HR Legal Insights: A Symposium for Bankers

9:00-9:10 a.m.   Welcome

9:10-9:55  The Human Factor: Managing Legal Risk as AI Transforms HR Ross Broudy & Leah Stiegler | Woods Rogers

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into HR operations, employers face a growing number of legal, compliance, and employee-relations considerations. Whether leveraging AI to source talent, evaluate performance, identify training opportunities, or support workforce planning, organizations must balance innovation with accountability.

In this session, Leah Stiegler, a Woods Rogers principal and management-side employment attorney, is joined by Ross Broudy, a Woods Rogers cybersecurity and data privacy attorney, to examine the most significant legal risks associated with AI-driven HR decision-making and provide practical guidance for mitigating those risks. Through real-world examples and practical insights, attendees will learn how to evaluate AI tools, preserve appropriate human oversight, avoid common compliance pitfalls, and build governance frameworks that support both organizational goals and legal compliance.

9:55-10:45 The Evolving Landscape of Employee Leave and Accommodations in 2026 Kristina Vaquera | JacksonLewis

In an increasingly complex environment facing employers, employee leave and accommodation programs are strategic business issues directly impacting talent retention, operational effectiveness, employee well-being, and organizational risk. Financial institutions face growing pressure to navigate expanding federal, state, and local leave requirements while addressing evolving employee expectations around flexibility, mental health, caregiving responsibilities, and workplace accommodations.

This session examines key leave and accommodation trends shaping the workforce in 2026 and explores their impact on workforce planning, productivity, compliance, and the employee experience. Attendees will gain insight into emerging legal developments, increasing accommodation requests and challenges, return-to-office and remote work considerations, and best practices for balancing business objectives with a supportive workplace culture. Participants will leave with practical strategies to strengthen compliance, reduce risk, improve retention, and position their organizations to meet the changing needs of today’s workforce while maintaining operational excellence.

10:45-11:00am  Break

11:00am-12:00pm Navigating DEI, EEO, and Anti-Discrimination Compliance in a Changing Environment Christy Kiely | Seyfarth Shaw LLP

12:00-1:00pm  Lunch & Roundtable Discussion

1:00-2:00pm Updates and Changes in Employment Law at the State & Federal Level Caralea Grant & Andrew Henson | Troutman Pepper Locke

2:00-3:30pm Legal Panel

• Caralea Grant | Troutman Pepper Locke
• Andrew Henson | Troutman Pepper Locke
• Christy Kiely | Seyfarth Shaw LLP
• Fred Schutt | Woods Rogers

*Topics subject to change.

Ross Broudy
Woods Rogers

Ross advises both domestic and global clients on a wide range of technology issues as an
associate in the Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Practice at Woods Rogers. With a nimble, creative, and disciplined approach to practicing law, clients regularly rely on Ross for strategic and business-minded solutions regarding complex technology contracts, artificial intelligence governance, cybersecurity risk, incident response, and navigating compliance with evolving privacy and data protection laws.

From Fortune 200 companies to startups, Ross advises businesses in a wide range of industries such as energy, manufacturing, healthcare, automotive, and software, along with state agencies and local governments. He has negotiated and served as lead associate in complex technology deals including SaaS agreements, technology procurement contracts, master services agreements, cloud services agreements, professional services agreements, IT consulting agreements, DPAs, and cybersecurity addenda. Ross also advises clients on privacy and data protection laws and regulations such as state data breach laws, the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA), Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the EU AI Act.

Beyond the development and deployment of privacy programs and compliance rollouts, Ross has a knack for helping clients harmonize organizational AI governance policies with business opportunities. On the incident response side, Ross has managed and assisted in all phases of high-stakes cybersecurity incidents, from crisis management and forensic investigation to notice compliance.

Caralea Grant
Troutman Pepper Locke

Bio coming soon!

Andrew Henson
Troutman Pepper Locke

Bio coming soon!

Fred Schutt
Woods Rogers

Focused on helping employers avoid costly litigation and regulatory violation, Fred routinely
defends employers before federal and state agencies, including the EEOC, DOL, and OSHA. Fred also has extensive experience defending employers in state and federal court in a variety of employment related cases alleging violation of the ADA, ADEA, Title VII, Title IX, Equal Pay Act, FMLA, and the FLSA, breach of contract, and violation of restrictive covenants.

Outside the courtroom, Fred conducts workplace investigations, negotiates employment related agreements, and advises employers on effective workplace policies. In addition, he has significant experience advising clients regarding and litigating insurance coverage issues.

A native Richmonder and lifelong Virginian, Fred loves to help local businesses thrive.
Outside of work, Fred enjoys being with his wife and three young children and coaching their
youth sports teams. He supports organizations that seek to build character in and create
opportunities for local youth through participation in sports and exposure to the outdoors.
Fred is also a devoted fans of the Hoos and aspires to get his kids to Charlottesville for as many games as he can.

Leah Stiegler
Woods Rogers

Leah can walk employers through any workplace situation. From complex personnel matters, to implementing client-specific performance management practices, Leah advises employers to navigate these issues to keep them out of court. Her counseling covers the entire employment spectrum: recruitment, onboarding, workplace culture, pay equity audits, RIFs, terminations and severance packages.

Leah handles workplace investigations and defends actions before administrative agencies such as the EEOC, DOL, and NLRB. Leah has extensive litigation experience, defending employers in state and federal court on claims including but not limited to:

• Breach of employment agreements
• Harassment, discrimination, and retaliation (Title VII)
• Whistleblower complaints
• ADA or religious-based failure to accommodate claims
• FMLA non-compliance
• Workplace violence and negligent supervision
• FLSA unpaid overtime, misclassification and off-the-clock claims
• Workplace safety, OSHA, or VOSH actions

Leah also represents employers navigating union issues, labor relations arbitrations and
collective bargaining. Every workforce loves Leah’s dynamic public speaking style. Having
traveled the Mid-Atlantic to train front-line employees, upper management, HR and other
industry professionals, Leah creates custom workforce training programs with her team and has fun doing it!

Leah also maintains a higher education practice. She provides day-to-day compliance advice to public and private higher ed institutions on employment and student-related matters. These include navigating Title VII, Title IX, and code of conduct investigations, faculty, administrative, and athletic coach contracts and severance packages, tenure and promotion processes, and pay equity audits. Leah also trains school leadership, such as Deans and Chairs, on improving documentation and engaging in performance management of faculty.

To see Leah in action, check out What’s the Tea in L&E!

Outside of work, you can find Leah trash-talking on the basketball court or organizing her Nike sneakers. On weekends, she enjoys mucking stalls and setting fences for her wife, a professional show jumper.

Kristina Vaquera
JacksonLewis

Kristina H. Vaquera is a principal in the Richmond, and Norfolk, Virginia, offices of Jackson Lewis P.C. Kristina is an experienced employment and labor attorney with over 20 years of strategic advice and representation of employers exclusively across a wide range of industries. Kristina focuses on partnering with companies to help them navigate complex employment issues and laws and ensure multi-state compliance and advocating for her clients in federal and state court litigation and agency matters.

Kristina represents employers in federal and state court litigation, as well as agency charges and investigations covering a wide range of federal and state statutes and subjects, including discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, harassment, failure to accommodate disabilities and access claims, defamation, breach of contract, fraud, failure to pay wages and wage misclassification, and a variety of other statutory and common law claims, such as covenants not to compete and restrictive covenants, negligent hire/retention, and breaches of fiduciary duty and contract. Kristina has litigated class and collective actions as part of her litigation practice. She represents clients in grievances, mediations, arbitrations, and charges before various national and state entities, including before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, National Labor Relations Board, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and numerous state agencies, such as Virginia Occupational Safety and Health,  Virginia Employment Commission, Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, Virginia Department of Housing Discrimination, and Virginia Worker’s Compensation Commission.

As part of her national advice and counsel practice, Kristina provides strategic advice and counsel on a wide range of legal matters, including inclusion risk assessment and compliance. As part of Kristina’s counseling practice, she provides daily advice and counseling and training to management to proactively assist employers in mitigating risk and avoiding litigation. She assists clients with employment agreements, handbooks, background checks and drug testing issues, investigations and disciplinary action.  She also has extensive experience in conducting workplace investigations and delivering both in-person and virtual training sessions for all employees, including boards, executive leadership teams, managers, in-house counsel and human resource professionals. Kristina works with companies to guide them through workplace safety and health compliance as well as investigations of workplace injuries.

Kristina also partners with clients to assist with traditional labor relations issues, including unfair labor practices claims, bargaining and negotiations. She speaks on employment law topics and works with employers in preventative and educational counseling, including to SHRM VA DC, Hampton Roads Society of Human Resource Managers group, Virginia Bar Association’s Labor and Employment and Corporate Counsel Sections, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Virginia Employment Commission, International Professional Managers Association, Virginia Government Contract Attorneys Association, Virginia Ship Repair Association, Society of Designers and Architects, local chambers of commerce, Hampton Roads Industrial Liaison Group, PINK! Women Business Owners Conference, Public Media Business Association, the American Council of Engineering Companies, and the Retail Association of Hampton Roads.

IN-PERSON
Members: $295
Non-Members: $595

VIRTUAL
Members: $275
Non-Members: $575

In-Person registrations fees include a continental breakfast, lunch, and snacks.

Location

In-Person
Virginia Society of CPAs
4309 Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060

Virtual/Zoom
Zoom details will be provided at a later date.

MBA/VBA Policies

By registering for this event, you are agreeing to the MBA/VBA Event Policies and the Privacy Policy.

Special Needs & Americans with Disabilities Notice

Please share any specific needs that should be considered as we plan for the event (i.e. hearing impaired, sight impaired, etc.). Please contact Marie Basil with any details.

Cancellation Policy

All cancellations will be charged a $25.00 administrative fee. Cancellations received after September 8, 2025 will be charged a $75.00 administrative fee plus any additional fees associated with the training. Substitutions are allowed prior to the beginning of course.

Drury Plaza Hotel Richmond
11049 West Broad Street
Glen Allen, VA 23060

The association has reserved a block of rooms at the Drury Plaza at the rate of $132/night, plus applicable taxes and fees. Click here to make your reservation by the cut-off date, July 31, 2026.

The rate includes a hot breakfast, evening food and drinks at 5:30 pm, parking and Wi-Fi.