Henderson Franklin Attorneys Scott Atwood and Brendan Shearman to Address Workplace AI at LEAD Smart 2026

Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., is pleased to announce that attorneys Scott Atwood and Brendan Shearman will present “AI in the Workplace: Legal Risks, Governance and Practical Guidance for HR” at SHRM Charlotte County’s LEAD Smart 2026: Human + AI: The Workforce Reimagined conference on Friday, September 25, at Charlotte Technical College in Port Charlotte.

LEAD Smart 2026 brings together human resources and business leaders to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the workforce. The conference will examine the evolving relationship between people and AI, including workplace applications, leadership strategy and the development of human-AI teams.

Atwood and Shearman will examine how artificial intelligence is changing the workplace and the legal considerations employers and human resources professionals should address as AI becomes part of recruiting, hiring, performance management and workplace investigations. They will discuss how federal and state employment laws apply to AI-assisted decisions, including potential discrimination and disability-related concerns, as well as risks involving confidential employee information, inaccurate AI-generated content and bias.

“AI is already being used throughout the employment lifecycle, often before an organization has established clear guidelines for how it should be used,” said Atwood. “Employers do not need to choose between innovation and compliance. The goal is to put appropriate safeguards in place, understand where the legal risks exist and preserve human judgment when employment decisions affect people’s careers and livelihoods.”

“AI can be a valuable tool, but it does not replace careful analysis and human judgment,” said Shearman. “Businesses need to understand how these tools are being used, where the information comes from and what happens when an AI-assisted decision is challenged. Those are questions organizations should be asking before problems arise.”

Atwood, a stockholder and chair of Henderson Franklin’s Employment Law Department, has three decades of experience representing and advising employers on workplace disputes, employment litigation and compliance matters. He is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator, currently serves as Legislative Chair for SHRM Naples and previously chaired The Florida Bar’s Labor and Employment Law Section. Atwood earned his B.A. with honors from Dartmouth College, his J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and his M.A. from the College of William & Mary. He may be reached at scott.atwood@henlaw.com.

Shearman, an attorney in the firm’s Business Litigation Department, represents clients in business disputes at both the trial and appellate levels. His litigation experience informs his perspective on the legal risks businesses may encounter as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into workplace decisions and day-to-day operations. A Fort Myers native, Shearman earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, and Bachelor of Science from Florida State University. He may be reached at brendan.shearman@henlaw.com.