Jeffrey A. Risch

Jeff’s practice is entirely devoted to management-side labor and employment law. He takes enormous pride in advising and defending the foundation of our economy: employers. Every day he arises with a passion to aggressively and responsibly represent clients in a broad range of industries.

Jeff’s practice is unique in that he regularly handles both employment law and traditional labor law matters. His work includes: countering various union tactics, including picketing and card signing; navigating through government audits; defending discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination claims; avoiding employee wage and hour controversies; complying with prevailing wage and minimum wage laws; litigating employment contract disputes and unfair competition controversies; upholding independent contractor and contingent workforce relationships; negotiating collective bargaining agreements; and, navigating responsible bidder issues and project labor agreements.

Jeff’s legal knowledge is accompanied by his understanding of his clients’ industries, which primarily include construction, manufacturing and food processing, banking, health care (particularly long term care), and transportation, among others. Jeff participates in various trade and professional associations devoted to his clients’ diverse industries. He is passionately committed to helping employers stay up-to-date with legal developments and trends unique to their industry. Jeff regularly assists major trade and business associations in their efforts to try and prevent catastrophic workplace regulations by local, state and federal government authorities. For instance, for over 20 years, nearly every major workplace initiative developed by the Illinois Legislature has crossed Jeff’s desk for his review and comment. Jeff is also called upon to testify, on behalf of the business community, on a plethora of bills and legislative proposals.  

Jeff has many years of both private practice and in-house counsel experience. He represents employers throughout the U.S. and has taken several prominent cases successfully through arbitration, administrative hearing, trial, and, when necessary, appeal. Jeff advises employers with the purpose of providing them the most efficient avenue to effectively manage.

A prolific author and presenter, Jeff is often asked to speak on trending topics in the labor and employment arena by clients and educational providers around the country. He literally wrote the book on Labor & Employment Law for Illinois employers through the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. If you have ever been lucky enough to see Jeff present, you know you are in excellent hands in any negotiation or a courtroom!

A former HR manager and current business owner, Jeff understands and relates to the objectives of his clients. He applies his passion for business and employers in his work as chairman of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce Employment Law & Litigation Committee, chapter labor counsel for the Associated Builders and Contractors of Illinois, chapter labor counsel for the Northern Illinois Building Contractors Association, and chapter labor counsel to the Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois.

As co-chair of the firm’s expansive management-side Labor and Employment Service Group, Jeff oversees a team providing comprehensive counsel to employers across the country. As a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, Jeff helps to set the strategic vision for the firm and ensures that each of the firm’s clients receives the best possible experience working with Amundsen Davis.