AGENDA 

11:30AM to 12:30 PM - Registration and Lunch

12:30PM - 1:30PM - The Illinois Playbook: Navigating Regulatory Complexity - Rhea Baker-Ipek, Senior Legal Counsel at Staffing GC 

1:30PM - 1:45PM - Break

1:45PM - 2:45PM - Grassroots / Legislative Involvement / Q&A - Matthew Furton, Partner at Troutman Pepper Locke

2:45PM - 3:00PM - Break

3:00PM - 4:00PM - Industry Update and Outlook - Brittany Sakata, General Counsel at American Staffing Association

4:00 Wrap up and Cocktail Hour

Attendance at this event earns 3.0 CE Hours toward ASA Certification

MEET THE SPEAKERS

Brittany Sakata serves as general counsel for the American Staffing Association.  She is a former labor and employment litigator who advises ASA members on a broad range of legal and compliance matters, including EEO and wage and hour laws, immigration/I-9, OSHA, artificial intelligence in employment, and paid leave issues. She is principal ASA liaison to the formal ASA/OSHA temporary worker safety alliance, Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) alliance, and ASA’s Legal/Legislative and Employee Safety Committees. Brittany graduated from George Mason University and earned a J.D. from the Washington College of Law at American University.

Matt Furton is a Partner in the Chicago office of Troutman Pepper Locke, which is a national law firm with offices in 33 cities. Matt is an experienced business trial attorney, known for resolving complex commercial disputes through trials, arbitrations, appeals, and transactions. He is frequently called upon to represent the interests of entire industries that need to challenge the constitutionality of a statute, rule, or administrative ruling. In the staffing industry, he secured a preliminary injunction that temporarily prevented enforcement of certain amendments to the Illinois Day and Temporary Labor Services Act. He is currently defending class action litigation related to staffing agency compliance with new Illinois employment practices laws.

Rhea Baker is a Senior Labor & Employment Counsel with over a decade of experience navigating the high-stakes intersection of workforce strategy and multi-state compliance. As an MBA-trained legal leader, Rhea is known for more than just managing risk; she is a trusted advisor to executive teams, transforming complex legal hurdles into pragmatic, business-focused solutions. Currently serving as Senior Legal Counsel at Staffing GC, she specializes in helping organizations protect their brand reputation while scaling operational goals.

Thank you to our Sponsors of the 2026 Legislative Conference:

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors