2024 Convention Program Guide

CONVENTION PROGRAM GUIDE

2024 NELA Annual Convention June 26–29, 2024 Philadelphia Marriott Downtown Philadelphia, PA

Barrett & Farahany is proud to honor NELA and it’s distinguished participants for their service to the community and for the empowerment of workers across the nation.

VISIT OUR SITE TO LEARN MORE Barrett & Farahany is an award-winning employment law firm dedicated to employee rights, with a national reputation of excellence

JUSTICEATWORK.COM (866) 306-6111

FORGING THE FUTURE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

Welcome ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................5 Welcome to Philadelphia, NELA-EPa ........................................................................................................................................................... 7 NELA Board Members .....................................................................................................................................................................................8 National Institute for Workers’ Rights Board Members ...............................................................................................................................9 NELA Affiliate Representatives ....................................................................................................................................................................10 NELA History & Today .................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 2024 Annual Convention Committee ......................................................................................................................................................... 12 Convention Sponsors & Exhibitors ............................................................................................................................................................... 13 NELA & Institute Staff & Volunteers .......................................................................................................................................................... 15 2024 Annual Convention Keynote Speaker: PA State Senator Nikil Saval...........................................................................................20 Forging the Future of Workers’ Rights: 2024 Courageous Plaintiffs ...................................................................................................... 21 Gala Awards Presentation & Celebration ................................................................................................................................................... 29 NELA Gala Honorees ....................................................................................................................................................................................30 NELA Gala Sponsors ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 32 Code of Conduct ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 41 Health & Safety Policy .................................................................................................................................................................................... 41 Convention Wi-Fi Information ..................................................................................................................................................................... 42 Convention Materials, Microsite, and Audio Recordings ......................................................................................................................... 42 Hotel Meeting Room Maps ........................................................................................................................................................................... 45 2024 Annual Convention Program ............................................................................................................................................................. 49 NELA Calendar of Events .............................................................................................................................................................................60 2025 Call for Proposals .................................................................................................................................................................................60 NELA Champion, Defender, Advocate, Sustaining & Contributing Members ................................................................................... 63 NELA Fund Donors ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 65 The Paul H. Tobias Attorney Fellowship Program .......................................................................................................................................72 The Power of Cy Pres to Advance Workers’ Rights .....................................................................................................................................73 National Institute for Workers’ Rights Donors ............................................................................................................................................74 NELA Convention & Gala Sponsor Advertisements ................................................................................................................................84

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We applaud NELA’s steadfast commitment to forging the future of workers’ rights.

“Workers’ rights and civil rights are all tied together. We’ve never had one without the other.”

—Eric Bunn, Sr.

Employment Lawyers & Advocates for Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity * Sexual Harassment—What To Do When It’s You * Complaint Resolution: Proactively Addressing Discrimination * Negotiation of Protective Employment and Separation Contracts * Demanding and Securing Equal Pay * Confronting, Combatting, and Eliminating Gender Biases Sue Ellen Eisenberg & Associates, P.C. Sue Ellen Eisenberg & Kerry K. Cahill 33 Bloomfield Hills Parkway, Suite 145 Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304 (248) 258-5050 * www.seelawpc.com

Dear Friends:

Welcome to Forging the Future of Workers’ Rights—the 2024 National Employment Lawyers Association Annual Convention in Philadelphia!

We are delighted you could join us for NELA’s signature event of the year. We extend our thanks to the members and boards of NELA-Eastern Pennsylvania, NELA-New Jersey, and the Western Pennsylvania Employment Lawyers Association for their warm and generous hospitality.

We also wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of retiring NELA Board members Heather M. Collins, Linda M. Correia, and Rachhana T. Srey. We thank them for their leadership in NELA and salute their passion in advancing the cause for all workers.

Please join us for NELA’s Gala Fundraiser on Friday, June 28 from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m. The Gala is our yearly celebration of our collective accomplishments and the power of our voices when we unite to protect and promote workers’ rights on Capitol Hill and in courtrooms across the nation. We offer our deepest gratitude to the sponsors of the 2024 Gala for making NELA an even stronger and more influential force for working people and their advocates.

The 2024 NELA Annual Convention Committee, along with our Convention moderators and speakers and the NELA team, have worked hard over the past several months to bring you extraordinary programming throughout the next three days. We hope you take advantage of the many opportunities to meet and collaborate with some of the best plaintiffs’ employment lawyers in the country. Learn, celebrate, connect, rejuvenate, and then return to your office equipped with new ideas, tips, and strategies that you can immediately apply to your practice.

On behalf of the Board and Staff of the National Employment Lawyers Association, thank you for joining us and for all you do to promote a more just and inclusive American workplace.

Carla D. Brown President

Karen Maoki Interim Executive Director

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N E L A E A S T E R N P E N N S Y LVA N I A C H A P T E R

Dear Respected Guest, The Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA-EPa) warmly welcomes you to this year’s Convention, Forging the Future of Workers’ Rights. NELA-EPa is proud to coordinate an unparalleled opportunity for workers’ rights professionals to engage with fellow advocates and glean insights from esteemed experts in the field.

We take pride in recognizing the exceptional contributions of outstanding individuals to the field of workers’ rights law.

This year’s Distinguished Service awards honorees are The Honorable Bernice B. Donald and Bruce A. Fredrickson of Webster & Fredrickson. The NELA 2024 Spotlight Award recognizes a NELA leader who best captures NELA’s mission.

Congratulations to this year’s award recipient, area practitioner Camille Fundora Rodriguez of Berger Montague.

These leaders are helping to shape tomorrow, but let us take a moment to reflect on the story of workers’ rights, and Philadelphia’s role in it. In 1786, only 10 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia, the city’s printers orchestrated the United States’ first trade-specific strike. This was a significant milestone not only in workers’ rights history, but American history. It signaled the beginning of organized trade union activity among workers in the United States, as craftsmen sought to address their common concerns and improve their working conditions.

We take pride in recognizing the exceptional contributions of outstanding individuals to the field of workers’ rights law.

We hope you enjoy this year’s Annual Convention. Outside of the event, take some time to visit Independence Hall to see the room where it happened. Grab a cheesesteak at Ishkabibble’s, see a monument to the very real George Washington at Eakins Oval, or the statue of the very fictional Rocky Balboa at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. There is something for everyone.

Sincerely, Steven T. Auerbach President of the National Employment Lawyers Association Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter

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2024 NELA BOARD

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

Carla D. Brown President Charlson Bredehoft Cohen Brown & Nadelhaft, PC Reston, VA

Bernard Alexander Alexander Morrison + Fehr, LLP Los Angeles, CA

Nina T. Pirrotti Garrison, LevinEpstein, Fitzgerald & Pirrotti, PC New Haven, CT

M. Nieves Bolaños First Vice President Attorney at Law Chicago, IL

Bryce W. Ashby Donati Law, PLLC Memphis, TN

Scott M. Pollins Pollins Law Firm Swarthmore, PA

Mark Hanna Vice President of Public Policy Murphy Anderson, PLLC Washington, DC

Heather M. Collins HMC Civil Rights Law Brentwood, TN

Donna Williams Rucker Tully Rinckey, PLLC Washington, DC

Deborah H. Karpatkin Vice President of Affiliate Relations Law Office of Deborah H. Karpatkin New York, NY

Maria G. Diaz Allred, Maroko & Goldberg Los Angeles, CA

Robert W. Schmidt Robert W. Schmidt Law Firm Austin, TX

Christine T. Elzer Elzer Law Firm, LLC Pittsburgh, PA

Adria Lynn Silva Sass Law Firm Tampa, FL

Amanda A. Farahany Barrett & Farahany Atlanta, GA

Rachhana T. Srey Nichols Kaster, PLLP Minneapolis, MN

Maureen Truax Holland Holland & Associates, PC Memphis, TN

Jeffrey N. Young Solidarity Law Cumberland Foreside, ME

Shelby Leighton Public Justice Washington, DC

Paul H. Tobias Founder In Memoriam

Ben Lebsack Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Lowrey Parady Lebsack, LLC Denver, CO Summer H. Murshid Secretary Hawks Quindel, SC Milwaukee, WI Christopher Houk Treasurer Houk Law Firm, PLLC Tempe, AZ Linda M. Correia Immediate Past President Correia & Puth, PLLC Washington, DC

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2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

2024 INSTITUTE BOARD

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

Diane S. King President King Employment Law Denver, CO

Patricia A. Barasch Schall & Barasch, LLC Moorestown, NJ

Bruce A. Fredrickson Webster & Fredrickson PLLC Washington, DC

Denise M. Clark Vice President Clark Law Group, PLLC Washington, DC

M. Nieves Bolaños Attorney at Law Chicago, IL

Donna R. Lenhoff Donna Lenhoff Associates Washington, DC

Alicia K. Haynes Secretary Haynes & Haynes, PC Birmingham, AL

Carla D. Brown Charlson Bredehoft Cohen Brown & Nadelhaft, PC Reston, VA

Maria Price Cisco Systems Inc. Washington, DC

Phillis h. Rambsy Rambsy Law PC Nashville, TN

Wade B. Cowan Treasurer Attorney at Law Nashville, TN

RETIRING NELA BOARD MEMBERS

The National Employment Lawyers Association thanks and applauds our retiring Board Members for their tireless service. Thank you for inspiring us all to forge a brighter future for workers’ rights!

HEATHER M. COLLINS LINDA M. CORREIA RACHHANA T. SREY

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NELA AFFILIATE REPRESENTATIVES

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

Eighth Circuit NELA Jill Zwagerman Alabama NELA-Alabama Sonya Edwards Arizona AzELA Jeffrey A. Silence California California Employment Lawyers Association Barbara Figari Cowan Bay Area Cabal Patrice L. Goldman Traci M. Hinden LEFTJAW Thomas W. Falvey Sacramento Employment Lawyers Association Christopher H. Whelan Colorado Colorado PELA Ariel DeFazio Connecticut Connecticut Employment Lawyers Association Amanda M. DeMatteis District of Columbia Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association Lauren A. Khouri Florida Florida NELA Amanda Biondolino Georgia NELA Georgia Tamika Sykes Hawaii NELA-Hawaii Elbridge W. Smith Illinois NELA-Illinois Max Barack

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Indiana NELA-Indiana Tae Sture

Nevada Nevada NELA Joshua D. Buck

Rhode Island Rhode Island NELA Charles S. Kirwan

Iowa Iowa NELA Thomas Bullock

New Hampshire New Hampshire NELA Benjamin T. King

Tennessee TENNELA Brian Winfrey

Kentucky Kentucky Employment Lawyers Association Barbara D. Bonar

New Jersey NELA-NJ Leslie A. Farber

Texas Texas Employment Lawyers Association Kyla Cole

Louisiana Louisiana Employment Lawyers Association J. Arthur Smith, III Baton Rouge NELA J. Arthur Smith, III

New York NELA/New York Laurie E. Morrison North Carolina NELA-North Carolina Faith Herndon

Dallas/Ft. Worth NELA Janice Gilmore Brittney Thompson El Paso/West Texas Employment Lawyers Association Christopher Benoit

Maine Maine NELA David G. Webbert

Ohio Ohio Employment Lawyers Association Neil E. Klingshirn

Maryland Maryland Employment Lawyers Association Neil R. Lebowitz

Paul H. Tobias Cincinnati Employment Lawyers Association Randolph H. Freking

Massachusetts Massachusetts Employment Lawyers Association David I. Brody

Cleveland Employment Lawyers Association Kami D. Brauer

Utah Utah Employment Lawyers Association Galen T. Shimoda

Oklahoma Oklahoma Employment Lawyers Association Amber L. Hurst

Vermont Vermont Employment Lawyers Association Roger E. Kohn

Tulsa Employment Lawyers Association Jonathan E. Shook

Virginia Virginia Employment Lawyers Association Paul Falabella

Michigan Michigan Employment Lawyers Association Sarah S. Prescott Minnesota Minnesota NELA Brian T. Rochel Employee Lawyers Association of the Upper Midwest Leslie L. Lienemann

Oregon Oregon Employment Lawyers Association Beth Creighton

Missouri Kansas City NELA Phillip M. Murphy II

Pennsylvania NELA-Eastern Pennsylvania Steven T. Auerbach

St. Louis NELA Nicole Matlock

Western Pennsylvania Employment Lawyers Association Nicole Daller

Nebraska Nebraska NELA Joy Shiffermiller

2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

NELA Houston Mickey Washington San Antonio Employment Lawyers Association Thomas J. Crane

Washington Washington Employment Lawyers Association Beth Terrell West Virginia West Virginia Employment Lawyers Association Christine L. Glover Wisconsin Wisconsin Employment Lawyers Association Robert M. Mihelich

NELA HISTORY & TODAY

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

“We have influenced life in America, our organization. There is no question that the work that our lawyers have done has made an impact on employees— workers—all over the country for the last years. For a little organization... that is something to be proud of.”

– PAUL H. TOBIAS, NELA FOUNDER

In

In March 1985, a dozen plaintiff employment lawyers employment cases before the U.S. Supreme Court from nine states attending the ABA’s Labor and and Circuit Courts of Appeals since 1985. NELA is at Employment Law Section meeting in Wesley Chapel, the forefront of major employment issues, including Florida decided to form the Plaintiff Employment banning forced arbitration of employment claims, Lawyers Association (PELA). Led by Paul H. resisting reforms to the civil justice system that would Tobias, the founding members envisioned that this make it more difficult for workers to vindicate their new organization would provide the assistance and rights, and ensuring a fair and diverse judiciary. At the information sought by attorneys representing individual circuit, state, and local levels, NELA Affiliates across employees, particularly in wrongful termination cases. the nation are supporting workers’ rights advocates in It would develop the professional network necessary their communities and adding their voices in NELA’s for effective sharing and support of ideas, advocacy initiatives.

The cornerstone successes, problems, and frustrations.

PELA also would serve as an instrument of NELA is, and In 2008, NELA created a related for advancing public policy and legislation charitable policy and advocacy always has been, affecting the rights of employees. In this organization, now known as the community. regard, the founding members of PELA National Institute for Workers’ contemplated a publication, which later Rights (Institute). The Institute would be called The Employee Advocate, a membership advances workers’ rights through research, thought directory, a brief bank, educational programs uniquely leadership, and education for policymakers, advocates, designed for plaintiff employment lawyers, and the and the public, and is NELA’s indispensable partner in development of state and local PELA groups around pursuing our shared vision for the world: A future in the country. In 1990, PELA changed its name to which all workers are treated with dignity and respect; the National Employment Lawyers Association workplaces are equitable, diverse, and inclusive; and (NELA) to represent the growing national scope of its the well-being of workers is a priority in business membership and held its first Annual Convention. practices.

In the thirty-nine years since its founding, NELA has gained a reputation for providing exceptional educational programs for plaintiff employment lawyers.

Its substantive law committees and practice groups provide technical support to NELA members and keep them abreast of recent developments, and the NELA Exchange provides a forum for members to share strategies, resources, and encouragement. With the assistance of dozens of volunteers, the organization has participated as amicus curiae in significant

The cornerstone of NELA is, and always has been, community. Among the original goals set at the inaugural meeting of PELA is the “PELA Pledge”: Members agree to receive calls from fellow members and render assistance. The devices used to share information have changed since 1985, but the guiding principle remains the same: NELA’s greatest strengths are the generosity and collective power of our community of workers’ rights advocates.

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SPONSORS & EXHIBITORS

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

CONVENTION SPONSORS AARP LOGO Dundon Advisers LOGO Morgan & Morgan LOGO

Kazan McClain Partners’ Foundation National Institute for Workers’ Rights NELA-Eastern Pennsylvania NELA-NJ Nichols Kaster, PLLP Schall & Barasch, LLC Tobias, Torchia & Simon/Freking Myers & Reul, LLC Western Pennsylvania Employment Lawyers Association

CONVENTION EXHIBITORS Balanced Bridge

Lexamica

Consulting By Carella

Miles Mediation & Arbitration

eGenerationMarketing

National Women’s Law Center Legal Network for Gender Equality

employstats Eve Legal hona ILYM JS Held Law Clerk LeapNeat Consulting

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2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

Phoenix Class Action Administration Solutions Rust Consulting Scorpion Simpluris Steno Syllo

CONVENTION COMMITTEE

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT LAWYERS ASSOCIATION 2024 ANNUAL CONVENTION COMMITTEE —————————–––––––––––––––––––––—————————— Co-Chairs ————————––––––––—–––––––––––––—————————— Camille Fundora Rodriguez Berger & Montague, PC Philadelphia, PA

Michael A. Filoromo, III Katz Banks Kumin Philadelphia, PA

—————–––––––––————–––––––––––––——————————Members —————————–––––––––––––———————––––––––——— Carla D. Brown Charlson Bredehoft Cohen Brown & Nadelhaft, PC Reston, VA

Jeffrey A. Mittman National Employment Lawyers Association Concord, CA

Joseph W. Gibson The Employment Law Center of Maryland Frederick, MD

Angeli Murthy Morgan & Morgan, PA Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Claire Hunter HKM Employment Attorneys Denver, CO

Robert W. Schmidt Robert W. Schmidt Law Firm Austin, TX

Cheryl Legare Legare, Attwood & Wolfe, LLC Decatur, GA

Pooja Shethji Outten & Golden LLP Washington, DC

Karen Maoki National Employment Lawyers Association Concord, CA

Douglas M. Werman Werman Salas PC Chicago, IL

Deborah K. Marcuse The ROAR Center, University of Maryland Baltimore, MD

Ashley O. Westby National Employment Lawyers Association Washington, DC

John McKnight Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP Washington, DC

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We the People We are thrilled to welcome you to America’s birthplace, and congratulate the many members of the National Employment Lawyers Association on an amazing year of

Forging the Future of Worker’s Rights.

The National Employment Lawyers Association Eastern District of Pennsylvania Chapter

NELA STAFF & VOLUNTEERS

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

NELA STAFF

NELA STAFF

Tacarra L. Andrade Membership Director

Leah A. Hofkin Director of Development

Pedro A. Valverde Digital Communications & Technology Manager

Alicia Battle Events Coordinator

Karen Maoki Interim Executive Director

Ashley O. Westby Program Director

NELA STAFF

INSTITUTE STAFF

Jason Solomon Director

Erica Posey Paul H. Tobias Attorney Fellow

NELA VOLUNTEERS Kieran Barasch Schall & Barasch, LLC

Patricia Losacker Tobias, Torchia & Simon/Freking, Myers & Reul, LLC

Karla Pathmann Nichols Kaster, PLLP

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correia 1 of 2

Fighting the fight for workers. . .every day. . . to eliminate workplace discrimination and retaliation.

1400 16th Street, NW, Suite 450 Washington, DC 20036 202.602.6500 www.correiaputh.com 16

2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

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cbcblaw.com

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2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

AARP Foundation and NELA Together in Defending Workers’ Rights

AARP Foundation applauds and supports NELA’s efforts to:

• Fight age discrimination in the workplace workers’ rights • Empower attorneys for laws and • Advocate policies that level the

AARP

employment playing field We look forward to working together with NELA and its members to level the playing field for workers in the years to come.

Contact us about trial & appellate ADEA, ADA, ERISA, FMLA, FLSA, and related state law matters.

To learn more, visit www.AARPFoundation.org/litigation or call (202) 434-2060.

William Alvarado Rivera Senior VP for Litigation

Benjamin Davis (Member)

Lauren Naylor (Member)

Sam Wehrle (Member)

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KEYNOTE SPEAKER

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

2024 NELA Annual Convention Keynote Speaker NELA is thrilled to welcome Pennsylvania State Senator Nikil Saval as our 2024 Annual Keynote Speaker.

Senator Nikil Saval is a father, husband, writer, and organizer representing Pennsylvania’s First Senatorial District. His commitment to solidarity and justice for working people, and his skill at coalition building, carried him from his roots as a labor organizer to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, where he currently serves as Democratic Chair of the Senate’s Urban Affairs & Housing Committee and Chair of the Senate’s Philadelphia Delegation.

Saval has focused his legislative work on critical response to Pennsylvania’s ongoing housing, mass incarceration, wage, and climate crises, while simultaneously pushing for deep structural change so that communities across the Commonwealth have the resources and support they need to thrive. He led the creation of Pennsylvania’s nationally acclaimed Whole-Home Repairs Program, which establishes a one-stop shop for home repairs and weatherization.

Saval has written extensively for The New York Times and The New Yorker and served as co-editor of literary journal n+1. He authored Cubed: A Secret History of the Workplace and the newly released Rage in Harlem: June Jordan and Architecture.

Senator Saval will be introduced by NELA member Rahul Munshi.

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2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

COURAGEOUS PLAINTIFFS

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

2024 NELA Annual Convention Courageous Plaintiffs Mark Miles

Jennifer Harris

Represented by Erica Jacobsen White (Joseph, Greenwald & Laake, PA)

Represented by Brian P. Sanford and Elizabeth “BB” Sanford (The Sanford Firm)

Mark Miles v. Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and Stephanie Harvey

I am honored to be the recipient of the Courageous Plaintiff Award from the National Employment Lawyers Association.

I currently serve as a Police Officer with the MarylandNational Capital Park Police. I have dedicated my career to serving my country and my community, and I believe this lawsuit has furthered my service to the citizens of Maryland.

Early in my career with Park Police, it was apparent that other officers on my squad were hesitant to trust me because of my race. Regardless, I did my best to fulfill and excel at my duties. Sadly, my work ethic did not seem to matter and the racial comments, led by my former Sergeant, only grew more offensive and overt. Once I spoke up, I was retaliated against for speaking out against racism in the department.

This tale is as old as time. My grandfather, Maurice Miles, was forced to dine separately from his white colleagues while serving in the U.S. Air Force. He told us proudly about how he rode his bike downtown to listen to Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. My father, Mark Miles Sr., also endured numerous instances of racism while serving with the Maryland State Police. I stand here today, feeling blessed that I had the support of my family and friends to take a stand against this behavior.

Inspired by my father, my grandfather, and by the citizens I protect, I fought for justice. This fight led to being isolated by my squad and not receiving adequate backup when requested, putting my life in immediate danger.

The discrimination I experienced took a toll on my wellbeing, both personally and professionally. It affected my confidence, morale, and ability to perform effectively. This fight was necessary for the future of this department and for young officers of color who want to pursue this profession with integrity and honor.

Harris v. FedEx Corporate Services Inc.

Jennifer Harris was a rising star at FedEx in sales. Because of her exceptional performance, FedEx promoted her over twelve years to a sales manager overseeing over $50 million in annual sales. Twice she received FedEx’s highest annual sales award, the President’s Club award.

When Ms. Harris noticed that her new white manager was treating her differently than Ms. Harris’ white peers, she reported to FedEx that she believed she was being discriminated against because of her race. FedEx then disciplined her for the first time in her career. When Ms. Harris complained of retaliation, FedEx increased the discipline. When Ms. Harris filed an EEOC charge, FedEx fired her.

Ms. Harris filed suit in federal court in Houston, TX. FedEx refused to mediate or offer any amount to settle. The jury found FedEx liable for unlawful retaliation and awarded her $1,160,000 in compensatory damages and $365 million in punitive damages. The trial court entered a judgment in the full amount and FedEx appealed.

The Fifth Circuit found no evidence to support punitive damages and reduced the compensatory damages to $258,619.57. Ms. Harris and her advocates are petitioning the Supreme Court for a Writ of Certiorari.

The verdict against FedEx has had a huge impact on advancing the legal rights of workers. It was in the top 100 of all verdicts in the U.S. in 2020 and the top 10 in Texas.

The impact of this case has caused corporations to review and increase oversight of discrimination and retaliation policies.

It has also had a significant effect on raising settlement compensation for workers.

Today, I am fortunate to have made a difference, and I am grateful that I get to continue to serve my community.

The case resulted in significant changes inside the Park Police, including the termination and discipline of the offending officers, which both improved the working conditions for other officers inside the Park Police, as well as removing officers engaging in this conduct from the street.

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COURAGEOUS PLAINTIFFS

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

Sarah “Alica” Lindsley

to turn her own team against her, Omni lowered the reviews of Ms. Lindsley’s team without her involvement or consent.

Represented by James Vagnini (Valli Kane & Vagnini LLP) & Jay D. Ellwanger (Ellwanger Henderson)

After prevailing before the EEOC on her unequal pay and retaliation claims, a lawsuit was filed. Omni refused to settle.

Ms. Lindsley’s case was dismissed on summary judgment.

She refused to give up and appealed the District Court decision, ultimately prevailing before the Fifth Circuit.

The case was remanded back for trial. A jury awarded Ms. Lindsley $100,000 in compensatory damages and $25,000,000 in punitive damages for Title VII violations.

The award was reduced to the $300,000 Title VII cap by the District Court. The District Court also ordered Omni to “post the jury’s verdict on the company bulletin boards in employee break areas with the following notice ‘A jury in Dallas found that Omni unlawfully discriminated against employee Sarah Lindsley under Title VII because of her sex.’” The notice also had to be distributed to all Omni employees electronically. Defendants have appealed the verdict and judgment in its entirety.

Lindsley v. TRT Holdings, Inc.

Sarah “Alica” Lindsley began her career with Omni Hotels as a fine dining server at a restaurant outlet in Tucson, AZ. Despite immediately facing sexual harassment and a “boys club” culture, she persevered and moved up in the company, ultimately becoming Director of Food & Beverage at the Omni Hotel in Corpus Christi, Texas. While Omni was happy to have and promote a dedicated, hardworking, and responsible employee, it was also willing to discriminate against Ms. Lindsley in how it paid her.

Hoping that her superiors would respect her position in the organization, she reported the discrimination. Instead, she was subjected to vicious retaliation. Immediately after filing a charge with the EEOC, her charge was circulated around her workplace. Soon after, she received a less than stellar performance rating, the first in her career. When she confronted her General Manager, he yelled at her, demanding she stop the EEOC investigation. In a final effort

NELA Salutes Our 2024 Courageous Plaintiff Nominees for Forging the Future of Workers’ Rights!

Ms. Lindsley’s case highlights the absurdity of the Title VII caps created almost a half century ago. She is thrilled that a jury ultimately believed her and validated her experience, however, the road has been long and the impact devastating. She continues to fight for the rights of women in the workplace and the end of damages caps.

Abby Grossberg Abby Grossberg v. Fox News Corp., Tucker Carlson, et al.

Represented by Parisis G. Filippatos Filippatos PLLC Matthew Hunter Matthew L. Hunter v. City of Des Moines, Iowa Represented by David Albrecht and Kellie L. Paschke Fiedler Law Firm, PLC

Alessandra Morales Morales v. McDivitt Law Firm, P.C. et al.

Represented by Clayton E. Wire Ogborn Mihm, LLP Ulku Rowe Rowe v. Google LLC Represented by Cara E. Greene, Gregory S. Chiarello, and Shira Gelfand Outten & Golden LLP

Karyn D. Stanley Karyn D. Stanley v. City of Lynn M. Kramer Sanford, Florida Kramer v. PROCON, LLC et al Represented by Heather M. Burns Represented by Patricia R. Sigman Sigman & Sigman, PA Upton & Hatfield, LLP Le Roy Torres Torres v. Texas Department of Public Safety Represented by Brian J. Lawler Pilot Law, LLC 22

2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

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2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

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2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

TENNELA CONGRATULATES AND THANKS OUR OWN JUDGE BERNICE B. DONALD ON A LIFETIME OF SERVICE TO OUR LEGAL SYSTEM TENNNELA

Tennessee Employment Lawyers Association

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Webster & Fredrickson, pllc “Fighting for Equal Justice Under the Law”

Proud to Support NELA's 2024 Convention and Forging the Future of Workers' Rights Gala Congratulations to Our Co-Founder: Bruce A. Fredrickson 2024 NELA Distinguished Service Award Recipient 1101 Connecticut Avenue, NW, #402 Washington, DC 20036 (202) 659-8510

2024 NELA GALA FUNDRAISER June 28, 2024

Philadelphia Marriott Downtown Philadelphia, PA

gala design

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

NELA’s 2024 Gala will be a special celebration of our community. Please join us on Thursday afternoon as we honor three of your colleagues for their distinguished service to NELA, inspiring leadership , and strong commitment to the cause of justice for workers . T hen on F riday evening , we will gather to toast another year of strong advocacy for workers and dance the night away .

AWARDS PRESENTATION Thursday, June 27 5:30–6:30 p.m.

Salons G-H (Level 5) Included with Convention Registration We have the privilege of recognizing Bruce A. Fredrickson (DC) for his longstanding leadership and distinguished service to the NELA community and presenting a special distinguished service award to The Honorable Bernice B. Donald (Ret.) (TN), a trailblazer with an extraordinary record of public service. Camille Fundora Rodriguez (PA) will receive our Spotlight Award, which recognizes NELA leaders who represent our future.

In addition, the National Institute for Workers’ Rights will be presenting its annual Impact for Workers Award to the Peggy Browning Fund.

GALA DANCE PARTY Friday, June 28 8:00–11:00 p.m. Salons G-H (Level 5) Separate Ticket Required Don’t miss this highlight of our time together! The evening includes music, dancing, and sweet and savory snacks. Every Gala attendee will receive two complimentary drink tickets courtesy of Dundon Advisers LLC. Drop in anytime!

NELA’s 2024 Gala Fundraiser reinforces NELA’s mission of empowering workers’ rights attorneys through legal training, promoting a fair judiciary, and advocating for laws and policies that level the playing field for workers. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Gala sponsors for their commitment to making NELA an even stronger and more influential force for working people and their advocates.

Tickets are still available and may be purchased in advance at the Registration Desk or at the door.

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2024 NELA GALA HONOREES

OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

Please join NELA in honoring three members of our extended national family for their inspiring commitment to justice for workers. The Awards Presentation takes place on Thursday, June 27 at 5:30 p.m. in Salons G-H (5th Floor).

NELA has the immense privilege of presenting a special distinguished service award to a true hero, The Honorable Bernice B. Donald (Ret.), a trailblazer with an extraordinary record of public service. In January 2023, she retired from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, concluding a 40-year judicial career which began when she won election to the General Sessions Criminal Court for Shelby County, TN and became the first African American woman judge in the state. Judge Donald later became the first African American woman to serve as a U.S. Bankruptcy judge and made history again first, when President Bill Clinton nominated her to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, and then when she was appointed to the Sixth Circuit by President Barack Obama.

While Judge Donald’s long-standing involvement with NELA may be a small component of her countless contributions to American jurisprudence, it has been highly significant to us. She is one of our most popular speakers at CLE events, and her pioneering work on implicit bias has elevated the national conversation about systemic inequities in the law and legal profession. Following her retirement from the bench, Judge Donald joined Burch, Porter & Johnson in Memphis. A nationally recognized third-party neutral, Judge Donald serves as an arbitrator or mediator in a wide range of specialized areas and regularly serves as a court-appointed special master. A 1979 graduate of the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Judge Donald also holds an LL.M. from Duke University School of Law and an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Suffolk University.

Our colleague Bruce A. Fredrickson (Webster & Fredrickson, PLLC, DC) exemplifies the very best of NELA. He has had a successful, pioneering career as a plaintiffs’ employment lawyer, including having led the class action against the U.S. Information Agency which, after 23 years, resulted in a settlement of $508 million, the largest settlement in the history of Title VII. A former president of NELA and the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association (MWELA), Bruce has generously devoted countless hours to supporting other NELA lawyers, including as a frequent speaker at our CLE events. He has played a key role in advancing NELA’s legislative priorities, including helping to lead our charge to secure the 2004 enactment of the provision of the Civil Rights Tax Relief Act eliminating double taxation of attorneys’ fees in employment and civil rights cases. Bruce was the founding president of the National Institute for Workers’ Rights, NELA’s public interest organization, and currently serves on the Institute’s Board. He teaches trial advocacy at American University’s Washington College of Law and an undergraduate law course at Dartmouth College, his alma mater. He earned his JD from The George Washington University Law School.

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2024 NELA GALA HONOREES

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NELA is proud to present our 2024 Spotlight Award to Camille Fundora Rodriguez (PA), a shareholder in Berger Montague PC’s Employment & Unpaid Wages practice group where her practice focuses on wage and hour class and collective actions arising under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state laws. Her leadership in advancing DEI issues at her firm of more than 100 attorneys and her involvement in NELA, including as a CLE speaker and member of the Annual Convention Committee, demonstrates that she is a NELA leader who represents our future.

Camille is Berger Montague’s DEI Coordinator and leads the firm’s DEI Task Force, which enacts a broad range of diversity efforts, including efforts to hire and retain attorneys and non-attorneys from diverse backgrounds and to foster an inclusive work environment, including through Firmwide trainings on implicit bias issues that may impact the workplace. She is a graduate of Widener University School of Law. In 2023, Ms. Rodriguez was named as one of The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch, received the “Diversity Initiative” award by The Legal Intelligencer, and an honoree for the “Diversity in Business Awards” by the Philadelphia Business Journal.

Cheers to Interim Executive Director Karen Maoki filler from Thank you for stepping forward toPVguide this small but mighty team.

We look forward to your thoughtful, steady, and collaborative leadership.

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2024 NELA GALA SPONSORS

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FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

It is with gratitude that we acknowledge our generous sponsors of this year’s Gala Fundraiser.

Drink tickets graciously provided by CHAMPIONS OF JUSTICE

barrett &

J u s t i ce at W or k

FOUNDER’S CIRCLE

Donati Law, PLLC

ADVOCATES

M. Nieves Bolaños

Elzer Law Firm, LLC

Armstrong & Associates

Console Mattiacci Law, LLC

Florida NELA

Garrison, Levin-Epstein, Fitzgerald & Pirrotti, PC

Gilbert Employment Law, PC

Barrett Johnston Martin & Garrison, LLC

Gillespie Sanford LLP

Borealis Law PLLC

Getman, Sweeney & Dunn, PLLC

The Law Offices of Gilda A. Hernandez, PLLC

Brown, Goldstein & Levy Rex Burch

Hawks Quindel, SC

Janet E. Hill

Butler Curwood PLC

Haynes & Haynes, PC

Joseph, Greenwald & Laake, PA

Colorado Employee Advocates

Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch, PC

Carmen Comsti

HKM Employment Attorneys LLP HMC Civil Rights Law Lowrey Parady Lebsack Morgan & Morgan NELA-NJ BENEFACTORS

Outten & Golden LLP

Alexander Morrison + Fehr, LLP

Pitt McGehee Palmer Bonanni & Rivers

Stephen R. Bruce Law Offices

Schall & Barasch, LLC Robert W. Schmidt Law Firm

Katherine L. Butler Charlson Bredehoft Cohen Brown & Nadelhaft, PC Ellwanger Henderson Kaplan Law Firm, PLLC King Employment Law

PRESIDENT’S CABINET Allred, Maroko & Goldberg Benoit Legal, PLLC Berger Montague PC

Lichten & Liss-Riordan, PC

Noelle Brennan & Associates, Ltd.

Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP

California Employment Lawyers Association

Nichols Kaster, PLLP

Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC

The Sanford Firm

Colorado PELA

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2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association

Connecticut Employment Lawyers Association Cornish & Dell’Olio, PC

Murphy Anderson PLLC

The Employment Law Group, PC

NELA-Illinois

Fiedler Law Firm

NELA/New York

Fitzgerald Law, PLLC

Pollins Law

Friedman & Houlding, LLP

Ritz Clark & Ben-Asher LLP

Golden Law LLC

Sedey Harper Westhoff, PC

Barry Goldstein

Tennessee Employment Lawyers Association (TENNELA)

Hammons, Hurst & Associates

Texas Employment Lawyers Association

Holland & Associates, PC

Werman Salas PC Western Pennsylvania Employment Lawyers Association Williams Law Firm, PC Winebrake & Santillo, LLC

Leah A. Hofkin Houk Law Firm Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym, Ltd. Johnson & Webbert LLP Law Office of Deborah H. Karpatkin Kator, Parks, Weiser & Wright PLLC

2024 NELA GALA SPONSORS

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Matt Koski

PARTNERS

Livingston, Adler, Pulda, Meiklejohn & Kelly, PC Madsen, Prestley & Parenteau, LLC Karen Maoki & Cassandra Chen Jonathan J. Margolis Minnesota NELA NELA-Alabama NELA-Eastern Pennsylvania

Bantle & Levy, LLP

Law Office of Robert S. Notzon

The Law Offices of Kell A. Simon

Barton Mendez Soto PLLC

O’Malley & Madden, PC

TCORS

Bennett & Belfort, PC

Nina T. Pirrotti

Pedro A. Valverde

Bernabei & Kabat, PLLC

Pontikes Law, LLC

Betz + Blevins

Robin B. Potter

Venick Austin & Rosen, PLLC

Law Offices of Kathleen Cahill, LLC

Mark Risk, PC

Cannon Law

The Villegas Law Firm, APC

Ashley O. Westby & Sean P. McKee

Geraldine Sumter

Cashdan & Kane, PLLC Wade B. Cowan

SUPPORTERS

NELA Georgia

Creighton & Rose, PC

New Hampshire NELA

Deutsch Atkins & Kleinfeldt, PC

Richard K. Blundell Law Firm

Oklahoma Employment Lawyers Association

Eisenberg & Schnell, LLP

Olivier & Schreiber LLP

Frankel Syverson PLLC

Patricia A. Podolec, Attorney at Law

Gaul and Dumont

Solidarity Law

Henrichsen Law Group PLLC

Upton & Hatfield, LLP

Horne Daller LLC

Virginia Employment Lawyers Association

Hunter Law Firm

Thomas A. Warren Law Offices, PL Wienand & Bagin Wisconsin Employment Lawyers Association Zipin, Amster & Greenberg, LLC Zuckerman Law

Goddard Law

Hynes & Kreuser, SC Toni Jaramilla, A Professional Law Corporation Law Offices of David L. Lee The Maddox Firm | Long Term Disability & ERISA Maine Employee Rights Group Mason, Griffin & Pierson, PC Messing, Rudavsky & Weliky PC Murray, Plumb & Murray

Bracker & Marcus LLC Business Arbitration & Mediation Services (BAM)

Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP FRIENDS Center for Employment Law Patrick Cowlin Brian East

Chet Levitt Fund for Employment Law

Stephen C. Fiebiger Law Office, Chartered

Joyce L. Collier

Law Office of Howard Mark Fine

Costello, Mains & Silverman, LLC Dow Golub Remels & Gilbreath, PLLC The Forsythe Law Firm, LLC Jamie S. Franklin Green Savits, LLC Law Office of Douglas B. Janney III

The Law Office of Lenore C. Garon, PLLC Graybill & Hazelwood, LLC The Law Office of Susan E. Jewell Patricia Losacker McElroy Law Firm Nisar Law Group PC

Shelby Leighton

Rintoul Law, LLC

Maine Employment Lawyers Association

Nina B. Shapiro

Law Offices of Colleen M. McLaughlin

The Law Offices of Carol G. Silverman

Mensing Law LLC

John A. Wenke – Attorney at Law – El Paso, TX

Jennifer Morton Law, PLLC

Anonymous

Every effort was made to ensure the accuracy of the individuals, firms, and organizations acknowledged here. We apologize for any errors or omissions.

Sponsors as of May 23, 2024.

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Berger Montague ad

Peggy Browning Fund ad

WE CAN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATION OF WORKPLACE JUSTICE ADVOCATES

TOGETHER

The Peggy Browning Fund is honored to be the National Institute for Workers’ Rights Impact for Workers Award recipient and offers our congratulations to NELA’s 2024 Distinguished Service honorees, the Honorable Bernice B. Donald (ret.) (Burch, Porter & Johnson), Bruce A. Fredrickson (Webster & Fredrickson, PLLC), and Camille Fundora Rodriguez (Berger Montague PC).

Many thanks to the NELA Board, Institute Board & the 2024 NELA Annual Convention Committee.

Hon. Bernice Donald (Ret.)

Judge Donald ad

A legend in the law joins an historic firm

Arbitrator Mediator Special Master Appellate Consultant Moot Court Judge

Burch, Porter & Johnson, PLLC is honored to announce that Hon. Bernice Donald (Ret.) has joined the firm after her distinguished career in the judiciary. She will continue her domestic and international mediation and arbitration practice, and her work as a special master, advisor on appellate strategy, mock trial judge, and counsel in internal investigations.

BURCH, PORTER & JOHNSON PLLC SALUTES

2024 NELA AWARD WINNER Hon. Bernice Donald (Ret.) Burch, Porter & Johnson, PLLC 130 N. Court Ave. Memphis, TN 38103

901-524-5000

www.bpjlaw.com

Go NELA! Go Honorees!

-Your friends at Kaplan Law Firm in Austin, Chicago, and Albuquerque

Kaplan ad

We Join the Forge for the Future of Workers’ Rights

Our firm motto is

Never Give Up the Fight “We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall never surrender.”

1910 Pacific Ave. Dallas Tx, 75201 (214) 717-6653 contact@sanfordfirm.com

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2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

employstats 1/2

We applaud NELA for its steadfast commitment to advancing the interests of workers.

ALEXANDER MORRISON + FEHR LLP

Employee Justice + Civil Rights

1900 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 900 Los Angeles, CA 90067 310.394.0888 www.amfllp.com

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CODE OF CONDUCT/HEALTH & SAFETY

OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

NELA EVENTS CODE OF CONDUCT At NELA we strive to create continuing legal education programs that are educational, collaborative, respectful, and enjoyable for all attendees. To create a safe and inclusive environment for our entire community, we expect all attendees, speakers, exhibitors, volunteers, and staff at NELA events to conduct themselves in a respectful and collegial manner.

NELA is dedicated to providing harassment-free in-person and virtual events for everyone, regardless of gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, or religion.

We do not tolerate harassment, discrimination, or other unwelcome or unlawful behavior at our events. Harassment includes but is not limited to: • Offensive verbal or written comments related to gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, or religion.

• Deliberate intimidation, threats, stalking, or following.

• Inappropriate, unwanted, and/or unsolicited physical contact.

• Sexual propositions or posted/texted sexual images.

• Unwelcome sexual attention, comments, jokes, remarks, or gestures.

• Sustained disruption of talks or other events.

• Unwelcome photography or recording.

• Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.

Violations of this Code may be reported to any NELA team member and will be addressed by the Interim Executive Director.

HEALTH AND SAFETY The health and safety of our members, guests, NELA & Institute staff, and the hotel team is our foremost priority.

Health Guidelines All attendees and guests are encouraged to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations per CDC guidelines.

While masks are not required, please respect those who choose to wear one.

If you begin experiencing symptoms that could be consistent with COVID-19, a “cold” or any other respiratory infection, please do not attend sessions or food functions.

Safety In and Around the Convention NELA encourages all attendees to use common sense safety practices not only inside the host hotel but in the city in which the Convention is hosted including: • Be aware of your surroundings at all times.

• Do not leave personal items unattended in the meeting space.

• Take off your Convention name badge before leaving the meeting space.

• Travel in groups and stay on well-lit and trafficked streets.

For questions at any time, please see a staff member at the Registration Desk.

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FORGING THE FUTURE

CONVENTION INFORMATION

OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

NELA Convention meeting rooms Wi-Fi Network: Marriott Network Name: Bonvoy NELA Conference Network Password: nela2022 Password: NELA2024

Wi-Fi

2024 Annual Convention Materials and Microsite The written materials for the Convention are available for download at nela.org/nela24materials. Wi-Fi is available in all guest rooms and Convention meeting rooms at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, but we strongly encourage you to download the materials in advance of the sessions you will be attending.

Use the Convention Attendee Microsite to make the most of your time with us.

•

Start networking by completing your Directory Profile to share information about yourself with other attendees.

•

Begin or continue a discussion, reach out to a speaker, organize an outing, or simply say hello on the Attendee Discussion List.

•

Check out the biographies of our incredible faculty.

•

We have created an online CLE Tracker to help you report the sessions you attended.

•

The Convention Program Evaluation is also easily accessible from the Convention Attendee Microsite. Help us shape future CLE by submitting a Program Evaluation.

Please note that a valid email address must be provided in order to access the online Convention materials.

Session Recordings Hungry Mind Recordings (HMR) will professionally record the Convention’s plenary and concurrent sessions. Individual audio MP3 files will be available for purchase at the HMR table in Franklin 11-13. Audio recordings and accompanying written materials of all plenary and concurrent sessions will be available for online purchase after the Convention.

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The litigation workspace for the AI era

Optimize Your Practice with Effortless Organization, Rapid Investigation, and Actionable Insights NELA members use our powerful suite of AI-enhanced litigation applications to save time and get better results for their clients.

• Automated Case File Organization • Complete eDiscovery Solution • AI-Powered Search • Case Strategy Tools

Schedule a demo by contacting us at sales@syllo.ai.

FORGING THE FUTURE

CONVENTION MEETING ROOMS

OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

3RD FLOOR

Gala Dance Gala Party

CONVENTION MEETING ROOMS

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

4TH FLOOR

Concurrent Sessions | Exhibitors | Breaks | Practice Group Meetings

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2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

FORGING THE FUTURE

CONVENTION MEETING ROOMS

OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

5TH FLOOR

Registration | President's Welcome Reception | Breakfast | Plenary Sessions Concurrent Sessions | Boxed Lunch Pickup | Members Forum | Annual Reception

2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

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All sessions will use Slido for Q&A. Slido provides more participation by allowing audience members to ask questions from their device. No need to get up and wait on line!

Code: #NELA24

How? Use your device to scan the QR code or go to slido.com and enter code NELA24 Pick your session from the list and type in your question.

Moderators and Presenters will see your question and provide answers as time permits.

Q&A microphones will only be available in the Practical Skills sessions.

WEDNESDAY PROGRAM

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

*Program and speakers subject to change. Please see attendee microsite for the most up-to-date program information.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2024 9:30–10:00 a.m.

2024 Affiliate Leadership Workshop Registration & Networking Breakfast Salon I

10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

2024 Affiliate Leadership Workshop & Forum Salon I

2:00–8:00 p.m.

2024 Annual Convention Registration 5th Floor Registration II

4:00–6:00 p.m.

Law Students & New Practitioners Panel Discussion Salon J Speakers: Shifa Alkhatib, Sacred B. Huff & Adreanna Sellers Law students, recent law graduates, and those new to plaintiffs’ employment law are invited to join NELA and the National Institute for Workers’ Rights for an engaging and interactive discussion on how a career in plaintiff-side employment law offers a unique and meaningful way for new lawyers to use their skills to drive progressive social change. Experienced employment law practitioners will discuss their work as advocates for workers’ rights and how it intersects with and advances other social justice issues including civil rights, immigration, environmental justice, LGBTQIA+ rights, and gender equality. The panelists also will address how to enter the plaintiffs’ employment law field and what skills and experience can help law students be successful advocates as they begin their legal careers.

6:00–6:30 p.m.

Law Students & New Practitioners Reception Salons E-F A networking reception for law students and new lawyers, including those new to plaintiffs’ employment law, will immediately follow the Panel Discussion.

6:30–8:00 p.m.

President’s Welcome Reception Salons E-F Convention participants are invited to join NELA President Carla D. Brown, the NELA Board, and the 2024 Annual Convention Committee for an informal gathering to celebrate 39 years of workers’ rights advocacy, renew friendships, and make new ones. First-time Convention participants are especially encouraged to attend.

Sponsored by AARP Foundation Litigation, NELA-EPa, NELA-NJ, and WPELA.

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THURSDAY PROGRAM

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024 7:00–9:00 a.m.

2024 Annual Convention Registration 5th Floor Registration II

7:00–8:30 a.m.

Breakfast Buffet Salons E-F Breakfast is available to Convention registrants only.

8:30–9:15 a.m.

Paul H. Tobias Roll Call of the States & Opening Remarks Salons G-H Carla D. Brown, NELA President & Karen Maoki, Interim Executive Director Clara Coleman & Sacred B. Huff, Co-Chairs of NELA’s New Practitioners Committee will lead the Roll Call.

9:15–10:30 a.m.

Forging the Future of Workers’ Rights: Honoring Courageous Plaintiffs Salons G-H Courageous Plaintiffs: Jennifer Harris, Sarah “Alica” Lindsley & Mark Miles Advocates: Brian P. Sanford & Elizabeth “BB” Sanford, Erika Jacobsen White & Jay P. Holland, James A. Vagnini & Jay D. Ellwanger The Convention’s opening plenary session will bring to life the stories of three remarkable individuals who stood up to their employers and held their ground in the face of immense adversity, not only to vindicate their own rights, but to improve the lives of others as well. Our honorees embody the change we want to see in the American workplace, and their courage will inspire us to continue the fight to elevate justice for all workers. Their lawyers will share their legal theories and litigation strategies that led to their clients’ extraordinary victories.

Honoring Courageous Plaintiffs is generously sponsored by Correia & Puth, PLLC.

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10:30–11:15 a.m.

Exhibitor Open House Franklin 11-13 Please take this time to visit our Convention exhibitors and complete your Passport to Success! Get a stamp from each of our exhibitors and return your passport to the Registration Desk to be entered into a drawing for a complimentary 2025 CLE of your choice!

11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Fundamentals of Employment Law

Demystifying the Class or Collective Action Case Salons G-H Moderator/Speaker: Sarah Schalman-Bergen Speakers: Deirdre A. Aaron & Chauniqua D. Young If taking on a class or collective action seems daunting, this is the panel for you. Our experts will discuss how to select the right cases, handle certification, and provide strategies that will prepare you to take on class and collective actions with confidence.

2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

THURSDAY PROGRAM

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11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS (continued)

Practical Skills

Trauma Informed Lawyering Salons I-J Moderator/Speaker: Heather M. Collins Speakers: Sarah E. Nesbitt & Virginia Villegas Plaintiffs experiencing discrimination, harassment, assault, retaliation, or any other unlawful action in their workplace are experiencing immense trauma. Learning how to effectively communicate with traumatized clients and minimize the impact of secondary trauma on your mental health is critical in effective advocacy. This session will provide strategies for trauma informed advocacy from client intake to trial.

This session is generously sponsored by Sue Ellen Eisenberg & Associates, PC.

Discovery/Pre-Trial Advocacy

Taking Effective Rule 30(b)(6) and Data Depositions Franklin 1/2 Moderator/Speaker: Robert L. Schug Speakers: Sarah J. Arendt, Walt Auvil & Pooja Shethji This panel will provide a detailed roadmap for getting the most out of Rule 30(b)(6) depositions in all types of employment cases. Our experienced practitioners will explore strategies for taking effective 30(b)(6) depositions in individual lawsuits and class actions, using Rule 30(b)(6) to explore issues relating to ESI and data discovery, and dealing with common obstacles used by defendants to prevent these depositions from serving their intended purpose.

Ongoing Developments in Private-Sector Whistleblower Litigation Franklin 3/4 Moderator/Speaker: Jason M. Zuckerman Speakers: Lynne Bernabei, Austin Kaplan & Nicolas Mendoza The panel will discuss new developments in private sector whistleblower cases, including the impact of the decision in Murray v. UBS. The panel will also discuss recent developments in Sarbanes-Oxley, Dodd-Frank, and False Claims Act litigation, including the whistleblower reward programs of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and the Internal Revenue Service, the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, and new state legislation.

State of the ADAAA Franklin 5/6 Moderator/Speaker: Michal Shinnar Speakers: Meaghan L. Kuelbs, Heather E. Nodler & Carolyn L. Wheeler In this session, NELA members and attorneys from EEOC’s Office of Legal Counsel will examine how courts have applied the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADAAA made important changes to the definition of the term “disability” under the ADA, by rejecting the holdings in several Supreme Court decisions and directing the EEOC to modify its earlier ADA regulations. The purpose of these changes was to make it easier for individuals seeking protection under the ADA to establish the existence of their disabilities within the meaning of the ADA. Speakers will discuss 3-4 cases and their outcomes, paying special attention to the extent of reliance on the ADAAA or pre-ADAAA case law, how the cases were plead, and other issues that may be of interest to employment attorneys.

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THURSDAY PROGRAM

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12:30–2:00 p.m.

Annual Luncheon & Keynote Address Salons E-F NELA is thrilled to welcome Pennsylvania State Senator Nikil Saval as our 2024 Annual Keynote Speaker. Senator Nikil Saval is a father, husband, writer, and organizer representing Pennsylvania’s First Senatorial District, which lies in the heart of Philadelphia. Senator Saval’s commitment to solidarity and justice for working people, and his skill at coalition building, carried him from his roots as a labor organizer to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, where he currently serves as Democratic Chair of the Senate’s Urban Affairs & Housing Committee and Chair of the Senate’s Philadelphia Delegation. Senator Saval has focused his legislative work on critical response to Pennsylvania’s ongoing housing, mass incarceration, wage, and climate crises, while simultaneously pushing for deep structural change so that communities across the Commonwealth have the resources and support they need to thrive. Senator Saval will be introduced by Rahul Munshi.

2:15–3:15 p.m.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS Advanced Class & Collective Action Practice Salons G-H Moderator: Michael J. Scimone Speakers: Sally J. Abrahamson, Christina Le & Christine E. Webber Join our panelists as they address the current cutting-edge issues in class and collective action practice and take you past the basics to hone your skills and excel in your next case. Panelists will discuss how to handle complicated damages issues, strategic issues that arise in satisfying jurisdictional rules, and trial considerations for class and collective actions.

Practical Skills/Fundamentals of Employment Law

How to Conduct an Arbitration Successfully Salons I-J Moderator/Speaker: Rachhana T. Srey Speakers: Rachel M. Bien & Doris J. Dabrowski This practical skills session will contain strategies and tips to make your case successful in arbitration. Our experts will share their tips, provide demonstrations, and engage with the attendees to hear their experiences for succeeding in arbitration.

Effective Law Practice Management Franklin 1/2 Moderator/Speaker: Heather Burke Speakers: Qusair Mohamedbhai & Patricia V. Pierce While law school may teach you about res judicata, it often fails to teach you the intricacies of timekeeping and case management software. Our speakers will provide you with invaluable lessons on how to effectively run your law practice. From case selection to the importance of technology in improving efficiency in your practice, this session will improve your ability to successfully manage a plaintiffs’ side law practice.

DEI

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Discrimination in the Age of AI Franklin 3/4 Moderator/Speaker: Max P. Barack Speakers: Anthony J. May & Samantha Wehrle As workplace technology advances, so must legal strategies for protecting workers. From algorithmic discrimination to company communications monitoring, this session will address emerging issues facing workers and how to handle these innovative cases.

2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

THURSDAY/FRIDAY PROGRAM

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

2:15–3:15 p.m.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS (continued) Workplace Defamation Claims Franklin 5/6 Moderator/Speaker: Joyce L. Collier Speakers: Patricia Barasch & Liz Chako This session will provide an overview of recent case law relating to defamation claims against individuals who have made workplace harassment, discrimination, or retaliation claims. Experts will also discuss the components of a typical defamation action, address the key steps to avoid allegations of defamation and outline strategies for responding to retaliatory defamation claims.

3:15–4:00 p.m.

BREAK Franklin 11-13

4:00–5:15 p.m.

DEIA and Employment Law in the Wake of Students for Fair Admissions Salons G-H Moderator/Speaker: M. Nieves Bolaños Speakers: Lynne Bernabei, EEOC Commissioner Kalpana Kotagal, Amalea Smirniotopoulos & Kathryn J. Youker Last June’s Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions dealt a clear blow to affirmative action policies in higher education. But did its reach extend to workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion programs? What is the current legal status of those efforts? This session will address the recent challenges to workplace DEI initiatives and how plaintiffs’ employment lawyers can be part of the fight to protect diversity in the workplace.

5:30–6:30 p.m.

2024 Gala Awards Ceremony Salons G-H NELA Distinguished Service Honoree: Bruce A. Fredrickson NELA Special Distinguished Service Honoree: The Honorable Bernice B. Donald (Ret.) NELA Spotlight Honoree: Camille Fundora Rodriguez Institute Honoree: Peggy Browning Fund Speakers: Patricia A. Barasch, Carla D. Brown, Donald A. Donati, Karen Maoki, Erica Posey & Ashley O. Westby All are invited to help us honor three of your colleagues for distinguished service, inspiring leadership, and commitment to the cause of justice for workers. The National Institute for Workers’ Rights will also present its annual Impact for Workers’ Award.

6:30–7:45 p.m.

Annual Reception Salons E-F The Annual Reception is included in the registration fee for Convention registrants only. Guest tickets for the Annual Reception may be purchased at the Registration Desk or at the door.

Sponsored by Syllo

FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024 7:00 a.m.

Tobias 5K Run Hotel Lobby

7:30–9:00 a.m.

2024 Annual Convention Registration 5th Floor Registration II

7:30–8:45 a.m.

Breakfast Buffet Salons E-F Breakfast is available to Convention registrants only.

2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

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FRIDAY PROGRAM

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

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8:30–9:30 a.m.

DOL & EEOC Presentation Salons G-H Moderator: Subhashini Bollini Speakers: Charlotte A. Burrows, Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) & Seema Nanda, United States Solicitor of Labor Join the Chair of the U.S. EEOC and Solicitor of Labor as they discuss the continued efforts by their respective agencies to advances equity and justice in the workplace. This session is not eligible for CLE.

9:45–10:30 a.m.

National Institute for Workers’ Rights Presentation Salons G-H Speakers: Jason Solomon & Erica Posey Join the director of the National Institute for Workers’ Rights (NIWR) and the Paul H. Tobias Attorney Fellow for a discussion of NIWR’s work generally to promote economic dignity and workplace justice, and specifically an intiative to counter the attacks on DEI and encourage companies not to back away from efforts to increase access to opportunities at work. This session is not eligible for CLE.

10:45 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Summary Judgment Jiujitsu Salons G-H Moderator/Speaker: Vishal H. Shah Speakers: David L. Lee & Rahul Munshi The core philosophy of the martial art of jiujitsu is to manipulate your opponent’s force against them. This panel will teach you how to use your opponent’s tactics against them and succeed during summary judgment. Discover how to put the defense on the horns of a dilemma by either helping you prove your case or acknowledging the existence of material, disputed facts, and how to grapple with emerging defense strategies.

12:00–12:30 p.m.

BREAK Franklin 11-13

12:30–1:30 p.m.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Fundamentals of Employment Law

Effectively Using Expert Witnesses Salons G-H Moderator/Speaker: Victoria T. Kepes Speakers: Susan E. Huhta, Toni J. Jaramilla & Robert W. Schmidt Using expert witnesses can be an invaluable part of your case, but pitfalls abound. Our experienced practitioners will teach you when to use them, when to avoid them, and how to identify which expert witness is the best fit for your case.

Practical Skills

Developing a Successful Client Relationship Salons I-J Moderator/Speaker: M. Megan O’Malley Speakers: Obinna I. Abara, Michael A. Filoromo, III & Rebecca L. Salawdeh This practical session will help attendees develop strategies to engage with their clients in a meaningful way. Our panelists will address how to avoid common mistakes in client communication, create a relationship of trust and open communication and set boundaries. This session will include demonstrations and the chance for attendees to share their dos and don’ts.

2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

FRIDAY PROGRAM

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

12:30–1:30 p.m.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS (continued) Concerted Activity Under the NLRA Franklin 1/2 Moderator: Erica Posey Speakers: Michael T. Anderson & Yona Rozen Under General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo, the NLRB has been more aggressive about protecting concerted activity in a variety of ways, particularly in non-union workplaces where concerted activity has been used to declare non-competes and confidentiality clauses unlawful. How can lawyers continue to take advantage of this protection in cases you might not think to bring to the NLRB? What would remain if the Administration changes?

In the Wake of Morgan v. Sundance: Forced Arbitration 2023–2024 Update Franklin 3/4 Moderator/Speaker: Shelby Leighton Speakers: Jennifer Bennett & Rebecca Peterson-Fisher In 2022 in Morgan v. Sundance, the Supreme Court held unanimously that arbitration agreements are on the same footing as other contracts. This created a “sea change” in the world of forced arbitration, in the words of Justice Samuel Alito. A number of forced arbitration cases have been moving through the courts since the decision, addressing important issues like severability and what classes of workers are exempt from the Federal Arbitration Act. Our experts will address the most recent developments and case law in the world of arbitration.

Considerations in Representing Executives Franklin 5/6 Moderator: Avi L. Kumin Speakers: Edward D. Buckley & Kerry C. Zaroogian This session will address the issues that arise when representing C-suite and other executive employees. From contract negotiations to benefits agreements and severance packages, our experts will ensure you leave this session with the ability to effectively represent executives.

1:30–1:45 p.m.

Boxed Lunch Pickup Salons E-F

1:45–2:45 p.m.

Members Forum Salons G-H Join NELA President Carla D. Brown, the NELA Board, and NELA Staff to learn about the exciting new initiatives, programs, and member benefits at NELA!

1:45–2:45 p.m.

NELA Committee & Practice Group Meetings (Level Four) • Age Discrimination Practice Group (Meeting Room 401) • Class & Collective Actions Practice Group (Meeting Room 402) • Disability Rights Practice Group (Meeting Room 403) • EEOC Working Group (Franklin 1/2) • Employee Benefits Practice Group (Meeting Room 404) • Ethics & Sanctions Committee (Franklin 3/4) • Family Responsibilities Discrimination Practice Group (Meeting Room 405) • Federal Rules Working Group (Meeting Room 410) • Federal Workers Practice Group (Meeting Room 408) • Immigrant/Low-Wage Workers Practice Group (Meeting Room 411) • LGBTIA+ Workers Practice Group (Meeting Room 406) • Trial Advocacy Practice Group (Meeting Room 409) • Wage & Hour Practice Group & DOL Working Group (Franklin 5/6) • Whistleblower Practice Group (Meeting Room 412) 2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

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FRIDAY PROGRAM

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

3:00–4:00 p.m.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Fundamentals of Employment Law

Cross Examination Skills for Deposition & Trial Salons G-H Moderator/Speaker: David Albrecht Speakers: J. Bernard Alexander, III & Gilda “Jill” Hernandez Perfecting the art of cross examination is crucial to the success of any case. Our experienced faculty will share their tips and tricks for making the most of witness testimony and what pitfalls to avoid.

Practical Skills/DEI

Neurodiversity in the Legal Profession Salons I-J Moderator/Speaker: Deborah K. Marcuse Speakers: Ting Cheung & Rebecca Rodgers As law firms continue to pursue creating inclusive and accessible workplaces, it is vital to include neurodiversity in the conversation. This practical session will offer valuable insight for how to create a workplace that not only accommodates neurodiverse attorneys but encourages success.

Discovery/Pre-Trial Advocacy

Organizing Your Discovery for Success Franklin 1/2 Moderator/Speaker: Summer H. Murshid Speakers: Alexandra K. Piazza & Adria Lynn Silva Join our panel of litigation experts as they walk through their best tips and tricks to organize your discovery and set yourself up for success in summary judgment and at trial. From drafting the initial complaint, through depositions and discovery, experts and admissibility issues, you will walk away knowing exactly how to approach discovery in your next individual or class action case.

Helping Caregivers Get the Care They Deserve: Wage & Hour Claims for Home Care Workers Franklin 3/4 Moderator/Speaker: Benjamin L. Davis, III Speakers: Matthew Dunn & Peter Winebrake Panelists will offer insights and tips to address significant wage and hour litigation issues (under the FLSA and State law) by focusing on cases in this specific realm. Attendees also will explore unique challenges and opportunities in this area of wage & hour practice. A portion of the session will engage with problems of misclassification/independent contractors reflecting developments under DOL’s final independent contractor rule.

The Ethical Modern Attorney Franklin 5/6 Moderator: Deborah H. Karpatkin Speakers: Casey R. Denson, Shoshee Hui & Kerry Murphy While some ethics rules never go out of style, new ethical dilemmas arise as technology and societal work norms change. How can you ethically advertise using social media? Are you allowed to respond to a bad Yelp review? What is your duty to your clients when you take parental leave or a vacation? Do you need cybersecurity insurance? Join our experts as they address the ways in which you can practice ethically in the era of advanced technology and work-life balance.

4:00–4:30 p.m.

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BREAK Franklin Hall 11-13

2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

FRIDAY PROGRAM

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

4:30–5:30 p.m.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Fundamentals of Employment Law

Representing Federal Sector Employees 101 Salons G-H Moderator/Speaker: Holly V. Franson Speakers: Andrew J. Perlmutter & Sacred B. Huff Federal sector workers make up an estimated 1.9% of the United States workforce and work under complex personnel practices and procedures. Learn how you can expand your practice by adding federal sector cases. Our practitioners will guide you through the most important basics of tackling a federal sector case and how you can succeed at every stage.

Practical Skills

Cutting-Edge Voir Dire Salons I-J Moderator/Speaker: R. Scott Oswald Speakers: Dennis E. Egan & Alicia K. Haynes Choosing the right jury for an employment trial is one of the most vital decisions a plaintiffs’ attorney can make. Our expert trial lawyers will demonstrate how to use practical tools to prepare for and conduct voir dire, ultimately selecting the right jury for your case.

Recurring Challenges in Representing Plaintiffs in Sexual Harassment & Assault Cases Franklin 1/2 Moderator/Speaker: Scott M. Pollins Speakers: Judie A. Saunders & Megan S. Goddard Sexual harassment and assault cases present a series of challenges for both the client and attorney. This panel addresses some of the more complex legal questions that arise in sexual harassment claims, including harassment or assault outside of the office and the challenges of reporting these claims.

DEI

Creating Inclusive Workplaces for Attorneys Franklin 3/4 Moderator/Speaker: Chiquita Hall-Jackson Speakers: Camille Fundora Rodriguez & Sherry D. Soanes While many companies and organizations, including plaintiffs’-side employment firms, talk the talk of DEI, how do they walk the walk? As attorneys of diverse backgrounds and experience graduate law school or proceed in their legal career, how can you make sure you are creating a workplace that is inclusive? How do organizations grow and support attorneys that have been marginalized in the past? Join our speakers to learn more and join the conversation.

Labor Trafficking—What You Need to Know Franklin 5/6 Moderator/Speaker: Anna P. Prakash Speakers: Caitlin Boehne, Rachel Dempsey, Chelsea Edwards & Meredith Stewart Many wage theft cases have aspects of labor trafficking like training repayment agreements, financial penalties for quitting and immigration threats. As wage and hour practitioners know, adding a Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) claim to a wage theft case can supersize damages, but there are other considerations to consider. Join this expert panel to discuss liability issues of general contractors, pre-filing dispute resolution of trafficking cases, connecting with government agencies including prosecutors as well as interaction with immigration law.

2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

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FRIDAY/SATURDAY PROGRAM

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

8:00–11:00 p.m.

2024 Gala Dance Party Salons G-H Please join us for this special celebration of our community! The evening includes music, dancing, and other treats. Drop in anytime. Every Gala attendee will receive two complimentary drink tickets courtesy of Dundon Advisers LLC. The Gala requires a separate ticket to attend.

Tickets may be purchased at the Registration Desk or at the door.

SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 2024 7:30–9:00 a.m.

2024 Annual Convention Registration 5th Floor Registration II

7:30–9:15 a.m.

Breakfast Buffet Salons E-F Breakfast is available to Convention registrants only.

9:15–10:15 a.m.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Fundamentals of Employment Law

Beginner’s Guide to Using AI in Your Law Practice Salons G-H Speakers: Jeffrey W. Chivers & Phillip M. Kitzer Using AI in your practice can increase productivity and efficiency. But how do you get started? This panel will discuss what AI tools exist for law practice management, how to utilize them for maximum effect, and how to do so ethically.

Practical Skills

Discovery/Pre-Trial Advocacy

Practical Wellness for Burned Out Attorneys Salons I-J Speaker: Maureen Truax Holland Join our panelists for a practical and interactive discussion on how you can manage your stress, vicarious trauma, and burnout in a lasting and meaningful way.

Creative & Effective Storytelling for Workers’ Rights Advocates Franklin 1/2 Moderator/Speaker: Mariyam Hussein Speakers: Brian J. Foley & Laura C. Mattiacci Presenting an effective case to an arbitrator, judge, or jury is not just about causation standards and statutory interpretations. In order to truly move decisionmakers, lawyers must share their clients’ stories. This session will provide you with tips to channel your inner storyteller, to ensure that you are creating the most vivid picture you can of the harm your client endured.

Available Claims at the Hiring Stage Franklin 3/4 SpeakerModerator: Iris Halpern Speakers: Christopher M. McNerney & Katie Svoboda-Kindle This session will include a discussion of pre-employment claims, including discrimination on the basis of protected characteristics, criminal history, and other federal and state employment protection laws and concepts.

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2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

SATURDAY PROGRAM

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

9:15–10:15 a.m.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS (continued) Legislative Efforts, Deferred Action for Labor Enforcement (DALE), and Other Potential Relief for Exploited Immigrant Workers Franklin 5/6 Moderator: Jacqueline Villanueva Speakers: Jessie Hahn, Lerae Kroon & Julia Solorzano This panel will discuss legal protections for immigrant workers who are suffering labor abuses at work. Workplaces with numerous labor and employment law violations often hire easily exploited undocumented workers. While labor and employment law generally apply equally to all workers, regardless of immigration status, the remedies are not equal. Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Hoffman Plastics Compounds, Inc. v. NLRB in 2002, undocumented workers have generally not had the right to back pay or reinstatement when they are retaliated against for raising wage and hour or discrimination claims or engaging in protected concerted activity, greatly chilling enforcement of workplace rights by the most exploitative workplaces.

In the following decades, through years of advocacy and legal strategies, advocates have successfully developed strategies to provide protections for undocumented workers, including local policy initiatives to protect workers from abusive use of employment eligibility verification systems (such as E-Verify), alternative remedies for victims of unlawful termination, and the expansive use of the new Deferred Action for Labor-based Enforcement.

10:15–10:40 a.m.

BREAK Franklin 11-13

10:40-10:50 a.m.

Ethics and Sanctions Committee Presentation Salons G-H

10:50 a.m.–12:40 p.m.

The Year in Review: Significant Developments in Employment Law Salons G-H Moderator: Ashley O. Westby Speakers: Heather Newsom Leonard, Professor Eric Schnapper & Professor Suja Thomas The 2024 Annual Convention will close with a robust discussion of the employment cases decided by the U.S. Supreme Court during its 2023–2024 term, significant appellate court, legislative, and state law developments, as well as emerging issues in plaintiffs’ employment law.

The Year in Review is generously sponsored by Barrett & Farahany.

12:40 p.m.

Convention Adjourns

2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

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NELA CALENDAR OF EVENTS

2024 Trial Boot Camp October 17–19, 2024 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Austin Austin, TX

2025 Annual Convention June 25–28, 2025 Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Baltimore, MD

2025 Wage and Hour Update March 28–29, 2025 Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza St. Louis St Louis, MO

2026 Annual Convention June 24–27, 2026 Sheraton New Orleans Hotel New Orleans, LA

Help shape NELA’s signature event of the year by submitting your session proposals.

2025 ANNUAL CONVENTION June 25–28, 2025 Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Baltimore, MD Generally, concurrent sessions are 60 minutes long and feature a moderator and two speakers. NELA reserves the right to modify proposals that are accepted and to select speakers other than those proposed. Please note that NELA will contact you only if your proposal is accepted by the Annual Convention Committee. Thank you for sharing your ideas with us!

NELA hopes to enhance the quality and diversity of its Annual Convention by including your ideas through this Call for Proposals. The deadline for submission of proposals is Friday, September 6, 2024. www.nela.org/2025proposals

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2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

Equal Remedies Act Of 2024 H.R. 8298 | S. 4327

Introduced by Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Bobby Scott (D-VA), and Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA), the Equal Remedies Act of 2024 will remove the arbitrary limits on damage awards and modernize the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) to allow age discrimination victims to pursue

Help Us Pass This Bill and Get Full Justice for Workers Call your members of Congress and urge them to support this important piece of legislation. Capitol Hill Switchboard (202) 224-3121.

Let us know if you have a connection with a member of Congress.

Share client stories about workers who did not receive the full jury award because of damage caps.

More info at www.enddamagecapsforworkers.com.

Keep us updated on your efforts!

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NELA ENHANCED MEMBERS

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

Thank you to those members who generously support NELA through their enhanced annual membership dues.

Champions Parisis G. Filippatos

Timothy A. Ricker

Defenders Barbara Figari Cowan

Alicia K. Haynes

Advocates Patricia A. Barasch Beth E. Bertelson Roxanne B. Conlin Donald A. Donati

Sue Ellen Eisenberg Bruce A. Fredrickson Evan L. Goldman April L. Hollingsworth

Stephen B. Lebau Michael L. Pitt Scott M. Pollins Peter Winebrake

Sustaining Lisa J. Banks David Blanchard Kathleen L. Bogas Bert S. Braud Stephen R. Bruce David A. Burkhalter, II Stephen Z. Chertkof Denise M. Clark Linda M. Correia Bill Day, Jr. Dennis E. Egan

Debra A. Freid J. Gary Gwilliam Vicki Kuftic Horne Michael A. Josephson Debra S. Katz Avi Kumin Ralph Emerson Lamar, IV Richard P. Neuworth Joshua Newville Wayne N. Outten Joshua Parkhurst

Gregory George Paul Patricia A. Podolec Jonathan C. Puth Mary Anne Sedey Jonathan Street Merle Joy Turchik Angela Walker Thomas A. Warren Benjamin H. Yormak

Hal K. Gillespie Harold M. Goldner Kenneth D. Haynes Jay P. Holland Thomas Gregory Jarrard Susan E. Jewell Deborah H. Karpatkin James W. Kytle Jonathan J. Margolis Cheri L. McCracken Ellen J. Messing

C. Ryan Morgan Summer H. Murshid J. Heydt Philbeck Dan Siegel Douglas N. Silverstein Michael C. Subit Geraldine Sumter Hollie Wieland Clayton Wire Jeffrey Neil Young

Contributing Walt Auvil John P. Batson Jonathan Ben-Asher Renee Brooker Deena Buchanan Lori Bullock Heather M. Collins Doris J. Dabrowski Brendan J. Donelon Arthur R. Ehrlich Gary M. Gilbert

2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

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NELA FUND DONORS

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

NELA’s strength is in our community of individual members, law firms, Affiliates, allied organizations, and coalition partners. We extend our deepest gratitude to the following for their generous financial contributions.

Campaign to Eliminate Damage Caps J. Bernard Alexander, III Carla D. Brown Edward D. Buckley Heidi Burakiewicz Cannon Law Kathleen Chavez & Elizabeth Chavez, FMCO Law Lisa L. Clay Sean W. Cook Brendan J. Donelon Ellwanger Henderson Christine T. Elzer Rachel Emens Amanda A. Farahany Bruce C. Fox Bruce A. Fredrickson Hal K. Gillespie Mark Hanna Andrew J. Horowitz Deborah H. Karpatkin James H. Kaster & Joellen M. Kaster Rafael Lázaro Sean M. McGivern Morgan & Morgan Wayne N. Outten Patricia A. Podolec Scott M. Pollins Jonathan C. Puth Barry D. Roseman The Sanford Firm Robert W. Schmidt Geoffrey H. Simpson The Spiggle Law Firm Tae Sture Carolyn L. Wheeler Wienand & Bagin J. Bryan Wood Anonymous (2)

Legislative & Public Policy Fund Henry Brudney Deena Buchanan Stephen Churchill Denise M. Clark Timothy J. Coffey David Conforto Matthew R. Custardo Brian Dolman Arthur R. Ehrlich Parisis G. Filippatos Karen K. Fitzgerald Christine Forsythe Debra A. Freid Nicole Gainey Joshua David Gruenberg Athena M. Herman Bruce J. Highman April L. Hollingsworth William Hommel, Jr. Vicki Kuftic Horne Leslie Hunter Davis Michael G. Kane Mary-Ann Leon Heather Newsom Leonard Mary Jo Lowrey Ann Lugbill Matthew Maddox Jonathan J. Margolis Paul Henry Merry Barbara Ann Moore Richard J. Murray Summer H. Murshid Victoria Lynn Neal Kathryn S. Piscitelli Patricia A. Podolec Jeffrey A. Rager Nancy Richards-Stower John P. Sheridan Dorian Vandenberg-Rodes Patrick John Walsh

Sanctions Assistance Fund for Emergency Relief Gavriela M. Bogin-Farber Subhashini Bollini Katherine L. Butler David R. Cashdan Stephen Churchill Beth Creighton Brian Dolman Parisis G. Filippatos Karen K. Fitzgerald Nicole Gainey Alicia K. Haynes Athena M. Herman April L. Hollingsworth Vicki Kuftic Horne Michael G. Kane Ilir Kavaja Mary-Ann Leon David Lichtenstein Scott A. Lucas Ann Lugbill Matthew Maddox Mary Ruth Mann Jonathan J. Margolis Sean M. McGivern Eduard Meleshinsky Ellen J. Messing Jeffrey A. Mittman Alberto Naranjo Victoria Lynn Neal Patricia A. Podolec Melissa A. Pomfred Erica Posey Robin B. Potter Phillis h. Rambsy Richard R. Renner Nancy Richards-Stower John P. Sheridan Joseph L. Sulman Jonathan Wall Ashley O. Westby Wesley Woolf

Every effort was made to ensure the accuracy of individuals, law firms, and other organizations acknowledged here.

We apologize for any errors or omissions. Donors from May 1, 2023–April 30, 2024.

2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

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Congratulations to Jason Solomon and Erica Posey at the Institute for all their hard work and for their accomplishments this past year.

Many thanks to Karen Maoki for agreeing to be King Employment Law NELA’s Interim Executive Director.

We wish the best for Jeffrey Mittman in his travels.

1670 York St Denver, CO 80206 (303) 479-3997 intake@kingemploymentlaw.com

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Chet Levitt Fund for Employment Law 3133 CONNECTICUT AVENUE NW SUITE 414 WASHINGTON, DC 20008 PHONE: 202-862-4330 chett levitt

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institute session

institute session

Join Jason Solomon, the Institute’s director, and Erica Posey, the 2022-2024 Paul H. Tobias Attorney Fellow, to hear about the Institute’s work to promote economic dignity and workplace justice, including efforts to counter the attacks on DEI. NIWR: Promoting Economic Dignity and Workplace Justice Salons G-H (5th Floor) Friday, June 28 | 9:45 a.m.

Founded in 2008, the Institute is the related charitable public interest organization of NELA. The Institute advances workers’ rights through research, thought leadership, and education for policymakers, advocates, and the public.

IMPACT FOR WORKERS AWARD

The National Institute for Workers’ Rights, NELA’s sister organization, is proud to present our annual Impact for Workers Award to the Peggy Browning Fund for its deep commitment to the future of worker advocacy.

Based in Philadelphia, the Peggy Browning Fund educates and inspires the next generation of advocates for workplace justice. Through fellowships, workers’ rights conferences, networking, and other programs, the Fund provides unique opportunities for law students to work for economic and social justice. Its programs provide diverse, challenging work and educational experiences in the area of workers’ rights with the goal of increasing the students’ understanding of the current issues workers face as well as promote the students’ entry into the practice of public interest labor law.

With the Fund’s support, NELA and the Institute have hosted summer law clerks and launched the careers of new workers’ rights advocates every year since 2007.

Create a Lasting Legacy By including NELA or the Institute in your estate plans, you can create a meaningful personal legacy to forge the future of workers’ rights and planned giving workers’ rights advocacy for years to come.

Please visit the NELA Advocacy or Institute table in the Grand Ballroom Foyer to learn more about the power of naming NELA or the Institute as a beneficiary in your will, retirement account, or life insurance policy.

Invest In Our Future: Honoring The Legacy of Paul H. Tobias

THE EXAMPLE OF PAUL H. TOBIAS Paul H. Tobias, NELA’s Founder and First Executive Director, was a pioneer in the field of plaintiffs’ employment law. For more than 50 years, he was the source of boundless inspiration for our community of workers’ rights advocates. Whether or not you knew Paul, his prolific accomplishments in advancing equality and justice in the American workplace have touched you. He was a true workplace hero whose passion for employment law came from a deep desire to help individuals.

THE PAUL H. TOBIAS ATTORNEY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM Named in his honor, the Paul H. Tobias (PHT) Attorney Fellowship Program exemplifies our commitment to cultivating the next generation of workers’ rights advocates. The PHT Attorney Fellowship provides

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a new lawyer who embodies Paul’s indomitable spirit with the opportunity to work on cutting-edge issues at the Institute for two years.

ECONOMIC DIGNITY, WORKPLACE JUSTICE & THE FUTURE OF WORKER ADVOCACY With a mission of advancing workers’ rights, the Institute is a think tank and action platform focused on the private enforcement of workplace law. Working closely with Institute Director Jason Solomon, our 2022–2024 PHT Fellow, Erica Posey, is involved in all aspects of the Institute’s work to promote economic dignity, workplace justice, and the future of worker advocacy. Erica was instrumental in the creation and publication of the Institute’s latest report, The Right to Talk to Co-Workers and Management About Working Conditions: A Study of Enforcement at

the NLRB, available at no charge at www.niwr.org.

VISIT WITH THE INSTITUTE To learn more be sure to drop by the Institute’s table in the Grand Ballroom Foyer, come to the Institute’s discussion on Friday morning at 9:45 in Salons G–H when Jason and Erica will be addressing the Institute’s efforts to counter attacks on DEI, or attend the session Erica is moderating on Friday afternoon at 12:30 on Concerted Activity under the NLRA. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE The PHT Attorney Fellowship Program is made possible by the generous commitment of members of the NELA community. Please help us carry out Paul’s legacy by joining our fight for workers’ rights. You can make a tax-deductible contribution during the Convention at the Institute table or online anytime at bit.ly/ForWorkers.

THE POWER OF CY PRES TO ADVANCE WORKERS’ RIGHTS

Cy pres awards have been and will continue to be critical to the Institute’s ability to advance workers’ rights through research, thought leadership, and education for policymakers, advocates, and the public. The Institute has an excellent track record as a cy pres beneficiary, and since 2008 has been the recipient of more than $1.6 million in cy pres awards in 66 class or collective actions brought on behalf of workers. The Institute is a compelling designee in employment discrimination, wage and hour, and other litigation concerning workplace violations.

Please join us in extending our gratitude to the following attorneys and law firms who have designated the Institute as a cy pres recipient since 2008. They have made a tremendous difference not only to us, but to the lives of the workers we touch.

Abbey Spanier, LLP

Jamie S. Franklin

Law Offices of Colleen M. McLaughlin

Altshuler Berzon, LLP

Suzanne Garrow

Rowdy Meeks Legal Group LLC

Beaumont Costales

Getman, Sweeney & Dunn, PLLC

Meizlish & Grayson

Berger & Montague, PC

Goldstein, Borgen, Dardarian & Ho

Miller O’Brien Jensen, PA

Betz + Blevins

Law Offices of Janice Goodman

Nichols Kaster, PLLP

Blanchard & Walker PLLC

Law Offices of Geoffrey L. Gross, LLC

Law Office of Thomas Rutledge

Burr & Smith, LLP

Haines Law Group

Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP

Maia Caplan

Hawks Quindel, SC

Chavez Law Firm

Hayber, McKenna & Dinsmore, LLC

Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP

Cummins & Cummins, LLP

Heisler, Feldman, & McCormick, PC

Donati Law, PLLC

Hersh Law Firm, PC

Donelon, PC

Hua Gallai & Gonzales, LLP

Dworken & Bernstein Co., LPA

Johnson Becker, PLLC

Eisenberg & Schnell, LLP

Kern Law Firm, PC

Fish Potter Bolaños, PC (formerly Potter Bolaños LLC)

Tuvia Korobkin

FMCO Law

Leventhal Lewis Kuhn Taylor Swan PC

Bruce C. Fox Ty Frankel & Patti Syverson

Labor Law, PC McGuinn, Hillsman & Palefsky

Law Offices of James M. Sitkin Soderstrom Law PC Sprenger & Lang, PLLC Stephan Zouras, LLP Thomas & Solomon LLP Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs The Law Office of Rob Wiley, PC Woodall Law Offices

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The Institute and NELA acknowledge the visionaries of workers’ rights who have made financial contributions to further the Institute’s work. The giving levels below reflect our supporters’ combined contributions from May 1, 2023 through April 30, 2024.

FOUNDATION GRANTS The M.R. and Evelyn Hudson Foundation Kazan McClain Partners’ Foundation GENERAL SUPPORT $2,500+ Filippatos PLLC Joseph D. Garrison & Brenda J. Garrison Frances J. Hollander Messing, Rudavsky & Weliky PC Outten & Golden LLP Schall & Barasch, LLC The Estate of Marjorie B. Tarkow $1,000–$2,499 Bryce W. Ashby Katherine L. Butler Carmen Comsti Joseph A. Golden April L. Hollingsworth King Employment Law Donna R. Lenhoff & Michael F. Jacobson Deborah K. Lim & Michael J. Woo Karen Maoki & Cassandra Chen Jeffrey A. Mittman Maria Lloyd Price Jonathan C. Puth & Mira F. Courpas Winebrake & Santillo, LLC $500–$999 Bertelson Law Offices, PA M. Nieves Bolaños O’Malley & Madden, PC Fern M. Steiner

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2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

$250–$499 John P. Batson Paul H. Benoist Debra P. Chaw William H. Ewing Alicia K. Haynes Leah A. Hofkin In Memory of Gerald A. Hofkin Deborah H. Karpatkin David Lichtenstein Kathryn S. Piscitelli Roberta Steele Walter L. Taylor Carl M. Varady Christine E. Webber $100–$249 Lisa J. Bernt Thomas J. Duff Lenore C. Garon Law Offices of Goldman & Ehrlich, Chtd.

Bruce J. Highman In Memory of Louis A. Highman Phyllis C. Hofkin William Hommel, Jr. Vicki Kuftic Horne Patricia Ito In Honor of Teri Chaw Mary Jo Lowrey Ann Lugbill Jonathan J. Margolis Barbara Ann Moore Marilou Righini & Massimo Righini Louis Frances Robbio Randall D. Schmidt Jamaal W. Stafford Kamee B. Verdrager Virginia Villegas Jeffrey Neil Young

Up To $99 Alan Banov Henry Brudney Kirby F. Cañon Stephen Churchill Denise M. Clark Timothy J. Coffey Christine Forsythe Nicole Gainey Alan H. Garber Leon Greenberg Michael G. Kane Mary-Ann Leon Brendan P. Lynch Matthew Maddox Eduard Meleshinsky Meredith Munro Patricia A. Podolec Nancy Richards-Stower Lisa R. Sahli John P. Sheridan Pedro A. Valverde Aidan Walden Louie A. Wright THE PAUL H. TOBIAS ATTORNEY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM $1,000+ Terisa E. Chaw & James A. Hendriksen In Honor of Joseph D. Garrison Haynes & Haynes, PC In Memory of Tammy Edwards Phyllis Tobias In Memory of Paul H. Tobias $500–$999 M. Nieves Bolaños Bruce A. Fredrickson & Kristin K. Fredrickson

$250–$499 Alan R. Kabat Diane S. King Matt Koski Karen Maoki & Cassandra Chen $100–$249 Elinor C. Chaw Elzer Law Firm, LLC Leah A. Hofkin Patricia Losacker In Memory of Paul H. Tobias Jeffrey A. Mittman

Liane Scott & Eric Scott In Honor of Terisa E. Chaw & James A. Hendriksen Jason Solomon In Honor of Erica Posey Pedro A. Valverde WORKERS’ RIGHTS ADVOCACY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Kira Fonteneau April L. Hollingsworth John C. Ireland Toni J. Jaramilla

Pacesetters ($2,500–$4,999) Filippatos PLLC Joseph D. Garrison & Brenda J. Garrison Frances J. Hollander Messing, Rudavsky & Weliky PC Outten & Golden LLP Schall & Barasch, LLC The Visionary Circle Members of the Visionary Circle make an annual commitment of $1,000 or more to support the ongoing work of the Institute. We are honored to recognize the members of the 2023– 2024 Visionary Circle.

Visionaries ($1,000–$2,499) Bryce W. Ashby M. Nieves Bolaños Katherine L. Butler Terisa E. Chaw & James A. Hendriksen Carmen Comsti Joseph A. Golden Haynes & Haynes, PC April L. Hollingsworth

Ann Lugbill Kim Michael Victoria Lynn Neal Nina T. Pirrotti Patricia A. Podolec Donna Williams Rucker Julie Salwen Trang Q. Trang Cynthia Forman Wilkinson We also acknowledge the Peggy Browning Fund for making possible the Workers’ Rights Advocacy Fellowship Program.

Toni J. Jaramilla King Employment Law Donna R. Lenhoff & Michael F. Jacobson Deborah K. Lim & Michael J. Woo Karen Maoki & Cassandra Chen Jeffrey A. Mittman Maria Lloyd Price Jonathan C. Puth & Mira F. Courpas Phyllis Tobias Winebrake & Santillo, LLC Every effort was made to ensure the accuracy of the individuals, law firms, and other organizations acknowledged here. We apologize for any errors or omissions.

2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

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Please fill out your Program Evaluation.

1/4 Bardwell

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JOIN THE LEGAL NETWORK FOR GENDER EQUITY

1/2 Nat Women’s Law Center We are a project of the National Women’s Law Center Fund that connects individuals facing sex discrimination at work, in school, or in healthcare settings, with legal help.

We are a nationwide network of attorneys committed to helping people fight for their rights to be free from sexual harassment and other sex discrimination.

Member attorneys receive free legal trainings and resources, and may also apply for litigation related funding from the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund for cases involving workplace sexual harassment.

Membership is FREE. We invite you to join by using the QR code below, or visiting our table in the exhibit hall.

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WE CELEBRATE THOSE WHO ADVOCATE FOR THE RIGHTS OF ALL WORKERS. CONGRATULATIONS filler TO from THIS YEAR’S NELA HONOREES: pedro The Honorable Bernice B. Donald (Ret.) NELA NJ Bruce A. Fredrickson Camillenow Fundora Rodriguez In Memoriam

PITT • MCGEHEE PA L M E R • B O N A N N I • R I V E R S 117 West 4th Street, Suite 200 • Royal Oak, MI 48067 • 248-398-9800 • PITTLAWPC.COM

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Ad vocat es for Eq u alit y an d Ju st ice in t h e Am erican W orkp lace Th an k You For All You D o!

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2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

Everyone should have access to a great lawyer.

Terrell Marshall (NEW)

Law Group PLLC Seattle, Washington

Terrell Marshall Law Group proudly supports NELA’s commitment to ensuring fairness and equality in American workplaces.

terrellmarshall.com

“For we are leaders of inclusiveness and community, of love, equity, and justice.”

- Judith Heumann, Disability Rights Activist

| Take a moment and look through the following greetings and advertisements from your friends, colleagues, NELA members, NELA Affiliates, and the many businesses and organizations that support NELA. We are grateful for your continued support of our work.

Our gratitude & appreciation to NELA’s Affiliates Members Committees & Practice Groups for your invaluable contributions.

2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION June 26–29, 2024

Philadelphia Marriott Downtown Philadelphia, PA

FORGING THE FUTURE OF WORKERS’ RIGHTS

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Stephen R. Bruce Law Offices 1667 K Street, NW Suite 410 Washington, DC 20006 (202) 289-1117 steve bruce ad

www.erisapensionclaims.com 85

Celebrating the many years of having the distinct honor to work with spectacular NELA colleagues to achieve real results for workers and fight for social justice inside and outside the courtroom!

¡ Si s e p u e d e !

Solidarity forever - M. Nieves Bolaños, Patrick Cowlin, Robin Potter, and Alex Taylor

Together, we salute this year’s Gala Honorees and thank them for their work to advance workers’ rights, a fair judiciary, and a diverse, accessible, and inclusive space in which to perform this important work.

Congratulations to Hon. Bernice B. Donald (Ret.), Bruce Fredrickson, and Camille Fundora Rodriguez!

YOUR WORK HELPS KEEP NELA STRONG! 86

GARRISONLAW.COM NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT | 203-777-4425

The Garrison Law Family is thrilled to take part in the celebration of this year’s venerable honorees.

Bruce Fredrickson, Hon. Bernice B. Donald, and Camilla Fundora Rodriguez: We are grateful to you for personifying the values that NELA holds dear.

Bruce Fredrickson, we celebrate your dedication to empowering workers to achieve justice and your colleagues to advocate for them at the highest level;

Visit Our Website

Judge Donaldson, we celebrate your extraordinary record of public service and pioneering work on implicit bias; Camila Fundora Rodriguez, we celebrate your leadership in advancing DEI at your firm and your tireless efforts on behalf of NELA.

2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

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congrats to this year’s honorees!

Getman, Sweeney & Dunn proudly represents workers exclusively in wage-and-hour cases.

FIGHTING FOR FAIR PAY. NATIONWIDE. 88

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TRUSTED ADVOCATES. PROVEN RESULTS. REAL PEOPLE.

It takes a team of specialized employment lawyers to represent Wisconsin workers in their employment claims, and it takes a trusted association to support that team.

Our continued support of the National Employment Lawyers Association ensures expert legal training and resources to all employment attorneys in Wisconsin and at a national level. It’s an investment in the future of promoting fair judiciary, laws, and policies through a united organization.

Together, we will continue to advocate for Wisconsin workers by holding employers accountable for employment discrimination, wage theft, unfair labor practices and all other issues facing employees.

Hawks Quindel is proud to be home to many of the state’s most soughtafter employment lawyers—all committed to delivering results. We’ve built our business on our hard-earned record for success in both individual and class-action lawsuits. We are proud of our reputation as smart, ethical, and effective attorneys.

Hawks Quindel S.C. | www.hq-law.com

Birmingham, aL

Congratulations to the 2024 Gala Honorees.

Thank You for Forging the Future of Workers’ Rights

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Ashley Walter

Heather Collins

Katherine Hinkle

Elizabeth Schultz

Erica Russell

Shanisha Cooper

hmccivilrights.com | 615-724-1996 Nashville, Tennessee

Stoking our Fire for Workers’ Rights Honoring Judge Bernice B. Donald: Champion of Justice and Equality 91

Be Kind to Yourself and Each Other

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Lowrey Parady Lebsack Denver, Colorado

The fight for dignity in the workplace, fair wages, and safe spaces to gather is at our doorstep.

We stand for workers’ rights with our fellow NELA members.

hkm.com

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outtengolden.com

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Thank You NELA For Fighting for Workers’ Rights And

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THE EQUAL REMEDIES ACT OF 2024 www.enddamagecapsforworkers.com

ALLRED, MAROKO & GOLDBERG

Congratulations to the 2024 Gala Honorees for Forging the Future of Workers’ Rights

6300 Wilshire Blvd.

Suite 1500 Los Angeles, CA 90048

305 Broadway Suite 607 New York, NY 10007

www.amglaw.com 97

orkers’ rights adv w e n o o c m ate o f l l y o a o u o t r F Congratulations on being named NELA’s 2024 Distinguished Service honoree: The Honorable Bernice B. Donald Bruce A. Fredrickson and NELA’s 2024 Spotlight Award honoree: Camille Fundora Rodriguez

Your colleagues at

New Mexico & Texas Leaders in Plaintiff Employment and Civil Rights Law The Law Center at 311 Montana Avenue, Suite B El Paso, Texas 79902 Tel (915) 532-5544 Fax (915) 532-5566 https://benoitlegal.com/ 98

Noelle Brennan & Associates, LTD Employment Lawyers Working for a Fairer Workplace

Congratulations to the 2024 Gala Honorees

111 N. Wabash Ave., Suite 800 Chicago, IL 60602 T: 312.422.0001 nbrennan@nbrennan-associates.com 99

KEEP FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT

Thank you NELA for your leadership and our shared advocates: Board members Bernard Alexander and Maria Diaz and newly elected 100 Board member Toni Jaramilla.

Fighting for workers‘ rights and justice.

We are proud to support NELA’s efforts to level the playing field.

Uncommon advocacy for the common good.

Joseph Sellers, Christine Webber, Brian Corman, Michael Hancock, Aniko Schwarcz, Harini Srinivansan, Rebecca Ojserkis, Phoebe Wolfe, Dana Busgang, Megan Reif cohenmilstein.com 8 Offices Nationally | 1100 New York Ave. NW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20005 | 202.408.4600

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PELA congratulates Judge Donald, Bruce, and Camille on their deserved recognition!

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Congratulations to Judge Donald on a remarkable career!

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elser law

REPRESENTING WORKERS THROUGHOUT PENNSYLVANIA • DISCRIMINATION AND RETALIATION • WAGE AND HOUR • EMPLOYEE DEFENSE 104

FL NELA

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15 Attorneys Dedicated Solely To Plaintiff’s Employment Law with a Record of Winning Jury Trials $25.6 Million NJ Federal Court Jury Verdict Against Starbucks, plus $2.7 Million Judgment for Economic Loss (2023)

$2.3 Million NJ Federal Court Jury Verdict & Judgment in Race & Retaliation Discrimination Case (2022) $3.1 Million PA Federal Court Jury Verdict & Judgment in Age Discrimination Case (2021)

$700,000 PA Federal Court Jury Verdict & Judgment in Age Discrimination Case (2021) $6.3 Million PA Federal Court Jury Verdict & Judgment in National Origin & Retaliation Case, reduced to $2.1 Million due to caps (2018) $910,000 PA Federal Court Jury Verdict & Judgment in Age & Sex Discrimination Case (2018) $51.56 Million NJ Federal Court Jury Verdict & Judgment in Age Discrimination Case, $50 Million Punitive Award Vacated (2017) $2.1 Million PA Federal Court Jury Verdict & Judgment in Age Discrimination Case (2017) $1.56 Million NJ State Court Jury Verdict in Breach of Contract Case (2017)

$1.7 Million PA State Court CEPA Jury Verdict (2013)

www.ConsoleLaw.com

JGL proudly supports NELA, and salutes courageous plaintiffs everywhere JGL–Representing real people. Getting real results, including: • $600 million in pharmaceutical fraud qui tam • $345 million in Medicare fraud claims, the highest recovery for kickback claims in history.

• $20 million in qui tam for surgeon performing medically unnecessary spinal surgeries • $8.5 million jury verdict in sexual assault and battery case • $3 million jury verdict in age discrimination case • $1 million jury verdict in unpaid wages case and 2024 NELA Courageous Plaintiff, Mark Miles

Jay Holland

Michal Shinnar

Erika Jacobsen White

Principal and Chair of Labor & Employment and Qui Tam Practices Attorney for 2024 Courageous Plaintiff, Mark Miles

Senior Counsel Chair, NELA Disability Law Practice Group

Principal Attorney for 2024 Courageous Plaintiff, Mark Miles

JGL represents people in employment, civil rights, and consumer rights cases in Maryland and Washington, DC, and qui tam cases around the country

www.jgllaw.com | 6404 Ivy Lane, Suite 400, Greenbelt, Maryland 20770 | 301 220 2200

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Experience Integrity Results

A proud sponsor of NELA KCNF applauds NELA for the important work the organization and its members accomplish to advance workers’ rights and congratulates all those who are being honored for their outstanding service. We are grateful to be part of an association that is so passionate about ensuring justice and equality in the workplace.

We Serve the Needs of Workers Around the World Comprehensive Employment Counsel You Can Trust Discrimination, Harassment & Retaliation | Reasonable Accommodations | Security Clearances Wage & Hour Violations | Federal Employee Discipline | Foreign Service Grievances

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818 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 1000 | Washington, D.C. 20006 202.331.9260 | kcnfdc.com | clearancelawyers.com

murphy anderson

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Congratulations to Bruce A. Fredrickson, founding member of Webster & Frederickson, PLLC, as he is honored with NELA’s 2024 Distinguished Service Award.

Bruce has nearly 40 years of experience in employment discrimination, labor, and civil rights. He has represented employees in discrimination and harassment cases, severance negotiations,MWELA and other employment matters, and oversees the firm’s employment practice working with clients and firm attorneys.

Bruce battled for over two decades to win the largest employment discrimination award in the history of the Civil Rights Tax Reform Act. The Hartman class action case paid out over $590 million divided among 1,100 women. In 2005, MWELA recognized Bruce as Lawyer of the Year and presented a special award for his extraordinary lobbying work related to passage of the Civil Rights Tax Reform Act, which eliminated taxation of attorneys’ fees in employment suits and settlements.

MWELA also congratulates one of our own, NELA President, Carla D. Brown, of Charlson Bredehoft Cohen Brown & Nadelhaft, P.C. We’re proud to see you at the helm!

The Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association is a vibrant NELA affiliate, 350+ lawyers strong. As advocates for employee and civil rights, we work to protect the rights and privileges of employees in private and public sectors in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. We are pleased to support the programs and activities of NELA.

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2024 NELA-Illinois is proud to help sponsor the 2024 gala.

Thank you to all of our esteemed NELA members for their work in expanding workers' rights and we look forward to a better future.

www.nela-illinois.org

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Pollins Law Creating Great Futures

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Werman Salas P.C. proudly supports NELA’s mission of elevating justice for all working people.

We are excited to join you in Philadelphia for Forging the Future of Workers’ Rights

ChiCago

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Washington D.C. flsalaW.Com

Boston

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Pete Winebrake (PA 80496) Andy Santillo (PA 93041) Mark Gottesfeld (PA 307752) Deirdre Aaron (PA 323389) Michelle Tolodziecki (PA 329470) Winebrake & Santillo, LLC 715 Twining Road, Suite 211 Dresher, PA 19025 (215) 884-2491 Plaintiffs’ Counsel DAVID, on behalf of themself and all others similarly situated, Plaintiff, v.

GOLIATH, Defendant.

: : : : : : : : : : : :

PHILADELPHIA COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS CLASS ACTION-UNPAID WAGES No. 2007-2024

NELA 2024 ANNUAL CONVENTION Winebrake & Santillo proudly welcomes NELA 2024 to the City of Brotherly Love!

We look forward to seeing you all here.

Date: June 26-29, 2024

Respectfully, /s/ Winebrake & Santillo, LLC Fighting for Fair Wages Since 2007 winebrakelaw.com

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Borealislaw.com

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BURCH 117

Congratulations to the 2024 Gala Honorees!

Harris D. Butler P: 804.648.4848 F: 804.237.0413 www.butlercurwood.com 140 Virginia Street, Suite 302 Richmond, Virginia 23219

Craig J. Curwood Zev Antell Paul M. Falabella Samantha Galina

Congratulations to the 2024 Gala Honorees

We protect the rights of whistleblowers and other employees who challenge workplace wrongdoing

The Employment Law Group, P.C. | 1717 K St. NW, Ste 1110 | Washington, DC 20006 | 202-331-3911 www.EmploymentLawGroup.com • Workplace Champions Protecting Your Civil Rights®

In Nebraska

In Iowa

(402) 316-3060

(515) 254-1999

employmentlawnebraska.com

employmentlawiowa.com

Serving employees (and justice) in Iowa and Nebraska

"Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble." Congressman John Lewis (1940-2020)

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Move Forward

WWW.FITZGERALD.LAW DALLAS TEXAS

GOLDEN LAW Fairness at Work

LLC

Andrew S. Golden 321 Main Street Farmington, CT 06032 (860) 678-4430 asg@agoldenlaw.com | www.agoldenlaw.com 120

CONGRATULATIONS & THANK YOU! Judge Bernice B. Donald Bruce A. Fredrickson Camille Fundora Rodriguez Peggy Browning Fund It is an honor to celebrate your achievements and a privilege to stand beside you in the fight for justice for workers.

Leah A. Hofkin

Thank you NELA for all you do!

Jacqueline Armstrong

440 Louisiana Street Suite 900 Houston Texas 77002 www.armstrongatlaw.com

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Law Office Of DebOrah h. KarpatKin 99 parK avenue Suite 2600 new YOrK, nY 10016-1503 (646) 865-9930

www.KarpatKinLaw.cOm

KATOR, PARKS, WEISER & WRIGHT P.L.L.C.

WAS HINGTON, D.C. (202) 898-4800 WWW .KA T OR PA RK S. C OM

The attorneys of Kator, Parks, Weiser & Wright are proud to celebrate the work of NELA, and the work of all NELA members on behalf of America’s workers.

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Proud to honor Bruce Fredrickson, each of the 2024 NELA Annual Gala Honorees, and every NELA member who works every day to balance the scales and level the playing field for workers.

Matt Koski McGuinn, Hillsman & Palefsky San Francisco, CA

LIVINGSTON, ADLER, PULDA, MEIKLEJOHN & KELLY, P.C. “If you can’t fly, then run; if you can’t run, then walk; if you can’t walk, then crawl; but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”

-Martin Luther King Jr.

Honoring NELA and The 2024 Gala Honorees Forging The Future of Workers’ Rights 557 Prospect Ave • Hartford, CT 06105 (860) 233-9821 • www.lapm.org 123

Empowering Employees to Enforce Their Rights for 25 Years

Madsen, Prestley & Parenteau, LLC Hartford, Connecticut Office 402 Asylum Street Hartford, CT 06103 Phone: (860) 246-2466 Fax: (860) 246-1794 New London, Connecticut Office 105 Huntington Street New London, CT 06320 Phone: (860) 442-2466 Fax: (860) 447-9206

Visit our website www.mppjustice.com

Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life forever.

– Amy Poehler

- THANK YOU Tacarra Andrade Alicia Battle Leah Hofkin Erica Posey

Jason Solomon Pedro Valverde Ashley Westby

For the inspiration you bring in making NELA and the Institute stronger every day.

- Karen Maoki

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The people so often sleepy, weary enigmatic, Is a vast huddle with many units saying, “I earn my living.

I make enough to get by and it takes all my time.

If I had more time I could do more for myself. and maybe more for others.

I could read and study and talk things over and find out about things.

It takes time.

I wish I had the time.”

Carl Sandburg

Fighting for and protecting the rights of employees in Minnesota since 1985 www.mn-nela.org

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www.nelaga.org President- Tamika Sykes President Elect-Julie Oinonen

Secretary- Cherri Shelton

Past President- Teresa Saggese Mills

Treasurer-Dean R. Fuchs

Board Members Nina Maja Bergmar Zachary Panter Beverly Lucas Jake Knanishu Anita Bala

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Patricia A. Podolec Attorney at Law

10601 S. Western, Suite 119 Oklahoma City, OK 73170 Office: (405)703-4431 Cell: (405)760-3358 Fax: (405)400-8784 ppodolec@podoleclaw.com https://www.podoleclaw.com 127

Jeffrey Neil Young, Esq. Solidarity Law, PLLC Portland, Maine 207.844.4243

solidarity law

jyoung@solidarity.law

CONGRATULATIONS! Hon. Bernice B. Donald Bruce A. Frederickson Camille Fundora Rodriguez

SOLIDARITY FOREVER.

NELA makes us strong.

PROUD SUPPORTER OF NEL A

Employment Law Group upton & hatfield

We represent employees in cases of: n n

n

Wrongful Termination

Discrimination based on age, race, gender, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, sexual harassment, and gender identity Violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act

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Hostile Environment

n

Violations of the Equal Pay Act law@uptonhatfield.com uptonhatfield.com 603-244-6381

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C O N C O R D

|

HEATHER BURNS

LAUREN IRWIN

MICHAEL MCGRATH

SUSAN LOWRY

MADELINE K. OSBON

BROOKE SHILO

P E T E R B O R O U G H

|

P O R T S M O U T H

VELA

Forged in Pittsburgh

Christian Bagin 129

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Congratulations to the honorees and thank you to NELA’s extraordinary Staff, Board, and members for strengthening worker rights.

An Innovative Leader In Arizona Election Law and Employment Law

At BMS, we protect and expand rights by representing individuals and advocacy groups in court, providing community engagement and policy change counsel, and building coalitions.

Barton Mendez Soto PLLC 401 W. Baseline Road, Suite 205 Tempe, Arizona 85283 480-550-5165 bartonmendezsoto.com

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IOI Cashdan & Kane, PLLC We toast to N ELA's 2024 Honorees:

BERNABEI & KABAT, PLLC 1400 16th Street, NW Suite 500 Washington, DC 20036 (202) 745-1942 www.bernabeipllc.com

The Honorable Bernice B. Donald Bruce A. Fredrickson Camille Fundora Rodriguez

Washington, DC

Westfield, NJ

Employment and Civil Rights Law Pursuing Equality, Justice, and Unity Keep up the good work NELA!

www.cashdankane.com

Congratulations to the 2024 Gala Honorees Thank You for Forging the Future of Workers’ Rights!

Kathleen M. Cahill Owen Cahill Bement

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Wade B. CoWan attorney at LaW

We are proud supporters of NELA!

THANK YOU, NELA FOR ALL YOU DO! AND CONGRATULATIONS HONOREES! 21 Main Street Suite 352 Court Plaza South Hackensack, NJ 07601 (201) 498-0900

www.wadebcowanlaw.com

www.njemployeerights.com

wcowan@dhhrplc.com

Not EvErythiNg that is FacEd caN BE chaNgEd, But NothiNg caN BE chaNgEd uNtil it is FacEd. — James Baldwin CONGRATULATIONS JUDGE DONALD! CONGRATULATIONS BRUCE! CONGRATULATIONS CAMILLE! YOU TRULY CONTINUE TO INSPIRE US! hErBErt EisENBErg laura s. schNEll christophEr pacEllE EisENBErg & schNEll llp thE WoolWorth BuildiNg 233 BroadWay, suitE 2704 NEW york, NEW york 10279 212. 966.8900 EisENBErgschNEll.com 133

Gaul and dumont

Neil L. Henrichsen Renee Cook Chiung-Hui Huang Dawn C. Stewart Civil Rights, Litigation, Employee, & Whistleblower Offices in Florida ◦ Washington, D.C. ◦ New York Find us online at www.hslawyers.com or www.employeelegalprotection.com

Anne Bennett Hunter & Kate Lyons Nashville - Brentwood, Tennessee Proud Members of TENNELA www.hunteremploymentlaw.com

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HYNES &

KREUSER, S.C. EMPLOYMENT LAWYERS Thank you, NELA for being the catalyst in forging the future of workers’ rights!

# *3 $-( *)" -( $. $'$/4 ҝ

Cheers to everyone traveling to Philly this June for the Convention!

GREATER MILWAUKEE AREA 740 PILGRIM PARKWAY, SUITE 300 ELM GROVE, WI 53122

FREE CONSULTATION: (262) 505-5678

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WWW.HYNESLAWFIRM.COM

Many any thanks for all their hard work and dedication to: Tacarra Andrade Membership Director Alicia Battle Events Coordinator Leah A. Hofkin Development Director Karen Maoki Interim Executive Director

Erica Posey Paul H. Tobias Attorney Fellow

Resourceful. Responsive. Respected.

OVER SIX DECADES OF DISTINGUISHED LEGAL SERVICE

Congratulations to NELA &

Jason Solomon Institute Director

2024 NELA Honorees

Pedro A. Valverde Digital Communications & Technology Manager

Employment Law Practice Group

Ashley Westby Program Director

Protecting Employee Rights ● Wrongful Termination ● Discrimination, Harassment ● Severance Negotiations ● Employment Agreements

David L. Lee

Elizabeth Zuckerman, Esq. 101 Poor Farm Road Princeton, NJ 08540 609.436.1215 ● www.mgplaw.com

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AT A TIME WHEN OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ARE UNDER ATTACK, PHILADELPHIA, THE BIRTHPLACE OF OUR DEMOCRACY, IS THE PERFECT VENUE FOR OUR ANNUAL CONVENTION. FORGE AHEAD NELA MEMBERS Wish I could join you all.

Colleen McLaughlin Wheaton, IL (630) 221-0305 colleen@cmmc-employmentlaw.com

Creative Legal Services Personal ∙ Professional ∙ Experienced 75 Pearl Street PO Box 9785 Portland ME 04104-5085 Office: 207-773-5651 Email: info@mpmlaw.com mpmlaw.com

Law Office of Robert S. Notzon Austin, TX

REPRESENTING EMPLOYEES & UNIONS PROTECTING WORKERS’ RIGHTS CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU TO THE NELA 2024 HONOREES!

I pray you don't need me, but I'm here if you do.

ELLEN J. MESSING DAHLIA C. RUDAVSKY JAMES S. WELIKY 300 WASHINGTON ST, SUITE 308 NEWTON, MA 02458 617-742-0004 MRWEMPLOYMENTLAW.COM

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www.notzonlaw.com

& • A Civil Rights Employment Law Firm •

Congratulations 2024 Honoree BRUCE FREDRICKSON FOR THIS WELL DESERVED HONOR

542 So. Dearborn St., Ste. 660 Chicago, Illinois 60605 Ph: 312.697.1382 www.ompc-law.com

We are all honored to honor

Bruce Fredrickson who personifies the best of NELA.

Bruce, your fearless quest for justice for the disenfranchised and boundless energy in pursuit of it is an inspiration to us all.

Keep fighting the good fight!

I am fiercely proud to call you my colleague and dear friend.

Nina T. Pirrotti 137

Houk Law Fir m Chris Houk, Attorney

Changing the world one case at a time.

The Houk Law Firm is pleased to support NELA and the 2024 Annual Convention Forging the Future of Workers' Rights Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Congratulations to the awardees:

Jenny Jansch, Attorney

Honorable Bernice B. Donald Bruce A. Fredrickson Camille Fundora Rodriguez

Marina Kovačević, In-House Counsel

Isa Ramirez, Legal Assistant

www.houklawfirm.com 1850 N. Central Ave, 2010 Phoenix, AZ 85004 480-569-2377 Se Habla Español

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Nicole Houk, Accounting

Nation-wide practice, based in Maine

NOTES or FILLER

ENFORCING WORKERS’ RIGHTS FOR 30 YEARS

WORK.LAW (207) 623-5110

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888-676-8096

www.gelawyer.com

Silver Spring Office: 8403 Colesville Road, Suite 1000 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Honolulu Office: 745 Fort Street, Suite 311 Honolulu, HI 96813

Congratulations to NELA’s 2024 Distinguished Service Honorees!

We represent government and privatesector employees in all matters relating to civil rights in the workplace 141

We are proud to belong to this great family of lawyers dedicated to vindicating employee rights.

A special thank you to this year’s honorees The Honorable Bernice B. Donald (ret.), Bruce A. Fredrickson (DC) and Camille Fundora Rodriguez Ritz Clark & Ben-Asher LLP Strategic Employment Lawyers

Jonathan Ben-Asher Miriam F. Clark Susan Ritz (Senior Counsel) One Liberty Plaza 165 Broadway, 23rd Floor New York, NY 10006-1404 Phone: 212-321-7075 www.rcbalaw.com

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Congratulations to the

2024 gala honorees

sedeyharper.com

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NO PLAINTIFF FIRM FILES MORE EMPLOYMENT LAW CASES IN THE US THAN MORGAN & MORGAN CO-COUNSELING CASES NATIONWIDE—CO-COUNSEL FEES PAID WHERE PERMITTED

CASE SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: • Wage & Hour • Unpaid Overtime • Tip Pooling/Tip Credit • 401(k) Class Actions • ERISA Class Actions • Wrongful Termination • Discrimination Class Actions • Retaliation • Equal Pay • Background Check Class Actions RYAN MORGAN

rmorgan@forthepeople.com (407) 418-2069

ANDREW FRISCH

afrisch@forthepeople.com (954) 327-5355

MARC EDELMAN

medelman@forthepeople.com (813) 577-4722

FORTHEPEOPLE.COM 144

EMPLOYMENT LAW GROUP

ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT. MORGAN & MORGAN HAS LAWYERS LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN ALL 50 STATES AND WASHINGTON DC. ORLANDO FL. WE MAY RELY ON CO-COUNSEL. PRIOR RESULTS DO NOT GUARANTEE A SIMILAR OUTCOME. HTTPS://WWW.FORTHEPEOPLE.COM/DISCLAIMER-AND-TERMS-OF-USE/

Holland & Associates, PC congratulates Judge Donald as a 2024 NELA Distinguished Service Honoree!

HoLLAND & AsSOCIATES, PC Holistic Attorneys and Counsellors at Law Employee Rights | Civil Rights 1429 Madison Ave

Memphis, TN 38104 hollandattorney.com

145 (901) 278-8120

Gillespie Sanford LLP Attorneys at Law

With our friends in NELA… Forging the Future of Workersʼ Rights since 2013!

Dallas, TX www.gillespiesanford.com

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ABOUT US: The Law Offices of Gilda A. Hernandez stands ready to help North Carolinians, and others, fight for their rights against employers who have not paid them fairly and pursuant to the requirements of federal and state wage and hour laws.

WHO WE REPRESENT: Our firm represents people individually and/or on a collective/class action basis for wage issues.

Our firm also represents individuals in matters relating to retaliation and wrongful termination based on FMLA, discriminatory practices, complaints of unpaid wages and/or safety violations.

WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT NELA AND ITS MISSION TO PROMOTE JUSTICE AND EQUITY FOR ALL WORKERS.

CONTACT

ADDRESS

WEBSITE

P: (919) 741 - 8693 F: (919) 869 - 1853

1020 Southhill Drive Suite 130 Cary, NC 27513

www.gildahernandezlaw.com Or, simply scan the QR code.

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AdvocAtes for WhistlebloWers And leAders in complex WAge And hour clAss And collective Action litigAtion

The lawyers at Barrett Johnston Martin & Garrison are pleased to congratulate Tennessee’s own Judge Bernice Donald as she accepts NELA’s special distinguished service award.

www.barrettjohnston.com

nAshville, tennessee

Forging on together to build an even stronger workforce.

We protect workers’ rights: Wage & Hour Violations | Defense of Professional Licenses | Resident Physician Disciplinary Issues Randolph-Sheppard Act | Employee Civil Rights Violations | Federal Employee Disputes Protecting Against Artificial Intelligence (AI) Discriminatory Practices

Let us tell your story.

120 East Baltimore Street, Suite 2500, Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 962-1030 | browngold.com

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Colorado Employee Advocates, founded by Justin Plaskov (NELA Member since 2012), serves Colorado and Wyoming employees through the law firm Jester Gibson & Moore, focusing on:  Section 1981, Title VII, & ADA  False Claims Act & Whistleblower Claims  Colorado Wage Act & Contract Disputes  Non-Competition Covenants  Equity Agreements & Severance Negotiations

Justin M. Plaskov, Partner Jester Gibson & Moore, LLP 1999 Broadway, Ste. 3225 Denver, CO 80202 (720) 657-1328 (Direct) jplaskov@jgllp.com ColoradoEmployeeAdvocates.com

Cornish & Dell'Olio, P.C. is proud to support NELA and all NELA members who are Forging the Future of Worker's Rights in Colorado and across the country.

Ian Kalmanowitz Brad Sherman

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Joshua Friedman Rebecca Houlding 230 Park Avenue Third Floor West New York, NY 10169 (888) 369-1119, Ext. 1 www.friedmanhouldingllp.com

Rockville, MD

Congratulations to my friend and mentor, Mr. NELA, Bruce Fredrickson.

Thank you for your support over many years.

Bill Day www.daylawpractice.com 150

Employment Law Demands Tough Attorneys With more than forty years experience, Hammons, Hurst & Associates is one of the nation’s leading firms specializing in employment law.

“We take pride in the reputation we’ve acquired for high-quality client services, which has earned us the respect of judges, former clients, and the lawyers we face off against in court.

— Mark E. Hammons, Sr.

”

Founding Partner

Mark E. Hammons, Sr.* and Amber L. Hurst

Areas of Practice Employment Law Gender Discrimination Sexual Harassment Pregnancy Discrimination Disability Discrimination Overtime Pay Age Discrimination Wrongful Termination Race Discrimination Family Medical Leave Act To arrange for a consultation or find out how Hammons, Hurst & Associates can assist your firm or clients, contact us at: o 405.235.6100 f 405.235.6111 325 Dean A McGee Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102 www.HammonsLaw.com Member, National Employment Lawyers Association

| *Mark E. Hammons is the founder of the Oklahoma Employment Lawyers Association

70 W. Madison St.| Suite 4000 | Chicago, IL 60602| (312) 580-0100 | hsplegal.com

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OELA

Oklahoma Employment Lawyers Association

Leaders in Protecting Employee Rights Oklahoma Employment Lawyers Association is an organization of lawyers on your side for employment matters.

Please visit our website at www.oela.org OELA is a non-profit organization that has the purpose of furthering the education of and sharing resources with the attorneys who practice employment law, specifically Plaintiff’s cases.

THOMAS A. WARREN LAW OFFICES, P.A. TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, NELA!

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Congratulations on Forging the Future of Workers’ Rights

309 EAST MOREHEAD STREET SUITE 110 CHARLOTTE, NC 28202 704.375.8461 www.fergusonsumter.com

Congratulations to the 2024 Gala Honorees

99 Park Avenue, Suite 1510 New York, 10016 212.228.9666 civilrightsfirm.com 153

www.cannonlaw.com

Congratulations to the 2024 Gala Honorees

(602) 598-4000 2375 E Camelback Rd Suite 600 Phoenix, AZ 85016

The voice of Arizona workers impacted by unfair wage practices.

Handling Class/Collective Actions frankelsyverson.com

In Solidarity, Robin B. Potter 154

Patti Syverson

Ty Frankel

GODDARD LAW empOWeRinG empLOyees

“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

39 Broadway, Suite 1540 New york, Ny 10006 (646) 964-1178 www.goddardlawNyc.com

Congratulations NELA and its leadership for another successful year.

Thank you for all the important work that you do.

With gratitude for the support of friends and colleagues.

MARK RISK, P.C. Employment Law and Litigation New York, New York www.markrisk.com

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Stand Up For Workers was established by people who care about the basic rights of the American worker. We support candidates who prioritize workers’ rights.

Join us on Thursday after NELA convention activities to watch the first presidential debate of 2024!

PRESIDENTIAL

DEBATE WATCH

June 27 8:30PM

Gather with workers' rights champions on-site at the Marriott to watch the first presidential debate! Food & drinks provided. RSVP below for location.

PARTY RSVP

for details:

PAID FOR BY THE STAND UP FOR WORKERS PAC AND NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE’S COMMITTEE

bit.ly/sufw-debate

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LLR applauds NELA for its critical support and advocacy for workers and their counsel Lichten & Liss-Riordan, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm that is dedicated to vindicating the rights of workers around the country through class actions and individual litigation. The firm has brought and won landmark cases throughout the United States on behalf of workers who have been deprived of their wages, tips, and overtime, or wrongfully misclassified as independent contractors, or who have suffered discrimination or retaliation. The firm has been recognized by numerous organizations and publications for its innovative and vigorous advocacy on behalf of workers.

Shannon Liss-Riordan | Harold Lichten 729 Boylston Street, Suite 2000 | Boston, MA 02116 P: (617) 994-5800 | F: (617) 994-5801 | info@llrlaw.com | llrlaw.com

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2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

Increasing recoveries on employment claims on bankrupt and financially-stressed defendants since 2016.

Dundon Advisers LLC is proud to support the National Employment Lawyers Association.

Thank you for all the meaningful work that you do!

dundon IBC

www.dundon.com

2024 NELA ANNUAL CONVENTION

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FORGING THE WAY FOR YOUR RIGHTS

nichols kaster BC

Nichols Kaster joins NELA in thanking The Honorable Bernice B. Donald and Bruce Fredrickson for all of their years of leadership.

EMPLOYEE RIGHTS • WAGE THEFT • 401K/ERISA • CIVIL RIGHTS • SOCIAL INJUSTICE • CONSUMER RIGHTS

MINNEAPOLIS

I D S C e n t e r, 8 0 S o u t h 8 t h S t r e e t , S u i t e 4 7 0 0 , M i n n e a p o l i s , M N 5 5 4 0 2

SAN FRANCISCO

235 Montgomery Street, Suite 810, San Francisco, CA 94104

(612) 256-3200

( 41 5 ) 27 7-72 35