Thoughtful, common-sense solutions to everyday employment issues

Brian Hartstein seeks to help clients anticipate and avoid employment issues and serves as a passionate advocate when litigation is unavoidable. He advises management on an array of workplace issues, including employee discipline, performance management, leave, accommodations, and wage and hour compliance. His litigation practice focuses on defending employers in employment discrimination, retaliation, and wage and compensation disputes, as well as disputes concerning trade secret protection and unfair competition.

His experience includes individual, class and collective action litigation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other federal, state and local employment laws. His clients cover many industries, including:

• Transportation
• Telecommunications
• Financial services
• Health care
• The sharing/gig economy
• Hospitality

Brian strives to become a business partner to his clients by providing common-sense, solutions-oriented counsel on day-to-day employment matters such as disciplinary actions, performance management, reductions in force, accommodations and leave management.

He is the Chicago office chair of the Labor & Employment Practice Group.

Bar Admissions

• Illinois

Education

• Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, Certificate, Quarles & Brady Leadership Program (2018)

• Georgetown University Law Center (J.D., 2006)

• Cornell University (B.S., 2003)
  • Industrial and Labor Relations

• "Building the Team: Labor and Employment Issues for Startups"
• "Discrimination Actions"
• "Fundamentals of Legal Practice"
• "Panic Buttons and Your Hotel: How To Comply with Chicago's New Ordinance"
• "Professional Experience Day"
• Changes to Chicago’s Paid Leave Ordinance May Prove Challenging for Chicago Businesses
• Chicago Delays Private Suits Under Fair Workweek Ordinance Until 2021, Law Still Effective July 1st
• Illinois Equal Pay Act Update: New Clarity in Final Administrative Rules but Questions Remain
• Illinois Legislature Passes Equal Pay Act Amendment: Employers Likely Required to Include Pay Scale and Benefits in Job Postings
• Large Fines Assessed Under Chicago and Cook County Paid Sick Leave Ordinances
• New IL Law Creates Reporting Requirements for Employers and Expands Protections for Convicted Employees
• Plan Ahead or Pay the Price: Chicago Enacts Fair Workweek Ordinance
• Review IL State Law Changes Impacting Employers for a Happy 2022
• State of Illinois Amends New Employee Sick Leave Act
• Updated: Illinois Freedom to Work Act Imposes New Restrictions on Restrictive Covenants

Seminar

• Employee Mobility and Competition in the Great Resignation
• The Founder’s Toolkit: L&E Basics for Start-Ups