The Employment Law & HR Summit: New York

Madison Hart-Susser is the Manager of People Operations at RapidSOS. She leads the People Team and manages cross-functional initiatives focused on performance management, compensation, organizational development, and employee experience. After earning her Masters in Social Work from Columbia University, Madison began her career supporting older adults through systems navigation and trauma-informed care. That foundation continues to shape her approach to people operations, centering empathy, equity, and communication. Prior to joining RapidSOS, Madison held roles in both nonprofit and tech organizations, where she built scalable people programs that balance employee needs with strategic business priorities. Madison draws on her multidisciplinary background to develop people strategies that are both operationally sound and deeply human.

Stephanie Fox is Senior Employment Counsel at Datadog, Inc., where she advises on a full range of employment law matters, including hiring, performance management, leaves & accommodations, workplace investigations, compliance, and terminations. She partners with business leaders to design scalable policies and programs that support a fast-growing, global workforce, with a particular focus on emerging issues such as AI in employment and restrictive covenants.

Prior to Datadog, Stephanie was U.S. Counsel for Papaya Global, where she navigated cross-border employment challenges, and a litigator at Kaufman Borgeest & Ryan LLP, representing employers in discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage-and-hour disputes. She also develops and delivers training for HR and corporate leadership and has spoken on forward-looking workplace topics, including the use of generative AI.

Michael grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, the son of a small businessman with an entrepreneurial spirit. After graduating from The George Washington University with a degree in finance, Michael moved to California to pursue a career in commercial real estate. Michael later became an attorney and built a successful private practice in Los Angeles where he provided corporate, transactional and litigation services for clients in the media and entertainment industries for more than 20 years. In 2016, Michael began his in-house legal career at Complex Networks, a New York based leading digital content publisher. During his tenure at Complex, Michael oversaw all content, e-commerce, music and events business and was integral to the global expansion of the Complex brand. Michael joined the legal team at Buzzfeed Media upon their acquisition of Complex. Michael currently serves as fractional General Counsel to Uproxx Studios, a thought-leader in the music industry, and provides legal and business affairs services to several global media companies. Michael is known as a creative problem-solver and a valued strategist.

Nicholas Corsano focuses his practice on labor and employment litigation and counseling. Mr. Corsano represents clients in federal and state employment disputes alleging discrimination, harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, whistleblowing, trade secret misappropriation, restrictive covenant violations, wage and hour class actions and other employment matters. He has experience handling actions brought through alternative dispute resolution programs, state and federal courts, and before administrative agencies. Mr. Corsano also counsels clients on a variety or labor and employment matters such as leave requirements, disability accommodations, complex employment agreements, employment policies and procedures, employee discharge and discipline and he conducts trainings to combat harassment and promote a more inclusive workplace.

Tracy Udell is the Chief Equal Employment Opportunity Officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. She is responsible for addressing and resolving discrimination, harassment, and retaliation concerns, and educating more than 3,000 employees across four states. As the first person to hold this role, Tracy built the Bank’s EEO program from the ground up – developing trusted processes, streamlining investigations, and creating innovative, engaging methods to connect with employees and foster a culture of respect and accountability. A practicing attorney for 20 years, Tracy previously served as Employment Law Counsel at the Bank for a decade, where she advised on a myriad of complex matters. She is committed to “pulling back the curtain” on EEO policy and procedures through relatable training and candid conversations that encourage employees at all levels to speak up.

Maria represents employers in all areas of employment law. She defends companies in employment litigations, assists organizations with external and internal investigations, and provides strategic and practical advice on workplace legal issues, with a focus on pay equity matters and nationwide pay transparency law compliance.

Julia Gershengoren is the Senior Manager of Compensation and HRIS at ITOCHU International Inc.

With over 18 years of experience with ITOCHU’s compensation and information systems,  

Julia’s focus is transforming HR practices to meet the evolving demands of the global workforce.

Stephen Malone leads Peloton’s US & UK-based employment law team from its NYC headquarters. His practice includes advice & counsel, litigation, labor strategy, employee benefits, and talent negotiations and contracts.

Previously, Stephen served as Vice President, Legal, Employment & Corporate Affairs at Fox Corporation, handling employment law, executive compensation, and ESG strategy. He also practiced at NBCUniversal, Proskauer LLP, and at Winston & Strawn LLP.

Stephen is a current member of the Thomson Reuters Practical Law Employment Law Advisory Board. For several years, he has published and spoken about the appropriate use of AI in the workplace and the legal pitfalls of workplace monitoring technology. Originally from Chicago, Stephen completed undergraduate studies at Northwestern University and law school at the University of Virginia.

Katie Dugan is the Vice President, Global Employment Law, Ethics & Compliance at Match Group which is the global leader in online dating with brands including Match, Tinder, Hinge, OkCupid, The League, and more. Prior to Match, Katie had in-house roles at both Yext, Inc. and Mattel, Inc. At Yext, she led the global labor and employment function. At Mattel, she worked in various roles in the global employment, ethics & compliance function.

Before going in-house, Katie worked in litigation and advice & counsel roles in the employment law department at regional law firms as well as a boutique management-side labor and employment firm. She began her career as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Robert Polifroni, P.J.Cv. in the Superior Court of New Jersey.

Sarah is a partner in Shipman’s Labor & Employment Practice Group and the Chair of Shipman’s Cannabis Team. Sarah takes a 360-degree, results-driven approach to client service, considering her clients’ budget, business values, risk appetite, reputation, and concerns for precedent-setting action. She regularly represents clients across all industries on a broad array of personnel matters, including accommodations and leaves of absence, complaints of discrimination and harassment, compensation, termination, and severance, with a focus on risk mitigation and optimizing business operations. She also has experience counseling organizations through state and federal investigations and conducting internal investigations into discrimination and harassment complaints. Beyond Sarah’s employment practice, she has a thriving cannabis practice, counseling businesses across all parts of the supply chain on licensing, compliance, and personnel matters.

Jeffrey A. Miller represents and advises clients in employment disputes of all types as Head of Employment Litigation at Golenbock. He also provides day-to-day counseling on best practices, including with respect to hiring, firing, workplace policies, investigations, employee discipline, restrictive covenants, accommodations, and worker classification.

Jeff’s experience includes trial and arbitration victories in employment and commercial cases. As a seasoned litigator, Jeff recognizes where missteps might lead to protracted legal action, so he brings to his engagements a commitment to managing risk and finding practical, efficient solutions to meet his clients’ needs. He strives to not only address problems but also prevent them, by counseling clients to achieve and maintain compliance in an ever-changing legal and regulatory landscape.

Meghan Gorman Cohen is Of Counsel in the Executive Compensation & Benefits Practice Group at Benesch, where she advises employers on employment law and executive compensation matters. She brings a business-focused perspective shaped by her prior role as Senior Employment Counsel at Publicis Groupe, where she gained firsthand insight into how organizations balance legal risk with operational priorities. Meghan counsels in-house counsel, executives, and HR leaders on discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation,  restructurings, compliance, and workplace investigations. She also develops and delivers training for leadership teams on risk management, policy development, and fostering inclusive, compliant workplaces. Known for her practical, business-minded counsel, Meghan helps organizations make confident decisions in complex situations, delivering solutions that protect legal interests while advancing business objectives.

J. Alexander “Alex” Short is the founder and managing member of Lehigh Valley Immigration Law LLC, established in January 2025. After years of practicing at midsize firms, Alex launched the firm out of a growing conviction that immigration law was reaching a critical moment—one that demanded more personalized, agile, and purpose-driven representation. Recognizing the increasing complexity and urgency of immigration issues across the U.S., he saw an opportunity to build a practice that put people first and allowed him the flexibility to take on cases where he could truly make a difference.

A seasoned immigration attorney known for his strategic insight and tireless advocacy, Alex brings a powerful combination of legal precision, deep empathy, and practical experience to every matter he handles. Whether he’s defending clients in removal proceedings, helping reunite families through complex petitions, or advising businesses on workforce immigration strategies, Alex leads with integrity and results. At the core of his work is a belief that every client deserves to be seen, heard, and guided with care—especially when so much is at stake.

Noga Rosenthal is a seasoned privacy and data ethics professional with a diverse background in the technology and advertising sectors. With over 15 years of experience, she has established herself as a global privacy compliance expert. Her knowledge extends to public policy work, where she has demonstrated a deep understanding of the interplay between data ethics and practical implications of proposed laws.

Throughout her career, Noga has successfully developed and managed global privacy programs for various technology corporations, including Xaxis, Epsilon and Ampersand. Her strategic leadership and operational skills have proven instrumental in ensuring these organizations maintain rigorous privacy standards. Noga has also served as the policy lead for an industry organization, helping to develop responsible data principles for over 100 technology members.

Noga firmly believes in the importance of safeguarding individuals’ privacy and has actively supported privacy legislation at the federal level with practical business implementation and operationalization. Her extensive involvement in managing government relations for technology companies has allowed her to effectively lobby for privacy legislation and critically review proposed privacy bills at both federal and state levels.

Noga’s dedication to privacy extends to her advisory role as a board member for Optimeyes, a privacy and security risk management tool. Her insights and expertise have helped shape the platform’s capabilities in identifying and mitigating privacy and securities risks for technology companies.

Noga Rosenthal is an active member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), where she has served on several committees. Her engagement in the privacy community demonstrates her commitment to continuous learning and staying at the forefront of industry developments.

Marjorie C. Soto Garcia, Partner at McDermott Will & Schulte in Los Angeles, advises employers—from Fortune 100 leaders to high-growth startups—on labor union strategy, class action employment litigation, and workplace compliance across industries including healthcare, private equity, tech, energy, media, and hospitality. As co-lead of the Employment Group’s technology and AI practice, she is at the cutting edge of employment law, guiding organizations through legal risks tied to generative AI in hiring, payroll, timekeeping, and workforce reductions. Fluent in English and Spanish, Marjorie brings nuanced, bilingual advocacy across all litigation stages.

Katherin Nukk-Freeman is the Co-Founder and President of SHIFT HR Compliance Training, a leading provider of HR compliance and workplace culture training. A practicing attorney and founding partner of Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, she brings over 30 years of employment law expertise advising Fortune 500 companies on managing risk, avoiding litigation, and fostering accountability. A trusted advisor, speaker, and thought leader, Katherin developed SHIFT to revolutionize compliance training through empathy, storytelling, and legal precision – reframing required education into a lever for cultural transformation. Today, SHIFT’s legally rigorous, behavior-changing courses are trusted by organizations nationwide to meet mandates, reduce risk, and build workplaces rooted in respect and inclusion.

Justin DiGennaro is Of Counsel in the New York office of Gibson Dunn and a member of the Labor and Employment Practice Group.  Trusted by C-suite executives, boards of directors, and private investors, Justin serves as a thought partner to help them navigate their most complex employment challenges.  He seamlessly integrates legal, HR, and PR considerations to achieve creative and commercially sound solutions.

Justin focuses on high-stakes employee mobility disputes, including matters related to non-competes, non-solicitation agreements, and confidentiality restrictions.  His experience encompasses executive onboarding and departures, mass exoduses, workforce raids, client poaching, and trade secret misappropriation.  He frequently represents employers in single-plaintiff and class action litigation relating to discrimination, harassment, whistleblower retaliation, breach of contract, wage and hour disputes, and the WARN Act.

Jenny Bobbit is an associate in the New York office of Latham & Watkins. Jenny partners with corporate clients to navigate complex labor and employment challenges, providing strategic legal counsel that aligns with their business priorities. With a pragmatic and solutions-oriented approach, Jenny helps employers anticipate and manage risks.

Bryan Wilson is Co-Chair of the firm’s Unfair Competition, Trade Secrets, and Restrictive Covenants practice group.  He tries complex commercial matters throughout the country for both plaintiffs and defendants.  Recent matters, including several that went to trial or arbitral hearing, involved allegations of breach of contract, deceptive trade practices, copyright infringement, breach of fiduciary duty, false advertising, fraud, unfair competition, violations of federal procurement laws and the false claims act, and theft of trade secrets.  Bryan also counsels clients in conflicts, employee mobility issues, and investigations and works to avoid litigation when possible.  Bryan serves on the Steering Committee of The Sedona Conference Working Group on Trade Secrets.

Kyle focuses his practice on the nationwide representation of businesses in all facets of labor and employment law, with an emphasis on wage and hour matters and independent contractor status.

Katherin Nukk-Freeman is the Co-Founder and President of SHIFT HR Compliance Training, a leading provider of HR compliance and workplace culture training. A practicing attorney and founding partner of Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, she brings over 30 years of employment law expertise advising Fortune 500 companies on managing risk, avoiding litigation, and fostering accountability. A trusted advisor, speaker, and thought leader, Katherin developed SHIFT to revolutionize compliance training through empathy, storytelling, and legal precision – reframing required education into a lever for cultural transformation. Today, SHIFT’s legally rigorous, behavior-changing courses are trusted by organizations nationwide to meet mandates, reduce risk, and build workplaces rooted in respect and inclusion.