Biography

Mr. Powers is of counsel, concentrating his practice in labor and employment law, with an emphasis in public sector labor law. Mr. Powers' practice includes representing management in the litigation of federal and state employment discrimination charges and investigations. He has also counseled both public and private employers in connection with individual and group employee separation agreements and plans. His labor relations experience includes representing employers in proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board, Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board and Illinois Labor Relations Board. He also represents employers in grievance and interest arbitration proceedings, union organizing campaigns, and disciplinary proceedings before boards of fire and police commissioners. He has also served as chief negotiator in collective bargaining negotiations for a number of employers with unions such as the Teamsters, International Union of Operating Engineers, Laborers International Union, AFSCME and the Fraternal Order of Police. Mr. Powers is active with the Illinois Public Employer Labor Relations Association, and serves as a co-editor of the Association’s monthly newsletter.

Prior to law school, Mr. Powers worked as an Inspector with the U.S. Customs Service and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General.

Education

J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law, High Honors (1998)

Order of the Coif & Valedictorian

B.A., Northwestern University, With Distinction (1992)

Admissions

• Illinois

Courts

• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana