All Three Kitzer Rochel Attorneys Present at the 2025 Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute
We are proud to share that all three of our attorneys—Brian Rochel, Frances Baillon, and Phillip Kitzer—were featured presenters at this year’s Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute (ELI), held May 19–20, 2025, at the Saint Paul RiverCentre. As one of the premier employment law conferences in the country, the ELI brings together top legal minds to explore the evolving landscape of workplace law, and our firm was honored to contribute in three impactful sessions.
Phillip Kitzer: AI in Employment Litigation
Phillip Kitzer presented in a forward-looking session titled “Litigating Employment Cases When AI Is In Play – From Purchased AI Tools to AI-Drafted Decisions.” In collaboration with other experts in law and technology, Phillip explored how artificial intelligence is already influencing the workplace—and how it’s affecting litigation strategy. The panel covered AI tools used in hiring, evaluation, and decision-making processes, and addressed the challenges of litigating cases where AI plays a central role. Attendees gained critical guidance on discovery, evidence, and the novel legal questions raised by AI technologies.
Frances Baillon: Updates on Workplace Harassment Litigation
Frances Baillon was a member of a panel presenting on “Workplace Harassment Case Update 2025 – Title VII Cases”, delivering insights into recent developments under Title VII and emerging harassment litigation trends. This session broke down critical case law updates and examined how courts are interpreting hostile work environment and employer liability standards. Frances contributed her expertise in representing employees in complex harassment cases, providing actionable takeaways for practitioners adapting to evolving legal standards.
Brian Rochel: Litigating Retaliation Claims at Summary Judgment
Brian Rochel co-presented “Retaliation Claims at Summary Judgment – Winning Approaches to Discovery, Briefing, and Argument from Both Sides”, a practical session focused on one of the most dynamic and challenging areas of employment litigation. Brian shared his plaintiff-side strategies for navigating discovery, leveraging factual records, and constructing persuasive arguments at the summary judgment stage. The session offered a rare dual-perspective approach, with presenters from both sides of the bar discussing how to position retaliation claims for litigation success in an era of heightened scrutiny. Brian presented along with Kristin Berger Parker at Jones Day in Minneapolis.
This year’s Institute showcased Kitzer Rochel’s ongoing leadership in employment law, particularly in areas undergoing rapid transformation. Whether addressing the impact of AI, strengthening anti-retaliation advocacy, or navigating new harassment standards, our attorneys continue to bring clarity and depth to some of the field’s most pressing issues.
For more information on our work or to connect with any of our attorneys, contact us today.
