Patrick M. Dukes

Associate Vice President, Claims Legal – P&C Casualty
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company

Description of field of expertise

Patrick brings over two decades of legal expertise in insurance coverage, litigation, and compliance. Currently serving as the Associate Vice President for P&C Casualty Claims Legal at Nationwide, Patrick has demonstrated exceptional leadership and business acumen. His extensive experience includes roles as a Trial Attorney, Claims Counsel, Assistant General Counsel Corporate Litigation, Chief Compliance Officer at State Auto Insurance, Regional Associate Vice President Legal, and Associate Vice President for P&C Commercial Claims Legal.

Patrick’s career is marked by his strategic vision and commitment to excellence in the insurance industry. He has consistently delivered results, leveraging his deep understanding of legal frameworks and regulatory environments to navigate complex challenges and drive organizational success. His leadership has been instrumental in shaping policies and procedures that ensure compliance and mitigate risks.

Patrick holds a JD from The Ohio State University College of Law and BA in Social Studies from Youngstown State University. Beyond his professional achievements, he is an active board member and leader in various community initiatives, demonstrating his dedication to giving back and making a positive impact.

With a proven record of success and passion for the insurance industry, Patrick continues to be a driving force in legal and compliance matters.

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

Stay confident in your abilities and capabilities because both will be challenged. Develop strong business relationships with clients, co-workers and seek out an executive sponsor. Your authenticity and perseverance in navigating corporate dynamics will help pave the way for your success and inspire others.

Natalina DePina-Daniel

Associate – McGuireWoods

Description of field of expertise

Natalina “Nat” DePina’ focuses her practice on commercial litigation with an emphasis on tort litigation, product and consumer litigation and international arbitration. She has extensive experience serving as national coordinating counsel for a premier transportation company handling a variety of complex tort matters. Nat also represents clients in employment litigation involving internal investigations, allegations of misconduct, retaliation, discrimination and harassment. She also advises and represents a broad range of financial institutions, retailers and other organizations in individual and class actions in both state and federal courts.

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

Commercial litigation is a broad field with endless opportunities for challenging and interesting work. Regardless of what specific area of law you choose within this field, accept that you will make mistakes and learn from each one. Be receptive to feedback and ask for help, but do not wait until you are overwhelmed to do so. The more prepared you are, the more empowered you will be to think strategically and critically to solve complex problems. One of the most valuable advices I received as a junior associate is to recognize the power of meaningful mentorships at the outset. Also, treat the partners and senior associates you work with as clients – try to become invaluable to them and they will likely become your sponsors. Finally, commercial litigation is a very difficult field – take care of and prioritize your physical and mental health.

Tiffany Reeves
Partner – Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath

Description of field of expertise

Tiffany Reeves leads the Institutional Investor practice at Faegre Drinker.  She is a trusted adviser to institutional investor clients in domestic and international private investments. Tiffany is recognized by Chambers USA for Investment Funds; Investor Representation, and her experience extends to a broad range of alternative investment strategies, including buyouts, credit, venture, real estate, infrastructure, energy, and natural resources.  She also advises institutional investor clients on fiduciary, governance, legislative and general administration matters. Tiffany has significant experience advising institutional asset owners on leading practices. She regularly advises clients on private equity due diligence, co-investments, U.S. Regulatory developments, custody and securities lending matters, secondary transactions, sustainability, and corporate governance matters.

Tiffany is a thought leader on fiduciary, governance, and sustainability topics; frequently speaking and writing on such issues.  Tiffany’s superpower is helping boards and executives develop trust and achieve alignment by finding the structure, culture, and consistency necessary to meet their business objectives.

Prior to returning to private practice in 2018, Tiffany served as the chief legal officer and deputy executive director for a defined benefit public employee retirement fund. While serving as the fund’s chief legal officer, she was responsible for a variety of investment matters including negotiation and review of private equity, private real estate and public market investments.

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

Define your core principles and values because this will guide you as your career unfolds and serve as your North Star, even if opportunities or choices present themselves in a way that is unexpected. These are my core principles.

1. Surround yourself with smart people and listen to them. Find credible people who are generous with their knowledge, time, experience and wisdom.
2. Feedback is a gift. Be open to feedback and refine your skills based on that feedback. Not all feedback is constructive, actionable, or accurate, but you should still take it and consider it; there is insight in every piece of feedback.
3. Keep learning—perpetually and be intentional about it. You have to be proactive in seeking knowledge and opportunities to learn more, do more, be more. 
4. Give generously but consciously. Share your knowledge, your time, your connections, even your resources generously, but only where you see value, alignment, and/or impact in that effort. 
5. Be disciplined and have a plan.  Hope is not a plan. You have to define your goals and come up with a plan to execute (and adapt). Only you can be accountable for the discipline and consistency that it takes to make progress.

Be authentic but read the room.  Don’t make yourself big, don’t make yourself small; just show up and be seen. Seek out spaces, clients, and work relationships that value you, and don’t waste time, thought, energy on those who don’t.

Brian Nixon
Partner – Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Description of field of expertise

As a former technology consultant specializing in e-business solutions, Brian Nixon understands his clients’ business goals and strives to provide them with forward-thinking counsel that helps propel enterprise at the leading edge of technology. To that end, Brian helps clients of all sizes—from startups to Fortune 500 companies—negotiate and structure complex commercial transactions that implement data- and technology-driven innovations across various media channels. 

Brian has handled all aspects of drafting and negotiating agreements in marketing, merchandising, publishing, promotions, media, sponsorships, entertainment, branded and integrated marketing, and social media. Brian advises teams, leagues, and technology companies in the sports business on online gambling, sports betting, and other data- and technology-driven initiatives. His matters often involve complex, multiparty allocations of intellectual property rights, Big Data management, and related privacy considerations. 

His experience includes advising organizations of all sizes on mobile commerce, TCPA compliance, online behavioral advertising, privacy issues, software development, advertising service agreements, and content license agreements. Throughout his legal career, Brian has worked with clients across a range of industries, including sports, automotive, motion picture studios and other entertainment companies, financial services, media companies, online retailers, consumer products companies, fashion technology, new media ventures, and advertising and promotions agencies. 

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

Read widely and be curious. I’m always amazed at how any knowledge you can cultivate about how businesses operate, patterns of consumer behavior, changes in digital technology, etc. can play a key part in making you a better lawyer. It’s not enough to know the law and how that’s changing, though that’s essential. You also have to understand the overall business context in which your clients are operating. So anything you can do to make yourself more informed about that will give you an important edge.

Final thoughts…

The right colleagues make all the difference. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by a smart and supportive team. That should be a high priority for anyone looking to build a successful legal practice.

Shannon McNeal
Partner – Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Description of field of expertise

Shannon McNeal is a seasoned attorney with extensive experience in empowering technology, entertainment, and consumer-oriented enterprises. Her practice is focused on strategic product counseling, regulatory compliance, and related transactional services. Shannon’s work is aimed at guiding businesses through the complexities of digital innovation while prioritizing risk mitigation.

In an era of rapid regulatory changes, Shannon’s background as a litigator and enforcement defense attorney provides her with a unique perspective on emerging regulatory and compliance challenges. She is recognized for her strategic problem-solving skills and her ability to leverage her experience to find innovative and pragmatic solutions to complex legal issues. Her expertise spans a range of critical areas, including:

• Ensuring transparency and accountability in AI and machine learning algorithms;
• Navigating evolving data privacy regulations to protect user data;
• Addressing regulations related to online sales, marketing, advertising, and product safety;
• Managing legal complexities associated with user-generated content and potential liability for harmful material;
• Balancing content moderation to maintain a safe online environment while respecting free speech rights; and
• Safeguarding intellectual property rights.

Shannon is distinguished by her ability to deeply understand and anticipate the unique needs of her clients. She is not just a legal advisor but a strategic partner committed to forming collaborative teams that align with her clients’ visions and objectives. Throughout her career, she has successfully led and guided multidisciplinary teams to achieve outstanding results.

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

For new attorneys in technology and innovation law, it’s essential to understand how emerging technologies intersect with regulatory frameworks. Begin by building a solid foundation in legal principles such as data privacy, intellectual property, and product safety. From there, staying updated on tech advancements and their legal implications is crucial, as clients will look to you for both legal guidance and strategic, forward-thinking solutions. Networking with tech industry professionals will help you stay attuned to trends and broaden your perspective. Above all, position yourself as a collaborator who understands and supports your clients’ innovative goals in the digital age.

Final thoughts…

Beyond my expertise in technology and innovation law, I am deeply committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organization and the broader legal community. My dedication to creating a more inclusive legal profession is demonstrated through my leadership in firm affinity groups and collaborative efforts with clients on DEI initiatives. I am also passionate about mentoring the next generation of attorneys, helping them seamlessly integrate into our firm and the legal field. When you partner with me, you gain a legal advocate who not only navigates complex legal landscapes but also champions your business’s growth, values, and culture.