Overview

Jeff Nowak has decades of experience advising and litigating on behalf of employers on a wide range of complex employment law matters so they can run the most profitable business and efficient operations without being side-tracked by discrimination claims, strikes or other workplace issues.

Jeff is a recognized leader on FMLA and ADA issues, helping employers develop comprehensive strategies to achieve compliance with employee leave and accommodation issues. Jeff is lauded by clients for his ability to bring a practical approach and unflappable demeanor to the most sensitive and difficult situations, always with an eye on the client’s business and operational objectives. Given his experience in leave management and workplace accommodations, Jeff regularly counsels some of the country’s largest and diverse employers on these critical employment issues.

Jeff is the author of the highly regarded FMLA Insights blog, which has earned him entry into the ABA Journal’s Blogger Hall of Fame. He also is a highly-sought after speaker on FMLA/ADA issues, most notably serving on the faculty of the National Employment Law Institute (NELI) and a frequent speaker for the Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC).

Professional & Community Affiliations

President

La Grange Little League

Past Village Trustee

Village of LaGrange, Illinois

Past Member, Board of Directors

Marist High School

Recognition

Named, The Best Lawyers in America®

2016-2024

Named, Lawyer of the Year

Chicago

The Best Lawyers in America©

2024

Ranked, Labor & Employment

Chambers USA

2017-2023

Fellow

College of Labor & Employment Lawyers

Class of 2023

Recipient, DMEC Partnership Award

Disability Management Employer Coalition

August 2014

News, Analysis & Press

An Expanding View of Paid Leave

SHRM Online

September 15, 2023

How to Avoid a Claim of 'Pretaliation'

SHRM Online

March 9, 2023

New Year, New Laws in Illinois

SHRM Online

January 3, 2023

Fully Remote Companies May Not Have FMLA Protection

Inc. Magazine

February 11, 2022

Viewpoint: When Employers Fail to Designate FMLA

SHRM Online

September 22, 2021

How HR needs to think about FMLA in a post-COVID reality

Human Resource Executive

May 24, 2021

Seeking office immunity

Daily Herald

April 21, 2021

Coordinate FFCRA Tax Credits with FMLA

SHRM Online

February 22, 2021

Employers Offer Voluntary FFCRA-Like Leave

SHRM Online

February 3, 2021

Employers may extend FFCRA, but mandate ends: Experts

Business Insurance

December 22, 2020

New School Year Raises FFCRA Questions

SHRM Online

August 24, 2020

A Guide to Employee Temperature Checks

Security Management

May 19, 2020

A Guide to Employee Temperature Checks

SHRM Online

April 30, 2020

DOL Releases FFCRA Regulations

SHRM Online

April 1, 2020

How to Stop FMLA Abuse

SHRM Online

February 12, 2020

Speaking Engagements

ADA Master Class

March 5, 2024

Mastering the FMLA: Gaining Critical Knowledge and Skills to Administer FMLA Leave

March 8, 2022

Managing Remote Work Requests During (and After) the Pandemic

December 8, 2021

Navigating Difficult FMLA and ADA Issues in the Middle of a Pandemic - Second Session

June 22, 2021

Navigating Difficult FMLA and ADA Issues in the Middle of a Pandemic

March 16, 2021

Navigating Difficult FMLA and ADA Issues in the Middle of a Pandemic

December 9, 2020

Practical Issues for Employers in Navigating the New Federal Emergency Paid FMLA and Sick Leave Mandates

March 24, 2020

Stop the Madness! Effective Ways to Protect Your Organization Against FMLA Abuse

December 11, 2019

Happy Paper Trails: Creating Effective FMLA and ADA Policies, Templates and Practices that Won’t Go Off the (Legal) Rails

Florida Regional Employer Conference, Miami, FL

October 24, 2019

Complex FMLA Issues

NELI’s ADA & FMLA Compliance Seminar, Chicago, IL

April 2019

Managing Sick Leave Laws

ABA Annual Labor & Employment Conference, San Francisco, CA

November 2018

I Thought We Were Supposed to be Flexible? ADA Cases Post-Severson

2018 Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) Annual Conference, Austin, TX

August 2018

Six Ways Your Managers Are Causing FMLA & ADA Leave Lawsuits, and How to Train Them to Stop

SHRM Annual Conference, Chicago, IL

June 2018

FMLA and ADA Case Law Update

2018 Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) Compliance Conference, Pittsburgh, PA

May 2018

FMLA Update

NELI’s ADA & FMLA Compliance Seminar, Chicago, IL

April 2018

Practical Parental Leave Considerations in the Trump Era

2017 Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA

August 2017

Analysis of EEOC’s Technical Document on Leave as a Reasonable Accommodation

Webinar conducted by EEOC Commissioner Chai Feldblum

June 2016

Complex FMLA Issues

NELI’s ADA & FMLA Compliance Seminar, Chicago, IL

April 23, 2016

Employment Law Update

NELI’s Employment Law Conference, Chicago, IL

May 20, 2015

Pregnancy Accommodation: Overview and Analysis of EEOC’s Guidance

2015 Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) Compliance Conference, Washington, D.C.

April 20-23, 2015

Why Do Employees Sue Their Employers in FMLA Lawsuits?

2016 Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) Compliance Conference, Pittsburgh, PA

April 15-17, 2015

Education

  • J.D., Indiana University Maurer School of Law, 1999cum laude
  • B.A., Indiana University, 1995

Bar Admission

Illinois

Courts

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • 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, Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana