Renegade Litigator Retreat

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Camille M. Vasquez is a Partner, and Office Managing Partner of the Orange County Office of Sheppard. Throughout her career, Camille has been recognized for her outstanding advocacy

Her skills and her ability to navigate complex legal landscapes. Her practice encompasses a range of areas including commercial litigation, entertainment law, and defamation. Camille is particularly known for her adept handling of cases involving media exposure and public scrutiny, where her strategic approach and persuasive abilities have consistently achieved favorable outcomes for her clients. In addition to her litigation practice, Camille is a sought-after speaker and commentator on legal issues, frequently contributing for NBC, participating in industry panels and speaking at engagements around the world.

A public servant for nearly three decades, Karen Friedman Agnifilo left the government as the Chief Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, a role she held from 2014 through 2021. During her tenure at the Manhattan DA’s Office, she played a critical leadership role in prosecuting high-profile violent crime cases, including complex cases involving a mental health component, as well as cold case homicides. As the second most senior attorney in the office, Ms. Friedman Agnifilo served as Acting District Attorney when the DA was out of the jurisdiction. She also supervised all complex and high-profile matters in the office and managed a team of 1,500 people with a $120 million budget, giving her the experience and judgment to manage complex, high-stakes cases. While serving in the Manhattan DA’s office, Ms. Friedman Agnifilo was also integral to creating the office’s Human Trafficking Unit, Hate Crimes Unit, Antiquities Trafficking Unit, Terrorism Unit, its Cybercrimes and Identity Theft Bureau, as well as working on the creation of Manhattan’s first Mental Health Court.

Before her promotion to the Manhattan DA’s Chief Assistant, Ms. Friedman Agnifilo served as the office’s Executive ADA and the Chief of its Trial Division from 2010 through 2014. Her other work in the Manhattan DA’s office includes four years as the Deputy Chief of the Sex Crimes Unit. Ms. Friedman Agnifilo has also served as General Counsel to the New York City Mayor’s Office’s Criminal Justice Coordinator where she worked for Mayor Michael Bloomberg on transforming New York City’s criminal justice policy.

In private practice since 2021, Ms. Friedman Agnifilo focuses on serving each of her clients’ unique and specific needs at the highest level. She has extensive investigatory and trial experience and represents clients in civil and criminal matters in both state and federal courts. She is especially adept at representing plaintiffs in employment disputes whether they proceed to trial or are resolved quietly before a complaint is ever filed.

Ms. Friedman Agnifilo is a frequent television news guest and commentator and is a former legal analyst for CNN. She is also the co-host of a weekly podcast on the Meidas Touch Network where she discusses emerging legal issues and litigation strategy that routinely has half a million listeners per episode. She is also the legal advisor for the television show Law and Order. Ms. Friedman Agnifilo is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Georgetown University Law Center.

Marc Agnifilo has won acquittals in many of the most complex and difficult trials in America. In the last several years alone, he secured three complete acquittals in cases ranging from assault to international tax fraud to political corruption. Marc has tried more than 200 cases over his 35 year career, and is routinely hired in Federal and State Court in complex cases.

As a former supervisor at the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and former Manhattan Assistant District Attorney, Marc serves as lead trial counsel on complicated and serious criminal cases, investigations and financial regulatory matters in U.S. District Courts throughout the United States, in State Courts in New York and New Jersey, and in other countries.

Generally, Marc handles high-stakes criminal cases involving securities, mail, wire, insurance and bankruptcy fraud, money laundering, construction and labor union matters, foreign corrupt practices act violations, racketeering and enterprise corruption, international arms dealing, criminal antitrust, bribery, kickbacks, criminal tax investigations an violent crime.

Marc also represents companies and individuals in Securities and Exchange Commission and FINRA enforcement proceedings, internal corporate investigations, and grand jury matters. Marc has also represented select clients charged with offenses such as murder, firearms possession, or other similar matters.

Finally, Marc has an active international criminal practice. He has represented clients (working with local counsel) on matters charged by the governments of Italy, Switzerland, Romania, Bulgaria, and Kyrgyzstan as well as investigations in several other countries.

Brooklyn Law School, Juris Doctor

Moot Court Honor Society, Co-Chairperson, 1989 – 1990

American Jurisprudence Award for outstanding performance in Trial Advocacy

Member and Coach of the National Trial Advocacy team;

Member and Coach of three appellate advocacy teams in national competitions


Connecticut College

Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Political Science, May 1986

New York State Bar

United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York

Supreme Court of the United States

United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Co-Managing Partner of Jenner & Block since January 2025, Ishan is regarded as one of the nation’s preeminent lawyers for institutions and businesses facing matters with significant financial, operational, regulatory, or reputational risk. Ishan is a go-to lawyer for senior executives and boards of directors facing their most difficult and high-stakes challenges. Jenner&Block was awarded “law firm of the year” in 2025 by the American Lawyer.

Gerald Pauling is a partner and member of the executive committee at Seyfarth Shaw LLP. He is an experienced litigator and trial lawyer who handles high profile employment litigation matters, including class actions. As an executive committee member, Gerald is one of seven partners elected to set the firm’s strategic direction and manage its global operations. Gerald currently lives in the Chicago area. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois and the UCLA School of Law.

Michael ("Mike") serves as Co-Deputy Chair of Akerman's national Litigation Practice Group and Office Managing Partner of Akerman’s Los Angeles office. Mike guides clients through complex disputes, including real estate litigation, commercial and business disputes, and complex insurance insolvency matters. His real estate litigation experience includes multimillion dollar easement, entitlement, and contract disputes on behalf of Fortune 500 REIT companies, commercial lease and purchase disputes and transactions, and real estate partnership disputes and workouts. On the insurance side, Mike handles conservation, rehabilitation, and liquidation of insurance companies.

Teny Geragos, a founding partner of Agnifilo Intrater LLP, defends individuals in federal and state criminal cases at both the trial and appellate level. Teny is an experienced trial lawyer, both in state and federal court, having tried and successfully defended a wide range of criminal matters including bribery, securities fraud, wire fraud, tax evasion, narcotics, FCPA, and cases that have potentially serious collateral consequences, such as deportation. Most recently, Ms. Geragos served as co-lead counsel for Sean Combs in his trial, where she was key in helping secure an acquittal for the charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy in the Southern District of New York.Teny is particularly experienced in defending and investigating allegations of sexual misconduct, which involve complex legal issues and emotionally charged allegations. She has represented numerous individuals accused of sexual assault, sexual harassment, or other types of sexual misconduct. Teny has also regularly represented victims of sexual assault and violence, helping them navigate the difficulties of reporting to the police, and cooperating with law enforcement investigations. Finally, Teny has led several internal investigations, including in the construction and healthcare industries.Ms. Geragos has been selected as a SuperLawyers Rising Star for five consecutive years and publishes and speaks regularly on various legal topics ranging from “Gag” Orders to Protective Orders to managing electronic discovery.Ms. Geragos serves on the Board of Directors of the New York Criminal Bar Association.

Matt provides his clients with reliable counsel through virtually all aspects of litigation, with an emphasis on financial services and securities matters.

Matt represents public and private companies and their officers and directors, issuers, broker-dealers, investment banks, and individuals in both commercial and securities-related disputes. He has experience handling cases implicating federal and state securities laws including auction rate securities, Regulation SHO, accounting fraud, market manipulation, suitability, unauthorized trading, and employment matters.

Matt regularly represents clients in proceedings before governmental and self-regulatory organizations, including the SEC, the Colorado Division of Securities, FINRA, and the New York Stock Exchange. Matt also conducts internal investigations of alleged misconduct for companies and represents individuals in such investigations.

In addition, Matt is experienced in representing clients involving corporate governance disputes, fiduciary breaches, fraud, trademark infringement claims, class actions, and various other commercial matters.

Matt is the Business Litigation Practice Group Leader.

A skillful trial attorney, Amy Doehring represents clients in a wide variety of complex litigation matters in federal and state courts across the country as well as in arbitration. Her legal practice focuses on the defense of clients in several industries such as healthcare, food and beverage, engineering, and manufacturing. She also assists corporate clients in disputes arising out of commercial transactions and advises trustees and beneficiaries in trust and estate controversies. She serves on the firm’s board of directors and is Co-Deputy Chair of Akerman’s Litigation Practice Group.

Sigrid is a Managing Partner of Boies Schiller Flexner, where she helps oversee the work of attorneys throughout the firm. Sigrid’s litigation talents have been nationally recognized. She was named Litigator of the Year by The American Lawyer, Lawyer of the Year Finalist by The American Lawyer, Top Ten Female Litigator from 2020-2023 by Benchmark Litigation, Finalist for Attorney of the Year in Florida by Daily Business Review, Most Effective Lawyer in Arbitration by Daily Business Review, a Leading Lawyer in America by Lawdragon, and a Thought Leader 2021 by Corporate Counsel. Sigrid has made appearances on Netflix, Lifetime, 60 Minutes, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, and Fox, and her work has been featured in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. With over 20 years of experience litigating some of the most sophisticated commercial litigation disputes in the country and abroad, Sigrid’s advocacy for clients in high-stakes cases has received high acclaim. Forbes wrote of Sigrid’s deposition skills: “With ironclad interrogation skills, McCawley won the day hands-down…As a legal performance, McCawley on this day should be taught.” Sigrid’s sophisticated commercial practice is far-reaching and ranges from recently winning a multimillion-dollar international arbitration to securing a $100 million victory in a landmark case before the U.S. Supreme Court twice in Halliburton Co. v. Erica P. John Fund. Time and again, Sigrid has successfully handled some of the most challenging commercial disputes. Sigrid has been a leader in the legal right on behalf of victims of sex predator Jefrey Epstein and his co-conspirators. Her pro bono work contributed to the arrest of Jefrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Jean Luc Brunel and resulted in a successful resolution of claims for numerous Epstein victims she represents. Recently, Sigrid helped recover $365 million in a class action for Epstein victims against two major financial institutions. She is also presently representing pro bono a group of ballerinas in their efforts to hold their abusers accountable on sex trafficking charges. Committed to public service, Sigrid presently serves on the Board of Directors for Jack & Jill and on the Board of Directors for the Community Foundation of Broward. 

Ellen Robbins' career trajectory is highlighted by her current role as Akerman's senior trial lawyer on the West Coast. Ellen is an experienced complex commercial litigator with over three decades of experience, with particularly expertise in areas of unfair competition, fraud, deceptive pricing, consumer class actions, alter ego, breach of contract, and federal preemption. Ellen's commitment to legal excellence is matched by an equally strong dedication to philanthropic leadership and community service. Ellen was named to the LA Business Journal's Leaders of Influence - Litigators and Trial Lawyers in 2021 and 2024, and in 2026 she was named one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Los Angeles, in addition to receiving the Community Impact Lawyer of the Year award.

Douglas Rochen is a distinguished trial attorney recognized for his dynamic advocacy and unwavering commitment to clients nationwide. As a partner at DiCello Levitt, Doug’s practice is focused on single-event catastrophic injuries and sexual abuse litigation.

Doug has secured numerous significant verdicts and settlements, achieving justice and substantial compensation for victims of traumatic brain injury, paralysis, amputation, catastrophic orthopedic loss, severe sensory impairments, and wrongful death. He has obtained multiple seven- and eight-figure awards, including a more than $25 million settlement in product defect cases, a $14.5 million personal injury settlement involving a cycling accident, and a $9 million award for defective roadway design where pedestrians were struck by an errant vehicle. He was also part of the landmark $114 million settlement against the prison in Dublin, California, in which each victim was awarded an average of $1.2 million.

In his advocacy for survivors of sexual abuse, Doug has secured landmark settlements and verdicts in complex cases against powerful entities and individuals. Most recently, Doug was Liaison Counsel in a historic $4 billion settlement for survivors of sexual abuse in Los Angeles County’s juvenile detention and foster care systems—the largest payout of its kind in U.S. history. He represented over 2,000 individuals subjected to sexual abuse, assault, and harassment while incarcerated in California jails and prisons, addressing systemic abuses such as those at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, within the Los Angeles County juvenile justice system, and at various women prisons in California, all known as sites of rampant misconduct.

A respected leader within the legal community, Doug has been an active member of the American Association for Justice, holding key leadership roles to influence legislation protecting vulnerable populations. Additionally, his service with the Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC) and Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) reflects his commitment to ensuring fair treatment for victims of corporate misconduct. He also has authored numerous articles in prominent legal journals and magazines on topics ranging from workers’ compensation to rights of sexual abuse survivors to the use of experts in product liability cases.

Russ Emerson is a trial lawyer who serves as lead counsel in high-stakes, high-risk patent litigation throughout the country. His cases involve a variety of technologies, from semiconductors to lasers, medical devices to pharmaceutical products, and petroleum drilling technology to computer networking.

Clients also turn to Russ to handle cases involving trademarks and trade dress, copyrights, theft of trade secrets, and other complex technical and related business disputes. In addition to his trial court practice, Russ has successfully argued a number of appeals before the Federal Circuit. He is also active at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, having participated in dozens of inter partes review proceedings.

A former naval officer, Russ leads litigation and trial teams sized to effectively and efficiently accomplish his clients’ goals. As a registered patent lawyer with a degree in mechanical engineering and experience in nuclear engineering, Russ combines technical fluency with the ability to explain complex technology to judges and juries alike.

Before attending law school, Russ served as a division officer on board a nuclear-powered, fast-attack submarine and was certified as a Naval Nuclear Engineer by the Department of Energy’s Naval Reactors Division.

Jeffrey W. Shields is an experienced litigator with skills including representation of clients with diverse interests in complex bankruptcy, receivership, and restructuring cases in Utah and around the United States. He represents clients defending officer and director liability cases brought by receivers and bankruptcy trustees, as well as adversary actions, contested plan confirmations, executory contract issues, fraud, claims litigation, asset sales, relief from stay, contempt, motions to dismiss or convert, contested asset valuations, contested foreclosures and related business disputes in state and federal courts and private arbitration proceedings, frequently under compressed time frames. Mr. Shields is adept at resolving cases in mediation and keeping our clients’ business objectives at the forefront of the engagement. Mr. Shields is also experienced in appeals of bankruptcy issues to Federal District Courts, Federal Bankruptcy Appellate Panels, and Federal Courts of Appeal. He is a chair qualified arbitrator for the financial industry regulatory authority (FINRA).

After many years as a co-managing partner with his own law firm, Mr. Turner was invited to join MSK, as an equity partner in the firm’s labor and employment law practice group. Throughout most of his legal career, Mr. Turner has provided counsel, advice and representation to many employer clients, including major producers and distributors in the filmed entertainment industry. Earlier in his career he was part of the legal staff for the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and later served as in-house labor and employment law counsel for Twentieth Century Fox. Mr. Turner has been with MSK since 2015, working out of its Los Angeles offices, where he continues to counsel and represent employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. While a large focus of his practice is in the filmed entertainment industry, Mr. Turner also represents employers across all industry sectors. His practice includes employer representation in labor arbitrations, administrative proceedings, court litigation, and collective bargaining negotiations. Mr. Turner has successfully defended employers at trial and on appeal in wrongful termination cases involving claims for racial discrimination, age discrimination, sexual harassment, disability discrimination, retaliation and breach of employment contract. Mr. Turner’s practice also includes advice and counsel to employers on human resource management, workplace and leave accommodation issues, compliance with wage and hour laws, employee discipline, harassment prevention, union organizing issues, and collective bargaining negotiations on behalf of management.

Ashleigh Raso is a founding partner at Nigh Goldenberg Raso & Vaughn in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She practices primarily mass tort litigation. 

Suzin Tait is the Director of Operations at Ben Martin Law Group. Suzin completed a first degree in law from the University Southern Queensland and a LLM from St. Mary’s School of Law. She also holds a degree in Business and Commerce and is a CPA.

Rachel Sykes is a trial attorney specializing in catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, nursing home abuse, trucking, and premises liability cases. She has achieved multimillion-dollar results for her clients throughout her career. Rachel is an accomplished litigator and trial lawyer who enjoys helping clients solve complex problems. She often says that her fa-vorite hobby is holding wrongdoers accountable for their actions. Rachel has been a plaintiff’s lawyer since 2007 and is admitted to practice in Utah, Idaho, Washington, Arizona, and North Dakota.

Rachel is a highly sought-after speaker and educator and has traveled around the country speaking to other attorneys about trial and litigation skills. She currently serves on the fac-ulty of the American Association for Justice’s Deposition College and teaches in many other programs nationwide. Rachel feels strongly about protecting the right to trial by jury and is a tireless advocate for the civil justice system.

Rachel currently serves as the member liaison for the AAJ Premises Liability Section. She is an active AAJ member and serves on the Board of Governors and the Executive Committee of the Women Trial Lawyers Caucus. She is an AAJ Leadership Academy graduate. Rachel is the Vice President of the Utah Association for Justice and will assume the role of President beginning in late 2027. A self-described “rules nerd,” she serves on the Utah Supreme Court’s advisory committees for both the Rules of Evidence and the Rules of Civil Procedure.

Rachel is a devoted fan of what she considers the most disrespected sports franchise in the history of the United States, the Utah Jazz. She attended Michael Jordan’s “alleged” flu game as a high school student and did not find him to appear particularly ill. In addition to cheer-ing on the Jazz, Rachel enjoys watching football and basketball, making playlists, reading, traveling, and staying active.