2026 Fall Chapter Conference

Registration, Welcome Cocktail & Reception

Presidential Patio – El Dorado Hotel & Spa

Registration & Coffee

Morning registration and coffee

Conference Kick-Off

Welcome by the Chapter Chair and Conference Planning Committee

Plenary

Navigating Difficult Conversations: Clients, Staff, and the Personal Toll of Legal Work

Communication frameworks and emotional strategies for handling difficult client, staff, and personal conversations with confidence, compassion, and professionalism while protecting well-being

Speakers:
Nicholas Mireles (Los Angeles, CA)
Guillermo M. Hernandez (San Antonio, TX)
Kevin Little (Houston, TX)

Plenary

Leading Through Uncertainty: Immigration Law in a Volatile Political Climate

Running a sustainable firm while managing the emotional toll of today’s immigration environment—leadership, resilience, and adaptive planning

Speakers:
Ruby Powers (Houston, TX)
Lorena Rivas (Tulsa, OK)
Hussein Sadruddin (Dallas, TX)

Lunch & Networking

Midday break and networking

Plenary

Boundaries as Business Strategy: Saying No to Protect Your Practice and Your Peace

Practical strategies for setting and enforcing professional boundaries with clients, staff, and your own schedule—and how those boundaries support a healthier practice, stronger client relationships, and long-term sustainability

Speakers:
Maria McIntyre (Irving, TX)
Daniel Caudillo (Lubbock, TX)
Ivonne Herrera (Arlington, TX)
Krisztina Udvardi (Albuquerque, NM)

Plenary

Building a Healthy Law Firm or Nonprofit Legal Organization: Leadership, Mission, and Culture

How to build a cohesive leadership team, define mission and core values, and create a culture of clarity and accountability that promotes organizational health, retains talent, and drives long-term success

Speakers:
Marcela Evans, Texas Immigration Law Council
Jennifer Landau, New Mexico Immigrant Law Center
Olsi Vrapi (Albuquerque, NM)
Matt Green (Tucson, AZ)

Creating Templates, Procedures, and Systems for Efficient Filings and Client Communication

Best practices for standardized templates, documented procedures, and systems that streamline filings, reduce errors, and improve communication consistency

Speakers:
Rebecca Kitson (Albuquerque, NM)
Amber Weeks (Albuquerque, NM)

Mental and Physical Health

Keeping Your Body Alive: Tips from a Clinician to Minimize the Health Effects of Practicing Immigration Law

Chronic stress and physical health, essential screenings and appointments, and practical guidance through anonymous Q&A

Speakers:
Erika Beetcher, DNP (Rochester, MN)
Dessi Matthew (Houston, TX)

AI in the Immigration Law Firm: Tools, Risks, and Staying Ahead of the Curve

A practical look at AI tools moving the needle in 2026, from document drafting to intake automation, including ethical evaluation and competitive use

Speakers:
Nadine Navarro (Coral Gables, FL)
Greg Siskind (Germantown, TN)
Andres Lopez (Charlotte, NC)

Mindfulness and Energy

Grounded While the Ground Keeps Moving: Mind Your Energy in Volatile Times

Energy management versus time management, micro-practices between hearings, mindfulness research in law, a live guided practice, and a plan for continuing after the conference

Speakers:
Natalie Martin (Albuquerque, NM)
Karen Crawford (Austin, TX)
Rosemary Vega (Houston, TX)

Protecting Your Practice: Compliance, Risk Management, and Cybersecurity in an Era of Increased Government Scrutiny

Safeguarding the firm through compliance protocols and client vetting, plus secure client portals, data protection, and breach response planning

Speakers:
Craig Dobson (New York, NY)
Magali Chandler Suarez (Houston, TX)

Moderator:
Roberto Campos (San Antonio, TX)

Everyone Needs You and the Country Is on Fire: Being a Leader and Caregiving in Immigration Law

The caregiving spectrum, ethical contingency planning, guilt and asking for help, and concrete firm policies and personal systems practitioners actually use

Speakers:
Beatriz Trillos Ballerini (Houston, TX)
Rebecca Kitson (Albuquerque, NM)

Coffee & Networking

Morning coffee and informal networking

Client Pipeline in a Down Market: Lead Generation, Referrals, and Converting Consultations into Retained Clients

Keeping revenue flowing when policy uncertainty causes clients to delay filings through marketing, community partnerships, referral strategy, and conversion

Speakers:
Jimmy Lai (Oklahoma, OK)
Luiggi Perdomo (Dallas, TX)
Diana Zapata

Relationships and Community: No Immigration Lawyer Left Behind: Peer Support and Asking for Help When It’s All Too Much

Designing deliberate support systems such as peer circles, mastermind groups, and mentorship; confidentiality boundaries; and auditing your support network before a crisis

Speakers:
Cori Hash (Austin, TX)
Dessi Matthew (Houston, TX)
April Land (Albuquerque, NM)

From Associate to Owner: Buying, Selling, or Transitioning an Immigration Law Practice

A practical guide to law firm succession, including valuation, deal structure, and common pitfalls

Speakers:
David Ware (Metairie, LA)
Lynn Caulder (Raleigh, NC)
Natalia Riveros Jacobson (Oklahoma City, OK)
Roberto Campos (San Antonio, TX)

Life Outside the Law

Joy, Despite It All: Reclaiming a Self Outside Immigration Law

Addressing over-identification with immigration work and intentionally rebuilding activities, service, and sources of joy outside the caseload

Speakers:
Magali Chandler Suarez (Houston, TX)
Joss Bravo Bonetti (Austin, TX)
Michelle Edstrom (Oklahoma City, OK)

Scaling Smart: Growing Your Firm Through New Offices, Virtual Teams, Virtual and Hybrid Models, and Expanded Practice Areas

Decision-making frameworks, financial modeling, and operational infrastructure for strategic growth without overextending

Speakers:
Brittanie James (Vero Beach, FL)
Joss Bravo-Bonetti (Austin, TX)
Clayton Cartwright (Colombus, GA)

Redefining Success

Pivot, Don’t Perish: Reinventing Your Career in a Hostile Climate

Real career pivots, practical mechanics of transition, and redefining success beyond headcount and revenue

Speakers:
Allegra Love (Santa Fe, NM)
Anna Trillo (Albuquerque, NM)
Lindsay Goldford Gray (Austin, TX)

Conference Closing Remarks

Closing remarks from conference leadership

Conference Adjourns