Labor & Employment

Focus

The Labor & Employment Law Service Group encompasses all aspects of employment law to provide our clients realistic advice in an ever-changing business world.  Our attorneys advise on compliance with the full range of local, state, and federal employment laws, as well as litigate employment disputes in state and federal courts across the country. 

Overview

Every aspect of our representation is focused on advice for the real world.  Our clients know what they want out of their business, and as their attorneys, it is our duty to ensure that their employment needs are met.  We have experience advising on a number of legal issues, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

In addition, your business uses forecasts and budgets, and your attorneys should too. We help you to understand the costs associated with your employment matters up front and work regularly with you to keep you informed of developments that may affect those costs.

At the same time, we know that employment matters often are about more than the damages being claimed. You have core values that you take seriously and that you expect your attorneys to defend. Working with our team of experienced litigation attorneys, our clients have the confidence to make the personnel decisions they know are right for their organization as a whole.

Services

  • Represent employers and executives in Federal and State employment litigation
  • Review workforce reductions, terminations, and disciplinary situations
  • Represent employers before administrative agencies and commissions
  • Provide employment law training for employers, managers, and human resources professionals
  • Assist with corporate transactions by conducting employment-related due diligence, negotiating transaction documents, and overseeing employee transition process
  • Negotiate and advise on employment agreements, executive employment contracts, retention agreements and non-compete agreements
  • Advise on union relationships and union avoidance
  • Advise on employment-related trade secret protection
  • Advise on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and other employment laws

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Representative Matters

  • Litigation - Argenbright Security, Inc. v. Frank Argenbright (Circuit Court of Cook County) - Counsel for plaintiff in multi-million dollar breach of non-compete ancillary to sale of airport security business. Filed for TRO and preliminary injunction. Case favorably resolved after protracted written and oral discovery and two-week injunction hearing.
  • Litigation - Phillips v. Vancom Transportation, Inc. (U.S. District Court for the N.D. of Illinois) - Represented employer of an international transit concern in claim of race discrimination.Tried case to successful verdict for employer.
  • Litigation - Assisted in lawsuit seeking damages in excess of $1 million based on allegations of defamation, tortious interference with business expectancy, and violations of the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act on behalf of the company’s former president.
  • Drafting of Nationwide Leave Policies - Retained to provide employment law counseling to multi-site working team of HR representatives and in-house counsel for Fortune 100 company.  Led team in effort to define objectives for and parameters of leave policy.  Assumed primary responsibility for drafting policies implemented nationwide by company.
  • Outsourcing of IT and HR Services - Provided employment law advice in connection with worldwide outsourcing of certain IT and HR functions.  Assisted with drafting and negotiations of agreements relating to transfer of employees from client to outsourcing providers as well as agreements ensuring compliance with European data protection laws.  Worked with human resources representatives and foreign counsel in over a dozen countries in Europe, the Middle East, South America, and Asia.
  • Divestiture of Operating Division - Provided employment law advice in connection with the divestiture of an operating division with 25,000 employees in 36 different countries.  Assisted with drafting of agreements controlling transfer of employees.  Worked with counsel worldwide to ensure that notification, consultation and other transfer requirements were satisfied.
  • Workforce Restructuring - Represented client involved in nationwide reduction in force.  Advised on compliance with applicable employment laws, including WARN and OWBPA.  Helped client to formulate criteria for choosing employees and prepared agreements involving release of employee claims.
  • Executive Employment Contracts - Advised several Fortune 100 companies on the implementation of executive-level employment contracts.  Also helped numerous high-ranking executives negotiate employment contracts and severance packages.
  • Employee Training - Prepared training program for client's managers on major requirements of employment laws.  Worked with scriptwriter and film company to prepare proprietary films incorporated into training materials.  Also assisted another client in developing and implementing an on-line training program for sexual harassment.
  • Representation During Union Organizing Drives - Advised clients in organizing campaigns conducted by the USWA, UAW, SEIU, TWU, and other unions.  Worked with clients to map out campaign strategies and prepare communications to employees.  Advised on unit determination issues and represented clients in hearings before the NLRB.
  • Investigation of Alleged Racial Harassment and Discrimination - Led team of attorneys investigating and responding to EEOC charges filed by 30 employees.  Charges involved alleged racial discrimination and harassment at a 250-acre industrial facility with over 9,000 employees.