J.D. Keister, President (2024-2025)
McAngus Goudelock & Courie LLC
I hope to see you at our upcoming Annual Meeting in just a few weeks. We’re looking forward to hosting the meeting in Wilmington again. With unmatched professional development programming tailored to build skills and meet your practice needs, you will not want to miss attending. Join us June 12-15 to learn and network with peers and colleagues from across North Carolina.
The Annual Meeting is also when the NCADA transitions to new leadership. As I shared in my note when taking office last June, I attended my first Annual Meeting over 20 years ago and was encouraged by firm mentors to get involved in the NCADA. In an era where retention and young lawyer development is such a challenge for our member firms, NCADA is an excellent opportunity for firms to invest in younger lawyers in a similar fashion. I encourage younger members to attend, participate, and get involved! There is not a better way to learn or get connected within the civil defense bar. Go to member socials and events. Write articles. Be on a committee.
Major challenges impacting our firms and practices include generative AI into the practice of law, exploding verdicts, and the training and retention of talent. NCADA is working on programming and resources to support members and firms in these areas to include training newer and mid-level attorneys in essential and advanced litigation skills, information resources on AI and programming at our CLE offerings, and appointing a committee to explore strategies and training for defense attorneys on nuclear verdicts. You are invited to share your knowledge and expertise to volunteer to be involved. Contact me if interested.
Your Association is recognized statewide and nationally with working relationships with the NC Chamber, DRI, the DRI Center for Public Policy and Lawyers for Civil Justice working collaboratively on a tweak to Rule 702 at the General Assembly to align with the federal rule. Our Amicus presence continues to grow, and we are fortunate to have an Amicus Committee led by Duane Jones, Steven Bader, and Jeff Kuykendal vetting cases of relevance.
The state of the Association remains steady and stable. Our membership numbers are consistent, yet we encourage you to invite colleagues and peers to join us. We are fortunate to have strong support from our Litigation Support Partners, and we encourage you to take advantage of their expertise and services.
Many in Western North Carolina are still dealing with the impact from Hurricane Helene last September. We applaud the many contributions of our members and firms in supporting recovery efforts. That same day we held our annual Fall Seminar in Cary and despite the storm had good attendance and an excellent CLE program. This year, we have scheduled the Fall Seminar a few weeks later in October and will consider moving to late October to early November, which was the timing in our early years.
Finally, speaking of our early years, NCADA’s 50th Anniversary is in 2 years and will be celebrating this milestone in 2027. Today’s NCADA is THE organization for those of us on the defense side of the “V.” It is an organization where people can connect, where members can learn, and where knowledge can be passed from trial and industry legends to the next generation. What does the next 50 years look like to you? Let us know.
