Frances O'Meara, a partner in the Los Angeles office of Wood, Smith, Henning and Berman, will be a featured speaker at the 2025 Applied Financial Lines Lawyers' Forum, taking place June 18-19, 2025, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Now in its second year, the forum brings together the nation's top professional liability defense attorneys for in-depth discussions on defending legal malpractice claims, evaluating current risks to law firms, and fostering meaningful professional connections.
O'Meara will speak on a panel examining the recent actions by the EEOC and the mandates of the current administration on workplace inclusion and culture. The discussion will explore the agency's removal of gender identity-related materials from its website and communications, as well as changes to discrimination charge forms and other policy shifts relating to this issue.
"As legal and regulatory landscapes shift, it's critical for employers and insurers to understand how these changes impact their workplaces, their people, and their clients," said O'Meara. "The panel will provide an opportunity to discuss practical strategies for navigating these complex issues while staying committed to building cultures of belonging."
Panelists will also discuss the insurance industry's unique challenges around fostering inclusion, including the role of unconscious bias, barriers faced by underrepresented groups, and successful approaches to improving retention, productivity and culture. The discussion will further explore how evolving work models, from remote to hybrid to return to office, continue to shape inclusion and workplace dynamics.
"I look forward to a robust conversation about what's working, what needs rethinking, and how we can collectively move forward amid new challenges," added O'Meara.
The Applied Financial Lines Lawyers' Forum is designed for legal professionals seeking insights and strategies to address the challenges facing law firms today. Attendees can expect engaging discussions, peer learning, and opportunities to collaborate with industry leaders.
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