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14 ¦ FEBRUARY 1, 2021 NEWS

¦ From CT NATIVE on PAGE 13 are not in the same office. If anything, this crisis has
a limited exclusion order to bar the importation strengthened our culture and solidified our collab-
of Rebenet’s products into the U.S., which would orative focus and commitment to each other and to
have put them out of business in this critical mar- our clients.
ket. Early on, we identified and took an aggressive Before COVID-19, our trial lawyers were in court
stance on domestic industry—a strategy we pursued leading trials every three weeks, so the biggest ad-
persistently before and throughout discovery and justment has been moving to remote hearings
pre-hearings. Our deep experience in complex trade and advocacy. One of the things I’m most proud
secret cases and vast understanding of litigating at of is how flexible and nimble our litigators have
the ITC were key to securing this favorable Initial been in adapting to this new virtual reality. We
Determination for our clients. quickly established ourselves as a leader in remote
advocacy. Now, our litigators are busy doing remote
How are you coping with the current economic depositions and Markman hearings, remote Feder-
al Circuit appeals, as well as preparing for remote,
downturn?
I feel fortunate to work at a firm that has prioritized and possibly a new kind of in-person, trials. One of
the right things since the start of the pandemic. Un- our seventh-year associates, Nitika Gupta Fiorel-
like many firms, we have not had layoffs, furloughs, la, argued and won the first-ever pandemic-forced
or pay cuts. By keeping our teams intact, we’ve been telephonic oral argument at the Federal Circuit in
able to provide clients with the exemplary service April. It was also the first appellate argument of her
that they’ve come to expect from our firm. career, so that was pretty exciting.
Like everyone, we’ve adjusted to new ways of I feel honored every day to lead this impressive
working and advocating remotely while deliver- team of trial lawyers.
ing high levels of client service. But much of it has ¦

been seamless because remote work has long been a Ross Todd is the Editor/columnist for the Am Law
core element of our culture. Our cases are regularly Litigation Daily. He writes about litigation of all
staffed with team members from across the country, sorts. Previously, Ross was the Bureau Chief of
so we already had the tools and technology in place The Recorder, ALM’s California affiliate. Contact
to keep people connected when attorneys and staff Ross at [email protected]. On Twitter: @Ross_Todd.

The Implication of Class Certification in
Employment Case Against Ruby Tuesday’s

By Robert Storace

AConnecticut Superior Court judge has said Gov. Ned Lamont and [then-House Speaker] Joe
class certification of lawsuits over “side work” Aresimowicz passed seeking to deny minimum
from restaurant employees is appropriate, wage workers the right to sue in wage class actions,”
even under new rules from the state Legislature said Richard Hayber, who represents restaurant
that some employment attorneys have seen as anti- servers in Chandler v. Ruby Tuesday.
worker. Hayber, of Hayber McKenna & Dinsmore in
“This is definitely precedent-setting. This is the Hartford, continues: “The governor and Legislature
first case to interpret and apply the January 2020 said that to win a class action you have to prove the
amendment to the Connecticut Wage Act, which restaurant is liable to every member of the class and

CONNECTICUT
Law Tribune