DEI Under Fire: Navigating the New Regulatory and Enforcement Landscape for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The legal and regulatory environment for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives is undergoing rapid and unprecedented change. This panel will provide a comprehensive update on the shifting landscape, focusing on the latest federal and agency actions that are reshaping how employers, nonprofits, and contractors approach DEI in the workplace and beyond. The session will address the EEOC’s evolving stance, including recent anti-DEI actions and guidance that challenge the legality of certain diversity programs. The discussion will also cover the Department of Justice’s new initiative to pursue False Claims Act enforcement, its new Strategic Enforcement Plan, and recently issued guidance which signals increased scrutiny of DEI initiatives, including anything perceived as “unlawful proxies” or “rebranding.” Legal experts will provide updates on high-profile legal challenges to executive orders, including the status of litigation targeting federal DEI mandates and the broader regulatory rollback affecting minority- and women-owned business programs, as well as apprenticeship and supplier diversity initiatives. Join us for a timely and practical discussion that will help legal professionals understand the risks, responsibilities, and opportunities in the new era of DEI regulation.

Panelists: 

• Susannah Donaldson, Pinsent Masons LLP, London UK
• Jun Xia Lim, UNAC/UHCP, San Dimas, CA
• Lisa Kirby, Diversity Lab, Boston, MA
• Rachel Reingold Mandel, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
• Christopher Wilkinson, Perkins Coie LLP, Washington, DC 

Moderator: 

• Jessica Moldovan, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP, New York, NY