Joan Fife Discusses Key Strategies for Wage and Hour Motion Practice

Labor and employment partner Joan Fife, who is the head of Winston & Strawn's San Francisco labor and employment group, spoke at American Conference Institute's 10th Advanced Forum on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions on September 14-15 in San Francisco.

On September 15, Ms. Fife presented "Key Strategies for Wage and Hour Motion Practice: What's Currently Working and Not Working for Summary Judgment Motions, Motions to Strike, and Motions for Sanctions." She was joined by Erick Meckley of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius. Ms. Fife and Mr. Meckley discussed:

• Effectively utilizing the pleading stage of the litigation process to gain an advantage in the development of evidence and structuring the dispositive motion
• Using pleadings to implement credible winnable themes
• Strategic arguments for drafting motions to dismiss or strike
• What is working?
• Pre-certification contact with class members
• How and what to raise with the court
• Motions for Summary Judgment Pre-Certification
• Strategy to file or wait?
• What is working?
• Trying cases early as opposed to settling early: analyzing the criteria for making the call
• Motions for sanctions: when are they appropriate?
• Examples for successful strategies and tactics for both plaintiffs and defendants
• Using dispositive motions to win the certification battle