People: Tracy M. Billows, Partner

Tracy M. Billows

Partner

Chicago
Direct: (312) 460-5603
Fax: (312) 460-7603
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Ms. Billows is a partner in the Chicago office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP concentrating her practice on representing and counseling employers throughout the country in the entire range of employment law matters. Her work has included the representation of Fortune 500 companies, as well as medium and small sized employers. Ms. Billows represents employers in single plaintiff, multi-plaintiff, and class action litigation matters related to employment discrimination claims under Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and similar state discrimination laws. She also represents management in matters arising under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and the Labor Management Relations Act (LMRA).

Ms. Billows brings a unique perspective to her clients. Prior to her legal career, she was a human resources executive in the corporate community. With first-hand knowledge of the challenges faced by her clients, Ms. Billows is able to advise them in all areas of labor and employment law including employment policies and employee handbooks, training programs, and the application of federal, state and local employment laws, and various other compliance issues. This experience allows Ms. Billows to take a proactive approach to her clients’ labor and employment issues. Ms. Billows has also been selected as an Illinois Rising Star by the Super Lawyers for 2011.

Ms. Billows is a partner in the Chicago office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP concentrating her practice on representing and counseling employers throughout the country in the entire range of employment law matters. Her work has included the representation of Fortune 500 companies, as well as medium and small sized employers. Ms. Billows represents employers in single plaintiff, multi-plaintiff, and class action litigation matters related to employment discrimination claims under Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and similar state discrimination laws. She also represents management in matters arising under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and the Labor Management Relations Act (LMRA).

Ms. Billows brings a unique perspective to her clients. Prior to her legal career, she was a human resources executive in the corporate community. With first-hand knowledge of the challenges faced by her clients, Ms. Billows is able to advise them in all areas of labor and employment law including employment policies and employee handbooks, training programs, and the application of federal, state and local employment laws, and various other compliance issues. This experience allows Ms. Billows to take a proactive approach to her clients’ labor and employment issues. Ms. Billows has also been selected as an Illinois Rising Star by the Super Lawyers for 2011.

Education

  • J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology (2001)
    with honors
    Certificate in Labor and Employment Law
  • M.S., Loyola University, Chicago (1988)
  • B.A., DePaul University (1995)

Admissions

  • Illinois

Courts

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern, Central and Southern Districts of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
  • Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

The Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certifications of specialties in the practice of law and no certificate, award or recognition is a requirement to practice law in Illinois.

Affiliations

  • American Bar Association (Member, Practice and Procedure Under the NLRA Subcommittee)  
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • Society for Human Resource Management (Member)
  • HRMAC (Human Resources Management Association of Chicago – Former Co-chair of the Employment Relations Subcommittee)
  • American Cancer Society – Chicago Downtown Leadership Board of Directors (Director and Co-Chair of Advocacy Committee)

 

Presentations

  • Presenter, “Investigations/Who Should Do Them and How to Do Them Well,” ICLE 14th Annual Labor & Employment Law Update program (April 7, 2011)
  • Co-Presenter, “Disability Protections Now Broader Than Ever: A Roadmap for Employers,” Webinar, Northern California HR Association (April 5, 2011)
  • Co-Presenter, “Disability Protections Now Broader Than Ever Updated Regulations, Webinar, American Staffing Association  (April 5, 2011)
  • Presenter, “Demonstration of a C Case Before the NLRB,” ABA 4th Annual Section of Labor and Employment Law Conference (November, 2010)
  • Presenter, “Payroll Basics in Illinois,” Lorman Education Services (August 2003)
  • Presenter, “Employee Discharge and Documentation in Illinois,” Lorman Education Services (December 2002)
  • Presenter, Council on Education in Management, Certificate in Human Resource
    Management Seminar “Documentation and Recordkeeping:  Best Practices In Drafting Lawful Policies and Procedures and Maintaining Personnel Records” (January 2005)
  • Employer Resource Institute 2008 Illinois Employment Law Update, “The Most Common Mistakes Your Supervisors Make And How You Can Get Them To Stop” (October 2008)
  • Presenter, Webinar: The Family and Medical Leave Act: Final Regulations, Inland Press Association (April 2009)
  • Presenter, Employment Agreement, ICLE (March 2009)

Publications

  • Co-author with Laura Maechetlen, "Caregiver and Family Responsibilities: A Continuing Challenge For Employers," Employee Relations Law Journal (2011)
  • Chapter Editor How to Take a Case Before the NLRB
  • Former Contributing Editor, The Developing Labor Law
  • Former Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief, How to Take a Case Before the NLRB, published by BNA  
  • Contributor, “New Approaches to Compensation for Teachers,” Illinois Public Employees Relations Report, Winter 2001, Volume 18, Number 1.
  • Chapter Author, ICLE: Conducting the Employment Practices Audit, Chapter 5: Employment Agreements (2004)
  • Chapter Author, ICLE: Labor and Employment Issues in Transactions, Business Restructuring, and Workforce Reductions, Chapter 2: Transactions Due Diligence (2005)
  • Chapter Author, ICLE: Disability Law Today: An Accessible Guide for Illinois Practitioners, Chapter 7: “Disability Discrimination Under Illinois Law” (2006)