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Home > NJICLE > CLE Programs > The Federal Practice Bench-Bar Symposium

2026 Federal Practice Bench-Bar Symposium

Earn up to 6.3 credits.

Tuesday, March 31 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
 New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick and Online

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The Federal Practice Bench-Bar Symposium

Rates

Member: $215
Non-Member: $264

 

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

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 Renee 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.

 

Faculty

 

KEYNOTE:
Chief Judge Renee Marie Bumb, Chief U.S.D.J.
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
MODERATORS:
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
Norberto A. Garcia, Esq.
President-Elect, New Jersey State Bar Association
Blume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinari, Jersey City		 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
FROM THE BENCH:
Hon. Edward S. Kiel, U.S.D.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. 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. Evelyn Padin, U.S.D.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. Jamel K. Semper, 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. Jose R. Almonte, U.S.M.J.
U.S. District 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. Michael A. Hammer, U.S.M.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. Elizabeth A. Pascal, U.S.M.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. Matthew J. Skahill, 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. Andrew B. Altenburg, Jr., U.S.B.J.
U.S. Bankruptcy 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. Stacey L. Meisel, U.S.B.J.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey
Hon. Vincent F. Papalia, U.S.B.J.
United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of New Jersey		 Hon. William C. Soukas, J.S.C.
State of New Jersey Superior Court
FROM THE BAR:
Scott J. Goldstein, Esq.
Law Offices of Wenarsky & Goldstein, LLC, Ledgewood		 Daniella Gordon, Esq.
McCarter & English, LLP, Philadelphia
Susan M. Leming, Esq.
Immediate Past President, Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey
Brown & Connery LLP, Westmont		 Rebecca K. McDowell, Esq.
Saldutti Law Group, Cherry Hill Township
Eric R. Perkins, Esq.
Hellring Lindeman Goldstein & Siegal LLP, Roseland		 Samuel I. Portnoy, Esq.
FBT Gibbons, Newark
Jarrett R. Schindler, Esq.
Lowenstein Sandler LLP, Roseland		 Anthony P. Seijas, Esq.
Cleary Giacobbe Alfieri Jacobs, LLC, Oakland
Willard C. Shih, Esq.
Lucosky Brookman, LLP		 Corinne McCann Trainor, Esq.
Fox Rothschild LLP, Princeton
 

 

Program Agenda

 

9:00 Welcome from the Leaders
– Rebekah R. Conroy, Esq., President, Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey
– Norberto A. Garcia, Esq., President-Elect, 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.
– Hon. Evelyn Padin, U.S.D.J.
– Hon. Michael A. Hammer, U.S.M.J.
– Susan M. Leming, 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.
– Hon. William C. Soukas, J.S.C.
– Jarrett R. Schindler, Esq.
12:15 Lunch
1:10 Breakout Session – Choose One
  Session 1: Discovery in Federal Court
Moderator: 
– Anthony J. DiMarino, III., Esq.     

 

Speakers:
– Hon. Christine O’Hearn, U.S.D.J.
– Hon. Jose 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.
  Session 2: The Effect of Bankruptcy on State Court Proceedings
Moderator: 
– Sari B. Placona, Esq.     

 

Speakers:
– Hon. Andrew B. Altenburg, Jr., U.S.B.J.
– Hon. Vincent F. Papalia, U.S.B.J.
– Scott Goldstein, Esq.
– Rebecca K. McDowell, Esq.
– Eric R. Perkins, Esq.
 2:00 Break
2:10 Breakout Session – Choose One
 

Session 1: Federal Criminal Practice Primer
Includes a discussion of Immigration Law
Moderator: 
– R. Stephen Stigall, Esq.

Speakers: 
– Hon. Zahid N. Quraishi, U.S.D.J.
– Hon. Jamel K. Semper, U.S.D.J.
– Hon. Matthew J. Skahill, U.S.M.J.
– Daniella Gordon, Esq.
  Session 2: Settlement and Civil Case Management
Moderator: 
– Amy Walker Wagner, Esq.

Speakers:
– Hon. Tonianne J. Bongiovanni, U.S.M.J.
– Hon. Ann Marie Donio, U.S.M.J.
– Hon. Andre 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. Join us for a cocktail reception.

 

OUR COCKTAIL RECEPTION SPONSORS
   
 

 


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CLE Credits
NJ CLE: NJ CLE information: This program has been approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 6.3 hours of total CLE credit (Full Credits Available: NJ General: 6.3).
NY CLE: NY Professional Practice Transitional: 6.0
PA CLE: PA Substantive Credit: 5.0
New: No PA CLE fee is required for this program. To earn PA CLE credits, a valid PA Bar ID number must be entered into the CLE form provided after attending the program.
I146126

Important Information About Our Events, Meetings, and More:
To secure your spot and receive important updates about our events, meetings, and other gatherings, such as schedule changes, remember to register in advance.

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

Cancellation and Refund Policy:
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.

Stay Informed:
Registered participants will be notified of any schedule changes. For updates regarding inclement weather, please check your email or visit NJSBA.com.

Media Consent:
By participating in our events, meetings, or other gatherings, you agree to be photographed and/or recorded. Additionally, all media content captured during these gatherings will become the property of NJSBA. This content, including your image and name, may be used in our future promotional materials without additional consent or compensation.

Scholarship & Financial Assistance Policy:
Read our Scholarship & Financial Assistance Policy and submit an Application here: https://njsba.com/njicle/cle-programs/scholarship/