The Cusimano Symposium continues to serve as a forum for forward-thinking trial advocacy, meaningful professional dialogue, and practical insight into the evolving landscape of Alabama tort law. Building on the momentum of prior years, the 2026 Cusimano Symposium will once again bring together respected voices to examine what effective advocacy looks like in a changing legal environment, focusing on how attorneys can better serve clients and communities through principled persuasion.
A Speaker Lineup Focused on Modern Advocacy
The 2026 program will center on a timely and increasingly crucial question: What truly persuades today’s juries? This year’s speaker lineup addresses that question through the lenses of technology, trust, and trial strategy.
The symposium will open with star litigator and past President of the American Association for Justice, Tad Thomas, presenting From Seeds to Trees: Using AI to Build Your Case Using Proven Principles of Persuasion. Thomas will explore how artificial intelligence can be thoughtfully and ethically incorporated into case development, while remaining anchored in the foundational principles that have long guided effective advocacy.
Tad Thomas is the founder and managing partner of Thomas Law Offices and a seasoned civil litigator with more than two decades of trial experience. After graduating cum laude from Salmon P. Chase College of Law, he began his career by immediately opening his own firm. Thomas has served in senior leadership roles in the Office of the Kentucky Attorney General, where he oversaw major civil litigation and supervised multiple legal divisions. Today, his firm operates in multiple states, and he is a frequent national lecturer on trial skills, ethics, and legal technology.
Next, trial titan David Wenner will present The Jury Has Changed: What Actually Persuades Now—Why Old Trial Strategies Are Failing in an Age of Distrust. Based on social science research, current focus groups and national surveys, Wenner will examine how shifts in public trust, media consumption, and juror expectations are reshaping the courtroom, and how attorneys must adapt their messaging to remain credible, relatable, and persuasive.
David A. Wenner, M.S.W., J.D., is a partner at the Phoenix‑based law firm Snyder & Wenner, P.C., where he focuses on catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and other serious personal injury litigation. Nationally recognized as an authority on juror bias and decision‑making, he has spent over two decades prosecuting complex cases and speaking to lawyers across the country while co‑developing a Jury Bias Model with Gregory S. Cusimano to improve trial outcomes.
Insight into Alabama Tort Law Trends
Following these presentations, our own Mike Roberts will offer commentary on current and emerging trends in Alabama tort law, providing practical insight into how recent developments may impact litigation strategy statewide. His discussion, entitled Alabama Tort Law in Motion: Selected Observations and Insights, will help connect broader advocacy principles to the real-world considerations facing Alabama practitioners.
Returning to the Core: Proven Principles of Persuasion
The program will conclude with remarks from Gregory S. Cusimano, who will speak on his newly published book, “Seeds for Success: Proven Principles of Persuasion.” Drawing together the day’s themes, Cusimano will reinforce a core belief shared by the firm: while tools and tactics evolve, meaningful advocacy is built on preparation, credibility, and principled persuasion.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in a drawing for copies of Alabama Tort Law(two volumes) and Seeds for Success, underscoring the symposium’s emphasis on continued learning and professional growth.
Register for the 2026 Cusimano Symposium
The 2026 Cusimano Symposium will take place on January 30, 2026, and is designed for attorneys who value thoughtful advocacy, professional development, and staying ahead of changes in the legal landscape.
👉 Register here
Space is limited, and early registration is encouraged.
Thought Leadership in Action
At Cusimano, Roberts, Mills & Knowlton, LLC, strong advocacy begins long before the courtroom. Hosting the Cusimano Symposium reflects our ongoing commitment to education, preparation, and the advancement of the practice of law through meaningful dialogue and shared insights. By bringing together legal professionals to discuss emerging issues and enduring principles, we aim to strengthen and inform Alabama’s legal community.
If you’d like to learn more about our firm, our attorneys, or how our advocacy approach serves clients statewide, we invite you to explore our practice areas or contact us directly.
At CRM&K, advocacy isn’t just what we do: it’s how we serve.
