Overview

Colette L. Kopon's practice spans a range of complex civil litigation matters, including advising and defending clients in all aspects of employment disputes and litigation. Colette’s trial practice also includes internal investigations, crisis management, defamation, fraud, and tort matters. She represents clients in a variety of industries and nonprofit ministries, including education, healthcare, retail, and insurance. 

Colette handles all aspects of litigation and prelitigation, from mediations and settlement negotiations to administrative proceedings, written and oral discovery, expert discovery, motion practice, trials, and appeals. She has extensive experience litigating and advising on issues involving Title VII, Title IX, the FMLA, the ADA, and the FLSA. Her litigation experience also includes a variety of issues, including BIPA, class actions/MDLs, contract disputes, defamation, and fraud. Colette has advised clients on complex employment issues including hiring, termination, progressive discipline, reductions in force, job/organizational restructuring, bylaws, policies & procedures, internal investigations, disabilities, violence/threats/weapons, drugs, harassment, contracts, theft, discrimination, and COVID-19. Her background includes writing articles and providing training sessions on novel employment law issues; resolving prelitigation matters; and retaining, overseeing, and working with local counsel to move cases to efficient resolution. 

Prior to joining Littler, Colette was a partner in a national law firm headquartered in Chicago. Prior to private practice, she served as a judicial law clerk to the Hon. Virginia M. Kendall in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Professional & Community Affiliations

Member/Mentor

Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago

Trial Advocacy Program

Stanford University

International Association of Defense Counsel

2019

Recognition

Named, Rising Star

Super Lawyers

2019-present

Named, Emerging Lawyer

Law Bulleting Media

2019-present

Education

  • J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Lawcum laude
  • B.S., Cornell University

Bar Admission

Illinois

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado