In This Issue
 From time to time, I get asked why I belong to the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. As a union-side labor lawyer, my answer is probably not the same as for many of you. Unlike management attorneys, my clients don’t particularly care whether or not I am a member of the College. The marketing value which many management lawyers find in College membership largely does not exist for union-side attorneys.
I have asked my fellow officers – David Borgen, Alan Symonette and Arlene Steinfield – each of whom comes from a different constituency – to join with me in telling you why we belong to the College. Over the next several months, their thoughts on the subject will appear in this space. In this issue, it is my turn to tell you why a seventy-one-year-old Union lawyer from Detroit – inducted into the College fourteen years ago in 2005 – still belongs to the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.
Let me start with the two reasons pictured above – Ted St. Antoine and Kendall Williams – one of whom most of you probably know and the other of whom, most do not. Most of you know Ted St. Antoine as the James E. and Sarah A. Degan Professor of Law Emeritus at the University of Michigan Law School or as a respected labor arbitrator. He is also an Emeritus Fellow of the College. Those of you who know him well also know that Ted is emblematic of a College Fellow: he is not only a model of civility but to call him “civil” does him a grave injustice. Ted is the epitome of what every College Fellow should be, one whose reputation is built on his elegance, equanimity and good manners, as well as his remarkable intellect.
Let me turn to my good friend, Kendall Williams, whom most of you do not know. For three years in the late 70's, Kendall and I practiced together at a small, Union-side firm representing affiliates of the Michigan Education Association. As a result of that early, formative experience, Kendall and I developed the kind of bond that only those of you who remember your days as an associate in the bowels of a busy, private practice can appreciate. Unfortunately for me--fortunately for Kendall--he returned to his hometown of Flint, Michigan in 1980, switched sides, and over the course of the last forty years, has developed the most successful management-side labor firm in that city, or its environs. He has also done so with the kind of quiet dignity and aplomb that would make his old law school professor proud. Last year, Kendall was inducted into the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and I was proud to be one of his nominators.
It is the opportunity to spend time with labor lawyers like these which drew me to the College in 2005 and keeps me here today. But they are not the only ones: David Borgen, Nancy Bornn, Norman Brand, Tom Brooks, David Cashdan, Barb D’Aquila, Homer Deakins, Lynn Deitch, Lori Ecker, Alan Epstein, Jean Kamp, William Kilberg, Katharine Kores, Martin Malin, Debra Millenson, Lisa Moss, Cynthia Nance, Luella Nelson, Michael Posner, Jon Rosen, John Sands, Donald Sapir, Bernie Siebert, Donald Slesnick, Arlene Steinfield, Alan Symonette, Gwynne Wilcox, Pete Zinober and Pearl Zuchlewski. These are the past and present Governors of the College with whom I have had the privilege of serving over the past eight years.
When I am asked why I belong to the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, I think of Ted and Kendall and the Governors whom I met through the College and with whom I have served. I also think of the late Dick Mittenthal with whom I was inducted in 2005, he as an Honorary Fellow. I think of all those with whom I served over the years on the Sixth Circuit Credentials Committee, including my good friend, Kathy Bogas and our Immediate Past President, Lynne Deitch. I think of Susan Wan and Jen Motley – our incredible staff – who like many of you, labor behind the scenes to make the College an organization in which we can all take pride. That’s why I belong to the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.
John R. Runyan, Jr.
President
We are so fortunate to be returning to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans to celebrate with the Class of 2019 and join with Fellows, their guests and our newest inductees at the 24th Annual Induction Dinner on Saturday November 9, 2019.
Since our last visit in 2013, the Museum has continued its development and expansion on the second and third floors of the Louisiana Memorial Pavilion with the Arsenal of Democracy exhibit and the revamped D-Day Invasion Galleries. The awe-inspiring displays in the US Freedom Pavilion, of WWII aircraft and war machines, will be the backdrop once again for our dinner and Induction ceremony. In addition, we will welcome back the Victory Bells for another outstanding performance.
One final exciting twist and announcement, The National WWII Museum now boasts a beautiful brand-new hotel located just across the street. The Higgins Hotel will open to the public in October of 2019 and we have secured a room block for our guests.
A link to a map of the museum campus can be accessed here, and the link to the College’s room block at the Higgins Hotel will be available in the next six weeks. Additional hotel choices, including the ABA Section host hotel, will be listed there as well as soon as we have this information.
Formal invitations to the Induction Dinner will be mailed the end of August. Please contact Jen Motley at 410-972-4712 or jmotley@laborandemploymentcollege.org with any questions.
As discussed in February’s newsletter, the Board approved the Strategic Plan and has started implementing some of the initiatives therein. All four pillars of the plan, Promotion of the College, Civility, Education, and New Directions, touch on regional activity and the promotion of activity at the regional level. The first step of the Board Regional Activity Committee (BRAC) was to identify the regions and then to appoint Fellows to serve on those committees. Board members serving on the BRAC will work with the various regions to establish programs where there are none now, and assist regions that are already active with their ongoing efforts.
The consensus was to continue using the Federal Court structure as the format for regional activity and involvement, similar to the way we manage the Circuit Credentials Committees. Those committees have now been formed and are starting to work on regional events. We expect there will be programming in all circuits within the next twelve months. Since some circuits have a high concentration of Fellows and some do not, all regions have been encouraged to work as they are comfortable, either within their state, with a close by state, with the whole circuit, or with another circuit.
Two overriding principles of the Plan were to promote collaboration among constituencies and to provide opportunities for our Fellows to benefit from increased personal involvement in the College. There are a number of opportunities for Fellows to do this on a more local level. Whether through panel discussions and CLE programs, law student mentoring programs or ethics programs for government attorneys or simply gathering to socialize and discuss current events in your area, there are many ways to be involved and to experience the value of membership. In addition to the upcoming events in the next month (mentioned below), there are multiple programs being planned, including the annual 7th Circuit Law Student Program, the 7th Circuit Ethics Program for Government Attorneys, a newly organized 1st Circuit Law Student Program and a panel discussion and dinner in Los Angeles.
The Strategic Plan provides numerous and diverse opportunities for our Fellows to become more involved in the College in meaningful ways. Active participation from as many of our Fellows as possible is important if this effort is to truly succeed. We urge you to consider what areas fit with your particular interests and notify either Susan Wan or a member of the Board so you can get involved. The Strategic Plan can be found on the website here.
2nd Circuit Regional Meeting (with Northern New Jersey): May 14, 2019 from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Dinner and panel discussion on sexual harassment, the #MeToo Movement and recent State and City mandates for workplace sexual harassment training. Information on the exact location (in midtown Manhattan) for this event, as well as the speakers, will be shared soon. Mark your calendars now!
CLEL and National Academy of Arbitrators will co-sponsor a program just prior to the start of this year's NAA’s Annual Meeting entitled Wage and Hour Disputes: What Arbitrators and Mediators Need to Know on May 29, 2019 from 1:30 to 4:30 pm at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel. Please see attached flyer for registration information.
9th Circuit North Regional Meeting: May 30, 2019 starting at 5:30. Reception and panel discussion will take place in San Francisco at the offices of Ogletree Deakins, One Market Square, Steuart Tower, Suite 1300, followed by dinner at Perry’s Restaurant. Details can be found on the attached program announcement here. Please contact Jen Motley to rsvp.
Papers for the CLEL/ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law’s 2018-2019 Writing Competition for Law Students are now being accepted. Fellows who are adjunct professors at accredited law schools are encouraged to distribute, discuss, and promote this wonderful opportunity with their students. View the complete announcement and rules for this year’s competition, which can be found on the CLEL website, here.
Entries should address aspects of public or private sector labor and/or employment law relevant to the American labor and employment bar. Prizes awarded by the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers include: First Place: $3000, Second Place: $1000, Third Place: $500. The first-place article will also be considered for publication in the ABA Journal of Labor & Employment Law, and its author will be a guest at the annual CLE program of the ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law and honored at the Annual Induction Dinner of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. Deadline for papers is June 15, 2019. Please contact Susan Wan if you have any questions.
 The College, along with the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Section, jointly sponsored a program for Newark Rutgers and Seton Hall law students on April 8th. Forty students attended this inaugural event making for a wonderful evening! Students enjoyed a thought-provoking discussion between three Superior Court Judges - Hon. Melvin Gelade, an Honorary Fellow of the College, Hon. Sheree Pitchford, and Hon. Marysol Roseles (pictured above) - who spoke on ethics, professionalism and civility. Fellows Susan Sangillo Bellifemine, Maureen Binetti, and Rosemary Gousman addressed the impact of #MeToo and Black Lives Matter on their practices and the development of law. Fellow Lisa Manshel introduced that panel and welcomed everyone on behalf of the NJSBA Labor and Employment Law Section. A big thank you to Fellows John Sands, former CLEL President, and David Lopez (seen in the second photo), the Rutgers Newark Law School Dean, for their help in organizing the event and to Fellow Ian Meklinsky whose firm, Fox Rothschild, supported the catered dinner offered to students after the program. Thanks also to Fellows David Leach and J.J. Pearson for showing their support and attending the program.
•   Fellow Angelo Genova (pictured left) was named to the New Jersey 2019 Super Lawyers list of Top 10 Lawyers and Top 100 Lawyers.
• Fellow Charles Thompson (pictured right) has joined the San Francisco office of Greenberg Traurig as a Shareholder in the firm’s Labor & Employment practice. He will continue to focus his practice on employment litigation and counseling clients through all phases of class actions and single-plaintiff cases. He has also been appointed to serve on the Executive Committee of the Justice & Diversity Center of The Bar Association of San Francisco.
The College mourns the recent passing of Fellows Robert Connerton, Hal Coxson and William Saxton.
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Fellow Robert J. Connerton, a member of the inaugural Class of 1996, passed away on March 18, 2019 at the age of 92. A graduate of George Washington University Law School (1952), Mr. Connerton began his legal career in the Solicitor's Office of the US Department of Labor, which ultimately led to a career as a union attorney that spanned over 50 years. In 1953, he joined the labor movement as Assistant General Counsel for Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA), and in 1964, he was named LIUNA General Counsel, serving in that capacity until 1995. He also held many positions with the ABA’s Labor & Employment Law Section, including serving as its Chairman for the 1980-81 term. Mr. Connerton is survived by his wife, and Fellow, Phillis Payne (inducted in 1999), three daughters, four grandchildren and one great grandchild. Remembrances in his honor may be made to the Terence J. O'Sullivan LIUNA Charitable Foundation, 905 16th Street, NW, Washington DC 20006; the Labor Heritage Foundation (laborheritage.org) or the Sibley Hospital Foundation (Club Memory), 5255 Loughboro Road, NW, Washington, DC 20016. His obituary can be read here.
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Fellow Harold (Hal) Coxson, Jr., inducted in the Class of 2007, passed away on April 19th at the age of 71. Hal was an enthusiastic member of the College who participated in and helped organize a number of regional programming events in Washington, DC and as part of the 11th Circuit Regional Program in Coral Gables, FL. A highly respected leader in the labor and employment law community for more than forty years, he started the governmental affairs practice at Ogletree Deakins, and worked tirelessly on behalf of employers’ interests since that time. He was a true Washington insider, and his depth of knowledge and relationships on the Hill and at agencies were a great asset to his firm and clients. Hal was respected by those on both sides of the aisle. He was kind and thoughtful and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. A memorial will take place at 3:00 pm on Saturday, May 11th at The Little Sanctuary, St. Albans School, 3101 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. A reception will follow at St. Albans in the Cafritz Refectory.
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Emeritus Fellow William Saxton passed away on April 15th at the age of 92. All who were fortunate enough to be his colleague or his “worthy friend” will remember Bill’s warm and genuine smile, his sense of humor, and his no-nonsense approach to law and to life. Bill spent his entire legal career at Butzel Long in Detroit, Michigan, leading the firm as it grew to prominence as Managing Partner, Director, Chairman and CEO. A lion of Michigan’s Labor and Employment Law bar, Bill was the second recipient (and first management-side recipient) to receive the State Bar of Michigan Labor Section’s Distinguished Service Award. Inducted into the College in 1996, he was also an elected Fellow of the College of American Trial Lawyers, a Life Member of the Michigan Bar Foundation, and a member of the American Law Institute. As an arbitrator, mediator, trial lawyer, and appellate advocate, he helped to develop labor and employment law in all of those roles during a career that spanned more than fifty years. His obituary can be read here.
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Members of the College strive to promote achievement, advancement and excellence in the practice of labor and employment law. These Fellows distinguished themselves as leaders in the field, and the College was proud to have been able to call them Fellows.
Fellows are encouraged to include the College logo on their website or as part of their email signature block. Two different formats are available for download - .jpg or .eps. Please contact Susan Wan if you would like a logo file in a different format.
Download jpg File Download eps File
The College of Labor & Employment Lawyers
1997 Annapolis Exchange Parkway
Suite 300
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 972-4711 Telephone
(410) 972-4701 Fax
www.laborandemploymentcollege.org
The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, Inc.
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