Three Lightfoot Attorneys Speak at the Trial Network’s ‘Dry Heat, Hot Takes: From Voir Dire to Verdict’ Conference

May 11, 2026

Lightfoot, Franklin & White partners Lana Olson, Ashby Pate and Rachelle Sanchez led sessions at the Trial Network’s “Dry Heat, Hot Takes: From Voir Dire to Verdict” conference on April 24-25 in Arizona.

Olson’s session, “Pulling Back the Curtain on the Plaintiffs’ Bar,” provided an overview of the highly coordinated, well-funded and increasingly sophisticated nature of the plaintiffs’ bar. She revealed how plaintiffs’ firms are educating appellate judges and leveraging a national information‑sharing network.

Pate moderated “Early & Often: Why Appellate Counsel Belongs at the Table on Day One,” which informed attendees on the importance of engaging appellate counsel early in high-exposure matters. Through case studies and practical insights, the panel provided guidance on preserving critical issues, creating settlement leverage and having clarity heading into trial. 

While leading the breakout session “Garbage In, Garbage Out: Effective AI Prompting in Litigation,” Sanchez joined other panelists in exploring how to move beyond basic prompting to craft deliberate, well-designed AI prompts that provide high-quality, reliable litigation outputs while staying within ethical guardrails. 

More than 3,600 attorneys at 23 independent law firms across the United States and Canada participate in the Trial Network, which works to strengthen strategic business relationships among the country’s leading trial law firms. Trial Network member firms are consistently recognized by leading industry publications as dominant in their respective practice areas.