Labor and Employment Law: SmithAmundsen

Practice Contacts

Jeffrey Risch

Our Labor & Employment Practice Group offers the experience and knowledge necessary to customize legal solutions for clients with regard to complex employment and labor law matters. We act as employer defense and monitoring counsel on a regional and national basis and provide clients with expedient advice and practical analysis, and when necessary, we develop a thorough litigation plan and a resolution objective.

Our attorneys counsel clients on the various defense and early resolution options available, and work to resolve disputes in the most expeditious and efficient manner. With this in mind, we believe in the concept of cost effective, 24/7 instant access.

In addition to defending employment and labor claims, we pride ourselves on our ability to counsel clients on developing and implementing solid business practices to avoid future labor controversy or litigation.

Our attorneys are well attuned to client expectations, the demands of running a business, and the day-to-day issues that today’s business owners encounter. We are skilled at analyzing the impact that particular types of litigation may have on a client’s business and reputation. Our attorneys are adept at defending and overseeing the defense of a multitude of labor disputes and employment-based claims while being mindful of corporate objectives and policies.

Our attorneys are writing, speaking and training on an almost daily basis. They literally wrote the book on Illinois Employment Law with the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.

Human Resource Matters

All aspects of the hiring, discipline and termination process
Harassment, discrimination, workplace violence, and misconduct investigations
Employee handbooks and policies and procedures
Drafting employment agreements, non-competition/non-solicitation agreements, and executive compensation plans
Disciplining and terminating employees
Policies and procedures
Advice and counsel on all aspects of employment
Regulatory compliance strategies, including OSHA
Supervisor/management training
Navigating the ADA, FMLA, VESSA and workers’ compensation leave

Litigation Services

Defending companies against a vast array of employment-related claims in state and federal courts across the country
Defending employers against government claims brought by the EEOC, NLRB, OSHA, DOL, and numerous state agencies
Wrongful termination defense
Whistleblower defense
Retaliatory discharge defense
All types of discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims brought under Title VII, the ADA, the ADEA, the EPA, the FMLA and equivalent state statutes
FLSA and wage/hour defense
Non-competition/Confidentiality Agreement enforcement and defense
Class action defense
Arbitration
Mediation
ERISA and employee benefit controversies
EEOC and commissioner charges
OSHA violations
Workers’ compensation

Case Management Philosophy

Our philosophy is based upon the following:

Establishing an open and candid rapport with the client, counsel, and insurer;
Obtaining an early command of the facts, evaluating the case, and developing a plan for resolution; and
Being mindful of our client’s expectations and meeting or exceeding them.