HR.com Launches Legal and Compliance 2026 Advisory Board to Guide HR Through Regulatory Challenges

The HR Research Institute (HRRI) 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 HR.com’s upcoming research study and virtual event. This initiative is designed to help HR professionals navigate one of the most fast-changing and high-risk landscapes in modern business: legal and compliance management. From AI ethics to pay equity audits to new federal–state law fragmentation, the compliance environment is shifting faster than most organizations can keep up with. The newly assembled advisory board will provide strategic direction on the most urgent and emerging issues facing employers in 2026.

The advisory 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 board will help HR anticipate change, reduce risk, and build ethical, resilient workplaces for the future.

The HR Research Institute releases annual “State of the Industry” reports across various HR topics, including its previous report, HR.com’s State of Legal Compliance and Employment Law 2025. This and other free research reports and infographics can be downloaded at hr.com/researchinstitute. The HRRI, powered by HR.com, identifies key trends and best practices to help more than 2 million HR professionals and their organizations make strategic decisions with informed and insightful research findings. It has published hundreds of high-quality reports across a wide array of HR topics, with resources developed with the assistance of thought leaders and industry experts on advisory boards.

The State of Legal and Compliance 2026 Virtual Event is scheduled for March 12, 2026, offering HR professionals an opportunity to engage with the latest insights and strategies. This advisory board formation underscores the growing importance of proactive compliance management in an era of regulatory complexity, where issues like AI ethics and pay equity require specialized knowledge to mitigate risks and ensure organizational resilience. By leveraging expert guidance, HR.com aims to equip professionals with the tools needed to adapt to evolving legal frameworks and maintain ethical standards in the workplace.