Spencer Fane attorneys Kersten Holzhueter and Stephen Zralek recently attended the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)’s Annual Midyear Meeting in Dana Point, California, an opportunity to both provide and absorb insights from leading attorneys around the world. Kersten served as a featured speaker for the event while Stephen played a pivotal role in coordinating the meeting’s programming as chair of the event’s CLE Steering Committee.
The association’s 2025 spring meeting topics included defending against attempts to politicize the judiciary, handling Rambo tactics in litigation, and the evolution of NIL rights for college athletes, as well as overarching themes of cultivating management skills in future leaders, retaining and supporting diverse attorneys, and managing cross-office and cross-generational teams. Kersten co-led a session titled, “Winning the War for Talent: Finding, Developing, and Keeping Future Firm and In-House Leaders.” In it, she provided guidance for mentoring attorneys in a rapidly shifting legal landscape. As a Spencer Fane Talent Team Leader, Kersten plays a pivotal role in managing the firm’s attorneys through a structural redesign which facilitates professional growth and fosters feedback.
Stephen, meanwhile, was honored to chair the CLE Steering Committee, a team of 18 IADC members from around the globe that spent the last year selecting leading industry speakers and coordinating 10 main-stage panels. Spencer Fane attorney and IADC member Erik Solverud was also part of this team. At the opening session, Stephen previewed what attendees could expect. He also shared his excitement as a featured speaker on the association’s official podcast, IADC Speaks. The event’s comprehensive list of featured speakers included state and federal judges, professors, college athletes, public relations professionals, and attorneys from leading U.S. and international firms and corporations.
At Spencer Fane, Kersten co-leads the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group. As a full-service litigator for financial services companies, she defends a wide range of claims asserted against financial institutions, including class actions. These cases typically relate to consumer protection statutes, credit reporting, deposit account terms and conditions, bank fees, loan agreements, guaranties, forged and altered items, and defaulted municipal bonds.
Stephen is an accomplished litigator who helps clients resolve intellectual property, business, and technology disputes in federal and state courts, arbitration, and mediation. Clients seek his advice as a result of his experience in the courtroom, creative problem-solving, tenacity, and engaging approach.
The IADC is the preeminent membership organization for leading corporate and insurance defense attorneys, of which 13 cross-office Spencer Fane attorneys currently serve as impactful, peer-reviewed members. Learn more about the IADC here.