Baillon Presents in Nashville on Mediation, Sexual Orientation Discrimination

October 25, 2018 – Last week, firm partner Frances Baillon traveled to Nashville to present at the Fourth Annual Professional Skills Program held at Lipscomb University. Frances joined legal experts from across the country to discuss a variety of legal topics focused on mediation, negotiation and dispute resolution.

October 25, 2018 – Last week, firm partner Frances Baillon traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, to present at the Fourth Annual Professional Skills Program held at Lipscomb University. Frances joined legal experts from across the country on behalf of the Federal Bar Association to discuss a variety of legal topics focused on mediation, negotiation and dispute resolution. The two panels on which Frances served—mediations and sexual orientation discrimination and Title VII update–were part of a three-day seminar for attorneys and ADR practitioners.

For mediations, Frances joined an esteemed panel of law experts to discuss the role and importance of mediations during the litigation process. Panelists included T.J. McGrath, General Counsel of the Congressional Budget Office, Susan Tsui Grundmann, Executive Director of the Congressional Office of Compliance, and Bill Allen, Shareholder at Littler Mendelson. Presenters focused on considerations for selecting a mediator and managing the mediation process through resolution.

Separately, Frances presented on the topic of workplace sexual orientation discrimination and whether gay and lesbian employees are protected under Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act. Federal appellate courts are split on the issue, with some finding no protection and others finding that protection may exist as sex-based discrimination, sex-plus discrimination, gender stereotyping, and/or associational discrimination. No case is pending before the U.S. Supreme Court on this issue.

Frances Baillon is a founding partner of Wanta Thome PLC and an MSBA Certified Employment Law Specialist. She represents employees who have experienced many forms of discrimination, including sexual orientation discrimination, and has represented well over a hundred employees in mediations and settlement negotiations. To discuss your potential case with Frances or any of our employment discrimination attorneys, click here for a free initial consultation.