2026 Labor and Employment Summer Institute
Date: Aug 13, 2026 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Online
Member Price: $211.00
Non-Member Price: $264.00
Section Price: $198.00
Areas of Law: Labor & Employment
Earn up to 5.7 credits, including 1.0 in Ethics! (More Information)
Keynote
Moderator
- Arnold S. Cohen, Esq.
- Oxfeld Cohen PC, Newark
Presenters
- Hon. Ronald J. Hedges, U.S.M.J. (Ret.)
- Ronald J. Hedges LLCis Senior Counsel for Dentons in New York City and a member of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group. He has extensive experience in e-discovery and the management of complex civil litigation matters, and has served as a special master, arbitrator and mediator. He also consults on the management and discovery of electronically stored information (ESI).
Admitted to practice in New Jersey, New York, Texas and the District of Columbia, and before several federal courts, Judge Hedges is a former United States Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (1986-2007), where he was the Compliance Judge for the Court Mediation Program, a member of the Lawyers Advisory Committee, and a member of and reporter for the Civil Justice Reform Act Advisory Committee. A member of the Advisory Group of Magistrate Judges from 2001-2005, he has also been a member of the American Law Institute, the American and Federal Bar Associations, and the Historical Society and the Lawyers Advisory Committee of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Judge Hedges has served on the Sedona Conference Judicial Advisory Board; the Sedona Conference Working Group on Protective Orders, Confidentiality, and Public Access; and the Sedona Conference Working Group on Best Practices for Electronic Document Retention & Protection. He has also been a member of the Advisory Board of the Advanced E-Discovery Institute of Georgetown University Law Center. He is a former Fellow at the Center for Information Technology of Princeton University and has been a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas.
Judge Hedges has been an adjunct professor at Rutgers School of Law-Newark and is a former adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center and Seton Hall University School of Law, where he has taught courses on electronic discovery and evidence and mediation skills. He is the author of “Rule 26(f): The Most Important E-Discovery Rule” (New Jersey Law Journal, 5/18/2009) and has authored, edited and co-edited a number of other publications on ESI topics including Discovery of Electronically Stored Information: Surveying the Legal Landscape (BNA, 2007). He is the principal author of the third edition of the Federal Judicial Center’s Pocket Guide for Judges on Discovery of Electronic Information.
Judge Hedges received his B.A. from the University of Maryland and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
(8/23) - Hon. Mary F. Thurber, J.S.C. (Ret.)
- Pashman Stein Walder Hayden
- Dean L. Burrell, Esq.
- Arbitrator-Mediator, Burrell Dispute Resolution, Morristown
- Yvette Gibbons, Esq.
- Chair, New JerseySBA Dispute Resolution Section
Employment Compliance Strategies, LLC, South Orange - Stephanie D. Gironda, Esq.
- Wilentz Goldman & Spitzer, Woodbridge
- Olivia J. Italiano, Esq.
- Fisher Phillips LLP, Berkeley Heights
- Ann Lesser, Esq.
- Vice President, Employment Division, American Arbitration Association, New York
- Kim D. Ringler, Esq.
- The Ringler Law Firm, Waldwick
- Robin Rome, Esq.
- Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, P.C., Chatham
- Stephen E. Trimboli, Esq.
- Chilla Business Counsel, LLC, Morristown
- Hop Wechsler, Esq.
- Selikoff & Cohen PA, Mount Laurel
- Stephanie Wilson, Esq.
- Former Chair, Labor & Employment Law Section
Register today for this comprehensive annual program, offering insights from leading employment and labor law practitioners about critical areas of practice, practical insights and key strategies on how to achieve the best results for your clients.
To earn ethics credit, hear a panel discussion on key ethical obligations relevant to labor and employment practitioners. Presented by experienced practitioners, the panel will unpack the important rules to know regarding arbitration and mediation, attorney advertising, the use of artificial intelligence, and attorney/client relationships.
This is a unique opportunity to gain knowledge from top experts in the field for attorneys at every level. You will leave this full-day conference with a deeper understanding of the law, practical tips, and effective techniques that you can immediately apply in your practice. Don’t miss out on the chance to elevate your skills and knowledge in labor and employment law.
Program Agenda:
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9 | Introduction – Arnold S. Cohen, Esq.
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9:05 | Overview of the PERC Act – Stephen E. Trimboli, Esq.
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9:35 | Tenure – Hop Wechsler, Esq.
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10 | Trends in workplace investigations – Robin Rome, Esq.
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10:30 | Break
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10:40 | Pay equity and wage theft – Stephanie D. Gironda, Esq.
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11:10 | LAD case law update – Olivia J. Italiano, Esq.
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11:40 | Class action arbitration – Arnold S. Cohen, Esq.
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12:10 | Lunch
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1 | The use of artificial intelligence in employment cases – Hon. Ronald Hedges, U.S.M.J. (Ret.) and Stephanie Wilson, Esq.
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1:50 | Break
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2 | Ethical considerations for labor and employment practitioners
- Moderator: Yvette Gibbons, Esq.
- Panelists: Hon. Mary F. Thurber, J.S.C. (Ret.); Dean L. Burrell, Esq.; Ann Lesser, Esq. and Kim D. Ringler, Esq. -
2:50 | Q&A and wrap-up
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3 | Adjourn
Important Information About Our Events, Meetings, and More:
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