Employment law changed a lot in 2026.
Is your organization ready for what’s next?
Join us for our annual 2026 Legal Update, featuring Maria Stearns and Brandon Sylvia of Rutan & Tucker, LLP. In this session, they will help California employers:
⭐ Understand new and evolving employment laws affecting your workplace.
⭐ Spot potential compliance risks before they become costly problems.
⭐ Gain actionable guidance to support compliant practices in the year ahead.
Whether you lead a team, manage people operations, manage your own business, or help shape workplace policy, this is the update you won’t want to miss as you navigate California’s ever-changing employment landscape. This is an opportunity to network with Orange County business leaders and HR professionals who are working through the same changes. Connect with peers, swap ideas, and share best practices to help your organization head into the new year with confidence.
Bonus: this year’s event includes a fun opportunity to partner with and support Human Options, a local nonprofit dedicated to ending relationship violence.
7:00 AM Breakfast & Relationship Building
8:00 AM Welcome & Announcements
8:15 AM Rutan & Tucker Legal Updates
9:45 AM Questions & Answers
The Park Club
650 Town Center Drive
Costa Mesa, Ca
Valet Parking Included
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Maria Stearns, Partner & Employment Chair at Rutan & Tucker, LLP, represents local and national employers doing business in California. They seek her counsel on employment litigation and transactional matters, with particular expertise in healthcare, restaurant, manufacturing, and apparel industries. Maria’s creative strategies for resolving matters efficiently and effectively have earned her a place on the Daily Journal’s lists of California’s “Top Women Lawyers” and “Top Employment Lawyers.”
Brandon Sylvia, Partner, Employment at Rutan & Tucker, LLP, is sought after by employers needing practical and creative advice to minimize risk, and by companies seeking strategic, efficient, and tenacious representation in employment litigation. Brandon’s practice involves representing and counseling employers in all areas of employment law, including harassment, workplace discrimination, terminations, employment agreements, leaves of absence, wage and hour issues, trade secrets, unfair competition, accommodating disabilities, and employment policies and procedures.
Brandon has successfully represented employers in various forums, including state superior courts; federal district courts; appellate proceedings before the California Court of Appeal, the California Supreme Court, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; and before state and federal administrative agencies.
NHRA-OC is proud to partner with Human Options, a local nonprofit working to break the cycle of relationship violence and help survivors build the stability they need. Giving back is at the heart of strong communities and strong organizations, and we are grateful for the chance to support this important work together. Details on how you can get involved are coming soon, so stay tuned!
Event Sponsors
