HR Research Institute Forms Advisory Board to Guide 2026 Legal and Compliance Study
TL;DR
HR.com's advisory board provides HR professionals with expert insights to navigate fast-changing compliance risks, offering a strategic advantage in maintaining legal workplace standards.
The HR Research Institute formed an advisory board of legal experts to guide research on emerging compliance issues like AI ethics and pay equity audits.
This initiative helps build ethical, resilient workplaces by providing HR leaders with trusted expertise to anticipate change and reduce compliance risks.
Top legal minds from firms like Dykema and Jackson Lewis will guide HR.com's 2026 research on compliance trends including federal-state law fragmentation.
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The HR Research Institute (HRRI) has announced the formation of the State of Legal and Compliance 2026 Advisory Board, a panel of workplace, employment law, and compliance experts who will guide an upcoming research study and virtual event. This initiative is designed to help HR professionals manage one of the most dynamic and high-risk areas in modern business: legal and compliance management. The compliance environment is evolving rapidly, with challenges ranging from AI ethics and pay equity audits to new federal-state law fragmentation, often outpacing organizational adaptation capabilities.
The newly assembled advisory board will provide strategic direction on the most pressing and emerging issues employers will face in 2026. The board includes industry thought leaders such as Robert Boonin, Partner & Attorney at Dykema; Bryn Goodman, Partner at Jackson Lewis; Emily Langdon, Attorney at Fraser Stryker PC, LLO; Lara Makinen, Senior Director of HR Compliance Initiatives at Valet Living; Patrick McNeil, Ph.D., Principal Business Consultant at Affirmity Workforce Compliance; Asia Meador, General Counsel & SVP of Compliance and Human Resources at Meritan; and Holly Sutton, Partner at Farella Braun + Martel. Debbie McGrath, CEO of HR.com, emphasized the need for clarity and trusted expertise as regulations accelerate, stating that this advisory board brings together top legal and compliance minds to help HR anticipate change, reduce risk, and build ethical, resilient workplaces.
The HR Research Institute, which releases annual "State of the Industry" reports on various HR topics, will leverage this advisory board for its upcoming study. Previous research, including the HR.com’s State of Legal Compliance and Employment Law 2025 report, is available for download at https://hr.com/researchinstitute. The institute, powered by HR.com, serves over 2 million HR professionals by providing informed and insightful research findings to support strategic decision-making. It has published hundreds of high-quality reports across a wide array of HR topics, with free membership offering access to over 300 exclusive primary research, state-of-the-industry reports, and infographics. These resources are developed with input from thought leaders and industry experts on advisory boards, and more information can be found at https://hr.com/hrresearchinstitute.
The State of Legal and Compliance 2026 Virtual Event is scheduled for March 12, 2026, and will be informed by the advisory board's guidance. This event aims to address urgent compliance issues, helping organizations stay ahead in a fast-changing landscape. The formation of this advisory board underscores the growing importance of proactive compliance management in mitigating risks and fostering ethical workplace practices, as businesses grapple with increasing regulatory complexities and the need for resilience in the face of legal challenges.
Curated from Newsworthy.ai
