The Honorable Christian Menefee
United States House of Representatives
Invitation Only · February 26, 2026 · HoustonSignal Peak
Signal Peak
Symposium
An afternoon of interactive presentations on the future of commercial litigation finance, followed by a keynote tribute to H. Lee Godfrey - at The Post Oak Hotel.
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A Note from Signal Peak
Signal Peak thanks its esteemed speakers and guests for joining its invitation-only Symposium on February 26, 2026, at The Post Oak Hotel in Houston, Texas. The afternoon includes interactive presentations and a keynote tribute to H. Lee Godfrey, led by Vineet Bhatia of Susman Godfrey honoring Mr. Godfrey's extraordinary career.
All Twelve Featured Participants
Speakers joining the Symposium
The original speaker photography is shown uncropped, with each participant identified by name and role.
The Honorable Alan Albright
United States District Court Judge
The Honorable Charles Eskridge
United States District Court Judge
The Honorable Derek Gilliland
United States Magistrate Judge
The Honorable Shashi Kewalramani
United States Magistrate Judge (Retired)
The Honorable Brett Busby
Texas Supreme Court Justice
The Honorable Jennifer Caughey
Texas First Court of Appeals Justice
The Honorable Lauren Reeder
234th Civil District Court Judge
The Honorable Alamdar Hamdani
United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas (Retired)
The Honorable Mike Engelhart
151st Civil District Court (Retired)
The Honorable Ravi K. Sandill
127th Civil District Court (Retired)
Lonny Hoffman
University of Houston Professor of Law
Date
February 26, 2026
Venue
The Post Oak Hotel
City
Houston, Texas
Format
Invitation only
February 26, 2026 · The Post Oak Hotel
Agenda
- 12:30 pm
Registration
- 1:05 pm
Welcome remarks
Mani Walia, Signal Peak Partners.
- 1:15 pm
The Policymakers
Podcast host Ted Farrell interviews Congressman Christian Menefee, The Honorable Alamdar Hamdani (U.S. Attorney, ret.), and Professor Lonny Hoffman (Univ. of Houston Law Center) on efforts to legislate the litigation funding industry - taxation, regulation of private contracts, disclosure, and outright prohibition - with discussion of jurisdiction and enforcement.
- 2:30 pm
The Deciders En Banc
Hon. Mike Engelhart and Hon. Ravi Sandill argue two sides of whether courts should require third-party litigation funding arrangements to be disclosed. Lauren Harrison (Signal Peak Partners) moderates an "en banc" panel of eight judges: Alan Albright, Charles Eskridge, Brett Busby, Jennifer Caughey, Derek Gilliland, Shashi Kewalramani (Ret.), Lauren Reeder, and - sitting by designation - Brian Melton (Susman Godfrey).
- 4:00 pm
The Stakeholders
Professor Carliss Chatman (SMU Dedman School of Law) draws on her expertise in corporate personhood to moderate a panel of general and in-house counsel on working with legislators toward industry-fitting legislation. Panelists: Andy West (EnerVest), Shane Kimzey (CenterPoint Energy), David Rassin (SAExploration), Dash Kohlhausen (Houston Rockets / Fertitta Entertainment), and Jeffrey Kaplan (LyondellBasell).
- 5:00 pm
Tribute to H. Lee Godfrey
Delivered by Vineet Bhatia, Managing Partner, Susman Godfrey LLP.
- 6:00 pm
Cocktails
- 6:45 pm
Dinner
Pending changes to the Congressional calendar.
From the Afternoon
Moments from the Symposium
Photography by Rob Greer, February 26, 2026.
Interested in future convenings?
The Symposium is invitation only. For inquiries about attending future Signal Peak events, please get in touch.
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