Partner, Torridon Law PLLC
Mike Fragoso is an experienced legal and policy strategist who represents clients before all three branches of the federal government. Most recently he served as chief counsel to the Senate Republican Leader, Mitch McConnell (R-KY). He has negotiated consequential legislation, managed successful congressional oversight, and prepared individuals for the most contentious Senate hearings.
As chief counsel to Leader McConnell, Mike was the Leader’s primary legal advisor and managed the “last mile” of any legislation touching on the Senate Judiciary Committee. He ran the 2024 reauthorization of FISA Section 702 and was involved at the highest levels of the appropriations and budget-reconciliation processes. Mike also repeatedly represented Leader McConnell as counsel of record at the Supreme Court. Leader McConnell said of Mike that he’s “equally at home in the high-minded philosophical discourse of the legal community and the urgent pragmatism of congressional dealmaking,” and that he “maintains a firm grasp on the realm of the possible” but “knows which screws to twist.” He observed that Mike “is so exceptionally competent that he often produces from his desk the work that would normally require, literally, teams of outside counsel.”
President, JCN
Carrie Campbell Severino is the president of the JCN, and co-author with Mollie Hemingway of the bestselling book Justice on Trial: The Kavanaugh Confirmation and the Future of the Court. As a go-to expert on the confirmation process, Mrs. Severino has been extensively quoted in the media. She regularly appears on television, including FOX, CNN, MSNBC, C-SPAN, and ABC’s This Week.
Severino writes and speaks on a wide range of judicial issues, including the constitutional limits on government, the federal nomination process, and state judicial selection. She has testified before Congress on constitutional questions and briefed Senators on judicial nominations, and regularly files briefs in high-profile Supreme Court cases. She was a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and to Judge David B. Sentelle of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and is a graduate of Harvard Law School (J.D.), Duke University (B.A., Biology), and Michigan State University (M.A., Linguistics).
Solicitor General, West Virginia
Michael Williams is the Solicitor General for the State of West Virginia. In that role, Michael represents the State in appeals before state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. Michael also coordinates strategic affirmative litigation on the State’s behalf, including litigation against the federal government.
Before joining the Attorney General’s Office, Michael co-led the complex briefing and appeals group at a Michigan boutique firm, representing Fortune 50 companies and others in actions across the country. He also practiced in the litigation groups of two Washington, D.C. firms and clerked with the Appellate Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine.
Michael’s work has been honored with a Best Brief Award from the National Associationof Attorneys General and a Leader in the Law Award from Michigan Lawyers Weekly. He often speaks and writes on appellate-related issues.
Michael clerked twice in the Fourth Circuit: once with then-Chief Judge Deborah Chasanow of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland and later with Judge G. Steven Agee of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He attended George Washington University Law School and Bates College.
Assistant Solicitor General, Texas
Katie serves as an Assistant Solicitor General for the State of Texas. She previously practiced law at a firm in Washington, D.C. where she focused her legal practice on complex trial and appellate litigation, specializing in data privacy and biometric issues. Before that, Katie served as Chief Counsel to Senator Jeff Flake at the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and clerked for Judge Michael B. Brennan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Katie graduated from Liberty University and the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. She is a member of The Federalist Society’s Litigation Practice Group Executive Committee.
Partner, Evans Fears & Shuttert LLP
Lee Mickus defends manufacturers and other business interests in product liability and tort lawsuits around the country, guiding cases through the discovery, trial, and appeal stages. He has successfully tried cases to juries in Colorado, Texas, California, New York, Puerto Rico, Montana and several other states.
Partner, Wagstaff Law Firm
David Wool represents clients in toxic tort, pharmaceutical and medical device litigation. In his practice at Andrus Wagstaff, David has been intricately involved in the several major litigations. David was appointed to the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee in multi-district litigation (MDL) 2642, In Re Fluoroquinolone Products Liability Litigation, by the Honorable John R. Tunheim to represent thousands of plaintiffs suffering from permanent and debilitating peripheral neuropathy. Additionally, David served a critical role in MDL 2741, In Re Roundup Products Liability Litigation, successfully arguing against the first motion to dismiss filed anywhere in the country setting the stage for continued litigation. David is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, and represents clients in nearly every state across the country.
David has extensive knowledge and experience in every step of the litigation process from drafting complaints, to organizing multi-district litigation and arguing dispositive motions in federal court.
As a Trial Attorney in various litigations, David has:
David has litigated in nearly every federal circuit, and has extensive knowledge of complex federal and state specific products liability law including Daubert, Federal preemption law and the Learned Intermediary Doctrine. He has extensive experience briefing these and related issues in the United States District Courts for the Southern District of West Virginia, the Northern District of California, the District of Minnesota and the Judicial Panel for Multi-District Litigation, among others.
David is a native of Montgomery, Alabama and a graduate of Colorado College and Vanderbilt University Law School. Prior to joining Andrus Wagstaff
Assistant Solicitor General, Texas
Katie serves as an Assistant Solicitor General for the State of Texas. She previously practiced law at a firm in Washington, D.C. where she focused her legal practice on complex trial and appellate litigation, specializing in data privacy and biometric issues. Before that, Katie served as Chief Counsel to Senator Jeff Flake at the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and clerked for Judge Michael B. Brennan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Katie graduated from Liberty University and the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. She is a member of The Federalist Society’s Litigation Practice Group Executive Committee.
Partner, Evans Fears & Shuttert LLP
Lee Mickus defends manufacturers and other business interests in product liability and tort lawsuits around the country, guiding cases through the discovery, trial, and appeal stages. He has successfully tried cases to juries in Colorado, Texas, California, New York, Puerto Rico, Montana and several other states.
Partner, Wagstaff Law Firm
David Wool represents clients in toxic tort, pharmaceutical and medical device litigation. In his practice at Andrus Wagstaff, David has been intricately involved in the several major litigations. David was appointed to the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee in multi-district litigation (MDL) 2642, In Re Fluoroquinolone Products Liability Litigation, by the Honorable John R. Tunheim to represent thousands of plaintiffs suffering from permanent and debilitating peripheral neuropathy. Additionally, David served a critical role in MDL 2741, In Re Roundup Products Liability Litigation, successfully arguing against the first motion to dismiss filed anywhere in the country setting the stage for continued litigation. David is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, and represents clients in nearly every state across the country.
David has extensive knowledge and experience in every step of the litigation process from drafting complaints, to organizing multi-district litigation and arguing dispositive motions in federal court.
As a Trial Attorney in various litigations, David has:
David has litigated in nearly every federal circuit, and has extensive knowledge of complex federal and state specific products liability law including Daubert, Federal preemption law and the Learned Intermediary Doctrine. He has extensive experience briefing these and related issues in the United States District Courts for the Southern District of West Virginia, the Northern District of California, the District of Minnesota and the Judicial Panel for Multi-District Litigation, among others.
David is a native of Montgomery, Alabama and a graduate of Colorado College and Vanderbilt University Law School. Prior to joining Andrus Wagstaff
Partner and Co-Chair, Public Policy Group, Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP
Mark Behrens co-chairs Shook's Washington, DC-based Public Policy Practice Group and is a leading national expert on civil justice issues with over thirty years of experience. A substantial part of his practice is working to improve the civil litigation environment through state and federal legislation; in the courts through amicus curiae briefs; through legal scholarship and judicial education; and in the court of public opinion.
Mark is actively involved in civil justice reform efforts at the federal and state levels. He has testified before the U.S. Congress and most state legislatures on behalf of business and civil justice organizations. Mark also has an active amicus brief practice specializing in tort liability and civil justice issues. He has authored or co-authored over 150 amicus briefs in cases before the United States Supreme Court and federal and state appellate courts on behalf of business, civil justice, and defense lawyer organizations. In addition, Mark routinely files comments on behalf of business, civil justice, and defense lawyer organizations regarding potential changes to federal and state court rules. He chairs the International Association of Defense Counsel’s (IADC) Civil Justice Response Committee and serves on the Board of Directors of Lawyers for Civil Justice (LCJ).
Mark is a member of the American Law Institute (ALI). He received his J.D. in 1990 from Vanderbilt University Law School, where he was a member of the Vanderbilt Law Review. He received his B.A. in economics from the University of Wisconsin in 1987.
Partner and Co-Chair, Public Policy Group, Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP
Mark Behrens co-chairs Shook's Washington, DC-based Public Policy Practice Group and is a leading national expert on civil justice issues with over thirty years of experience. A substantial part of his practice is working to improve the civil litigation environment through state and federal legislation; in the courts through amicus curiae briefs; through legal scholarship and judicial education; and in the court of public opinion.
Mark is actively involved in civil justice reform efforts at the federal and state levels. He has testified before the U.S. Congress and most state legislatures on behalf of business and civil justice organizations. Mark also has an active amicus brief practice specializing in tort liability and civil justice issues. He has authored or co-authored over 150 amicus briefs in cases before the United States Supreme Court and federal and state appellate courts on behalf of business, civil justice, and defense lawyer organizations. In addition, Mark routinely files comments on behalf of business, civil justice, and defense lawyer organizations regarding potential changes to federal and state court rules. He chairs the International Association of Defense Counsel’s (IADC) Civil Justice Response Committee and serves on the Board of Directors of Lawyers for Civil Justice (LCJ).
Mark is a member of the American Law Institute (ALI). He received his J.D. in 1990 from Vanderbilt University Law School, where he was a member of the Vanderbilt Law Review. He received his B.A. in economics from the University of Wisconsin in 1987.
Of Counsel, Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP
Chris’ public policy work focuses on tort law and civil justice system reform. His work is generally divided among legislative efforts, appellate litigation, and liability counseling. Chris has drafted model legislation to be introduced on the state and federal level, testified on numerous legislative initiatives, and authored amicus briefs to state supreme courts and federal appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. He also serves as an adviser to various business groups and trade associations interested in tort liability issues and civil justice system reform.
In addition, Chris is an elected member of the American Law Institute (ALI), and has assisted in the development of a variety of ALI projects implicating liability law. He has also been a recurrent guest lecturer at the U.S. Department of Justice and Wake Forest University School of Law, as well as a speaker at numerous legal conferences and industry group meetings, on issues related to tort law. Chris has additionally produced significant scholarship in the area of liability law. He has authored more than 50 legal publications on a wide range of liability issues, including articles in the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, UPenn Journal of Business Law, and Duke Journal of Constitutional Law & Public Policy, and has served as a contributor to tort casebooks.
Partner and Co-Chair, Public Policy Group, Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP
Mark Behrens co-chairs Shook's Washington, DC-based Public Policy Practice Group and is a leading national expert on civil justice issues with over thirty years of experience. A substantial part of his practice is working to improve the civil litigation environment through state and federal legislation; in the courts through amicus curiae briefs; through legal scholarship and judicial education; and in the court of public opinion.
Mark is actively involved in civil justice reform efforts at the federal and state levels. He has testified before the U.S. Congress and most state legislatures on behalf of business and civil justice organizations. Mark also has an active amicus brief practice specializing in tort liability and civil justice issues. He has authored or co-authored over 150 amicus briefs in cases before the United States Supreme Court and federal and state appellate courts on behalf of business, civil justice, and defense lawyer organizations. In addition, Mark routinely files comments on behalf of business, civil justice, and defense lawyer organizations regarding potential changes to federal and state court rules. He chairs the International Association of Defense Counsel’s (IADC) Civil Justice Response Committee and serves on the Board of Directors of Lawyers for Civil Justice (LCJ).
Mark is a member of the American Law Institute (ALI). He received his J.D. in 1990 from Vanderbilt University Law School, where he was a member of the Vanderbilt Law Review. He received his B.A. in economics from the University of Wisconsin in 1987.
Of Counsel, Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP
Chris’ public policy work focuses on tort law and civil justice system reform. His work is generally divided among legislative efforts, appellate litigation, and liability counseling. Chris has drafted model legislation to be introduced on the state and federal level, testified on numerous legislative initiatives, and authored amicus briefs to state supreme courts and federal appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. He also serves as an adviser to various business groups and trade associations interested in tort liability issues and civil justice system reform.
In addition, Chris is an elected member of the American Law Institute (ALI), and has assisted in the development of a variety of ALI projects implicating liability law. He has also been a recurrent guest lecturer at the U.S. Department of Justice and Wake Forest University School of Law, as well as a speaker at numerous legal conferences and industry group meetings, on issues related to tort law. Chris has additionally produced significant scholarship in the area of liability law. He has authored more than 50 legal publications on a wide range of liability issues, including articles in the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, UPenn Journal of Business Law, and Duke Journal of Constitutional Law & Public Policy, and has served as a contributor to tort casebooks.
Partner and Co-Chair, Public Policy Group, Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP
Mark Behrens co-chairs Shook's Washington, DC-based Public Policy Practice Group and is a leading national expert on civil justice issues with over thirty years of experience. A substantial part of his practice is working to improve the civil litigation environment through state and federal legislation; in the courts through amicus curiae briefs; through legal scholarship and judicial education; and in the court of public opinion.
Mark is actively involved in civil justice reform efforts at the federal and state levels. He has testified before the U.S. Congress and most state legislatures on behalf of business and civil justice organizations. Mark also has an active amicus brief practice specializing in tort liability and civil justice issues. He has authored or co-authored over 150 amicus briefs in cases before the United States Supreme Court and federal and state appellate courts on behalf of business, civil justice, and defense lawyer organizations. In addition, Mark routinely files comments on behalf of business, civil justice, and defense lawyer organizations regarding potential changes to federal and state court rules. He chairs the International Association of Defense Counsel’s (IADC) Civil Justice Response Committee and serves on the Board of Directors of Lawyers for Civil Justice (LCJ).
Mark is a member of the American Law Institute (ALI). He received his J.D. in 1990 from Vanderbilt University Law School, where he was a member of the Vanderbilt Law Review. He received his B.A. in economics from the University of Wisconsin in 1987.
Staff Attorney, Shook Hardy & Bacon
Sarah works with Shook Hardy & Bacon’s Public Policy Group, whose aim is to improve civil litigation through judicial education, communications and legal scholarship; she also is a member of the Litigation practice group. Since joining the firm, she also has worked on construction industry-related arbitrations.
Before joining Shook, Sarah worked on litigation and administrative appeals for the Civil Beat Law Center in Hawaii, which provides advice and representation to the public and the media to achieve transparency in government. During law school, Sarah was senior research assistant to Andrew F. Popper during his work on the third edition of Administrative Law: A Contemporary Approach.
Is the Federal Judicial Center Putting a Thumb on the Scale for A Climate Agenda?
Michael Fragoso, Carrie Campbell Severino, Michael R. Williams
The Federal Judicial Center describes itself as “the research and education agency of the judicial...
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Federal Circuit Failure to Apply Daubert Results in Unfairly Inflated Patent Damages
When someone doesn’t work but misleads authorities about their income to claim government benefits, it’s...
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A Brief Guide to the 2023 Amendments to the Federal Rules of Evidence
Amendments to Federal Rules of Evidence 702, 106, and 615 took effect on December 1,...
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Federal Judiciary’s Standing Committee Approves Changes to Federal Rules of Evidence, Including Rule 702 Governing Expert Testimony
On June 7, the Judicial Conference Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure (Standing Committee)...
Admitting Expert Evidence Under Rule 702: By What Standard?
Kateland R. Jackson, Leah Lorber, Lee S. Mickus, David Wool
This webinar will host a debate over the pending amendments to Federal Rule of Evidence...
Admitting Expert Evidence Under Rule 702: By What Standard?
Kateland R. Jackson, Leah Lorber, Lee S. Mickus, David Wool
This webinar will host a debate over the pending amendments to Federal Rule of Evidence...
2019 Civil Justice Update
Mark A. Behrens
Note from the Editor: The Federalist Society takes no positions on particular legal and public...
2018 Civil Justice Update
Mark A. Behrens, Christopher Appel
Note from the Editor: The Federalist Society takes seriously its responsibility as a non-partisan institution...
2018 Civil Justice Update
Mark A. Behrens, Christopher Appel
Note from the Editor: The Federalist Society takes seriously its responsibility as a non-partisan institution...
2017 Civil Justice Update
Mark A. Behrens, Sarah Goggans
This paper reviews key civil justice issues and reforms in 2017. Part I focuses on...