Overview
Brian Mead focuses his practice on various labor and employment issues. He defends employers, before state and federal courts and administrative agencies, in individual and class action litigation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act and other employment laws, including discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation and breach of contract claims. Additionally, Brian has substantial experience in prosecuting and defending employee mobility, restrictive covenant and trade secret litigation cases on an emergency injunctive basis. Brian also advises on the labor and employment aspects of M&A transactions on both the buy-side and sell-side, assisting clients to understand and mitigate employment-related risks and exposure. He is experienced in drafting employment agreements and multi-jurisdictional restrictive covenants, as well as termination and separation agreements, ranging from non-exempt employees to CEOs.
Brian also provides regular counsel to employers on employee handbooks and policies, employee leaves of absence, discipline and performance issues, disability accommodation, structuring of restrictive covenants and independent contractor relationships. He is skilled in researching multi-jurisdictional employment issues and preparing memoranda explaining the nuances of these issues and providing a recommended course of action.
Results
- On behalf of a manufacturing client, successfully argued in front of the Seventh Circuit to affirm a summary judgment ruling in a discrimination case
- On behalf of a healthcare client, successfully defended an employee against a TRO for claims of trade secret theft and breach of a non-compete
- On behalf of a technology client, successfully defended an employee at a federal jury trial against alleged breach of restrictive covenants and breach of contract. The jury ruled for the client on all counts *
- On behalf of a technology client, successfully defended and settled, on favorable terms, putative wage and hour class and collective action
- On behalf of an accounting client, successfully briefed the Fifth Circuit on a petition for rehearing en banc to issue a new, more favorable opinion for the client
- Advised buyers and sellers on labor and employment matters in numerous private equity and strategic transactions
- On behalf of healthcare clients, advised on the strategic acquisitions of numerous physician practices
*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott.
Recognitions
- The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch and Labor and Employment Law – Management, 2022 to 2023
Credentials
Education
Northwestern University School of Law, JD, cum laude, 2014
University of Iowa, BA, with highest distinction, 2009
Admissions
Illinois
Courts/Agencies
Illinois Supreme Court
US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
US District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
US District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
