Overview

Christopher A. Johlie represents public and private sector employers of all sizes in a wide range of labor and employment matters. Since he graduated from law school in 1988, Chris has devoted a significant amount of his practice to traditional labor matters. He has served his clients as a counselor, negotiator, and litigator in union organizing matters, collective bargaining, arbitrations, strike planning and strike-related litigation, and state and federal labor relations board proceedings. Chris also has argued labor law cases in federal and state courts of appeal and has extensive experience in strike-related litigation.

In addition to his traditional labor practice, Chris regularly works with his clients on employment law issues related to discrimination, performance management and termination, and personnel policy development and implementation. He has worked with employers in a wide variety of industries including education, hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, food service, construction and recreation.

Chris devotes a significant amount of his practice to training. He has developed and delivered programs on a wide variety of legal and human resource issues including sexual harassment, developing respectful workplace relationships, equal employment opportunity, effective human resource practices, labor law compliance and union relations. Chris has conducted training sessions for clients (from front-line supervisors to top management) and for several trade associations.

Chris is a past recipient of the Cook County Public Guardian’s Outstanding Volunteer Attorney for his efforts on behalf of sexually-abused children and he served on the Board of Trustees for Robert Morris University Illinois.

Before attending law school, Chris worked for the National Labor Relations Board.

Recognition

Named, Leading Lawyer - Employment Law

Leading Lawyers Magazine

2020

News, Analysis & Press

Education

  • J.D., DePaul University College of Law, 1988
  • B.S., Indiana University, 1983With High Distinction

Bar Admission

Illinois

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin