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| Selected by peers as a Leading Lawyer in: | Extensive Experience in: |
| ADR Law: Commercial Litigation | Mediator-Employment/Commercial |
| Employment Law: Management | Employment Law & Litigation |
| ADR Law: Employment | Commercial Litigation |
| Class Action Defense | |
| Partnership/Corporate Disputes |
Michael Leech is a nationally recognized authority on employment law. He is a trial lawyer, mediator and co-author of the BNA treatise, Holloway & Leech, Employment Termination: Rights and Remedies. Over the last 28 years, he has handled a wide variety of types of business litigation, particularly employment cases. He has helped parties to bring many cases to satisfactory settlement as a mediator since he began that practice in 1996. A member of the College of Labor & Employment Lawyers, he has been designated as the College's liaison to the American Law Institute Restatement of Employment Law project. He has contributed to countless continuing legal education programs for groups including the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, Loyola University Chicago Law School and Institute of Human Resources & Industrial Relations, DuPage County Bar Association, IIT/Kent School of Law, American Management Association, National Employment Lawyers Association, Legal Education Institute, Law Seminars International, Business Law Institute and Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education.
Notable Cases and Results:
Bruggeman v. Blagojevich (defended class action under Section 1983 and Americans with Disabilities Act against State of Illinois seeking restructuring of funding standards for Medicaid program for adults with developmental disabilities (dismissed 2001, affirmed 2003). Neal v. Honeywell (prosecuted False Claims Act whistleblower claim arising from report of false ballistics test results to U.S. Army) (verdict 1997, affirmed 1999).
Bar Admissions:
State of Illinois
U.S. District Court (N.D. Ill.)
U.S. Court of Appeals (7th Cir.).
Hourly Rate: $301-$400/hour
Retainer: Varies By Case
Date of Birth: 1951
Additional languages spoken: French (elementary level).
Law School: University of Virginia School of Law,J.D., 1976; Suffolk University School of Law (1973-1974)
Law School Honors/Involvement: Dillard Legal Writing Fellow (1975-1976)
Undergraduate School: University of Virginia, B.A. 1973.
Undergraduate School Honors/Involvement: "With Distinction"
Representative Clients:
Has represented and counseled both management (including Aetna, American Express, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, DHL, Defense Research Institute, Hobart Corp., Norwegian American Hospital, PPG Industries, Wal-Mart) and individual employees.
Employment History:
Chapman and Cutler (1976-1978)
Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP (1978 to present, partner since 1983)
Bar/Professional Association Involvement:
Founding member, ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law's Committee on Employee Rights and Responsibilities, National Employment Lawyers Association. Illinois State Bar Association (formerly on Section Council, Labor & Employment Law Section), Chicago Bar Association. Community Involvement:
Formerly chair of Church Council, First United Methodist Church of Chicago (Chicago Temple) and continuously a member of Church Council since 1994. Lay delegate of Northern Illinois Conference of United Methodist Church (1996-2004). Trustee, First United Methodist Church Aid Society (owner of 77 West Washington "Chicago Temple" building) (1996-present).
Published Legal Writing:
Holloway & Leech, Employment Termination: Rights and Remedies (1985, 2d ed. 1993) (Sr. Ed., ABA Labor Section Supp. 2003). Contributor, Lindermann & Kadue, Sexual Harassment of Working Women (1992)(common law issues); Lindermann & Grossman, Employment Discrimination Law (3d Ed. 1996)(National Origin Discrimination). "Legalizing Employment Discrimination, A Foolish and Dangerous Policy," 29 john marshall l. rev. 587 (1996)(response to Richard Epstein, Forbidden Grounds: The Case Against Employment Discrimination Laws). "Trade Secrets of A Mediator," chicago bar record (June/July 2004).
Firm Description:
Large firm with offices in ten States maintaining a broad-based practice concentrated in business transactions & litigation, representation of professionals and asset/risk management (tort defense).
Practice Group Description:
Alternative Dispute Resolution, Labor & Employment
Family:
Married, one child.
Additional Office Locations:
Illinois: Chicago (home office), Belleville, Champaign, Chicago, Crystal Lake, Joliet, Lisle, Peoria, Rockford, Springfield, Waukegan . Florida: Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa. California: Los Angeles, San Francisco. Also: Phoenix, Arizona; Schererville, Indiana; Minneapolis, Minnesota; St. Louis, Missouri; New York, New York; Portland, Oregon.
Parking:
Park in 222 North LaSalle St. Building from Lower Wacker Drive, or at 177 North Wells St. garage (corner of Wells & Lake, enter from either strees), one block south of Wells St. entrance.
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