As COVID-19 engulfed our country, courtrooms, like most businesses, abruptly closed. Lawyers and judges had to adjust so that the legal system did not come to a screeching halt. In the weeks following, the legal industry began to move forward with cases over online platforms.
In May 2020, Stewart Law Group Founding Partner Amy M. Stewart made history, becoming one of the first trial attorneys to present a case to a jury over Zoom. In response to her experience participating in the nation’s first virtual Summary Jury Trial, Amy put together a team of outstanding leaders in the legal profession to create the Virtual Proceedings Playbook (VPP): M.C. Sungaila, Winter Wheeler, and Cheralyn Stevenson.
M.C. practices in California and is at the top of her game nationally on appellate issues. She led the appellate strategy in proceedings arising from the proposed placement of COVID positive Diamond Princess passengers in then-COVID-free Orange County, California. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Winter is nationally recognized for her mediation work and is a thought leader across social media regarding dispute resolution practices during the pandemic. Cheralyn is the co-founder and Head of Legal Innovation at The Changists, a legal consulting firm focused on helping law firms modernize their operations and leveling up their virtual game with technology.
The VPP is a resource for lawyers, mediators, and judges to use when conducting virtual proceedings. In this exclusive eBook, Amy covers strategies to zealously represent clients in trials, hearings, and depositions, Winter explains how to successfully resolve disputes through mediation, M.C. outlines how to protect the appellate record, and Cheralyn details the operations and technology aspect of legal proceedings.
The VPP is a great tool to coach in-house litigation managers and outside counsel through the four quarters of litigating and protecting the appellate record – discovery, hearings, ADR, and trials – and how to take advantage of the special features of virtual platforms.
Want to get in the virtual game? The VPP is free to download here or on SLG’s Resources Page.
Author Bios
Amy M. Stewart | Founding Partner, Stewart Law Group PLLC
Contact: astewart@stewartlawgrp.com
Amy has expertise in resolving contract disputes, business torts, investigations, products liability, employment, and labor matters. In addition to her civil trial experience, Amy is a certified Title XII Investigator and Arbitrator with the AAA and has presided over commercial, construction, and employment matters. Amy is also certified as a FINRA arbitrator and was inducted into the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution Panel of Distinguished Neutrals.
Mary-Christine “M.C.” Sungaila | Chair, Appellate Practice Group, Buchalter
Contact: msungaila@buchalter.com
M.C. is the leader of Buchalter’s Appellate practice group and a Shareholder in the firm’s Orange County office. M.C. is a highly regarded appellate attorney who has briefed and argued appeals raising cutting-edge and fundamental business issues for over two decades. Her work has helped shape undeveloped areas of the law in constitutional law, employment, franchisor liability, product liability, class actions, probate, immigration, Holocaust art recovery, and human rights.
Winter Wheeler | Mediator & Arbitrator
Contact: winterwheeler@gmail.com
Winter is an in-person and online-based mediator and arbitrator. She is a former civil litigator who brings an extensive and comprehensive body of experience to her current practice. She specializes in several areas including wrongful death, catastrophic injury, personal injury, premises liability, nursing home, legal malpractice, medical malpractice, products liability, toxic torts, automotive and trucking liability, civil rights, false imprisonment, municipal liability, water runoff, construction defect, contracts, entertainment, and family law/domestic violence.
Cheralyn Stevenson | Head of Legal Innovation, The Changists
Contact: cheralyn@changists.com
Cheralyn has an extensive background in legal administrative matters. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminology from Regis University as well as a Master of Business Administration in Project Management from Colorado Technical University. She has held numerous leadership positions over the last 20 years planning, monitoring, and executing processes advancing law firm efficiency optimization with innovative risk mitigation and profit maximization strategies.