SECTION UPDATES
On April 21 , 2022 , the Section hosted its annual Advanced Employment Law program . This year ’ s program featured a series of webinars spread over three days . The first program provided an update on developments in wage and hour law , with Charles R . Bridgers ( DeLong Caldwell Bridgers Fitzpatrick & Benjamin LLC ) and Craig S . Friedman ( Jones Day ) as speakers . Amanda A . Farahany ( Barrett & Farahany ) and Josh Y . Joel ( Stanton Law ) then presented on the new federal law banning mandatory arbitration of sexual harassment claims and had a lively discussion on the potential impact the law will have for employers and employees .
The theme of day two of the series was COVID-19 . Kenneth N . Winkler ( Berman Fink Van Horn ) moderated a panel of in-house counsel discussing their companies ’ experiences with navigating COVID-19-related legal issues , including vaccine policies . Lisa Knottek Simpson ( Rollins ), Alicia P . Starkman ( Piedmont Healthcare ), and Matt Webb ( UPS ) each provided unique perspectives on the various issues their organizations have had to confront over the last two years . After their presentation , Amelia A . Ragan ( Legare Attwood & Wolfe LLC ) moderated a panel discussing mediating employment law cases in the Zoom era . Dan M . Klein ( Klein Dispute Resolution ) and Ellen B . Malow ( Malow Mediation ) shared their perspectives on mediation trends and offered helpful tips on effectively mediating via Zoom .
The third and final day of the Advanced Employment Law program focused on the Great Resignation . Neal F . Weinrich ( Berman Fink Van Horn , PC ) moderated a panel on " Noncompete , Employee Transition and Unfair Competition Issues related to the Great Resignation ." Erika C . Birg ( Nelson Mullins ), Benjamin I . Fink ( Berman Fink Van Horn , PC ), Daniel P . Hart ( Seyfarth Shaw ), and Ashley Steiner Kelly ( Arnall Golden Gregory ) shared their thoughts on how the challenging labor market , the increased prevalence of remote work , and the changing legal landscape have impacted both the use and enforcement of noncompete agreements . Finally , the series concluded with Abigail J . Larimer ( Ford & Harrison ) moderating a panel that discussed various trends in employment law during the Great Resignation . Timothy M . Boughey ( Jackson Lewis , PC ) and Justin M . Scott ( Scott Employment Law , PC ) provided perspectives from the plaintiff and defense bar , and Steven Wagner shared his insights as a trial attorney with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission . The program was a tremendous success , and the Labor & Employment section thanks all of our excellent speakers for their participation !
NEAL F . WEINRICH Berman Fink Van Horn PC nweinrich @ bfvlaw . com
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Litigation
The Litigation Section continued its monthly breakfast meeting tradition with the 2021-22 theme “ Back on Track .” A special thanks to Sections Director Karen English and the other dedicated Atlanta Bar staff who made every event possible whether in person or on Zoom !
• September 24 , 2021 - The Back on Track Series | The State of the Judiciary . Panelists : Judge Timothy C . Batten ( U . S . District Court for the NDGA ), Chief Judge Christopher S . Brasher ( Superior Court of Fulton County ), Judge Susan E . Edlein ( State Court of Fulton County ), and Chief Justice David E . Nahmias ( Supreme Court of Georgia ).
• October 8 , 2021 - The Back on Track Series | Products Liability Claims involving Medical Devices . Panelists : Geoffrey M . Drake ( King & Spalding ), Stephen G . Lowry ( Harris Lowry Manton LLP ), Michael C . McGlamry ( Pope McGlamry ), and Robert K . “ Bobby ” Woo , Jr . ( King & Spalding ). Moderator : Halli D . Cohn ( Troutman Pepper ).
• October 13 , 2021 - The Litigation Section gathered at Nelson Mullin to present the Logan E . Bleckley Award for Judicial Excellence to The Honorable Harold D . Melton , former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia , for his leadership of the judiciary through the first year of the pandemic .
• November 12 , 2021 - The Back on Track Series | Credibility : How to Earn It and How to Lose It . Panelists : Jim D . Blitch , IV ( Blitch Law PC ), Judge Shukura L . Ingram ( Superior Court of Fulton County ), Brandee J . Kowalzyk ( Nelson Mullins ), Bethany Schneider ( Schneider Injury Law ), and L . Chris Stewart ( Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys ). Moderator : S . Wade Malone ( Nelson Mullins ).
• December 10 , 2021 - The Back on Track Series | Offer of Judgement , Apportionment and Proving Attorneys ’ Fees . Panelists : Daniel J . Huff ( Huff Powell Bailey LLC ), Kevin P . Race ( The Race Law Firm ), Judge Gail S . Tusan ( JAMS ), and Chief Judge Paige Reese Whitaker ( Superior Court of Fulton County ). Moderator : James M . Sherman ( Stanley Esrey & Buckley LLP ).
• January 14 , 2022 - The Back on Track Series | Trials in 2022 – A New Year & ( Post ?) Pandemic Outlook . Panelists : Miguel A . Dominquez ( Morgan & Morgan ), Judge Leigh Martin May ( U . S . District Court , NDGA ), Chief Judge Robert C . I . McBurney ( Superior Court of Fulton County ), David L . Rusnak ( Drew Eckl & Farnham LLP ). Moderator : Chief Judge Shukura L . Ingram ( Superior Court of Fulton County ) and Mari L . Myer ( The Myer Law Firm ).
• February 11 , 2022 - The Back on Track Series | Medical Funding : Discoverability , Admissibility , and Revisiting the Collateral Source Rule . Panelists : Gillian S . Crowl ( Swift
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