Eli Makus to Address Evolving DEI Landscape at ABA ERR Midwinter Symposium

We're thrilled to announce that Eli Makus will join a powerhouse panel for a timely and essential session on one of the most contested areas in employment law today at the ABA ERR Committee Midwinter Meeting & National Symposium on Technology in Labor & Employment Law.

Session Spotlight: "DEI at a Crossroads: Navigating Conflicting State and Federal Regulations"

Presented by the DOIT and State Law Developments Subcommittee
📅 Monday, March 10th | ⏰ 1:30 PM

Distinguished Panel:

• Moderator: Eli Makus, Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation, Sacramento, CA

• Shelia Abron, Fisher & Phillips LLP, Columbia, SC

• Kelly M. Dermody, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, San Francisco, CA

• Barbara Dunlap, Accertify, Chicago, IL

Why This Session Matters:

The DEI landscape has never been more uncertain — or more consequential. In the wake of Executive Order 14151, which restricts certain DEI training and activities for federal agencies and contractors and signals the same for private employers, organizations across the country are asking hard questions: Do we scale back? Stay the course? Double down?

This panel will tackle those questions head-on, examining:

• The evolving federal and state regulatory landscape and where they collide

• Real-world private sector responses — from Target's retreat from some DEI efforts to Costco's more steadfast approach — and how those decisions are playing out legally

• How employees, investors, government agencies, and the general public are responding to employer choices in real time

• The legal risks and opportunities on every side of the DEI debate

Whether you're advising employers navigating federal contractor compliance, defending against employee claims, or helping clients manage investor and reputational pressure, this session delivers the practical, up-to-the-minute guidance you need.

More About the Conference:

The ERR Midwinter Meeting will offer a wide range of thought-provoking and topical educational programming. This year, ERR is proud to collaborate with the ABA LEL Technology in the Practice and Workplace Committee to present cutting-edge programs about AI, developing technologies that will impact the legal profession, and the ethical and privacy concerns that are raised by their use

Van Dermyden Makus was a proud sponsor of the American Bar Association Employment Rights & Responsibilities 2025 Midwinter Meeting.