Labor and Employment Law
9th Annual Advanced Wage & Hour Conference and 36th Labor and Employment Law Section Annual Meeting
July 18-19, 2019
Pre-registration is now closed. Onsite registration will be available.
Millennium Biltmore Hotel
506 S. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Earn 14 Hours MCLE credit, includes Legal Ethics, Elimination of Bias, and Competency Issues.
Scholarship | Hotel Information
Brochure | Registration Form | Exhibitor Form
Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors for Their Contributions!
Gold Sponsors
- Littler Mendelson, P.C.
Bronze Sponsors
- Atkinson Andelson Loya Ruud & Romo
- Best Best & Krieger
- Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard
- Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP
- Sloan Sakai Yeung & Wong
- Van Dermyden Maddux
Friends of the CLA Sponsors
- EXTTI, Incorporated
- Law Office of Amy Oppenheimer
- Mizrahi Law, APC
- Municipal Resource Group, LLC
- Rudy Exelrod Zieff & Lowe
- Shaw Law Group
- Siegel Lewitter Malkani
And a Round of Applause to Our Planning Committees
9th Annual Advanced Wage and Hour Conference Planning Committee
Chair: Theodora Lee
Vice Chair: Glenn Danas
Members:
Rachel Bien
Aaron Cole
Monica Guizar
Laboni Hoq
Ireneo Reus
Kristianne Seargeant
Alexandra Stathopoulos
36th Labor and Employment Law Section Annual Meeting Planning Committee
Chair: Jimmy Kim
Vice Chair: Scott Stillman
Members:
Carl Botterud
Andrew Friedman
Maribel Hernandez
Phil Horowitz
Christy Kwon
Thomas Lenz
Ramit Mizrahi
Amy Oppenheimer
Joseph Ortiz
Michael Robbins
9th Annual Advanced Wage and Hour Conference
Program Schedule
Thursday, July 18, 2019
8:15 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. | Registration Open
Registration will be located in the meeting space foyer.
8:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Continental Breakfast
Take in some fuel before a long day of great speakers, discussion, and networking!
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | The Annual Update: Everything You Needed to Know About Recent Wage-and-Hour Developments (1.50 Hours MCLE)
Join our distinguished panelists as they provide key analysis of the most recent federal and state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals cases, as well as new legislation, and how these cases and new laws may impact the wage and hour litigation landscape.
Moderator: Theodora Lee, Littler Mendelson
Speakers:
- Jannah Manansala, Weinberg Roger & Rosenfeld
- Lisa Brown, GBG LLP
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. | Break
Enjoy some coffee, tea, or water in the foyer.
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | One Year Later: The Impact of Dynamex on Employee Classification (1.50 Hours MCLE)
The California Supreme Court in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court adopted the ABC test to determine employee
classification for claims arising under the Wage Orders. The decision has had huge ramifications. Panelists will discuss the impact of the decision on workers and employers, questions left unanswered by Dynamex, and the next frontier in worker classification.
Moderator: Hina Shah, Golden Gate University School of Law
Speakers:
- Kevin F. Ruf, Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP
- Michele Maryott, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Luncheon: The Wage & Hour Ethics Trivia Game (1.00 Hour Legal Ethics)
Learn ethics with wage and hour class action members and corporate witnesses, objectors, class settlements, and more, in a game show.
Moderator: Bryan Schwartz, Bryan Schwartz Law
1:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. | Judges Panel: Practical Tips for Litigating Wage and Hour Class Actions in State and Federal Court (1.50 Hours MCLE)
A perennial Conference favorite, a panel of judges will provide tips to help litigants avoid obstacles when navigating the ever-changing waters of wage and hour class actions. They will also provide insights into the impact of recent developments in wage and hour and class action jurisprudence.
Moderator: Laboni Hoq, Asian Americans Advancing Justice
Speakers:
- Hon. William F. Highberger, Los Angeles County Superior Court
- Hon. Andre Birotte, Jr., USDC, Central District of California
- Hon. John S. Wiley, Jr., California Court of Appeal
3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Break
Take a minute or two to stretch out those legs!
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Hot Topics in PAGA Litigation (1.50 Hours MCLE)
PAGA continues to occupy an ever-larger role in California wage and hour litigation. Our panel of leading PAGA trial and appellate attorneys will explain the shifting terrain, with a focus on how it affects practitioners. Specific PAGA issues to be discussed include: mandatory arbitration agreements after Iskanian and Epic Systems, discovery post-Williams, federal jurisdiction, administrative exhaustion and notice letters, PAGA settlement mechanics and considerations, and PAGA trials.
Moderator: Rachel Bien, Outten & Gold, LLP
Speakers:
- Yesenia Gallegos, Fox Rothschild LLP
- Larry Lee, Diversity Law Group
36th Labor and Employment Law Section Annual Meeting
Program Schedule
Friday, July 19, 2019
8:15 a.m. – 5:15 p.m. | Registration Open
Registration will be located in the meeting space foyer.
8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. | Continental Breakfast
Take in some fuel before a long day of great speakers, discussion, and networking!
8:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | The Good, The Bad & the Ugly—A Review of Recent Employment Law Cases (1.75 Hours MCLE)
In this fast-paced discussion, Anthony J. Oncidi and Andrew H. Friedman will reprise their annual review of recent employment law cases with an emphasis on those cases of most utility to the employment practitioner whether plaintiff, defense or neutral.
Speakers:
- Andrew H. Friedman, Helmer Friedman LLP
- Anthony J. Oncidi, Proskauer Rose LLP
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. | Break
Time for a mid-morning snack! Enjoy some coffee, tea, or water in the foyer.
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. | Concurrent Sessions
Supporting Transgender Employees: Legal Update and Practical Guidance for Creating Inclusive Workplaces (1.00 Hour Elimination of Bias)
Transgender people are increasingly visible in the workforce. Under new law, the FEHA mandates employers to train employees about gender identity and inclusion. In this panel, experts on best practices for transgender inclusion in the workplace will provide updates on the law, discuss best practices for training and give their perspectives on developing an inclusive work environment.
Moderator: Amy Oppenheimer, Law Offices of Amy Oppenheimer
Speakers:
- Ilona Turner, Turner Dispute Resolution
- Michaela Mendelson, TransCanWork
Understanding the World of Leaves of Absences (1.00 Hour MCLE)
California leave laws impose various obligations on employers to provide employees with paid or unpaid time off. The myriad of applicable laws makes compliance a challenge. In this program, panelists will discuss the various leave of absences impacting California employers and employees, their interaction and both employee and employer’s rights, duties, and obligations.
Moderator: Maribel Hernandez, The Save Mart Companies
Speakers:
- Adam Fiss, Littler Mendelson P.C.
- Sandra Muñoz, Law Offices of Sandra C. Muñoz
12 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. | Lunch Keynote: The FEHA at 60 (0.75 Hour MCLE)
DFEH Director Kevin Kish will discuss how the Fair Employment and Housing Act (originally the Fair Employment Practices Act) has grown and evolved over the past 60 years. He will also address emerging trends as we look to the future.
Speaker: Kevin Kish, Director, Department of Fair Employment and Housing
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Concurrent Sessions
The Other Bar (1.00 Hour Competency Issues)
Identifying chemical dependency and other issues affecting competence and mental stability; resources available; workplace relationships; interventions, helping people get well, and improving the workplace. Saving lives, families and careers.
Moderator: Joseph Ortiz, Best Best & Krieger
Speakers:
- Gregory Dorst, The Other Bar
- James Heiting, Heiting & Irwin
Looking Forward/Looking Back—2019 Employment Legislation (1.00 Hour MCLE)
How will California employment legislation be affected by a new Governor and even stronger Democrat majority in Sacramento? A top plaintiff-side attorney and the General Counsel of the CalChamber look back at 2018 legislation and look forward to pending 2019 legislation.
Moderator: Michael Robbins, EXTTI Incorporated
Speakers:
- Gina Browne, Feldman Browne Olivares
- Erika Frank, CalChamber
2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. | Break
Time passes by quickly; remember to take a minute for yourself out of this busy busy day!
2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. | Concurrent Sessions
Panel Discussion on Recent NLRB Decisions and Initiatives (1.00 Hour MCLE)
This panel will address significant decisions by the NLRB under the Trump Administration that change the landscape of federal labor law. Recent developments include independent contractor misclassification; new limitations on protected concerted activities; the interplay between lobbying expenses and union dues; developing legal standards for joint employment; and employees’ use of employer’s communication systems for non-work purposes.
Moderator: Thomas Lenz, Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo
Speakers:
- Harry I. Johnson, III, Morgan Lewis & Bockius
- Brian Gee, NLRB, Region 31 (West Los Angeles)
- Julie Gutman-Dickinson, Bush Gottlieb
California’s New Rules of Professional Conduct and Their Potential Impact on Employment Law Practices (1.00 Hour Legal Ethics)
On November 1, 2018, 69 new Rules of Professional Conduct replaced the 46 Rules that had previously governed attorney conduct in California. This comprehensive overhaul includes major changes and is intended to establish clear and enforceable disciplinary standards. Hon. Lee Smalley Edmon, Presiding Justice, California Court of Appeal, 2nd Appellate District, Div. 3 and Prof. Kevin Mohr provided leadership in the revision process and are uniquely suited to help educate Section members understand their evolving obligations under this new system.
Moderator: Carl Botterud, Botterud Law & Mediation
Speakers:
- Justice Lee Smalley Edmon, California Court of Appeal
- Prof. Kevin Mohr, Western State College of Law
3:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Break
Take a bathroom break, stretch out those legs, or network with the wonderful people around you!
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. | The Secret of My Success: Insights from Top Trial Lawyers (1.5 Hours MCLE)
Some plaintiff-side employment attorneys routinely score seven-figure verdicts, while some management attorneys regularly obtain defense verdicts. How do they do it? You’ll find out in this seminar, where four ace trial lawyers will discuss how they work and will share some of the lessons they have learned from experience. This will not be your typical success stories panel, as we hope you will take away ideas that will help you in your next trial.
Moderator: Ramit Mizrahi, Mizrahi Law, APC
Speakers:
- Nathan Goldberg, Allred, Maroko & Goldberg
- Lawrance Bohm, Bohm Law Group, Inc.
- Linda Savitt, Ballard Rosenberg Golper & Savitt LLP
- Lynne Hermle, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
General Information
Conference Information
Conference materials will be available online prior to the conference and provided on a USB at the conference. Wi-Fi will not be available inside the conference rooms.
PRINTED MATERIALS WILL NOT BE PROVIDED. Should you prefer to reference printed materials during the conference, please feel free to access the online information and print out the materials prior to the conference.
Registration Fees
Full Conference
- $495 for Labor and Employment Section Members
- $590 for Non-Section Member*
1-Day Conference
- $295 for Labor and Employment Section Members
- $390 for Non-Section Member*
*Non-Section member fee includes $95 enrollment in the Labor and Employment Law Section for 2019.
There is a $50 increase for onsite registrations.
Ticketed Events
- $25 for Thursday, July 18 Wage & Hour Conference Trivia Luncheon
- $25 for Friday, July 19 Annual Meeting Lunch Keynote: The FEHA at 60
Pre-Registration Deadline
In order to pre-register, your form and check, payable to the California Lawyers Association, or credit card information, must be received by Wednesday, July 10, 2019.
How to Register
- Register Online – Online registration is now closed. Onsite registration is available.
- Mail Registration Form to Program Registrations at:
Program Registrations, California Lawyers Association
400 Capitol Mall, Suite 650
Sacramento, CA 95814 - Email to Registration Form to ProgramRegistrations@CAlawyers.org. In order to email your registration, credit card information is MANDATORY. (Photocopoies of checks will NOT be accepted.)
- On-site registration will be on a space available basis. Call to confirm space availability.
Cancellations/Refund Policy
Cancellations and requests for refunds must be received in writing no later than Wednesday, July 10, 2019 and are subject to a $25 service charge. Refunds will not be available after Wednesday, July 10, 2019.
Special Assistance
For special assistance please call (916) 516-1748.
Questions
For registration information please call (916) 516-1757. Telephone registrations will not be accepted. For program content and/or Section information please call (916) 516-1748.
MCLE
The California Lawyers Association is an approved State Bar of California MCLE provider.
This event may be recorded. By attending this event, you consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded, and to any use, by the CLA, of your likeness, voice, and name in any and all media, including social media. If you do not want your name or photo to be used, please let us know in advance. We cannot, however, honor requests to opt out of the use of your image or voice if you choose to ask a question during one of the event sessions.
Hotel Information
All programs and events will be held at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, 506 S Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90071. A limited number of rooms have been blocked at a special Conference rate of $205/night (single occupancy). The deadline to reserve a hotel room is Friday, June 21, 2019.
To reserve your room online, please click here.
To reserve your room by phone: (213) 612-1575 and mention code: 1907LEWHAM
Scholarships
The Labor and Employment Law Section of the California Lawyers Association is committed to encouraging the representation of persons of color, women, the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities, other underrepresented groups and those who work in the area of public service.
As such, the Labor and Employment Law Section has committed to provide a full scholarship to those persons who have traditionally been underrepresented in our field in order to become familiar with the Labor and Employment Law Section and to encourage their membership and association.
Obtain an application here. Scholarships only cover registration fees and not travel expenses. Applications are due by July 1, 2019 to Jinny Kim (jkim@legalaidatwork.org).