Kathy Butler was the original organizer of this conference, which she guided for more than twenty-five years.

What began as a gathering among colleagues grew, under her stewardship, into an institution in the employment bar of the Fifth Circuit — a yearly occasion for sharpening the craft, sharing hard-won lessons, and keeping a community of advocates close. Generations of lawyers came up through its sessions.

For over twenty-five years, she made room at the table — and the conference now carries her name.

Today the conference bears her name in recognition of that quarter-century of dedication. The 2026 program in Oaxaca continues the tradition she built.