55 E. Monroe St., Ste. 2900
Chicago, IL 60603-5709
312/332-0777
Steven L. Brenneman (Full bio) is a partner with Ford & Harrison LLP in Chicago, Illinois. He has over 20 years of experience representing clients in a wide variety of employment and labor law matters and regularly practices in the trial and appellate levels of federal and state courts, as well as administrative agencies. He has litigated the full range of employment and labor law disputes including cases involving allegations of age, race, national origin, disability, and sex discrimination, sexual and racial harassment, retaliatory discharge, fraud, defamation, negligent supervision and retention, breach of contract, as well as claims involving FLSA, Equal Pay Act, FMLA, ERISA, the WARN Act, employee handbooks, misappropriation of trade secrets, and noncompetition agreements. In addition, Steve has represented employers in labor arbitrations and labor injunction litigation.
Steve also advises and provides preventive counseling to clients on a wide range of issues affecting the employment relationship, including the gamut of EEO issues, wage and hour issues, FMLA, veterans' reemployment rights, affirmative action obligations, employee handbooks and personnel policies, reductions in force, and strategies for employee discipline and termination.
E-mail: sbrenneman@fordharrison.com
Teri Firmiss Thompson (Full bio) is Senior Counsel with Ford & Harrison LLP in Chicago, Illinois. She has concentrated her practice on defending employment discrimination, harassment, wrongful discharge, wage and tort claims in federal and state courts and before various administrative tribunals. She also counsels clients on a wide variety of employment law issues, including issues arising under the FMLA, ADA, ADEA, FLSA, the WARN Act, and state employment laws. Teri also works with clients on designing and implementing affirmative action programs, preparing for OFCCP audits and related matters, including preparing analyses of employment activities and compensation practices, providing training on regulatory and policy developments at the OFCCP and other affirmative action issues, and designing and refining selection processes and job seeker tracking systems.
E-mail: tthompson@fordharrison.com
Elizabeth A. Ward (Full bio) practices with Ford & Harrison's employee benefits group in Chicago, Illinois. Her practice focuses on pension plans, health and welfare plans, and ERISA compliance. Prior to joining Ford & Harrison LLP, Beth practiced with Matkov, Salzman, Madoff & Gunn and Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart in Chicago. She worked extensively with multi-employer plans on benefit design, compliance, and administrative issues and has counseled clients on the requirements of the federal laws affecting employee benefits. Beth has developed policies and procedures required by ERISA and has drafted various plan documents and amendments. She has also written papers and employee benefits updates for the Illinois State Bar Association.
E-mail: bward@fordharrison.com