BRIAN GOLD
Senior Counsel


Brian was the global leader for more than two decades for one of the leading labor and employment law groups at one of the nation’s largest and most sophisticated law firms (Sidley Austin LLP) before his retirement in 2017. During that time, he was consistently recognized by all the leading publications (The Best Lawyers in America, Chambers & Partners, and The Legal 500 US) as one the nation’s preeminent employment lawyers. Brian often is retained by General Counsel, CEOs, Boards of Directors and Special Committees to handle the most difficult and sensitive employment matters.

His practice focuses on a wide range of employment matters, from class action and individual litigation, to internal investigations and strategic employment counseling, to executive compensation and corporate transactions work. He regularly represents employers and senior executives in employment discrimination, restrictive covenant matters, and contract disputes. He also has substantial experience in representing employers in labor relations matters, including collective bargaining, arbitration, and union avoidance. A significant part of his practice also involves internal investigation, whistleblower, and related matters. Brian also is an experienced neutral mediator and arbitrator.

Brian has litigated or counseled on virtually every employment law. Among others, his experiences include Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Family and Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Sarbanes-Oxley, Dodd-Frank, federal and state restrictive covenant laws, and numerous other employment statutes. He also handles employment matters in arbitrations and before various federal and state departments of labor and fair employment agencies.

His internal investigation work has covered discrimination, harassment, conflict of interest, fraud, corrupt practices, and other employment-related issues involving employees at all levels. Brian also serves as independent employment counsel advising clients on retaliation, attorney-client privilege, and other similar issues that frequently arise in the context of internal investigations and whistleblower matters.

Brian counsels employers of all sizes with respect to their most important human resources initiatives, including matters involving workplace culture, diversity and inclusion, compensation reviews, and numerous other employment-related matters. He also advises on labor and employment matters arising in a broad range of corporate transactions, including issues surrounding reductions in force and facility closings, terminations, and other personnel decisions.

Brian advises on executive compensation matters and regularly negotiates executive-level and other key personnel employment-related agreements, including executive employment, transition, severance, and other similar agreements.

Earlier in his career, Brian held senior positions for then Illinois Governor James Thompson and as a Special States Attorney in Cook County. For more than 10 years, he also served as the Chair of the Illinois Board of Ethics. He also has served on boards and in leadership positions with numerous other civic and charitable organizations, including the Center for Conflict Resolution, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Leadership Greater Chicago, Respite House, and the United States Adaptive Golf Association.

Direct: 312.259.2064

PRACTICE AREA

EDUCATION

  • Georgetown University Law Center, J.D. cum laude Georgetown Law Journal
  • Miami University (Ohio) A.B. cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

ADMISSIONS

  • Illinois

BRIAN GOLD
Senior Counsel


Direct: 312.259.2064

PRACTICE AREA

EDUCATION

  • Georgetown University Law Center, J.D. cum laude Georgetown Law Journal
  • Miami University (Ohio) A.B. cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

ADMISSIONS

  • Illinois

Brian was the global leader for more than two decades for one of the leading labor and employment law groups at one of the nation’s largest and most sophisticated law firms (Sidley Austin LLP) before his retirement in 2017. During that time, he was consistently recognized by all the leading publications (The Best Lawyers in America, Chambers & Partners, and The Legal 500 US) as one the nation’s preeminent employment lawyers. Brian often is retained by General Counsel, CEOs, Boards of Directors and Special Committees to handle the most difficult and sensitive employment matters.

His practice focuses on a wide range of employment matters, from class action and individual litigation, to internal investigations and strategic employment counseling, to executive compensation and corporate transactions work. He regularly represents employers and senior executives in employment discrimination, restrictive covenant matters, and contract disputes. He also has substantial experience in representing employers in labor relations matters, including collective bargaining, arbitration, and union avoidance. A significant part of his practice also involves internal investigation, whistleblower, and related matters. Brian also is an experienced neutral mediator and arbitrator.

Brian has litigated or counseled on virtually every employment law. Among others, his experiences include Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Family and Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Sarbanes-Oxley, Dodd-Frank, federal and state restrictive covenant laws, and numerous other employment statutes. He also handles employment matters in arbitrations and before various federal and state departments of labor and fair employment agencies.

His internal investigation work has covered discrimination, harassment, conflict of interest, fraud, corrupt practices, and other employment-related issues involving employees at all levels. Brian also serves as independent employment counsel advising clients on retaliation, attorney-client privilege, and other similar issues that frequently arise in the context of internal investigations and whistleblower matters.

Brian counsels employers of all sizes with respect to their most important human resources initiatives, including matters involving workplace culture, diversity and inclusion, compensation reviews, and numerous other employment-related matters. He also advises on labor and employment matters arising in a broad range of corporate transactions, including issues surrounding reductions in force and facility closings, terminations, and other personnel decisions.

Brian advises on executive compensation matters and regularly negotiates executive-level and other key personnel employment-related agreements, including executive employment, transition, severance, and other similar agreements.

Earlier in his career, Brian held senior positions for then Illinois Governor James Thompson and as a Special States Attorney in Cook County. For more than 10 years, he also served as the Chair of the Illinois Board of Ethics. He also has served on boards and in leadership positions with numerous other civic and charitable organizations, including the Center for Conflict Resolution, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Leadership Greater Chicago, Respite House, and the United States Adaptive Golf Association.