The Employment Law & HR Summit: Chicago
The Employment Law & HR Summit
Chicago | November 5, 2025
Illinois has emerged as a closely scrutinized jurisdiction in U.S. employment law, driven by rising litigation trends and stepped-up enforcement across key regulatory areas. The Employment Law & HR Summit in Chicago convenes senior in-house legal and HR leaders for intensive strategic planning, cutting-edge legal analysis, and practical implementation frameworks designed to master the state’s evolving compliance landscape and emerging litigation risks. This summit empowers organizations to drive compliance excellence, optimize risk management, and lead with strategic confidence into 2026.
The agenda addresses Illinois’ most urgent legal and operational priorities—from navigating Equal Pay Act compliance and mandatory pay transparency reporting to developing adaptive policies for AI-driven recruitment and advanced biometric data governance under BIPA. Participants will build strategies for coordinating multi-jurisdictional leave administration, deploying robust discrimination prevention frameworks, and preparing for heightened enforcement from the Illinois Department of Labor and the EEOC.
Exclusively designed for General Counsel, Chief Human Resources Officers, Employment Litigation Counsel, Corporate Legal Executives, and Senior HR Teams, this summit offers privileged access to specialized legal intelligence, strategic peer benchmarking, and forward-thinking compliance models. It’s a critical opportunity to anticipate regulatory shifts, reduce litigation exposure, and architect workforce strategies that are legally sound, culturally inclusive, and future-market ready.
IL CLE Pending Approval
- Performance Management Evolution: Trends Shaping the Workplace
- Discrimination and Harassment Claims: What Every Employer Needs to Know
- Litigation-Proofing the Workplace: Audits, Claims & Compliance Risk
- Pay Transparency & Equity: What’s Coming and How to Prepare
- Wrongful Termination: Reducing Risks and Legal Pitfalls
- Training Mandates & Best Practices in Workplace Education
- Employee Mental Health & Workers’ Comp: Legal Risk Meets Human Impact
- Chief Legal Officer
- CHRO
- C-Suite Executives
- SVP Human Resources + Legal
- General Counsel
- Associate + Assistant General Counsel
- VP, Human Resources + Legal
- HR Director
- Senior Employment Counsel
- Corporate Counsel
- Counsel
Agenda
One-to-One Meetings begin. If interested in participating, email info@centerforceusa.com
As Illinois employers adapt to expanded worker protections and increased scrutiny around fairness and transparency, traditional performance reviews are no longer enough. The pressure to build equitable, bias-resistant systems—while driving productivity and retention—is reshaping performance management across the state. This panel will explore how Illinois-based companies are implementing more frequent feedback models, leveraging AI to support fair evaluations, and aligning performance tracking with compliance, DEI initiatives, and business objectives. Panelists will share lessons learned from transitioning to modernized systems that meet the expectations of both regulators and employees in today’s evolving workplace.
This Panel Will Discuss:
-
Replacing outdated annual reviews with timely, consistent, and equitable feedback loops
-
Integrating digital tools and AI while mitigating algorithmic bias in evaluations
-
Aligning performance data with promotions, pay equity audits, and compliance goals
-
Fostering a transparent review process that builds trust and accountability across teams
Illinois employers operate in one of the most highly regulated employment environments in the country—with expanding state protections, aggressive IDHR enforcement, and rising plaintiff-side litigation. With new mandates around mandatory sexual harassment training, expanded whistleblower protections, and heightened expectations for DEI accountability, even minor missteps can lead to major liability. This panel will equip legal and HR leaders with the strategies needed to navigate Illinois-specific risks, ensure policy alignment, and protect their organizations through proactive prevention and response.
This Panel Will Discuss:
-
Key updates to Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA), required annual harassment training, and retaliation protections
-
Navigating investigations and handling claims with sensitivity and legal precision
-
Common risk factors in hybrid workplaces, including digital harassment and oversight challenges
-
Mitigating liability through clear policies, consistent enforcement, and proper documentation
-
Lessons from recent Illinois case law and real-world approaches to conflict resolution and defense
If interested in participating, email info@centerforceusa.com
Illinois employers face some of the nation’s most aggressive labor laws and enforcement mechanisms. With expanded protections under the Illinois Human Rights Act, evolving wage and hour standards, and increasing class-action filings under the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), the cost of non-compliance can be substantial. This panel will provide Illinois-based legal and HR leaders with actionable tools to identify and correct compliance gaps, strengthen internal policies, and prepare defensible frameworks that meet the demands of a high-risk legal landscape.
This Panel Will Explore:
-
Top risk areas for Illinois employers, including pay equity, misclassification, BIPA, and retaliation claims
-
How to conduct internal audits that align with IDOL and EEOC expectations
-
Building airtight documentation practices that support fair enforcement and mitigate liability
-
Leveraging training and policy clarity to create a litigation-resistant workplace culture
Illinois is quickly becoming one of the most proactive states in the country when it comes to pay equity. With expanded requirements under the Illinois Equal Pay Act, mandatory pay data reporting for companies with 100+ employees, and growing pressure from both the IDHR and the EEOC, employers must ensure their compensation practices are both equitable and compliant. This panel will guide HR and legal leaders through building audit-ready systems, meeting state and federal obligations, and crafting transparent pay practices that stand up to scrutiny.
This Panel Will Discuss:
-
Illinois Equal Pay Act updates and compliance requirements for data submissions and certification
-
How to conduct meaningful pay audits that uncover disparities and support equity goals
-
Structuring equitable compensation frameworks that are defensible and transparent
-
Communicating pay ranges, policies, and structures in alignment with state law and employee trust
-
Legal risks tied to discrimination claims, pay equity litigation, and intersectional disparities
If interested in participating, email info@centerforceusa.com
Illinois employers face heightened exposure to wrongful termination claims due to a combination of strong employee protections, expanded whistleblower laws, and active enforcement by the IDHR and EEOC. Even in at-will scenarios, missteps in documentation, communication, or consistency can result in costly litigation. This panel will help Illinois HR and legal professionals strengthen their processes around terminations—from compliance and documentation to employee communication and policy development—ensuring decisions are both defensible and aligned with evolving state and federal mandates.
This Panel Will Discuss:
-
Illinois-specific risks tied to retaliation, leave laws, whistleblower protections, and discrimination statutes
-
Documentation protocols to support fair and consistent employment decisions
-
How to approach separation conversations to reduce claims of bias or impropriety
-
Building robust internal procedures that reinforce compliance and limit liability
Illinois employers face some of the most comprehensive training requirements in the country—including mandatory annual sexual harassment prevention training under the Illinois Human Rights Act. With increasing scrutiny on workplace culture, documentation, and DEI accountability, HR and legal teams must ensure their training programs go beyond check-the-box compliance. This panel will provide practical strategies for meeting legal mandates, optimizing training delivery, and using education as a strategic tool to mitigate risk and reinforce organizational values.
This Panel Will Discuss:
-
Required training under Illinois law and how to exceed compliance to support a strong workplace culture
-
Leveraging LMS and technology to streamline training across departments and locations
-
Designing training that resonates—culturally aware, interactive, and relevant to your workforce
-
Ensuring proper documentation and recordkeeping to support audits and defend against claims
Illinois employers face heightened scrutiny when it comes to mental health accommodations and Workers’ Compensation compliance. With a progressive legal framework and active state enforcement, organizations must go beyond federal ADA and FMLA standards to ensure policies and practices align with Illinois-specific expectations. As psychological injury claims become more prevalent and burnout threatens productivity, this panel will provide actionable insights for building supportive workplaces that prioritize mental health while safeguarding against legal exposure.
This Panel Will Discuss:
-
Legal requirements under ADA, FMLA, and the Illinois Human Rights Act related to mental health accommodations
-
Managing Workers’ Comp claims for psychological injuries and what constitutes a compensable case in Illinois
-
Developing policies that reduce stress and burnout while ensuring legal compliance
-
Mental health support strategies that align with DEI goals, increase retention, and foster trust
If interested in participating, email info@centerforceusa.com
Rotating, 20-minute discussions hosted by a topic expert.
RT 1: Wage & Hour Watchouts: Avoiding Costly Compliance Mistakes
RT 2: Immigration Insights: Navigating Today’s Challenges
RT 3: Non-Competes Under Fire: What You Need to Know
RT 4: Litigation Landmines: How to Stay Out of the Courtroom
Sponsors
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
Laner Muchin
Our mission is to be the premier law firm concentrating in the representation of businesses in labor relations, employment litigation, employee benefits, business immigration, corporate transactions and commercial litigation.
To fulfill this mission, we continuously strive to satisfy our clients by providing unparalleled service and expertise in these areas. We accomplish our goals by serving in the dual role of lawyers and business advisors who undertake to provide solutions and strategies which demonstrate a clear understanding of each client’s unique business needs.
Our attorneys strive to practice their craft on a daily basis in a manner consistent with our Mission Statement. Together, we work diligently to be your most responsive strategic partner and to provide the best service and care for our clients.
In fulfilling our mission, we stress the importance of a preventive approach to employment relations. Whenever possible, we seek to provide non-adversarial solutions that make good business sense. Our goal is to help our clients control costly legal fees that can arise in the context of employment litigation and also to promote positive employee relations. On the other hand, when our clients are faced with employment litigation, we zealously defend their interests in a creative and cost-effective manner.
Mintz
Established in 1933, Mintz is a versatile Am Law 100 law firm with 500 attorneys serving clients worldwide. Our nimble, collaborative legal teams address the shifting legal and regulatory requirements of the global market’s most competitive industries. Our offices are strategically located to meet our clients’ needs. You will find us in Boston, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Washington, DC, and London.
Venue
TBA
Chicago, IL
Pricing
| Register By | In House Counsel | Law Firms & Vendors |
|---|---|---|
| November 5th, 2025 | $0.00 | Please contact info@centerforceusa.com |
- Payment is due in full at the time of registration and includes lunches, refreshments and detailed conference materials.
- Your registration will not be confirmed until payment is received and may be subject to cancellation.
- You may substitute delegates at any time. CenterForce does not provide refunds for cancellations.
- For cancellations received in writing more than seven (7) days prior to the conference you will receive a 100% credit to be used at another CenterForce conference for up to one year from the date of issuance.
- For cancellations received seven (7) days or less prior to an event (including day 7), no credit will be issued. In the event that CenterForce cancels an event, delegate payments at the date of cancellation will be credited to a future CenterForce event. This credit will be available for up to one year from the date of issuance.
- In the event that CenterForce postpones an event, delegate payments at the postponement date will be credited towards the rescheduled date. If the delegate is unable to attend the rescheduled event, the delegate will receive a 100% credit representing payments made towards a future CenterForce event. This credit will be available for up to one year from the date of issuance. No refunds will be available for cancellations or postponements.
- CenterForce is not responsible for any loss or damage as a result of a substitution, alteration or cancellation/postponement of an event. CenterForce shall assume no liability whatsoever in the event this conference is cancelled, rescheduled or postponed due to a fortuitous event, Act of God, unforeseen occurrence or any other event that renders performance of this conference impracticable or impossible. For purposes of this clause, a fortuitous event shall include, but not be limited to: war, fire, labor strike, extreme weather or other emergency.
- Please note that speakers and topics were confirmed at the time of publishing, however, circumstances beyond the control of the organizers may necessitate substitutions, alterations or cancellations of the speakers and/or topics. As such, CenterForce reserves the right to alter or modify the advertised speakers and/or topics if necessary. Any substitutions or alterations will be updated on our web page as soon as possible.
- All discounts must require payment at time of registration and before the cut-off date in order to receive any discount.
- Any discounts offered whether by CenterForce (including team discounts) must also require payment at the time of registration.
- All discount offers cannot be combined with any other offer.