Representative Engagements

Employment litigation matters:

• Abumheimid v. LSG Sky Chefs(lead attorney in 12-plaintiff race/national origin/religious discrimination and harassment action (federal)—achieved summary judgment as to all plaintiffs’ termination claims; reached favorable settlement of plaintiffs’ harassment claims)
• Bacon v. Greyhound  (defense summary judgment disposing of federal disability discrimination claims)
• Betts et al. v. Costco(lead attorney in 6-plaintiff race discrimination action obtained defense verdicts as to 3 plaintiffs after five-week jury trial; then obtained reversal on appeal of jury awards made to remaining 3 plaintiffs)
• Blakely v. Lucent(voluntary dismissal, after plaintiff’s deposition, of federal race and ERISA discrimination claims)
• Brogan v. Lucent  (defense verdict in three-day federal jury trial involving breach of employment contract claims)
• Cottrell v. Costco (defense verdict in five-day federal jury trial involving sexual harassment and retaliation claims)
• Griffin et al. v. Deere & Co.(lead attorney in sex discrimination and harassment class action—reached favorable settlement of claims against corporate defendant  prior to class certification)
• Harris v. Sodexho(dismissal with prejudice of federal disability discrimination claims)
• Jefferson v. United(defense summary judgment disposing of federal race discrimination and harassment claims)
• Johnson  et al. v. Astra Merck(co-defense counsel in federal race and sex discrimination class action—successfully opposed motion for class certification and reached favorable settlement on behalf of corporate defendant)
• Johnson, et al. v. Snapple Beverage Corp., No. 09–CV-03417 (U.S. District Court / Northern District of Illinois) (lead defense counsel in several-plaintiff Section 1981 action alleging race harassment—reached favorable settlement as to all plaintiffs’ claims following declaration campaign).
• Jones, et al. v. National Council of Young Men’s Christian Associations of the United States of America, et. al., No. 09-CV-06437 (U.S. District Court / Northern District of Illinois (lead defense counsel in race discrimination class action under Section 1981, Title VII, and Illinois Human Rights Act).
• Jones v. Gannett(defense summary judgment disposing of federal retaliation and harassment claims)
• Maier v. Lucent  (favorable jury award in five-day federal jury trial of breach of employment contract claims)
• Murray, et al. v. Snapple Beverage Corp., No. 09-CV-07803 (U.S. District Court / Northern District of Illinois) (lead defense counsel in eight-plaintiff Section 1981 action alleging race harassment, discrimination, and retaliation)
• Murphy v. Royal Crown (dismissal of federal race discrimination claims)
• Nettles et al. v. LSG Sky Chefs et al.(lead attorney in federal district court federal race discrimination “pattern and practice” action brought by Company’s highest ranking African-American executive—achieved summary judgment in favor of corporate defendant)
• Rodgers v. Greyhound  (defense verdict in one-day federal bench trial involving race discrimination claims)
• Spencer v. AT&T  (defense summary judgment disposing of federal age, sex and race discrimination claims)

Labor relations matters:

• Allied Waste Industries d/b/a American Disposal Services(company victory (union withdrew petition) in representation proceeding involving Teamsters union)
• Allied Waste Industries d/b/a BFI-Quincy(company victory in representation election involving Operating Engineers union)
• Allied Waste Industries d/b/a Central Waste Services(chief negotiator for contract negotiations with Teamsters union)
• Jackson Park Hospital(negotiator for contract negotiations with Teamsters union)
• Jay Foods(company victories in representation elections involving Teamster union)
• Kiewit Materials Co. d/b/a Black Butte Coal(company victory in representation election involving Boilermakers union)
• Kiewit Materials Co. d/b/a Black Butte Coal(company victory in representation election involving Steelworkers union)
• Kiewit Materials Co. d/b/a Fort Calhoun Stone(company victory in representation election involving Operating Engineers union)
• Kiewit Materials Co. d/b/a Walnut Creek Mining (company victory (union withdrew petition) in representation proceeding involving International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers)
• Mercy Hospital and Medical Center(chief negotiator for contract negotiations with Teamsters union)
• Teamsters/Bloxton v. Mercy Hospital(arbitration award upholding discharge of a long-term union employee)
• Teamsters/Harding v. Mercy Hospital(arbitration award upholding discharge of long-term union employee)
• Teamsters/Malecki v. Jackson Park Hospital(arbitration award upholding discharge of long-term union employee)
• The University of Chicago Medical Center (successfully defended against efforts by Illinois Nurses Association to expand the bargaining unit; organizational campaign by Illinois Nurses Association; provide strategic advice and counsel regarding corporate campaign by rival union)
• Unite/Fernandez v. C-Line Products (arbitration award for Employer in contract interpretation case)

Presentations

• Moderator, Black Women Lawyers Association (BWLA), “Employee Issues from Hell” (2012)
• Presenter, National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR), “Employment Law Trends” (2012)
• Instructor, Defense Research Institute, “Caregiver/Family Responsibilities Discrimination” (2008)
• Presenter, American Bar Association Developing Labor Law Committee Mid-Winter Meeting, “Allied Mechanical Services, Inc:  If Multiple Unions Merge Without an Employee Vote, Should the Successor Union Succeed to the Bargaining Rights of Its Predecessors?” (2005)
• Instructor, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, “Workplace Investigations” (2004)
• Presenter, American Bar Association Annual Meeting, “How Clean A Slate? The Ups and Downs, Ins and Outs, Truths and Myths of Resolving Ancillary Issues to a Labor Dispute” (2004)
• Presenter, American Bar Association Developing Labor Law Committee Mid-Winter Meeting “The Implications of Crown Cork & Seal Co. For Employee Involvement Committees” (2002)

Publications

• Co-Author, “Paradigm Shifts: Changes In The Structure And Diversity Of Corporate Law Firms,” The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, Inc. (2005)
• Co-Author, “Allied Mechanical Services, Inc:  If Multiple Unions Merge Without an Employee Vote, Should the Successor Union Succeed to the Bargaining Rights of Its Predecessors?” American Bar Association (2005)
• Co-Author, “Leadership Buy-in and a Business Case -  The Building Blocks for Diversity in Big Firms,” Corporate Counsel (2004)
• Co-Author, “How Clean A Slate? The Ups and Downs, Ins and Outs, Truths and Myths of Resolving Ancillary Issues to a Labor Dispute,” American Bar Association (2004)
• Co-Author, “The Implications of Crown Co.:  What Constitutes ‘Dealing With’ Under the NLRA Since Electromation Inc.?” The Labor Lawyer (ABA Publication) (2002) 

Accolades

• Selected by Chicago United as a Chicago Business Leader or Color, 2011.
• Recognized as one of the Top 100 Diverse Executive & Emerging Leaders Under 50 by Diversity MBA Magazine, 2010.
• Recognized by Diversity & The Bar Magazine as a “Cutting Edge Labor and Employment Practitioner”, 2007.”
• Named one of “40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch” by Law Bulletin Publishing Company, 2006.
• Selected as an “Illinois Super Lawyer” and a “Leading Lawyer” in the area of Labor & Employment.