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, 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.

Lacey advises her clients on a wide range of litigation matters involving technology, cyber threats, copyrights, trademarks, contracts, film and television production, and insurance coverage disputes. She has extensive experience litigating cases in federal and state courts and overseeing large-scale litigation and e-discovery projects on behalf of interactive media companies, gaming conventions, film producers, and movie studios. Lacey has also represented multinational insurers in high-exposure liability litigation and coverage matters.

Before pursuing her legal career, Lacey served as a project director and new media producer at Turner Classic Movies, which provided her with the foundation necessary to counsel on entertainment-related transactions, including negotiating and drafting film, television, and new media agreements. She is also often retained by gaming and social media companies to assist them on high-stakes copyright, trademark, and other IP matters.

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 Director, Assistant General Counsel and Head of Employee Relations 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.

Lacey advises her clients on a wide range of litigation matters involving technology, cyber threats, copyrights, trademarks, contracts, film and television production, and insurance coverage disputes. Lacey is committed to improving diversity in the legal profession and all other industries. She currently co-chairs Ropers Majeski’s Diversity Committee and mentors young aspiring attorneys from diverse backgrounds. She regularly provides pro-bono legal services to worthy causes championing diversity and has served on the boards of non-profit organizations, such as Be More Heroic. Lacey has also been a member of and supported such empowering and inclusive organizations as Women In Film, the Los Angeles LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, and the NGLCC National Legal Industry Council.