PROVIDENCE, RI, March 30, 2026 – Partridge Snow & Hahn (PSH), a full-service business law and litigation firm, announces that attorney Sean M. Fontes presented on the panel, “Inclusive Leadership During Legislative Uncertainty,” at URI’s 38th Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference on March 27 at the Roger Williams University School of Law.
The panel featured labor and employment attorneys offering both employer-side and employee-side perspectives, and addressed the key policy changes and executive orders affecting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Panelists explained the necessary steps for compliance and provided guidance for multi-state employers on managing the conflict between restrictive federal policies and broader state protections for employees.
The event was organized by the URI Office of Strategic Initiatives, in partnership with the Schmidt Center for Labor Relations and Human Resources. Sessions addressed state and federal court updates, changes at the National Labor Relations Board, implications of the rapid integration of AI into workplace environments and functions, and how employers can stay true to their DEI values while remaining compliant with evolving federal regulations.
As Counsel in the Employment & Labor and Litigation & Disputes practice groups, Fontes counsels businesses on new and existing employment law compliance, handles all aspects of collective bargaining agreements, and represents employers who have been sued by their employees for discrimination and wage and hour claims. He also provides trainings to employers on employee discipline, performance management, promotions and terminations, and union grievance procedures and best practices.
Fontes also represents businesses in matters beyond employment. He has legal experience in the construction industry, including counselling construction management firms, collective bargaining units, community-based organizations, minority business enterprises, and government procurement officials in his work as counsel to former Governor Raimondo’s Working Group on Diversity In Construction and BuildRI MBE Council.
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About Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP
Partridge Snow & Hahn is a full-service business law and litigation firm committed to working collaboratively with clients to develop a deep understanding of their various industries, objectives, and unique ways of working to help advance business goals and solve legal challenges. With offices in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, the firm focuses on key areas of law: corporate & business, including M&A, employment, tax, and nonprofit; real estate, including commercial financing, environmental, and land use; and complex commercial litigation & disputes.
