It was a privilege for Phillip Kitzer to present at the 2025 Annual Convention of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA), held on June 26, 2025 in Baltimore, MD. Phillip co-presented a panel titled “The Art of Co-Counseling” alongside esteemed colleagues Lisa L. Clay and Ty D. Frankel.
The presentation explored best practices and practical strategies for successful co-counsel relationships in employment litigation. Drawing on years of experience, the panelists addressed the many reasons attorneys choose to co-counsel—including expanding resources for large-scale litigation, managing risk, and pairing complementary subject-matter expertise.
Key topics included:
- Aligning Strategies and Dividing Roles: From determining lead counsel to setting cost responsibilities and workflow communication protocols, the panel emphasized the importance of clarity and proactive collaboration.
- Maintaining Professionalism and Reputation: The speakers highlighted the critical need for unity in client and court communications and offered insights into how co-counsel relationships can strengthen firm reputations and lead to future referrals.
- The Co-Counsel Agreement: Phillip and his co-presenters discussed the ethical, legal, and practical elements that must be memorialized in writing—from fee divisions to conflict checks and withdrawal protocols.
The session also provided a deep dive into the Model Rules of Professional Conduct that govern co-counsel relationships, offering actionable guidance on competence, fee arrangements, conflicts of interest, safekeeping client property, and mandatory reporting obligations.
Phillip Kitzer’s participation in this leading event underscores our firm’s commitment to collaboration, professional excellence, and leadership in the field of employment law. We thank NELA for hosting a dynamic and informative convention.
For more on our practice or to connect with Phillip, please visit Kitzer Rochel, PLLP.
