Published on March 13, 2025 by Morgan Black  
Art of Advocacy
Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law will host its second annual international continuing legal education (CLE) conference, The Art of Advocacy, at the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland, June 29-July 1, 2025. With sessions led by U.S. and U.K. presenters, participants will earn 12 CLE credit hours* while immersing themselves in a unique cultural experience.

Confirmed speakers include:

 
Chris Daw, KC
One of the most sought-after barristers in the U.K., Chris Daw KC has been involved in some of the most complex and high-profile cases in the nation. He has represented many high-profile individuals, corporations, entrepreneurs and professionals facing serious allegations. Daw will present "How to Tell the Story of the Client the World Sees as the Villain.”
 
Andrew Todd
Scottish attorney Andrew Todd is the general counsel and company secretary for Springfield Properties, Scotland’s only publicly listed house builder. He also serves as co-senior tutor of Commercial Awareness at the University of Glasgow and is the author of several books and articles. Todd will share his expertise on how to communicate with in-house counsel and elevate your advocacy skills effectively.
 
<strong">Benedikt Bogason
Benedikt Bogason is the president (chief justice) of the Supreme Court of Iceland and a part-time member of the faculty of law at the University of Iceland. President Bogason is also an author and a highly respected and frequent lecturer on legal issues in Iceland and mainland Europe. President Bogason will sit on a panel of distinguished international jurists who will share their unique perspectives on effective persuasion in their courts.
 
Ricardo Woods, Cumberland School of Law Class of 2004
Ricardo Woods is a partner at Burr & Forman in Mobile, Alabama. With the conference theme of persuasive storytelling, Woods will present "Cross to Close: Telling the Client’s Whole Truth."
 
Ashley Peinhardt, Cumberland School of Law Class of 2010
Ashley Peinhardt, a partner at Hare Wynn Newell & Newton in Birmingham, Alabama, is a nationally recognized trial lawyer known for her mastery of courtroom advocacy and compassionate, client-focused representation. During our conference, based on persuasive storytelling, she will present "Storytelling in Voir Dire."
 
Kameron Monet Buckner, Cumberland School of Law Class of 2019
Leveraging her years of expertise in the influencer marketing industry and her law degree, Kameron Monet Buckner founded her consulting firm, The Legal Tea™, to bridge the gap between the creator economy and the law. In 2025, she wanted to focus more on educating creators by providing helpful resources, practical tools and simplified legalese for the creator economy, so she created an app called Social Docket Dialogue. Her session will be titled "The Esquire Brand Bluebook: Cite Your Story, Build Your Brand.”
 
Rodney Max, Cumberland School of Law Class of 1975
Rodney Max, principal at Upchurch, Watson, White & Max in southern Florida, will present “Meaningful Paths to Resolution Through Mediation.” Max, who has helped resolve thousands of disputes throughout the nation, will emphasize how mediation is the humanization of the justice system and will expound upon empathy and objectivity as keys to successful mediation.
 
Carolyn Lam, Cumberland School of Law Class of 2006
Carolyn Lam is the global chief compliance officer and general counsel for Europe at Ecobat, the world’s largest lead battery recycler. She oversees legal operations across Europe while driving global compliance initiatives for the company. In her session titled “From the Watercooler to the Headlines, Controlling the Narrative”, Lam will share her expertise and insights on legal strategy, corporate governance and compliance.
 
While in Scotland, attendees will have the chance to sample Edinburgh’s rich culture. The Royal Mile boasts many opportunities to shop, dine and take in landmarks such as the Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace, and more.
 
Proceeds from the conference support scholarships for Cumberland School of Law students to attend international programs.

Registration

Registration for the conference is $1,750 until April 15, 2025 ($1,950 after) including a $500 non-refundable registration fee. Seating is limited.
 
Register Here
 
*Twelve CLE hours, including one ethics hour, are available in Alabama, New York, Mississippi and other jurisdictions. Attorneys admitted in mandatory CLE states who wish to use this course toward fulfilling the state’s requirement should complete a Uniform Certificate of Attendance available at the conference and self-report to their respective state bar association.
 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.