The Heartland’s premier alliance of human resources, academic and legal advisors promoting workplace Excellence.

2026 Co-Chairs:
Molly W. Keppler, Stinson LLP
Leyla McMullen, Mdivani Corporate Immigration Law Firm

Program Schedules

Plenary Sessions

Access to the virtual platform starts at 7:30 AM. Breakfast included with in person attendance.

  • 8:00 a.m. Early Bird Legal Ethics
  • 8:55 a.m. Welcome & Opening Remarks
  • 9:00 a.m. Employment Law & Agency Update
  • 9:50 a.m. HR Panel: Corporate Compliance & Immigration Update
  • 10:40 a.m. Morning Break
  • 10:55 a.m. Breakout Sessions
  • 11:45 a.m. Network Lunch
  • 12:30 p.m. Luncheon presentation
  • 1:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions
  • 2:20 p.m. Break
  • 2:35 p.m. Internal and External Workplace Investigations
  • 3:25 p.m. Judges Panel: Avoiding Employment Litigation
  • 4:15 p.m. Adjourn and networking reception
Join Plenary Session

Breakout Sessions AM

Access to the virtual platform starts at 10:45 p.m.

A) Cutting Your Roster Down to Size: Managing RIF and Furlough Risk

Reductions in Force Furloughs
Discussion of legal and practical considerations for layoffs and furloughs, including discrimination risk, WARN Act compliance, and effective communication strategies.


Melody Rayl, Fisher & Phillips LLP
A. J. Weissler, Husch Blackwell LLP


Join Session A

B) Beyond the Pitch: Supporting Mental Health and Religious Accommodations

Mental Health Religious Accommodations
Practical guidance on handling mental health and religious accommodation requests, evaluating undue hardship, engaging in the interactive process, and documenting decisions


Kyle Russell, Husch Blackwell LLP
Casey Murray, Spencer Fane LLP


Join Session B

Breakout Sessions PM

Access to the virtual platform starts at 1:20 p.m.

C) Protecting the Playbook: Data Privacy in the Digital Age

Managing Employee Data Privacy Risks in the Modern Workplace
Data privacy obligations for employers are evolving at a rapid pace—and the stakes for getting it wrong have never been higher. In this engaging and practical session We cut through the noise surrounding employee data privacy and focus on what labor and employment practitioners need to know now. Attendees will receive a clear overview of the current legal landscape governing employee and applicant data, including multi-state privacy laws, biometric data requirements, workplace monitoring issues, and emerging enforcement trends. The program will also address best practices for data collection, retention, incident response, and cross-functional coordination with HR and IT—helping employers avoid turning routine data practices into a potential “Bad Blood” situation.


Kim Seten, Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete LLP


Join Session C

D) The Beautiful Game: Creating DEI Programs Amid Evolving Legal Landscapes

(1.0 ethics/elimination of bias)
Examination of lawful and sustainable approaches to diversity and equity initiatives amid increased legal scrutiny, with guidance on policy design and training.


Shelly Freeman, FineLine HR Consulting, LLC and Freeman Martin McKee, LLC
Samantha Monsees, Fisher & Phillips LLP

Join Session D

Continuing Legal Education Credit

Contact Us

UMKC School of Law is utilizing Zoom for this live streaming event. Please visit https://zoom.us/test to test your connection and browser’s compatibility. If you receive an error, please follow the instructions as suggested. If you need assistance at any point in the process, please contact our office at:
Phone: 816-235-1648 or Email: umkccle@umkc.edu