2026 BENCH-BAR CONFERENCE CLE SESSION DESCRIPTIONS 
April 15, 2026 
DoubleTree Hotel, Reading PA 

The Berks County Bar Association is pleased to host the 2026 Bench-Bar Conference at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Reading.
Visit our vendors in Vendor Alley between classes, network with your fellow members, and enjoy a buffet lunch. The conference ends with a Cocktail Reception immediately following the final CLE course.

THIS EVENT IS IN PERSON ONLY. NO ZOOM OR VIRUTAL ATTENDANCE OPTION IS AVAILABLE. 

9:00 AM Seminars

Avoiding Malpractice - General/Plenary (Ballroom)
Paul C. Troy, Esq., will entertain with cautionary tales and enlighten the latest rulings from the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board to equip private practice attorneys with knowledge needed to avoid professional liability. 
(1 hour ethics CLE credit & USI Affinity discount) 

Bruen and Its Progeny: Out with the New, In with the Old (Penske Amphitheater) 
The new standard under Bruen, the subsequent case law that has come out, and cases that are still pending. Presenters will be Berks County Assistant Public Defender Deborah Brown and Berks County Assistant District Attorney Charles Prutzman. 
(1 hour substantive CLE credit) 

10:15 AM Seminars

Criminal Bench Roundtable (Penske Amphitheater)  
A lively discussion of hot topics for criminal law practitioners featuring Berks County Court of Common Pleas President Judge M. Theresa Johson, the Hon. Thomas Parisi, the Hon. Eleni Dimitriou Geishauser, the Hon. Patrick Barrett, and the Hon. Justin D. Bodor. Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams and Chief Public Defender Keith McConnell will moderate. 
(1 hour substantive CLE credit) 

Be in the Know: Berks County Family Law Rules Style 
Be the first to review the proposed family law rules update for Berks County. Learn what changes are proposed to the Berks County divorce, custody and support local rules. You will get access to new proposed forms and procedures. Ask questions and provide feedback so your Berks County family law practice stays up to date! Presenters will be Catherine Nadirov, Esq., Family Court Administrator; Judge Jill Gehman Koestel, Esq., Divorce Hearing Officer; and Pamela A. DeMartino, Esq., IV-D Attorney - Berks County Domestic Relations Section. Julie J. Marburger, Esq., moderates.  
(1 hour substantive CLE credit) 

AI in Intellectual Property Law
This presentation will provide insight into AI developments in federal cases and from administrative guidance. The panel of Joseph R. Falcon, Esq., and Kevin C. Myhre, Esq., will focuses on high-impact areas for legal practitioners: (1) AI and inventorship, (2) patent eligibility under 35 U.S.C. § 101, and (3) the rise of trade secrets as a key AI protection strategy. Paul F. Troisi, Esq., will moderate.
(1 hour substantive CLE credit) 

The ABC's of Education Law
This seminar is intended to provide a primer for attorneys whose clients interact with Pennsylvania's public K-12 education system as parents, employees, residents, and volunteers. Topics will include FERPA, impact of custody agreements, student rights/discipline, and emerging trends. Jesse C. Leisawitz, Reading School District Chief Legal Officer, will lead this seminar.
(1 hour substantive CLE credit)     

11:30 AM Seminars

Post-Conviction Relief Act Refresher and Criminal Law Caselaw Update (Penske Amphitheater)  
Richard Joyce, Jr. and Alisa Hobart, Chief of Appeals, Berks County District Attorney’s Office, will discuss current issues related to the Post-Conviction Relief Act and review key appellate court decisions in Pennsylvania.
(1 hour substantive CLE credit) 

Divorce and Advanced Age Parties 
Learn how to identify and handle divorce issues with elderly clients, including assessing questionable capacity, the appointment of a guardian and/or guardian ad litem, important ethical considerations, and the intersection of divorce and Medicaid planning.  Lauren P. Butterworth, Esq.; Nicole C. Manley, Esq.; and Victoria White, Esq., Ethics Counsel for the Pennsylvania Bar Association; will present. Moderator will be Sara H. Clipp, Esq. 
(1 hour ethics CLE credit) 

Bankruptcy Guide for Litigators
This seminar will prepare litigators to handle the various actions that occur after a party files for bankruptcy. Eden Bucher, Esq., and George Lutz, Esq., will lead a discussion of the nuances of the various bankruptcy chapters; exemptions under Section 522; claim priorities; automatic stay and related exemption procedures; seeking relief to pursue coverage for personal-injury cases only; proofs of claim; and the interaction between mechanics lien claims and general contractor bankruptcy. Bring your questions for these seasoned bankruptcy lawyers. Pamela VanFossen will moderate.
(1 hour substantive CLE credit)

Zealous Advocacy: Representing Vulnerable Adults in Guardianship Proceedings
Attendees will hear from practitioners about the best practices when representing alleged incapacitated persons and incapacitated persons during guardianship proceedings and after a guardian is appointed. Topics will include discussions on zealous advocacy, representing the wishes of the vulnerable adult, ensuring their voice is heard, and how to identify alternatives to guardianship. Presenting will be: Keith Hinkel, Assistant Director, Office of Elder Justice in the Courts; Kathryn Wentzel, Esq., Managing Attorney, Reading Office, MidPenn Legal Services; Summer Swanson, Esq., Staff Attorney, MidPenn Legal Services, and Alexa Anganavage, Esq., Antanavage Farbiarz, PLLC
(1 hour substantive CLE credit) 

12:30 PM    LUNCH AND BAR ASSOCIATION SPRING MEMBERSHIP MEETING - General/Plenary Ballroom (Maple II, Spruce II, Chestnut II) 

1:45 PM Plenary Seminar

Artificial Intelligence in the Legal Profession
Harriet R. Brumberg, Counsel for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Disciplinary Board, will discuss AI-related misconduct complaints, representative disciplinary cases, and the conduct patterns most likely to generate future complaints — concluding with best practices for avoiding discipline. In addition, Robert W. Gurry, Esq., and Rachel Vesely, Esq., of Thomson Reuters, will demonstrate the use of legal AI applications across the core workflows of legal research, document review, and document analysis, including demonstrations for courts and government agencies covering judicial analysis, brief comparison, and contract review.
(1 hour ethics CLE credit) 

3:00 PM Seminars

2026 DUI Update: New statute, new ARD guidelines, and newly-certified DUI Treatment Court (Penske Amphitheater)  
This seminar will review the newly enacted DUI statute, and how that affects Court procedures and ARD, as well as an update on Berks County’s DUI treatment court. Presenters will include the Hon. Eleni Dimitriou-Geishauser; the Hon. Justin D. Bodor; Assistant Public Defender Kimm Montone; Assistant District Attorney Joseph R. Speece, III; and Asst. Chief Adult Probation Officer Alexandra Velazquez. Daniel C. Nevins, Esq., will moderate. 
(1 hour substantive CLE credit) 

Keep It Classy: Dealing with Educational Disputes in Family Law 
This CLE will provide an overview of special education law, and the process for obtaining an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 plan for a child. This CLE will emphasize how custody practitioners can assist their clients when conflict between the parents spills over into the IEP/504 process.Leah Rotenberg, Esq. and Jennifer Bradley, Esq. will present with Margaret M. McDonough, Esq. moderating.
(1 hour substantive CLE credit) 

Civil Bench Roundtable
Judges from the Berks County Court of Common Pleas Civil Division, the Hon. Jeffrey Schmehl, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the Hon. Patricia Mayer, Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, will review key procedures and discuss hot topics for civil litigators. 
(1 hour substantive CLE credit) 

Practical AI Applications for All Practice Areas
Robert W. Gurry, Esq., and Rachel Vesely, Esq., of Thomson Reuters, will dive deeper into how lawyers and judges are using Artificial Intelligence in written discovery, including drafting and responding to requests; drafting briefs, pleadings and motions; and contracts and transactions matters; deep legal research for prosecutors and public defenders; and high value cases for Courts and government attorneys.
(1 hour substantive CLE credit) 

4:15 PM Plenary/General Session
View from the Bench: Jury Diversity and other issues that enhance equal justice for all
The Hon. Jeffrey L. Schmehl leads a panel discussion on efforts to promote jury service in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and other issues affecting attorneys and their clients who appear before the Court.
(1 hour substantive credit CLE) 

5:15 PM to 6:30 PM Cocktail Reception 

Register online now or complete this digital form and send to ebucolo@berks.bar.org. Register before April 1st for the lowest rates! 

701 Penn Street
Reading PA  19601

Registration fees cannot be refunded after April 8, 2026.
Emergencies and other circumstances that prevent you from attending the conference may be discussed with Executive Director Kori Walter.