Pre-Conference Workshops:
Legal & AI
Wednesday, October 15th
Since the legal and leadership workshop are at the same time, please only choose one to attend. Thank you!
2025 Pre-Conference Legal Workshop
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Sealing the Deal: HR’s Playbook for Mergers, Acquisitions, and Beyond
When a business prepares for any kind of deal—whether it’s a sale, a merger, an investment, or an acquisition—HR professionals can be on the front lines as part of the process. Auditing processes in preparation, managing requests for information regarding employees and practices, planning for integration of a new workforce, helping workers acclimate to a new culture, ensuring retention of existing workforce: the tasks can be endless and daunting. But Honigman has you covered with this “Deals 101” style session. Experienced dealmakers in the Labor and Employment, Benefits, and Immigration spaces will talk through the basics of deals, what to expect when your company is preparing for a sale or acquisition, what steps HR can take to set the company for success, and how you can leverage existing practices and policies to retain the workforce.
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the basics of the deal process
- Gain knowledge about the critical role that HR can play, both in preparing for a deal and during the process
- Learn strategies for integrating and retaining the workforce before and after a transaction
Practices
- Labor and Employment
- Wayne State University Law School, J.D.,cum laude
- Michigan State University, B.A., cum laude
- Michigan
James M. Reid
Partner
James Reid is a labor and employment attorney who counsels business owners, entrepreneurs, C-suite executives, in-house counsel, and human resources directors to make strategic business decisions, from hiring to firing, while complying with the ever-changing and overlapping laws, including the ADEA, FLSA, FMLA, NLRA, and Title VII. He brings a business-focused and proactive approach to legal matters to help employers make strategic business decisions to minimize the potential for litigation and business disruption.
His deep understanding of his clients' businesses enables him to deliver clear and concise counsel to meet each client’s specific needs. If litigation is involved, he enforces restrictive covenants and defends employers against charges filed with the EEOC and state and federal agencies.
James regularly conducts audits and investigations into employers’ wage and hour practices and claims of discrimination and harassment. He provides training and prepares employment documents, including employee handbooks, employment agreements, and separation agreements, to cover all aspects during the life cycle of an employee.
James is also a sought-after keynote and national speaker at conferences and events, including the American Payroll Association, SHRM, Tedx, and HR Day.
Pre-Conference Workshop: AI
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
In this workshop you will have a 75 minute keynote followed by a 105 minute working 'Clinic to bridge the AI theory with practical interactive experience.
Theresa Fesinstine
Founder I Adjunct Professor I Author I Al-HR Strategist
Theresa Fesinstine is a strategic force at the intersection of artificial intelligence and human resources. With over 25 years in executive HR leadership, she now leads the charge in translating Al into clear, actionable solutions for nontechnical professionals. As the Founder of peoplepower.ai, she equips organizations to move beyond buzzwords and start using Al to solve real business problems, elevate talent strategies, and future-proof their workforce.
She is a dynamic keynote speaker, published author, and trusted advisor to Alfirst HR tech startups. Her signature framework, "Flatten the Al Learning Curve," reflects her deep commitment to making Al approachable, inclusive, and results-driven. Her leadership has earned recognition such as PVN's 50 Over 50 Women in Tech and the Dextego Al Award for Al Thought Leadership.
Theresa serves as an Adjunct Professor of Al for Business at City College of New York, where she prepares future leaders to enter the workforce with both strategic vision and a strong foundation in applied Al. Her academic credentials include an Al for Business Strategy certification from MIT and additional studies through Zortify Summer School.
She advises early-stage founders and emerging teams, offering high-impact HR insights that accelerate innovation and scale. As a cohort lead and mentor with All Tech Is Human, she is actively shaping the next generation of responsible Al leaders. Her involvement in professional communities such as TroopHR, DisruptHR, and Culture First reflects her ongoing commitment to building workplaces where people and performance thrive.
Theresa brings a rare blend of operational expertise, strategic foresight, and authentic leadership. Whether in the classroom, on stage, or in the boardroom, she delivers clarity, conviction, and a call to action for organizations ready to lead with Al rather than react to it.
