Mintz's Annual Employment Law Summit 2025 - New York

Employers are navigating a seismic shift as the workplace landscape has seemingly changed overnight, and businesses are bracing for further legal changes under the Trump administration. The January Executive Orders were just the beginning. Employers need to stay apprised of rapidly evolving federal developments while also accounting for state/local requirements and their own foundational corporate principles. Planning ahead for these adjustments will be crucial to ensuring stability and success.

Join us as we examine recent updates and expected future actions, including on topics such as new enforcement priorities, the latest discrimination and harassment trends, the DEI terrain in this new reality, the state of artificial intelligence in the workplace, employee data privacy issues, employee mobility, and so much more. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain practical guidance and strategic insights to help your organization stay ahead of tomorrow’s workplace challenges. 

This year, we are thrilled to feature a keynote panel of members of the Executive Team of the New York State Human Rights Division: Melissa Franco, General Counsel; Erin Sobkowski, Deputy General Counsel; and Abbey Marr, Associate Counsel.

Who Should Attend? C-Level executives, compliance officers, in-house counsel, and HR professionals from all industries.

Breakfast & Check-In (9:00 - 9:25 AM) 

Opening Remarks (9:25 - 9:30 AM)

Setting the Stage: The Current Trump Administration and the Resulting Legal Landscape (9:30 - 10:20 AM)

The legal landscape has shifted quickly in the first months of the Trump administration. Employers need to be aware of how executive actions and potential changes to important employment and immigration laws and regulations will impact their business to deftly navigate these developments. This segment will cover recent changes to rules and enforcement priorities at federal agencies, what to expect from the Trump Administration regarding important employment and immigration issues, evolving judicial trends with respect to agency rulemaking, and how all these issues impact employer policies and practices.

The State of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace (10:20 - 11:10 AM)

Our panelists will discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in 2025 and offer practical guidance when accounting for diversity, equity, and inclusion during various stages of the employment life cycle, including recruiting, retaining, and supporting all employees, whether they work for public or private companies or for federal contractors. Our panelists also will address recent issues they have encountered during this period of uncertainty around the contours of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. If you have a question that you’d like the panelists to address, be sure to email it to [email protected] or include it when you submit your Summit registration.

Break (11:10 - 11:25 AM)

The Devil is in the Details: Navigating Employee Restrictive Covenants for a Multi-Jurisdiction Workforce in 2025 (11:25 - 12:15 PM)

This interactive session tackles today’s complex challenge of advising employers on effectively utilizing employee restrictive covenants—such as non-compete, non-solicitation, and confidentiality agreements—across a multi-jurisdictional or nationwide workforce. The session will begin with an overview of key federal legislative and enforcement developments, including more recent legislative and regulatory efforts to limit non-competes. The Mintz panelists will address the evolving state-level legal landscape, with an emphasis on states in the Northeast, including New York. And finally, using live audience feedback, the session will conclude with a discussion of current best practices and strategic tips on how to successfully design, implement, and enforce employee restrictive covenants in 2025.

Break for lunch to be served. (12:15 - 12:30 PM)

Lunchtime Keynote (12:30 - 1:05 PM) 

Featuring a discussion on efforts to combat discrimination and harassment in the workplace in New York State in a changing federal landscape with members of the Executive Team of the New York State Human Rights Division, including Melissa Franco, General Counsel; Erin Sobkowski, Deputy General Counsel; and Abbey Marr, Associate Counsel.

Short Break (1:05 - 1:10 PM)

Discrimination and Harassment: New Developments and Trends (1:10 - 2:00 PM) 

In this segment, we will discuss several of the most noteworthy discrimination-related developments and trends over the past year. It will include a review of recent Supreme Court and other notable cases and regulatory guidance, and the interplay between federal and state law. We will also share perspectives and offer strategies and other insights for effectively navigating these complex issues and reducing exposure.

The Intersection of AI, Data Privacy, and Employment Law (2:00 - 2:50 PM)

Artificial intelligence has grown exponentially in prominence over the last several years and has reshaped how we think about a host of traditionally “human” activities, including many in the workplace. As companies increasingly explore the capabilities of AI, compliance with a rapidly evolving set of employment, and data privacy laws are essential to ensure that employers balance innovation with the protection of employee rights. This segment dives into these distinct but interrelated areas of the law and examines the growing mosaic of employment, AI, and data privacy laws across the country. Beyond offering an overview of the legal landscape, we will also explore data privacy safeguards and guardrails that are essential in the age of AI as well as considerations and strategies to help employers and relevant stakeholders remain compliant with this constantly evolving set of laws and regulations governing data privacy and data breaches and the protection of personal and confidential business information in the workplace.

Wrap Up & Closing Remarks (2:50 - 2:55 PM)

CLE and HR credits are available.

For any additional questions, please contact [email protected].