Schedule as of 10/9/25
| 10:30am-7:00pm | CONFERENCE REGISTRATION (Continental 2-3, Ballroom Level) |
| 12:30pm-1:15pm | OPENING REMARKS Brandi Figari Cowan, CELA Chair Christina Krasomil, CELA Operations Director |
| 1:15pm-2:30pm | 2025 TOOLKIT FOR IMMIGRANT ADVOCATES Learn the ins and outs of representing immigrant workers in today’s highly contentious climate. Expert discussion about real-world experience navigating the risks faced by immigrant workers and the rights and protections available to them. Presented by CELA’s Immigrant Employee Rights Committee [Qualifies for 1.25 hours Elimination of Bias specialty credit] Moderator: Jennifer Reisch Speakers: Marisa Diaz, Monica Guizar and Alfredo Nava |
| 2:45pm-4:00pm | THE LIFECYCLE OF WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES IN THE WORKPLACE The Lifecycle of Women's Reproductive Rights in the Workplace spans a range of issues, including menstruation fertility, infertility, pregnancy, postpartum, lactation, abortion, miscarriage and menopause. This panel will explore the intersectionality of these issues, leave law analysis, case identification and exploration of the legal mechanisms and protections that afford relief from discrimination, harassment, retaliation and ultimately interference with career progression and economic stability. Presented by CELA’s Women’s Committee [Qualifies for 1.25 hours Elimination of Bias specialty credit Moderator: Peggy Farrell Speakers: Stacey Brown, Jessica Lee, and Katie Wutchiett |
| 4:10pm-4:50pm | JOE POSNER AWARD: Wendy Musell |
| 5:00pm-6:00pm | FAIR MEDIATORS ROUNDTABLE Getting to Yes: Flexible Bracketing, Messaging, and Reaching the Mediator's Proposal Moderator: J. Bernard Alexander Speakers: Nolan S. Armstrong, Kathryn Dickson, Jean Hyams, and Abraham "Abe" Melamed |
| 5:15pm-6:15pm | 12-STEP MEETING |
| 6:00pm-7:00pm | WELCOME RECEPTION Hosted by CELA’s Mentor Committee |
| 7:45am-8:45am | 12-STEP MEETING |
| 8:00am-5:00pm | CONFERENCE REGISTRATION (Continental 3, Ballroom Level) |
| 9:15am-10:30am | AI AND THE PRACTICE OF LAW: What Law Students Know that You Don't We all know that AI is rapidly changing the world around us–but how is it changing the practice of law? Hear from the professors who are teaching law students how to research and write in an AI world, and from CELA practitioners who are incorporating AI in their practice. [Qualifies for 1.0 hour Technology in the Practice of Law specialty credit and .25 hours Ethics credit.] Speakers: Hilary Hardcastle, Prof. Samantha Jacobs, Nicole Meyers and Samuel Nielson |
| 11:00am-12:15pm | CONCURRENT SESSIONS |
| MINDFULNESS FOR CHANGEMAKERS Mindfulness is a gentle awareness of the present moment. It is simple, but not easy in this age of constant stressors and digital distractions. Furthermore, in the legal world, overwhelm is the norm. In response, many lawyers are turning to mindfulness because it has been scientifically proven to lower stress, alleviate chronic pain, lessen the symptoms of depression and anxiety, increase empathy, and contribute to an overall sense of well-being. In this training, participants will learn how to meditate as well as be exposed to the philosophical underpinnings of the practice. Come learn why mindfulness can be an antidote to many of the challenges lawyers face today. [Qualifies for 1.25 hours Wellness specialty credit] Speaker: Chris Punongbayan |
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| SAY IT TO MY LAWYER: Defamation Wins and Defenses Join us to learn the basics of defamation claims and defenses, and learn about multimillion trial wins in defamation. Moderator: Sonya Mehta Speakers: David deRubertis, Xinyue Liu, Mythily Sivarajah and Christopher Whelan |
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| EMERGING TRENDS WITH CALIFORNIA’S HARASSMENT LAW AND HOW TO INVOKE THE ENDING OF FORCED ARBITRATION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASES A discussion of developments under the EFAA as well as recent California harassment claims and how Courts have applied Government Code § 12923 since CELA helped amend that law in 2019. Presented by CELA’s Arbitration and Mentor Committees Moderator: Gayane Ghandilyan Speakers: Hon. Elizabeth Riles, Olivia Flechsig and Jessica Stender |
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| 12:30pm-2:00pm | DIVERSITY OUTREACH COMMITTEE LUNCHEON Keynote Speaker: Lisa Holder, President, Equal Justice Society |
| 2:15pm-3:30pm | CONCURRENT SESSIONS |
| HANDLING THE DEFENSE WORKPLACE INVESTIGATION EXPERT How do you handle the defense workplace investigation expert who is prepared to testify that the employer’s (pretty bad) investigation actually was pretty good? Two respected plaintiffs counsel and a well-known workplace investigation expert will provide practical steps designed to show the jury that the “expert” simply is being paid to say what the employer wants the “expert” to say. That the “expert’s” opinion is not consistent with standard practices, the employer’s own policies and procedures, and even the “expert’s” own practices. A sample cross- examination outline will be included. Speakers: Angel Horacek, Michael Robbins and Navid Yadegar |
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| LANGUAGE JUSTICE: Building Equitable Communication While Providing Legal Services This panel will define and examine language access and language justice with an introspective lens to explore how we as legal advocates can improve language access and also an outward lens to bring agency and/or court claims when our clients have been denied language access or language justice at work. Presented by CELA’s Immigrant Employee Rights Committee [Qualifies for 1.25 Implicit Bias specialty credit] Moderator: Anali Cortez Bulosan Speakers: Winifred Kao and Norma Ventura |
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| JOINT PROSECUTION AGREEMENTS: Practical and Ethical Considerations This session will educate attendees about joint prosecution agreements, including the scenarios that may require these agreements, what terms the agreements should include, and the practical ramifications of joint prosecution agreements in employment cases involving multiple plaintiffs and/or multiple co-counsel. This session will also cover ethical considerations at all stages of a case governed by joint prosecution agreements. Presented by CELA’s Barristers Committee [Qualifies for .25 hours Ethics credit and .75 hours general credit.] Moderator: Andie Fields Speakers: Aashish Desai, Randy Renick and Sharon Vinick |
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| 4:00pm-5:00pm | LESSIONS LEARNED FROM WINNING Moderator/Speaker: Cornelia Dai Speakers: Dolores Leal, Laura Mazza and Ashley Pellouchoud |
| 5:15pm-6:15pm | 12-STEP MEETING |
| 6:30pm-9:30pm | FAIR FUNDRAISER FAIR’s annual fundraiser will take place at Hawthorn SF Nightclub in San Francisco. This is a separate ticketed event. |
| 7:45am-8:45am | 12-STEP MEETING |
| 7:45am-8:45am | LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE BREAKFAST (Continental 1-2) Open to CELA Regular Members Only |
| 8:00am-4:00pm | CONFERENCE REGISTRATION (Continental 3, Ballroom Level) |
| 9:00am-10:00am | LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Ken Wang, CELA Deputy Policy Director Mariko Yoshihara, CELA Legislative Counsel & Policy Director |
| 10:00am-10:55am | THE YEAR IN REVIEW (FEHA and Whistleblower) Speakers: William Jhaveri-Weeks, Mia Munro and Andrea Nuñez |
| 11:05am-12:00pm | THE YEAR IN REVIEW (Wage and Hour) Speakers: Jennifer Kramer and Hunter Pyle |
| 12:00pm-12:30pm | MEMBER VICTORIES VIDEO Presented by CELA’s Barristers Committee Creators: Grainne Callan, Flor Dery, Alejandra Gonzalez-Bedoy, and Christa Riggins |
| 12:30pm-1:45pm | NETWORKING LUNCH |
| 2:00pm-3:15pm | CONCURRENT SESSIONS |
| WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER? Considerations in Case Valuation for Settlements and Verdicts This session will explore practitioners' top considerations in determining the appropriate value of cases at all stages of litigation, from pre-lit to post-trial. Practitioners will share their experiences and advice for justifying and communicating “their number” to opposing parties, mediators, and jurors. (How to value cases to put out initial settlement demand; How that value might change over time; How to effectively negotiate for the best value considering that mills are driving down value). Presented by CELA’s Barristers Committee Speakers: Hon. Winifred Y. Smith (Ret.). Martin Aarons, Navruz Avloni and Carney Shegerian |
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| AMERICA AT THE CROSSROADS: Crafting Intersectional Claims to Protect the Rights of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ Employees in a Hostile Work and Cultural Environment. This panel will address California's new law prohibiting intersectional discrimination and review existing case law, statutory law and regulations that can be used to bolster and advance employment law claims on behalf of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ workers. In addition, the panel will discuss the rampant discrimination by BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ workers as well and issues of cultural competency when representing these workers. Presented by CELA’s Racial Justice Committee [Qualifies for 1.25 Elimination of Bias specialty credit] Moderator: Katherine Smith Speakers: DeCarol Davis, Elizabeth Kristen and Samson Spiegelman |
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| "NEW PAGA" AMENDMENTS AND INSIGHTS FROM THE LWDA The 2024 PAGA “reform” bill has been in effect for over a year – panelists will review the impact of New PAGA on litigating PAGA cases and a representative of the LWDA explains the new cure process and procedures. Moderator/Speaker: Ginger Grimes Speakers: Rachel Bien and Todd Ratshin (LWDA) |
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| 3:45pm-5:00pm | CONSIDERATIONS WHEN FILING YOUR ATTORNEYS' FEE MOTION This panel offers practical guidance for navigating attorneys’ fee motions and will address hourly rates- covering timekeeping, peer declarations, and multipliers. The panel will also discuss perceived systemic barriers to full fee compensation, especially for attorneys of color and women, and examine how implicit bias may impact fee awards. Presented by CELA’s Diversity Outreach Committee [Qualifies for 1.25 Elimination of Bias specialty credit] Moderator: Toni Jaramilla Speakers: Hon. Mark Talamantes, Pat Goldman, and Wendy Musell |
The conference qualifies for 15 hours MCLE. Specialty credit offered is denoted in the panel description. CELA is a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider, #2292.
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