In the Wake of the #MeToo Movement: Speaking Out and Setting Expectations for a Safe and Supportive Working Environment

Ellen Moran Dwyer is chair of Crowell & Moring's Executive Committee and a member of the Management Board. As a partner in the Labor & Employment Group, Ellen represents employers in the full array of labor and employment matters, including class action and individual claims filed under federal and state anti-discrimination and related employment laws such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Civil False Claims Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) whistleblower provisions, and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), as well as employment torts, including defamation, wrongful discharge, and related fiduciary duty claims.

Ellen has extensive experience investigating and litigating high-stakes sexual harassment and related employee misconduct issues. Additionally, she advises employers on prophylactic measures to mitigate risk and remediate such claims.

Ellen also has extensive experience in the trade secret arena, including: (i) drafting and negotiating non-competition, non-disclosure, and confidentiality agreements; (ii) investigating incidents of alleged theft of trade secrets; (iii) counseling employers regarding the implementation of effective trade secret security measures; and (iv) auditing corporate trade secret protection protocols, including the full range of employee new-hire and separation procedures, and pre- and post-employment related restrictions.

Ellen also has substantial experience in the employment class action litigation arena teaming effectively with public relations, diversity and statistical experts. Ellen also represents employers in the traditional labor arena on matters including union organizing campaigns and elections, decertification efforts, and collective bargaining both before the National Labor Relations Board and the federal courts.

In addition to these representations, Ellen has also conducted employee training programs for clients on several substantive labor and employment topics, including sexual harassment, union avoidance, diversity, and personnel practices and management.

As General Counsel for Crescent Hotels & Resorts, Caroline George is responsible for various legal matters including labor and employment, contractual agreements, joint ventures and partnerships, franchising, and day-to-day legal concerns impacting Crescent’s hotels and its corporate operations.

In 2010, Ms. George developed Crescent’s legal department and interacts with all of Crescent’s various branches by providing guidance on contracts, risk management, and business development due diligence. In addition, she manages a wide range of property-level matters such as guests and/or contract disputes, legal communication, subpoenas, and demand letters.

Ms. George works closely with Crescent’s Human Resources by imparting legal guidance related to hiring, terminations, and general supervision of Crescent’s 8,000 associates. She directs collective bargaining negotiations and drafting of labor contracts, handles dispute resolutions including position statements, mediation statements, and settlement agreements, while managing all outside litigation. She has extensive experience drafting policies and procedures incorporated in Crescent’s employee handbook to ensure compliance with state and federal laws and regulations.

Finally, Ms. George supports the Crescent hotel portfolio and clients in matters relating to general legal issues, licenses, permits, franchise agreements, human resources laws and property-specific vendor contracts.

Grace Fu is Executive Vice President of Human Resources, General Counsel and Secretary of Barneys New York. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Barneys New York Foundation. In her capacity as General Counsel, she advises on all legal matters pertaining to the business, including labor and employment, contracts and transactions, litigation, regulatory issues, intellectual property, real estate and philanthropy. As Executive Vice President of Human Resources, she oversees all human resources functions at Barneys, including talent acquisition and recruiting, benefits administration and company-wide training, development and engagement.

Ms. Fu was previously Deputy General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Tiger Management, where she advised on the firm’s legal and compliance matters. In connection with her role at Tiger, she also advised the Robertson Foundation and Tiger Foundation. Prior to working at Tiger, Ms. Fu practiced as an attorney in the Mergers & Acquisitions department at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in New York City.

Ms. Fu is a graduate of Harvard College, Harvard University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and the University of Virginia School of Law. She is a longstanding volunteer with New York Cares.

Genie Gavenchak is Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel of News Corp, a global media and entertainment company. Genie began working at News Corp in May 1995, where she manages litigation and other disputes domestically and abroad, assists in analyzing risks associated with mergers and acquisitions and advises on matters of corporate governance. Genie also serves as Senior Vice President of a number of subsidiaries and affiliates of News Corp.

Prior to joining News Corp, Genie was a partner at Squadron, Ellenoff, Plesent & Sheinfeld, which she joined in 1979, after clerking for Chief Justice Edward F. Hennessey of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

Genie has a J.D. from Boston University School of Law, where she was an Editor on Law Review, and a B.A. from Wesleyan University.

Ron is the VP for Legal and Human Resources for Canam Steel Corporation, and oversees legal, human resources and risk management issues for the company. Canam is the US subsidiary of Canam Group Inc., a publicly traded manufacturing, construction and engineering company with international operations.

Ron previously served as VP Law and Technology for the Association of Corporate Counsel, and Vice President and Associate General Counsel at Prudential Home Mortgage. Ron is currently the co-chair of the ERISA subcommittee of the ACC Employment and Labor Law Committee.

He previously served as co-chair of the ACC Environment and Sustainability Committee. Review Ron has served as a member of the City Council and as Chairman of the School Board, of Falls Church, Virginia and was President of the Board of Education of Frederick County, Maryland.

Ron earned a B.A. from The Johns Hopkins University, an M.A from The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and a J.D. from The University of Maryland School of Law, where he served as Notes and Comments Editor of the Maryland Law Review.