Dawn represents and advises management in all aspects of labor and employment law, including litigation involving employment discrimination, sexual harassment and wage claims. She also advises clients regarding compliance-related issues involving Title VII, ADEA, FMLA, ADA, the WARN Act and employee misconduct.
As a litigator, Dawn defends clients in federal and state courts, as well as administrative agencies, throughout the United States. Her experience includes defense of individual and class actions, including cases involving allegations of harassment and discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and disability, as well as retaliation, wrongful discharge, breach of contract, defamation, invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation, negligent hiring/retention, wage and hour claims, sales commission claims, WARN act violations, and a number of other torts and employment-related matters.
Dawn also counsels and advises clients on litigation avoidance techniques, as well as a variety of labor and employment matters, including employment-action decision making, layoffs, disciplinary decisions, employee handbooks, employment contracts, drug testing, family medical leave, sexual harassment investigations and covenants not to compete.
Dawn also advises clients during contract negotiations on a variety of employment-related matters arising in the context of the purchases and sales of businesses. In that role, Dawn works closely with the corporate and transactional teams to provide a review of labor and employment law compliance issues through due diligence to post-close issues surrounding reductions-in-force, WARN compliance, and restrictive covenants.
Experience
- Obtain summary judgment in numerous age, national origin, race, gender and disability discrimination lawsuits.
- Secure dismissal of numerous discrimination charges in federal, state, county, and municipal fair employment practice agencies.
- Advise clients on difficult leave and accommodations issues, including compliance with various state and federal leave and disability discrimination laws.
- Conduct internal investigations into employee allegations of harassment, discrimination and other types of misconduct.
- Counsel clients on WARN Act compliance and represent clients in WARN Act investigations, including cases involving mass layoffs, multiple worksites, and applicability of the unforeseen business circumstances and physical calamity exceptions.
- Illinois
- Guest Speaker, "Exploring Employment Law in the Age of COVID-19 (Part 2)," Deal Us In Podcast Series, July 30, 2021
- Guest Speaker, "Exploring Employment Law in the Age of COVID-19 (Pt. 1)," Deal Us In Podcast Series, June 30, 2021
- Speaker, "Labor and Employment Trends and Hot Button Issues," Healthcare and Life Sciences Webinar Series, February 25, 2021
- Speaker, New Surroundings in Health Care: FMLA, Illinois CON, Financial Challenges and Beyond, May 19, 2009
- Speaker, Family Medical Leave Act Regulations, December 3, 2008
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University of Illinois College of LawJD
cum laude
2000 -
DePaul UniversityBAPolitical Science
with High Honor Distinction
1996
Member, Chicago Bar Association
Member, American Bar Association
Member, Illinois State Bar Association
- Author, What Employers Should Know About Chicago’s New Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, November 21, 2023
- Author, Illinois Amends Day and Temporary Labor Services Act, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, August 18, 2023
- Author, Indiana Further Restricts Physician Noncompete Agreements Effective July 1, 2023, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, June 30, 2023
- Author, U.S. Department of Labor Issues New Wage and Hour Opinion Letters, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, June 30, 2020
- Author, Healthcare Private Equity and COVID-19: Considerations as Provider Platforms Reopen, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, May 6, 2020
- Author, Healthcare Private Equity and COVID-19, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, March 27, 2020
- Co-author, The ‘Discriminating-Patient Paradox’: Policies for Addressing Patients with Discriminatory Physician Preferences, The Governance Institute's E-Briefings, November 2019
- Author, Illinois Ban on Employers’ Inquiry or Consideration of Salary History Takes Effect, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, October 4, 2019
- Author, New York and Maryland Increasing Sexual Harassment Protections for Employees, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, April 30, 2018
- Author, Defense Bill Expands FMLA “Qualifying Exigency” and Military Caregiver Leave, McGuireWoods Legal Alert, November 24, 2009