Firm Practice Areas

• Construction
• Employment
• Energy
• Municipal Liability
• Toxic Tort

Bar Admissions

Joseph F. Spitzzeri Shareholder

Phone (312) 984-6683               Fax (312) 372-9818 E-Mail spitzzerij@jbltd.com

Joseph F. Spitzzeri, co-chair of Johnson & Bell's Construction and Employment groups, has recently become credentialed as a LEED Green Associate by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). The Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certifications or specialties in the practice of law and the GBCI credential is not a requirement to practice law in Illinois.  Mr. Spitzzeri assists clients in drafting and negotiating green construction contracts as well as litigating any issues related to green construction.  Mr. Spitzzeri has litigated Title VII, ADEA, ADA, FLSA and actions brought under the Illinois Human Rights Act as well as other wrongful termination litigation and litigation arising from breach of employment agreements/restrictive covenants. In addition, Mr. Spitzzeri represents contractors and employees before the Inspector General for the City of Chicago and State of Illinois, defends Fair Labor Standard Act cases, and also defends Welfare & Pension Fund Contribution Deficiency cases.

Mr. Spitzzeri worked as an Illinois Assistant Attorney General prior to joining Johnson & Bell, where he tried numerous cases in several circuit courts throughout Illinois. He has also tried cases in the U.S. District Court for the Northern and Central Districts of Illinois, including two class actions. He has also argued before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.  Mr. Spitzzeri also writes and presents on areas of his expertise on a regular basis. He represents Security and Loss Prevention Consultants in litigation and speaks at the International Risk Management Institute's Construction Risk Conference on topics such as Additional Insured Endorsements, Interacting with OSHA, and Contractual Risk Transfer. His success as a trial attorney has been recognized by his peers, who have honored him with an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Mr. Spitzzeri also represents security companies in many facets of their operation - from assisting in drafting contracts, best practices and policy manuals to defending the company and its employees in false arrest, civil assault and battery, and negligent provision of security services claims at sports/concert venues, public facilities such as museums and other campuses as well as parking garage security.  Incident investigation, incident report writing and other security best practices are part of Johnson & Bell's on-site training and education programs provided to security companies.  Mr. Spitzzeri defends security companies in Fair Labor Standards Act and Illinois Minimum Wage Act claims.

Mr. Spitzzeri is a member of a number of associations, including the American, Illinois, Cook County, Kane County Bar Associations, and the Illinois Wind Working Group. He is also a member of the Association of Subcontractors and Affiliates - Chicago and the Illinois Chapter of the United States Green Building Council, of which he is on the steering committee for the Fox Valley Chapter. Mr. Spitzzeri has been appointed to the Construction Management Association of America Legal Counsel Committee. He has also served as president and chairman of several societies, including, most recently, the Kane County Justinian Society of Lawyers. Mr. Spitzzeri is certified to serve as a chairperson for the Circuit Court of Cook County Court-Annexed Mandatory Arbitration Program.

For more information on Mr. Spitzzeri, please click here.