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We have represented clients in a broad array of employment matters, including claims for breach of express and implied contracts, retaliatory discharge, sexual harassment and age, race and sex discrimination. We regularly advise clients on fair competition issues concerning restrictive covenants, confidentiality agreements and trade secrets.
Specific examples of our work in the areas of employment and labor include:
- We have extensive experience advising and representing clients in connection with the enforcement of post-termination covenants (e.g., confidentiality, non-disclosure and non-compete provisions). For a number of years, we handled cases across the country for the financial services subsidiary of American Express Co., involving enforcement of non-compete covenants, many of which involved the interface of litigation and arbitration. American Express turned to us for several of its highest profile, highest stakes cases involving its covenants. We have represented many other clients in this area, particularly in the financial services and insurance industries, including Smith Barney and CNA.
- We represented a prominent law firm in defense of an age discrimination suit brought by the EEOC.
- We obtained judgments in favor of National Broadcasting Company in several cases involving claims of race discrimination and retaliatory discharge.
- Representing Commonwealth Edison, we obtained a favorable settlement in a class action brought by the EEOC and obtained summary judgments or dismissals of several other employment claims.
- We defended a sex discrimination and sexual harassment lawsuit filed against a Chicago brokerage firm.
- We represented (pro bono) scores of former city of Chicago employees who were improperly terminated by the City. After winning several trials on behalf of our clients, the total recovery to date exceeds $3,000,000.
- We acted as primary outside counsel for the National Hockey League Players Association for many years, and were actively involved in the NHLPA’s negotiations of its collective bargaining agreement. After the collective bargaining agreement was signed, we handled dozens of important grievances for the NHLPA, as well as salary arbitrations and unfair labor practice proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board.
- While our experience in employment matters typically involves judicial and administrative proceedings, an important part of our practice involves counseling our clients in order to avoid such claims. For example, one of our clients (a Fortune 500 company) retained us to perform a 50-state survey of employment laws, leading to a restructuring of its employment practices and contracts.
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