The Mass-Tort MDL Leadership Bench-Bar Leadership Summit, presented by the Rabiej Litigation Law Center, will take place on July 16, 2026, at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in Chicago. The invitation-only summit brings together federal judges, leading practitioners, and industry experts for collaborative discussions focused on developing best practices and addressing emerging procedural challenges in mass-tort multidistrict litigation (MDL).
Lori Cohen and Cliff Merrell will serve as panelists on Panel 1, “Single Consolidated Pleadings; Setting and Holding Pilot (Test) Trials Early in the MDL,” from 8:40–10:15 a.m. The panel will examine the use of consolidated pleadings in MDL proceedings and explore strategies for implementing early pilot or test trials to promote efficiency, streamline case management, and advance resolution of complex mass-tort litigation.