Virtual BELA Roundtable: Navigating DEI- Mitigating Risks and Protecting Corporate Values

Join us on October 29th, 2025 for a virtual Ethisphere roundtable in partnership with BELA Global Partner, Morrison and Foerster. This session will delve into the complexities of maintaining effective Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs amidst heightened risk and unprecedented scrutiny. Recent Executive Orders and DOJ directives take aim at certain corporate DEI initiatives threatening civil and criminal actions and raising the possibility of False Claims Act and qui tam whistleblower liabilities for federal contractors and grantees. This session will explore how companies can mitigate risk for inclusion programs while maintaining a thoughtful approach to upholding core values. Our speakers will discuss how to tailor inclusion programs to align with your company’s risk tolerance and objectives, respond to government contract certifications about not operating “illegal” DEI programs and compliance with federal discrimination law, and defend possible government investigations and private litigation.

Moderated by Erica Salmon Byrne, Ethisphere’s Chief Strategy Officer, our expert panel includes: 

• Carrie H. Cohen – Co-chair, Investigations + White Collar Defense Group, State + Local Government Enforcement team, and DEI Strategy + Defense Task Force
• Kate Driscoll – Partner, Investigations + White Collar Defense Group
• Tina Reynolds – Co-chair, Government Contracts & Public Procurement Group
• Andrew Turnbull – Co-chair, Employment + Labor Group and DEI Strategy + Defense Task Force