Patricia Costello Slovak
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Patricia Costello Slovak

Partner Chicago
D
312.258.5665

Overview

A good labor and employment attorney ensures that her clients comply with ever-changing laws and regulations. An exceptional one also strives to improve the bottom line and encourage positive advancements in employee relations.

Pat sees the practice of labor and employment law as a dynamic force for change. The kinds of protections afforded employees today are vastly different than they were 25 years ago. Pat’s goal is to help employers move forward in the spirit of these statutes, taking advantage of societal changes to improve workplace interactions, productivity and profitability.

After more than three decades of working with public and privately held companies, Pat has proven herself a shrewd negotiator. She never comes to the table without fully understanding the nature of the business she is representing or the grievances of the people sitting across from her. A measured approach and reasonable resolutions are her hallmarks.

When litigation is necessary, Pat’s approach is a strong defense of her employer clients with the goal of obtaining the best result at the lowest possible cost.

Practices

Industries

  • Experience

    • Pat has served as chief negotiator for manufacturing, retail, assembly and higher education clients, reaching many agreements with the Steelworkers, Teamsters, SEIU and other unions over the years.
    • When a client was faced with personal liability in a collective wage and hour action under a joint employer theory, Pat successfully negotiated a settlement that minimized her client’s personal contribution.
    • Disciplining tenured faculty members and defending tenure and promotion decisions in the world of higher education is challenging. Pat has accomplished both successfully.
    • With many companies facing significant downsizing and restructuring since 2008, Pat has assisted numerous clients with voluntary and involuntary workforce reductions with no resulting litigation. She has defended employers against difficult claims of unlawful discrimination in courts, arbitrations and fair employment agencies, obtaining either defense decisions or favorable settlements.
    • One of an employer’s fears is the threat of class actions in employment claims; Pat has helped clients develop arbitration programs with class action waiver provisions to minimize such risks.

  • Credentials

    Education

    • University of Chicago Law School, J.D.
    • Saint Louis University, B.A., History, honors

    Bar Admissions

    • Illinois
    • New Jersey
    • New York
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
    • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
    • U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
    • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
    • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
    • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
    • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
    • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
    • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
    • U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey

        Professional Memberships

        • American Bar Association, Section of Labor and Employment Law, Section Chair (2006­-2007); Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary (2012-2015); Commission on Women in the Profession (2007-­2010); Journal of Labor & Employment Law, Editorial Board (2015-2018)
        • American Bar Foundation, Fellow
        • College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, Fellow
        • Chicago Bar Association, Alliance for Women, former co-chair
        • National Retail Federation, Employment Law Committee, Litigation Subcommittee, Chair

      • Insights

        Date
        Type
        TITLE
        Blog Post

        NLRB Tries Again on Joint Employer Question

        Schiff Hardin Employment Law Landscape

        Blog Post

        Expanded Protection for Nursing Mothers in Illinois

        Schiff Hardin Employment Law Landscape

        News Release

        61 Schiff Attorneys Named to 2019 Best Lawyers in America List and Six Recognized as “Lawyer of the Year”

        Schiff Hardin is pleased to announce that 61 attorneys have been included in the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, as well as six who were named a “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective areas of practice.

        News Release

        Chambers USA 2018 Recognizes Four Practice Areas and 22 Attorneys

        Schiff Hardin is pleased to announce that four practice areas and 22 attorneys have been recognized in the 2018 edition of Chambers USA, a leading legal industry ranking.

        News Release

        95 Schiff Hardin Lawyers Named to 2018 Leading Lawyers Lists

        Ninety-six Schiff Hardin lawyers have been named to the 2018 Leading Lawyers lists for Illinois and Michigan.

        News Release

        40 Attorneys Named to 2018 Illinois Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, and Top Women Lists

        Forty Schiff Hardin attorneys have been recognized on the 2018 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

        Event

        Bring Your Own Device: The ABCs of BYOD; Legal Risks and Policy Considerations

        National Retail Federation, HR and Employment Law Meeting

        Event

        Curbing Employee Speech and Activities: "You're Entitled To Your Own Opinion But..."

        Schiff Hardin Webinar

        News Release

        Schiff Hardin Lawyers Named to 2018 The Best Lawyers in America

        Schiff Hardin is pleased to announce that five attorneys have been named a “Lawyer of the Year” in the 2018 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.

        News Release

        Chambers USA 2017 Recognizes 20 Schiff Hardin Attorneys and 4 Practice Areas

        Schiff Hardin is pleased to announce that 20 attorneys and four practice areas were recognized in the 2017 edition of Chambers USA, a leading legal industry ranking.

        View All

        Other Publications

        • “Ask the Experts,” (panelist) Protecting Your Company in 2014, Schiff Hardin Labor and Employment Breakfast Briefing, Chicago, Ill. (Oct. 23, 2013)
        • “Independent Contractors: Another Legal Minefield for Employers,” (moderator) Schiff Hardin Webinar (Dec. 11, 2012)
        • “Independent Contractor or Employee? Minimizing Exposure from the Gray Areas of the Franchise Relationship,” American Bar Association’s 35th Annual Forum on Franchising, Los Angeles, Calif. (Oct. 3-5, 2012)

        Speeches & Presentations

        • “Bring Your Own Device: The ABCs of BYOD; Legal Risks and Policy Considerations,” National Retail Federation, HR and Employment Law Meeting, (Nov. 2, 2017)
        • “Curbing Employee Speech and Activities: ’You're Entitled To Your Own Opinion But...’,” Schiff Hardin Webinar (Oct. 24, 2017)
        • “Arbitration and Class Action Waivers – Who is Winning?” National Retail Federation Committee on Employment Law (April 2016)
        • “Recent Developments at the Department of Labor,” North Shore Labor Council (September 2015)
        • “NLRB’s McDonald’s Joint Employer Directive: Its Impact on Employee Relations and the Franchise Model,” ABA Webinar (August 2014)
        • “Employment Law for Law Firms: Best Practices for Law Firms as Employers,” ABA Webinar (April 2014)

      • Citizenship

        Civic and Charitable Memberships

        • Chicago Foundation for Women, Board Chair, Executive Committee, Chair
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      AWARDS & HONORS

      • Best Lawyers in America (2019)

        U.S. News & World Report

      • Chambers USA (2018)

        Chambers & Partners

      • Illinois Leading Lawyer (2018)

        Law Bulletin’s Illinois Leading Lawyers Network

      • Illinois Super Lawyers (2018)

        Thomson Reuters

      • Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyers (2018)

        Thomson Reuters

      • Top 50 Women Illinois Super Lawyers (2018)

        Thomson Reuters

      • Best Lawyers in America (2018)

        U.S. News & World Report

      • Lawyer of the Year (2018)

        Best Lawyers in America

      • Chambers USA (2017)

        Chambers & Partners

      • Illinois Leading Lawyer (2017)

        Law Bulletin's Illinois Leading Lawyers Network

      • Illinois Super Lawyers (2017)

        Thomson Reuters

      • Top 50 Women Illinois Super Lawyers (2017)

        Thomson Reuters

      • Who’s Who Legal – Labour & Employment (2016)

        Law Business Research

      • Best Lawyers in America (2017)

        U.S. News & World Report

      • Chambers USA (2016)

        Chambers & Partners

      • Illinois Leading Lawyer (2016)

        Law Bulletin's Illinois Leading Lawyers Network

      • Illinois Super Lawyers (2016)

        Thomson Reuters

      • Best Lawyers in America (2016)

        U.S. News & World Report

      • Illinois Super Lawyers (2015)

        Thomson Reuters

      • Who’s Who Legal – Management Labour & Employment

        Law Business Research (2010 – 2015)

      • Chambers USA (2015)

        Chambers & Partners

      • Illinois Leading Lawyer (2015)

        Law Bulletin's Illinois Leading Lawyers Network

      • Top 10 Employment (Management) Lawyers (2015)

        Law Bulletin's Illinois Leading Lawyers Network

      • Top 100 Women Business Lawyers (2015)

        Law Bulletin's Illinois Leading Lawyers Network

      • Top 100 Women Lawyers (2015)

        Law Bulletin's Illinois Leading Lawyers Network

      • Top 250 Business Lawyers (2015)

        Law Bulletin's Illinois Leading Lawyers Network

      • Lawyer of the Year

        Best Lawyers in America 2015

      • Chambers USA

        Chambers & Partners (2014)

      • Top 50 Women

        Illinois Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters 2014)

      • Top 50 Women Illinois Super Lawyers

        Thomson Reuters (2014)

      • Illinois Leading Lawyer

        Law Bulletin's Illinois Leading Lawyers Network (2014)

      • Best Lawyers in America

        U.S. News & World Report (2014)

      • Lawyer of the Year

        Best Lawyers in America 2014

      • Who's Who Legal

        International Who's Who of Business Lawyers by Law Business Research Limited (2013)

      • Chambers USA

        Chambers & Partners (2013)

      • Top 50 Women Illinois Super Lawyers

        Thomson Reuters (2013)

      • Illinois Super Lawyers

        Thomson Reuters (2013)

      • Illinois Leading Lawyer

        Law Bulletin's Illinois Leading Lawyers Network (2013)

      • Best Lawyers in America

        U.S. News & World Report (2013)

      • Chambers USA

        Chambers & Partners (2012)

      • Illinois Super Lawyers

        Thomson Reuters (2012)

      • Illinois Leading Lawyer

        Law Bulletin's Illinois Leading Lawyers Network (2012)

      • Best Lawyers in America

        U.S. News & World Report (2012)

      • Chambers USA

        Chambers & Partners (2011)

      • Patricia Costello Slovak honored with the Chicago Bar Association’s Alliance for Women Founder’s Award

      • Illinois Super Lawyers

        Thomson Reuters (2011)

      • Illinois Leading Lawyer (2011)

        Law Bulletin’s Illinois Leading Lawyers Network

      • Leading Lawyer

        Chambers USA (2010)

      • Illinois Leading Lawyer

        Law Bulletin's Illinois Leading Lawyers Network (2010)

      • Best Lawyers in America

        U.S. News & World Report (2009)

      • Chambers USA

        Chambers & Partners (2009)

      • Top 100 Attorneys

        Illinois Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters (2009)

      • Top 50 Women

        Illinois Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters (2009)

      • Illinois Super Lawyers

        Thomson Reuters (2009)

      • Illinois Leading Lawyer

        Law Bulletin's Illinois Leading Lawyers Network (2009)

      • Best Lawyers in America

        U.S. News & World Report (2009)

      • Chambers USA

        Chambers & Partners (2008)

      • Who's Who Legal Illinois

        Law Business Research Limited (2008)

      • Illinois Super Lawyers

        Thomson Reuters (2008)

      • Illinois Leading Lawyer

        Law Bulletin's Illinois Leading Lawyers Network (2008)

      • Best Lawyers in America

        U.S. News & World Report (2008)

      • Illinois Super Lawyers

        Thomson Reuters (2007)

      • Top 50 Women

        Illinois Super Lawyers Thomson Reuters (2009)

      • Founder’s Award

        Alliance for Women of the Chicago Bar Association (2007)

      • Illinois Leading Lawyer

        Law Bulletin's Illinois Leading Lawyers Network (2007)

      • Who's Who Legal Illinois

        Law Business Research Limited (2007)

      • Best Lawyers in America

        U.S. News & World Report (2007)

      • Chambers USA

        Chambers & Partners (2006)

      • Illinois Leading Lawyer

        Law Bulletin's Illinois Leading Lawyers Network (2006)

      • Illinois Super Lawyers

        Thomson Reuters (2006)

      • Top 100 Lawyers

        Illinois Super Lawyers Thomson Reuters (2006)

      • Top 50 Women

        Illinois Super Lawyers Thomson Reuters (2006)

      • Who’s Who Legal - Illinois, Labor and Employment

        News Communications' Marquis Who's Who (2000)

      • Peer Reviewed AV® Preeminent™

        Martindale-Hubbell (Since 1997)

      Employment Law Landscape

      NLRB Tries Again on Joint Employer Question

      Rather than wait for another case to come before it to address the requirements for joint employer status, the majority of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) members have opted to take the little-used rulemaking route. The proposed rule, which was released on September 14, 2018, would amend 29 CFR part 103 to add §103.40,... Continue Reading

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      Schiff Hardin LLP is a general practice law firm representing clients across the United States and around the world. We have offices located in Ann Arbor, Chicago, Lake Forest, New York, Newport Beach, San Francisco and Washington. Our attorneys are strong advocates and trusted advisers — roles that contribute to many lasting client relationships.

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