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.
Communications Director, Family Institute of Connecticut
Christina Bennett joined the Family Institute of Connecticut as their Communications Director in 2018. Since 2005 Christina has served as a pro-life advocate and missionary. Prior to working for FIC Christina worked as the Client Services Manager for a CT Pregnancy Resource Center. Christina has a Bachelors Degree in Business Communications from Southern Connecticut State University. She is a licensed minister, a speaker with Ambassadors International, and a writer for Live Action News.
Vice President for Government Affairs, CBIA
Eric Gjede is vice president for government affairs with CBIA, Connecticut’s leading business organization. He represents the views of Connecticut businesses on labor, employment, and transportation issues. He serves as CBIA’s state ethics compliance counsel. He also directs CBIA’s Labor and Employment Law Council and helps support the organization’s Taxation and Finance Committee.
Shareholder, Pullman Comley LLC
Ryan A. O’Donnell is a shareholder in the Hartford office of Siegel, O’Connor, O’Donnell & Beck, P.C., where he represents public and private sector clients in labor and employment matters before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. Mr. O’Donnell specializes in collective bargaining negotiations and labor relations law.
2020 Civil Justice Update
Mark A. Behrens
Note from the Editor: The Federalist Society takes no positions on particular legal and public...
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