2026 Employment and Labor Law Seminar

Name: 2026 Employment and Labor Law Seminar | DRI
Start: 2026-05-20T12:00
End: 2026-05-22T12:25
Location: The Westin Copley Place, Boston

May 20–22, 2026
The Westin Copley Place | Boston, Massachusetts

Navigate Emerging Workplace Laws with Confidence and Clarity!

Save up to $500 when you register on or before May 19!

Save Your Spot Today

This comprehensive seminar provides practitioners and HR professionals with a sharp, practical update on the legal and compliance issues shaping today’s workplace. Designed to be both timely and actionable, the program begins with a Year in Review that highlights key employment law cases from jurisdictions around the country, offering insight into emerging litigation trends and how courts are addressing common workplace disputes. Attendees will gain in-depth perspective on current Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) developments, including enforcement priorities, evolving exemption standards, and new litigation patterns that can significantly impact employer compliance strategies. The seminar also features focused sessions on ethics and professionalism, reinforcing best practices for maintaining credibility, managing conflicts, and navigating the increasingly complex lawyer–client relationship in employment matters, while emphasizing the importance of mental health awareness for attorneys and their colleagues.

Participants will also receive clear, practical guidance on ADA accommodation challenges, including how the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and the PUMP Act intersect with existing disability and leave laws. The seminar concludes with an open discussion on case valuation trends, evaluating and mitigating client exposure, and identifying high-risk workplace issues early. Attendees will leave better equipped to spot problems, manage risk, and advise clients or their organizations with confidence and clarity.

What You Will Learn:

Practical update for practitioners and HR professional on the issues shaping today’s workplace, including a Year in Review highlighting key litigation developments nationwide.
Insight into current FLSA trends, including enforcement priorities, evolving exemptions, and emerging litigation patterns that can affect compliance strategies.
Sessions on ethics and professionalism will reinforce best practices for maintaining credibility, managing conflicts, and navigating the increasingly complex lawyer–client dynamic in employment matters while maintaining mental health awareness among attorneys and their colleagues.
Clear guidance on ADA accommodation challenges, including how the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and the PUMP Act interact with existing disability and leave laws.
Participate in an open discussion of case valuation trends, how to evaluate and mitigate case client exposure.
Strengthen your ability to identify and manage high‑risk workplace issues early—from wage‑hour traps to accommodation errors—so you can advise your organization or clients with greater confidence.

Expand Your Network By:

Connecting with employment law attorneys from law firms and corporate legal departments from across the US and Canada.
Attending dine-arounds to meet new colleagues or reconnect with old friends.
Enjoying networking happy hours, including one to be held in conjunction with DRI’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee.
Getting involved with the Employment Law Committee behind the scenes by attending the business meeting and joining our steering committee.
Experiencing a sense of immediate belonging through our Ambassador Program, which pairs first-time attendees with veteran Committee members.

Counsel Meetings with Major Companies
Take advantage of the opportunity to engage with key industry companies* including:

Allied World
Cincinnati Insurance
Stryker

*Subject to change

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Committee Leadership
Registration Information
Hotel Information
Networking Events
Full Agenda
CLE Information
Sponsors
Additional Resources

Thank You to DRI's Employment and Labor Law Committee Leadership

Brian H. Leinhauser — **Brian Leinhauser**
Program Chair

**Sarah Sloan Batson**
Program Vice Chair

Mark A. Fahleson — **Mark Fahleson**
Law Institute

Discover the opportunities available through the Employment and Labor Law committee and and learn how you can get involved.
Join today and make a difference

Registration Information

Worry-Free Registration: Cancellations received thirty (30) days or more before an in-person seminar are entitled to a full refund.

In registering for this seminar, I attest that I devote a substantial portion of my professional time to defending the interests of individuals, business, associations, or governmental entities in civil litigation. I understand that DRI reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel my registration, without a refund, if I do not meet the criteria described above.

Save up to $500 when you register on or before May 19, 2026!

	Member Pricing	Non-Member Pricing	Non-Member Bundle ^
Regular Registration * (Now thru May 19)	$1,595	$1,995	$1,915
Onsite Registration *	$1,695	$2,095	$2,015
Group Registration (Non-Sponsored)	Group registration is for registering four or more attendees. Members and non-members receive a 15% discount off the member and non-member rates respective to the time the group registration is initiated (i.e. Early Bird, Regular or On-Site registration periods). There is one free registration with every 10 paid registrations. If you want to register for the group pricing, fill out the form here. Please note that online registration is not available for this offer.
Corporate/Government	Effective November 1, 2025, DRI is expanding the Corporate Membership category to include attorneys working for a government entity. Corporate Membership includes complimentary registration for DRI seminars. If you are not already a DRI member, join as a Corporate Member before registering to take advantage of this benefit. If you are a current Government Member, please contact DRI Membership at membership@dri.org and the team can assist in converting your membership, which will allow you to take advantage of the complimentary registration.
Non-Member Bundle ^	If you're new to DRI and not a DRI member, take advantage of the Non-Member / Trial Membership Bundle and receive up to 9 months of membership when you register for the seminar. You’ll be able to add this special offer to your cart at checkout. Discover the benefits of DRI membership. Note: Trial membership processing can take up to 30 days from the date of purchase. Renewing members and members with recently lapsed memberships are not eligible for a Non-Member Bundle.

*If your membership has recently lapsed, please renew it before registering to ensure you receive the discounted member rate. If you are interested in joining DRI to receive the member pricing, click here to visit the Application page.

Hotel Information

The seminar will be held at the The Westin Copley Place, Boston, 10 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02116. To speak with the hotel directly, please call 617.262.9600.

Alternative Hotels

If you are planning on attending the seminar and have not secured a hotel reservation, search for hotel availability via our trusted partner aRes Travel**. Book online or call 800.559.3186 for assistance; for International callers 619.546.5773.

**aRes Travel is a third-party travel planner. Rates, deposits, and cancellation policies may vary and are the responsibility of the guest. Questions on hotel policies or payments made on aRes website should be directed to the aRes Reservation Center or to the hotel directly.

Networking Events

Dinner and Drinks at the Clery's Bar

Date: Tuesday, May 19, at 5:30 p.m.
Pricing: $35.00 (payment invoiced through PayPal)
Location: Clery's Bar, 113 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116

Join your friends, old and new, for drinks and snacks starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Cleary's Bar. A short two block walk from the hotel with a classic Boston watering hole feel. Everybody may not know your name, but we will have a blast. We will have drinks and food and catch up ahead of the conference.

To attend, please RSVP to Elizabeth Dunn via email by Friday, May 15.

Service Project for Ronald McDonald House

Date: Wednesday, May 20 from 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Location: Onsite at The Westin Copley Place

We are thrilled to support the Ronald McDonald House in preparation of toiletry kits for residents! We are looking for donations to support the purchase of the supplies and hands to put them together. This will be hosted at the hotel on Wednesday morning from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. to prepare the kits and then transport them over to the Ronald McDonald House.

If you are interested in donating either monetarily or with your time to this worthy cause, please RSVP Jeff Wells or Laurie Fiore via email by Friday, May 15. It is our hope to raise about $3,000 so we can make 150 kits for the families served by the Ronald McDonald House.

Women in the Law Gathering

Date: Thursday, May 21 from 7:45-8:45 a.m.
Pricing: Free when you register for the seminar
Location: Onsite at The Westin Copley Place

Bring your breakfast to the Women in the Law gathering – open to all – and providing an opportunity to talk and network with the most talented women in Employment Law. No reservation needed, just come join the fun.

Young Lawyers Happy Hour

Date: Thursday, May 21 at 9:30 p.m.
Pricing: Pay Your Own Way
Location: Bar 10 (in the hotel)

Our Young Lawyers are hosting a networking event at Bar 10 starting at 9:30 p.m. – open to all. Come and meet the future of our community and grow your network at this highly anticipated event, which includes a specially planned icebreaker game.

Let's Play Ball!

Date: Friday, May 22 at 7:10 p.m.
Pricing: $50.00 (payment invoiced through PayPal)
Location: Fenway Park, 4 Jersey St, Boston, MA 02215

If you are sticking around for the weekend, please consider joining us for the Boston Red Sox game as they take on the Minnesota Twins. It will be a great evening, an if you get there early enough, the first 7,500 visitors receive a Roger Clemens 20 Strikeout Double Bobblehead. Get your tickets while supplies last.

To attend, please RSVP to Elizabeth Dunn via email by Tuesday, May 19.

Dine-Arounds

Date: Wednesday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, April 30 at 8:00 p.m.

Join colleagues and friends at selected restaurants for dinner (on your own) on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Click the button below to view the restaurants and RSVP. Space is limited; early reservation is recommended.

Full Agenda

*Schedule and speakers are subject to change

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Time (Eastern)

Session

5:30 p.m.

Networking Event: Dinner and Drinks at the Clery's Bar

See more details of the event and RSVP

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Time (Eastern)	Session
9:00-11:00 a.m.	Networking Event: Service Project for Ronald McDonald House See more details of the event
12:00 p.m.	Registration
3:00 p.m.	Crisis Communication Strategies for Company Facing Litigation Attorneys representing employers will learn how to prepare to communicate when difficult issues hit the public airwaves or social media, and what impact a crisis management team can have on the process. Having a communication management plan in place allows companies and their attorneys to effectively deal with the immediate issues, while not impacting their position in the litigation. Heather Hoopes-Matthews, NP Strategy, Charleston, SC
4:00 p.m.	AI Without the Science Fiction: A Lawyer’s Guide to Understanding Artificial Intelligence This session aims to demystify AI by explaining what it is (and what it is not), how it works at a conceptual level, and why it is already reshaping professional decision-making. Attendees will leave with a practical understanding of AI’s capabilities, its limitations, and the questions every lawyer should be asking as these tools become more common in the legal profession. Donald Asplen, Achievement House Cyber Charter School, Exton, PA Jeffrey Wells, Williams Kastner, Seattle, WA Andy Anderson, OraClaim, San Francisco, CA
6:00-7:00 p.m.	Networking / Cocktail Hour
7:30 p.m.	Dine-Arounds Join colleagues and friends at selected restaurants for dinner (on your own). Dine-Around details

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Time (Eastern)	Session
7:45-8:45 a.m.	Networking Event: Women in the Law Gathering See more details of the event
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.	Registration
8:30-9:30 a.m.	Coffee Service
8:45 a.m.	Welcome and Introductions Mark Fahleson, Rembolt Ludtke LLP, Lincoln, NE Brian H. Leinhauser, MacMain Leinhauser PC, West Chester, PA
9:00-10:15 a.m.	The Year in Review Sid Steinberg and Stan Graham will provide a review of key cases, important decisions, and trending issues in employment litigation from the last year. Stan Graham, Pierson Ferdinand, LLP, Nashville, TN Sidney Steinberg, Pierson Ferdinand, LLP, Philadelphia, PA
10:15 a.m.	Coffee Break
10:30-11:30 a.m.	Settlement v. Trial - Calculating Client Exposure, Value of Fess and Jury Awards, and Impact of Litigation Tolerance of Clients Inflation of Litigation Costs, increase defense and investigation costs, possible fee shifting and trends in jury awards are all considerations for clients where employment litigation is concerned. This session will examine how to determine a client’s litigation tolerance, what contributors have the most impact on the cost of litigation as a means of developing a strategy, including the effective use of scheduling orders as a strategic use. Geri Lynn Arrindell, Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, St. Louis, MO Robert Luskin, Chartwell Law, Atlanta, GA
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.	Skillfully Dealing with Stress and Difficult People: Mindfulness Strategies for Lawyers Lawyers often deal with people going through the hardest times in their lives. This means that the work of being a lawyer often includes dealing with difficult people and opposing counsel. How can lawyers manage a case effectively amid this? How can lawyers work with people who do not manage their own stress and sometimes engage in adverse behaviors while staying well themselves? This session is intended to offer practical tips rooted in mindfulness and compassion that can help as well as the peace of mind of knowing that you aren't alone. Defense lawyer, author, blogger, and mindfulness teacher, Claire E. Parsons will review the challenge of dealing with difficult people as it arises in legal matters. She will explain how these issues trigger and compound the stress associated with law practice. She will also share strategies and practices that any legal professional can adopt to support themselves and maintain ethical standards while navigating these conflicts. Claire Parsons, Bricker Graydon Wyatt, Ft. Wright, KY
12:30 p.m.	DRI Networking Lunch
2:00 p.m.	FLSA – Litigation Trends and Tools for Defending and Mitigating Client Exposure A discussion with in-house, defense, and Plaintiff’s counsel regarding the trends in FLSA litigation, how to mitigate client exposure, and best practices in defending such claims when they arise. Moderator Dessi Day, Pierson Ferdinand LLP, San Diego, CA Paul DeCamp, Epstein, Becker & Green, Los Angeles, CA Phillip Hucles, Sentara Health, Virginia Beach, VA Richard "Rex" Burch, Bruckner Burch, Houston, TX
3:00 p.m.	How to Deal with Employees and Discipline Involving Social Media Posts and Public Statements Where employee Social Media use in the private sector creates strain on the workplace, when can an employer discipline an employee? What policies are permissible in limiting employee reference to the workplace on social media? How can employers avoid difficulties with third parties that bring employee conduct to the company’s attention? This presentation will address cases and regulations governing Social Media use for private sector employers. Mark Bakker, Maynard Nexsen PC, Greenville, SC
4:00 p.m.	Committee Meeting (Open to All)
5:30-7:30 p.m.	Networking Reception Sponsored by: Freeman Mathis & Gary LLP, Sandberg Phoenix Join fellow seminar attendees at our Networking Reception. More details to come.
8:00 p.m.	Dine-Arounds Join colleagues and friends at selected restaurants for dinner (on your own). Dine-Around details
9:30 p.m.	Networking Event: Young Lawyers Happy Hour See more details of the event

Friday, May 22, 2026

Time (Eastern)	Session
8:00 a.m.	Registration and Coffee Service
9:00 a.m.	Welcome and Announcements Sarah Sloan Batson, Maynard Nexsen, Greenville, SC
9:10 a.m.	Judge Speaks A fulsome discussion of effective strategies and tactics in employment mediations from the perspective of a former federal judge. Come ready to engage and ask questions of the honorable Thomas Reuter who has extensive experience on the bench and through his current mediation practice. Hon. Thomas Rueter (Ret.), JAMS, Philadelphia, PA Sarah Sloan Batson, Maynard Nexsen, Greenville, SC
10:10 a.m.	Coffee Break
10:25 a.m.	The Winds of Change in EEO Litigation 2025 saw some significant changes to discrimination litigation. The standard for when an employer must make a religious accommodation was “clarified,” the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) published guidance on how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs can be discriminatory, majority group discrimination (i.e., reverse discrimination) is easier to establish, and the EEOC is out of the disparate impact business (for now). This session will cover the changes and trends so you can advise your client on the latest interpretations. Eric Kinder, Spilman Thomas & Battle, Charleston, WV
11:25 a.m.	That Could Have Been Me! Don’t Let It Be You! Lessons Learned as an Attorney Ethics Complaint Investigator Employment and labor law attorneys often find themselves in tricky situations that implicate rules of professional responsibility, especially when asked to jointly represent employers and individuals accused of wrongdoing. This interactive session will cover war stories and hypotheticals taken from real world situations where attorneys have found themselves very close to or over the line of what was considered ethically permissible. Insight will also be offered on the nature of ethics complaint investigations, including recommendations for how to respond if you find yourself on the receiving end of a complaint. Bring your cellphone because your anonymous audience participation through your mobile device will be required. Randi Winter, Spencer Fane, Minneapolis, MN
12:25 p.m.	Adjourn
7:10 p.m.	Networking Event: Let's Play Ball! See more details of the event and RSVP

CLE Information

Earn up to 10.25 hours of continuing legal education hours (CLE), including 1.00 hour of Ethics credit from this seminar.

View CLE Credit by State

In some states that charge late CLE submission fees, there will be a $100 late fee to report CLE credits submitted more than 30 days after a seminar/virtual event. Click here for details on CLE late fees.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

DRI's Employment and Labor Law Seminar is proudly supported by:

Premier Sponsors

LawyerGuard A Ryan Financial Lines Product

Signature Sponsors

Seminar Sponsors

Sulloway & Hollis PLLC Counselors at Law

If you would like to learn about seminar sponsorship opportunities, including pricing, or to reserve your spot, please fill out the form to get started.

DRI Cares

Blessings in a Backpack

Please join us in supporting Blessings in a Backpack, an organization that mobilizes communities, individuals, and resources to provide food on the weekends for school-aged children across America who might otherwise go hungry. Seminar attendees will have the opportunity to fill bags of food on the way to the joint networking lunch on XXXXX. Feeding a child before you feed yourself is a wonderful way to support children and families in the XXXXX community.

Donate to Blessings in a Backpack

Additional Resources

Use DRI's Social Media Toolkit to share your excitement about the seminar on your personal or company LinkedIn account: Spread the Word to Your Network
In-House Counsel and Claims Executives Initiatives
Counsel Meeting Program
Event Terms (Cancellation and Refund Policy)

If you have any questions that are not addressed on our website, please contact DRI Customer Service at 312.795.1101 or custservice@dri.org.