Opening Reception

• Sponsored by Venable LLP

Breakfast

• Sponsored by Venable LLP

Representative Burgess Owens (UT-04), Co-Sponsor, H.R. 3495- Direct Seller and Real Estate Agent Harmonization Act

• Fireside Chat Leader: Alissa Neufeld, General Counsel, LifeVantage

The Legal 411: What’s Keeping Us Up at Night Part 1 

Today’s legal landscape is shifting fast, and direct selling companies are facing new challenges on multiple fronts. This session unpacks the issues keeping legal and compliance teams awake at night, from distributor misclassification litigation and FTC enforcement activity to income disclosure requirements, electronic distributor agreements, and the evolving rules on non-competes and non-solicits. Join these leading attorneys for a candid discussion on emerging risks, regulatory trends, and what your company can do now to stay ahead of the curve.

• Katrina Eash, Partner, Winston & Strawn LLP
• John Sanders, Partner, Winston & Strawn LLP

Lois C. Greisman, Associate Director, Division of Marketing Practices, FTC

• Moderator: John Villafranco, Partner, Kelley Drye 

The Legal 411: What’s Keeping Us Up at Night Part 2 

Today’s legal landscape is shifting fast, and direct selling companies are facing new challenges on multiple fronts. This session unpacks the issues keeping legal and compliance teams awake at night, from distributor misclassification litigation and FTC enforcement activity to income disclosure requirements, electronic distributor agreements, and the evolving rules on non-competes and non-solicits. Join these leading attorneys for a candid discussion on emerging risks, regulatory trends, and what your company can do now to stay ahead of the curve.

• Katrina Eash, Partner, Winston & Strawn LLP
• John Sanders, Partner, Winston & Strawn LLP

Representative Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Member, Direct Selling Caucus

• Fireside Chat Leader: Dave Grimaldi, CEO, DSA

Independent Contractor and Other Current Federal and State Regulatory Issues

More than a dozen companies (with more likely to come) have been put in the position of having to defend their business model through the filter of the employment laws of California and other states.  The first half of this session will take a data driven forensic look at why the typical employment analysis of wages, hours, and workweeks just doesn’t make any sense when applied to the direct selling model.  The second half of this session will address the current and future state of FTC and state regulatory powers, and other existing and pending regulatory matters facing direct sellers.

• Ed Burbach, Partner, Foley & Lardner
• Jane Fergason, Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP
• Branko Jovanavik, Partner, Edgeworth Economics
• Larry Steinberg, Partner, Buchalter law firm

Lunch

• Sponsored by Kelley Drye

Protect Your Business, Claims, Validation, and Compensation

This session will offer critical information on key issues, including earnings and opportunity claims, product claims, retail sales validation, compensation plan pitfalls, and compliance best practices.  

• Donnelly McDowell, Partner, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
• Ioana Gorecki, Special Counsel, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

Break

• Sponsored by Fieldwatch 

• Fireside Chat Leader: Dave Grimaldi, CEO, DSA

Representative Tim Walberg (MI-05), Chairman of the House Committee on Education & Workforce, Co-Sponsor H.R. 3495

• Fireside Chat Leader: Mike Telliga, Senior Principal for Federal Affairs, Amway

Representative Kevin Kiley (CA-03), Lead Sponsor of H.R. 3495, the Direct Seller and Real Estate Agent Harmonization Act

• Fireside Chat Leader: Dave Grimaldi, CEO, DSA

Break

• Sponsored by Integrishield

Innovation Meets Accountability: Turning Compliance and Technology into Growth Drivers

As innovation accelerates, direct selling companies are redefining how they communicate, monitor, and grow. From new AI tools to social and influencer marketing, marketing potential and oversight must evolve together. This session brings together experts who bridge legal, marketing, and compliance to show how responsible innovation not only protects consumers, but it also drives performance. Learn how companies are using technology, collaboration, and transparent practices to strengthen trust, reduce risk, and fuel sustainable growth across the channel.

• Bruce Murdock, Senior VP of Legal and General Counsel, 4Life
• Alissa Neufeld, General Counsel, LifeVantage
• Moderator: Jonathan Gilliam, CEO, FieldWatch

Delaware, Florida, Texas and Other State Issues from the 2024-2025 Legislative Session

Which states ended up shaping the toughest debates for direct selling this year? This session walks through the most important bills and regulatory moves from Delaware, Florida, Texas, and other key jurisdictions that drove policymaker attention in 2024–2025. Panelists will highlight what passed, what nearly did, and what these patterns signal for the year ahead. Attendees will leave with a clear picture of the state-level trends most likely to influence compliance, operations, and advocacy planning in 2026.

• Grant Baskerville, Chairman, Utah Direct Selling Coalition
• Ryan Chamberlin, Government Relations and Legislative Affairs, Florida Direct Selling Coalition, State Representative, Florida House of Representatives (FL-24)
• Kim Drabik, Vice President Corporate Affairs, Plexus International
• John Webb, Vice President, DSA
• Moderator: Dave Grimaldi, CEO, DSA

Reception

• Sponsored by Venable LLP

General Counsel Dinner (exclusively for direct selling executives, by invitation only)

Breakfast

• Sponsored by FieldWatch

Representative Richard Hudson (NC-09), Co-Chairman of the Direct Selling Caucus

• Fireside Chat Leader: Dave Grimaldi, CEO, DSA

Emerging Issues in Direct Selling in Canada

Canada is the US' largest trading partner and a significant market for most US-based direct selling companies. Learn of the current business climate, trade and tariff issues, and how direct sellers can effectively navigate Canadian law.

• William Bjornsson, Partner, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
• Lewis Retik, Partner, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP

Representative Jim Clyburn (SC-06), Assistant Democratic Leader, U.S. House of Representatives 

• Fireside Chat Leader: Dave Grimaldi, CEO, DSA

New Jersey Independent Contractor Issues, Rulemaking, Audit, IC Lawsuits

This session drills into New Jersey’s aggressive stance on independent contractor classification, including recent rulemaking signals, stepped-up audits, and litigation activity that reflects the state’s tightening posture. Panelists will explain how New Jersey’s model differs from other states, what risks are unique to this jurisdiction, and what companies should anticipate if they operate or sell into the state.

• John Holub, President and CEO of the New Jersey Retail Merchant Association
• Mariano Martinez, General Counsel, The Pampered Chef
• John Webb, Vice President, DSA

General Counsel Panel

What legal challenges defined this past year for leading direct selling companies, and what’s coming next? In this closing session, top general counsels share the issues that have demanded their attention, from managing regulatory expectations to steering risk in a fast-moving business environment. Panelists will discuss how they balance compliance with growth, what trends they are preparing for in 2026, and how the GC role continues to evolve as a strategic partner to the business. Attendees will leave with insights grounded in real-world experience and practical guidance from the executives who sit closest to the industry’s most complex decisions.

• Erin Barta, General Counsel, Mannatech, Inc.
• Bernadette Chala, Chief Legal Officer, Arbonne International
• Joshua Foukas, Chief Legal Officer, USANA Health Sciences, Inc.
• Darin Reber, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Forever Living Products

Lunch