Cases
Representative Matters: Human Resources Counseling: Advised two cannabis dispensary clients on employee hiring
labor peace agreement issues for their filing of a combined 36 cannabis adult recreational use dispensary licensure applications with the Illinois Department of Financial
Professional Regulation during the inaugural licensing process under the Illinois Cannabis Regulation
Tax Act.
Counsel to privately-held bank in guiding human resources policies
practices,
providing training on various compliance issues, including wage
hour (FLSA)
leave of absence issues. Defend discrimination claims
provide advice on employee transfer issues arising out of multi-state acquisitions.
Counsel to public elementary charter school network operators in guiding human resources policies, practices,
procedures to respond to various compliance issues, including leave of absence (FMLA/ADA) management, background check (FCRA) compliance, workplace
student conduct investigations, FOIA response advice,
other federal
state law compliance issues.
Counsel to major international pharmaceutical packaging manufacturer in guiding human resources policies, practices,
procedures to respond to various compliance issues, including leave of absence (FMLA/ADA) management, background check (FCRA) compliance, workplace conduct investigations, defense of discrimination claims,
other federal
state law compliance issues.
Represent numerous facilities in the health care industry, including skilled nursing, intermediate care for the developmentally disabled, hospitals,
physician practices. Act as outside employment counsel providing day-to-day guidance on employee liability issues
prepare
implement policies, procedures,
training
conduct investigations. Defend numerous claims in federal
state courts
before various administrative agencies.
Counsel to private elementary school on teacher contract termination
related issues arising out of child welfare agency investigation of teacher's on-premises conduct.
Counsel to public elementary school's governing body on issues related to non-renewal of principal's contract. Principal's request for review of non-renewal decision resolved successfully in client's favor.
Counsel to publicly traded payment processing company in conducting internal audits
guiding overhaul of human resources policies, practices,
procedures regarding wage
hour (FLSA)
leave of absence (FMLA/ADA) compliance. Prepared employee h
book compliant in all 50 states for multiple employee groups. Analyzed restrictive covenant
independent contractor liabilities in multiple jurisdictions.
Counsel to major affordable housing employer in conduct of internal investigation of wage
hour compliance under state
federal law. Managed reclassification of numerous positions in manner which avoided all potential litigation.
Counsel to numerous mid-market employers in multiple industries for the preparation
implementation of multi-jurisdictional policies
procedures, including comprehensive employee h
books as well as restrictive covenants
arbitration agreements.
Represented numerous major independent franchisors in the restaurant
other service industries. Acted as outside employment counsel providing day-to-day guidance on liability issues, prepared
implemented policies
procedures,
conducted investigations. Defended more than 150 claims in federal
state courts
before various administrative agencies. All matters won, averted or resolved to the employer's satisfaction.
Avoided further legal action
the assessment of financial penalties
contracting bars by successfully defending several manufacturing, construction, retail
banking industry clients in wage payment actions brought by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance
Illinois Department of Labor.
Represented a fast-food industry client in the resolution of a sexual assault complaint. Avoided the filing of a threatened $1 million claim without payment to claimant.
Enabled numerous U.S.-based public companies to protect their competitive positioning by advising them regarding the implementation of restrictive covenants
confidentiality agreements in up to 50 different countries concurrently.
Assisted numerous U.S.-based public companies in implementing global Sarbanes-Oxley compliance programs
other corporate governance reforms by advising them in the implementation of employee policies, codes of conduct
ethics on a global basis.
Litigation: Obtained a temporary restraining order compelling a former management level employee to comply with his common law confidentiality obligations
to deliver his personal devices for forensic mitigation to delete client's confidential information. Negotiated prompt settlement with former employee, as well as the competitor that lured the employee away, which included a new non-competition agreement.
Represented retailers, online booking systems,
other public accommodations against both claims
class action lawsuits brought against them for failure to maintain accessible websites, allegedly in violation of Title III of the ADA.
Represented packaging manufacturer
healthcare facility in defense of USDOL investigations of FMLA
FLSA compliance. Negotiated closure of investigations without enforcement actions
with no fines or penalties owed.
Represented numerous health care industry clients (including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities,
intermediate care for the developmentally disabled) in the defense of lawsuits
charges raising discrimination, harassment, retaliation
related tort claims brought under Illinois state law. All cases dismissed or resolved favorably to the client.
Represented national retail optical chain in nationwide ADA Title III public accommodation class action
other actions regarding access to optical examinations. Provided counsel through multi-year compliance program implemented to the client's satisfaction.
Represented major financial services firms in defense of a number of Title VII, ADEA, ADA, FMLA, Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower,
employment tort cases. All matters won, averted or resolved to the employer's satisfaction.
Defended
prosecuted restrictive covenant
related business tort actions both on behalf of departing employee
new employer,
on behalf of former employer. All matters won, averted or resolved to client's satisfaction.
Represented a large affordable-housing employer in defense of an FLSA collective action for unpaid wages
overtime based on misclassification as exempt. Achieved a global court-approved settlement based only on the amount claimed by the individually named plaintiff after eliminating potential for class certification.
Represented a major multinational fast-food franchisor in Title VII, 1981
employment tort case. Won dismissal on dispositive motion.
Represented a closely held retail bank in administrative trial of customer's public accommodation discrimination claims. Won defense verdict
award of attorneys' fees for plaintiff's discovery abuses.
Represented a large shopping-mall-based retail employer in defense of an FLSA collective action for unpaid wages
overtime based on misclassification as exempt. Achieved a global court-approved settlement based only on the amount claimed by the individually named plaintiff after eliminating potential for class certification.
On behalf of an IT industry client, won dismissal of 10 wage-
-hour claims before the Illinois Department of Labor
affirmation by the Office of Chief Legal Counsel,
avoided a potential 30-plus-claimant class action suit with the potential of more than $1 million in claims
criminal charges against company executives.
Saved more than $200,000 on behalf of a client
avoided a state
/or federal contracting bar while acting as primary negotiator in the settlement of 100-plus class claims brought by the Illinois Department of Labor under the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act.
Represented multiple fast-food industry clients in numerous ADA Title III public accommodation actions regarding access to restaurant services, including defense of nationwide class actions.
Corporate Counseling: Counsel to a test engineering
technical staffing services company on WARN Act issues related to its sale for $39 million.
Counsel to a furniture retailer with approximately 40 locations in several states on WARN Act issues related to its sale for $42 million.
Advised members
executive leadership of a closely-held electric motor manufacturer for the industrial
mass transit markets, on restrictive covenant, change of control
employee contract issues related to the sale of all their membership interests.
Advised owners of a digital learning solutions company on employee contract issues related to the $53 million sale to a private equity fund of its subsidiary, a company that provides educational internet offerings.
Advised a multi-state industrial services roll-up on employee transfer issues related to multiple acquisitions with asset value of more than $55 million.
Counsel to a nationwide high-end restaurant chain regarding WARN Act
federal, state
local issues related to site closures
layoffs in numerous states.
Counsel to major non-profit community center regarding employee transfer
federal
state WARN Act issues related to reorganization, bankruptcy
resulting sale.
Advised a U.S. public company regarding employee transfers arising out of a $260 million acquisition involving more than 500 employees located in 36 jurisdictions.
Advised a U.S. public company regarding employee transfer issues related to a $225 million acquisition involving employees domiciled in more than 20 countries.
Advised a U.S. public company regarding the outsourcing of information technology
business processes in a transaction resulting in employee transfers in 39 countries.
