The 2026 HR Legal Insights Symposium delivers timely updates on employment law and HR compliance tailored for banking professionals. Through expert-led sessions and real-world case discussions, attendees gain practical guidance to navigate risk, strengthen policies, and stay ahead of evolving regulations.

Agenda Topics* & Session Descriptions

9:00-9:10 a.m.   Welcome

9:10-9:55  Topic: Legalities & Potential Pitfalls When Using AI Leah Stiegler | Woods Rogers

9:55-10:45 The Evolving Landscape of Employee Leave and Accommodations in 2026 Kristina Vaquera | JacksonLewis

In an increasingly complex environment facing employers, employee leave and accommodation programs are strategic business issues directly impacting talent retention, operational effectiveness, employee well-being, and organizational risk. Financial institutions face growing pressure to navigate expanding federal, state, and local leave requirements while addressing evolving employee expectations around flexibility, mental health, caregiving responsibilities, and workplace accommodations.

This session examines key leave and accommodation trends shaping the workforce in 2026 and explores their impact on workforce planning, productivity, compliance, and the employee experience. Attendees will gain insight into emerging legal developments, increasing accommodation requests and challenges, return-to-office and remote work considerations, and best practices for balancing business objectives with a supportive workplace culture. Participants will leave with practical strategies to strengthen compliance, reduce risk, improve retention, and position their organizations to meet the changing needs of today’s workforce while maintaining operational excellence.

10:45-11:00am  Break

11:00am-11:45am TBD

11:45am-1:00pm  Lunch & Roundtable Discussion

1:00-2:00pm Updates and Changes in Employment Law at the State & Federal Level Caralea Grant & Andrew Henson | Troutman Pepper Locke

2:00-3:30pm Legal Panel

• Caralea Grant | Troutman Pepper Locke
• Andrew Henson | Troutman Pepper Locke
• Fred Schutt | Woods Rogers

*Topics subject to change.

Speaker Information

Caralea Grant
Troutman Pepper Locke

Bio coming soon!

Andrew Henson
Troutman Pepper Locke

Bio coming soon!

Kristina Vaquera 
JacksonLewis

Kristina H. Vaquera is a principal in the Richmond, and Norfolk, Virginia, offices of Jackson Lewis P.C. Kristina is an experienced employment and labor attorney with over 20 years of strategic advice and representation of employers exclusively across a wide range of industries. Kristina focuses on partnering with companies to help them navigate complex employment issues and laws and ensure multi-state compliance and advocating for her clients in federal and state court litigation and agency matters. 

Kristina represents employers in federal and state court litigation, as well as agency charges and investigations covering a wide range of federal and state statutes and subjects, including discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, harassment, failure to accommodate disabilities and access claims, defamation, breach of contract, fraud, failure to pay wages and wage misclassification, and a variety of other statutory and common law claims, such as covenants not to compete and restrictive covenants, negligent hire/retention, and breaches of fiduciary duty and contract. Kristina has litigated class and collective actions as part of her litigation practice. She represents clients in grievances, mediations, arbitrations, and charges before various national and state entities, including before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, National Labor Relations Board, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and numerous state agencies, such as Virginia Occupational Safety and Health,  Virginia Employment Commission, Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, Virginia Department of Housing Discrimination, and Virginia Worker’s Compensation Commission.

As part of her national advice and counsel practice, Kristina provides strategic advice and counsel on a wide range of legal matters, including inclusion risk assessment and compliance. As part of Kristina’s counseling practice, she provides daily advice and counseling and training to management to proactively assist employers in mitigating risk and avoiding litigation. She assists clients with employment agreements, handbooks, background checks and drug testing issues, investigations and disciplinary action.  She also has extensive experience in conducting workplace investigations and delivering both in-person and virtual training sessions for all employees, including boards, executive leadership teams, managers, in-house counsel and human resource professionals. Kristina works with companies to guide them through workplace safety and health compliance as well as investigations of workplace injuries.

Kristina also partners with clients to assist with traditional labor relations issues, including unfair labor practices claims, bargaining and negotiations. She speaks on employment law topics and works with employers in preventative and educational counseling, including to SHRM VA DC, Hampton Roads Society of Human Resource Managers group, Virginia Bar Association’s Labor and Employment and Corporate Counsel Sections, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Virginia Employment Commission, International Professional Managers Association, Virginia Government Contract Attorneys Association, Virginia Ship Repair Association, Society of Designers and Architects, local chambers of commerce, Hampton Roads Industrial Liaison Group, PINK! Women Business Owners Conference, Public Media Business Association, the American Council of Engineering Companies, and the Retail Association of Hampton Roads.

Registration & Location Information

IN-PERSON
Members: $295
Non-Members: $595

VIRTUAL
Members: $275
Non-Members: $575

In-Person registrations fees include a continental breakfast, lunch, and snacks.

Register Now!

Location

In-Person
Virginia Society of CPAs
4309 Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060

Virtual/Zoom
Zoom details will be provided at a later date.

MBA/VBA Policies

By registering for this event, you are agreeing to the MBA/VBA Event Policies and the Privacy Policy.

Special Needs & Americans with Disabilities Notice

Please share any specific needs that should be considered as we plan for the event (i.e. hearing impaired, sight impaired, etc.). Please contact Marie Basil with any details.

Cancellation Policy

All cancellations will be charged a $25.00 administrative fee. Cancellations received after September 8, 2025 will be charged a $75.00 administrative fee plus any additional fees associated with the training. Substitutions are allowed prior to the beginning of course.

Hotel Information

Drury Plaza Hotel Richmond
11049 West Broad Street
Glen Allen, VA 23060

The association has reserved a block of rooms at the Drury Plaza at the rate of $132/night, plus applicable taxes and fees. Click here to make your reservation by the cut-off date, July 31, 2026.

The rate includes a hot breakfast, evening food and drinks at 5:30 pm, parking and Wi-Fi.