DRI-The Voice of the Defense Bar, and Other Prominent Legal Organizations Announce 2004 Joint International Conference In Barcelona.

Business Editors/Legal Writers

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 7, 2004

Hundreds of defense attorneys, corporate counsel and insurance executives are expected to attend the 2004 Joint International Conference presented by DRI-The Voice of the Defense Bar; The Association of Defense Trial Attorneys; The Federation of Defense Corporate Counsel; and the International Association of Defense Counsel. The May 10-11 event in Barcelona, Spain will focus on cross-border litigation concerns to businesses and insurance companies.

Executives such as Allen P. Waxman, senior assistant general counsel of Pfizer Inc., and Richard Wiseman, U.K. general counsel of Shell International Limited, will speak at the conference regarding international litigation concerns. Additional speakers include Santiago Nadal of Ernst & Young, Barcelona; Paul Llewellyn of Eversheds, London; Emily Q. Freeman of AIG eBusiness Risk Solutions, San Francisco; and Josep M. Mayor of MAPFRE, Barcelona.

"The Joint International Conference will gather some of the world's most seasoned and well-respected litigators and businesses to address the crucial issue of international litigation--from jurisdiction to insurance issues," said John Kouris, DRI Executive Director. "No business can operate in a vacuum, and product manufacturers and insurers worldwide must be able to assess what is occurring in the international arena at the earliest possible moment."

Additional representatives from companies such as Nike Europe, Deere & Company, Rockwell International, The Sherwin-Williams Company, Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe Ltd, and Fireman's Fund Insurance Company will discuss how to avoid pitfalls in product liability and insurance defense litigation.

The conference will offer educational sessions including:

-- What is "Hot" in the Product Liability Arena

-- Discovery Issues from Both European and U.S. Perspectives

-- Mediation, Arbitration and Other Alternative Methods of

Resolving Disputes

-- What European Companies Look for in U.S. Lawyers and What

American Companies Look for in European Lawyers

-- Punitive Damages, Class Actions and Bad Faith

Registration is limited, and attendees are encouraged to register early. For more information about the conference and to register, call DRI headquarters at 312-795-1101, or visit DRI at www.dri.org. Members of the media should RSVP for credentials with Paul Jackson at [e-mail] or 202-973-1311.

The 2004 Joint International Conference has been approved for mandatory continuing legal education (CLE) credit by the State Bar of California in the amount of 15.25 hours.

DRI--The Voice of the Defense Bar is the national organization of defense trial lawyers and corporate counsel. DRI provides numerous educational and informational resources to its more than 21,000 members and offers many opportunities for liaison among defense trial lawyers, corporate America, and state and local defense organizations. DRI also has an international presence, seeking to enhance understanding of the law among members of the defense community who have reason to be concerned with the expanding globalization of litigation defense.