Biography

Mr. Morrison is a partner with the Chicago office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP where he practices labor and employment law. He represents employers in cases brought under various laws affecting employment, with a focus on defense of claims under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Much of his work is in the federal courts, and he has represented employers in numerous federal courts, at all court levels and all stages of proceedings, including significant trial and appellate work.

In addition to extensive federal employment litigation experience, Mr. Morrison represents employers in cases before state courts and administrative agencies, and in mediation. Mr. Morrison has also handled numerous arbitration cases, including labor arbitrations, court-sponsored arbitrations, and private arbitration proceedings before the American Arbitration Association and the National Association of Securities Dealers.

Mr. Morrison devotes a significant part of his practice to ERISA and employee benefits litigation and litigation of class-action and multi-plaintiff employment claims.  He has represented employers, employee benefit plans, and fiduciaries in court litigation and arbitration, including trials and appeals.  His ERISA and employee benefits litigation experience includes defense of claims for benefits, breach of fiduciary duty claims, reporting and disclosure claims, severance pay and stock option claims, and ERISA Section 510 employment discrimination claims.  Mr. Morrison also has significant experience litigating claims regarding commissions, bonuses, and other forms of executive compensation.  Outside of the litigation context, Mr. Morrison has advised clients on employee benefits matters including the termination and modification of retiree medical benefits, outsourcing issues, and governmental investigations regarding alleged ERISA violations.

Before joining Seyfarth Shaw, Mr. Morrison was a Judicial Law Clerk for The Honorable Richard Mills of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois.

Education

J.D., Washington University, St. Louis, (1995)

Order of the Coif

B.A., University of Chicago, with honors (1992)

Admissions

• Illinois
• Missouri

Courts

• United States Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Circuits
• U.S. District Court for the Central and Northern Districts of Illinois
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan