2026 Labor & Employment Law Fall Seminar

Our complimentary annual Labor & Employment Law Fall Seminar is back!

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, October 15, 2026
• Time: 1:30pm - 5:30pm
• Location: Hotel Marcel, New Haven, CT
• Parking: Parking is available on-site in hotel lot

2:00 - 3:00PM | Breakout Sessions (choose one)

• Choice 1 | The Accommodation Equation: Balancing Compliance, Culture, and Common Sense
  Presented by: Abby Booth, Jarad Lucan, Sarah Westby
  Accommodation requests are on the rise—and they're getting more complex. From remote work as a reasonable accommodation to navigating mental health disabilities and the interactive process, employers face difficult questions with real legal consequences. In this session, Shipman attorneys Jarad Lucan, Sarah Westby, and Abby Booth will walk through the current state of accommodation law under the ADA and Connecticut law, discuss emerging trends in what employees are requesting and what courts and agencies expect, and share practical strategies for managing the interactive process effectively. Through a series of interactive, real-world scenarios, attendees will have the opportunity to work through common and complex accommodation situations, applying the legal framework to the kinds of fact patterns that arise in everyday practice. Whether you're handling your first request or your five-hundredth, this session will help you get it right.
• Choice 2 | Case Closed? Recent Court Decisions Every Employer Should Know
  Presented by: Peter Murphy, Emily McDonough Souza, Tom Owen
  The courts have been busy and the decisions coming down have real implications for how you manage your workforce. Join Shipman attorneys Peter Murphy, Emily McDonough Souza, and Tom Owen as they review the most significant recent employment law rulings from Connecticut and federal courts. This session will cover key cases on a variety of topics, distilling complex opinions into clear takeaways. Learn what these decisions mean for your policies, practices, and day-to-day employment decisions, and how to adjust your approach before the next case lands on your desk.

3:15 - 4:30 PM | Plenary Session: Under the Dome: A Legislative Update for Connecticut Employers

Presented by: Daniel Schwartz (moderator), Keegan Drenosky, Sarah Niemiroski, Claire Pariano, featuring Chris Davis, Senior Vice President of Public Policy, CBIA
What happened at the Capitol this year - and what does it mean for your workplace? Join Shipman labor and employment attorneys and Chris Davis of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association for a comprehensive look at the latest legislative developments affecting Connecticut employers. From new compliance obligations to bills that didn't make it across the finish line, this panel will break down what passed, what’s anticipated for the next legislative session and what employers need to prepare for heading into 2027. With both legal and policy advocacy perspectives, this session offers a unique, practical look at the legislative changes shaping Connecticut's employment landscape.

Continuing Legal Education (CLE)

This seminar has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the New York Continuing Legal Education Board for a maximum of 2.5 credit hours in Areas of Professional Practice and is appropriate for both newly admitted and experienced attorneys. You must attend each session in its entirety to receive credit. There is no format restriction for attorneys seeking CLE credit who have been admitted to the New York State Bar for two (2) years or less.

Neither the Connecticut Judicial Branch nor the Commission on Minimum Continuing Legal Education approves or accredits CLE providers or activities. It is the opinion of this provider that this activity qualifies for up to 2.25 general hours toward your annual CLE requirement in Connecticut, but may be adjusted based on actual instruction or attendance time.