IN-PERSON REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED – PLEASE JOIN US VIA LIVE STREAM HERE
CUNY School of Law, in partnership with the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, proudly presents a distinguished panel featuring Jennifer Abruzzo, General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and Jonathan Kanter, Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Antitrust Division. These Queens natives are at the forefront of groundbreaking changes in labor and antitrust law.
Moderated by CUNY Law Professor and labor rights advocate Chaumtoli Huq, with introductory remarks by Ellen Dichner, Distinguished Lecturer in Labor Studies at CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, this timely discussion will explore recent developments in labor law and antitrust enforcement, including:
The panelists will address evolving labor laws, antitrust enforcement in labor markets, and implications for workers’ rights. They’ll also share insights on career paths in these fields.
This event, both a homecoming and a celebration of the speakers’ successes, will be held in person and livestreamed. RSVP is required for participation.
From the moment they were sworn in, National Labor Relations Board General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo and DOJ Antitrust Division Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter—two Queens, NY natives—have brought forth their incredible passion and commitment to justice to create ground-breaking change in law and practice in the areas of labor and antitrust. In 2022, GC Abruzzo and AAG Kanter signed the first Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the NLRB and DOJ Antitrust division, embodying a whole-of-government approach to protecting the rights of workers and the competitive process. And this Labor Day, they joined with the FTC and DOL to sign a new four-agency MOU providing for collaboration on labor markets in antitrust merger investigations.
General Counsel Abruzzo leads the NLRB’s investigative and enforcement activities and has consistently made clear that the Agency’s mandate is to protect workers. Under her leadership, she has issued legal guidance seeking to protect immigrant workers from employer retaliation, expand labor protections to college athletes, and all workers who are misclassified, and ensure that every worker has the freedom to organize and collectively bargain with their co-workers. She has prosecuted Starbucks, Amazon, SpaceX, and others, for violating labor law, securing major victories for workers’ rights.
Professor Dichner has practiced labor and employment law for more than 25 years. During the Obama administration, she served as Chief Counsel to the Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board. Before her appointment at the NLRB, she was a partner at a New York City law firm where she handled a wide range of matters on behalf of unions, including collective bargaining negotiations, arbitrations, union organizing campaigns, litigation in federal and state courts as well as in proceedings before government agencies. Professor Dichner also represented individuals and groups of workers in wage and hour cases, employment discrimination and other litigation.
Assistant Attorney General Kanter spearheads enforcement efforts to promote fair competition and protect workers’ rights in today’s concentrated economy. He has transformed the Division by creating dedicated litigation and expert analysis groups, enabling it to tackle significant antitrust cases against major corporations like Google, Apple, and LiveNation/Ticketmaster. Kanter’s tenure has seen landmark victories, including blocking the Penguin Random House/Simon & Schuster merger to protect workers, and winning the first successful monopolization case of the 21st century against Google. His approach demonstrates how antitrust enforcement can serve as a tool for economic justice, offering valuable insights into the intersection of antitrust law with labor rights and restore fairness to sectors across the economy, including technology, healthcare, housing, food, and more.
Professor Huq, an expert in labor and employment and human rights, founded Law@theMargins, a law and media non-profit focused on law and social justice. As NYC Public Advocate’s General Counsel, she was the highest-ranking Bangladeshi-American in city government. Huq directed the first South Asian Workers’ Rights Project at AALDEF and served as the inaugural staff attorney for NY Taxi Workers Alliance. Her expertise spans labor, employment, and human rights law, with emphasis on low-income workers and immigrant rights.
All events on this calendar are open to the public, or our students, alumni, faculty, staff, and supporter audiences. Faculty, staff, and students: To list your event please complete the SUBMISSION FORM.
Once posted, all events appear on digital signage and in our Monday morning weekly “Upcoming Events” email.
Events are wheelchair accessible. For disability-related accommodations, contact the organizer of the event. Advance notice is kindly requested.