PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

In a few short months, I look forward to welcoming you, your families, and your transportation colleagues from around the world to San Diego, California for TLA’s 2023 Annual Conference & CTLA Midyear Meeting. In addition to a spectacular line up of CLE programming and networking events, sunny San Diego will offer plenty of fun and engaging opportunities throughout the conference.

Paradise Point Resort & Spa, located on Mission Bay in the heart of San Diego, features comfortable bungalow-style guestrooms amidst lush, tropical gardens, tranquil lagoons, and one mile of sandy beach next door to SeaWorld.  There is plenty of room to roam and relax at the resort that includes five swimming pools, beach bonfire pits, a marina, five dining venues, an award-winning spa and endless recreation options.

This year’s program will have a Comic-Con theme and will keep us informed in all aspects of the rapidly changing transportation industry. Panels will include:

  • Trade Wars -Episode I- Forced Labor Strikes Back
  • Negligent Hiring Claims in Hell’s Kitchen: The Risk Brokers and Shippers Confront with Wilson Fisks’ Jury Pool Waiting to Pass Judgment
  • The Justice League: How Companies Team Up to Challenge Industry Threats They Cannot Handle Alone
  • Batman and Superman in the Courtroom
  • Antman in the 21st Century – Learning to Work in the Microverse
  • The Joker, Bane, and Batman.  Who is good, who is evil, and are they really that different when collecting/defending against freight charge claims?
  • Be a Batman, Not a Joker
  • Be Prepared and Stay Calm: How to Avoid Transforming into The Hulk When Confronted by Thanos the Supervillain Attorney
  • Scott Pilgrim v. The World: Preemption Roadmap to Defeating AB5 Classification
  • Piercing the Corporate Veil: “I’m Gonna Wreck It!”
  • Stranger Things: How to be an Eleven and defeat the Demogorgons in Vecna’s Upside Down Derivative Trucking Liability Claim
  • Where Worlds Collide: Legal Issues at the Interstices Between Brokers and Motor Carriers

Continue reading to learn more about the program, committee meetings, golf, ping pong, and fun run, as well as networking and social events, including the time-honored Annual Banquet.

Respectfully,

Christopher M. Kelly, TLA President

Prepare yourself for a Comic-Con type of an experience!

The 2023 TLA Annual Conference will give you a taste of Comic-Con within the confines of Paradise Point.  In addition to the heroic CLE program and out of this world networking opportunities that TLA is known for, you will have multiple opportunities to enjoy all that San Diego has to offer. You won’t want to miss this meeting and take advantage of the opportunities to expand your knowledge, visit with current friends and colleagues and build new relationships.  The program committee of Chris Cotter, Beata Shapiro, Joelle Nelson, Justin Olsen, Peter Quinter, Bridgette Blitch, Cameron Roberts, Hillary Arrow Booth, Tom Martin, Matt Koch, Jason Orleans, Richard Grant, Paul Mello, Chris Merrick, Clark Monroe, Greg Reed, Melissa Thompson Richardson, Judson Price, Virginia Price, Bradley Bertkau, Alex Karcher, and Paul Custer have worked very hard to put together an out of this world CLE program.  The Program Committee is led by program co-chairs, Kristen Johnson and Stevan Baxter.


Registration 
Register today for TLA’s 2023 Annual Conference to take advantage of early registration discounted fees, receive pre-meeting information, and to ensure your name is included on the pre-registration roster.  **Please note there is a 3% fee for all credit card charges.**  If you would like to submit your registration with a check or wire payment, fill out TLA Annual Conference Reg Form and send it in with the payment.
Registrations processed on-site may cause a delay at the time you check in at the registration desk. After April 14 please call (913) 222-8652 to register over the phone. If you would like to register onsite, please  bring a completed registration form and valid payment.

Registration Confirmation
For those registrations received by April 14, TLA will send a confirmation by email. When you receive your confirmation, please  check the spelling of your name to ensure it is correct. If there is an error, please contact staff at the TLA Executive  Office at 913-222-8652. The information on your confirmation email will be the information used for your name badge and event tickets. If you do not receive a confirmation email within three weeks of registering, contact the TLA Executive  Office to confirm receipt of your registration.

Non-Members** 
By registering as a non-member, you will receive an application for membership and must meet the TLA membership qualifications in order to attend the Annual Conference. If you are a new member of the Transportation Lawyers Association, you may attend the Annual Business Meeting as a voting member. Please note that $350 (full membership) or $250 (Corporate Counsel) of the non-member registration fee pays your TLA dues in full for 15 months: April 1, 2023, through July 31, 2024, the end of our fiscal year. You receive four “free” months of membership benefits, and we are confident that you will want to renew your membership for the fiscal year 2024-2025!

Registration Cancellation Policy
Written notice of cancellations received on or before March 1 will be fully refunded. Cancellations received from March 2 through April 2 will be refunded less a $200 processing fee. No refunds will be issued for cancellations received after April 3. Substitution of registrants is allowed, but must be of the same membership type and requested in writing no later than April 14 to [email protected].

Transportation
San Diego International Airport is just 10 minutes from Paradise Point and offers flights to and from airports all over the world.  Through Kellen’s relationship with Delta, there is a discount if you will be flying Delta to San Diego.  Please use NM2BS when making your reservation.  The code can be used online or by calling (800) 328-2216.  If booking online, be sure to the above code in the  box labeled Meeting Event Code (optional).

Guest Parking
Onsite parking at the resort is self parking in front of your room for $42/night.

What to Bring
Pack a variety of clothes to enjoy every activity San Diego and surrounding area has to offer! At the Resort, there are swimming pools, a spa, tennis and a fitness center. Be sure to pack a jacket as the nights can get chilly.

Temperature
April in San Diego will average temperatures in the high 60s and lows in the 50s.

Attire
Conference sessions – Business casual – Pack a sweater or light jacket as meeting room temperatures tend to be cool.
✭   Wednesday Night – Welcome Reception & Dine Arounds – Casual
✭   Thursday Night – Group Dinner – Casual
✭   Friday Night – Banquet – Black tie optional
✭   Saturday Night – Closing Event – Casual

Things to do in San Diego

Explore the resort and area.  Check out the websites to see all that there is to do!