Practice Contacts
Attorneys
Our workers’ compensation group provides insured and self-insured clients, as well as insurers, the highest level of legal services through extensive experience in a diverse range of industries. Our attorneys offer the expertise necessary to custom-tailor legal solutions to meet each client’s business objectives. Our knowledge of litigation combined with a practical business approach offers client-centered services in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
Once sufficient medical and factual information is developed, our attorneys immediately provide trial and settlement values along with the probabilities of success on each contested issue. Our thorough knowledge of arbitrators, commissioners, opposing counsel, and the law is combined with an analysis of the facts and circumstances of each claim to develop a plan that meets the needs of our clients.
Our group members understand that workers’ compensation claim resolution often requires consideration of human resource needs and related legal areas such as ADA, FMLA, retaliatory discharge, and discriminatory practices. Because our workers’ compensation attorneys also have jury trial experience, they are uniquely qualified to protect liens through intervention, defend contribution actions against the employer, and pursue civil fraud actions in circuit court.
Our attorneys develop a comprehensive understanding of the businesses and industries in which our clients operate and we understand the effect workers’ compensation disputes have on an employer’s ability to conduct business. In addition to defending workers’ compensation claims, we counsel our clients on developing and implementing solid practices to avoid future cases. Our team works closely with the full labor and employment group, to successfully counsel clients in termination, disciplinary and litigation issues before litigation arises as well as during the litigation process through appeals.
Areas of Practice
We defend claims before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, the circuit court and the appellate court. Our attorneys counsel clients in the following areas:
- Loss Prevention
- Risk Management
- Safety
- OSHA/Toxic Tort
Consultation Services
- Network partnership to brokers, businesses
- Insurance coverage analysis (overlaps and gaps in
- programs)
- Claims handling
- Analysis of loss ratio evaluation
- Policy drafting
- Employers
- Insurance coverage analysis
- Subrogation/lien protection
- Third party defense/tenders of defense
- Employment policies analysis and drafting
- Leaves/lost time
- Discipline/separation
- Risk analysis
Litigation Services
- Declaratory judgments
- Intervention in 3rd party litigation
- Discovery actions and consulting on preparation therefore
- Defending claims before:
- IWCC through Circuit, Appellate, and Supreme Courts
- The courts in
- Retaliatory discharge
- FELA
- Administrative agency for EEOC/IDFR agency level actions
Contractual Services
- Indemnity agreements
- Independent contractor status
- Review and revise agreements
- Workers’ compensation status
- Construction and transportation business’s needs
Industries
Our attorneys have handled workers’ compensation claims in a variety of industries, such as:
- Food Processing
- Hospitals
- Extended Care and Treatment Facilities
- Messenger Services
- Municipalities
- Packaging
- Petroleum
- Pharmaceuticals
- Printing
- Retailers
- Schools
- Temporary Employment Agency
- Transportation
- Restaurants
- Liquor/Beer Distributors
- Landscaping
- Construction
- Automobile Manufacturing and Assembly/Distribution
News & Press Releases
- Crain's Chicago Business, October 25, 2018
- Law360, May 28, 2018
- October 27, 2017
- Crain's Chicago Business, September 15, 2017
- Equality Illinois, August 1, 2017
- SmithAmundsen, January 13, 2017
- October 2016
- Crain's Chicago Business, September 10, 2016
- August 15, 2016
- The American Lawyer, August 2016
- Equality Illinois, July 8, 2016
- Above the Law, April 18, 2016
- Above the Law, April 13, 2016
Blog
Labor & Employment Law Update: www.laborandemploymentlawupdate.com
Alerts
- December 22, 2020
- December 22, 2020
- December 16, 2020
- December 3, 2020
- November 12, 2020
- October 26, 2020
- October 22, 2020
- September 14, 2020
- September 10, 2020
- August 31, 2020
- July 24, 2020
- July 2, 2020
- July 1, 2020
- June 23, 2020
- May 27, 2020
- May 26, 2020
- May 18, 2020
- May 18, 2020
- May 14, 2020
- May 14, 2020
- May 11, 2020
- May 8, 2020
- May 5, 2020
- May 5, 2020
- April 30, 2020
- April 28, 2020
- April 28, 2020
- April 23, 2020
- April 22, 2020
- April 17, 2020
- April 17, 2020
- April 13, 2020
- April 10, 2020
- April 7, 2020
- April 6, 2020
- April 4, 2020
- April 3, 2020
- April 1, 2020
- March 31, 2020
- March 31, 2020
- March 30, 2020
- March 30, 2020
- March 27, 2020
- March 27, 2020
- March 27, 2020
- March 26, 2020
- March 25, 2020
- March 24, 2020
- March 24, 2020
- March 24, 2020
- March 24, 2020
- March 23, 2020
- March 22, 2020
- March 20, 2020
- March 20, 2020
- March 19, 2020
- March 18, 2020
- March 15, 2020
- March 15, 2017
- November 23, 2016
- November 16, 2016
- June 24, 2016
- May 18, 2016
- January 27, 2016
Publications
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, 2019
- NAMA InTouch Magazine, Fall 2017
- USLAW Magazine, Spring 2017
- NAMA's InTouch, Winter 2017
- NAMA's InTouch Magazine, Summer 2016
- NAMA’s InTouch, Winter 2016
Presentations & Events
- Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce; Crystal Lake, IL, February 11, 2021
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Webcast, January 28, 2021
- Employee Benefits Association of Northern Illinois, Webcast, January 27, 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 18, 2020
- Waubonsee Community College, Webcast, November 11, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, November 10, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, November 4, 2020
- Lorman Education Services, Webcast, November 3, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Decatur, IL, October 29, 2020
- SmithAmundsen, Webcast, October 29, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, October 28, 2020
- SmithAmundsen, Webcast, October 22, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, October 21, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, October 21, 2020
- Chicago Healthcare Risk Management Society, Webcast, October 15, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, October 13, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, October 9, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, October 8, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, October 6, 2020
- Chicago Healthcare Risk Management Society, Webcast, September 24, 2020
- Clear Law Institute, Webcast, September 16, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Marion, IL, September 16, 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
- SmithAmundsen, Webcast, August 19, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, August 17, 2020
- SmithAmundsen, Webcast, May 27, 2020
- The Chamber of Manitowoc County; Webcast, May 19, 2020
- Illinois Manufacturers' Association, Webcast, April 28, 2020
- Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, April 15, 2020
- Clear Law Institute, Webcast, April 6, 2020
- American Bus Association & USLAW Network, Webcast, April 3, 2020
- Presented by SmithAmundsen COVID-19 Task Force, March 18, 2020
- Lorman Education Services; Webcast, 2019
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Effingham, IL, December 12, 2019
- IL Chamber of Commerce New Laws Forum; Lisle, IL, December 4, 2019
- SmithAmundsen; Lombard, IL, September 25, 2019
- Lorman Education Services; Webinar, September 18, 2019
- SmithAmundsen, Webinar, August 21, 2019
- Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois; Webinar, August 8, 2019
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Webinar, August 6, 2019
- SmithAmundsen, Indianapolis, IN; Webinar, June 19, 2019
- SmithAmundsen, Indianapolis, IN; Webinar, August 16, 2018
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Glen Ellyn, IL, February 27, 2018
- National Automatic Merchandising Association; Webinar, January 30, 2018
- SmithAmundsen Seminar; Lombard, IL, January 17, 2018
- SmithAmundsen Seminar, Chicago, IL; Webinar, November 2, 2017
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Webinar, September 12, 2017
- Clear Law Institute; Webinar, August 1, 2017
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Springfield, IL, July 19, 2017
- Clear Law Institute; Webinar, July 19, 2017
- Illinois Chamber of Commece; Effingham, IL, July 13, 2017
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Glen Ellyn, IL, May 31, 2017
- SmithAmundsen, Seminar; Chicago, IL, May 11, 2017
- Compli; Webinar, May 11, 2017
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Webinar, May 11, 2017
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Naperville, IL, April 27, 2017
- National Automatic Merchandising Association's OneShow; Las Vegas, NV, April 19, 2017
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar; Glen Ellyn, IL, April 11, 2017
- The Clear Law Institute; Webinar, March 29, 2017
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Webinar, March 8, 2017
- SmithAmundsen, Seminar; Chicago, IL, February 16, 2017
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Webinar, January 31, 2017
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar; Peoria, IL, January 26, 2017
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Webinar, December 8, 2016
- Clear Law Institute; Webinar, December 7, 2016
- National Business Institute, Seminar; Chicago, IL, December 5, 2016
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar, November 30, 2016
- National Automatic Merchandising Association, Webinar, November 15, 2016
- SmithAmundsen Chicago, IL; Webinar, November 10, 2016
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Rock Island, IL, October 25, 2016
- Illinois Public Employer Labor Relations Association, October 24, 2016
- USLAW; Webinar, October 13, 2016
- Harry Caray's, Lombard, IL, September 28, 2016
- St. Charles Chamber of Commerce; St. Charles, IL, July 13, 2016
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Effingham, IL, July 7, 2016
- Elgin Area Chamber, Elgin, June 29, 2016
- SmithAmundsen, Webinar, June 22, 2016
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Matteson, IL, April 21, 2016
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Gurnee, IL, April 5, 2016
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Bolingbrook, IL, March 30, 2016
- Webinar, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, February 25, 2016