Executive Director, Restaurant Law Center

Angelo Amador is Executive Director of the Restaurant Law Center. He also serves as Senior Vice President of Legal Advocacy and Regulatory Counsel for the National Restaurant Association.

Amador serves as chief litigation officer for the Association, prioritizing legal matters to be pursued through amicus briefs or first party litigation. He also represents the Association’s interests by advocating before regulatory agencies; testifying at public hearings; drafting and filing regulatory comments; and, when necessary, recommending and managing legal challenges.

Prior to his current role, Amador was vice president of labor and workforce policy. He was  responsible for working with the business community to develop the restaurant industry’s position on labor, health care, immigration, education and other issues affecting the benefits, availability and quality of the workforce. He advocated on behalf of the Association and its members before Congress and the executive branch.

Before joining the National Restaurant Association, Amador served as an executive director in the Labor, Immigration and Employee Benefits Division of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. At the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, he had responsibility for workforce issues, global migration, and travel/border policy. Previously, he was in private practice and served as law clerk to the Hon. David T. Stitt, judge in the 19th Judicial Circuit of Virginia. Prior to his clerkship, he worked in Washington, D.C., for the governor of Puerto Rico as assistant director/legislative counsel and as staff attorney for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Amador has been an adjunct professor of law at the George Mason University School of Law, and served on the faculty of the Virginia Beach Law Enforcement Training Academy. He is fluent in German, Spanish, English and Portuguese and is a member of both the Virginia State Bar and the District of Columbia Bar.

Amador is a graduate of the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland and obtained a Master of Arts in international transactions from George Mason University. He graduated cum laude from his Juris Doctor at George Mason University School of Law and with distinction from his Master of Laws in International and Comparative Law from the Georgetown University Law Center, where he received the Thomas Bradbury Chetwood Award for graduating with the highest academic ranking in his program.
 

Shareholder, Ogletree Deakins, PC – Dallas

Jana Baker represents employers on all matters impacting their employees under federal and state labor and employment laws, including compliance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).   Ms. Baker oversees investigations, handles charges of discrimination, harassment and retaliation, and defends any ensuing litigation in state and federal court.

Ms. Baker also advises clients on a regular basis before litigation ever occurs, handling employment disputes and managing day-to-day employee issues.  For example, she provides counsel regarding leaves of absence, the accommodation of disabilities, preparation and implementation of employment policies, advice on employee separations, and the preparation and interpretation of employment agreements, including covenants not to compete and solicit.

Ms. Baker has litigated all forms of discrimination in federal and state court.  In addition to her litigation practice, she regularly reviews and revises employee handbooks and policies for compliance with federal and state laws, and oversees general labor representation.  Ms. Baker regularly conducts training for clients and presents on various topics, including the ADA, investigations and harassment prevention.
 

Shareholder, Ogletree Deakins, PC – Seattle

Mr. Byergo is the managing shareholder of the Seattle office and chair of the firm’s national collective bargaining practice subgroup.  He has more than 25 years of experience representing and advising management in labor and employment matters, and has been honored by publications such as Best Lawyers, Chambers USA, and Super Lawyers.

Mr. Byergo handles a full range of traditional labor relations matters, including collective bargaining and strike preparation, representation campaigns, corporate campaigns,  and labor arbitration and unfair labor practice proceedings.  His practice is national in scope and he has handled representation and unfair labor practice matters arising in two-thirds of NLRB’s Regional Offices.  His experience includes representing management in over 200 labor arbitrations, covering issues ranging from strike and bargaining disputes, to subcontracting and mass layoffs, to discipline and discharge cases.  He has served as chief negotiator for management in scores of collective bargaining negotiations, and successfully advised management in union representation campaigns covering as many as 1800 employees in locations from Alaska to the Virgin Islands.

Mr. Byergo is also a senior trial lawyer and maintains an active employment litigation docket.  Recent successes include obtaining defense verdicts in jury trials alleging sex, race, disability and retaliation claims; appellate decisions affirming summary judgment in sex harassment, disability, ERISA and USERRA claims; and summary judgment in a variety of race, sex, age, and disability discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims under Title VII, the ADA, and the ADEA.  He also has extensive experience successfully representing employers in executive termination, non-compete and unfair competition disputes.

Mr. Byergo began his legal career in Chicago, and then served in lead labor relations and legal roles for a national retailer and a national telecommunications company.  He previously practiced in our firm’s Kansas City office which he helped open in 2005, and continues to be available to serve a select group of clients in the region.
 

Partner, Baker & Hostetler, LLP – Orlando

Joyce Ackerbaum Cox is an experienced employment litigator and adviser, focusing her practice on the management side of employment law matters for clients in all industries, with a particular focus on the hospitality, restaurant, healthcare and energy sectors. With a deep understanding of her clients’ businesses, she advises on the application of solutions in their day-to-day functions for maximizing positive results. Joyce defends employers involved in discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims, wage and hour compliance, and disability/leave issues, including those brought as a class/collective action. Additionally, she handles matters regarding accessibility compliance under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). She also provides training, investigates complaints and counsels employers in all aspects of personnel matters, including the ADA/FMLA; hiring, performance and termination/layoff issues; and the development of employee handbooks and policies.

Joyce serves as a co-chair of the firm’s national Noncompete and Trade Secrets team, providing guidance on employee movement issues, litigating claims concerning violations of noncompete and employment agreements and misappropriation of trade secrets, and assisting in the development of strategies designed to protect competitive elements. Further, she advises on and prepares all types of employment contracts, including executive contracts. Joyce is also a member of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
 

Member of the Firm, Epstein Becker & Green, PC – Washington, DC

Paul DeCamp is a Member of the Firm in the Employment, Labor & Workforce Management practice, in the Washington, DC, office of Epstein Becker Green. He is Co-Chair of the firm’s national Wage and Hour practice group. A former Administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) Wage and Hour Division, Mr. DeCamp has more than two decades of experience representing employers and trade associations in the most complex and challenging wage and hour litigations, government investigations, and counseling matters.

Additionally, Mr. DeCamp has served as lead counsel in class and collective actions across the country. His work spans a broad range of industries, including aerospace, financial services, gaming, health care, hospitality, manufacturing, restaurants, retail, and transportation, as well as many others.

Appointed as Wage and Hour Administrator by the President of the United States in 2006, Mr. DeCamp was the chief federal officer responsible for interpreting and enforcing the nation’s wage and hour laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and a variety of prevailing wage statutes affecting government contractors. Most recently, Mr. DeCamp was a partner at a labor and employment law firm, where he served as National Chair of its Wage and Hour practice for eight years.

Mr. DeCamp’s services include:

• Representing employers in wage and hour matters, including complex litigation (class, collective, and hybrid actions)
• Defending clients in wage and hour investigations by federal and state agencies
• Conducting preventive compliance reviews to evaluate current policies, practices, and procedures
• Addressing wage and hour concerns that arise in corporate transactions
• Providing day-to-day advice and counsel on matters ranging from discrete questions involving a single employee to nationwide evaluations affecting thousands of workers and on such issues as exempt/nonexempt classification; salary basis issues, including permissible deductions; measuring working time; regular rate calculations for premium overtime pay; determining proper pay and duties for tipped employees; complying with state laws concerning meal and rest periods; and independent contractor status
• Developing strategies for change management to capitalize on opportunities to improve compliance while minimizing associated risks

A sought-after speaker at conferences nationwide, Mr. DeCamp has testified before Congress several times on a variety of wage and hour issues, most recently at the hearing, “Combatting Wage Theft: The Critical Role of Wage and Hour Enforcement.” In addition, he has written numerous articles, white papers, and book chapters. His commentary has appeared extensively on NPR and in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Politico, Daily Labor Report, Employment Law360, and Employment Law Daily.

Mr. DeCamp’s professional accolades include recognition by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, The Best Lawyers in America ©, and The Legal 500 United States, as well as inclusion on the Washington DC Super Lawyers and Virginia Super Lawyers lists.

After graduating from law school, Mr. DeCamp clerked for the Honorable Alan E. Norris of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
 

Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, Brinker International

Chris Green is Vice President and Assistant General Counsel for Brinker International, the parent company of Chili’s and Maggiano’s restaurants. Chris advises all operations-facing business units with a particular emphasis on employee relations and litigation. Chris also oversees liquor licensing, contract management, regulatory filings, and general corporate ethics and compliance matters, and serves on the company’s crisis response team, savings plan committee, and as the Assistant Secretary to the Compensation and Governance & Nominating committees of the Board of Directors.

Prior to joining Brinker in 2014, Chris worked as a Trial Attorney in the Regional Solicitor’s Office of the US Department of Labor, representing the Secretary of Labor and DOL agencies in various enforcement actions. Chris has also worked in private practice, gaining many unique perspectives from working in small, mid-size, and large firms while representing a diverse client base ranging from individual plaintiffs to large corporate defendants.

Chris received a J.D. from the University of Kansas in 2001 and a B.S. in Business Management and International Studies, cum laude, from Kansas State University in 1998.
 

General Counsel, P.F. Chang’s | Secretary, Restaurant Law Center Board of Directors

Lisa Gressel is an active Member and serves as Secretary of the Restaurant Law Center Board of Directors. She joined P.F. Chang’s in October 2016 where she is General Counsel and Chief Human Resources Officer, managing all legal, licensing, risk and HR activities for the Company.  Lisa has a deep level of experience handling complex legal, risk, compliance, and policy issues at publicly-traded and private companies.  Prior to joining P.F. Chang’s, Lisa developed and managed the compliance and enterprise risk management programs at PetSmart.  Lisa has also held positions as Deputy General Counsel of GE Aircraft Engines, SVP & General Counsel of L-3 Communications Integrated Systems, General Counsel of Avella Specialty Pharmacy and EaglePicher Technologies, and Chief Compliance Officer of Nortel Networks in Toronto.  Lisa teaches a masters of law class in Enterprise Risk Management at Sandra Day O’Connor Law School at Arizona State University and is a frequent lecturer on Global Compliance & Ethics programs. She is experienced in partnering with Boards, senior management, and business managers in developing legal, risk and compliance programs to best meet the needs of the organization and advance its business objectives.  Lisa has a B.A. in Economics and a J.D.
 

Vice President, Human Resources, Chuy’s Holdings, Inc.

Marcia Williams is the Vice President of Human Resources for Chuy’s Restaurants and has been with Chuy’s since 1993.  She is a member of the leadership team which has led the restaurant company’s growth from eight restaurants in 2008 to over 100 restaurants in 2019.  Chuy’s became publicly traded in 2012 (CHUY) and currently employs about 10,000 employees in 19 states.

Ms. Williams oversees recruitment, hiring, benefits, payroll, risk and insurance, employee relations; training in HR related topics and legal / labor law issues.  She is proud to have been a recipient of the annual Chuy’s Founder’s Award in 2010.

Partner, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP – Portland | Chair, National Restaurant Industry Practice Group

Riley founded and chairs DWT’s national restaurant industry practice group and is considered a leading business and legal force in the United States restaurant industry. He represents many of the nation’s most recognized brands and culinary talent and has significant experience with financing transactions of all types, including private equity, family office, and high net worth individuals. He is also known nationally for his development acumen and connections and assists many concepts with navigating traditional and non-traditional development strategies, including franchises, joint ventures, licenses, and management agreements.

He leads approximately 60 professionals on DWT’s restaurant team, which he specifically formed due to his many years as a restaurant employee, manager, and owner in Los Angeles prior to entering the practice of law. He collaborates extensively with restaurant leaders and elected officials around the United States on forward-thinking food policy initiatives.

As the creator and driving force behind the not-for-profit and invitation-only Restaurant High business, leadership, and advocacy summit, Riley galvanizes industry leaders through a day of education, networking, and fun with many of the most influential minds in the business.
 

Shareholder, Littler Mendelson, PC – San Francisco & Washington, DC

As co-chair of Littler’s Workplace Policy Institute (WPI), Michael Lotito strategically advises clients and policy makers on what labor and employment law might become, not just what it is today. He provides counsel in all aspects of traditional labor relations, including matters arising under the National Labor Relations Act.

A nationally recognized thought leader on workplace policy, Michael has testified before the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, as well as the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). In his WPI role, he advocates on behalf of the employer community on a variety of issues, regularly files amicus briefs on vital workplace policy concerns and has led the management community in opposition to the federal persuader rule, which would destroy confidentiality between lawyers and their clients.

Through the Emma Coalition, a project Michael co-founded and named in honor of his granddaughter, he is at the vanguard in preparing American business and the American workforce for the future of work. As technology, especially robotics and artificial intelligence, creates not only unprecedented displacement but also unprecedented opportunities, the Emma Coalition, in cooperation with government and corporate entities, examines what skills the American workforce will need down the road and makes sure America and its people will remain competitive in the years to come.

As part of this work, Michael has coauthored a widely read report summarizing what the future workforce can expect and how America can prepare.

Michael represents leading global companies on strategic issues impacting their workplaces, including the intersection of U.S. and international labor standards. He speaks throughout the world to management groups, sharing his passion for the development and implementation of workplace regulations that balance the legitimate needs of businesses, their workforce and society at large.

He is labor counsel to the International Franchise Association, the National Association of Manufactures’ legal compliance program, the Job Creators Network and a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s labor and employment law litigation committee.

Human Resource Executive magazine has inducted Michael into its Hall of Fame of the Nation’s Most Powerful Employment Attorneys. The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers has elected him a fellow. Awarded an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell, Michael is frequently quoted by the media, including Bloomberg BNA, Law360, Forbes, Politico, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Fox Business Network and The Hill, among others. He maintains a significant social media presence and can be followed on LinkedIn and Twitter.

The Villanova University Graduate School of Human Resources named him HR Alumnus of the 20th Century.
 

General Counsel, TAO Group Hospitality

Steve Lugerner, recently named General Counsel of TAO Group Hospitality, had served as Vice President of Legal & Business Affairs since February 2018. TAO Group Hospitality develops, owns and operates many of the world’s most recognized restaurant and entertainment venues under various brands, including TAO, Marquee, Avenue, Lavo, Beauty & Essex, Vandal, PHD, The Highlight Room, and Koma in major markets across the world.  Prior to joining TAO Group, Mr. Lugerner worked at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison as a Corporate Associate in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group.  While at Paul, Weiss, Steve represented the principal owners of TAO Group in its majority sale to The Madison Square Garden Company, which closed in January 2017.  Steve received a B.A. in Political Science from Emory University and a J.D. from Columbia Law School.
 

Shareholder, Ogletree Deakins, PC – Kansas City, MO

Michael Matula is a shareholder in the firm’s Kansas City office. Mike concentrates his practice in the areas of employment litigation and counseling. He has represented employers in a wide variety of employment matters including discrimination, retaliation, harassment and wrongful discharge cases, non-competition/trade secrets disputes, and EEOC administrative proceedings. Mike, who has been given an AV Martindale-Hubbell rating, also has significant experience in commercial, tort, and insurance litigation, and continues to handle select matters in those areas. Mike also represents attorneys in disciplinary proceedings, serves on the firm’s Ethics Committee, was appointed by the Missouri Supreme Court as a Disciplinary Hearing Officer, and is a co-author of the ABA treatise “Professional Responsibility in Litigation.” He is a member of both the firm’s Restrictive Covenants and Trade Secrets Practice Group and its Records Retention And E-Discovery Practice Group.

Chambers USA stated that Mike “has a very accomplished skill set” with “a great reputation for his broad knowledge base” and is regarded as “responsible and flexible.” Mike’s trial experience of more than a dozen jury trials includes a case resulting in the fourth most significant defense verdict in Missouri in 2001, and being part of a trial team in one of the most significant defense verdicts in Missouri in 2006, both as reported by The Missouri Lawyers Weekly. He has argued before both the Eighth and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeal, and taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.

Mike has authored numerous publications including “The Law of Jury Selection in Missouri State Courts,” published in the Journal of the Missouri Bar. Mike has also been selected to speak on a variety of employment law topics, notably being asked by The Federal Judicial Center to speak on employment law issues at the National U.S. Magistrate Judges’ Workshop.
 

Vice President, Public Policy & Legal Advocacy – National Restaurant Association | Deputy Director, Restaurant Law Center

Shannon Meade is vice president of public policy and legal advocacy for the National Restaurant Association. She oversees the Association’s public affairs policy team. She advocates before Congress and the Executive Branch on the Association’s priority issues, including labor, workforce development, immigration, and judiciary issues.

Meade represents the industry on regulatory reform issues critical to the success of the restaurant industry at the federal and state level, including drafting regulatory comments. She is responsible for shaping public policy debates by developing and advancing strategic advocacy campaigns for priority legislative and regulatory issues.

Meade works closely with the Restaurant Law Center in overseeing the planning and strategy of litigation, as well as the planning and execution of the Law Center’s annual Legal Summit. Additionally, she works closely with the Association’s Educational Foundation to advance its apprenticeship program and other workforce development initiatives and programs.

Before the National Restaurant Association, Meade was chief of staff and legislative director to Rep. Kay Granger of Texas and legislative counsel to former Reps. Jon Porter of Nevada and Tom Davis of Virginia.

Meade received her law degree from the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University.
 

Partner, SheppardMullin LLP – Dallas

Jason Mueller is a partner in the Intellectual Property Practice Group in the firm’s Dallas Office.

Jason has tried numerous intellectual property cases to a verdict, including jury trials covering copyrights, trademarks, patents and trade secrets. In doing so he has represented some of the world’s leading entertainment, energy, healthcare and building products companies.

Jason is dedicated to providing responsive and practical advice and counsel to his clients on intellectual property and advertising issues. Beyond the courtroom, Jason has represented clients before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board, defending claims or investigations initiated by the Federal Trade Commission, The Texas Attorney General’s Office, the New York Attorney General’s Office, the Marin County and Stanislaus County (California) Attorneys General.

As lead trial counsel in recent jury cases, Jason has demonstrated leadership and poise in the courtroom resulting in favorable verdicts.

Jason’s courtroom perspective provides a practical background for his advisory and prosecution practice. As an intellectual property specialist, he helps clients develop strategies for the protection of intellectual property rights including strategic counseling on trademark portfolio management, prosecution, and oppositions and cancellation actions before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Jason has substantial experience handling all aspects of advertising and marketing law, including sweepstakes, contests, raffles and other promotions. He has performed regulatory compliance reviews and developed and instituted compliance programs to manage risk related to advertising, social media initiatives, and content management and acquisition. His team reviews national print, radio and television advertising campaigns, and issues opinions relating to the adequacy of claim substantiation. The advertising review team has experience serving as primary, overflow or escalation counsel for the review of advertisements.
 

Member of the Firm, Epstein Becker & Green, PC – Chicago

James J. Oh is a Member of the Firm in the Employment, Labor & Workforce Management practice, in the Chicago office of Epstein Becker Green. He represents employers from various industries, such as insurance and financial services, in employment cases in courts around the country.

Mr. Oh’s experience includes:

• Defending clients in employment litigation alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• Representing clients in wage and hour and discrimination class actions and in high-profile, high-exposure single-plaintiff cases
• Providing counsel on compliance with the laws and regulations affecting the workplace, including wage and hour compliance, discipline and termination, leaves of absence, affirmative action obligations, and unfair competition
• Conducting proactive pay audits and pay equity analyses

Before joining Epstein Becker Green, Mr. Oh was a Shareholder at an international firm devoted to representing management in labor and employment matters. He has published numerous articles and made presentations on a variety of employment law topics, including wage and hour compliance, class action certification, and sexual harassment. He also has given speeches on developments in wage and hour class action law; classifying employees properly under the FLSA; the interplay between the ADA, the FMLA, and workers’ compensation laws; and conducting internal investigations.

Mr. Oh has been chosen by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© (2015 to 2019); selected to the Illinois Super Lawyers list (2005 to 2013 and 2015 to 2019) in the field of Employment & Labor; named a 2014 Rainmaker by Diversity & the Bar Magazine; received the 2012 International Law Office’s Client Choice Award in Employment & Labor; and earned an AV® Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell.
 

Associate, Baker & Hostetler, LLP – Orlando

Ashley Schachter focuses her practice on labor and employment law, representing clients on a wide scope of labor and employment law issues, including employment litigation before administrative agencies and state and federal courts. She also assists clients with drafting employment handbooks and policies. Having experience in the retail and service industries prior to attending law school, Ashley strives to keep client needs and satisfaction at the forefront of her work.

Experience

• Drafts various employer documents, including employment contracts, severance agreements, noncompete and nondisclosure agreements, and employment handbooks and policies.
• Litigates and counsels management on employment law issues concerning Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act and equivalent state statutes.
• Defended a large hospitality client in Florida before federal and state agencies against employees’ administrative charges of discrimination, harassment and retaliation pursuant to various federal and state laws, including Title VII, the ADA and the Florida Civil Rights Act. Investigated numerous such claims, conducted witness interviews and drafted position statements submitted to both federal and state agencies.
• Assisted in the defense of a sexual harassment and sexual orientation-based discrimination case against a large corporate defendant. Provided key research to assist in obtaining a favorable settlement agreement for the corporate defendant.
• Assisted in defending a large religious organization against an appeal from a motion to dismiss granted in the client’s favor. Researched and drafted the appellate brief.
• Served as co-counsel in the defense of an appeal to the Florida Department of Administrative Hearings.

Partner, Baker & Hostetler, LLP – Orlando

Kevin Shaughnessy is a class action litigator who provides high-level consultation to employers on sensitive internal matters and corporate compliance issues. Working primarily with general counsel, C-level executives and human resources professionals, he helps clients avoid the potential negative impact of bet-the-company litigation while concomitantly helping to create and preserve productive working environments. Kevin focuses on each client’s specific needs and develops unique strategies to place his clients in the best light, legally and publicly, while handling litigation and non-litigation matters efficiently and effectively. Clients seek Kevin’s counsel on business and legal issues due to his understanding of corporate missions and operations, and his appreciation of the personal and professional challenges clients face every day.

Kevin is board certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Florida Bar. He is ranked by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, is named in The Best Lawyers in America© and was recently named by Best Lawyers in America as 2017 Lawyer of the Year Orlando, Litigation – Labor and Employment, and is also ranked by The Legal 500 in Labor and Employment Law.