Overview

Lucy Bednarek is an experienced litigation attorney with extensive jury trial experience in state and federal court. She has successfully tried over a dozen cases to verdict.

Litigation Practice. Lucy defends employers in all areas of employment law including discrimination, retaliation, harassment, disability discrimination and accommodation, family and medical leave, whistleblower, equal pay, wage and hour, defamation, breach of contract, and military service. She defends claims involving Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Equal Pay Act (EPA), the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), Section 1981, and state laws.

Lucy further defends employers before state and federal administrative agencies, including the EEOC, the Illinois Human Rights Commission, the Indiana Civil Rights Commission, and the Indiana Department of Labor. Lucy also represents employers in arbitration and obtains successful arbitration awards.

Lucy also has extensive experience defending local governments, school districts, and private employers in Chicago and throughout Illinois in employment law, civil rights, and tort claims. In addition to the employment statutes, she has defended lawsuits involving Section 1983, Title IX, the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), and state laws.

Appeals. Lucy has briefed and argued before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the Illinois Supreme Court, and the Illinois Appellate Court. She has led negotiations in Seventh Circuit mediations.

Workplace violence protective orders. Lucy has obtained multiple workplace violence protective orders for high profile, global companies. Orders involved physical violence and threats of physical violence by former employees as well as social media harassment.

Mediations and negotiations. Lucy achieves successful results for employers in mediation, court-ordered settlement conferences, and out-of-court negotiated settlements.

Advice and counsel. Lucy provides advice and counseling on risk management analysis, employment contracts, severance agreements, employment policies, accommodation requests, discipline and discharge, wage and hour, and unemployment benefits.

Professional & Community Affiliations

Member

Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel (IADTC)

Member

Defense Research Institute (DRI)

Member

Illinois State Bar Association

Member

Indiana State Bar Association

Chair

Employment Law Section

Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana (DTCI)

2019-2020

Recognition

Awarded, Trial Lawyer Excellence Award

For Outstanding Defense Verdict in Civil Rights Case against a $13 million jury demand

Law Bulletin Publishing

2015

News, Analysis & Press

Title VII Protection Extends to LGBTQ+ Employees: What Now for Employers?

Indiana Civil Litigation Review

2020

Speaking Engagements

Legal Symposium

Illinois Association of Park Districts

November 3, 2022

COVID-19 and Employment Law Update

ACC Indiana Webinar

June 10, 2021 and June 25, 2020

Real Life Scenarios and Curbing FMLA Abuse

Indiana Chamber of Commerce FMLA Seminar

January 21, 2021

Beyond Broken Bones: Mental Health Issues Under the ADA & FMLA

Wabash Valley Human Resources Association Legal Seminar

November 1, 2019

Education

  • J.D., Indiana University Maurer School of Law, 1999
  • B.A., Loyola University Chicago, 1996magna cum laude

Bar Admission

Illinois
Indiana
District of Columbia

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, Southern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois Trial Bar
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana