Catarina Colón, Husch Blackwell LLP

Catarina collaborates with clients in the multiple industries to help them avoid costly labor and employment litigation and personnel issues. She concentrates much of her practice on the mergers and acquisitions of companies, as well as counseling clients on day-to-day employment matters, including standard policies and employee handbooks, employment agreements, severance agreements, terminations, retention and recruiting practices, disciplinary procedures, and requests for accommodation.

Alongside of her traditional labor and employment work, Catarina is the cofounder of Husch Blackwell’s Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion practice group. Catarina and her team look at the intersection of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility best practices and federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws, providing clients with risk assessments, performing pay equity analyses, offering trainings and drafting strategic, forward-looking DEIA plans.

8:00 a.m.          Registration/Breakfast

8:45 a.m.          Welcome & Introduction: Hon. Judge Kori Ashley

9:00 a.m.          Authenticity at Work: Balancing Self-Expression with Legal

                         Considerations in the Modern Workplace

                         Keynote Speaker: Attorney Catarina Colon, Husch Blackwell LLP

10:30 a.m.        BREAK

10:45 a.m.        "Authenticity vs. Legal Considerations” – Panel Discussion

12:10 p.m.        Closing Remarks: Honorable Kori Ashley, Milwaukee County Circuit Court

12:15 p.m.        Lunch & Networking

This session will explore the concept of employee expression in the workplace, focusing on how personal identity, authenticity, and expression of values intersect with workplace culture. It will also examine the benefits of authenticity at work, while addressing potential legal implications of employee speech that crosses the line from expression to harassment, the role of an organization to address discriminatory conduct, the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion goals despite recent pushback, and strategies for employers to find balance and foster inclusive workplaces.

All are welcome to attend this event. Law firms, lawyers, and judges will all find benefit in this program.

If you would like to sponsor the 2025 Diversity & Equity Educational Program, please complete the sponsorship form and email it to Jacque Evans, jevans@wisbar.org. Information on sponsorship levels can be found here.

Your sponsorship donation goes directly into the Wisconsin Law Foundation’s Diversity Designated Fund for use in defraying expenses associated with the March 10th event. Any remaining funds after expenses will be used to support on-going, educational outreach events such as the State Bar’s Diversity Clerkship Program, the Annual Diversity Clerkship Program Recognition Celebration, continuing legal education and other projects.

This program will be submitted to the BBE for up to 3 CLE credits.