Approximately 200 professionals attended the Mass & Class conference April 28 – 30, 2026 in Kiawah Island, South Carolina, where discussions centered on the latest insights of mass tort and class action litigation. 

The fifth annual conference, hosted by Epiq, drew judges, court‑appointed neutrals, plaintiff and defense counsel, and legal services professionals. Panels were moderated by the neutrals, who selected the topics and guided discussions toward the issues they see most often at decisive moments in litigation. 

Whether examining developments in mass tort procedure or shifts in class action practice, panelists framed their observations through personal experience, often drawing on examples from recent matters. Judges and neutrals provided context on how emerging trends are influencing their decision‑making, while counsel on both sides described how those expectations translate into day‑to‑day litigation choices. 

The candid exchanges among neutrals, judges, defense attorneys, and plaintiffs’ counsel provided attendees with an inside look at how differing legal positions are received across the courtroom. 

“The energy is different when judges, neutrals, and counsel from both sides of the v share a stage and have an honest conversation,” said Nicole Hamann, President, Class Action, Remediation, and Mass Tort at Epiq. “Attendees benefit from hearing directly from the people who see these cases at their most critical moments.”   

The setting allowed attendees to engage directly with speakers and peers. Those exchanges underscored one of the conference’s consistent aims to create space for dialogue across roles that rarely intersect so openly during active litigation. 

In addition to some of the leading figures in the judicial system, Epiq class action, remediation, and mass tort subject matter experts shared key insights across several panels, including: 

• Clare Ducksbury, Senior Vice President: Class Actions: Tales from Across the Atlantic 
• Stephanie Fiereck, Esq., Senior Director: Innovating Beyond the Basics of Class Notice 
• Deborah Forsythe, Senior Consulting Director: The End of Guesswork: How Data Sharing Can Drive Value, Creditability, and Efficiency in Mass Torts 
• David Garcia, Vice President: Mass Tort Settlement from A to Z 
• Nicole Hamann, President: Mass or Class 
• Loree Kovach, Senior Vice President: Catching and Deterring Fraud in Class Action Settlements 
• Michael O’Connor, Senior Vice President: State-Federal Coordination; Filing Considerations After Mallory v Norfolk 
• Amanda Sternberg, Director: Privacy Litigation in the Age of New Technology 
• Patti Scamardo, Client Services Project Director: Reducing Third-Party Exposures and Reporting Settled Cases 
• Sylvius von Saucken, Managing Director: Reducing Third-Party Exposures and Reporting Settled Cases 

David Dobson, CEO of Epiq, also delivered remarks during the welcome reception. 

“This event wouldn’t be successful without the generosity of our speakers who invest significant time preparing and then openly share their perspectives during the conference,” Hamann said. “We are equally thankful to our sponsors for their partnership and support in bringing this program to life.” 

Mass & Class 2026 was organized by Lauren McGeever, Managing Director, and Stephanie Carlson, Marketing Manager, at Epiq. It was sponsored by Huntington National Bank, Western Alliance Bank, RebuttalPR, First Horizon, Counsel Financial, Thompson Flanagan, Motley Rice, McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips LLC, and Talli.