Register now and take advantage of the early bird pricing. Offer ends on August 23. 
 

Presented by the Transactional Skills Program at the University of Miami School of Law, in partnership with the Corporate Counsel Committees of the Florida Bar and the Miami-Dade Bar Association, and sponsored by SimpleDocs.
Approved Fl. Bar CLE Credit: 9 General | 1 Ethics | 1 Technology | 9 Business Litigation

This event will take place at Lakeside Village on the University of Miami’s Coral Gables campus. For your convenience, we recommend using ride-sharing services. Parking is also available at the adjacent Pavia Garage.

Tired of passive CLEs and panels that don’t teach you how to do the work?

This one-day bootcamp gives you the tools, practice, and feedback you need to draft, review, and negotiate contracts like a pro.

Law firm attorneys, In-house counsel, contract managers, and law students will roll up their sleeves for hands-on sessions that mirror real legal work.

Show up with your laptop. Leave with confidence.

Session Descriptions:

AI Prompt-a-thon: Prompting with Purpose — Strategy, Ethics, and Efficiency

Generative AI is reshaping legal workflows, but only when used with skill, strategy, and ethical awareness. This interactive session teaches participants how to structure prompts for real legal work, from clause revision to memo drafting, while avoiding pitfalls like hallucinations, bias, and confidentiality breaches. You’ll walk away with a stronger command of AI tools, and the judgment to use them well.

Speakers:

• Melissa Ballesteros, Manager of AI & Legal Technology Adoption, Holland & Knight
• Riya Goel, 3L and Member, Miami Law & AI Lab

Beyond the Law: Business, Financial & Insurance Literacy for Legal Professionals

Legal advice doesn't exist in a vacuum, it lives in balance sheets, boardrooms, and business deals. This session breaks down key financial and insurance concepts that lawyers encounter daily, from interpreting financial statements to assessing indemnity risk. You'll gain the confidence to connect business realities to contract terms and legal strategy.

Speakers:

• Paul Berkowitz, Senior Practitioner in Residence, University of Miami School of Law; Retired Partner, Greenberg Traurig
• Arya Attari Li, Assistant Vice President & Insurance and Claims Counsel, Lockton Companies
• Richard S. Fechter, JD, CAMS, CFE, Associate Director of Forensic and Advisory Services, Berkowitz Pollack Brant

Building Blocks of a Contract: What Every Lawyer Needs to Know About Core Clauses

Every contract has its core DNA, representations, warranties, indemnities, and boilerplate. This session unpacks how these clauses function together (or against each other) and shows you how to work through them strategically. Through hands-on exercises and small group discussion, you’ll practice drafting and refining language based on real-world scenarios.

Speakers:

• Marcia Narine Weldon, Director, Transactional Skills Program, University of Miami School of Law
• Michelle Pelletier, Founder, Veriflow Legal Solutions
• Krista Russell, Director, Legal – U.S. Supply Chain, Airbus U.S. Space & Defense Inc.
• Brad Jacob, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Prevalon

Lunch & Keynote with Laura Frederick

Get inspired by Laura Frederick, one of the country’s leading experts on commercial contracts. A former Tesla and Big Law attorney with over 25 years of experience, Laura is the Founder & CEO of How to Contract, creator of ContractsCon, and author of the bestselling Practical Tips for Business Contracts. Her keynote will highlight how lawyers at all levels can avoid common drafting pitfalls, communicate clearly with clients, and build real commercial judgment.

Keynote Speaker:

• Laura Frederick, Founder & CEO, How to Contract

Core Contracts Every Business Lawyer Must Master

This extended session is your practical deep dive into the agreements that power business: NDAs, MSAs, employment and consulting agreements, software licenses, and more. Participants will engage in interactive exercises, reviewing, evaluating, and improving real-world contract language—to better understand structure, strategy, and negotiation choices.

Speakers:

• Esther Ponce de Leon, Principal Attorney, NextEra Energy
• Emmanuelle Subar Litvinov, Partner, Florida Entrepreneur Law
• Sherril Colombo, Shareholder, Littler Mendelson
• Giacomo Bossa, Partner, Barakat + Bossa
• Pamela Bebry, Founder, Bebry Law
• José A. Herrera Paez, Partner, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP

Deal or No Deal? Ethics on the Edge of Negotiation

Watch a live negotiation unfold, complete with power plays, ambiguity, and ethical gray areas. Then, step into a guided debrief on where the line is between savvy dealmaking and professional misconduct. You’ll examine what went right, what went wrong, and how to navigate client demands while staying within ethical boundaries.

Speakers:

• Karen Wishart, Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer, Urban One
• Anthony Zolfo, Associate General Counsel, Apotex

Closing the Loop: Lessons, Tools, and Takeaways

We’ll end the day with a fast-paced reflection session that pulls together key insights and lessons. You’ll leave with a practical, personal action plan you can apply in your next client meeting, contract draft, or negotiation, plus clarity on how to keep growing as a transactional professional.

Networking Reception
Unwind with light bites and meaningful conversation. This relaxed reception is your chance to connect with speakers, peers, and new mentors, while letting Miami traffic die down.