Launchpad

Roger E. Barton is the Managing Partner of Barton LLP, where he applies over 30 years of experience to lead a firm that provides quality and results through a practical and business-minded approach. In addition to managing the firm, he represents clients in the capital markets and financial services industries regarding securities fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, common-law fraud, 10b-5 class actions, and breach of representations and warranties.

Roger has been rated by The American Lawyer, Corporate Counsel Magazine and The National Law Journal as one of the Top Commercial Litigators in the United States and is a Senior Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America- a trial lawyer honorary society limited to less than .05% of lawyers in America. He is also Designated Author & Analytical Columnist for Reuters Legal News and Westlaw Today in the areas of Securities Litigation & Regulation and the Business of Law.

Don D. Ford III is the managing partner of Ford + Bergner LLP and is board-certified in estate planning and probate. With nearly 30 years of experience, Don specializes in tax and estate planning, probate, guardianships, and mediation.

Don serves as a commissioner on the Judicial Branch Certification Commission and previously served as Vice-Chair of the Texas Guardianship Certification Board and Chair of the Rules Committee. His leadership extends to the editorial board of the Houston Lawyer Magazine and the Board of Trustees for the Houston Lawyer Referral Service. Don graduated from Baylor University with degrees in Accounting and Law, followed by extensive post-graduate coursework in taxation.

William (Bill) Josten is Director of Client Value and Commercial Strategy with Honigman LLP, where he aligns the firm’s legal services with evolving client needs and business goals. He works with firm leaders to develop client-focused service strategies that are competitive, practical, and efficient. Formerly a practicing attorney of nearly 20 years, Bill brings a wealth of knowledge on how law firms operate and succeed.

Before joining Honigman, Bill spent over a decade in various roles at Thomson Reuters, most recently Senior Manager of Enterprise Legal Thought Leadership for the Thomson Reuters Institute. Through Thomson Reuters, he published more than 100 reports on the global legal market and worked closely with law firms around the world on issues and opportunities for law firm profitability, pricing, cost recovery, and sustainable business growth strategy.

Yuliya LaRoe is the founder and CEO of LeadWise Group, an award-winning law firm consulting and coaching company. For nearly 15 years, she has coached and trained over 5,000 lawyers at AmLaw 100 and 200 firms nationwide.

Prior to founding LeadWise, Yuliya practiced law at an AmLaw 100 firm for nearly a decade. She holds a J.D. from USC School of Law, an MBA from Boston University, and is a Professional Certified Coach credentialed by the International Coaching Federation.

Yuliya’s expertise has been featured by the ABA, NALP, PDC, ALM, Law Practice Today, and Attorney at Work.

Joel Oster is a litigator, national speaker, podcaster, and stand-up comic. In private practice, he specializes in constitutional law, appellate advocacy, and attorney ethics. Joel regularly litigates First Amendment issues and has been lead counsel on two cases tried before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Joel has presented at various bench and bar conferences and co-hosts the podcast DeBriefing the Law with Chris Marohn, covering current legal news and true crimes. He earned his JD from the University of Kansas School of Law and is admitted to practice in Kansas, Missouri, Florida, and numerous federal courts.