2026 Federal Practice Bench-Bar Symposium
Date: Mar 31, 2026 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, and Online
Member Price: $215.00
Non-Member Price: $264.00
Section Price: $0.00
Areas of Law: Federal Practice & Procedure
Earn up to 6.3 credits! (More Information)
Keynote
- Chief Judge Renee Marie Bumb, Chief U.S.D.J.
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Moderator
- Christine A. Amalfe, Esq.
- President, New Jersey State Bar Association
Gibbons P.C., Newark - Rebekah R. Conroy, Esq.
- President, Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey
Stone Conroy LLC, Florham Park - Anthony J. DiMarino, III, Esq.
- DiMarino, Lehrer & Collazo, PC, Cherry Hill
- Jemi Goulian Lucey, Esq.
- Co-Chair, New JerseySBA Higher Education Special Committee
Greenbaum Rowe Smith & Davis, Woodbridge - Sari B. Placona, Esq.
- McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC, Roseland
- R. Stephen Stigall, Esq.
- Ballard Spahr LLP, Cherry Hill
- G. Glennon Troublefield, Esq.
- First Vice President, New Jersey State Bar Association
Carella, Byrne, Cecchi, Olstein, Brody & Agnello P.C ., Roseland - Amy Walker Wagner, Esq.
- Assistant General Counsel, Litigation
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Newark
Presenters
- Hon. Jose R. Almonte, U.S.M.J.
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- Hon. Andrew B. Altenburg, U.S.B.J.
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey
- Hon. Tonianne J. Bongiovanni, U.S.M.J.
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- Hon. Ann Marie Donio, U.S.M.J.
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- Hon. Andre M. Espinosa, U.S.M.J.
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- Hon. Christine M. Gravelle, U.S.B.J.
- Chief Judge, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey
- Hon. Michael A. Hammer, U.S.M.J.
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- Hon. Edward S. Kiel, U.S.D.J.
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- Hon. Sharon A. King, U.S.M.J.
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- Hon. Robert Kirsch, U.S.D.J.
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- Hon. Brian R. Martinotti, U.S.D.J.
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- Hon. Stacey L. Meisel, U.S.B.J.
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey
- Hon. Julien Xavier Neals, U.S.D.J.
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- Hon. Christine P. O'Hearn, U.S.D.J.
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- Hon. Elizabeth A. Pascal, U.S.M.J.
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- Hon. Zahid N. Quraishi, U.S.D.J.
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- Hon. Michael A. Shipp, U.S.D.J.
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- Hon. Rukhsanah L. Singh, U.S.M.J.
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- Hon. Leda Dunn Wettre, U.S.M.J.
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- Hon. Karen M. Williams, U.S.D.J.
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
- Scott J. Goldstein, Esq.
- Law Offices of Wenarsky & Goldstein, LLC, Ledgewood
- Daniella Gordon, Esq.
- McCarter & English, LLP, Newark
- Julia L. Jacovides, Esq.
- Morgan Lewis & Bockius, LLP, Philadelphia
- Susan M. Leming, Esq.
- President, Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey
Brown & Connery LLP, WestmontPresident-Elect, Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey - Corinne McCann Trainor, Esq.
- Fox Rothschild LLP, Princeton
- Rebecca K. McDowell, Esq.
- Saldutti Law Group, Cherry Hill Township
- Eric R. Perkins, Esq.
- Hellring Lindeman Goldstein & Siegal LLP, Roseland
- Samuel I. Portnoy, Esq.
- Gibbons P.C., Newark
- Jarrett R. Schindler, Esq.
- Lowenstein Sandler LLP, Roseland
- Anthony P. Seijas, Esq.
- Cleary Giacobbe Alfieri Jacobs, LLC, Oakland
- Willard C. Shih, Esq.
- Wilentz Goldman & Spitzer, Woodbridge
The New Jersey State Bar Association and the Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey, in cooperation with the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, are proud to present the third Annual Federal Practice Bench-Bar Symposium.
Join U.S. District Court Chief Judge Renée Marie Bumb, along with dozens of federal judges and esteemed practitioners for this special symposium designed primarily with state court practitioners in mind. This comprehensive program will focus on the essentials of federal practice. Attendees can enjoy a networking lunch and then choose from several breakout sessions that are right for them: Discovery in Federal Court, The Effect of Bankruptcy on State Court Proceedings, Federal Criminal Practice Primer and Federal Practice Primer for Family Law Practitioners.
This special program will conclude with an insightful roundtable of plenary judges, followed by a cocktail reception.
Program Agenda:
-
9:00 | Welcome from the Leaders
- Rebekah R. Conroy, Esq., President, Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey
- Christine A. Amalfe, Esq., President, New Jersey State Bar Association -
9:15 | Welcome Remarks from Chief Judge Renee Marie Bumb
-
9:30 | The Interplay Between Federal Civil Procedure and State Court Litigation
Moderator:
-G. Glennon Troublefield, Esq., NJSBA First Vice President
Speakers:
- Hon. Robert Kirsch, U.S.D.J.
- Hon. Brian R. Martinotti, U.S.D.J.
- Susan M. Leming, Esq.
- Jarrett R. Schindler, Esq.
- Willard C. Shih, Esq. -
10:50 | Break
-
11:00 | AI and Other Thorny Substantive Issues in Federal Court
Moderator:
- Jemi Goulian Lucey, Esq.
Speakers:
- Hon. Edward S. Kiel, U.S.D.J.
- Hon. Stacey L. Meisel, U.S.B.J.
- Hon. Rukhsanah L. Singh, U.S.M.J.
- Julia L. Jacovides, Esq. -
12:15 | Lunch
-
1:10 | Breakout Sessions – Choose One
- Discovery in Federal Court
Moderator:
- Anthony J. DiMarino, III., Esq.
Speakers:
- Hon. Christine O’Hern, U.S.D.J.
- Hon. José R. Almonte, U.S.M.J.
- Hon. Sharon A. King, U.S.M.J.
- Hon. Elizabeth A. Pascal, U.S.M.J.
- Anthony P. Seijas, Esq.
- Corinne McCann Trainor, Esq.
- The Effect of Bankruptcy on State Court Proceedings
Moderator:
- Sari B. Placona, Esq.
Speakers:
- Hon. Andrew B. Altenburg, Jr., U.S.B.J.
- Scott Goldstein, Esq.
- Rebecca K. McDowell, Esq.
- Eric R. Perkins, Esq. -
2:00 | Break
-
2:10 | Breakout Sessions – Choose One
- Federal Criminal Practice Primer
Includes a discussion of Immigration Law
Moderator:
- R. Stephen Stigall, Esq.
Speakers:
- Hon. Michael A. Hammer, U.S.D.J.
- Hon. Zahid N. Quraishi, U.S.D.J.
- Daniella Gordon, Esq.- Settlement and Civil Case Management
Moderator:
- Amy Walker Wagner, Esq.
Speakers:
- Hon. Karen W. Williams, U.S.D.J.
- Hon. Tonianne J. Bongiovanni, U.S.M.J.
- Hon. Ann Marie Donio, U.S.M.J.
- Hon. André M. Espinosa, U.S.M.J.
- Samuel I. Portnoy, Esq. -
3:00 | Federal Judges’ Roundtable
Moderator:
- Rebekah R. Conroy, Esq.
Speakers:
- Chief Judge Renee Marie Bumb, Chief U.S.D.J.
- Hon. Christine M. Gravelle, U.S.B.J.
- Hon. Julien Xavier Neals, U.S.D.J.
- Hon. Michael A. Shipp, U.S.D.J.
- Hon. Leda Dunn Wettre, U.S.M.J. -
4:00 | Adjourn. Cocktail reception begins.
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Digital Materials & Environmental Commitment: As part of our commitment to environmental sustainability, unless otherwise noted, all seminar materials are provided as digital downloads. You can access these materials through:
- The “My Links” section at the top of our website for in-person or online events
- Or, for online programs, the event access link included in your joining instructions
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If you need to cancel your registration and are not transferring to another program or date, please submit a written request to us at least three business days before the event, meeting, or gathering. You will receive a refund minus a $20.00 cancellation fee. No refunds or registration changes will be issued within three business days of the event, meeting, or gathering.
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