2026 Labor and Employment Law Forum
Date: Mar 20, 2026 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick, and Online
Member Price: $203.00
Non-Member Price: $254.00
Section Price: $191.00
Areas of Law: Labor & Employment
Earn up to 6.7 credits, including 1.0 in Ethics and 1.0 in Diversity! (More Information)
Keynote
Moderator
- Domenick Carmagnola, Esq.
- Past President, New Jersey State Bar Association
Carmagnola & Ritardi, LLC, Morristown - Daniel R. Dowdy, Esq.
- Selikoff & Cohen, PA, Mount Laurel
- Yvette Gibbons, Esq.
- Chair, New JerseySBA Dispute Resolution Section
Employment Compliance Strategies, LLC, South Orange - Katrina M. Homel, Esq.
- New Jersey Education Association, Trenton
- Robert T. Szyba, Esq.
- Seyfarth Shaw, New Yorkis a Partner in the Labor & Employment Department of Seyfarth Shaw LLP in New York City, where he defends and counsels employers in a wide range of employment-related issues, including background check and Fair Credit Reporting Act violations, “ban the box” issues, prevailing wage requirements, wage and hour compliance, whistleblower retaliation, family and medical leave compliance and interference/retaliation claims, paid sick leave, and discrimination/harassment. He also advises clients on preventive employment counseling, pre-litigation strategy and litigation avoidance, alternate dispute resolution and mandatory arbitration programs, and employment policies and procedures.
Admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of New Jersey and New York, Mr. Szyba serves on the Executive Committee of the Labor & Employment Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association. He has been Co-Chair of the Ethics & Professional Responsibility Subcommittee of the American Bar Association Labor & Employment Law Section’s Employment Rights & Responsibilities Committee.
Mr. Szyba has served on the Alumni Advisory Board of the Hofstra Labor & Employment Law Journal and as a member of the Sidney Reitman Employment Law American Inn of Court. He is a former Editor-in-Chief of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s New Jersey Labor & Employment Law Quarterly and has lectured for ICLE, NELA-NJ, the American and New York State Bar Associations, and other organizations.
Mr. Szyba received his undergraduate degree, cum laude, from Berklee College of Music and his J.D., cum laude, from Hofstra University School of Law, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Hofstra Labor & Employment Law Journal and a member of Hofstra’s Moot Court Association.
(8/23)
Presenters
- Hon. Siobhan A. Teare, J.S.C. (Ret.)
- Hon. Mary F. Thurber, J.S.C. (Ret.)
- Pashman Stein Walder Hayden
- Dean L. Burrell, Esq.
- Arbitrator-Mediator, Burrell Dispute Resolution, Morristown
- Derek J. Demeri, Esq.
- Weissman & Mintz LLC, Somerset
- Perry Farhat, Esq.
- Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, RWJBarnabas Health
- Jason I. Flynn, Esq.
- Law Office of Jason I. Flynn LLC, Teaneck
- Ty Hyderally, Esq.
- Hyderally & Associates P.C., Montclair
- Leonard V. Jones, Esq.
- Jackson Lewis P.C., Berkeley Heightsis a civil litigation attorney and associate with Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney P.C. in Newark, New Jersey, and New York City, where he focuses his practice in complex civil and employment litigation, including representing individual, business and public entity clients in state and federal courts. He has also served as an Assistant Prosecutor with the Union County Prosecutor's Office, prosecuting cases involving narcotics, violent crimes and economic crimes.
Admitted to practice in New Jersey and New York, and before the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, Mr. Jones was appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court to a four-year term as a Member of the District XII Fee Arbitration Committee and is a member of the New Jersey State, Garden State and Union County Bar Associations. He is a member of several sections and committees of the New Jersey State Bar Association, including the Diversity Committee, Minorities in the Profession Section, Civil Trial Bar Section and Federal Practice and Procedure Section, as well as the Young Lawyers Division. He is also a member of the Union County Bar Association Diversity, Inclusion & the Elimination of Bias Committee and the Program Committee of the Sidney Reitman American Inn of Court.
Mr. Jones received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Seton Hall University, his Masters in Public Administration from Seton Hal University and his J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law, where he was the recipient of the Eagleton Institute of Politics Governor’s Executive Fellowship. He clerked for the Honorable James P. Wilson, J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey, Family Division, Union Vicinage.
(8/23) - Sean Joyce, Esq.
- Carmagnola & Ritardi, LLC, Morristown
- James La Rocca, Esq.
- Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, New York
- Gina Mendola Longarzo, Esq.
- Law Offices of Gina Mendola Longarzo, LLC, Chatham
- Colin M. Lynch, Esq.
- Zazzali, P.C., Newark
- Bruce P. Matez, Esq., APM
- Weir, LLP, Mt. LaurelBruce P. Matez, Esq., APM is a partner at with Weir LLP in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. After practicing divorce and family law as a litigator for 30 years, Bruce now focuses his practice in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), including mediation, arbitration, parenting coordination, and out-of-court settlement negotiations. He is an approved R.1:40 Post MESP Economic Mediator. He has mediated approximately 2000 divorce and family law matters. A former member of the Family Law Executive Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association, Mr. Matez has also served on the Family Law Committees of the Camden, Burlington, and Gloucester County Bar Associations and continues to serve as a Matrimonial Early Settlement Panelist in some counties. He is a past president of the New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators (NJAPM), a member of the Justice Marie Garibaldi American Inn of Court for Alternative Dispute Resolution, and a member of several other professional and community organizations. Mr. Matez was a founding member of the Thomas S. Forkin Family Law American Inn of Court and served on the organization’s Executive Committee from 1997-2009 and was most recently a Master Emeritus. In 2018 Bruce was the recipient of the Honorable Joseph M. Nardi, Jr. Award from the Thomas S. Forkin Family Law AIC which recognized him for his commitment to the practice of law, encouraging and exemplifying civility, humility, compassion, and a moral/ethical obligation to the welfare of children and families. He lectures and teaches courses on Family Law topics, mediation, and parenting coordination for NJICLE, the NJAPM, county bar associations, and teaches Divorce and Family Law Mediation at Rutgers Law School in Camden. In 2022 he was the recipient of the Richard Jeydel Award bestowed by the Justice Marie Garibaldi American Inn of Court for ADR for excellence in the field of ADR. Mr. Matez is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, and received his J.D. from Villanova University School of Law.
- Jessica A. Merejo, Esq.
- PEM Law LLP, West Orange
- Susan L. Nardone, Esq.
- Partner, Labor & Employment Law, FBT Gibbons, Newark
- Kea S. Noyan, Esq.
- Jackson Lewis P.C., Berkeley Heights
- Liz Pudel, Esq.
- Selikoff & Cohen PA, Mount Laurel
- Zaid M. Qasem, Esq.
- Assistant County Counsel, Passaic County
- Maralee Sanders, Esq.
- Hartmann Doherty Rosa Berman & Bulbulia, Short Hills
- Cheyne R. Scott, Esq.
- Chasan Lamparello Mallon & Cappuzzo, PC, Secaucus
- Neethi Vasudevan, Esq.
- Seiden Freed LLC, Pennington
Every year, New Jersey’s leading labor and employment lawyers attend "The Forum" to stay current on developments in the law and hear from seasoned practitioners.
Join this year for several distinguished panels of labor and employment lawyers addressing the most pressing issues facing the practice today. Attendees will gain insight into navigating the impact of recent changes in labor and employment law, hear key takeaways from recent and significant case law developments, among other timely topics. Don’t miss this opportunity to receive targeted, practical information that you can immediately put to use in your practice.
Program Agenda:
-
9:00 | Introduction
-
9:05 | Best Practices for Workplace Investigations
- Moderator: Yvette Gibbons, Esq.
- Speakers: Hon. Mary F. Thurber, J.S.C. (Ret.); Leonard V. Jones, Esq. and Kea S. Noyan, Esq.
-
9:55 | Impact of Off-Duty Social Media Use in the Workplace
-
10:40 | Break
-
10:50 | NLRB Update
- Moderator: Daniel R. Dowdy, Esq.
- Speakers: Dean L. Burrell, Esq.; James La Rocca, Esq. and Colin M. Lynch, Esq.
-
11:35 | Lunch
-
12:35 | Case Law Update
- Moderator: Katrina M. Homel, Esq.
- Speakers: Derek J. Demeri, Esq.; Jessica Merejo, Esq.; Liz Pudel, Esq. and Maralee Sanders, Esq.
-
1:20 | Ethical Considerations for the Use of AI
-
2:10 | Break
-
2:20 | Cultural Awareness and the LAD
- Moderator: Yvette Gibbons, Esq.
- Speakers: Hon. Siobhan A. Teare, J.S.C. (Ret.); Perry Farhat, Esq.; Jason I. Flynn, Esq.; Bruce P. Matez, Esq., APM; Zaid M. Qasem, Esq. and Neethi Vasudevan, Esq.
-
3:10 | A Knock at the Door: When Government Agencies Show Up at the Workplace
- Moderator: Domenick Carmagnola, Esq.
- Speakers: Ty Hyderally, Esq.; Sean Joyce, Esq.; Gina Mendola Longarzo, Esq.; Susan L. Nardone, Esq. and Cheyne R. Scott, Esq. -
4:00 | Adjourn
Important Information About Our Events, Meetings, and More:
To secure your spot and receive important updates about our events, meetings, and other gatherings, such as schedule changes, remember to register in advance.
Digital Materials & Environmental Commitment: As part of our commitment to environmental sustainability, unless otherwise noted, all seminar materials are provided as digital downloads. You can access these materials through:
- The “My Links” section at the top of our website for in-person or online events
- Or, for online programs, the event access link included in your joining instructions
Cancellation and Refund Policy:
If you need to cancel your registration and are not transferring to another program or date, please submit a written request to us at least three business days before the event, meeting, or gathering. You will receive a refund minus a $20.00 cancellation fee. No refunds or registration changes will be issued within three business days of the event, meeting, or gathering.
Professional Conduct:
All attendees and participants are expected to conduct themselves professionally and treat others with respect at NJSBA events, meetings, and gatherings. This includes courteous communication, respecting perspectives, and creating a welcoming environment for all. Failure to adhere to this policy may result in removal from the event.
Stay Informed:
Registered participants will be notified of any schedule changes. For updates regarding inclement weather, please check your email or visit NJSBA.com.
Media Consent:
By participating in our events, meetings, or other gatherings, you agree to be photographed and/or recorded. Additionally, all media content captured during these gatherings will become the property of NJSBA. This content, including your image and name, may be used in our future promotional materials without additional consent or compensation.
Scholarship & Financial Assistance Policy:
Read our Scholarship & Financial Assistance Policy and submit an Application here: https://njsba.com/njicle/cle-programs/scholarship/