The Labor & Employment Law Student Association (LELA) at the University of Miami School of Law will host its first annual spring symposium on February 18, 2009 in the Alma Jennings Foundation Student Lounge at the Law School from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event will focus on “Working in Labor & Employment Law.”

Practicing attorneys Javier Feitom, Fred Frost, Matthew Sarelson, and Jennifer Taylor Williams have been invited to discuss topics related to employment law with students and other symposium attendees.

Javier Feito is associate counsel at ZIGLAW, where he focuses his practice on transactional matters within the entertainment industry.  Prior to joining ZIGLAW, Feito clerked at a well-known boutique labor law firm, focusing on all employment law related litigation matters. Feito received a B.S. from the University of Miami in 2003 and his J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in 2007.

Fred Frost is currently on his second term as president of South Florida’s AFL-CIO. Frost is often publicized for his participation in politics and zealous advocacy on behalf of labor. As president, Frost is constantly making sure that the interests of labor are being adequately represented in the political and legislative process.

Matthew Sarelson litigated employment matters at the law firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, before going into private practice at Sarelson & Shafir. While at Morgan Lewis, Sarelson defended Fortune 250 companies in employment lawsuits. At Sarelson & Shafir, Sarelson defends both employees and small businesses in employment matters. He was recently selected by his peers as a Florida Trend Magazine “Legal Elite Up and Comer for 2008,” an honor bestowed on the top 150 attorneys under age 40.

Jennifer Taylor Williams is a shareholder at Akerman & Senterfitt. Williams has devoted her entire career to representing employers in labor and employment law litigating cases concerning Title VII, Fair Labor Standards Act, ADEA, and statutory whistleblower actions. Williams also conducts diversity and harassment training and provides consultation and advice to employers regarding personnel issues and policies. Williams has been ranked as “Associate to Watch” in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers to Watch in Business for Florida.

For more information about LELA, visit the LELA website or email umlela@gmail.com.

posted 10-February-2009