Registration and Information Desk

Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and the Current Workplace Revolution

Speakers: Michael J. Lotito, Shareholder, Littler Mendelson, PC – San Francisco & Washington, DC, Shannon L. Meade, Vice President, Public Policy & Legal Advocacy – National Restaurant Association | Deputy Director, Restaurant Law Center

America (and the world) is facing the most transformative wave of automation since the height of the Industrial Revolution. The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the development of more nimble robots and cobots are rapidly changing the workplace. TIDE (technologically-induced displacement of employees) makes tens of millions of jobs at risk of fundamental change. Basic human resource strategies for recruitment, training and commitment to life-long workplace learning is central to successful strategies dealing with TIDE.  Policy implications are enormous.  Should workers have a guaranteed income? A life time learning account?  The “right” to portable benefits?  Workplace protections from discrimination even though the person is an independent contractor? The right to engage in collective bargaining even though the workforce does not possess typical “employee” definitions as developed during the 20th century?  Topics covered will include how the AI workplace revolution will impact restaurants and our communities; the kinds of jobs most at risk by TIDE; the positive impact TIDE will have for people with disabilities; policy implications flowing from TIDE; and why restaurants are a central focus of this historic moment in history.

Business Break

What’s New In The Exciting World of Wage and Hour Compliance?

Speakers: Lisa Gressel, General Counsel, P.F. Chang’s, James J. Oh, Member of the Firm, Epstein Becker & Green, PC – Chicago, Paul DeCamp, Member of the Firm, Epstein Becker & Green, PC – Washington, DC

Wage and hour claims against restaurants continue to put pressure on restaurant profits.  Understanding the changes occurring in this space and the types of issues that are generating claims can help to keep your company from having to finance a plaintiff’s lawyer’s third vacation home.  This session will explore topics including the upcoming revisions to the federal overtime exemption and joint employment regulations, management training programs and overtime exemption, the status of the “80/20 Rule,” local minimum and tipped wage increases, and predictive scheduling laws.

Shuttles depart Westin Galleria Dallas for Welcome Reception at Brinker International Headquarters

Meet in hotel lobby

Welcome Reception at Brinker International Headquarters (Offsite Location)

3000 Olympus Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75019

*Shuttle service will be provided

Last Shuttle departs Brinker International Headquarters for Westin Galleria Dallas

Morning Walk/Run

Meet in hotel lobby

Registration and Information Desk

Breakfast

Marketing Wants To Do What? Sweepstakes, Influencers, Loyalty, and Other Advertising and Promotional Fun

Speakers: Jason Mueller, Partner, SheppardMullin LLP – Dallas, Rachel Tarko Hudson, Partner, SheppardMullin LLP – San Francisco

Advertising and promotions questions are a daily topic for the legal department of any consumer brand and restaurants are no exception.  Working with a marketing team is fast-paced and ever-changing—as a lawyer you need to be familiar with both the promotional structures and the legal issues that go along with them.  Jason and Rachel will help bring you up to speed on the following topics:

• Common promotional structures and what to expect when running legal compliance
• Disclosure, registration, and other legal compliance requirements
• Pitfalls and traps and how to avoid them
• Strategies for successfully working with marketing teams on common legal issues

Business Break

In-House Counsel Panel on Influencing, Leading and Inspiring

Speakers: Chris Green, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, Brinker International, Marcia Williams, Vice President, Human Resources , Chuy's Holdings, Inc., Steve Lugerner, General Counsel, TAO Group Hospitality

Moderators: Stephanie L. Adler-Paindiris, Principal, Jackson Lewis, PC – Orlando

Learn from our panel presenters how they handle issues around leadership, moving away from their comfort zones, handling adversity, breaking bad news to their business partners and other day to day leadership challenges in an evolving, hectic industry.

Luncheon

Keynote Session: A View From The States

Speakers: Kyle D. Hawkins, Solicitor General, Texas, Edmund LaCour, Solicitor General, Alabama, Liz Murrill, Solicitor General, Louisiana

Moderators: Angelo Amador, Executive Director, Restaurant Law Center

Join us for an eye-opening Fireside Chat with Solicitor Generals from Texas, Alabama, and Louisiana as they share and discuss the effects that amicus briefs from private sector industry groups, like the Restaurant Law Center, have on their cases.  We’ll also learn how their offices decide which cases – both inside and outside their respective state borders – have enough significance and importance to merit their involvement.

Business Break

Up in Smoke? Dealing with Medical Marijuana and Recreational Marijuana Issues

Speakers: Kevin W. Shaughnessy, Partner, Baker & Hostetler, LLP - Orlando, Joyce Ackerbaum Cox, Partner, Baker & Hostetler, LLP - Orlando, Ashley M. Schachter, Associate, Baker & Hostetler, LLP - Orlando

Presenters will discuss this confusing area of employment law, including conflicts between state and federal laws, ADA concerns, transportation concerns if the restaurant uses delivery services, and trends in case law involving terminations related to marijuana and other developments in this hazy area of the law.

Business Break

Shuttles depart Westin Galleria Dallas for George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum

Meet in hotel lobby

Tour of George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum

2943 SMU Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75205

*Shuttle service will be provided

Join us for a self-guided tour of the permanent and special exhibits at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum! For more information, click here.

Shuttles depart George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum

Shuttles arrive at Westin Galleria Dallas

Open Night: Dinners hosted by Law Firm Partners

Various locations

Restaurant Law Center Board Meeting and Dinner

By Invitation Only

Maggiano’s Little Italy – 205 North Park Center, Dallas, TX 75225

Registration and Information Desk

Breakfast

Navigating Development in a Non-Traditional World

Speakers: Riley Lagesen, Partner, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP - Portland | Chair, National Restaurant Industry Practice Group

Non-traditional venues (airports, casinos, hotels, resorts, university campuses, hospitals and other “captive audience locations”) present exciting and financially rewarding opportunities for restaurant concepts.  It is also a legally complex world with many critical legal issues and considerations.  This session will focus on how brands can best navigate development and mitigate risk in the non-traditional space.

Business Break

Ethical Issues for In-House Lawyers: Privileged Communications, Settlement Negotiations, and Other Common Areas of Concern

Speakers: Jana S. Baker, Shareholder, Ogletree Deakins, PC - Dallas, Anthony B. Byergo, Shareholder, Ogletree Deakins, PC - Seattle, Michael L. Matula, Shareholder, Ogletree Deakins, PC - Kansas City, MO

This will be a fast-paced ethics session with the panel addressing the most common ethical issues for in-house lawyers, including privileged vs. non-privileged communications, the attorney-client relationship, conflicts of interest, and the ethics of settlement negotiations.  We will also discuss the growing ethical issues for in-house lawyers in the 21^st century’s “age of compliance” and whether in-house attorneys should always seek to keep their activities cloaked with privilege.

Announcement of Dates and Location for the Fourth Annual Restaurant Legal Summit

Box lunches to-go available for attendees