• videocam Live Webinar with Live Q&A
  • calendar_month August 20, 2026 @ 1:00 PM ET/10:00 AM PT
  • signal_cellular_alt Intermediate
  • card_travel Employment and Workers Comp
  • schedule 90 minutes

Settling Wage and Hour Class and Collective Actions: Settlement Options, Damages Negotiation, Court Approval

About the Course

Introduction

This CLE course will guide employment litigators in evaluating whether, when, and how to settle a wage and hour class or collective action. The panel will discuss how to calculate damages and tactics for increasing the likelihood of obtaining court approval of the settlement award.

Description

Class and collective action settlements in wage and hour cases have grown increasingly complex, and the law surrounding court approval of FLSA settlements is constantly developing. Our panel will discuss these changes and associated strategy considerations—for example, how to minimize the time and expense of litigation—that both novice and seasoned employment counsel may wish to consider.

Counsel must be adept at proactively planning for these and other key issues: whether a settlement is appropriate, when to begin settlement discussions, how to best structure a settlement to meet clients' best interests, and how to overcome judicial resistance to approving a settlement.

Listen as our authoritative panel of employment litigators discusses best practices for weighing a settlement decision, determining how to calculate damages, and ensuring court approval of the settlement award.

Presented By

Gerald L. Maatman Jr.
Partner, Chair of Class Action Defense Group
Duane Morris LLP

Mr. Maatman has nearly four decades of experience practicing law and has defended some of the most significant bet-the-company cases ever filed against corporate America. He has represented companies, executive teams and boards across the country in class action litigation, ranging in size from thousands to hundreds of thousands of claims by employees. Among Mr. Maatman's accomplishments, he defended and defeated the largest systemic enforcement action ever brought in the history of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the first Attorney General prosecution of a Wall Street company for workplace discrimination and harassment, and the largest wage and hour class and collective actions ever brought in Florida and New York. While he is known to be a fierce litigator, Mr. Maatman also helps his clients anticipate large-scale litigation risks before they happen to prevent issues that could turn into litigation. Mr. Maatman pioneered the process of conducting employment-practices audits to assist employers in structuring effective and practical personnel policies and protocols. He also writes and lectures extensively on class action and employment litigation topics. Mr. Maatman has authored six books on employment law topics and has spoken to employer groups throughout the United States, as well as in Asia, Europe, Canada and Mexico.

Jennifer A. Riley
Partner, Vice Chair Class Action Defense Group
Duane Morris LLP

Ms. Riley has defended companies faced with significant complex litigation matters for more than two decades. She regularly defends companies facing class actions, collective actions, pattern or practice lawsuits, and other types of representative proceedings, ranging in size from dozens to tens of thousands of claims. Ms. Riley has represented clients facing bet-the-company cases in a wide range of complex civil litigation matters in federal and state courts across the country. She also provides counsel to employers seeking to navigate thorny issues, including investigations, compliance, and terminations. Ms. Riley is a regular speaker, author, and presenter regarding class action issues, legal developments, and challenges that companies may face in the future. 

Credit Information
  • This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.


  • Live Online


    On Demand

Date + Time

  • event

    Thursday, August 20, 2026

  • schedule

    1:00 PM ET/10:00 AM PT

I. Evaluating when to consider settlement

II. Assessing risk of exposure and calculating potential damages

III. Obtaining enforceable settlement agreements

A. Court-supervised settlements

B. DOL-supervised settlements

The panel will review these and other key issues:

  • What are the critical factors for employment counsel to consider in determining whether settlement discussions are appropriate and the best options for settlement?
  • What are best practices for calculating damages?
  • What are the crucial considerations for counsel when structuring a settlement to meet clients' best interests and obtain court approval?