Throughout his career, Brian has successfully counseled thousands of individuals, including business owners, human resources personnel, front-line managers, and executives, on a wide range of employment matters, including:

• Disciplining and terminations
• Investigating and responding to reports of harassment or discrimination
• Wage and hour counselling and auditing
• Accommodating workers with disabilities
• I-9 compliance
• Leaves of absence, FMLA, and paid sick leave
• Non-competes and restrictive covenants
• Severance agreements
• Policy review and development
• Predictive scheduling
• State and local law compliance

He also advises clients on developing and drafting policies and handbooks to ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local laws. Brian is a skilled presenter and educator—having conducted countless training seminars, webcasts, and live presentations on various employment law topics. In addition to his practice advising businesses, Brian is experienced in litigation defense, having represented employers in state and federal court as well as before administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Department of Labor (DOL), and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). He is also a seasoned appellate practitioner, having successfully defended dismissals of cases that were challenged on appeal. Brian believes in shutting down a lawsuit or agency proceeding in the most efficient and effective manner possible. Sometimes that means filing a motion to dismiss at the outset; sometimes it means resolving a case through direct negotiations or mediation; and sometimes it means taking a case through summary judgment or trial. Throughout a piece of litigation, Brian provides creative solutions and spots risks so that his clients can make informed decisions. Recent victories and achievements include:

• Winning summary judgement on behalf of a Chicago upscale restaurant in a sex discrimination, retaliation, and sexual harassment lawsuit in federal court;
• Securing a successful outcome of an appeal in the Fifth Circuit on behalf of a national staffing agency;
• Partnering with a scheduling software developer and business owners to ensure compliance and best practices with respect to predictive scheduling laws;
• Presenting on child labor law compliance to a national audience of over 1,000 managers and business owners.

At Troester Sharpe, Brian also assists with the management of the firm’s team of employment law associates, providing leadership, training, and mentorship. Prior to becoming Managing Partner at Troester Sharpe, Brian worked for over a decade at a boutique employment law firm. During law school, he served as a student attorney at the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office under Supreme Court Rule 711. Prior to his legal career, Brian worked in video production, creating and editing content for several cable networks. Read Less