Upcoming DRI Drug and Medical Device Seminar in Chicago, Illinois on May 5-6, 2011

I am happy to post information about legal conferences pertaining to products liability issues. I always try to provide products liability information that is useful to the defense bar, plaintiff's bar, manufacturers, and individuals. Therefore, if anyone has a seminar or conference (regardless of whether it is defense or plaintiff-oriented), please pass it along and I will be happy to post the pertinent information.

The Defense Research Institute is holding their annual Drug and Medical Device Conference at the Sheraton Chicago in Chicago, Illinois on May 5-6, 2011.  It has been quite a few years since I attended this conference (last went to it in 2005 when it was in New York...a good time), but it is a must-attend if you defend drug and medical device manufacturers and sellers.

All the details for the conference, including a brochure of the agenda, registration, etc., can be found here.

Cut and paste of the information from DRI's website follows:

Overview

DRI’s Drug and Medical Device Seminar is the preeminent program for lawyers who represent pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers. We are pleased again to feature a number of nationally recognized attorneys, both in-house and outside counsel, and other professionals who will address cutting-edge topics that are relevant to all who practice in this area, whether they are associates, lead trial counsel or in-house attorneys. This year’s program will offer a mixture of presentations, including trial skills demonstrations, a panel discussion of a groundbreaking defense and litigation insights from leading defenders of drug and device cases. In addition to the outstanding program, there will be numerous networking opportunities, including our annual Young Lawyers Blockbuster. Be sure to register now to reserve your place in Chicago at DRI’s 27th annual Drug and Medical Device Seminar.

Registration

The registration fee is $895 for members and those who join DRI when registering and $1,125 for non-members. The registration fee includes CD-ROM course materials, continental breakfasts, refreshment breaks and networking receptions. If you wish to have your name appear on the registration list distributed at the conference and receive the course materials in advance, DRI must receive your registration by April 15, 2011 (please allow 10 days for processing mailed registrations). Registrations received after April 15, 2011, will be processed on-site.

In-house counsel are eligible for free registration to DRI seminars. In-house counsel are defined as licensed attorneys, who are employed exclusively by a corporation or other private sector organization, for the purpose of providing legal representation and counsel only to that corporation, its affiliates and subsidiaries. In order to qualify for free registration, the individual must also be a DRI member and a member of DRI’s Corporate Counsel Committee. Offer excludes DRI Annual Meeting.

Hotel

A limited number of discounted hotel rooms have been made available at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers, 301 East North Water Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611. For reservations, contact the hotel directly at 312.464.1000. Please mention DRI’s Drug and Medical Device Seminar to take advantage of the group rate of $255 Single/$285 Double. The hotel block is limited and rooms and rates are available on a first-come, first-served basis. You must make reservations by April 12, 2011, to be eligible for the group rate. Requests for reservations made after April 6 are subject to room and rate availability.

Travel Discounts

DRI offers discounted meeting fares on various major air carriers for DRI seminar attendees. To receive these discounts, please contact Hobson Travel Ltd., DRI’s official travel provider at 800.538.7464 or you can book your travel on online at RESX.com. If you are a first time user use dri as company, your first initial and last name as Member ID and leave password blank the first time you login to enter a password. As always, to obtain the lowest available fares, early booking is recommended.

Special Discounts

No special discounts are provided for the Diversity for Success or Young Lawyers Seminars, Fidelity and Surety Roundtable, Defending Drug and Medical Device Litigation Young Lawyer Primer, the DRI Annual Meeting, or any non-CLE DRI meeting. For all other seminars, the first and second registrations from the same firm or company are subject to the fees outlined above. The registration fee for additional registrants from the same firm or company is $50 off the member rate, regardless of membership status. All registrations must be received at the same time to receive the discount.

Refund Policy

The registration fee is fully refundable for cancellations received on or before April 15, 2011. Cancellations received after April 15 and on or before April 22, 2011, will receive a refund, less a $50 processing fee. Cancellations made after April 22 will not receive a refund, but the course materials on CD-ROM and a $100 certificate good for any DRI seminar within the next 12 months will be issued. All cancellations and requests for refunds must be made in writing. Fax to DRI’s Accounting Department at 312.795.0747. All refunds will be mailed within four weeks after the date of the conference. Substitutions may be made at any time without charge and must be submitted in writing.