Christopher Rizzo Email & Phone Number

Greater Chicago Area

Provided consulting and contracting services to the Firm and its corporate clients, ranging from advice and counsel as an in-house consultant to litigating before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. Represented corporate clients and individually-named officers and directors in general commercial litigation and disputes related to employment and restructuring matters.

Chicago, Il

Served as counsel for Publicis Groupe’s approximately 80 advertising agencies based in the United States, advising agencies across all states on employment issues related to hiring, discipline, terminations, reductions in force, severance, benefits, and whistleblower claims, as well as general commercial and contractual issues and disputes. Managed high-exposure class action, wage-and-hour, and systemic gender discrimination litigation. Managed individual plaintiff lawsuits, independently deciding defense strategy on issues such as age, race, gender, and disability discrimination, harassment, whistleblower allegations, denial of benefits, family and medical leave, and wage payment claims; worked with insurance carriers when appropriate. Defended the company’s agencies in mediations and hearings before state and federal administrative agencies such as the EEOC and the Department of Labor. Prepared litigation budgets; audited and approved outside counsel bills. Maintained continuous communication with internal clients regarding ongoing litigation, including risk assessment, strategy, and potential resolution; led post-resolution compliance efforts with various internal business units. Drafted and negotiated master services agreements, executive employment agreements, non-competition, and non-disclosure agreements. Advised on employment law effects of acquisitions of advertising agencies and conducted due diligence on transactions from an employment law perspective. Prepared and conducted presentations to human resources clients on employment law, to management personnel on basic rules for managing employees, and to all employees on subjects such as harassment, confidentiality, and social media use. Created comprehensive manual for employees, human resources, and benefits personnel to harmonize FMLA, ADA, and other leave and benefits practices across agencies, including ACA, COBRA, and HIPAA compliance.

Chicago, Il

Served as interim employment and benefits counsel, advising the company on daily issues related to employee hiring, discipline, and termination, as well as benefits and severance issues both domestically and internationally. Prepared independent contractor agreements and third-party hiring contracts. Conducted thorough review and analysis of existing employment policies, revising existing language and drafting new policies where needed. Managed domestic and international litigation.

Chicago, Il

Provided Jones Lang LaSalle legal with consulting services, focusing on legal issues relating to employment law and Human Resources.

Chicago, Il

Practice focused on employment law litigation, representing clients nationwide in litigation, appellate, investigatory, and administrative agency matters. Was responsible in numerous matters for case strategy, client interaction, supervision of junior attorneys, and business considerations.Deposed and defended numerous fact witnesses, conducted witness interviews in internal client investigations, and prepared witnesses for trial. Coordinated large-scale summary judgment filing in California wage and hour class action, including supervising 20 other attorneys performing document and deposition review. Represented clients at mediations before EEOC and administrative hearings before Illinois Human Rights Commission administrative law judges.Counseled clients on numerous matters ranging from international privacy law issues to interpretation of Illinois gaming statutes. First-chaired evidentiary hearing in Illinois criminal court, conducting direct and cross examinations of witnesses, and delivering closing arguments.

Chicago, Il

Practice focused on employment law litigation. Served as primary firm contact for municipal client, facilitating 27 client matters and providing day-to-day counseling to client on both litigation and city employment matters. Researched, drafted, and/or argued numerous motions to dismiss, class certification motions, summary judgment matters, position statements, and other dispositive and discovery motions. Deposed and defended dozens of named plaintiffs, defendants, and fact witnesses in complex contract dispute, age discrimination class action, and race discrimination cases. Researched and drafted motions for summary judgment in ERISA stock drop cases.

Chicago, Il

Practice focused on employment law litigation, advising clients on employment matters and defending clients in state and federal litigation and before administrative agencies.

Stamford, Ct

Juris Doctor, Law, Magna Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: Articles Editor, Illinois Law Review

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Political Science, Departmental Honors