Spring 2024 Conference Full Day Conference at Fordham Law
May 3, 2024 (08:30 AM - 5:45 pm  PM Eastern)
Fordham Law School
Rates: Members $315; Non-members $395; Non-profit Attorney $145; Students/Para $105
 Virtual Rates: Non-Member Rate: $200; Member Rate $150; Non-Profit Attorney $75; Students/Para FREE

If you would like to apply for financial aid, please email nelany@nelany.com for the application.
 Breakfast, snacks, lunch and happy hour is included in your registration!

4.5 areas of Professional Practice; 1 Cybersecurity General;1  DEI = 6.5 credits

8:30 - 8:55 AM Breakfast

8:55- 9:00 AM Welcome

9:00- 10:30 AM From NYC to FLSA: 2024 Wage and Hour Update (1.5 area of prof. practice)Our panel of practitioners will discuss developments in federal, state, and city wage and hour law, including new protections for workers and evolving case law on pleading requirements and standing. Learn practice tips and how to best advocate for your clients in an ever-shifting legal landscape. 

• Nicole Grunfeld, Katz Melinger, Moderator

• Gianfranco Cuadra, Pechman Law Group

• Chaya Gourarie, Bell Law Group

• Elizabeth Wagoner, NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection

10:30 – 11:30 AM Navigating the Digital Minefield (1.0 Cybersecurity)

A panel discussion on navigating the digital minefield. Gain insights from cybersecurity specialists, legal professionals, and AI experts on the evolving landscape of threats, from phishing scams to AI-powered attacks. Learn about data breach protocols, legal implications, and best practices to protect your firm and client data.

• Daniel Stromberg, Partner & eDiscovery Counsel, Outten & Golden LLP

• Shawn Campbell, CIO/CISO, Outten & Golden LLP

• Jeff Chivers, Co-Founder and CEO TLATech Inc.

• Theo Rostow, Co-Founder and COO TLATech Inc.

• Dean Sapp, SVP Information Security, Risk and Compliance at Filevine

11:30-11:45 AM Break

11:45 - 12:45 PM : Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Shadow of Anti-Affirmative Action (DEI 1.0 credit)

Given the significant role of DEI training as a remedy for anti-discrimination law violations it is important to analyze the animating factors of the legal movement to outlaw workplace DEI trainings. Social science research suggests that programs focused on systemic and structural issues make the difference between well received and poorly received DEI interventions. They also yield better results in increasing workplace diversity, retaining employees of color and addressing harmful racially disparate systemic policies. Critical race theory focuses on systemic and structural aspects of racism, therefore DEI needs an infusion of CRT. Ironically, thanks to the legislative and political attacks on CRT, there is now greater public interest in learning what CRT is and what it has to offer. Professor Hernandez will provide concrete evidence-based examples of what CRT-DEI workplace training can be for anti-discrimination law remedies and beyond.

• Tanya Hernandez, Fordham Law Professor

12:45- 1:45  Lunch

1:45 - 2:45 PM: The Ins & Outs of Representing Undocumented Workers (1.0 Professional Practice) 

Come and learn from the experts on how to navigate issues facing undocumented workers such as work authorization, tax considerations, discovery, damages and more. 

• Jonathan Bernstein, Isaacs Bernstein, P.C. 

• David Colodny, Catholic Migration Services  

• Laura Rodriguez, Frontera Law Firm

2:45 – 3:45 PM: Weed and the Workplace – Employment law and workplace challenges in the age of cannabis legalization (1.0 Professional Practice)

The legalization of cannabis for medical and adult use purposes in 47 states has created a tidal wave of legal and practical implications in employment law. With the anticipated rescheduling of it federally to Schedule III as a medicine will increase the confusion and chaos that will continue to follow until better guidelines and standards are developed for the workplace. How collective bargaining agreements, federal Drug Free Workplace Act, Worker’s Compensation reimbursement for medical cannabis, and health and long term disability benefits are just a few of the impacted areas of employment law which need to be addressed by experienced cannabis attorneys for those facing employment policy decisions in this fast emerging area.  

• Gary Ireland, Law Offices of Gary Ireland, Moderator

• David Holland, Prince Lobel Tye 

• Lisa M. Casa, Forchelli Deegan Terrana 

• Molly Smithsimon

3:45- 4:45:   Class Actions Challenging Employment Discrimination (1.0 Professional Practice)
We now have more than a decade of case law since Wal-Mart v. Dukes, 564 U.S. 338 (2011), which ruled that about 1.5 million women could not certify a class action to challenge sex discrimination by their employer. The panel will explore employment class actions and federal jurisprudence in the wake of Wal-Mart and other developments. 

• Tiffani Burgess, Legal Defense Fund
• Rachel Geman, Lieff Cabraser
• Maia Goodell, Vladeck, Raskin & Clark, P.C.
• Renay Oliver, EEOC

4:45- 5:45 PM Happy Hour