an employment attorney at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom and later became a Partner at Jackson Lewis. He has also been the Chief Employment Counsel for St. Jude Medical and a Human Resources Leader for St. Jude Medical and Abbott Laboratories. Antone is a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals and the International Academy of Mediators. He also teaches ADR courses as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Minnesota Law School, serves on the mediation panel for the American Arbitration Association, is rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell for the highest level of professional excellence, and has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America®. Antone obtained his J.D. as a Congressional Fellow from the University of Virginia School of Law. Antone also earned a Master of Theology from Union Theological Seminary in New York City as a Union Scholar.

Laurel Stevenson, Director, Mediation and Assessment Program (MAP) | U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri

After more than two decades as a litigator in which she tried more than eighty jury trials to verdict, Laurel Stevenson became the Director of the Mediation and Assessment Program (known as MAP) for the United States District Court, Western District of Missouri in 2020. Laurel has served as a mediator or facilitator in more than 1,000 cases, including more than 300 Zoom mediations. She has resolved a wide variety of cases, including class actions, FLSA, employment, wrongful death, transportation, medical malpractice, and commercial disputes. Several resolutions have resulted in institutional policy changes. She has also served as an arbitrator, provided neutral evaluations, and been involved in summary jury trials and mini trials. Laurel trains judges, law students, attorney-advocates, and neutrals on ADR and has taught more than fifty CLE’s in multiple areas, including ADR, trial practice, ethics, AI, insurance, and trauma. She has numerous published legal articles in multiple publications, including The Resolver, Just Resolutions, and the Journal of the Missouri Bar.

Laurel is the Co-Chair of the Dispute Resolution Section’s Court ADR Committee, the Treasurer of the Federal Bar Association’s ADR Section, and the Editor of The Resolver, a publication of the FBA’s ADR Section. For the past three years, she has been a mentor to law students through the FBA’s mentorship program.

Moderator: Naveen Rau, J.D. Candidate | University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law

Naveen Rau is currently pursuing a legal education at the University of Missouri School of Law, as part of the Class of 2027. He is actively involved in the law school community as a Missouri Law Ambassador and a member of the Missouri Law Veterans Society. He emphasizes building robust advocacy and research abilities, with a keen interest in Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property.

Before attending law school, Naveen served as a U.S. Army Military Intelligence officer. In this role, he gained extensive experience in strategic analysis, critical decision-making, and leading diverse teams under challenging conditions. His military background instilled a disciplined approach to problem-solving, a deep respect for teamwork, and a strong ability to thrive under pressure— qualities that he now applies to his legal studies and professional development.
Naveen is enthusiastic about leveraging the law to effect meaningful change and is eager to apply his analytical and interpersonal skills in future legal practice.

I. Initial Primer on AI | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

II. Understanding the components of AI, including the amount of and type of available data | 2:10pm – 2:20pm

III. The intersection of AI and ADR, including ethical issues related to privacy, independent judgment of attorneys, quality of process in mediation, and bias and impartiality | 2:20pm – 2:40pm

IV. Pitfalls and Progress: The use of Chatbots and other AI tools in education and training | 2:40pm – 2:50pm

V. 5 minutes of “takeaways” from each panelist and final Q&A | 2:50pm – 3:00pm