Overview

David L. Christlieb litigates in a broad range of employment law areas, including:

  • Discrimination
  • Wrongful termination
  • Retaliation
  • Wage and hour issues
  • Restrictive covenants
  • Trade secrets
  • Expert witness issues
  • Adverse impact analyses
  • Government investigations and audits
  • National Labor Relations Board elections
  • Collective bargaining
  • Diversity initiatives
  • Workplace violence issues
  • Employee/applicant assessment issues
  • Traditional labor matters

He has particular expertise in the area of affirmative action and has created more than 500 affirmative action plans, and he also advises clients regarding compliance, labor and management relations, and EEO policy.

A member of the firm's Class Action Practice Group, David's litigation experience includes complex nationwide collective and class actions under:

  • The Fair Labor Standards Act
  • Title VII
  • Section 1981
  • Various state statutes

He has represented clients, including manufacturers, retailers, restaurants and consulting firms, in federal and state courts and in arbitrations and mediations before the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, and the Department of Labor.  David is frequently called upon to cross-examine or depose expert witnesses including economists, statisticians, psychologists, and sociologists.

Among David's notable successes, he has successfully argued an appeal in a discrimination lawsuit  for a national manufacturer before the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, has won a high-stakes unfair labor practice trial over allegations that his client’s lockout of union employees was unlawful, and tried one of the first cases applying the “strike then lockout” exception to New Jersey’s unemployment compensation law.  He has provided pro bono representation of indigent students in school expulsion cases.

David serves as the hiring shareholder in Littler Mendelson's Chicago office, and developed a litigation training program for associates.

In addition to his law degree, David holds a masters degree in human resources and industrial relations from the University of Illinois. In law school, he served as the notes editor for the Elder Law Journal.

Professional & Community Affiliations

Member

Illinois State Bar Association

Member

Chicago Bar Association

Recognition

Recipient, Rickert Award for Excellence in Legal Publications

Speaking Engagements

OFCCP's Final Regulations for Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities

March 18, 2014

Best Hiring Practices for Screening Talent

Chicago, IL

October 2, 2013

Affirmative Action Boot Camp

Chicago, IL

October 3, 2012

Grand Slam: Covering the Four Agencies That Effect Employers in a Major League Way

Littler Mendelson, St. Louis, MO

June 13, 2012

The Retail Industry Summit

The 2012 Executive Employer® Conference

Littler, Scottsdale, AZ

May 9, 2012

Littler Presents Our Affirmative Action Boot Camp

June 16, 2011

The Employment Compliance Costs of Doing Business with the Federal Government

November 6, 2010

Class Action Summit

September 23, 2010

Education

  • J.D., University of Illinois College of Law, 2003magna cum laude
  • M.H.R.I.R., University of Illinois, 2003
  • B.A., Knox College, 2000cum laude

Bar Admission

Illinois

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida