Will Oden to Speak at NCBA’s 2026 Fundamentals of Employment Law Program

Labor and employment attorney Will Oden will serve as a panelist at the North Carolina Bar Association’s 2026 Fundamentals of Employment Law Program, taking place February 18, 2026, at the North Carolina Bar Center in Cary.

Will, a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Employment Law, will speak during “Practical Case Evaluations,” a panel discussion focused on one of the most important aspects of employment litigation. He will be joined by Victoria T. “Tori” Kepes of The Noble Law Firm PLLC and L. Nicole Patino of the Law Offices of L. Nicole Patino PLLC, with Patino also serving as moderator. Together, the panel will share best practices for evaluating employment cases, including gathering key facts, assessing witness credibility, analyzing liability and damages, identifying coverage issues, and determining settlement value. The session also addresses how case evaluations evolve over time and how attorneys can clearly communicate risk and value to clients.

In addition to Will’s session, the full-day program offers a comprehensive overview of employment law fundamentals, with sessions covering:

• Practical litigation strategies in employment law cases
• An overview of North Carolina employment law and the employment-at-will doctrine
• Federal discrimination statutes, including Title VII, the ADEA, and the ADA
• Wage and hour law under both federal and North Carolina statutes
• The intersection of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Designed as both a primer and an update, the program brings together experienced practitioners and educators from across the state to address the legal issues employers and employees face in today’s workplace.

Register here.

Details at a Glance