The Case for Civility: Benefits of Civility in Legal Practice

Lisa A VandenBerg Related Seminars and Products

Judge

Maricopa County Superior Court

Honorable Lisa A. VandenBerg is the Presiding Disciplinary Judge for the Arizona Supreme Court – presiding over formal attorney discipline, disability, and reinstatement proceedings. Prior to the Arizona Supreme Court, Judge VandenBerg retired after 20 years from the Arizona State Superior Court of Maricopa County, as the Associate Presiding Judge of the Probate/Mental Health Department. During her tenure, she served as Associate Presiding Judge of Family Court and Presiding Commissioner of Probate - presiding over Criminal, Juvenile, Family, Probate and Lower Court and Administrative Appeal matters. She also handled numerous therapeutic courts including the Co-Occurring Rehabilitation Court which assisted probationers with SMI designation navigate their Criminal Court Probation terms with mental health resources.

Mandi J Karvis Related Seminars and Products

Mandi J. Karvis is a Shareholder in Wicker Smith's Phoenix office. She opened the office in 2018, and serves as the managing partner there, overseeing the day-to­day office operations as well as her busy litigation schedule.

Mandi joined the firm as an experienced trial attorney, having spent 14 years as a partner at another firm before joining Wicker Smith. The entirety of her career has been spent defending healthcare matters including medical malpractice, general liability for healthcare institutions, nursing home negligence, sexual impropriety and professional liability, and cases involving the Adult Protective Services Act (APSA), addressing allegations concerning the mistreatment of vulnerable adults.

Mandi regularly defends individual healthcare providers of all specialties, including chiropractors and other allied healthcare professionals, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and home health care agencies. She serves as national counsel to several clients on matters involving inappropriate sexual touching in a professional setting, and has successfully tried cases in Arizona, Tennessee, California, and New York, in addition to her federal court practice.

A natural competitor, Mandi is enjoys the challenge of being a trial lawyer. She takes a big picture approach and evaluates each claim to find the best avenue to a successful outcome. Mandi has the desire and skill to try cases, but also has the judgment and discretion to know that not every case belongs in the courtroom. Her clients count on her to provide candid and honest counsel about the path to resolution, and they know she will make the appropriate recommendations to resolve the case in their best interest.

In addition to her trial practice, Mandi also represents healthcare professionals before their relevant licensing entities, aiding with licensing requirements and addressing complaints filed by patients, employers, or insurance firms. In this role, she frequently appears before several Boards, such as the Arizona Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Arizona Medical Board, Arizona Board of Osteopathic Examiners, Arizona State Board of Nursing, Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners, and the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. Her rapport with these Boards and their personnel, coupled with her understanding of their standards, enables her to guide clients effectively, striving to prevent or mitigate license and practice limitations.

Mandi is well-respected by her peers, and holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbell. She  was recognized as a Southwest Super Lawyer Rising Star from 2012-2017, a Southwest Super Lawyer since 2018, and by the Best Lawyers in America in Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants since 2020. She was also featured in AZ Business Leaders Magazine in 2023.

Mandi was born and raised in Illinois and moved to Arizona after law school in 2002. She lives in Phoenix with her husband Ray, who is a strength and conditioning coach, and their dogs. Between her work and family, Mandi enjoys traveling, reading, hiking, and starts most of her days at OrangeTheory Fitness.

Meredith L Vivona Related Seminars and Products

State Bar of Arizona

Meredith L. Vivona is the Ethics Counsel for the State Bar of Arizona, where she advises lawyers through the Ethics Hotline, presents ethics related CLE programs, acts as legal advisor to the Fee Arbitration Program, serves on the Ethics Advisory Group and acts as liaison to the Arizona Supreme Court’s Attorney Ethics Advisory Committee. Prior to becoming Ethics Counsel, Meredith served as Practice Management Attorney for Practice 2.0 and the Trust Account Helpline, the State Bar’s confidential practice management and trust account advice program. Before joining the State Bar of Arizona, Meredith served as Independent Bar Counsel, investigating and prosecuting misconduct allegations brought against attorneys, when the Lawyer Regulation Office had a conflict. Part of Meredith’s responsibilities included serving as Acting Disciplinary Counsel for the Commission on Judicial Conduct where she investigated and resolved judicial misconduct complaints. Before serving as IBC, Meredith enjoyed a varied career in private practice, with experience in civil litigation matters throughout the state. Meredith is admitted to practice in Arizona and the U.S. District Court for the State of Arizona. Meredith received her Juris Doctor from Wake Forest Law School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.