Jeffrey A. Risch

Partner

Jeffrey serves as Chair of SmithAmundsen’s Labor and Employment Practice Group. Through years of both in-house and private practice experience, he has gained extensive knowledge as a management-side labor and employment attorney. A seasoned litigator, Jeffrey has represented employers in local, state and federal courts and administrative agencies throughout the United States. He has also taken several cases successfully through the appellate process (including defending Illinois’ first VESSA case, overturning a seven-figure independent contractor misclassification assessment, as well as defending a contractor’s right to due process under Illinois’ Responsible Bidder law). Jeffrey concentrates his practice on assisting employers with the purpose of providing them the most efficient avenue to effectively manage. His business acumen is second to none; with a keen recognition of a client’s ‘bottom line.’

Jeffrey’s practice is particularly focused on representing employers in discrimination and retaliation claims as well as matters involving employee wage and hour controversies with a major emphasis on prevailing wage, FLSA disputes and combating union unfair labor practices. He also represents clients involving the FMLA, ERISA, the ADA, OSHA matters, contract disputes (with a particular emphasis on non-compete agreements and unfair competition), independent contractor and contingent workforce issues, as well as traditional labor law matters (concentrating primarily in countering various union tactics, labor negotiations and NLRA matters).

As Chairman of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce’s Employment Law & Litigation Committee, as well as serving as Chapter Labor Counsel for the Associated Builders & Contractors of Illinois, Jeffrey has a solid understanding and appreciation for the latest trends, developments and political influences that shape labor & employment law and controversies. He is committed to applying and sharing this deep knowledge and experience to assist employers on a local, regional and national basis.

Prior to joining SmithAmundsen, Jeffrey was an equity partner for a Midwest based labor & employment boutique firm, and a litigation associate for a prominent Tulsa, Oklahoma firm. Jeffrey also obtained substantial experience as in-house counsel for a leading industrial equipment distributor and service provider. Jeffrey’s in-house personnel initiatives garnered national attention from the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association.