How To Plan and Prepare for Trial: Backwards planning, roadmaps, PowerPoint, and opening and closing statements

Jeremy D. Burkhart | Holland & Knight

Jeremy D. Burkhart is an experienced government contracts attorney for the law firm of Holland & Knight.

Mr. Burkhart provides counsel and representation on all government contract (GovCon) matters, including claims, teaming agreements, compliance requirements associated with the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) government contracting programs, and suspension and debarment. He is extremely well versed in prosecuting and defending bid protests and has litigated more than 100 protests. Mr. Burkhart also has significant experience in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and has represented several dozen government contractors in the closing of such deals, as well as in post-transaction matters such as novations.

Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Burkhart served on active duty in the U.S. Army as a judge advocate (JAG) for nine years, where he regularly served as lead counsel in high-stakes criminal and civil litigation, including several jury trials. Mr. Burkhart is a veteran of the Afghanistan war and continues to serve in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Gerald Maatman, Jr | Duane Morris LLP

Gerald “Jerry” Maatman, Jr. is a Chambers-recognized workplace class action defense litigator, an eight-time Law 360 Employment Law MVP, nine-time recipient of BTI Consulting Group’s distinguished Client Service All-Star Award, and a 2021 Legal 500 Hall of Fame inductee.

Mr. Maatman is a Partner at Duane Morris LLP, where he chairs the firm’s Class Action Defense Group. Among his various cases, Mr. Maatman successfully defended the largest EEOC pattern or practice lawsuit ever prosecuted in the history of the Commission, the largest age discrimination collective action ever brought in Illinois, the first sexual harassment class action brought by a State Attorney General in the United States, and the largest wage & hour class actions ever litigated in Florida, Illinois, and New York. A graduate of Washington & Lee University and the Northwestern University School of Law, where he has served as an adjunct professor for 34 years, Jerry is based out of Duane Morris’ Chicago and New York offices. The author of eight books on the law, Jerry is often consulted by major news organizations for his views on significant court rulings and legal issues. He has served as a legal commentator on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS), National Public Radio (NPR), MSNBC, CNBC, and USA Talk Radio, and his comments have appeared in such publications as the Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Business Insurance, USA Today, Fortune, and Forbes. In 2023, Business Today included Mr. Maatman in its rankings of the Top 8 Most Influential Labor & Employment Lawyers in the United States. Further, Chambers selected him as one of the leading class action defense lawyers in its 2006 to 2024 rankings of U.S. lawyers. In its Global rankings, Chambers stated that “Maatman is absolutely phenomenal,” and is “one of the top-class action minds in the country.

Session I – Trial Strategies for Success: Backwards planning and evidence presentation for the win | 11:00am – 12:00pm

• Backwards Planning Your Case, Why You Should Prepare Your Closing Argument Before Your Witnesses/Evidence
• Create a Roadmap for Trial
• Closing Effectively: Less theater, more teaching
• A Unique Perspective on the Wisdom of PowerPoint

Break | 12:00pm – 12:10pm

Session II – Opening & Closing Statements: It’s all about striking the right balance | 12:10pm – 1:10pm

• Be Compelling but Not Theatrical or Rehearsed / The Right Tone
• Presenting From Speaking Points vs. Notes
• Say What You Need to Say Without Going Too Long or Reverting to Legalistic Language
• Addressing Your Weak Points the Right Way
• Best Practices of Top Advocate