April 2026 Chapter Meeting - Protecting Your Business: I-9 Compliance Strategies for Employers

Protecting Your Business: I9 Compliance Strategies for Employers

Session Description

I-9 compliance is a critical yet often overlooked component of HR operations. This session provides HR professionals with a practical understanding of I-9 requirements, including how to properly complete and retain forms, conduct internal audits, and respond to government inspections.

Pedro will walk attendees through the I-9 process step-by-step, covering common errors, best practices, and how to avoid costly compliance pitfalls. The presentation will also address E-Verify and its limitations, how to identify fraudulent documents, and how to manage I-9s within an HRIS system. Attendees will learn what to expect during an audit, how to prepare effectively, and how to navigate both the updated and previous I-9 forms.

Designed with newer HR professionals in mind, this session focuses on practical, foundational knowledge — helping participants gain confidence in maintaining compliance while protecting their organizations from unnecessary risk.

Session Goals

By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:

• Understand the purpose and importance of I-9 compliance
• Accurately complete and review I-9 forms to prevent common mistakes
• Conduct internal I-9 audits and prepare for external audits or inspections
• Utilize E-Verify responsibly and understand its limitations
• Identify valid versus potentially fraudulent employment eligibility documents
• Manage I-9s effectively within HRIS systems, including retention and physical copy considerations
• Apply best practices and lessons from real-world I-9 compliance scenarios
• Recognize key updates to the current I-9 form and how they differ from prior versions

Presenter Bio

Pedro Assis is a member of the Davenport Evans Trust & Trust Companies, Transactions & General Business & Employment Law practice group. Pedro’s practice focuses on trust companies, estate planning, taxation, trust administration, employment law, and corporate and business law.

Originally from Guaxupé, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Pedro earned his bachelor’s degree in Science and Technology from the Federal University of Alfenas. During his undergraduate program, he also studied abroad at Dublin City University. He moved to South Dakota in 2016, where he researched stem cells and rare diseases for three years before graduating from the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law. Pedro joined the Davenport Evans team in 2023.

SESHRM is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDC) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities. This program is valid for one (1) PDC toward SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification.	This program has been pre-approved for one (1) hour of HR General credit toward aPHR®, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ recertification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®).