Practice Areas
- Cannabis in the Workplace
- COVID-19 Resource Center & Task Force
- Employee Benefits & Compensation
- Employment Law
- Government Regulation, Audit and Compliance
- Immigration
- OSHA
- Prevailing Wage
- Staffing Agency, Independent Contractor & Contingent Workforce
- Traditional Labor & Union Relations
- Unfair Competition Counseling and Litigation
- Wage & Hour
- Workers' Compensation
Industries
Education
University of Tulsa College of Law, J.D., 1998, highest honors
Illinois State University, B.S., 1994
Jeff’s practice is entirely devoted to management-side labor and employment law. He takes enormous pride in advising and defending the foundation of our economy: employers. Every day he arises with a passion to aggressively and responsibly represent clients in a broad range of industries.
In his practice, Jeff handles both employment and traditional labor matters. Such matters include: countering various union tactics; navigating government audits; defending discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination claims; avoiding employee wage and hour controversies; complying with prevailing wage and minimum wage laws; litigating employment contract disputes and unfair competition controversies; upholding independent contractor and contingent workforce relationships; and negotiating collective bargaining agreements.
Jeff’s legal knowledge is accompanied by his understanding of his clients’ industries, which include construction, banking, manufacturing and food processing, healthcare (particularly long term care), and transportation, among others. Jeff participates in various trade and professional associations devoted to his clients’ diverse industries. He is passionately committed to helping employers stay up-to-date with legal developments and trends unique to their industry.
Jeff has many years of both private practice and in-house counsel experience. He represents employers throughout the U.S. and has taken several prominent cases successfully through arbitration, administrative hearing, trial, and, when necessary, appeal. Jeff advises employers with the purpose of providing them the most efficient avenue to effectively manage. A prolific author and presenter, Jeff is often asked to speak on trending topics in the labor and employment arena by clients and educational providers around the country. He literally wrote the book on Labor & Employment Law for Illinois employers through the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. If you have ever been lucky enough to see Jeff present, you know you are in excellent hands in any negotiation or a courtroom!
A former manager and current business owner, Jeff understands and relates to the objectives of his clients. He applies his passion for business and employers in his work as chairman of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce Employment Law & Litigation Committee, chapter labor counsel for the Associated Builders and Contractors of Illinois, chapter labor counsel for the Northern Illinois Building Contractors Association, and chapter labor counsel to the Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois.
As chair of the firm’s expansive management-side Labor and Employment Practice Group, Jeff oversees a team providing comprehensive counsel to employers across the country. As a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, Jeff helps to set the strategic vision for the firm and ensures that each of the firm’s clients receives the best possible experience working with SmithAmundsen.
Honors
- Selected to The Best Lawyers in America© in Employment Law - Management: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
- Recognized as "40 Illinois Attorney Under 40 to Watch" by the Law Bulletin: 2010
- Selected to the Illinois Super Lawyers list: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
- Selected to the "Top 100: Illinois Super Lawyers" list: 2017, 2018
- Selected to the Illinois Super Lawyers "Rising Stars" list: 2012
- Selected by the Leading Lawyers Network as a "Leading Lawyer" in management side employment law
Memberships & Involvement
- Member: SmithAmundsen Executive Committee
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce: Chair, Employment Law Council; Chair, Employment Litigation Committee; Chair, Employment Law Committee; Lead Attorney, HR Audit Task Force; Board Member
- Chapter Labor Attorney, National Labor Advisory Board: Associated Builders & Contractors of Illinois
- Chapter Labor Counsel, Member: Northern Illinois Building Contractors Association
- Chapter Labor Counsel, Member: Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois
- Board of Directors: Marklund
- Member: Illinois State Bar Association; Oklahoma Bar Association; HR Illinois Advisory Board; Valley Industrial Human Resource Association
- Labor Law Advisor: Midwest Truckers Association; Illinois Lumber and Material Dealers Association
Experience
- Successfully obtained denial of motion for class certification in contentious wage and hour class action lawsuit involving home healthcare workers. District court found the purported class representative was not adequate due to evidence of dishonesty concerning his own time reports. Aggressive discovery strategy and effort led to proof that the former employee was working for multiple employers at same time; committing time fraud.
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Lead negotiator in key union contract negotiation for national food processing company after change in ownership. Secured multi-year agreement whereby material operational changes were implemented as well as a maximum rate progression that included wage caps for certain workers beyond market rates due to prior legacy, out-of-control, contracts.
- Obtained Summary Judgment dismissal on Racial Bias claims pursued against manufacturer under Title VII and Section 1981 in the immediate wake of the 7th Circuit’s Ortiz decision.
- Successfully represented two separate franchise owners against union organizing petitions filed by a Chicago based Teamsters local union under the NLRB’s “Ambush Election” Rule, where the vote count initially appeared unanimously for the union. After careful strategic planning under a “joint employer” analysis under the NLRA, both franchises were combined into one unit for the final vote, which ultimately resulted in the union being voted down.
- Successfully represented concrete manufacturer against laborers' organizing petition of the company's "working foremen" upon demonstrating at the NLRB that the workers at issue met "supervisory" status under the NLRA; and, therefore, are exempt from being represented by a union.
- Defeated a Laborers local union in its organizing efforts directed at a Nursing Home facility whereby the election was held by mail-in ballot during the COVID-19 pandemic. Worked carefully through the delivery of key messaging and educational materials to inform the voting unit on the “good, bad and ugly” of becoming part of the union.
- Secured judgment for regional banking client accused of terminating an employee after she applied for and took leave allegedly due to domestic violence. After a multiple day evidentiary hearing at the Illinois Department of Labor, in the first contested case arising under Illinois' Victim's Economic Safety & Security Act (VESSA), it was determined that the leave was obtained under false pretenses and abused. Underlying decision upheld by Illinois' appellate court (2nd District).
- Secured reversal of the New Jersey Department of Labor's 7-figure tax assessment against a national publishing company’s business model that relied on engaging thousands of independent contractors. Following a multiple day trial, spanning several months, the Office of Administrative Law determined the individuals at issue were bona fide independent contractors under the notorious A-B-C Test.
- Obtained summary judgment dismissal in favor of high profile clients accused of tortiously causing a new business to suffer $25M in alleged "lost profits" and an additional $75M in other damages by navigating and advancing arguments pursuant to Illinois' New Business Rule.
- Obtained arbitration award denying former sales person's claim of $500,000 in unpaid commissions and interest against national medical product distributor, and ultimately determined that the employer owed her $0 following multiple day arbitration proceeding.
- Secured restraining order and injunction against school district for unfairly trying to sway construction work away from the lowest bidder (a non-union contractor) and give it to the 2nd low bidder (a union contractor).
- Successfully defended a construction contractor under the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act where the carpenters union pursued a private lawsuit alleging that “shop work” should be included as prevailing wage work. Circuit court dismissed matter and appellate court (3rd District) upheld the dismissal on appeal.
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Successfully established new business plan for large regional General Construction Contractor to effectively establish and utilize both union and non-union subcontractors on same job sites throughout the Greater Chicagoland area.
News & Press Releases
- January 29, 2021
- August 20, 2020
- January 29, 2020
- The Center Square, September 10, 2019
- Jeff Risch Quoted in Cook County Record: Comptroller's order on prevailing wage a political moveCook County Record, August 29, 2019
- August 15, 2019
- June 28, 2019
- January 24, 2019
- August 15, 2018
- November 1, 2017
- August 15, 2017
- Los Angeles Times, January 24, 2017
- SmithAmundsen, January 13, 2017
- Chicago Tribune , January 3, 2017
- August 15, 2016
- Mid-West Truckers Association, Inc., February 9, 2016
- SmithAmundsen, January 8, 2016
- Chicago Tribune, December 23, 2015
- Why Medical Marijuana Can Still Get You Fired in Illinois - The Chicago Tribune Mentions Jeff RischChicago Tribune, August 21, 2015
- August 17, 2015
- January 12, 2015
- PBS NewsHour, December 25, 2014
- August 2014
- Daily Herald Business Ledger, February 17, 2014
- Winter 2014
- Daily Herald Business Ledger, August 4, 2013
- Chicago Tribune, July 29, 2013
- January 3, 2013
Blog
Contributing Author, SmithAmundsen's Labor & Employment Law Update, a labor and employment advisory blog.
Contributing Author, Illinois Chamber of Commerce's Chamber Dispatch, an HR advisory blog.
Alerts
- April 2, 2021
- April 13, 2020
- April 6, 2020
- March 19, 2020
- March 18, 2020
- March 15, 2020
- December 21, 2018
- February 16, 2017
- June 24, 2016
- May 18, 2016
Publications
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, March 2021
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, 2021
- Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, 2019
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, 2016
Presentations & Events
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar; Rolling Meadows, IL, April 29, 2021
- Connor & Gallagher OneSource, Webcast, April 29, 2021
- SmithAmundsen, Webcast, April 29, 2021
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar; Naperville, IL, April 21, 2021
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, April 15, 2021
- Mid-West Truckers Association, Inc., Webcast, April 12, 2021
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, March 31, 2021
- Illinois Electronic Security Association, Dinner-Meeting; Addison, IL, March 24, 2021
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, March 23, 2021
- Lorman Education Services, Webcast, March 18, 2021
- SmithAmundsen, Webcast, March 17, 2021
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, March 2, 2021
- Illinois Lumber and Material Dealers Association; Webcast, February 25, 2021
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, February 23, 2021
- Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, Webcast, February 16, 2021
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, February 11, 2021
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, February 10, 2021
- SmithAmundsen; Webcast, January 21, 2021
- Rockford Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, January 13, 2021
- SmithAmundsen, Webcast, December 17, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, December 4, 2020
- Associated Builders and Contractors’ Legal and Policy Forecast Conference; Webcast, December 3, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, December 2, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, November 10, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, October 28, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, October 21, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, October 13, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, September 22, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, September 15, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, September 10, 2020
- Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois, Webcast, September 1, 2020
- Lorman Education Services, Webcast, August 27, 2020
- Lorman, Webcast, August 20, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar; Naperville, IL 60563, August 11, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, July 21, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, July 16, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar; Peoria, IL 601611, July 9, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, May 7, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, May 6, 2020
- St. Charles Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, April 30, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, April 29, 2020
- SmithAmundsen, Webcast, April 28, 2020
- Illinois Manufacturers' Association, Webcast, April 28, 2020
- COVID-19 and Illinois Workers’ Compensation ClaimsValley Industrial Association, Webcast, April 22, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, April 9, 2020
- Associated Builders and Contractors of Illinois, Webcast, April 9, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, March 26, 2020
- Presented by SmithAmundsen COVID-19 Task Force, March 18, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar; Rock Island, IL, March 5, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, March 3, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, February 18, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, February 14, 2020
- Valley Industrial Association (VIA); Geneva, IL, February 12, 2020
- Adult Use of Recreational Marijuana - Your Rights as an Illinois EmployerMidwest Truckers Convention; Peoria, IL, February 7, 2020
- Illinois Lumber and Material Dealers Association, Seminar; East Peoria, IL, February 6, 2020
- Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois, Seminar; Peoria, IL, February 6, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar; Naperville, IL, February 5, 2020
- SmithAmundsen; Oak Brook, IL, January 23, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, December 19, 2019
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Glen Ellyn, IL, December 11, 2019
- IL Chamber of Commerce New Laws Forum; Lisle, IL, December 4, 2019
- Lorman Education Services; Webinar, November 14, 2019
- November 12, 2019
- Illinois CPA Society; Chicago, IL, October 30, 2019
- VIA Professional Group Human Resources, October 23, 2019
- Advancing Supportive Living (AALC) Conference; Woodridge, IL 60517, October 23, 2019
- Corkill Insurance Agency, Webinar, October 10, 2019
- Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development; Peru, IL, October 9, 2019
- 12th Annual Workers' Compensation and Safety ConferenceIllinois Chamber of Commerce; Lisle, IL, October 8, 2019
- The Legalization of Recreational Marijuana: What you need to know about the new law and your workforceNCI Works Annual Employers Conference, October 4, 2019
- Mendota, IL, September 27, 2019
- SmithAmundsen; Lombard, IL, September 25, 2019
- CFMA Midwest Regional Conference , September 23, 2019
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar; Chicago, IL 60606, September 19, 2019
- Lorman Education Services; Webinar, September 18, 2019
- PMPA, Illinois Chapter, September 17, 2019
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar; Peoria, IL, September 12, 2019
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Webinar, September 11, 2019
- SmithAmundsen, Webinar, August 21, 2019
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar; Glen Ellyn, IL, August 20, 2019
- Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois; Webinar, August 8, 2019
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Webinar, August 6, 2019
- Webinar; Illinois Chamber of Commerce, July 31, 2019
- Webinar; Illinois Chamber of Commerce, July 25, 2019
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar; Naperville, IL, July 11, 2019
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, June 27, 2019
- Major Changes to Illinois Employment Laws: New Mandatory Sexual Harassment Training & Other MandatesIllinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, June 20, 2019
- Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. -- Illinois Chapter; Webinar, May 21; June 5; June 18
- Chicago, IL; Chicago-Kent College of Law, June 4, 2019
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, May 23, 2019
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Naperville, IL, May 15, 2019
- Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois (FCAI), Webinar, May 7, 2019
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, April 30, 2019
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar; Waukegan, IL, April 25, 2019
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, April 18, 2019
- St. Charles Chamber of Commerce, Seminar; St. Charles, IL, April 4, 2019
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, April 4, 2019
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar; Chicago, IL, April 3, 2019
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Glen Ellyn, IL., March 21, 2019
- VIA Education Center, Geneva, IL; Valley Industrial Association, March 20, 2019
- Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois (FCAI), Webinar, March 6, 2019
- Clear Law Institute, Webinar, March 6, 2019
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, February 26, 2019
- Lorman Education Services, Seminar; Chicago, IL, February 21, 2019
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, February 19, 2019
- National Business Institute, Seminar; Naperville, IL, February 13, 2019
- January 17, 2019
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, December 13, 2018
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Conference; Lisle, IL, November 28, 2018
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar; Bloomington, IL, November 15, 2018
- The Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, October 31, 2018
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar; Glen Ellyn, IL, October 17, 2018
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, October 10, 2018
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar; Glen Ellyn, IL, September 27, 2018
- SmithAmundsen; Lombard, IL, September 26, 2018
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Webinar, September 12, 2018
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, September 12, 2018
- Clear Law Institute, Webinar, August 13, 2018
- Lorman Education Services, Webinar, March 7, 2018
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Glen Ellyn, IL, February 27, 2018
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Glen Ellyn, IL, January 25, 2018
- SmithAmundsen Seminar; Lombard, IL, January 17, 2018
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Seminar; Lisle, IL, November 29, 2017
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Seminar; Naperville, IL, October 17, 2017
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Seminar; Troy, IL, September 20, 2017
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Webinar, September 12, 2017
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Webinar, August 30, 2017
- Clear Law Institute; Webinar, August 1, 2017
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Tinley Park, IL, July 27, 2017
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Webinar, July 18, 2017
- Illinois Bankers Association; Nashville, TN, June 23, 2017
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Webinar, January 31, 2017
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar, November 30, 2016
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar; Bolingbrook, IL, November 9, 2016
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Rock Island, IL, October 25, 2016
- Valley Industrial Association; Seminar, Geneva, IL, October 12, 2016
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar, Bolingbrook, IL, October 12, 2016
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar, Belleville, IL, October 5, 2016
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Springfield, IL, September 28, 2016
- Lorman Education Services, Webinar, September 22, 2016
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, July 14, 2016
- St. Charles Chamber of Commerce; St. Charles, IL, July 13, 2016
- 2016 National ABC Attorney Conference, Washington D.C., June 24, 2016
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, May 31, 2016
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Naperville, IL, May 19, 2016
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, May 10, 2016
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, May 4, 2016
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, April 28, 2016
- Indiana Health Care Association, French Lick, IN, April 20, 2016
- Central Illinois Chapter Society for Human Resource Management, Springfield, April 13, 2016
- Mid-America Regional Bargaining Associaion; Des Plaines, IL, April 7, 2016
- Illinois Banker’s Association ONE Conference, East Peoria, March 3, 2016
- What's Changed in Prevailing WageIllinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, March 2, 2016
- SmithAmundsen, Lombard, IL, February 11, 2016
- Employment Law UpdateCentral Illinois Human Resources Group; Champaign, IL, February 9, 2016
- Union Audit Funds: Navigating the Lingo, the Demands and the LawFox Valley Associated General Contractors; Elgin, IL, January 20, 2016
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, January 14, 2016
- Lorman Education Services, Webinar, January 13, 2016
- 1099 Consultants & Independent ContractorsIllinois Chamber of Commerce, Webinar, November 5, 2015