Oppenheimer Investigations Group is pleased to announce that Managing Partner Vida Thomas will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award during the Wiley W. Manuel Bar Association of Sacramento’s Legal Fusion 2026 annual gala on October 2.

The event theme, “Seeds of Justice – Investing in Tomorrow’s Legal Leaders,” reflects the organization’s commitment to mentorship, scholarship and expanding opportunities for aspiring lawyers. Throughout her career, Vida has championed these values through her legal practice, leadership and longstanding commitment to mentoring and supporting law students.

Leveraging more than 30 years of experience in employment law, Vida’s practice concentrates on conducting impartial workplace investigations and addressing complex organizational challenges. She has served as an expert witness in both state and federal employment litigation and has led hundreds of investigations involving a broad range of workplace issues. In addition to her investigative work, she frequently provides training to public and private sector clients on topics such as interpersonal dynamics, bias awareness and effective workforce management across generational lines.

As managing partner, Vida also oversees the firm’s work in Title IX matters, hearing officer services, fraud investigations, workplace conflict resolution, coaching and related initiatives. Under her leadership, in 2026 the firm expanded to add services on the East Coast, now serving clients in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania in addition to California.

For the past four years, Vida has trained incoming first-year law students at McGeorge School of Law, giving future attorneys a foundation in equity-centered practice from the start of their legal education. She also serves on the school’s Diversity and Inclusion Board mentoring students and helping strengthen representation within the legal profession.

Before joining OIG, Vida co-founded one of Sacramento’s first women-owned employment law firms. Vida is active with the Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI), the professional organization that sets standards for the investigations field, where she has served on AWI’s board and teaching faculty and has co-chaired its Best Practices and Guiding Principles committees.

Please visit the organization’s event page for additional information about 2026 Legal Fusion.