California Retail Law Summit

Welcome Reception

Networking Dinner

Connect, collaborate and kick off the summit with meaningful conversations, followed by a dinner showcasing the region's culinary highlights. 

Breakfast, Opening Remarks & Summit Overview 

Special guest: Assemblymember Maggy Krell

Navigating the New Frontier of Environmental Litigation & Compliance

Policy Perspective (1 hour)            

Get the latest on California’s evolving Extended Producer Responsibility (ERP) landscape, including SB 54 (packaging), SB 707 (textiles) and new mandates for batteries and organic waste. We’ll also unpack sweeping climate disclosure laws SB 253, SB 261 and AB 1305, which are setting new national benchmarks for transparency and environmental accountability. 

Panelists:

• Senator Catherine Blakespear, Chair, Senate Env. Quality Committee

• Doug Kobold, Executive Director, California Product Stewardship Council

• Additional lawmakers (TBA) 

Legal Perspective (1 hour, CLE)

Amid heightened regulatory scrutiny and shifting consumer expectations, California retailers face unprecedented environmental compliance challenges. This CLE session goes beyond theory to offer practical strategies for staying compliant, minimizing litigation risks and ensuring cross-jurisdictional readiness. Gain insight into recent actions on greenwashing, PFAS and other emerging chemicals of concern, as well as current and upcoming EPR obligations.

Panelists: Expert legal counsel (TBA)

Break

SMART Pricing: Innovation, Transparency & Consumer Protection

Policy Perspective (1 hour)

Explore how dynamic pricing and algorithmic tools are transforming retail. Hear directly from California lawmakers – including authors of key bills like AB 446 – about efforts to promote transparency while preserving innovation. This session will break down how algorithmic pricing works, clear up misconceptions and examine recent and proposed legislation affecting pricing practices in California.  

Panelists:

• Robert Moutrie, Senior Policy Advocate, California Chamber of Commerce (former associate attorney at Meyers, Nave, Riback, Silver & Wilson)

• Additional lawmakers (TBA) 

Legal Perspective (1 hour, CLE)

Pricing lawsuits continue to be on the rise in California and across the country. In this CLE session, renowned retail law pioneers will deliver actionable insights into managing legal risks tied to AI-driven pricing, tariffs and transparency regulations. Learn how to safeguard your business while staying competitive and compliant.  

Panelists: Stephanie Sheridan and Meegan Brooks, Benesch

Lunch Session: A Conversation with Zoe Heller & Rachel Michelin 

Join Zoe Heller, Director of CalRecycle, and Rachel Michelin, CRA President & CEO, for a candid conversation on the future of retail and environmental policy in California.  

Explore opportunities for collaboration on zero-waste and circular economy goals, and practical approaches to sustainability.  

Privacy, Cyber & AI: Litigation and Regulation Trends

Policy Perspective (1 hour)

Get up to speed on major developments including the Delete Act and CPPA’s draft regulations on cybersecurity audits, risk assessments and AI. With children’s privacy laws evolving nationwide, we’ll also explore how California’s approach compares to new laws in Texas, Maryland and beyond—offering insight into the growing state-by-state patchwork and what it means for compliance in 2025 and beyond.   

Panelists: 

•  Tom Kemp, Executive Director, California Privacy Protection Agency 

• Assemblymember Rick Zbur, Member, Assembly Judiciary Committee; Chair, Assembly Select Committee on Retail Theft

• Additional lawmakers (TBA) 

Legal Perspective (1 hour, CLE)

This CLE session provides in-depth guidance on tackling legal challenges in privacy, data protection and automated technologies. Participants will learn lessons from recent cases and regulatory trends and gain practical approaches on complying with California’s privacy laws while adapting to related cross-state regulatory shifts.  

Panelists:  Expert legal counsel (TBA) 

Break

Benchmarking & Wrap Up 

Wine Reception & Fireside Chat

Breakfast Roundtables: “Hot Topics in Retail Law”

Join colleagues for a lively benchmarking discussion on current litigation trends in California and strategies for navigating upcoming regulatory changes in the Golden State. 

California’s Workforce Mandates

Policy Perspective (1 hour)

California’s laws are evolving rapidly, and this session will highlight critical workforce mandates impacting retail in 2025. Panelists will cover the latest labor bills, including pay transparency, workplace surveillance, paid family leave and employee training.  

The discussion will also touch on Cal/OSHA updates, such as workplace violence prevention standards mandated and heat illness prevention rules, along with the growing influence of local ordinances—like minimum wage increases and predictive scheduling laws—effective July 1, 2025. Attendees will receive actionable guidance for navigating this complex regulatory environment to stay compliant and competitive.

Panelists:

• Assemblymember Alexandra Macedo, Member, Assembly Judiciary Committee

• Additional lawmakers (TBA)

Legal Perspective (1 hour, CLE)

This CLE segment is designed to transcend the typical policy overview, equipping you with concrete, real-world strategies to help you master California’s complex labor regulatory regime, reduce litigation risks and maintain operational readiness across multiple jurisdictions, all while anticipating the next wave of regulatory changes.  

Panelists: Expert legal counsel (TBA)

Break

Navigating the New Legal Landscape: PAGA & CIPA Reform

Policy Perspective (1 hour)

California’s legal landscape is shifting fast—this session offers a clear, practical briefing on what matters most. Learn how 2024 PAGA reforms restructure penalties, expand the right to cure and narrow who can bring claims—giving retailers new tools to resolve disputes early and lower litigation risk. Hear directly from the bill’s lead negotiator on how to make the most of these changes. We’ll also unpack SB 690’s proposed CIPA reform, which could exempt CCPA-covered activity and reduce duplicative privacy lawsuits. Bet actionable strategies to update your compliance programs, resolve claims efficiently and stay ahead of legal risks in California.   

Panelists:

• Ashley Hoffman, Senior Policy Advocate, California Chamber of Commerce; chief negotiator of the PAGA reform bill; (former associate attorney in office of Jackson Lewis P.C.; summer associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP)

• Sarah Boot, Founder & Principal, Boot Advocacy; chief negotiator of SB 690; CIPA reform bill (former privacy advocate; California Chamber of Commerce, assistant U.S. attorney; Southern District of California; former litigation attorney at Cooley LLP)

Legal Perspective (1 hour, CLE)

As CIPA litigation grows and AI introduces new risks under state wiretapping laws, legal experts will share the latest defense strategies for navigating this fast-evolving environment. 

Panelists: Expert legal counsel (TBA)

Lunch: From the Law Office to the State Capitol

What happens when attorneys become lawmakers? In this dynamic session, California legislators who are also practicing lawyers share how their dual roles shape policy and influence retail law across the state. Expect real-life stories, insider perspectives and honest insights into how the courtroom and Capitol collide—plus time for your questions.

Panelists:

• Assemblymember Nick Schultz, Chair, Public Safety Committee

• Additional lawmakers (TBA) 

Event Concludes