Level Up Your Legal Game: What HR Needs to Know Now-Attorney Panel
The future of HR is here and the rules of the game are changing. Join a powerhouse panel of employment attorneys for a fast-paced discussion on today’s most pressing HR & workplace legal topics. This session explores emerging trends, compliance challenges, employee relations issues, workplace investigations, policy changes, and legal risks shaping the modern workplace. Attendees will gain practical, actionable insights to stay ahead of evolving requirements and strengthen their HR strategies with confidence.
Key Objectives
1) Identify emerging HR and employment law trends impacting today’s workplace, including compliance, policy, and legal risk developments. 2)Gain practical strategies for addressing employee relations challenges, workplace investigations, and evolving regulatory requirements. 3) Equip HR leaders with actionable insights to strengthen decision-making, reduce risk, and confidently navigate ongoing workplace change.
Stuart Jackson
Attorney/Partner at Wright Lindsey Jennings
Stuart Jackson is one of the most highly regarded employment attorneys in Arkansas, whose focus as of late has been on defending businesses against various types of EEO claims, and giving advice to clients on day-to-day employment matters, including how to comply with Arkansas’s medical marijuana laws and the legal issues to address when utilizing AI in the workplace. Practicing in the employment law field for more than thirty years, Stuart also advises employers on day-to-day compliance with the various civil rights laws, develops personnel policies and handbooks, and crafts employment and severance agreements. Stuart is recognized by Chambers USA, Mid-South Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America®, having been named Best Lawyers’ “Lawyer of the Year” in Little Rock four times in the last five years in various employment law categories. He is a frequent speaker and writer on employment law topics for HR-focused groups around the state.
Wayne Young
Attorney | Partner at Friday, Eldredge & Clark LLP
Wayne Young is a partner at Friday, Eldredge & Clark LLP, where he focuses on labor and employment law and advises organizations on workplace compliance, risk management, and evolving employment issues. He serves as General Counsel to the Arkansas State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), working closely with HR professionals on the legal and practical challenges shaping today’s workforce. Wayne is recognized nationally by Chambers USA and The Best Lawyers in America for his work in employment law and has been honored by both Arkansas SHRM and the Central Arkansas Human Resource Association for his legislative advocacy on behalf of the HR profession. With deep experience at the intersection of HR strategy and legal compliance, he brings practical insight into how organizations can responsibly integrate emerging technologies like AI while maintaining ethical standards, regulatory compliance, and a strong human-centered approach.
Cynthia Kolb
Member at Rose Law Firm
Cindy Kolb is an attorney at Rose Law Firm in Little Rock becoming a Member at Rose after Cross, Gunter, Witherspoon & Galchus, joined Rose Law Firm in October 2023. Her practice areas include employment law and insurance defense litigation. She regularly speaks on employment law and HR-related topics for industry groups around the state. Cindy was co-chair of the 2020 Arkansas Bar Association’s Annual Meeting, co-chaired the 2018 Mid-Year Meeting, and served as the Chair of the Labor and Employment Section of the Arkansas Bar Association in 2012-2013. Cindy served as the 2014 Chair of the Employment Law and Legislative Affairs (ELLA) Conference, hosted by the Arkansas Society for Human Resource Management State Council. She is also a member of the Central Arkansas Human Resources Association (CAHRA) and was chapter President in 2021. She previously served as VP of Communications, VP for Special Programs, and Chair of the CAHRA Managers Conference. She is a member of the Judge Henry Woods Inn of Court. Cindy also previously served on the Board of the Museum of Discovery. Cindy graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, Ohio and has been practicing law for 29 years.
Cara Butler
Associate at Mitchell
Cara Butler advises businesses and not-for-profits on employment and workplace issues. She counsels employers on wage and hour compliance matters with federal, state and local laws. She advises human resources and business executives on management issues related to hiring and termination procedures, employee discipline procedures, state and federal leave laws and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Prior to joining Mitchell Williams, Cara gained extensive knowledge of employment law as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Lavenski R. Smith of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Experience -Represents and assists employers with responding to complaints and investigations actions before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Department of Labor (DOL) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). -Advises clients on compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and other wage and hour issues. -Assists employers in developing employment handbooks, leave policies, termination procedures, disciplinary procedures and remote work policies. -Researches complex issues arising during the course of litigation at both the trial and appellate level. -Writes appellate briefs in a variety of matters in both federal and state court. Professional Recognition -Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America Labor and Employment Law - Management (2024-2026) -Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America Commercial Litigation (2023-2026) -Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America Litigation - Labor and Employment (2023-2026) -Mid-South Super Lawyers Rising Stars: Employment & Labor (2023-2025) -Arkansas Bar Foundation – Writing Award for Best in General Category, "Emotional Support Animals & Access to Public Facilities” (2023) -Top Score - Arkansas Bar Examination, July 2019 -12 Top Paper Awards earning highest grade in Contracts I, Torts, Research Writing and Analysis (RWA) I, RWA II, Professionalism, Constitutional Law, Disability Law, Specialized Legal Research: Business Law, Federal Income Taxation, Entertainment Law, Remedies, Jurisprudence Involvement -Arkansas Bar Association -Pulaski County Bar Association -Board Member (2026) -Baptist Health Foundation Board Member -Arkansas Association of Women Lawyers -Arkansas Association of Defense Counsel -Leadership Greater Little Rock Class XXXIX Participant -Mitchell Williams DEI Council -Alumni, Phi Mu -Former Notes and Comments Editor, University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review
Tim Orellano
President at The Human Resources Team
Tim is the President of The Human Resources Team, a Little Rock based human resources management consulting company. His consulting firm provides assistance and resources to clients to understand your EEO and AAP obligations, stay compliant, and mitigate potential legal risk by providing services that will help you better understand your workforce and make educated business decisions positive solutions. He works with a wide and diverse range of industries including banks and financial institutions, utilities, health care, technology, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, nonprofit, construction, and service organizations. He has over 30 years of experience in all areas of functional areas of HR as a Director of Human Resources in manufacturing, service and financial industries and in his consulting firm with client’s coast to coast. He is a frequent speaker for SHRM and other conferences for many other professional associations and conferences across the country. He is a recipient of the Outstanding Member Award from the local SHRM chapter and the Arkansas Chapter of the American Society for Training and Development. He received the Arkansas Human Resources Professional of the Year Award and was finalist for the SHRM National Award for Professional Excellence, the Jim Wilkins Lifetime Achievement Award in Human Resources and the Russell Gunter Legislative Advocacy Award.He is the Chair for the Arkansas Industry Liaison Group and has served the ARSHRM State Council as Professional Development Director and Government Legislative Affairs Director. As a cancer survivor, he serves as a coach for esophageal cancer patients with MD Anderson Medical Cancer Center.
Please Note: Speakers and topics are subject to change without notice.