Overview

UT Law CLE's Labor and Employment Law Conference is the premier program on employment law practice in Texas. By virtually bringing together leading members of the bar, personnel experts, and in-house counsel, the conference offers the timely updates, emerging trends, and the variety of perspectives practitioners need.

Event Schedule

Program is subject to change.

  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Thursday Morning, May 6, 2021
  • 8:20 am
    Welcoming Remarks

  • 8:30 am
    0.75 hr
    State Employment Law Update: Texas and Beyond
    Examine employment-related developments under Texas state law, including a discussion of significant new Texas cases. Also explore important trends developing in other states, and what they might mean for Texas.

    Clara "C. B." Burns, Kemp Smith LLP - El Paso, TX

  • 9:15 am
    10-Minute Break

  • 9:25 am
    0.75 hr
    Federal Employment Law Update
    Analyze recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, federal legislative developments, and administrative action.

    Danielle K. Herring, Littler Mendelson P.C. - Houston, TX

  • 10:10 am
    10-Minute Break

  • 10:20 am
    0.75 hr
    NRLB Update
    A detailed discussion of the dramatic changes that affect unionized and non-unionized workers and employers that have occurred in the last 12 months under the National Labor Relations Act.

    Robert E. Sheeder, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP - Dallas, TX
    Rod Tanner, Tanner and Associates, PC - Fort Worth, TX

  • 11:05 am
    10-Minute Break

  • 11:15 am
    0.50 hr
    Wage and Hour Update
    Review developments in wage and hour enforcement and law over the past year.

    David Schlottman, Jackson Walker LLP - Dallas, TX

  • 11:45 am
    Break for Lunch (30-minutes)
    Presentations resume at 12:15 p.m. 

  • Thursday Afternoon, May 6, 2021
  • LUNCHEON PRESENTATION
  • 12:15 pm
    0.50 hr
    New Makeup of the Supreme Court

  • 12:45 pm
    10-Minute Break

  • 12:55 pm
    0.75 hr
    Pay Equity

    Victoria Martin Phipps, Texas A&M University - College Station, TX

  • 1:40 pm
    10-Minute Break

  • 1:50 pm
    0.75 hr
    0.25 hr ethics
    Whistleblowers
    A plaintiff-side and defense-side lawyer discuss protections and pitfalls for individuals and employers under state and federal whistleblower statutes.

    Drew L. Harris, Office of the Attorney General - Austin, TX
    Austin Kaplan, Kaplan Law Firm - Austin, TX

  • 2:35 pm
    10-Minute Break

  • 2:45 pm
    0.75 hr
    Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Topic

    Shafeeqa W. Giarratani, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. - Austin, TX
    Mickey L. Washington, Washington & Associates, PLLC - Houston, TX

  • 3:30 pm
    10-Minute Break

  • 3:40 pm
    0.75 hr
    0.25 hr ethics
    Workforce Has Been Reshaped, Forever?

    Jennifer M. Trulock, Baker Botts - Dallas, TX

  • 4:25 pm
    10-Minute Break

  • 4:35 pm
    0.75 hr
    0.25 hr ethics
    Employment Beyond Borders: Expat and Inpat Issues for Employers and Employees
    Continually expanding trade and commerce increases the assignment of employees abroad and into the United States, presenting the need for significant attention to temporary and long-term assignments, compensation, taxation and applicable foreign and domestic laws. A brief survey of the issues is intended to avoid problems and facilitate resolution of disputes.

    David T. Lopez, Attorney-Arbitrator-Mediator - Houston, TX

  • 5:20 pm
    Adjourn

  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Friday Morning, May 7, 2021
  • 8:30 am
    0.75 hr
    Public Sector Update
    Get the latest on representing government employees, including developments in the First Amendment, due process, privacy, political patronage, and state law protections in the public workplace.

    B. Craig Deats, Deats, Durst & Owen, P.L.L.C. - Austin, TX
    Natalie G. DeLuca, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas - Houston, TX

  • 9:15 am
    10-Minute Break

  • 9:25 am
    0.75 hr
    Developments in Disability Discrimination Law
    A comprehensive review of significant regulatory and court developments under the Americans with Disabilities Act and insights into emerging disability issues.

    Amber K. Dodds, Bracewell LLP - San Antonio, TX
    James H. Kizziar Jr., Bracewell LLP - San Antonio, TX

  • 10:10 am
    10-Minute Break

  • 10:20 am
    0.75 hr
    Regulatory and Administrative Changes

    Katrina Grider, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - Houston, TX

  • 11:05 am
    10-Minute Break

  • 11:15 am
    0.50 hr
    WARN Act and Workplace Restructuring

    Tasha Grinnell, The Neiman Marcus Group - Dallas, TX

  • 11:45 am
    Break for Lunch (30-minutes)
    Presentations resume at 12:15 p.m. 

  • Friday Afternoon, May 7, 2021
  • LUNCHEON PRESENTATION
  • 12:15 pm
    0.75 hr
    0.25 hr ethics
    Covenants and Related Post-Employment Disputes
    What claims can parties assert after a ruling on injunctive relief in a non-compete or TUTSA case? What legal and equitable relief is available, and what defenses are available to other parties?

    Kenneth D. Hughes, Hughes PLLC - Houston, TX
    Carlos Soltero, Soltero Sapire Murrell PLLC - Austin, TX

  • 1:00 pm
    10-Minute Break

  • 1:10 pm
    0.75 hr
    0.25 hr ethics
    Top Drivers of Large Employee-Plaintiff Verdicts
    What happens at the workplace, before litigation, that drives large employee-plaintiff verdicts? What happens during the lawsuit that drives large employee-plaintiff verdicts? Understanding these drivers can help those on the worker-side develop a case toward a large verdict and help those on the management-side take action to avoid or limit a large verdict.

    Amy Gibson, Gibson Wiley PLLC - Dallas, TX

  • 1:55 pm
    10-Minute Break

  • 2:05 pm
    0.50 hr
    #MeToo, Part 2
    #MeToo is still alive and impacting how organizations hire, fire, and much of what happens in between the two. Legislatures, agencies, and litigants are behind a substantial list of do’s and don’ts savvy employers should compare against their operating procedures and adjust accordingly. 

    Audrey E. Mross, Munck Wilson Mandala, LLP - Dallas, TX

  • 2:35 pm
    10-Minute Break

  • 2:45 pm
    1.00 hr ethics
    Ethics for Employment Attorneys: Am I Your Lawyer?
    Explore the point at which an attorney-client relationship forms, with particular reference to employment attorneys on both the plaintiff and defense side. Discussion includes casual conversation, client intake, the effect and importance of disclaimers, and the risk of individual representation of corporate agents.

    Jason Boulette, Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P. - Austin, TX

  • 3:45 pm
    10-Minute Break

  • 3:55 pm
    0.75 hr
    0.25 hr ethics
    Virtual Advocacy Part I: How to be Persuasive Virtually
    Part I focuses on the best method for virtually conducting depositions, mediations, hearings, trials, and arbitrations to be effective and persuasive. The panel also discusses what the future holds for virtual advocacy.

    Moderator:
    Malinda A. Gaul, Gaul and Dumont - San Antonio, TX
    Panelists:
    Elizabeth Larrick, Larrick Law Firm - Austin, TX
    Hon. Xavier Rodriguez, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas - San Antonio, TX
    Robert R. Swafford, Strike for Cause Jury Consultants - Austin, TX

  • 4:40 pm
    10-Minute Break

  • 4:50 pm
    0.75 hr
    0.25 hr ethics
    Virtual Advocacy Part II: How to Handle Virtual Logistics
    Part II focuses on the logistics of conducting investigations and trainings and participating in hearings, trials, and arbitrations. Hear what this panel has to say regarding what the future holds for virtual advocacy.

    Moderator:
    Malinda A. Gaul, Gaul and Dumont - San Antonio, TX
    Panelists:
    Joseph Y. Ahmad, Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C. - Houston, TX
    Hon. Elizabeth S. Chestney, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas - San Antonio, TX
    Cecilia H. Morgan, JAMS - Dallas, TX

  • 5:35 pm
    Adjourn

Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

Joseph Y. Ahmad

Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C.
Houston, TX

Jason Boulette

Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P.
Austin, TX

Clara "C. B." Burns

Kemp Smith LLP
El Paso, TX

Hon. Elizabeth S. Chestney

U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
San Antonio, TX

B. Craig Deats

Deats, Durst & Owen, P.L.L.C.
Austin, TX

Natalie G. DeLuca

Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas
Houston, TX

Amber K. Dodds

Bracewell LLP
San Antonio, TX

Malinda A. Gaul

Gaul and Dumont
San Antonio, TX

Shafeeqa W. Giarratani

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Austin, TX

Amy Gibson

Gibson Wiley PLLC
Dallas, TX

Katrina Grider

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Houston, TX

Tasha Grinnell

The Neiman Marcus Group
Dallas, TX

Drew L. Harris

Office of the Attorney General
Austin, TX

Danielle K. Herring

Littler Mendelson P.C.
Houston, TX

Kenneth D. Hughes

Hughes PLLC
Houston, TX

Austin Kaplan

Kaplan Law Firm
Austin, TX

James H. Kizziar Jr.

Bracewell LLP
San Antonio, TX

Elizabeth Larrick

Larrick Law Firm
Austin, TX

David T. Lopez

Attorney-Arbitrator-Mediator
Houston, TX

Cecilia H. Morgan

JAMS
Dallas, TX

Audrey E. Mross

Munck Wilson Mandala, LLP
Dallas, TX

Victoria Martin Phipps

Texas A&M University
College Station, TX

Hon. Xavier Rodriguez

U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
San Antonio, TX

David Schlottman

Jackson Walker LLP
Dallas, TX

Robert E. Sheeder

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Dallas, TX

Carlos Soltero

Soltero Sapire Murrell PLLC
Austin, TX

Robert R. Swafford

Strike for Cause Jury Consultants
Austin, TX

Rod Tanner

Tanner and Associates, PC
Fort Worth, TX

Jennifer M. Trulock

Baker Botts
Dallas, TX

Mickey L. Washington

Washington & Associates, PLLC
Houston, TX

Planning Committee

B. Lee Crawford Jr.—Chair

City of Austin Law Department
Austin, TX

Sean M. Becker

Vinson & Elkins LLP
Houston, TX

Jason Boulette

Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P.
Austin, TX

Clara "C. B." Burns

Kemp Smith LLP
El Paso, TX

Natalie G. DeLuca

Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas
Houston, TX

Michael W. Fox

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Austin, TX

Malinda A. Gaul

Gaul and Dumont
San Antonio, TX

Shafeeqa W. Giarratani

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Austin, TX

Amy Gibson

Gibson Wiley PLLC
Dallas, TX

Christopher H. Hahn

Dell
Round Rock, TX

Danielle K. Herring

Littler Mendelson P.C.
Houston, TX

Charles C. High Jr.

Kemp Smith LLP
El Paso, TX

Kenneth D. Hughes

Hughes PLLC
Houston, TX

John V. Jansonius

Jackson Walker LLP
Dallas, TX

Austin Kaplan

Kaplan Law Firm
Austin, TX

James H. Kizziar Jr.

Bracewell LLP
San Antonio, TX

David T. Lopez

Attorney-Arbitrator-Mediator
Houston, TX

Laura M. Merritt

Boulette Golden & Marin L.L.P.
Austin, TX

Audrey E. Mross

Munck Wilson Mandala, LLP
Dallas, TX

Tom Nesbitt

DeShazo & Nesbitt LLP
Austin, TX

Victoria Martin Phipps

Texas A&M University
College Station, TX

Shannon B. Schmoyer

Schmoyer Reinhard LLP
San Antonio, TX

Robert E. Sheeder

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Dallas, TX

Rod Tanner

Tanner and Associates, PC
Fort Worth, TX

Jennifer M. Trulock

Baker Botts
Dallas, TX

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