Davis+Gilbert is a proud sponsor of the PRSA Counselors Academy 2026 Conference to be held in Carlsbad, CA from April 13-15, 2026.
Quick Details
- Date: April 13-15, 2026
- Location: Carlsbad, CA
Session Overviews
Stay Competitive: The Must-Know Legal Insights for Agencies
In this session, Michael will focus on the most critical legal matters that agency owners face and need to know. The session will begin with highlights from Davis+Gilbert’s 13th Annual Public Relations Industry Trends Report, drawing upon data on revenue & profitability trends, staffing strategies, DEI, and more. Then, next, we will focus on key legal agreements and frameworks that drive and protect the firm’s revenue. Topics will include:
- Building a client “tool kit” that delights clients and… avoid bad debts
- Best practices for offer letters, employment agreements, restrictive covenants, and incentive compensation
- Recent developments in specialty areas like influencer agreements and generative AI
Speaker
- Michael Lasky, Chair, Public Relations; Partner/Co-Chair, Litigation Dispute Resolution
Love ‘Em or Lose ‘Em: Cultivating Loyalty and Longevity with Your #2
Agency leaders are constantly surfing the waves of client demands, talent retention, and market shifts. A strong #2 can steady the board, but only if they’re empowered and invested in the agency’s long-term success. This session explores how leaders and deputies can ride those waves together.
Panelists will share strategies for navigating the CEO/#2 dynamic, building succession plans that sustain stability, and using legal and financial tools to reward loyalty and growth. #2s will learn how to spot the right waves, create opportunities, manage up effectively, and partner well with their CEO.
Attendees will hear from a successful #2, a PR industry lawyer who advises on incentive plans, an HR and leadership consultant with agency experience, and a former deputy turned founder. Participants will leave with proven techniques to strengthen continuity, reduce turnover, and build leadership duos that thrive when waters get rough.
Speakers
- Michael Lasky, Chair, Public Relations; Partner/Co-Chair, Litigation Dispute Resolution
- Allyns Melendez (HR Transformed LLC)
- Monica Smith (Integer)
- Kevin Volz (MediaSource)