CA Legal Insights for 2026 East Bay
January 30, 2026 | 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM PT
Get ready for 2026 with insights into the latest California workplace regulations. As California continues to lead the nation in progressive legislation and regulatory enforcement, staying ahead of the state’s evolving compliance landscape is critical for every organization.
Attendees will gain actionable insights into emerging risks, upcoming legal changes, and best practices for maintaining compliance in an increasingly complex regulatory environment. Whether you manage operations, legal affairs, or compliance strategy, this session will equip you with the tools and foresight to confidently navigate California’s ever-changing legal terrain. Top-tier employment law attorneys will guide you through new laws and bills taking effect from January 1, 2026, and beyond.
Key Takeaways:
- Understand the latest California legislative and regulatory updates for 2026
- Identify high-impact compliance risks and enforcement trends
- Learn strategies for operationalizing compliance across departments
- Engage with peers and experts on practical solutions for today’s legal challenges
Join us for an in-depth session and ensure a compliant and effective 2026.
Hosted by:
Location – In Person
Insperity – Walnut Creek Meeting Room 2
2999 Oak Road
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Program Cost
SHRM Member: $169
SHRM Non-Member: $229
Program Agenda
9:00-9:30
Registration, Network with sponsors + Coffee Break
9:30-10:30
Paid Leave, Disability Accommodations and FMLA
Speaker: Cathy Lee, Partner at Atkinson, Anderson, Loya, Rudd & Romo
10:45-12:15
New Employment Laws, Recent Regulations, and Legal issues that will impact California Employers
As we look ahead and prepare for the new year, please join Erika Frank, to review and discuss new laws, recent regulations, and legal issues that will impact California employers in 2026 and beyond
Speaker: Erika Frank, VP Legal Counsel at California Hospital Association
12:15-1:00
Lunch and networking
1:00-2:15
Initiate, follow up, and close out: How to effectively and efficiently handle and complete workplace investigation in 2026
Experienced HR professionals have experienced vague and open ended complaints from employees seeking to take advance of a company’s mandatory investigation policy to impede routine workplace counseling or simply interrupt company operations. This presentation will review legal requirements and best practices in effectively and efficiently initiating, completing, and documenting workplace investigations in order to fully address employee workplace complaints and put the employer in the strongest position possible in any subsequent employment litigation. It will provide detailed, step by step guidance on recommended actions in taking an investigation from the initial employee complaint to closing out the investigation through a documented investigation report.
2:30-3:30
Hiring and Terminations
The entire employment cycle requires HR diligence, but your processes for hiring and termination are critical to an effective and productive workforce. In this session, Jeanine will discuss the steps to take when you plan to hire for a position, offering the position, and the worker’s first few days on the job. Then, she’ll talk about what to do when you’ve determined that letting the employee go is necessary. Planning ahead to ensure your hiring and terminations are fair is one of the many ways HR professionals bring extraordinary value to their organizations.
Speaker: Jeanine DeBaker, Employment Law Attorney at McPharlin Sprinkles & Thomas LLP