Online Legal Summit Series: Essentials of Endowments in 2027
Join Us Virtually
Tuesday, April 13, 2027 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Essentials of Endowments in 2027
Presented by: Tara Walker, Partner, Fisher Phillips
This session covers the fundamentals independent school leaders need to steward their endowments well, including a basic overview of the legal requirement for spending policy, donor restrictions, and long-term fund management. We'll also unpack the proposed Treasury/IRS regulations issued September 3, 2026, which would revoke Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status for private schools whose policies or practices, including scholarships, are found to discriminate based on race, color, or national or ethnic origin.
School leaders will leave with a practical framework for reviewing scholarship criteria and endowment-funded aid programs against this new scrutiny, and the steps to amend any problematic criteria.
About the Presenter: Tara Walker
Tara Walker is a partner in the Portland, Maine office who focuses her practice in both labor and employment law and education law. Representing employers, independent schools, and higher educational institutions across Northern New England, Tara provides strategic legal counsel and litigation defense in complex and high-profile matters.
Tara focuses her practice on counseling independent K-12 schools, special purpose private schools, and public and private institutions of higher education in a wide range of matters including student safety and institutional liability, policy development, governance, employment matters, student conduct and disciplinary matters, faculty relations, and crisis management. Tara regularly advises clients on the full spectrum of school community and employee issues, drafting and negotiating employment agreements for senior leadership, advising on reporting obligations, leading and overseeing misconduct investigations, and guiding educational institutions through responses to high-profile incidents. Tara also conducts on-campus trainings on a wide array of topics including professional boundaries for faculty and staff, mandatory reporting obligations, harassment and bullying prevention, school safety and risk mitigation, and maintaining student privacy and confidentiality, among others.
In addition, Tara represents educational institutions in litigation involving Title IX and related sexual misconduct claims by students and employees, injury cases by students, and issues relating to the regulation of independent schools under state and federal law. Through practical legal experience and deep industry insight, Tara helps employers, independent schools, and universities navigate complex challenges.
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM
When Issues Go Public: Legal Strategy in a
Reputation-Driven World
Presented by: Erin Gibson Allen, Partner, Fisher Phillips
In today’s interconnected world, what is decided in the court of public opinion can be as, if not more, important than what is decided in a court of law. For that reason, when confronting a crisis, it is essential to simultaneously develop legal and public relations strategies that mitigate risk and achieve the organization’s objective. This presentation will focus on how to leverage communications to advance legal strategies, as well as how to ensure that reputation is preserved throughout the life-cycle of dynamic legal disputes.
About the Presenter: Erin Gibson Allen
Erin Gibson Allen combines her diverse professional background with a passion for problem-solving to deliver strategic legal guidance to employers. With expertise spanning labor and employment law, workplace investigations, and non-profit governance, Erin is a trusted advisor who helps organizations navigate complex challenges while protecting their reputations and fostering strong leadership.
With extensive leadership experience on non-profit boards, Erin’s practice includes advising non-profit and tax-exempt organizations on general employment issues, board governance, organizational management, executive search, and leadership oversight. She has served in multiple board chair and committee roles across the performing arts, higher education, healthcare, and human services sectors.
Drawing on her background as a journalist, Erin leverages her investigative skills to design and execute thorough workplace investigations. She has handled complex cases involving senior leadership complaints, employee theft, workplace safety concerns, and allegations of harassment and discrimination. Erin frequently speaks on best practices for effective workplace investigations.
Her media experience also makes Erin a key member of the firm’s Reputation and Crisis Management team. She helps employers protect and defend their public image, understanding the critical importance of a strong reputation.
Additionally, Erin advises employers on reductions in force, providing strategic guidance to ensure smooth transitions while minimizing legal risks and maintaining workforce morale.
In the labor space, Erin has represented employers in representation elections, collective bargaining, union grievances, strike contingency planning, and defense of unfair labor practice charges.
Before joining Fisher Phillips, she also represented employers in antitrust matters and complex litigation. Erin also worked as a law clerk in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania after earning her law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where she served as president of the Pitt Law Women’s Association.
Erin is a sought-after speaker on career development, leadership cultivation, and board service. She has been interviewed by The New York Times and BBC News and has spoken at professional events and on various podcasts. In 2011, Erin collaborated with the Pittsburgh legal community to create “Back to the Bar,” an initiative offering education, training, and resources for attorneys re-entering the profession after a career break. She also serves as an adjunct professor and regularly speaks at law schools to help students successfully transition into the legal profession.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Recruitment and Retention of International Talent to
Combat the Teaching Shortage
Presented by: Russell Ford, Partner, Fisher Phillips
This session will help schools understand how to use the immigration tools available to them to recruit and retain a global workforce, maintain compliance with immigration laws, and overcome teacher shortages by expanding their recruitment beyond U.S. borders.
About the Presenter: Russell Ford
Russell Ford helps employers across the country navigate the complex world of business immigration with clarity, creativity, and compassion. With more than two decades of experience, he teams with public and private employers – including universities, K-12 schools, nonprofit organizations, and multinational corporations – to develop and implement effective immigration policies that help them recruit, retain, and support top global talent.
Russell built his practice on a simple but powerful idea: great client service starts with great communication. He works closely with in-house counsel, human resources teams, and leadership to design practical strategies for global personnel movement, compliance, and sponsorship under all major nonimmigrant and immigrant visa categories, including H-1B, J-1, O-1, NIW, and EB-1. His work often extends to advising on SEVIS programs, I-9 and E-Verify compliance, and Labor Condition Application (LCA) processes.
Clients value Russell’s approachable style, responsiveness, and ability to translate complex regulations into actionable guidance. Whether helping a university secure SEVIS designation, resolving an I-9 compliance challenge for a multi-campus system, or developing long-term workforce strategies for a global company, Russell brings practical solutions that protect organizations and empower their people.
A frequent advisor to higher education institutions, Russell is a core member of the firm’s Higher Education Practice Group and a trusted advisor to schools and universities nationwide.
Before joining Fisher Phillips, Russell practiced at major firms in Atlanta and New England and co-founded a boutique immigration firm in Portland, Maine, where he built a national practice serving clients in education and business.
Tuesday, December 1, 2026 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Navigating Unemployment and Employee Leave
Presented by: Bob Robenalt, Partner, Fisher Phillips
Description coming soon.
About the Presenter: Bob Robenalt
Bob Robenalt is a partner in the firm’s Columbus, Ohio office and has practiced labor and employment law for more than 25 years. He advises employers on a wide range of workplace matters, including employee discipline, ADA and FMLA compliance, OSHA, workers’ compensation, discrimination and retaliation claims, non-compete and trade secret matters, and ERISA.
Bob represents employers in state and federal courts and administrative proceedings and has served as first chair in numerous jury and bench trials. He has also argued before Ohio and federal appellate courts and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.
In addition to litigation, Bob works closely with executives, human resources professionals, and management teams to help prevent disputes through training, education, and effective workplace policies. He frequently writes and presents on labor and employment issues.
Bob is an AV-rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized by Ohio Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America. He has also held leadership roles with the Columbus Bar Association’s Labor & Employment and Workers’ Compensation committees.
Tuesday, January 19, 2027 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Pay Equity in Schools:
Closing the Gap and Staying Compliant
Presented by: Sarah Wieselthier, Partner, Fisher Phillips
According to research, school diversity, especially ethnic variety among teachers, can help students significantly. However, despite equal educational attainment, the salary gap between men and women and based upon race and ethnicity persists. This webinar will examine these pay disparities, take a closer look at the federal Equal Pay Act and state requirements, and explain how a proactive pay equity audit can help schools identify and address potential compliance risks. We will also discuss the growing landscape of pay transparency and pay data reporting obligations and practical steps schools can take to strengthen their compensation practices, including undertaking an audit to stay in compliance.
About the Presenter: Sarah Wieselthier
Sarah Wieselthier is a partner in the firm’s New Jersey office. She is an experienced employment litigation attorney who has handled and successfully resolved dozens of cases in New Jersey and New York state and federal courts and administrative agencies. Sarah is known for taking a thoughtful and strategic approach to handling litigation and counseling matters.
Sarah has extensive experience counseling some of the most high-profile employers involving litigation and compliance issues on a wide array of labor and employment–related matters, including discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, equal pay, wage and hour claims, and class and collective actions. Her clients do business in a variety of industries (health care, financial, telecommunications, utilities, retail, insurance groups, staffing, PEOs, among others) where she advises and counsels them on policies and handbooks, wage and hour compliance, discipline, termination, investigations, and other related issues.
With her knowledge of the complex New Jersey, New York, and federal employment laws combined with her vast experience, Sarah vigorously advocates for the rights of her clients after defining the client’s interests and mapping a strategy for a successful outcome. She is a frequent presenter on breaking legal updates and issues involving pay equity, wage and hour, and class action claims, both locally and nationally.
Information coming soon.
For more than 25 years, Fisher Phillips’ K-12 Education Practice has helped schools navigate challenges from admission through graduation and hiring through separation. We offer a full complement of preventive services to address employee, student, parent, and board concerns.
How we can help:
- Employee, Student & Parent Issues
- Training, Investigations & Defense
- Policy & Governance Guidance
Fisher Phillips Education Practice Group | Fisher Phillips LLP
Registration Options
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Registration Options
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Price |
|---|---|
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ADVIS Member School
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$550.00 |
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Member: Register Additional Attendees
→Enter the number of tickets matching the number of people attending from your school. |
FREE |
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Non-Member School
→ Not sure if your school is a member? Check our list of ADVIS Member Schools. |
$1,100.00 |
|
Non- Member: Register Additional Attendees
→Enter the number of tickets matching the number of people attending from your school. |
FREE |
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HOW IT WORKS
- Only ONE person per school needs to register ONE time for the entire Series.
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Your entire faculty and staff have access to all six live webinars, plus the recordings and resources, through June 30, 2027.
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Schools may register at any time during the series and will receive access to all seven webinar recordings and materials, regardless of registration date.
HOW TO REGISTER
PLEASE READ EVERYTHING BELOW
- Only ONE person per school needs to register ONE time for the entire Legal Summit Series.
- At the time of registration, you MUST enter in the names and emails of the other people from your school who will be attending the series.
- To do this, select both the "Member" and "Register Your Attendees" tickets. There are additional instructions on the registration page.
- If you do not do this, no one other than you will be able to access the Legal Series.
ACT 48 CREDITS
• You may request credit up to 7 days after the event.
• Per the PA Department of Education,
ADVIS is required to report your successful completion of Act 48 evaluation within 30 days of the event.
• Contact Dena Torino (dtorino@advis.org) for more information.
ACCOMMODATIONS
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. Please feel free to request an accommodation on the registration form.
For inquiries about accessibility, please contact Dena Torino (dtorino@advis.org). At least two weeks' advance notice will help us to provide seamless access.
EVENT CONTACT
Dena Torino,
Vice President of
Strategy, Learning & School Services
No refunds will be provided for the Legal Summit Series.