The Employment Law & HR Summit: Los Angeles

Eric Reynolds is a strategic Human Resources and Employee Success executive with over 25 years of leadership experience spanning healthcare, public sector, transportation, and technology environments. Known for leading complex organizational change, Eric has driven cultural transformation, labor strategy, and inclusive talent development in both unionized and non-unionized workforces. He currently serves as Human Resources Manager at CalOptima Health, where he partners with senior leaders on workforce planning, post-merger integration, and equity-centered initiatives to enhance employee engagement and operational performance.
A U.S. Navy veteran and nationally certified Senior Professional in Human Resources, Eric has successfully negotiated union contracts, led enterprise-wide DEI strategies, and implemented data-informed solutions to reduce risk and improve employee relations. His expertise includes labor compliance, change management (Prosci ADKAR), strategic coaching, and system-level workforce optimization.
Eric holds master’s degrees in Industrial Relations and Criminal Justice and is a doctoral candidate in Organizational Change and Leadership at the University of Southern California. He is also an alum of Harvard’s Racial Equity Executive Leadership Program and Cornell’s Diversity & Inclusion Certificate Program. Eric is passionate about empowering purpose-driven leadership, advancing procedural justice, and fostering inclusive, high-performing workplace cultures.

Chris is the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Aspire Bakeries, the leading frozen baked goods manufacturer in North America. Aspire Bakeries operates 13 bakeries across the United States and Canada. In addition to its own established brands (La Brea Bakery, Otis Spunkmeyer, Pennant Foods, and Oakrun Farm Bakery), Aspire Bakeries supplies a diverse selection of frozen baked goods to major retailers, foodservice distributors, and restaurants. As General Counsel, Chris serves on the Executive Leadership team and handles all of the company’s legal concerns and operations.

Prior to his role at Aspire, Chris specialized in traditional labor and employment litigation for mid-sized and large private practice firms, and he was Labor and Employment counsel for fashion retailer Forever 21.

Rachel Barack is an accomplished legal executive with over two decades of experience leading labor and employment, compliance, and corporate legal functions both at public and private companies.  Currently serving as General Counsel at Athens Services, Rachel advises executive leadership teams and the Boards of Directors on cross-functional strategies that mitigate risk, promote compliance and support long-term business growth.  Known for strategic vision and pragmatic legal counsel, Rachel has overseen legal transformations in litigation, labor and employment, comp;iance and corporate legal risk, while enhancing internal people- and legal- related processes.  Rachel has deep expertise in investigations, labor relations, workforce and global compliance, crisis management and employment law, having led global teams across diverse jurisdictions.

Prior to her current role, Rachel served as VP-Compliance and Associate General Counsel at a publicly traded, fortune-500 company, leading enterprise-wide initiatives in employment, compliance, and crisis-management, and contributing measurable improvements in DEI and workforce strategies.

A trusted legal partner and advocate for sustainable and ethical business and legal practices, Rachel brings a unique combination of legal acumen, executive leadership, and cross-functional insight.  She holds a J.D. as well as a B.A. in Philosophy with an emphasis on Ethics and Public Policy.

Francis Lam currently serves as Vice President & Deputy General Counsel at OC Sports & Entertainment, LLC (OCSE) where he plays a pivotal role in setting and steering legal strategies for OCSE and its affiliates, including the Anaheim Ducks Hockey Club, San Diego Gulls Hockey Club, The Rinks Foundation, and Anaheim Arena Management. In his role, Francis oversees litigation and regulatory response as well as legal affairs for the organization’s employment, labor, security, guest relations, safety, and risk management functions.

Francis began his legal career at Sidley Austin. He has since held in-house positions with Lyft, Disney, and Bird Rides, accumulating invaluable insights into the legal intricacies of diverse industries ranging from technology to transportation to sports and entertainment.

Jenni Lupinski is a seasoned HR executive with over 16 years of progressive leadership experience, including the past 8 years in the aerospace industry. As Human Resources Director at GKN Aerospace, she leads strategic initiatives in employee relations, legal compliance, and organizational development across a multi-site footprint. Jenni is known for driving business-aligned HR solutions, navigating complex labor matters, and fostering strong leadership partnerships that enable performance and cultural transformation. She is passionate about building resilient, compliant, and people-centered workplaces.

Jasmin Rinna is currently Senior Director, Head of Employee Relations, Investigations, and People Standards for Relativity Space, Inc., a NewSpace commercial rocket start-up that launched a 3D printed (additive manufactured) space rocket in March 2023. Ms. Rinna oversees employment, litigation and compliance matters for the company while also overseeing the company’s Employee Relations team. Prior to joining Relativity Space, Ms. Rinna was Senior Employment Counsel for Snap, Inc. Prior to Snap., Inc., Ms. Rinna spent nine years as Senior Counsel for American Honda Motor, Co., Inc. (“Honda”) where she oversaw employment, litigation and helped support a variety of corporate matters. While at Honda, Ms. Rinna also led regional cross-functional projects and supported Honda’s North American Risk Management and Ethics and Compliance functions at an executive level.
Prior to going in-house, Ms. Rinna was trial attorney and litigator for close to a decade, practicing both employment and business litigation/arbitration in California and New York. Ms. Rinna holds a J.D. (cum laude) from Syracuse University College of Law and an undergraduate degree in Political Science (and Law and Society) from the University of California, San Diego.
When she is not lawyering, she loves spending time with her family outdoors, which includes being mom to two wonderful daughters (ages 5 and 1).

Camilo Echavarria is a fixer—he handles his client’s employment problems so that they can focus on their business and do what is most important to them. For over 20 years, Camilo has worked with large and medium-sized employers in California to defend them in employment lawsuits—from single-plaintiff to class action cases. He also provides his clients with practical employment advice in their day-to-day operations and helps them navigate California’s complicated employment laws.

Camilo specializes in defending and advising clients in the entertainment, healthcare, financial services, and retail industries. With two decades of experience including as in-house counsel for NBC Universal, Camilo has firsthand knowledge of cost-effective ways to partner with clients and provide responsive, results-oriented counsel.

As Grindr’s long-time head of Legal, Bill Shafton has been proud to be a part of an exceptional team dedicated to connecting millions of people every day in virtually every country in the world.  His business-focused counsel has facilitated the company’s extensive growth while playing central roles in Grindr’s multi-faceted legal, global compliance, and business operations initiatives.

Lauren Blas is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Gibson Dunn where her practice focuses on class actions, labor and employment litigation, and complex commercial litigation in the trial courts and on appeal.

Lauren represents clients in class actions in state and federal court, including several class action trials. She has litigated a wide range of appellate matters as well. She has special expertise in employment class actions under California law (including PAGA) and federal law (including Title VII, the Equal Pay Act, USERRA, and the ADA). She also has extensive experience litigating class actions under California’s consumer protection statutes, including the Unfair Competition Law, the False Advertising Law, and the Consumers Legal Remedies Act.

Lauren has been recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a “Future Star” and acknowledged by Lawdragon for her exceptional litigation skills, as a “Leading Litigator in America” and “Leading Corporate Employment Lawyer” with more than a decade of experience. Additionally, Lauren has also been named a “Rising Star” by Law360, recognized as “One to Watch” in Labor and Employment by The Best Lawyers in America®, and designated a “Rising Star” in Class Actions/Mass Torts and Appellate Litigation in Southern California by Super Lawyers Magazine.

Sharon O. Rossi is a shareholder at Rogers Joseph O’Donnell PC. Ms. Rossi’s practice is focused on defending complex cases in state and federal courts, with emphasis on class and representative actions, including Private Attorneys’ General Act (PAGA) claims. She has experience handling all aspects of litigation from inception through trial, as well as appeals.

Ms. Rossi prides herself on listening to her client’s business needs to direct them to the best strategy based on their objectives. Over her years of practice, Ms. Rossi has learned that successful client relationships depend on clear communication, strong collaboration and empathetic listening. Collaborative and collegial in her approach to all matters, Ms. Rossi is nevertheless a fierce advocate for her clients.

In addition to her litigation practice, Ms. Rossi has extensive experience counseling employers on a wide array of matters, including leaves of absence, disability accommodations, terminations and harassment complaints. She also works with employers to ensure their policies are legally compliant and conducts investigations in response to employee complaints of alleged unlawful practices.

Ms. Rossi also defends employers before federal and state administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the California Civil Rights Department (formerly the DFEH), the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement and the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board.

Currently a trustee for the Alpha Epsilon Phi Foundation, Ms. Rossi previously served on the board of the San Francisco Affiliate of Dress for Success, an international non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the economic independence of disadvantaged women.

Dave Anders-Richards is a seasoned People leader known for his expertise in building and scaling business-anchored talent functions across both agile startups and public companies. As Director, People Strategy at Oscar Health, Dave partners directly with C-level leaders across functions such as the Office of the CEO, Corporate Strategy, Finance, Legal & Compliance, and Public Affairs.

With extensive experience in talent management, organizational development & design, and executive coaching, Dave excels at identifying and enacting talent strategies that enable efficient execution against strategic goals. He has a proven track record of driving significant organizational change, including crucial contributions to Oscar’s 2021 IPO, multiple company-wide re-organizations, the design and launch of Oscar’s Leadership Principles program, and overhauling Oscar’s Performance and Talent Review programs.

Earlier in his career, Dave led the People function at Upstart, growing the company from 25 to over 125 employees and improving employee retention from 83% to 94% through cultural transformation and enhanced engagement. Dave’s ability to navigate complex people challenges, from launching apprenticeship programs for underrepresented communities to guiding teams through major organizational shifts, makes him a valuable voice on the evolving landscape of human resources.

Dave lives in Seattle with his wonderful wife and their two pets. In his spare time, Dave is an avid outdoorsman, serving as a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger with the US Forest Service in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

Matt Hall is a Human Resources leader with extensive experience driving organizational development, employee engagement, and operational efficiency across multi-site organizations. With a career spanning industries such as retail, food production, government services, and distribution, Matt is currently the HR Director at Beauty International/DryBar. He specializes in compliance, talent development, compensation programs, and change management. Known for reducing costs while improving culture and performance, Matt has successfully navigated contract transitions, organizational restructuring, and workforce alignment initiatives. Holding both an MBA with an emphasis in Human Resources and dual HR certifications, Matt is recognized for his ability to build high-performing teams, foster employee trust, and align HR strategy with business goals.

Spencer Hamer represents employers in state and federal courts in a wide range of employment law matters, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, breach of contract, whistleblower claims, and wage and hour class actions. He regularly advises employers on compliance and emphasizes proactive steps to avoid litigation. His approach includes policy and procedure development, wage-hour audits, workplace investigations, and management training. Spencer has conducted employment law due diligence on hundreds of buy- and sell-side deals and helps clients identify and mitigate risks pre-sale. He believes that understanding a client’s industry is critical and has represented clients across sectors, including healthcare, hospitality, retail, insurance, manufacturing, and technology.

David Bock is a strategic and solutions-oriented in-house counsel with deep expertise in employment law, regulatory compliance, and operational risk management. David currently serves as Senior Counsel leading the Employment and Litigation legal division at VCA Animal Hospitals, Inc. (Mars Veterinary Health), the largest veterinary health provider in the United States. David plays a critical part in shaping employment policies, negotiating complex employment agreements, managing the organization’s risk litigation portfolio—including employment, professional liability, general liability, and commercial matters—and guiding leadership through high-stakes issues ranging from OSHA investigations to enterprise-wide workplace employment and regulatory compliance. He brings a strong command of both the legal landscape and the operational realities of running a fast-paced, multi-site, people-centered business across international jurisdictions to be a trusted advisor and advocate to the business. Prior to going in-house, David litigated employment defense cases at a national law firm across California state and federal courts. David currently serves as advisory counsel for several environmental and arts nonprofits in San Diego. He has been recognized by various associations, including being chosen as the 2024 Rising Star of San Diego by the Association of Corporate

Derek Foran represents public and private companies in complex civil litigation in state and federal courts. Considered a litigation “heavy weight,” his practice focuses on high stakes trials and commercial litigation. Derek has extensive experience representing clients in complex commercial matters in state and federal trial courts and in private arbitration. Most recently, Derek secured a complete defense verdict on behalf of Lattice Semiconductor in a case seeking over $82 million in compensatory damages. After an 11-day trial the jury returned a verdict for Lattice in less than two hours. Among other awards, Derek has been recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer on multiple occasions, named as a Top 100 High Stakes Litigator in Northern California, as well as a Recommended Lawyer in the 2022 edition of Legal 500 US. Clients turn to Derek because he is a “stand out” litigator who provides “excellent and strategic litigation advice.”

Derek also maintains an active pro bono practice. In 2016, he was awarded the Christopher Tietze Humanitarian Award for significant, lifetime contributions in the field of reproductive rights. Prior winners of this award include Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun, the ACLU, and three US Senators. His work has been written about in The New York Times, TheWashington Post, and The Los Angeles Times.

Derek is a member of the Board of Governors of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Northern California Chapter. He is also a former member of the Board of Directors of Bay Area Legal Aid and the Executive Committee of the Civil Litigation Section of the San Francisco Bar Association.

Derek is originally from Ireland.

Driven by his family’s own immigration story, Gabriel Castro has risen to become a Senior Associate and head of BAL’s Sports and Entertainment practice in BAL’s Los Angeles office.

Gabriel has represented businesses of all sizes, from Fortune 500 companies to local mom-and-pop shops. He has helped professional sports franchises in the NBA, WNBA, NHL, MLB and MLS secure visas for top international talent. He is particularly adept at finding creative immigration strategies for athletes in emerging sports, including e-sports and entertainers in the music, film and television industries.

Gabriel is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and has been listed in the Best Lawyer’s guide since 2022. He has been quoted as an expert in several top publications, including The Washington Post, Sports Illustrated and USA Today.

Kristi is an Associate with the Los Angeles BAL office, where she specializes in U.S. business immigration, particularly the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program and sports/entertainment immigration. She excels in investment and employment-based immigration, assisting diverse clients, from startups to multinational corporations, across industries like sports and entertainment, technology and finance. Her extensive career includes roles in global immigration firms and boutique law offices, as well as leadership in international law firms’ immigration practice groups.

Kristi has authored and co-authored articles in EB-5 Investors Magazine, addressing recent program developments, source of funds and EB-5 requirements. She is also a sought-after speaker and panelist, sharing insights at EB-5 Affiliate Network and EB-5 Investors Magazine events.

Robert focuses on defending employers in administrative complaints, arbitration, and litigation. He has successfully defended employers in matters involving FEHA, FLSA, PAGA, EEOC, DOL, DLSE, Title VII, OSHA, class actions, and workplace sexual assaults. Robert also provides advice, counsel, and auditing services that have successfully identified potential liabilities and resolved those issues. In addition, he provides risk management counseling, including training for supervisors and employees on multiple labor and employment issues.

Robert started his career as a Los Angeles County public defender, which provided him with substantial courtroom experience. He has spent more than 20 years representing private individuals and corporations in various fields, including but not limited to general litigation and employment and labor law.

Jarod Stewart is chair of Steptoe’s Commercial Trials & Litigation group. He is a seasoned litigator and trial lawyer who gets the details right; is responsive; and out-briefs, out-prepares, and out-works the opposition to succeed in litigation and at trial. Jarod has represented plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of matters, including business divorces, trade secrets disputes, healthcare litigation, fraudulent-transfer lawsuits, oil and gas disputes, and transnational cases involving Latin America.

Jarod primarily focuses his practice on helping clients in the energy and healthcare industries. He has gone toe-to-toe with outstanding lawyers from across the United States and has won significant victories for his clients in court, arbitration, and administrative proceedings. Clients praise his ability to produce outstanding work product quickly, and to help them navigate thorny legal issues whenever and wherever he is needed.

Jarod’s clients know that they can call him at any time to provide guidance and direction on how to navigate disputes at an early stage or throughout hard-fought litigation, including trial and appeal.

Cynthia Chen McTernan is a partner in Gibson Dunn’s Los Angeles office, focusing on employment and complex commercial disputes. She represents clients in high-stakes wage-and-hour, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and PAGA actions, while also advising on compliance, DEI initiatives, and internal investigations. Her practice spans class actions, mass arbitrations, government enforcement, and consumer litigation across industries including technology, retail, life sciences, and higher education. Recognized by Lawdragon and Best Lawyers in America® for her employment and commercial litigation expertise, she is also active in pro bono work supporting anti-Asian hate-crime victims and serves on Gibson Dunn’s Diversity Committee and the board of Cancer Support Community Los Angeles.