Friday, 16 October 2026

7:00 - 8:30am: Breakfast

8:30 - 9:00am: Registration / Mingle

9:00 - 9:30am: Opening Remarks - Global Trends Redefining Employment Law, Stephen Hirschfeld, CEO Employment Law Alliance

9:30-10:45am  Staying Ahead of the Curve: How Global Employers Traverse Rapidly Evolving Employment Laws 

This panel explores how multinational employers monitor, interpret, and respond to fast-moving legal developments across jurisdictions. GC and CHRO panelists will share how they balance compliance, business continuity, and risk tolerance, while employment lawyers offer insight into emerging trends and practical coordination strategies.

10:45-11:15am  Coffee Break

11:15am-12:30pm  Leading Through Workforce Reductions: Balancing Legal Risk, Global Complexity, and Compassion

Workforce reductions and organizational restructurings are among the most difficult challenges facing corporate leadership. In today’s global business environment, these decisions must be executed across multiple jurisdictions—each with its own legal requirements, cultural expectations, and employee protections.

In-house counsel are often at the center of these efforts, advising leadership on how to implement workforce reductions in a way that is legally defensible, operationally effective, and respectful of the individuals affected.

This panel will explore how companies can manage reductions in force and reorganizations across global workforces while balancing legal compliance, strategic business objectives, and compassion for employees. Panelists will discuss the role of legal counsel in structuring decision-making processes, coordinating with HR and leadership, managing communications, and mitigating litigation and

reputational risk.

12:30-1:30pm  Lunch

1:30-2:00pm  Northwest Coast Indigenous Art: From Renaissance to Contemporary Practice - Gary Robert Wyatt

2:00-3:15pm  Global Talent in a Fragmented World: Immigration, Skill Shortages, and Local Backlash 

At a moment when geopolitical tensions are rising, borders are tightening, and demand for critical skills continues to outpace supply, companies are confronting a new reality: global talent strategies are only as strong as the immigration systems that enable them. What was once a back-office function is now a front-line business and legal challenge.

This panel will explore how organizations are adapting in real time. Panelists will discuss navigating increasingly complex and politicized immigration frameworks, responding to local workforce pressures, and maintaining access to key talent across jurisdictions.

The conversation will focus on practical, forward-looking solutions—from alternative visa pathways and evolving mobility models to regional talent hubs and risk mitigation strategies. Attendees will leave with actionable insights on aligning legal, HR, and immigration approaches to sustain workforce agility in a fragmented and fast-changing world.

3:15-3:30pm Coffee Break

3:30-4:45pm Client Panel: Navigating Employee Social Activism in the Workplace

Employee activism—on issues ranging from geopolitics to climate policy to social justice—is increasingly placing companies under pressure to take public positions on controversial matters.

In-house counsel are often at the center of these debates, advising leadership on the legal, cultural, and reputational implications of responding—or choosing not to respond.

This panel will explore how companies can navigate employee demands for corporate advocacy while managing legal risk, maintaining workplace cohesion, and preserving the organization’s core mission. Panelists will discuss emerging trends, practical strategies for responding to internal pressure campaigns, and how to balance employee voice with the responsibilities of corporate leadership.

Much of this activism is being fomented by labor unions as a vehicle for organizing workers. Either way, these efforts pose significant legal, organizational, and reputational risks to employers. 

6:30-11:30pm Banquet Dinner: Seasons in the Park (Optional)

• 6:30pm Staggered Buses to Seasons in the Park, leaving from the Pacific Rim
• 7:00pm Arrival at Seasons in the Park
• 7:00 - 8:00pm Welcome Reception
• 8:00 - 10:00pm Dinner Service
• 10:00 - 10:30pm Dessert, coffee & post dinner drinks
• 10:30pm - 12:00am Staggered Buses to Pacific Rim, leaving from Seasons in the Park