Patricia Costello Slovak

Partner

Patricia Costello Slovak concentrates in labor and employment law on behalf of management.

She has extensive experience representing management in all facets of labor and employment relationships, including:

• Litigating employment and labor claims in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies
• Representing employers in arbitrations, mediations and collective bargaining negotiations
• Counseling employers in compliance issues

Her clients include retailers, universities, utilities, manufacturers and assembly operations.

In the employment arena, Ms. Slovak has tried both jury and non-jury cases and has argued numerous motions for summary judgment in Seventh and Second Circuit Courts of Appeal, as well as the Illinois Appellate Court. She has represented employers in various alternative dispute resolution proceedings, including mediation and arbitration.

In the traditional labor arena, Ms. Slovak has tried unfair labor practice and representation cases before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), negotiated numerous collective bargaining agreements, handled strikes and union organizing campaigns, and defended numerous labor arbitrations.

She is the Immediate Past Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Labor and Employment Law, which has more than 20,000 members, and is currently a member of the Commission on Women in the Profession. She is also a member of Schiff Hardin's Diversity Committee.

Publications

"The NLRA At 70: The Immediate View," Labor Law Journal (Fall 2005)

Editor:  The Developing Labor Law, BNA

Speeches and Presentations

"Fair Measure: Toward Effective Attorney Evaluations," American Bar Association Annual Meeting, New York, NY (August 9, 2008)

"Reasonable Accommodation," ALI-ABA Employment and Labor Relations Law for the Corporate Counsel and the General Practitioner, Chicago, Ill. (May 1, 2008)

"Union Organizing in a Changing Economic and Political Scene," National Retail Federation, Longboat Key, Fla. (April 3, 2008)

"Labor Due Diligence in Mergers, Acquisitions and Joint Ventures," American Conference Institute's National Forum on Labor Management Relations, Chicago, Ill. (February 26, 2008)

"How Many Whistles Can You Blow? Limiting Employers' Liability in Whistleblower Cases," National Retail Federation, Longboat Key, Fla. (April 27, 2006)

"The NLRA at Seventy — Where it is and Where it Should Go — The Immediate View," The Association of the Bar of the City of New York, New York, NY (May 25, 2005)

"Employment, Immigration and Labor Law for the Franchise World," American Bar Association 28th Annual Forum on Franchising, Orlando, Fla. (October 20, 2005)

Awards and Honors

Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers

Fellow, American Bar Foundation

Top 100 Lawyers, Illinois Super Lawyers

Top 50 Women Lawyers, Illinois Super Lawyers

Illinois Super Lawyers, Labor and Employment

Leading Lawyer — Employment Law: Management; Labor Law: Management; Top 100  Women Lawyers; Top 10 Women Business Lawyers; Top 10 Women Litigators;  Illinois Leading Lawyers Network

Leading Lawyer — Employment: Labor and Employment, Chambers USA — America's Leading Lawyers for Business

Best Lawyers in America, Labor and Employment

Who's Who Legal — International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, Labor and Employment

Who's Who Legal — Illinois, Labor and Employment

AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

Education

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association
Section of Labor and Employment Law 
      Past Chair
Commission on Women in the Profession
Committee on Development of Law Under the
      National Labor Relations Act
            Past Co-Chair

National Retail Federation
Employment Law Committee

Chicago Bar Association
Alliance for Women Committee
      Past Co-Chair

HR Advisor
Advisory Board

Institute for Law and the Workplace
The Kenneth M. Piper Endowment Advisory Board

National Association of College and University Attorneys

Civic and Charitable Memberships

Theatre School, DePaul University
Board Member

Women Everywhere: Partners in Service Project, Inc.
Board Member