Professionalism, Civility, and Ethical Advocacy in Modern Legal Practice (2026 Edition)

Karen E. Ross, Counsel | Tucker Ellis

Karen E. Ross is Counsel at Tucker Ellis LLP, where she is nationally recognized for her expertise in complex civil litigation, with particular emphasis on product liability, premises liability, and exposure-related torts. She represents clients across the United States, serving as both national and local counsel in matters involving asbestos, talc, silica, and coal mine dust exposures. Known for her strategic insight and deep understanding of multi-jurisdictional litigation standards, Karen develops and implements effective defense strategies tailored to her clients’ business and legal needs. Her collaborative approach with design and engineering professionals enhances case outcomes and ensures robust representation at every stage of litigation.

Education & Credentials

• Karen earned her Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where she distinguished herself as an Order of the Barristers honoree, received the Dean Dunmore Distinguished Advocate Award, and served as captain of the National Moot Court Team. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kenyon College. Karen is admitted to practice in Ohio (2001) and Illinois (2017), and she maintains federal admissions including the United States Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Recognition & Leadership

• Karen’s professional achievements reflect her leadership and peer recognition within the legal community. She was selected for the Ohio Super Lawyers® Rising Stars list early in her career, an honor awarded to outstanding attorneys for professional achievement and peer recognition. Additionally, she was named the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys Committee Chair of the Year and recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® for 2026.

Professional Involvement

• Committed to advancing the profession and civic engagement, Karen actively participates in bar associations and legal committees, including roles with the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys, the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Federal Bar Association. She coaches mock trial teams, serves as a judge for Ohio high school competitions, and holds an executive board position with St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. Her long-standing commitment to community service has also included leadership positions with the May Dugan Center and the Lakewood Family YMCA.

Experience

• With a career spanning more than two decades, Karen’s litigation practice covers all aspects of civil defense, with particular focus on product liability, premises liability, and complex exposure litigation. She leads coordinated defense teams in high-stakes matters, manages national litigation strategies, directs discovery and motion practice, and develops expert and fact witness testimony. Prior to joining Tucker Ellis, she refined her trial skills as an assistant prosecutor in the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office and as a staff attorney for the Ninth District Court of Appeals—experiences that continue to inform her courtroom advocacy and litigation acumen.

Outside the office, Karen enjoys time with family and friends, exploring Greater Cleveland’s parks and cultural offerings, and is a devoted parent to her adopted fur-baby.

Hon. Andrea R. Wolfson | Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, Circuit Court Judge

Judge Andrea R. Wolfson is a dedicated and experienced jurist serving on the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida. She currently presides in the Criminal Division, where she brings extensive prosecutorial and courtroom experience to the bench. With a career grounded in public service and complex criminal litigation, Judge Wolfson is recognized for her thorough legal analysis, commitment to justice, and steady leadership in high-stakes proceedings.

Education & Credentials

• Judge Wolfson earned her Bachelor of Science in Pre-Professional Studies from the University of Notre Dame. She subsequently received a Master of Science in Biological Sciences from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, reflecting a strong academic foundation in scientific disciplines. She later obtained her Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law, completing her formal legal education and beginning her career in public service.

Recognition & Leadership

• Judge Wolfson’s appointments to both the Miami-Dade County Court and later the Circuit Court reflect the trust and confidence placed in her legal judgment and professional integrity. Her elevation from County Court Judge (appointed May 2010) to Circuit Court Judge (appointed June 2018) underscores her demonstrated leadership, judicial temperament, and commitment to the fair administration of justice.

Professional Involvement

• Throughout her career, Judge Wolfson has served the public through multiple prosecutorial roles at both the state and federal levels. As an Assistant State Attorney with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, she prosecuted a broad range of criminal matters, including the most serious felony offenses. She also served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, where she handled firearms-related prosecutions. These roles reflect her deep engagement with both local and federal criminal justice systems.

Experience

• Judge Wolfson’s judicial career began with her appointment to the Miami-Dade County Court bench in May 2010, where she presided over DUI, criminal traffic, and misdemeanor cases. In June 2018, she was appointed to the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida and began serving in the Criminal Division on June 18, 2018. Her combined experience as a state and federal prosecutor and as both a County and Circuit Court judge provides her with a comprehensive understanding of criminal law from investigation through adjudication.

Marianne Curtis, Partner | Berger Singerman

Marianne Curtis is a dynamic litigation partner at Berger Singerman LLP, where she represents clients in complex commercial disputes, employment litigation, business litigation, and receivership matters. With a well-earned reputation for zealous advocacy and sophisticated trial strategy, Marianne brings deep courtroom experience and practical problem-solving to clients across industries.

Education & Credentials

• Marianne earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law and received her Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from the University of Miami. She is admitted to practice in Florida and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, as well as the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Florida.

Recognition & Leadership

• Marianne has been regularly recognized for her trial skill and rising influence in the legal community, including repeated selection to the Florida Super Lawyers Rising Stars list (2019–2025) and The Best Lawyers in America® “Ones to Watch” (2022–2025). Her early career honors include the 2019 Outstanding Woman Lawyer of Achievement Award from The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division, the Rising Star Awards from the Women of Distinction Judicial Gala and Miami-Dade Florida Association for Women Lawyers, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 40 Under 40 Outstanding Lawyers of South Florida Award.

Professional Involvement

• Marianne is deeply engaged in the legal community, serving on the Board of Directors of the Miami-Dade Florida Association for Women Lawyers and advisory boards for several companies. She participates in litigation skills workshops and continuing education programs, including presentations on deposition strategy, direct examination, and effective litigation practice for organizations such as the Federal Bar Association and University of Miami School of Law.

Experience

• With more than a decade of litigation experience, Marianne focuses on high-stakes matters involving business disputes, employment issues, corporate governance litigation, partnership disputes, internal investigations, and compliance. She has tried over 85 jury trials to verdict, demonstrating her command in the courtroom and ability to navigate complex legal challenges. Marianne’s practice also includes receivership litigation and nuanced commercial controversy resolution. Prior to joining Berger Singerman, she sharpened her litigation acumen through service as a prosecutor and Special Assistant with the United States Attorney’s Office.

Jan Jacobowitz | Legal Ethics Advisor

Jan L. Jacobowitz is a nationally recognized legal ethics thought leader, consultant, educator, and author specializing in professional responsibility, legal ethics, technology, and social media issues impacting the legal profession. As founder and principal of Legal Ethics Advisor, Jan provides expert ethics guidance, litigation consulting, opinion letters, risk-management strategies, and compelling CLE presentations to law firms, bar associations, and legal organizations across the United States.

Education & Credentials

• Jan holds a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from The George Washington University Law School and a Bachelor of Science in Speech from Northwestern University. She is an active member of the Florida Bar, the D.C. Bar, and the California Bar, and is a certified civil court mediator.

Recognition & Leadership

• Jan’s leadership in legal ethics has been broadly recognized. She has been invited as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, an honor bestowed on legal professionals whose careers demonstrate outstanding dedication to the highest principles of the profession and community welfare. She has also received the ABA Smythe Gambrell Award for her work directing the Professional Responsibility and Ethics Program at the University of Miami School of Law.

Professional Involvement

• Jan is deeply engaged in advancing ethical practice and professional responsibility. She is a Past President of APRL, currently co-chairs its Future of Lawyering Committee, and has served as APRL’s liaison to several ABA committees on professionalism and public protection. She frequently presents nationally on legal ethics topics, including social media, advertising, cybersecurity, conflicts of interest, and unauthorized practice of law.

Experience

• Before focusing her career on legal ethics education and consulting, Jan practiced for over 20 years, serving as a Legal Aid attorney, a DOJ prosecutor with the Office of Special Investigations, and a commercial litigator in private practice. Through Legal Ethics Advisor, she now advises law firms and attorneys on conflicts of interest, advertising compliance, and the ethics implications of technology and AI. She also teaches legal ethics as an Adjunct Professor and previously directed the Professional Responsibility and Ethics Program (PREP) at the University of Miami School of Law.

I. Professionalism behind the scenes: Ethics, leadership, and accountability within the legal team | 12:00pm – 12:30pm

Professionalism does not begin and end in the courtroom — it is shaped daily within law firms, legal departments, and client relationships. This session examines what professionalism truly requires inside the legal team, including effective supervision, respectful delegation, and constructive feedback. It also addresses how attorneys should respond to unprofessional conduct from colleagues and clients, particularly when client demands collide with ethical duties. Attendees will explore the risks of tolerating toxic behavior for the sake of productivity and gain practical strategies for documenting, addressing, and resolving internal professionalism challenges while maintaining ethical integrity.

II. Digital professionalism and modern advocacy: Drawing the line between zealous and unethical | 12:30pm – 1:00pm

In an era of instantaneous communication and remote practice, lawyers often confront ethical and professional challenges. The frequent use of email, text, virtual meetings, and social media have all resulted in the potential for reputational damage and disciplinary exposure for lawyers. This session explores aggressive advocacy that crosses the line and provides suggestions for lawyers dealing with opposing counsel who traipse on ethical boundaries. By looking at a few examples of digital “dilemmas” that did not end well, attendees will hopefully gain an increased awareness of practice in the digital age thereby assisting them in avoiding the ethical and professional landmines that await the unwary lawyer.

Break | 1:00pm – 1:10pm

III. Professionalism as power: Civility and ethical advocacy in modern legal practice | 1:10pm – 2:10pm

• This session explores the critical distinction between ethics and professionalism, the root causes of unprofessional conduct, and the impact lawyers have as the public face of the justice system. Through both judicial and practitioner perspectives, attendees will examine civility as a tool for effective advocacy, consider emerging challenges such as AI and cybersecurity, and leave with practical strategies to elevate their advocacy while strengthening trust in the legal system.