News
At Van Dermyden Makus, we strive to keep you up-to-date on what is happening with our Firm, and with the investigative world at large. Take a few minutes to read about current events.
HR Acuity Announces Partnership with Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation to Elevate Workplace Investigations and Legal Defensibility
NEW YORK, NY – December 2, 2025 – HR Acuity, the category leader in employee relations case management and investigations software, today announced its strategic partnership with Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation, an investigations law firm recognized nationally for its deep expertise in conducting neutral workplace investigations.
Sue Ann Van Dermyden Interviewed on Conversations with Investigators: “From the Farm to the Boardroom” with Keith Rohman
In this episode of Conversations With Investigators, Senior Partner Sue Ann Van Dermyden sits down with host Keith Rohman for a wide-ranging discussion, “From the Farm to the Boardroom.” Sue Ann reflects on her journey from her agricultural roots to building one of the nation’s leading practices dedicated to workplace and Title IX investigations, sharing how grit, curiosity, and a commitment to fairness have shaped her career. She and Keith explore lessons learned from high-stakes investigations, the evolution of industry standards, and what it means to lead with integrity in complex organizational environments. The conversation offers practical insights for investigators, attorneys, and leaders looking to elevate the quality and impact of their investigative work.
AWI Journal, International Perspectives: Navigating the Ethics of Adequate Notice to Investigation Subjects, Vol. 16, No. 3
Essential to every workplace investigation is initiating the investigation and providing notice to the parties of the investigation, including notifying the respondent or subject of the investigation and the nature of the allegations made against them. Most investigators, employers, and other stakeholders would agree that the subject of an investigation deserves to know the allegations against them, and have an opportunity to provide a thorough response to them. AWI members often talk about “prompt, thorough, and impartial” investigations.
VM Attorneys Present at the 2025 AASPA Virtual Legal Summit
Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation is pleased to announce that Liz DeChellis and Lexi Weyrick presented at the 2025 AASPA Virtual Legal Summit, offering an important and timely session titled “Tackling Title IX with Confidence: Conducting Legally-Compliant Title IX Investigations in K-12 Schools.”
VM Attorneys Presenting at the 2025 CALPELRA Annual Training Conference – Nov. 18-21
CALPELRA's 2025 Annual Training Conference, the 50th annual CALPELRA conference will be held in beautiful Monterey, California, the week of November 18-21.
Eli Makus and Sue Ann Van Dermyden Share Expertise at AWI Virtual Training Institute
Senior Partners Eli Makus and Sue Ann Van Dermyden are presenting at the 2025 AWI Virtual Training Institute for Workplace Investigators. Sue Ann will lead a session on “Report Writing” on October 17, 2025, at 11:00 AM PDT. Eli will present on “Evidence” on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at 11:00 AM PDT.
Partner Liz DeChellis Shares Insights on Managing External Investigations at the 2025 CCSA Fall Workshop
Partner Liz DeChellis will lead a focused session titled “Effective Strategies for Managing External Investigations” as part of the CCSA Fall Virtual Workshop on September 19, 2025.
Eli Makus and Matthew Rose Present at the 30th Annual California JPIA Risk Management Educational Forum
Eli Makus and Matthew Rose will present “As If: Managing Complaints Made Against Local Officials” at the 30th Annual California JPIA Risk Management Educational Forum, taking place at the Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, California, on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at 10:14 AM.
Eli Makus Delivers Virtual Presentation at 2025 AWI Australia & New Zealand Conference
Senior Partner Eli Makus presented virtually at the 2025 AWI Australia & New Zealand Conference on Thursday, September 4, at 9:00 AM, delivering his session titled “Navigating the Impact of AI on Workplace Investigations: Speaking from Experience.
VM’s Eli Makus to Present at CALPELRALearn Training Program
Managing Partner Eli Makus, will be presenting at CALPELRALearn’s virtual Training Program: Conducting Effective Investigations, on September 10-11, 2025.
Eli Makus to Co-Lead AWI Report Writing Workshop
VM’s Managing Partner Eli Makus and Alex Travin will present the AWI Workplace Investigations Credibility Workshop, a three-hour interactive online program focused on assessing credibility in workplace investigations. The workshop includes in-depth discussions on credibility factors and hands-on practice with realistic evidence scenarios in small group breakout sessions.
ACC Arizona Chapter CLE Webinar- Investigating Executive Leadership: Navigating High-Stakes Workplace Investigations
Addressing complaints against high-level executives and C-suite members presents unique challenges for in-house counsel, from managing intense scrutiny and power imbalances to preserving privilege. This one-hour virtual presentation provides counsel with practical guidance on conducting and overseeing these high-stakes investigations, including selecting the appropriate investigator, managing conflicts of interest, maintaining confidentiality, and determining interim measures. Attendees will gain insights on protecting the organization while ensuring fairness for all involved, with an emphasis on minimizing legal exposure and preserving the integrity of the investigation.
Liz DeChellis Named One of Sacramento Business Journal’s 2025 Women Who Mean Business
We’re proud to celebrate VM Partner Liz DeChellis, honored as one of the 2025 Women Who Mean Business by the Sacramento Business Journal.
Now in its 30th year, the Women Who Mean Business Awards recognize some of the region’s most accomplished and influential professional women across a wide range of industries. Over the past three decades, this award has highlighted leaders at every stage of their careers—women making a lasting impact on their organizations and the broader Sacramento business community.
VM Attorneys Selected to the 2025 Super Lawyers and Rising Star List
Van Dermyden Makus is proud to announce that Senior Partners Eli Makus and Sue Ann Van Dermyden, along with Senior Attorney Investigator Mark Gabel, have been named to the 2025 California Super Lawyers list — a distinction awarded to only the top 5% of attorneys in the state.
In addition, Senior Attorney Investigator Kayleigh Birks has been selected to the 2025 California Rising Stars list, an honor given to just 2.5% of emerging lawyers in California. To qualify, candidates must be 40 years old or younger or have been practicing law for 10 years or less.
Anurag Jain and Sue Ann Van Dermyden Present at the 36th Annual ACFE Global Fraud Conference in Houston
VM’s Anurag Jain and Sue Ann Van Dermyden, present “Conducting Workplace Investigations to Uncover Hidden Financial Risks” at the 36th Annual Global Fraud Conference on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 9:00 AM Central Time.
Liz DeChellis and Lexi Weyrick Present at AASPA’s 2025 Virtual Legal Summit
VM’s Liz DeChellis and Lexi Weyrick, will present ‘Tackling Title IX Confidence: Conducting Legally Compliant Title IX Investigations in K-12 Schools’ at the American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA) 2025 Virtual Legal Summit on Thursday, November 13, 2025.
Senior Partner Eli Makus Delivers Keynote at 2025 Workplace Investigations in Canada Hybrid Conference
Senior Partner Eli Makus delivered the keynote presentation at the 2025 Workplace Investigations in Canada Hybrid Conference. His session, titled “When AI Joins The Investigation,” took place on Thursday, June 5 at 1:15 PM, and addressed the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence in workplace investigations.
Sue Ann Van Dermydan to Co-Lead AWI Report Writing Workshop
This online workshop is a three-hour interactive program designed to improve participants’ investigative report writing skills. Attendees will discuss effective report writing skills and have the opportunity to practice writing the analysis section of a report through small group activities in breakout rooms.
Podcast: Responsible AI in Law: Building Frameworks, Use Cases, and Trust with RAILS
Everyone is talking about AI, but we should spend just as much time discussing its responsible use. Fringe Legal sat down with some of the individuals involved with RAILS (Responsible AI in Legal Services).
Erich Knorr and Eli Makus Present at the 2025 Arizona City Attorneys Association Conference
Partners Erich Knorr and Eli Makus will present “Key Considerations in Bullying Investigations” at the Arizona City Attorneys Association Annual Conference in Flagstaff, Arizona on Thursday, May 1st, at 2:55 PM.