The Legal Lowdown: Attorneys on HR, Regulatory Changes, and Compliance
2026 AK Legal Update (Half Day)
On March 17th, join ASHRM at the BP Energy Center to stay current on the employment laws and compliance issues impacting Alaska employers right now. This half-day session brings local employment attorneys and other experts together to give practical, real-world guidance you can actually use.
Three attorneys return to ASHRM as presenters following participation in last year’s legal update and various specialized seminars.
Date: March 17, 2026
Location: BP Energy Center (BPEC), 1014 Energy Ct Anchorage, AK 99508 United States
11:00 AM – Registration & Networking Opens: Attendees begin networking, share announcements, and exchange insights while registering. Note: We expect a strong turnout, and we’ll begin promptly at 11:30. Please plan to arrive early to allow time for check-in; we recommend arriving by 11:00.
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Objectives:
1. Demonstrate how to find reliable sources of bills, discussions, and updates in state law.
2. Evaluate current practices in workplace safety and preparation for site visits and inspections.
3. Verbalize at least two major takeaways or action items related to today’s areas of focus:
a. Paid Sick Leave & Time-Off Administration
b. Pay Transparency
c. I-9, E-Verify, and Immigration Worksite Enforcement
d. Workplace Safety Snapshot: OSHA & AKOSH 2026
e. Leave Laws: FMLA and Coordination with State Leave
f. Harassment Prevention, Investigations, and Training
g. Wage & Hour: Minimum Wage and Exempt Status
Bio for Renea Saade, JD
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Renea is a legal and HR professional with more than 25 years of experience working in house and in private law firm practice. She provides practical advice, assistance with workplace investigations, and on-site training for her clients on the various topics including (preventing harassment and discrimination in the workplace and other trainings pursuant to a conciliation or settlement agreement), wage/hour compliance, leave laws, performance reviews and hiring/firing. Over the course of her career, Renea has assisted employers with various labor and employment law matters, including drafting, revising, and enforcing their employee manuals, non-compete/non-solicitation agreements, and employment contracts. While in private practice, she regularly appeared before federal and state courts and defended employers against lawsuits and represents their interests in agency audits and investigations, including, but not limited to, those performed by the EEOC, state and municipal human/equal rights commissions, U.S. Department of Labor and state labor agencies.
Renea has also served as a court approved arbitrator and mediator. She has volunteered as a volunteer mediator for Alaska’s Third Judicial District Court and a Pro Bono Mediator for the EEOC.
Renea has served as a Board Member for several local non-profits and current serves as a volunteer instructor for various SHRM chapters.
Bio for Martha Tansik, JD. CMSP. MSCC
Martha Tansik’s primary practice is workers’ compensation defense/subrogation, but she also serves as General Counsel for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Alaska. Martha holds specialized Medicare Set-Aside Consultant Certified (MSCC) and Certified Medicare Secondary Payer Professional (CMSP) certifications enabling her to advise clients on Medicare compliance. She is a member of the National Alliance of Medicare Set-Aside Planners (NAMSAP). Her BA is from The American University in International Studies and Latin American development. She received her JD from Seattle University. Martha sits on the Board of Directors of AWAIC.
Bio for Margaret Stock, JD
Margaret Stock focuses her practice on immigration and citizenship law. She is a nationally known expert on immigration and national security laws, and has testified regularly before Congressional committees on immigration, homeland security, and military matters. As a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Military Police, U.S. Army Reserve, Margaret has extensive experience with U.S. military issues.
Bio for Michael O'Brien, JD
Mike O’Brien is a Partner at the Alaska office of Davis Wright Tremaine. His practice focuses on employment and labor law and he has been litigating on behalf of clients for over two decades, with more than 60 jury trials and frequent appearances before the NLRB, the EEOC, ASCHR, the U.S. Department of Education, and other federal and state administrative agencies. Mike is also the go-to attorney in Alaska for corporations of all sizes for strategic advice, board governance, and managing reputation related risk.
Bio for Corey Dunn, JD & Mara Swanson, JD
Corey Dunn, JD and Martha Swanson, JD practice in Alaska. Corey Dunn advises and represents employers in a variety of state and federal employment law matters, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and wage and hour matters. He also represents and counsels employers in labor relations matters, including union organizing, collective bargaining, unfair labor practice litigation, and grievance arbitration. Martha, a Cornell graduate, focuses her practice on labor and employment matters.
These Littler partners have a broad range of experience in jury trials and appeals when litigation is necessary. Their clients represent a broad range of Alaska-based businesses.
Bio for Argjend Sadiku - DOLWD
Argjend Sadiku, Investigator 2, has been an Investigator for Wage and Hour at the State of Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development since joining the Department in 2024. Argjend has prior financial crimes experience, including white collar crimes and subject matter expertise in anti-money laundering. Argjend is a former Bank Manager and Business Owner. Argjend holds a Associate in Business Foundation and a Bachelor of Science in Business in Corporate Finance.
Bio for Kenneth Fahle - DOLWD
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Kenneth Fahle, Investigator 4, is the Lead Investigator for Wage and Hour at the State of Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Kenneth has prior law enforcement experience, is a graduate of the Alaska State Trooper Academy, and joined the Department in 2024. He is also a US Army veteran having served on active duty for 10 years and currently serves in the Army Reserves as a combat medic. Kenneth’s military service brought him to Alaska in 2019 and since then he has enjoyed serving the in various criminal, civil, and administrative law enforcement capacities. Kenneth holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Grove City College.
Continuing education credits: 5 PDC
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Serving Southcentral Alaska since 1974
