Shades of Mass Conference 2022

The inaugural Shades of Mass Conference was held from August 5 to 7, 2022, at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, Georgia. Organized by Shades of Mass, a pioneering organization dedicated to advocating for the involvement of Black and Brown attorneys in mass tort litigations and leadership roles in federal and state-based centralized civil actions, the conference aimed to foster diversity and inclusion within the legal profession.

The conference featured a comprehensive program that included executive meetings, receptions, and a series of educational sessions. Keynote speakers such as the Honorable Lucy McBath, U.S. House of Representatives, 6th Congressional District, and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul addressed attendees. Sessions covered topics like the fundamentals of mass torts, setting up a mass tort practice, funding strategies, and claims and settlement administration. The event also offered networking opportunities, including a cocktail hour fundraiser and a party with Doug E. Fresh and Friends.

Approximately 5.5 hours of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit were pending approval from several state bar associations. The conference was open to attorneys of color and their allies, aiming to bridge the gap in representation within mass tort leadership roles.