The Business of Risk: How Law Shapes Business Decisions in an Uncertain World
The Professor Anthony J. Santoro Business Law Lecture will be held during the RWU Law Alumni Reunion Celebration.
3:15 – 3:45 p.m.
Welcome & Law Dean “State of the Law School”
Remarks by Dean Gregory W. Bowman & Greetings from Professor Emeritus David A. Logan
Bristol Campus | Law 283
3:45 – 5:00 p.m.
The Professor Anthony J. Santoro Business Law Lecture
Bristol Campus | Law 283
The Business of Risk: How Law Shapes Business Decisions in an Uncertain World
From the landmark 2026 Supreme Court Montgomery decision reshaping liability in the logistics industry, to the everyday decisions that businesses make about litigation, insurance, safety, and risk, RWU Law alumni Bradford ('08) and Alison Boyd ('06), and an expert panel of top litigators and logistics industry general counsel, explore how lawyers help businesses navigate uncertainty—and the career paths that put them at the center of risk decisions using the logistics insurance industry as an example.
Meet the Panelists!
Alison LaBoissonniere Boyd, Esq. L'06, SVP, Specialty Program Group
Alison LaBoissonniere Boyd is currently serving as Senior Vice President of SPG Cargo and Logistics (a Division of Specialty Program Group / Hub International). Prior to assuming her current executive position, she helped to create Anova Marine Insurance, where she served as General Counsel and Senior Vice President of Operations. Boyd earned her Juris Doctor from the Roger Williams University School of Law and her Legum Magister (LLM) in International Trade Law from the University of Notre Dame Law School (London Campus). Prior to joining Anova, Boyd practiced in international finance law and international securities litigation, working at a Magic Circle law firm in London and various large firms in Florida. Maintaining a strong commitment to maritime legal scholarship, she and Bradford have generously underwritten the productions of RWUSOL’s prestigious Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce, a law journal devoted to the advancement of scholarly discourse in commercial maritime law. Following SPG’s strategic acquisition of Anova in July 2025 and the subsequent formation of the unified SPG Cargo and Logistics platform, Boyd brought her extensive leadership experience to the new executive team by spearheading high-level project management for the organization. Outside of her professional life, Boyd is a pianist and devoted mother to her three amazing children.
Bradford Boyd, Esq. L'08, President, Specialty Program Group
Bradford Boyd is currently serving as the President of SPG Cargo and Logistics (a Division of Specialty Program Group / Hub International) and is formerly the Founder and President of Anova Marine Insurance Services. His extensive career in international trade began at age 17 when he hand-delivered insurance policies to freight forwarders in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Building on this foundation, Boyd trained as a lawyer specializing in maritime law, earning a Juris Doctor from Roger Williams University School of Law and a Master's degree in Shipping, Trade & Finance from London's Cass Business School. Prior to Anova, Boyd spent valuable time working in London and developing relationships at various P&I clubs and then went on to manage a cargo insurance brokerage in Miami for a large German MGA. In 2011, he founded Anova Marine Insurance, utilizing his unique blend of legal acumen and international broking experience to revolutionize logistics coverage through agile, tech-enabled underwriting. Following Anova's acquisition by Specialty Program Group / Hub International, Boyd continues to lead the organization's expansion (including leading the subsequent acquisition / integration of LogistIQ Insurance Solutions under Anova) by leveraging SPG's widespread distribution network to scale his technology-driven insurance solutions worldwide. Outside of his professional endeavors, Boyd is a passionate outdoorsman and the minority owner of the Syracuse Crunch professional AHL hockey team for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Conte Cicala, Esq., Partner, Withers
Conte is a partner in the litigation and arbitration team at Withers. He focuses his practice on commercial, maritime, transportation, and trade litigation, as well as providing corporate and legal advice to companies in these sectors. He has extensive first-chair experience representing clients in trials, arbitrations, and proceedings before government agencies and boards, and has counseled companies on merger discussions, government investigations, major contract negotiations, labor disputes, expansion into new modes of carriage, and other significant events. Conte served on the Board of Directors of an international shipping line for nearly a decade and spent 15 years as a U.S. Army Reserve officer, much of that time with Transportation and JAG units. He is a member of the BIMCO Documentary Committee and has been appointed to the MLA Nominations Committee, and he is consistently recognized for his experience in transportation and maritime law disputes, including recognition by Chambers as a leading lawyer in Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Litigation (outside of New York), as well as by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and Legal 500.
Justin Olsen, Esq., Chief Risk Officer, Specialty Program Group
Justin Olsen is currently serving as the Chief Risk Officer at SPG Cargo and Logistics. Olsen has over 35 years of private practice and in-house legal and risk management and executive team experience. Olsen began his career as in-house legal counsel for two large motor carriers, then spent over two decades in private law practice focused primarily on transportation and freight brokerage and was co-founder of a law firm that now has fourteen attorneys. Later, Olsen spent over a decade as the VP Legal and Risk at England Logistics – a large freight broker. He earned his Juris Doctor from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University in 1991 and a Bachelor's degree from Utah State University. Throughout his career, he has been a prominent voice regarding freight broker risk control and mitigation pertaining to bodily injury claims and cargo loss/damage claims, including fraud and cargo theft. He is a frequent industry speaker sharing invaluable best practices to help logistics professionals navigate complex supply chain liabilities. A dedicated advocate for ethical business practices and regulatory compliance, Olsen has served on the Board of Directors for the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) and has held multiple prominent leadership roles within TIA, including founding chair of TIA’s In-House Legal Committee. Olsen has also served on the Executive Committee of Transportation Lawyer Association.
Logan Pearce, Esq. L'17, Chief Claims Officer, Specialty Program Group
Logan Pearce currently serves as the Chief Claims Officer for SPG Cargo and Logistics. Before taking on this role, Pearce built a strong foundation in the marine, transportation, and specialty insurance sector, including experience as a coverage attorney in the Marine and Energy Practice Group at Lewis Brisbois and as Associate Counsel at Falvey Insurance Group. Today, Pearce leverages his extensive legal and claims background to oversee claims operations and manage recovery strategies across the organization's growing book of business. In his current capacity, he is dedicated to building a best-in-class claims organization through operational excellence, technical expertise, and nimble, responsive claims handling.
The Professor Anthony J. Santoro Business Law Lecture Series brings leading lawyers and business professionals to RWU Law, presenting on important issues in the field of business law while enriching the school’s dynamic learning environment with practical knowledge and valuable networking opportunities.
This series is a wonderful tribute to Professor Santoro’s distinguished career as a legal educator, a past president of Roger Williams University and the founding dean of Roger Williams University School of Law.
One Rhode Island MCLE credit has been approved for this program.
Register - September 25 - Santoro Business Law Lecture
While lecture registration is complimentary, we do ask that all attendees register in advance. The reception following The Professor Anthony J. Santoro Business Law Lecture is open to all.
5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Law Reunion Reception
Bristol Campus | Law Second Floor Atrium
Celebrate RWU Law’s milestone Reunion Years—1996, 2006, 2016; 1997 Evening; and 2006 Evening—at a Law Reunion Reception designed to bring our community back together. Enjoy a special gathering filled with conversation, connection, and shared memories as law alumni from across the decades return to campus. A special photo display will highlight moments from each reunion year, showcasing the people, places, and stories that shaped RWU Law’s early legacy and continued growth.
All RWU Law classes, the RWU Law Community, and Santoro Lecture attendees are invited to join in this evening of reflection, camaraderie, and celebration.
SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS
Persons who, because of a special need or condition, would like to request an accommodation for an event should contact Chelsie Horne, CMP, Director, Office of Programs & Initiatives, chorne@rwu.edu, as soon as possible, but no later than 72 hours before the event, so that appropriate arrangements can be made.