Overview
Stephanie represents employers in the service, retail, manufacturing, construction and financial services industries. She also has extensive experience representing health care employers and understands the particular challenges faced by this industry. Stephanie is a dynamic speaker and has been recognized nationwide as a knowledgeable commentator on traditional labor and employment-related issues.
Labor Relations
Stephanie counsels corporate management in developing effective labor relations strategy for prevention and response to union organizing, corporate campaigns, picketing, work stoppages, threatened strikes and other labor disputes. She serves as lead negotiator for management on first-time and successor union contracts. Stephanie is an experienced advocate in arbitrating union grievances and regularly represents employers throughout the United States in defending union representation petitions and unfair labor practices charges before the National Labor Relations Board. Stephanie guides employers in navigating complex labor issues involving protected concerted activity, successorship, solicitation and distribution, employee access, persuader reporting obligations and joint employer liability.
Employment Litigation
Stephanie defends employers from administrative and federal or state court complaints involving issues such as:
- Equal employment opportunity (EEO)
- Retaliatory discharge
- Harassment
- Whistleblower rights
- The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
- The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
- Breach of contract
- Noncompete enforcement
Employment Counsel
Stephanie helps clients big and small to evaluate their employment risk by conducting audits on EEO, wage and hour compliance, independent contractor and exemption status, and union vulnerability. She assists clients in developing HR policy, management training, and performing due diligence on labor and employment matters for mergers and acquisitions. Stephanie also provides day-to-day advice to employers on topics that include:
- Performance improvement
- HR policy development
- Workplace safety
- Employee confidentiality/privacy rights
- Restrictive covenant/noncompete enforcement
- Social media
- FMLA/ADA leave administration
- Paid sick leave
- Employee wellness programs
- Federal contracting
- Crisis management
- Workplace reductions
- Sexual harassment investigation
- Employee separation and release
- Wage and hour compliance
- Wage payment and collection
- Exemption status
- Medical/recreational cannabis
- Nurse staffing requirements
- Lawful-use legislation
- Diversity and inclusion
Personal Interests
Stephanie is the proud mom of two teenage sons. When not cheering on the boys at one of their many football and hockey games, you might catch Stephanie on stage at a local theater.
Services & Industries
Credentials
Bar Admissions
Illinois
Education
University of Illinois College of Law
J.D. (1993)
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
B.A. (1990)
Insights & Events
Latest
Insights
Other Perspectives
- LaborSphere blog
Contributor, Faegre Drinker - "Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education"
Chapter author, IICLE, Labor Law - Chapter 20: Special Consideration in the Health Care Industry
Chapter author, The Labor Law Handbook - "Labor and Employment"
Chapter author, Health Law Practice Guide, American Health Lawyers Association - Personnel Postscript
Co-Contributor, Medical Group Management Association
Leadership & Community
Pro Bono
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association — Committee on Practice and Procedure under the NLRA; Committee on Development of Law under the NLRA
- American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA)
- Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM)
- American Society of Healthcare Human Resource Association (ASHHRA)
Firm Leadership
- Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP — Co-chair, Traditional Labor Group; Co-chair, Wage & Hours Class Action Group; Hiring Partner, Chicago Office; Health Care Industry Steering Committee; Women’s Leadership Committee