The Psychology of Judgment:

Most lawyers are trained in a law school advocacy model that is geared for lawyers and not for jurors. For jurors, your facts are not enough. Your experts are not enough. Your witnesses are not enough. And the law is not enough. You need a story, a narrative, and the ability to communicate that story in a simple and effective way that gives it meaning and helps the jury know exactly what they need to do with your case. Because the difference between information and meaning is the difference between losing and winning.

Bridgeport’s annual Wage & Hour Update explores and explains in-depth, the critical and changing aspects of Wage & Hour litigation.  This year's program will focus on the ever increasing use of PAGA in wage and hour litigation; key developments in the case law such as Uber & Lyft, Duran; Iskanian; Ayala, interpreting the white collar exemptions, New Legislation, Regulations and Statutes and the enforcement and litigation of arbitration agreements.   The unique format for the program will feature an explanation and then discussion of the aforementioned topics. The program is co-chaired by Catha Worthman of Feinberg Jackson Worthman & Wasow and Jeff Grube of Grube of Brown & Geidt LLP.

The ability to plan and take outstanding depositions determines the value of your case, the outcome of dispositive motions, and who wins at trial. From developing the big picture down to formulating the narrowest questions, learn from a faculty of noted trial attorneys that has conducted more than 5,000 depositions. For many clients, your depositions are their only day in court. Make every question count! Learn techniques used by the best trial lawyers to get the most out of every deposition.

The class action landscape continued to evolve dramatically in 2016 and 2017. The Campbell-Ewald Co., Spokeo and Tyson cases have been decided and issues such as Class Standing, Certification and Use of Statistical Evidence have changed. Arbitration, nationwide class certification, proof of classwide reliance, actual injury and market remedial actions are still issues that dominate class action orders and opinions.  This program will explore the recent SCOTUS decisions, key Circuit level opinions, and their impact on the plaintff and defense bar. For those who dedicate their practice to class actions, whether plaintiff or defense, there is much to review and discuss from the past year.  This program will cover the latest developments in the law of federal class actions as well as procedural advice from leaders in the field. This timely conference will include a discussion of the development of recent major class actions cases and decisions as well as a look at upcoming cases and changing trends in current class action practice. This program is chaired by Robert “Bo” Phillips, of Alston & Bird and Michael Ram of Robins Kaplan LLP.

An American courtroom is, by design, free of bias. Women in the legal profession, however,  face challenges not present in the experience of their male counterparts. In an attempt to understand gender bias and it’s impact in the courtroom, this program will include a discussion about the psychology of gender stereotyping and explore identifying, understanding and counteracting personal biases be it from clients, the court, jurors, colleagues or opposing counsel.

This program will explore how implicit gender bias may drive decisions behind what roles women lawyers and experts play and presents challenges to the success of women lawyers.  The program will include practical discussions led by attorneys who have thousands of hours of courtroom experience. This program, in its inaugural outing, will feature discussions of issues that women lawyers face in the courtroom, in depositions, in client meetings, and beyond.

The ability to plan and take outstanding depositions determines the value of your case, the outcome of dispositive motions, and who wins at trial. From developing the big picture down to formulating the narrowest questions, learn from a faculty of noted trial attorneys that has conducted more than 5,000 depositions. For many clients, your depositions are their only day in court. Make every question count! Learn techniques used by the best trial lawyers to get the most out of every deposition.

Wage and hour collective and class litigation continues to dominate employment-related lawsuit filings in federal court in Florida, similar to its red hot status around the country and in large states, like California.  Despite nearly two decades of such litigation activity and increasing employer sophistication with compliance, new and novel issues continue to emerge in terms of litigation and compliance, presenting challenges for even seasoned employment law practitioners, corporate counsel and human resources personnel.  The consistently changing legal landscape of wage and hour litigation requires that counsel for employees and employers alike keep abreast of the most recent developments in the law.  Hot issues include the growing focus on exemptions for commissioned employees working in retail or service establishments (the so-called 7(i) exemption), developments in who is an employee versus an independent contractor, and who employs such workers, and continued evolution in the understanding of tips and tip pooling arrangements.  This program will provide participants with an update on these developments and advice on litigation and compliance, a view on wage and hour issues from the California perspective, where any multi-state employer must remain up-to-date, and insights on settling collective and class actions given the evolving and increasingly active role of the judiciary in managing the resolution of these claims. The program is co-chaired by Loren Donnell of Burr & Smith, LLP and Reed Russell of Phelps Dunbar, LLP.

The most significant trade secret reform in decades is about to become law. The Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (DTSA) will modernize and strengthen trade secret law and address a number of issues that trade secret owners commonly encountered under current laws.. Because trade secrets are a fundamental building block of California’s and the U.S. economy that help drive investment, innovation and economic growth, trade secret litigation and employee mobility cases are the hottest areas of intellectual property and employment litigation. Employees are getting laid off in record numbers, more and more senior level executives and employees are leaving one company to start or join a direct competitor. This program will provide participants with advice on how to protect company trade secrets, guard against employee raids, recruit from competitors without getting sued, and deal with the important issues that arise when employees leave to compete with their former employers.

The most significant trade secret reform in decades is about to become law. The Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (DTSA) will modernize and strengthen trade secret law and address a number of issues that trade secret owners commonly encountered under current laws.. Because trade secrets are a fundamental building block of California’s and the U.S. economy that help drive investment, innovation and economic growth, trade secret litigation and employee mobility cases are the hottest areas of intellectual property and employment litigation. Employees are getting laid off in record numbers, more and more senior level executives and employees are leaving one company to start or join a direct competitor. This program will provide participants with advice on how to protect company trade secrets, guard against employee raids, recruit from competitors without getting sued, and deal with the important issues that arise when employees leave to compete with their former employers.

Jurors are telling you how to win cases! If you know how to listen, you can use juror attitudes and beliefs to shape your case, your delivery and even your courtroom demeanor for maximum impact. The faculty for this program has over 10,000 hours in the courtroom trying cases. This seminar is designed for Attorneys and those Involved in Civil or Criminal Law. Everything from jury selection to reactions to attorneys and witnesses to jury deliberations will be discussed with a focus upon practical strategies for dealing with the realities of the juror decision-making process. Learn techniques used by the best trial lawyers to get the the best results - when it matters most.