North Star SHRM will be hosting a virtual education session titled:

When Executive Leadership Crosses a Line: HR's Ethical and Legal Duties to the Company

By  Labor Law Attorney Team with Eckland & Blando

This is a virtual presentation via Zoom on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. All North Star SHRM members are invited to attend. There is no cost to attend. 

The target audience for this seminar is HR professionals and business owners.

Session Description:

This is not your boss’s ethics seminar. Join Eckland & Blando attorneys Pamela, Rachel, and Anne as we delve deep into REAL scenarios that test Human Resources professionals who must put the best interest of the company above all else. Many employees are not even aware they have fiduciary duties to their employer. In this session, we will first cover what fiduciary duties Human Resources professionals owe to their employer and how that impacts their day-to-day duties. Next, we will present several dynamic real-life scenarios (with integrated Q&A) where Human Resources is faced with a conflict between their duties to the company and the demands of the company’s executives. For example: What should you do when you receive a complaint against the CEO, but the CEO does not believe it warrants an investigation? Or how do you handle a situation where you believe a large group of employees are misclassified but your CFO disagrees and refuses to make changes due to the financial impact on the company? Finally, we will review and highlight common (and costly) mistakes that can be avoided with a robust awareness of your fiduciary duties! Do not miss this opportunity to build your knowledge and confidence in dealing with even the most challenging situations that may come your way in your critical role as a Human Resources professional.

Learning objectives:

• Gain an understanding of the fiduciary duties that you, as a non-officer employee, owe to your employer.
• Acquire valuable insights on navigating common internal conflicts with the C-Suite.
• Avoid these common costly mistakes related to your fiduciary duties!

Speaker Bios:

Pamela A. Dattilo

Pamela is a seasoned litigator, trial attorney, and external investigator specializing in shareholder, partnership, non-compete, sexual misconduct, and employment disputes. She has successfully litigated in state and federal agencies, private arbitrations, and courts nationwide. Licensed in Minnesota, Pamela has represented clients in complex cases across Florida, Illinois, Texas, Michigan, California, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, and more. Known for handling intricate and contentious disputes, she has secured multi-million-dollar verdicts for plaintiffs and complete defense verdicts. Pamela is also sought for sensitive employment and school investigations, especially those involving sexual misconduct, requiring utmost professionalism.

Her expertise extends to closely held business disputes, non-compete issues, and business tort cases, including confidentiality, non-compete, non-solicitation agreements, trade secrets, and breach of fiduciary duty claims. Pamela adeptly defends and pursues these claims.

Pamela’s litigation approach is creative, strategic, and persistent, making her a formidable advocate. In investigations, she maintains a pragmatic and neutral stance, ensuring integrity and thoroughness to avoid litigation. When litigation is unavoidable, her investigative work often forms a strong defense foundation for companies adhering to her guidance.

Pamela’s dedication to her clients and meticulous attention to detail in every case underscore her reputation as a trusted legal professional. Her strategic insights and commitment to excellence drive successful outcomes in both litigation and investigations.

Rachel A. Brygger

Rachel is an experienced employment counseling attorney who handles a full scope of employment law issues. As state and federal employment laws continue to grow more complex, Rachel helps clients navigate this changing landscape by offering practical, compliant solutions.

Rachel has extensive experience in advising businesses on matters such as wage and hour compliance, leaves of absence, discipline and discharge, employee recruiting and hiring, sick and safe time laws, the Minnesota paid leave law, drug and alcohol testing, and protection of confidential business information.

She also routinely handles negotiation and drafting of all types of employment-related agreements and policies, including employee handbooks, employment agreements, confidentiality and restrictive covenant agreements, separation and release agreements, drug and alcohol testing policies, and other employment policies.

Anne N. St. Amant

Anne diligently represents clients throughout litigation, from fact gathering to aggressive discovery and comprehensive briefing in areas like employment law, civil rights, personal injury, medical malpractice, and maritime law. She excels in civil litigation due to its fast pace, unpredictability, and the chance to craft compelling narratives for successful client outcomes. At Eckland & Blando, Anne has been crucial in winning large-scale jury trials and multi-day arbitrations.

Anne is passionate about building strong client relationships and is attuned to their unique needs. Beyond litigation, she supports small and woman-owned businesses in scaling and growth. She also leads the firm’s summer program, guiding clerks and associates toward successful careers.

Anne co-founded The Dot Twin Cities in 2023, a nonprofit networking organization connecting hundreds of professional women and business owners across Minnesota. Through panels, workshops, and networking events, The Dot promotes collaboration and growth across industries.

For the meeting link, log into the North Star SHRM website and click "Virtual Meeting Log-in" under the Events tab, and locate the event link.