Schedule
Morning Session A: Foster Ballroom
10:00 - 10:40 am
What You Don't Know CAN Hurt You: Part I
Regulatory Update -- Michael E. Ruberti (Chick-fil-A, Inc.)
Alcohol Regulation Overview -- Michele L. Stumpe (Taylor English Duma LLP)
Break
10:50 - 11:30 am
Employment Law Panel
Moderated by Alisa Cleek (Ellerbee, Thompson, Wilson & Sapp)
Featuring:
Wage & Hour/Tip Credits: Evan Rosen (Epstein, Becker & Green P.C.)
Social Media/NLRB: Ed Cherof (Jackson Lewis, LLP)
Hiring, Firing & Harassment: Matthew W. Clarke (Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP)
Session Overview
GRA board member Mike Ruberti (Chick-fil-A) will start the session with a regulatory overview on a state, national and local basis. Then, Michele L. Stumpe (Taylor English Duma LLP), who assists clients nationally with alcohol compliance, will share her insight on Georgia’s complex network of alcohol laws. Alisa Cleek (Elarbee Thompson) will then moderate an employment law panel session of “What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You” which will include hospitality law specialists Ed Cherof (Jackson Lewis, LLP), Evan Rosen (Epstein, Becker & Green, P.C.), and Matthew Clarke (Smith, Gambrell & Russell LLP). These experts in the fields of labor and employment will bring forth topics such as wage and hour, tip credit, and hiring and firing. Also, the panel will discuss the legal issues revolving around social media, including how it is being used for background screening of job applicants.
About Our Speakers
Mike Ruberti is an in-house attorney with Chick-fil-A. he is responsible for Contracts and Government Relations. As part of his role, Mike is responsible for tracking regulatory issues across the country at the federal, state and local level that may impact Chick-fil-A’s business. Mike did all of his education at William & Mary in Virginia, graduating with a undergraduate business degree in 1994 and a JD/MBA in 1999. Mike sits on the Board of Directors for GRA. Mike is married to Catherine and has two boys, Cole and Lance.
Michele L. Stumpe is a partner at Taylor English Duma LLP. Ms. Stumpe represents clients in all aspects of civil litigation with a focus on the hospitality industry. Having tried multi-million dollar cases on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants (and having obtained the 3 highest payouts ever in a negligent security lawsuit against MARTA), she has developed a unique perspective that aids in case evaluation and effective litigation. Ms. Stumpe has represented clients in jurisdictions throughout the United States and has developed a specialty in alcohol laws and assists clients nationally with alcohol compliance needs. She has been a frequent speaker at seminars that focus on topics from trial practice to alcohol compliance. She also developed and implemented management level retail alcohol training programs that have since become mandatory in numerous jurisdictions throughout the state of Georgia.
Alisa Cleek is a partner with Elarbee Thompson, a nationally-recognized firm dedicated to the representation of management clients in the fields of labor and employment, immigration, benefits, and complex commercial litigation. Alisa is Chair of the firm’s Hospitality and Service Industries Group, which specializes in issues unique to the restaurant industry, including wage and hour, Title III ADA, immigration, and harassment/discrimination litigation. She represents numerous national restaurant chains, including Hooters, Applebee’s and Ryan’s, just to name a few. Alisa is also a mediator and arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.
Evan Rosen is a labor and employment attorney with Epstein Becker & Green based in their Atlanta office. His practice is particularly focused on the hospitality industry and includes defending employers with respect to wage and hour lawsuits, unfair labor practice charges, and charges of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Mr. Rosen also regularly counsels employers on drafting employee handbooks; issues related to hiring, discipline, and discharge; FMLA policies; Title I and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act; and the drafting of employment agreements and restrictive covenants.
Ed Cherof is a is a Partner in the Atlanta, Georgia office of Jackson Lewis, a nationwide law firm specializing in workplace law of behalf of management. Ed serves on the firm's Management Committee and is the Coordinator for the firm's Southeast Regional offices. Since joining the firm in 1986, Mr. Cherof has represented employers in all aspects of labor and employment law and litigation. He has extensive experience providing employers with strategic advice relating to union organizing and in proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board. He also regularly assists clients in addressing the full scope of employment law matters, including those arising under federal and state fair employment laws.
Matthew W. Clarke is a Partner in the Labor and Employment Practice of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP, with significant experience in employment law, encompassing employment discrimination and litigation, employment contracts, employee handbooks and policies, termination and separations, hiring practices, wage and hour issues, unemployment compensation and other aspects of the employer/employee relationship governed by state and federal laws. He regularly counsels clients on compliance issues and dispute avoidance.
Mr. Clarke has represented clients in matters pending before the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Georgia Department of Labor and the Wage and Hour Division of the United States Department of Labor. He also has extensive experience in litigating matters concerning federal Title VII, ADEA, ADA and WARN Act matters and restrictive covenants disputes (non-competition and non-solicitation agreements).
