Employment Lawyer Chicago | Illinois Employment Law | Sexual Harassment Lawyers

Johnson & Bell's Employment group is comprised of attorneys with a wealth of experience in handling a variety of employment-related matters and disputes. Our attorneys have successfully litigated cases under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, including race, gender, religion and national origin harassment and discrimination suits, Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, Family Medical Leave Act, Illinois Minimum Wage Law and Illinois Wage Collection and Practices Act, as well as disputes involving employment contracts, trade secrets, violations of restrictive covenants and employment-related class action claims.

We have represented clients before various arbitration panels, state and federal courts and administrative agencies, including the state and federal Department of Labor, Illinois Department of Human Rights and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Our clients range from individuals and small businesses to Fortune 500 companies and government entities. In addition to litigating disputes, the Employment Law group provides service and counseling to clients regarding the day-to-day employment-related issues that arise within any place of employment. We draft and review employment contracts, severance agreements, employee manuals, sexual harassment policies, progressive discipline policies, employee benefits agreements and other employment-related documents.

Our lawyers have also presented numerous employment law seminars to supervisors and managers at a number of our corporate clients. These seminars touch on topics including the key statutes mentioned above and also discuss acts specific to Illinois, such as the Personnel Records Review Act, Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act, the One Day Rest in Seven Act, as well as the rules regarding employment applications and interviews, among others.

Representative Cases

Argued an Americans with Disabilities Act case involving the alleged discrimination of an employee due to alcoholism before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals after having obtained summary judgment in the federal district court.

Successfully defended numerous race, gender, age, national origin, and religion discrimination, harassment and retaliation matters before Illinois Department of Human Rights, Illinois Human Rights Commission and U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Obtained preliminary injunction on behalf of manufacturer of computer networking equipment enjoining its former employees from using its trade secrets in a new competing enterprise.

Successfully settled a class action under the Fair Labor Standards Act regarding the distinction between employees and independent contractors.

Successfully defended a business owner against a sexual harassment and retaliation claim who was alleged to have engaged in an evening of heavy drinking with a female subordinate at a gentlemen's club wherein the female subordinate was later terminated for cause.

Affirmed summary judgment for village in Americans With Disability Act case involving alleged alcohol discrimination against village employee. Conley v. Village of BedfordPark, 215 F.3d 703. (Seventh Circuit)

Argued that trial court abused its discretion in not granting preliminary injunction against former employees who attempted to use trade secrets obtained during course of their employment with a manufacturer of computer equipment. The former employees had downloaded customer lists, bids, and sales quotations. The appellate court found that an injunction was appropriate and necessary to protect the manufacturer's interests. Liebert Corp. v. Mazur, 357 Ill.App.3d 265, 827 N.E.2d 909. (First District, Illinois)

Affirmed summary judgment for employer in alleged age discrimination case wherein employee failed to bring forth sufficient evidence to overcome employer's legitimate business justifications for the termination. Lesch v. Crown Cork & Seal Co., 282 F.3d 467. (Seventh Circuit)