Overview
Kevin Connelly focuses his practice on employment matters, such as discrimination, harassment, wage and hour law, whistleblowing, statutory leave and traditional labor law. He is experienced in both trials and appeals, and devotes a substantial portion of his practice to class and collective actions.
For more than 30 years, Kevin has been an Adjunct Professor at Loyola University’s School of Law, where he teaches labor law, employment law and employment discrimination. He has received Loyola’s Francis J. Rooney/St. Thomas More Award, which is given annually in recognition of continuous and outstanding loyalty and dedicated service.
Results
- Robinson v. Tellabs, Inc., 391 Ill. App. 3d 60 (Ill App. Ct. 2009) Obtained an affirming judgment for employer in a class action that reduced salaries by imposing mandatory unpaid days off for overtime-exempt employees*
- Ofori-Tenkorang v. American Int’l Group, Inc., 460 F.3d 296 (2d Cir. 2006) Obtained affirmation of a trial court’s holding that § 1981 did not extend extraterritorially to alleged discrimination overseas*
- Thomas v. AIG Marketing, 133 Fed. Appx. 738 (11th Cir. 2005) Represented an employer in a sexual harassment claim because an altered work assignment and work criticism were neither severe nor pervasive under Title VII standards*
- Nelson v. J.C. Penney Company, 75 F.3d 343 (8th Cir. 1996) Represented the employer in reversing an age discrimination jury verdict and remanding for entry of judgment in favor of J.C. Penney on all claims*
- Shaver v. F.W. Woolworth, 840 F. 2d. 1361 (7th Cir. 1988) Obtained dismissal of plaintiff’s state law claims based on res judicata due to his failure to assert diversity in addition to supplemental jurisdiction in prior suit*
*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott.
Community
- Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, volunteer part-time teacher (literature and civics) and coach (boys’ soccer, girls’ basketball, and debate), 2007 to 2014
- St. Laurence Grammar School (Elgin), volunteer teacher (junior high “genius incubator”), 2016 to 2018
Credentials
Education
Loyola University of Chicago School of Law, JD, 1975
Georgetown University, BSFS, 1972
Admissions
Illinois
Courts/ Agencies
Supreme Court of the United States
