ELA Annual Conference, AGM and Dinner 2010

Details

The ELA Annual Conference 2010 is sponsored by

PLC Employment: supporting employment lawyers by providing uniquely practical e-mail updates, standard documents, drafting notes, practice notes and checklists written and continually maintained by our team of experienced employment lawyers.

PLC Employment invites you to sign up for a free trial of their services. Please follow this link

Date: Wednesday 12 May 2010

The conference will begin with a reflective plenary session, with the panelists giving their thoughts and views, and an opportunity for questions and discussion:

“Things can only get better – but can we go on like this?” – reflections on employment law under Labour and thoughts for the future.

Chair: Gareth Brahams, Stewarts Law
Panel:
Robin Allen QC, Cloisters
Sue Ashtiany, Nabarro
Michael Rubenstein, Publisher of Equal Opportunities Review and Editor of IRLR

The rest of the conference will consist of a choice of break out sessions.

After Dinner
We are delighted that Humfrey Malins CBE will give a light hearted after-dinner talk, reminiscing about his Parliamentary times.

Humfrey qualified as a solicitor in 1971 and entered Parliament in 1983. He has served as MP for Woking since 1997 and retires at the general election. He founded the Immigration Advisory Service, is a Deputy District Judge and a Recorder of the Crown Court. During his time as MP for Woking, he was made shadow Home Affairs Minister. He resigned as shadow Minister over Iraq, but was later re-appointed to the front bench until December 2005. His voting record in Parliament suggests considerable independence of mind.

The evening will be rounded off by the ever-popular variety of giant games, including a giant game of scalextric, Nintendo Wii, table football, casino tables, golf putting and indoor target shooting.

This year’s choice break out sessions will include:


The Agency Workers Regulations 2010: equality for agency workers at last?
An analysis and discussion regarding the impact the Regulations will have on the UK labour market.
Speaker: Peter Holt, Field Fisher Waterhouse

The Single Equality Act – a strategic look at the new landscape
Speakers: Professor Aileen McColgan, Matrix Chambers
Sarah Gregory, Baker & McKenzie
 Speakers on the Statutory Codes of Practice:
Joanne Owers, Fox Williams / Marian Bloodworth, Lovells (Employment Code)
Chris Bracebridge, Paul Hastings (Equal Pay Code)

Redundancies through the Credit Crunch: lessons learned
Speaker: Jenny Andrews, DLA Piper
Paul Epstein QC, Cloisters

Industrial Action: practical tips for preparing and planning for strike action
Speakers: Binder Bansel, Pattinson & Brewer
John Evason, Baker & McKenzie

Team Moves - practical tips
The essence of the session will be to share experiences of this area, and in particular, the pressures, tactics and practical issues that arise in advising clients, preparing for injunctive hearings and speedy trials.
Speakers: Dan Ornstein, Proskauer Rose
Tom Croxford, Blackstone Chambers
Fiona Bolton, Eversheds

An exploration of the generational differences in law firms
There are four very different generational groups in the current workforce: matures, Baby Boomers, Gen Xers and Gen Ys. This session seeks to give an outline of each of the generational groups and some of their defining characteristics and points out some of the differences between them. In highlighting the different approaches, styles and aspirations of each generational group, the session will help give an understanding of and offer solutions to the managerial difficulties which can arise as a result of these differences.
Speaker: Viv Du Feu, Capital Law

Managing Difficult Maternity Issues in Practice
Speakers: Jennifer Liston-Smith, Director, People in Progress (formerly Director of Managing Maternity Ltd)
Beverley Sunderland, Crossland Employment Solicitors

Managing Bad Behaviour in the Virtual World
Ellen Temperton and James Davies, Lewis Silkin

Whistleblowing
Andrew Hochhauser QC, Essex Court Chambers
Catherine Callaghan, Blackstone Chambers

The Territorial Scope of UK Employment Law
David Reade QC, Littleton Chambers

Religion and Belief in the Workplace - lessons from recent case law
Helen Mountfield QC, Matrix Chambers

Two Nations Divided by a Common Language? Acting for US clients operating over here, and advising UK clients looking to do business over there. What's similar, what's different ... and where you can really come a cropper!
Philip Berkowitz, Nixon Peabody
Michael Burd, Lewis Silkin
Chair: Richard Fox, Kingsley Napley

ET Confidential
The workshop will focus on issues that arise as regards confidentiality in ET proceedings, including Restricted Reporting Orders, Anonymity Orders, privilege issues and disclosure of confidential information.
David Craig, Essex Court Chambers

Conference times: 9.30am for 10.00am start until 5.15pm
Conference fee: £225 + VAT (no concs)
CPD hours: 5

Dinner times: Reception at 7.30pm, Dinner at 8.00pm
Dinner fee: £50 + VAT (no concs)

Venue: Hilton London Metropole, 225 Edgware Road, London W2 1JU
Venue map

Accommodation
The conference and dinner fees do not include accommodation. We have a small allocation of rooms reserved for ELA members the night before (11 May 2010) and the night of (12 May 2010) the conference and dinner at the Hilton London Metropole.

The booking deadline is 12 April 2010, after which the hotel will release our bedroom allocation.

Single room rate: £149 + VAT (including breakfast)
Double room rate: £159 + VAT (including breakfast)

Please contact the Hilton direct to make your reservation, mentioning that you are with the ELA conference on 12 May by email at reservations.londonmet@hilton.com or by telephone on 020 7616 6570, quoting reference GEMPA.