Richard B.Lapp
Partner
Labor & Employment
rlapp@seyfarth.com
An experienced advocate for employers before state and federal courts and agencies, Rich offers deep knowledge in all areas of labor and employment law.
More About Rich
While his practice centers on high-consequence litigation with particular emphasis on class and collective actions, Rich's unique combination of legal knowledge, business acumen, and strategic focus has made him a trusted advisor to Fortune 500 companies in a variety of contexts, ranging from strategic counseling and policymaking to high-sensitivity boardroom investigations. An active litigator, Rich's practice currently extends across the nation, with recent victories secured in significant matters in California, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New York.
A cum laude graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Law, Rich previously clerked for the Honorable Daniel A. Manion on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Rich is a contributing member of several Seyfarth specialty groups, including its Appellate team, Whistleblower team, Employment Whistleblower team, Fraud & Abuse, False Claims and Internal Investigations team, and Corporate Internal Investigations team. In 2015 he was recognized by Best Lawyers (Woodward/White Inc.) as a best lawyer in Chicago for labor & employment litigation, and The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) called him "truly outstanding." He has been recognized in the area of Labor & Employment Litigation by The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) recognized Rich in the area of Labor & Employment Litigation (2015-2022), and he was selected for mention in the International Who's Who of Business Lawyers (Law Business Research Ltd.). Rich speaks and publishes on a variety of issues facing employers, and he has authored law review articles on significant labor issues in scholarly journals including The University of Wisconsin Law Review and The University of Pennsylvania Journal of Labor Law.
A cum laude graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Law, Rich previously clerked for the Honorable Daniel A. Manion on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Rich is a contributing member of several Seyfarth specialty groups, including its Appellate team, Whistleblower team, Employment Whistleblower team, Fraud & Abuse, False Claims and Internal Investigations team, and Corporate Internal Investigations team. In 2015 he was recognized by Best Lawyers (Woodward/White Inc.) as a best lawyer in Chicago for labor & employment litigation, and The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) called him "truly outstanding." He has been recognized in the area of Labor & Employment Litigation by The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) recognized Rich in the area of Labor & Employment Litigation (2015-2022), and he was selected for mention in the International Who's Who of Business Lawyers (Law Business Research Ltd.). Rich speaks and publishes on a variety of issues facing employers, and he has authored law review articles on significant labor issues in scholarly journals including The University of Wisconsin Law Review and The University of Pennsylvania Journal of Labor Law.
- JD, University of Wisconsin Law School
Cum laude
Order of the Coif
Deans Academic Achievement Award
Law Review Member
Am. Jur. Book Award - BA, Michigan State University
- California
- Illinois
- US Supreme Court
- US Court of Appeals, First Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
- US District Court, Central District of California
- US District Court, Northern District of California
- US District Court, Southern District of California
- US District Court, Central District of Illinois
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- US District Court, Northern District of Indiana
- US District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- US District Court, Western District of Michigan
Related Services
- Class & Collective Actions
- Complex Discrimination Litigation
- Employment
- Government Relations & Policy
- Trade Secrets, Computer Fraud & Non-Competes
- False Claims, Whistleblower, and Internal Investigations
- White Collar Defense & Investigations
- Wage Hour Class & Collective Actions
- Wage Hour Audit, Assessment & Advice
- Wage Hour Government Compliance & Enforcement Actions
- Workplace Arbitration & ADR
Related News & Insights
-
Firm News
09/29/2023
Survey of Global Workers Reveals ‘Satisfaction Gaps’ and Consensus on What’s Important at Work
-
Recognition
08/17/2023
210 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2024
-
Firm News
07/07/2023
SHRM, IOE and Seyfarth Host Convening on the Future of Work
-
Case Study
Jan 3, 2023
Thought Leadership on Equal Pay Regulatory and Legislative Actions
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2015-2024)
- Recognized as a Recommended Attorney for Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions) defense by The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2020)
-
Recognized as a "Labor & Employment Star" by Benchmark Litigation (Euromoney Institutional Investor) (2020-2021)
- American Bar Association (Labor and Employment, Dispute Resolution, Litigation, including the Committee on Class and Derivative Actions and Business Law sections)
- International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (Employment Disputes Committee, Arbitration Committee)
- Chicago Bar Association
- Seventh Circuit Bar Association
- American Employment Law Council
- United States Chamber of Commerce (Labor Relations Committee)
- Former Member of the Federalist Society
- Co-Author, "US DOL Issues Final Rule on Independent Contractor Status Under the FLSA," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (January 6, 2021)
- “A Call for a Simpler Approach: Examining the NLRA’s 10(j) Standard,” 3 University of Pennsylvania Journal of Labor and Employment Law 251 (Winter 2001)
- “Remedial Gap at the NLRB; the Demise of the Nonmajority Bargaining Order,” 1985 University of Wisconsin Law Review 1193
An experienced advocate for employers before state and federal courts and agencies, Rich offers deep knowledge in all areas of labor and employment law.
More About Rich
While his practice centers on high-consequence litigation with particular emphasis on class and collective actions, Rich's unique combination of legal knowledge, business acumen, and strategic focus has made him a trusted advisor to Fortune 500 companies in a variety of contexts, ranging from strategic counseling and policymaking to high-sensitivity boardroom investigations. An active litigator, Rich's practice currently extends across the nation, with recent victories secured in significant matters in California, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New York.
A cum laude graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Law, Rich previously clerked for the Honorable Daniel A. Manion on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Rich is a contributing member of several Seyfarth specialty groups, including its Appellate team, Whistleblower team, Employment Whistleblower team, Fraud & Abuse, False Claims and Internal Investigations team, and Corporate Internal Investigations team. In 2015 he was recognized by Best Lawyers (Woodward/White Inc.) as a best lawyer in Chicago for labor & employment litigation, and The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) called him "truly outstanding." He has been recognized in the area of Labor & Employment Litigation by The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) recognized Rich in the area of Labor & Employment Litigation (2015-2022), and he was selected for mention in the International Who's Who of Business Lawyers (Law Business Research Ltd.). Rich speaks and publishes on a variety of issues facing employers, and he has authored law review articles on significant labor issues in scholarly journals including The University of Wisconsin Law Review and The University of Pennsylvania Journal of Labor Law.
A cum laude graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Law, Rich previously clerked for the Honorable Daniel A. Manion on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Rich is a contributing member of several Seyfarth specialty groups, including its Appellate team, Whistleblower team, Employment Whistleblower team, Fraud & Abuse, False Claims and Internal Investigations team, and Corporate Internal Investigations team. In 2015 he was recognized by Best Lawyers (Woodward/White Inc.) as a best lawyer in Chicago for labor & employment litigation, and The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) called him "truly outstanding." He has been recognized in the area of Labor & Employment Litigation by The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) recognized Rich in the area of Labor & Employment Litigation (2015-2022), and he was selected for mention in the International Who's Who of Business Lawyers (Law Business Research Ltd.). Rich speaks and publishes on a variety of issues facing employers, and he has authored law review articles on significant labor issues in scholarly journals including The University of Wisconsin Law Review and The University of Pennsylvania Journal of Labor Law.
- JD, University of Wisconsin Law School
Cum laude
Order of the Coif
Deans Academic Achievement Award
Law Review Member
Am. Jur. Book Award - BA, Michigan State University
- California
- Illinois
- US Supreme Court
- US Court of Appeals, First Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
- US District Court, Central District of California
- US District Court, Northern District of California
- US District Court, Southern District of California
- US District Court, Central District of Illinois
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- US District Court, Northern District of Indiana
- US District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- US District Court, Western District of Michigan
Related Services
- Class & Collective Actions
- Complex Discrimination Litigation
- Employment
- Government Relations & Policy
- Trade Secrets, Computer Fraud & Non-Competes
- False Claims, Whistleblower, and Internal Investigations
- White Collar Defense & Investigations
- Wage Hour Class & Collective Actions
- Wage Hour Audit, Assessment & Advice
- Wage Hour Government Compliance & Enforcement Actions
- Workplace Arbitration & ADR
Related News & Insights
-
Firm News
09/29/2023
Survey of Global Workers Reveals ‘Satisfaction Gaps’ and Consensus on What’s Important at Work
-
Recognition
08/17/2023
210 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2024
-
Firm News
07/07/2023
SHRM, IOE and Seyfarth Host Convening on the Future of Work
-
Case Study
Jan 3, 2023
Thought Leadership on Equal Pay Regulatory and Legislative Actions
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2015-2024)
- Recognized as a Recommended Attorney for Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions) defense by The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) (2020)
-
Recognized as a "Labor & Employment Star" by Benchmark Litigation (Euromoney Institutional Investor) (2020-2021)
- American Bar Association (Labor and Employment, Dispute Resolution, Litigation, including the Committee on Class and Derivative Actions and Business Law sections)
- International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (Employment Disputes Committee, Arbitration Committee)
- Chicago Bar Association
- Seventh Circuit Bar Association
- American Employment Law Council
- United States Chamber of Commerce (Labor Relations Committee)
- Former Member of the Federalist Society
- Co-Author, "US DOL Issues Final Rule on Independent Contractor Status Under the FLSA," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (January 6, 2021)
- “A Call for a Simpler Approach: Examining the NLRA’s 10(j) Standard,” 3 University of Pennsylvania Journal of Labor and Employment Law 251 (Winter 2001)
- “Remedial Gap at the NLRB; the Demise of the Nonmajority Bargaining Order,” 1985 University of Wisconsin Law Review 1193