Steven Brenneman brings over 20 years of experience representing clients in the full range of employment and labor law matters.
He advises and provides preventive counseling to clients on a wide range of issues affecting the employment relationship, including EEO issues, wage and hour issues, FMLA matters, employee handbooks and personnel policies, reductions in force, covenants against competition, affirmative action obligations and strategies for employee discipline and termination.
He regularly practices in the trial and appellate levels of federal and state courts, as well as administrative agencies. Steve produces excellent results in a cost-effective manner while handling a broad range of employment and labor disputes, including cases involving allegations of age, race, national origin, disability, sex discrimination, sexual and racial harassment, retaliation, fraud, defamation, negligent supervision and retention and breach of contract. He also handles claims involving the FLSA, ERISA, the WARN Act, employee handbooks, drug testing, misappropriation of trade secrets, and non-competition agreements. Steve has represented employers in labor arbitrations and labor injunction litigation. His efforts have yielded favorable results in many reported decisions.
Steve speaks regularly at seminars and to trade groups on employment law topics. Earlier in his career he served as a Trial Attorney for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Chicago District Office.
Recent Experience
- Covenant Not To Compete — Obtained a temporary injunction in favor of an employer in the business of developing and selling financial trading and market-making software tools, against a former IT employee arising from violation of a covenant not to compete. After entry of the TRO, negotiated a stipulated injunction order on favorable terms for the client.
- Retaliatory Discharge — Obtained dismissal of a retaliatory discharge action brought by senior manager against manufacturing company following substantial and aggressive steps in discovery phase that confirmed plaintiff's fraud.
- Trade Secrets — Successfully defended clients in an action alleging misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of covenant not to compete; plaintiff's request for temporary restraining order against clients was denied. Following substantial expedited discovery, obtained settlement on favorable terms for the clients.
Recent Publications
- Editor-in-Chief, Illinois Employment Law Letter
- Illinois Jurisprudence, Vol. 28, Ch. 15 (Employment Laws Affecting Older Workers) (Matthew Bender & Company)
Honors and Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America – Labor & Employment Law
- "Leading Lawyers" representing the top attorneys in the state of Illinois
- AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell