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2009 Speakers The 2009 speaker line-up will be posted as soon as details are finalized.
James H. Ashford, Esq., Partner Lauraine Bifulco, President Thomas W. Cestare, Officer in Charge Patrick H. Jones, Esq., Partner Kitty K. Kamaka, Esq., Principal Kenneth M. Nakasone, Esq., Partner Gregory M. Sato, Esq., Partner Sarah O. Wang, Esq., Partner Richard E. Wilson, Esq., Principal Christopher S. Yeh, Esq., Partner James H. Ashford, Esq. Jim Ashford is a partner in the firm's Litigation Department and is a member of the firm's Employment Law and Labor Relations Group and the School Law Group. His practice includes representing employers and management in litigation, arbitration, agency investigations, and mediation of labor and employment claims and commercial disputes. Mr. Ashford is a member of the Labor and Employment Law and the Litigation sections of the American Bar Association and the Labor and Employment Law section of the Hawaii State Bar Association. He is a member of the editorial review board for The Hawaii Employment Law Letter and regularly contributes articles for the monthly publication. He also is a regular speaker at employment law and litigation seminars on the mainland and in Hawaii. Mr. Ashford was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. He graduated from Punahou School (1980), Claremont McKenna College (B.A. Political Science, 1984), and Loyola Law School in Los Angeles (J.D. 1988). He is admitted to practice before all Hawaii courts, the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Ashford joined Cades Schutte in 1990. Lauraine Bifulco Lauraine is a veteran HR executive and entrepreneur with 20 years of international, corporate, and consulting experience. Her career experience helps small and large employers realize their HR goals and adapt to shifting business needs. She conducts frequent seminars on HR topics with an emphasis on employment law compliance and is frequently asked to co-speak with prominent employment law attorneys. Today Vantaggio HR serves clients across the country from their offices in Southern California, Hawaii, and Florida. The California Small Business Association has appointed her several years running as chair of the Labor Issues Legislative Advisory Committee. Lauraine was nominated in 2007 for Ernst & Young's "Entrepreneur of the Year" award, and her company was honored by being named 2006 Small Business of the Year by California Senate Minority Leader, Senator Dick Ackerman. In 2008, Vantaggio received the prestigious award of being named one of the top 25 woman-owned businesses in the United States by Working Mother Magazine. In addition, Lauraine is a member and frequent lecturer for Professionals in Human Resources Association (PIHRA) and sits on the board of directors for several business organizations and private firms. Thomas W. Cestare Thomas W. Cestare, Esq., a 1974 graduate of St. Mary's University Law School (J.D.) and a 1981 graduate of Temple University School of Law (Master of Laws - Labor) is a member of the Pennsylvania, New York and Hawaii State Bar Associations. He has served as Officer-in-Charge of the National Labor Relations Board since 1984. He supervises the processing of all cases filed under the National Labor Relations Act throughout the State of Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas. He has over 30 years of experience in handling cases under the National Labor Relations Act. Mr. Cestare has taught labor and employment law courses at two graduate schools. He was an adjunct professor at the University of Hawaii's Graduate School of Business from 1990 to 1994 and since 1986 has been a graduate studies professor at Central Michigan University's Hawaii campus. Mr. Cestare received his undergraduate degree from Lebanon Valley College of Pennsylvania in 1971 and a Master of Arts degree from Villanova University in 1972. Patrick H. Jones, Esq. Patrick H. Jones has spent his entire legal career representing management in various employment-related matters. He has significant "traditional" labor law experience, including advising clients facing union organizing efforts, representing clients in arbitration under collective bargaining agreements and before the National Labor Relations Board, and assisting clients engaged in collective bargaining negotiations. He has also advised companies dealing with strikes and other job actions, and has obtained court injunctions against illegal strikes and picketing. In addition to traditional labor work, Mr. Jones has defended clients against wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims in federal and state courts. He has also represented clients against alleged "whistleblowers" under Hawaii law and the federal False Claims and Sarbanes-Oxley Acts. Concerning alleged unlawful discrimination, Mr. Jones has assisted numerous clients in responding to administrative charges and claims filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (for example, claims under the unemployment statute and the Hawaii law prohibiting discrimination because of work injuries), and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. He has also advised clients concerning affirmative action issues, including the creation, maintenance, and compliance review of affirmative action plans. Mr. Jones' practice also includes advising and representing clients with respect to occupational safety issues under the federal and state OSHA laws, wage and hour issues (for example, overtime and prevailing wage issues), leave issues under the Family and Medical Leave Act, the ADA, and related state laws, corporate restructuring and downsizing issues under the WARN and Hawaii Dislocated Workers' laws, and employee benefit laws related to health, long-term care, and retirement programs. He also assists clients in drafting numerous employment policies and other documents, including substance abuse programs, alternate dispute resolution programs, handbook policies, individual employment contracts, and separation agreements. Kitty K. Kamaka, Esq. Ms. Kamaka practices in the areas of labor and employment law, representing management before federal and state courts as well as administrative agencies, including the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission. She has presented numerous seminars and workshops on sexual harassment and equal employment opportunity law, and teaches Business Law for the University of Hawaii Small Business Management Program. Ms. Kamaka received her B.A. degree from University of Hawaii and her law degree form Georgetown University. Kenneth M. Nakasone, Esq. Mr. Nakasone began his legal career in 1997 as an associate with the law firm of Burke, Sakai, McPheeters, Bordner, Iwanaga & Estes. While at Burke Sakai, Mr. Nakasone practiced general civil litigation including various areas of insurance defense litigation such as professional and medical malpractice defense. Mr. Nakasone joined Kobayashi, Sugita & Goda in August 1999. Mr. Nakasone has successfully represented clients in a variety of litigation matters including commercial, construction, banking, personal injury, real estate and employment litigation. Mr. Nakasone's practice includes employment and labor counseling (e.g., employment contracts, terminations and employee handbooks) for employers and employees. Mr. Nakasone also represents clients in regulatory matters before the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Mr. Nakasone is a member of the Hawaii State and American Bar Associations. Mr. Nakasone is involved in his community as a member of the Hawaii Democratic Party, Building Industry Association, the Hawaii United Okinawan Association, the Young Business Council, and the Newtown Estates Community Association (Building and Grounds Committee). Gregory M. Sato, Esq. Greg Sato represents only management in his practice of labor and employment law. His practice includes representing employers in labor negotiations, counter-union organizing, matters before the National Labor Relations Board, state and federal compliance counseling and defending discrimination and wrongful discharge lawsuits. Greg holds Martindale- Hubbell's highest rating for ethical standards and professional ability, "AV." He has been recognized in "Best Lawyers in America" for his expertise in the Labor and Employment law in Hawaii. As a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, Greg has earned the highest professional certification, Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). He earned his undergraduate degree in History from the University of Southern California and completed a joint Master of Business Administration/Juris Doctor degree at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and the School of Law. Greg is active in community affairs and has been a Director, President and Chair of the Hawai'i and State Council for the Society of Human Resource Management, Director of the Hawai'i Justice Foundation, Director of Winners at Work, Deacon and Trustee of Central Union Church, Chair of the Hawai'i Public Employees Health Trust Fund,(1999-2003), Director of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii (2004-2006), and a member of the Local Rules Committee for the United States District Court of Hawai'i (1988-1991), FBI Citizens' Academy (2006). Currently, Greg is a Director of Arcadia Retirement Residence (2002-2006), a Director of Hawai'i Public Radio, and a Hearing Officer with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. Greg is a frequent lecturer and has presented programs for the American Bar Association/American Law Institute, the America Bar Association, the Hawaii State Bar Association, the Office of Federal Contracts Compliance Programs, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, the Hawaii Employers Council, and the Society of Human Resources Management. Before joining Kobayashi, Sugita & Goda, Greg was a partner with Torkildson Katz Fonseca Moore and Hetherington law firm where he served stints as Chair of the Labor and Employment law department, and was a member of the Recruiting, Compensation and Executive Committees. Greg is a member of the Hawaii Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Sarah O. Wang, Esq. Sarah O. Wang joined Marr Jones & Wang as an associate in April 1998. She was made a partner of the firm on January 1, 2001. Ms. Wang represents employers in a wide range of labor and employment matters, including federal and state court litigation of wrongful termination, harassment, reasonable accommodation, breach of contract, and other employment claims; discrimination and harassment cases pending before administrative agencies; arbitrations and airline System Boards of Adjustment; wage and hour audits and other administrative proceedings; and federal and state appellate cases. Ms. Wang also devotes a substantial amount of her practice to providing training and guidance for employers and their supervisory employees to assist them in managing personnel issues and in complying with various employment laws. She helps employers develop and implement policies to effectively manage their workforce. Ms. Wang is a frequent speaker at labor and employment law seminars on such topics as sexual harassment, wrongful termination, employee privacy, agency investigations, reasonable accommodation obligations, and wage and hour laws. Ms. Wang graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she was a Notes Editor for the Virginia Law Review. Following law school, Ms. Wang was a law clerk to the late Honorable Charles E. Wiggins on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Ms. Wang returned to Hawaii in 1995 after her clerkship and began her career in private practice with Cades Schutte LLP, where she focused on commercial litigation, including employment law matters. Ms. Wang is admitted to practice law in the state and federal courts in Hawaii, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the Ninth and D.C. Circuit Courts of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Ms. Wang has been selected for inclusion in the 12th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America and she has been listed in the Chambers USA directory, America's Leading Lawyers for Business, since 2004. Richard E. Wilson, Esq. Richard E. Wilson is a graduate of the University of Hawaii (1986) and University of Oregon, School of Law (1991). He is a solo-practitioner and although presently emphasizes his practice on commercial litigation, he continues to represent employees against their former employers. From 1994 through 2001, he specialized in suing employers under both state and federal law. Mr. Wilson is frequently asked to speak at "employer" seminars because he brings a unique, employee perspective to litigation, which employers rarely experience until it's too late. Christopher S. Yeh, Esq. Christopher S. Yeh joined Marr Jones & Wang as an associate in December 1998 and became a partner in 2003. Prior to joining the firm, he was a member of the labor and employment section of Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel in Honolulu. Mr. Yeh advises companies on a wide range of employment matters and has successfully represented employers in proceedings before the state and federal courts in Hawaii, the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, and the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. He has represented employers in labor arbitrations and in representation hearings at the National Labor Relations Board. Mr. Yeh has taught at both Hawaii Pacific University and the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii. In addition, he frequently speaks at employment law seminars on subjects such as sexual harassment, discrimination, disability accommodation, and employee leave issues.
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