The Attorney’s Handbook Playbook: Adaptive Drafting Strategies, Critical Policies, Structural Choices, Risk Management, and Compliance (2026 Edition)

Chelsea Hoffman | Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Chelsea Hoffman focuses her practice on advising employers on a broad range of employment-related matters, including compliance with California and federal anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, and leave laws, as well as other human resources practices. As an attorney with Seyfarth Shaw LLP, she counsels clients on employment policies, negotiates and documents employment and severance agreements, and provides guidance on hiring, termination, and workplace management issues. Chelsea also conducts trainings on employment conduct matters, including California-mandated sexual harassment prevention training, discrimination training, and guidance regarding the interaction between the Americans with Disabilities Act and state and federal leave laws.

• Education & Credentials

Chelsea Hoffman is an attorney with Seyfarth Shaw LLP whose practice centers on advising employers regarding employment law compliance, workplace policies, and human resources practices. Her work includes counseling employers on employment and severance agreements, compliance obligations, and workplace conduct issues under California and federal law.

• Recognition & Leadership

Chelsea demonstrates leadership in workplace compliance and employment law education through her work conducting trainings on employment conduct, including California-mandated sexual harassment prevention training, discrimination training, and instruction on the interaction between the Americans with Disabilities Act and state and federal leave laws. She also advises employers on sensitive workplace decisions involving hiring, termination, and workforce management.

• Professional Involvement

Chelsea is actively involved in counseling employers on employment policies, workplace compliance, human resources practices, and employment agreements. Her professional work also includes advising employers on hiring and termination decisions, WARN Act compliance, employee performance evaluations, and addressing workplace performance deficiencies.

• Experience

Chelsea Hoffman has experience advising employers on a wide variety of employment law matters, including compliance with California and federal anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, and leave laws, employment and severance agreements, workplace policies, and employee training programs. She regularly counsels employers on hiring and termination decisions, WARN Act issues, workplace conduct matters, and employee performance management, while also conducting trainings related to harassment prevention, discrimination, and disability and leave law compliance.

Eric Emanuelson | Epstein Becker Green

Eric Emanuelson is an Associate in the Washington, D.C. office of Epstein Becker Green who counsels multi-state employers on a broad range of employment law matters with a focus on minimizing legal risk and achieving effective workplace outcomes. His practice includes advising clients on employee handbook reviews, compliance with equal pay laws, workforce reductions, and developments in federal, state, and local employment laws. In addition to day-to-day employment counseling, Eric leads workplace training programs on anti-harassment and workplace conduct, assists clients with internal investigations, conducts employment-related due diligence for corporate transactions, and regularly presents continuing legal education webinars.

• Education & Credentials

Eric Emanuelson serves as an Associate in the Washington, D.C. office of Epstein Becker Green, where he advises multi-state employers on employment law compliance and workplace-related legal matters. His practice focuses on helping employers manage legal risk, maintain compliance with evolving employment laws, and address a variety of workplace issues affecting their organizations.

• Recognition & Leadership

Eric demonstrates leadership in the employment law field through his role leading workplace training programs on anti-harassment and workplace conduct, as well as his work presenting continuing legal education webinars. He also assists employers with internal investigations and employment-related due diligence matters connected to corporate transactions, helping organizations navigate sensitive workplace and compliance issues.

• Professional Involvement

Eric is actively involved in advising employers on employee handbook reviews, equal pay law compliance, reductions in force, internal investigations, and employment-related due diligence. His professional work also includes educating employers and legal professionals through workplace training initiatives and CLE presentations focused on developments in employment law and workplace best practices.

• Experience

Eric Emanuelson has experience counseling multi-state employers on a wide range of employment law matters, including handbook compliance, equal pay laws, reductions in force, and evolving federal, state, and local employment law developments. He regularly assists clients with internal investigations, workplace training programs, and employment-related due diligence for corporate transactions, while also advising employers on workplace conduct and risk management strategies.

SESSION 1 – Balancing Compliance and Clarity in Employee Handbooks | 2:00pm – 3:00pm

This session examines how employee handbooks foster respectful workplaces and reduce organizational risk, including effective handbook structure, essential workplace policies, provisions that may create legal exposure, and important legal developments requiring handbook updates for 2026.

BREAK | 3:00pm – 3:10pm

SESSION 2 – Handbook Provisions That Safeguard You and That Present Risks | 3:10pm – 4:10pm

This session explores emerging workplace concerns and handbook trends for 2025 and 2026, highlighting how employee handbooks can protect organizations, identify overlooked policy gaps, and eliminate outdated provisions that may create unnecessary legal risk.