Dan Stephenson, Ron Greenberg Represent Dykema at World Jurist Association Global Conference in Jerusalem/Tel-Aviv, Israel

Daniel J. Stephenson, who directs Dykema’s 180-member Litigation Department, and Ronald M. Greenberg, a Los Angeles-based attorney whose practice focuses on business, commercial, tort and product liability litigation as well as other forms of alternative dispute resolution, participated in the 2013 World Jurist Association (WJA) Global Conference held in Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv, Israel in late June. The conference was attended by some of the most notable legal professionals in the world, including chief justices, judges, law professors and government officials.

Stephenson delivered a paper, “U.S. ‘Mass Tort’ Litigation and its Effects on Global Commerce,” which outlined how the rise of mass tort actions, which—if not identified and skillfully addressed early—can result in substantial economic and reputational risk that in extreme circumstances can threaten a company’s survival.

Greenberg, a past president of the World Jurist Association and a long-standing member of the organization who has attended every one of the WJA’s Biennial Congress sessions since 1979, moderated a panel discussion—“Global Economy and the Rule of Law: Different Reflections and Perspectives”—in which the opening remarks were delivered by the Speaker of the Knesset (the legislative branch of the Israeli government). Panel participants included the President of the Israeli Supreme Court (ret.) and the current president of the WJA.

The World Jurist Association, whose motto is “A world ruled by law, not force,” celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. WJA, a worldwide organization with special consultative status at the UN Economic and Social Council, works closely with governments, non-governmental organizations and international associations to foster cooperative dialogue on world peace.