On the Rise Again: Understanding the Impacts of the Labor & Unionization Movements

Julianna Orgel-Eaton is a divisional General Counsel at Ziff Davis, a leading public digital media portfolio company. With over nine years of experience at Ziff Davis, she oversees legal matters across three dynamic divisions: Connectivity, Gaming and Entertainment, and Technology and Shopping. In this role, Julianna provides strategic legal guidance to support the company's diverse portfolio and drive compliance with legal requirements in the fast-evolving digital landscape.

Prior to joining Ziff Davis, Julianna practiced law at a law firm in White Plains, New York, where she specialized in managing intellectual property portfolios for clients. Her expertise included tackling trademark and trade dress infringement cases and collaborating closely with Customs and Border Protection to protect clients' intellectual assets.

With 13 years of legal experience and a deep understanding of the complexities of digital media, Julianna is dedicated to fostering innovation while ensuring legal and ethical integrity within the industry. She holds a J.D. from the University of Maine and is eager to share insights on navigating legal challenges in the digital era.

Abid M. Hossain serves as Chief Labor & Employment Counsel to the New York City Council. In this role, he provides legal guidance and support to the City Council in relation to a wide range of internal labor and employment-related issues, including potential employment actions and internal investigations; collective bargaining and labor-management discussions; and workplace policies and training, among other things. Prior to joining the City Council's Office of the General Counsel in 2015 as an Assistant General Counsel, Abid served as an attorney at the New York State Division of Human Rights. Abid has a J.D. from NYU School of Law and a B.A. from Binghamton University.

Beth Norton is the General Counsel of the United Federation of Teachers. As General Counsel, Ms. Norton is responsible for all legal matters involving the UFT, including not only issues directly related to its membership such as negotiations with the Department of Education and the New York City Office of Labor Relations, contract interpretation, and advocating for members’ contractual and statutory rights; but also internal union affairs such as advising the President and other elected officers on policy implications, representing the UFT as an entity, and general legal operations.

Howard has a lengthy and vast history of representing employers in all aspects of employment and labor matters. He is well-versed in his clients' HR needs, with a proven track record of mitigating risk for clients and limiting their exposure to potentially costly claims.

Howard‘s risk-management approach has assisted employers in creating "virtual" human resources departments, reviewing and drafting personnel policies and procedures, implementing management and supervisor training, creating NLRB-compliant social media policies, and implementing COVID-19 workplace protocols.

He advises clients on a variety of workplace issues, and has represented employers when necessary in both federal and state courts on matters including, discipline and discharge matters, discrimination and harassment claims, wage and hour disputes, labor and employment ramifications of mergers and acquisitions, severance and retention packages, and arbitrations.

Howard's experience also includes navigating company downsizings and mergers and acquisitions.

He also presents and writes frequently about labor and employment law topics, staying abreast of the latest trends that impact his peers and clients.

Howard's represents clients across a variety of industries, including Insurance, Entertainment, Health Care, Finance, Manufacturing, and Not-for-Profit organizations (outside counsel).