Fourth Circuit Temporarily allows DEI-Related EOs continue
Steven J. Pearlman is a partner in the Labor & Employment Law Department, where he is Head of the Restrictive Covenants, Trade Secrets & Unfair Competition Group and Co-Head of the Whistleblowing & Retaliation Group.
Employment, Whistleblower, Restrictive Covenant and Trade Secret Practice.…
Steven J. Pearlman is a partner in the Labor & Employment Law Department, where he is Head of the Restrictive Covenants, Trade Secrets & Unfair Competition Group and Co-Head of the Whistleblowing & Retaliation Group.
Employment, Whistleblower, Restrictive Covenant and Trade Secret Practice. Steven’s national practice focuses on defending companies in federal and state courts and arbitration against claims of: discrimination, retaliation and harassment, including claims brought by high-level executives; whistleblower retaliation; restrictive covenant violations; theft of trade secrets; and wage-and-hour violations (including class, collective and PAGA actions).
Illustrating his versatility, Steven has successfully handled bench and jury trials in multiple jurisdictions (e.g., Illinois, California, Florida and Texas); defended one of the largest Illinois-only class actions in the history of the federal courts in Chicago; and prevailed following his oral arguments before the Seventh Circuit and state appellate courts. Steven brings his litigation experience to bear in counseling clients to minimize risk and avoid or prepare for success in litigation.
Investigations. Reporting to boards of directors, their audit committees, CEOs and in-house counsel, Steven conducts sensitive investigations and has testified in federal court. His investigations have involved complaints of sexual harassment involving C-suite officers; systemic violations of employment laws and company policies; and fraud, compliance failures and unethical conduct.
Thought Leadership and Accolades. Steven was named Lawyer of the Year for Chicago Labor & Employment Litigation in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Business Today named him as one of the top 10 labor & employment lawyers in Illinois for 2023. He is a fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. Chambers calls Steven an “outstanding” lawyer who is “very sharp, very responsive,” “strong advocate,” “an expert in his field,” and “someone who can navigate the twists of litigation without difficulty.” Steven is great with brief-writing, crafting arguments, and making sure the client is always happy.”
Steven was 1 of 12 individuals selected by Compliance Week as a “Top Mind.” Earlier in his career, he was 1 of 5 U.S. lawyers selected by Law360 as a “Rising Star Under 40” in the area of employment law and 1 of “40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch” selected by Law Bulletin Publishing Company. Steven is a Burton Award Winner (U.S. Library of Congress) for “Distinguished Legal Writing.”
Steven was appointed to Law360’s Employment Editorial Advisory Board and selected as a Contributor to Forbes.com. He has appeared on Yahoo! and Bloomberg News (television, radio and online). Finance and is often quoted by leading publications like The Wall Street Journal. He was appointed as a Special Attorney General for the State of Illinois to handle employment litigation. He has also presented with the DOL Solicitor, the Acting Chair, the EEOC Commissioner, the Legal Counsel of the EEOC and the heads of the SEC, CFTC, and OSHA whistleblower program. He is also a Sedona Conference member, focusing on matters of trade secrets.
