We are genuinely proud to share that two partners at Gruel Mills, William (Bill) M. Azkoul and Thomas (Tom) R. Behm, will be presenting at the 2026 Attorney’s Resource Conference this August in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
When attorneys from our firm are invited to train other legal and healthcare professionals at a conference of this caliber, it reflects something real about the depth of knowledge and courtroom-tested experience that defines the Gruel Mills law firm. We are honored, and frankly, not surprised. Attorneys Azkoul and Behm spent their careers earning exactly this kind of recognition.
What Is the Attorney’s Resource Conference?
The Attorney’s Resource Conference, known widely as ARC, is one of the most respected multidisciplinary gatherings in the country for legal and medical professionals who work at the intersection of law and medicine. ARC 2026 is built for personal injury trial attorneys on both sides of the aisle, who are responsible for the outcomes of medically complex cases. And the conference provides a dynamic platform for attorneys and healthcare professionals to build networks for case support while enhancing their skills and staying informed.
For professionals who handle medical malpractice claims in Michigan, where the procedural requirements alone can be overwhelming, a conference like ARC offers focused, practical training delivered by people who handle these types of claims. The 2026 edition will be held at The B.O.B. in Grand Rapids, running from August 11 through August 13. Bringing this kind of professional development home to our community is something worth celebrating.
Certificates for individual sessions will be provided to all attorneys in attendance for the purpose of submission to their state bar association to obtain continuing legal education credits in accordance with state requirements. This continuing legal education (CLE) is an important part of practicing law in Michigan, and the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct encourage attorneys to complete continuing education on a regular basis. That commitment to staying sharp is what ARC and our lawyers is built around.
Bill Azkoul on Preparing Clients for Depositions in Medical Malpractice Cases
Bill Azkoul is a veteran attorney and partner at Gruel Mills. His presentation at ARC 2026 focuses on preparing clients for depositions in medical malpractice and personal injury cases in Michigan.
One of the most common mistakes attorneys make is treating deposition prep as a quick task. Thirty minutes, maybe an hour, run through the basics, and call it done. Bill’s view is that this approach leaves clients exposed at exactly the wrong moment.
His framework involves a process that can span one to two weeks, with multiple meetings totaling several hours. That is a significant investment of time, and it reflects a hard-earned understanding of what is at stake. Most medical malpractice cases are resolved through settlement at the negotiating table, not at trial. If the deposition is where adjusters and risk managers form their opinions about case value, then the deposition is where preparation matters most.
Bill’s training covers three distinct areas that most attorneys overlook.
- First, the psychology of communication in adversarial settings. Clients who understand how to present themselves under pressure respond more effectively and comfortably than clients who are simply told to answer the questions.
- Second, credibility. Bill pushes back against the myth that credibility cannot be coached. Credibility can be demonstrated, and skilled attorneys can help clients understand how to do that.
- Third, mock exercises. Running clients through difficult, challenging questions before the actual deposition means they are never caught off guard when opposing counsel goes somewhere uncomfortable.
The results of a deposition can prove invaluable when determining whether to accept a settlement offer or continue fighting for a better one. That is often the difference between a case that provides a fair outcome for the injured person and one that does not.
Michigan’s medical malpractice landscape makes this kind of preparation even more critical. Once a lawsuit is filed and defendants have responded, the case enters discovery, a formal court-supervised process of gathering and exchanging evidence that is often the longest part of a medical malpractice case, sometimes lasting a year or more. Depositions sit at the center of that process, and clients who walk in unprepared can inadvertently damage their own claims. Attorney Azkoul’s training session gives other attorneys the tools to make sure that does not happen to their clients.
Tom Behm on Settlement Strategies in Catastrophic Injury Cases
Tom Behm is a partner at Gruel Mills with deep experience as both a litigator and a mediation facilitator. His presentation at ARC 2026 addresses how to build and execute a settlement strategy in catastrophic personal injury cases.
The amount of compensation needed for serious injuries is significant and often lifelong. Oftentimes, accident victims need decades of ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, assistive technology, and support services. Accurately projecting those needs, and translating them into a defensible settlement number, requires a kind of interdisciplinary thinking that many attorneys and healthcare professionals have not fully developed.
Attorney Behm’s session addresses two knowledge gaps that show up regularly in serious personal injury and medical malpractice claims. The first is understanding how clinical outcomes translate into lifetime care needs and economic damages. Without that understanding, it is genuinely difficult to evaluate case value or negotiate from a position of strength. The second gap involves the role of interdisciplinary collaboration. Life care planners, economists, rehabilitation professionals, and medical specialists each bring something distinct to a catastrophic injury settlement. Knowing how to integrate their contributions into a coherent strategy is a skill that takes time and experience to develop.
The objectives he will address in his session at the conference include:
- Evaluating the medical, functional, and economic factors that drive settlement value
- Integrating life care planning and medical record analysis into comprehensive settlement approaches
- Developing strategies that account for future medical costs, rehabilitation needs, and long-term financial stability for catastrophically injured individuals
This is not just about getting a bigger number. It is about getting a settlement that actually provides for the injured person over time. A catastrophic injury settlement that looks significant today can fall short in ten years if future care costs were not accurately projected. Tom’s approach is built around sustainable outcomes, not just favorable headlines.
Why This Matters for Our Clients
When attorneys are invited to train other lawyers and healthcare professionals at a conference like ARC, it speaks to the depth of knowledge, experience, and skill they have in the medical malpractice and personal injury practices of law. This knowledge is what Gruel Mills brings to every client we represent.
We serve clients across West Michigan, including Kent County, Ottawa County, and the surrounding region. Whether a case originates from an incident at an area hospital, a surgical complication at a local clinic, or a catastrophic accident on US-131 or I-96, the attorneys at this firm are prepared to handle the claim with the kind of depth and strategy that gets results.
If you or someone you care about is suffering from a medical mistake or a serious car accident in Michigan, contact us to schedule a free consultation with an experienced attorney and learn about your rights and your legal options
We are proud of Bill and Tom, and we are proud of what their participation in ARC 2026 represents for this firm and for the people we help.