HEIDI STEINER
Senior Counsel

Heidi has provided employment law counseling to businesses in just about every industry. She helps create and implement policies, conducts training, and drafts and negotiates executive employment agreements and separation releases. Heidi has training as a Human Resources Professional by the Human Resources Certification Institute, and approaches labor and employment problems with an eye toward finding positive business solutions to client problems.

Heidi has advised numerous clients in the drafting and revision of covenants not to compete, employment contracts, separation agreements, employee policies and handbooks. She also advised clients on FLSA and comparable state wage-and-hour compliance, exempt versus non-exempt status, overtime regulations, and independent contractor status. She regularly counsels clients in day-to-day employment related issues, termination meetings, documentation questions, policies, and procedures.

Heidi has successfully defended employers against discrimination claims brought in courts throughout the country, including the Northern District of Illinois and the Southern District of New York. She has also represented management in hearings and mediations before various federal and state labor agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the Illinois Department of Labor, and the National Labor Relations Board.

Beyond employment law, Heidi has broader experience in civil rights defense, product liability, and general litigation matters.

Heidi has undertaken a number of pro bono cases, including employment and criminal matters. She has also volunteered for Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, representing indigent clients in divorce proceedings.

Prior to attending law school, Heidi was a teacher in the Washington D.C. public schools.  Her interest in teaching and education has continued in her volunteer activities, including volunteering as a tutor and mentor through Chicago Youth Programs and teaching Street Law and working with female juvenile detainees in the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center. Heidi is currently an active volunteer at Audubon Elementary School, a Chicago Public School, a member of the Roscoe Village Neighbors Education Committee, and volunteers with, and serves as a school liaison for Common Pantry, a neighborhood food pantry.

Heidi serves on the Board of Directors for the Center for Conflict Resolution and for Temple Sholom of Chicago.