Hot Topics in Employment Law
Presenter: Brigid Heid, Esq.
Key Supreme Court and Sixth Circuit decisions impacting the workplace will be discussed, along with the developments at the critical administrative agencies of the DOL, EEOC, and NLRB.
Navigating the Complicated Legal Matrix of Multi-State Employees.
Presenter: Jade Robinson, Esq.
Managing employees across multiple states presents unique challenges for law firms and their clients. This presentation will help attorneys understand some of the complex web of employment laws that vary from state to state—including some wage and hour trends, sick leave laws, non-compete laws, and drug testing laws. The speaker will explore how to identify and manage conflicting regulations, advise clients on best practices, and minimize legal risk in today’s increasingly mobile and hybrid workforce.
A Criminal Lawyer’s Perspective on Investigating Rogue Employees
Presenter: Karl Schneider, Esq.
When workplace misconduct crosses the line into potential criminal behavior, attorneys need to know how to proceed carefully and effectively. In this presentation, a seasoned criminal lawyer shares insights on investigating rogue employees—covering issues such as preserving evidence, working with law enforcement, protecting client interests, and avoiding pitfalls that can create liability. Attendees will gain practical guidance on navigating the intersection of employment and criminal law when internal investigations reveal more than just policy violations.
Presenter Bios
Brigid Heid, Esq., Eastman & Smith
Businesses and business owners encounter legal risks in the workplace. Brigid E. Heid regularly assists them in managing these risks. She counsels on best practices and procedures, handbooks, wage and hour, employee leave and discipline, EEO, internal investigations, and protecting intellectual property and confidential information. She also represents employers in state and federal court and administrative agencies throughout Ohio. Ms. Heid is a member of the Labor & Employment and Business Litigation Practice Groups at Eastman & Smith.
Ms. Heid is a member of The International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC), the pre-eminent invitation-only global legal organization for attorneys who represent corporate and insurance interests. Ms. Heid chairs the Employment Law and Golf Outing Committees of The Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys (OACTA), is a past-president of the Columbus Bar Association (CBA) and served on The American Bar Association’s House of Delegates as the CBA Representative. She was honored by her peers by being named one of the Top 25 Women Attorneys in Columbus, Ohio and a Super Lawyer® by Law & Politics Magazine and by being named a Best Lawyer in Employment Law by Best Lawyers in America®. The Litigation Counsel of America™ and The Columbus Bar Foundation count Ms. Heid as a fellow. She also has achieved the highest AV Preeminent® rating by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings.
Ms. Heid holds both a law degree and an undergraduate degree (chemistry) from The Ohio State University. Besides law, Ms. Heid has many other interests. She and her husband adopt rescue dogs and enjoy vacationing in the great outdoors. Golf is one of her primary avocations. Painting is another. While Ms. Heid currently resides in Columbus, she is originally from Fremont, Ohio.
Jade Robinson, Esq., Eastman & Smith
The uncertainty employers experienced during the pandemic is one of the reasons Jade L. Robinson focuses her practice on efficiently resolving legal issues employers encounter as well as methods that can mitigate or prevent the issues from occurring in the first place. Ms. Robinson, an associate in our Labor & Employment and Workers’ Compensation Practice Groups, concentrates her practice in the areas of:
- diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives;
- employee handbooks;
- employment discrimination;
- employment issues encountered by small businesses;
- regulatory and compliance issues;
- unemployment legal issues; and
- workers’ compensation.
She has represented clients in many industries, including construction, manufacturing and insurance, before state and federal courts as well as administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Industrial Commission of Ohio, Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC) and the Ohio Unemployment Compensation Review Commission.
While earning her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and Police Studies, Ms. Robinson began her legal career interning for a law firm. She continued to work for law firms, and a transportation services company, while in law school. Ms. Robinson practiced with several other law firms before joining Eastman & Smith.
During law school Ms. Robinson was part of the University of Cincinnati College of Law’s Trial Team as well as interned at the University of Cincinnati’s Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic. She received the Tyler Short Outstanding Entrepreneurship Student Award for her work at the Clinic and it was this work that sparked Ms. Robinson’s interest in assisting small businesses. She is a graduate of the Leadership Council for Nonprofits’ BOLD program, which develops professionals’ nonprofit board skills.
Cannoli and Cheesecake are not desserts to Ms. Robinson, but her cats. She enjoys spending time with them, when they are amenable, as well as spending time outdoors and remaining active.
Karl Schneider, Esq., Eastman & Smith
Mr. Schneider has defended individuals, businesses and public officials in a myriad of criminal matters that include public corruption and matters involving tax, health care, securities and mortgage fraud. In addition, he has defended individuals and businesses before licensing boards, regulators and in professional liability litigation. He has:
- defended against federal and state prosecutions involving charges of bribery, public corruption, money laundering and fraud.
- defended business professionals and attorneys in professional malpractice cases and involving directors’ and officers’ liability claims.
- represented parties before federal and state courts, as well as before a host of government agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Ohio Department of Insurance, Ohio Division of Securities, Ohio Real Estate Commission, Ohio Elections Commission, Ohio Ethics Commission, various Inspector Generals and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
- represented parties before the U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division.
Also during his career, Mr. Schneider has served as receivers in both federal and state courts, a hearing officer in two separate Ohio Secretary of State ballot challenges as well as special counsel to the Ohio Attorney General in a federal action regarding an elected state office and as a special hearing officer for the Ohio Department of Insurance. He also has served as special prosecutor in Hamilton County, Ohio, including the felony prosecution of an attorney for witness bribery.
To assist clients in avoiding missteps, Mr. Schneider undertakes educational efforts by speaking to trade groups and authoring articles on issues related to corporate governance, fraud and litigation.
Before joining Eastman & Smith, Mr. Schneider worked for several Columbus area law firms.
When not addressing legal issues, Mr. Schneider enjoys spending time with family, traveling and partaking in exercise either at the gym or on the golf course. He calls Columbus home.