Program Chair:

Margaret Kurlinski
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
Milwaukee

Moderator/Speaker:

Erin (Maggie) M. Cook
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
Milwaukee

Speakers:

Makena K. Felten
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
Milwaukee

Josh Johanningmeier
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
Milwaukee

Rebeca M. Lopez
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
Milwaukee

Aaron P. McCann
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
Milwaukee

Theresa Correa McMichen
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
Milwaukee

Ashley E. McNulty
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
Milwaukee

Katheryn (Katie) Mills Ybarra
Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.
Milwaukee

8:30 a.m. From RV to CLE, When Cousin Eddy Turns Up as Your Auditor

What happens when your friendly “holiday visitor” is actually there to comb through your payroll records? Join us for a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud session that uses the unforgettable antics of Cousin Eddy from National Lampoon’s Vacation to reveal the dos and don’ts of wage and hour audits. You’ll learn how to get your compliance house in order before the doorbell rings, how to handle an audit without losing your cool, and the easy-to-miss mistakes that can turn a routine review into a full-blown investigation.

Rebeca M. Lopez, Aaron P. McCann, Ashley E. McNulty

9:30 a.m. Sleigh What?! Certification and Settlement for Collective Action

FLSA collective actions aren’t your average sleigh ride. This session covers key developments in conditional certification, decertification tactics, and settlement strategy — all wrapped in the procedural twists that make these cases high-risk and high-reward. Because nothing ruins a holiday party like a poorly timed opt-in notice.

Erin (Maggie) M. Cook, Josh Johanningmeier, Theresa Correa McMichen

10:20 a.m. Break

10:35 a.m. The Ghost of Lawsuits Past

Like Scrooge’s journey through Christmases gone by, this session will guide you through the shadows of recent wage and hour cases where employers’ past decisions came back to haunt them. Paired with real-world audit findings, these cautionary tales reveal the most common pay practice gaps—from tricky misclassification traps to hidden off-the-clock work. Learn from others’ costly mistakes and keep your compliance record off the DOL’s naughty list.

Makena K. Felten, Katheryn (Katie) Mills Ybarra

11:15 a.m. Program Concludes

• Get a stronger handle on wage and hour compliance
• Pick up practical, practitioner-tested strategies you can apply to audits and litigation
• Recognize and address red flags before they escalate into costly investigations
• Deliver better advice to clients on wage and hour risks and responsibilities
• Boost your skills in handling collective action certification issues
• Come away with memorable examples that help simplify complex concepts
• Keep your clients clear of DOL scrutiny

• Labor and employment lawyers
• Wage and hour lawyers
• Employee benefits lawyers
• General practitioners
• Human resources professionals

Book Bonus!

Wisconsin Employment Law
Save 15% on the Wisconsin Employment Law.* It’s the most comprehensive source on Wisconsin law governing private-sector nonunion employment, presenting perspectives from both management and employee advocates. Use discount code CA3898 when you order online or by calling (800) 728-7788.

*Discount applies to both print and digital Books UnBound editions of this title and cannot be applied to previous purchases. Offer valid through 12/31/26. For Books UnBound users, discount may be applied to purchase of individual Books UnBound title only and may not be used on the purchase of libraries. Discount cannot be combined with any other offers.