Amy M. Gibson

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F: 312.222.6391Download vCard
agibson@agdglaw.com

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Amy M. Gibson

MemberT: 312.755.3154
F: 312.222.6391Download vCard
agibson@agdglaw.com

Amy Gibson is Co-Chair of Aronberg Goldgehn's Commercial Litigation and Employment Practice Groups, co-chair of the firm's DEI Committee, and a member of the firm's Executive Management Committee.

Amy directly manages a successful legal practice and navigates and resolves intricate claims involving contractual disputes between businesses, fraud, theft of trade secrets, discrimination claims, and enforcement of non-competition agreements. She also acts as an integral part of in-house HR teams in helping to manage compliance with ever-changing employment laws, update policies, address charges, conduct internal investigations, train, and handle sensitive terminations.

Amy serves business clients in several industries, including restaurants, non-profit organizations, physicians and medical groups, advertising and marketing agencies, general contractors, manufacturers, distributors, real estate developers, retailers, and closely held businesses. She prioritizes and delivers high-touch service leading to strong, genuine, and lasting relationships.

In her role as Co-Chair of the DEI committee, Amy has helped to identify and lead initiatives that drive greater inclusion and representation. She led a subcommittee in achieving the prestigious Midsize Mansfield Certification for firms committed to diversity in leadership.

Amy has received various accolades, including being recognized on the “Best Lawyers in America” list, named to the "Forty Under 40" list of Illinois Attorneys to Watch, and was selected as an “Emerging Lawyer in Commercial Litigation” and as a “Rising Star in Business Litigation” for multiple years.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

Defended several organizations against discrimination and harassment claims before the EEOC, state departments of human rights, state and federal courts, appellate courts, and through arbitration.
Protected organizations’ assets and trade secrets through litigation against former employees for breach of fiduciary duty and breach of non-competition and non-solicitation agreements.
Managed complex commercial litigation, involving business-to-business contract disputes, claims for fraud, consumer fraud, shareholder disputes, and claims for tortious interference with contract.
Helped organizations maintain compliance with ever-changing employment laws by reviewing and revising employee handbooks and policies.
Guided confectionery company with nationwide sales through organization-wide I-9 audit and assisted in assessing next steps and reducing possible exposure.
Negotiated employment contracts on behalf of employers, including employment agreements for Mid to C-suite level leaders, as well as confidentiality, intellectual property, and separation agreements.
Conducted sensitive employee investigations involving sexual harassment, violation of policies, and discrimination.
Regularly strategized with C-suite and HR stakeholders to determine how to minimize risks in employment policies and procedures and achieve best practices.
Developed and conducted custom training for multiple large clients on compliance with the ADA, based on each company’s experiences and needs.
Represented a manufacturer of cash/coin recyclers in negotiations with Costco for a multi-year contract to place the recyclers in Costco stores nationwide.
Obtained $1 million in punitive damages on summary judgment in a multi-year dispute between family members and a family-owned business, after discovering the opposing party absconded with more than $2 million in funds.
Guided a client as to revising form terms and conditions to be favorable to the client in future transactions.
Created a process for a national hardware retailer to manage and respond to subpoenas seeking employee records.

SPEECHES AND PUBLICATIONS

An experienced speaker and author on employment law topics, Amy is the editor of, and regular contributor to, Aronberg Goldgehn's Employment Law newsletter, Employment Law Trending Now, including:

Employment Law Trending Now – Deadline for In-Person Verification of Employment Eligibility Documentation is August 30, 2023, July 10, 2023.
Deadlines Approaching for Employer Actions, June 20, 2023.
New Illinois Employment Laws to Keep on Your Radar for 2022 and Beyond, Nov. 2 2022.
Employment Law Alert - Supreme Court Pulls the Plug on President Biden's Vaccination or Testing Mandate, Jan. 14, 2022.
Employment Law Alert – Will President Biden's COVID-19 Vaccination Policy Survive?, Nov. 11, 2021.
Employment Law Trending Now – The American Rescue Plan Act Affords Key Benefits to Employees and Extends Tax Credits and Other Benefits to Employers, April 12, 2021.
"The Deadline for Illinois Employers to Provide Mandatory Sexual Harassment Training is Quickly Approaching," Nov. 19, 2020.

"The DOL Issues a New Temporary Rule, Effective Immediately, Narrowing Provisions of the FFCRA and Providing Guidance on Others," Sept.15, 2020.
"Should Employees Be Required to Obtain a Negative COVID-19 Test Before Returning to Work?" July 23, 2020.
"Five Key Steps to Bringing Employees Back to the Workplace in Light of COVID-19," April 27, 2020.
"Another Day of Shelter-in-Place, Another Day Filled With More DOL Guidance on the FFCRA," April 7, 2020.
"IRS Releases Information About a New Employee Retention Credit and Further Guidance to Substantiate the FFCRA Tax Credit," April 1, 2020.
"New DOL Guidance on the Families First Coronavirus Act," March 30, 2020.
"March 26, 2020, DOL Guidance on the Sick and FMLA Leave Benefits Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act," March 27, 2020.
"Employer Cheat Sheet for the Leave Requirements Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act," March 20, 2020.
"‘Treating' the Coronavirus Outbreak in the Workplace," March 12, 2020.
"New Illinois Employment Laws Effective Now and in 2020," Dec. 23, 2019.
"A New Challenge to Illinois Employers in 2020: The Cannabis Law," Nov. 20, 2019.
"To Reclassify or Not to Reclassify: That Is the Question Facing Many Employers Adjusting to the 2020 Overtime Rule Under the FLSA," Nov. 5, 2019.
"Illinois Becomes the Latest State to Ban Questions on Salary History," Aug. 20, 2019.
"New Illinois Sexual Harassment Law Enacted; Most Provisions Slated to Take Effect in January 2020," Aug. 13, 2019.
"The Legalization of Recreational Marijuana in Illinois: Key Issues for Employers to Consider," June 28, 2019.
"New Illinois Sexual Harassment Laws Mandate Annual Training, Disclosure of Settlements, and Impose Restrictions on Confidentiality Agreements," June 25, 2019.
"The DOL Takes a Stab at Resuscitating the Obama Era's Failed Overtime Rules," April 4, 2019.
"With Valentine's Day On the Horizon, Employers Should Consider and Address the Risks of Workplace Romances," Feb. 12, 2019.
"Job Applicants Are Afforded Limited Protection By the Age Discrimination in Employment Act," Jan. 29, 2019.
"New Illinois Employment Laws Effective January 2019," Dec. 18, 2018.
"Five Ways to Limit Employer Liability at Holiday Parties," Dec. 3, 2018.
"Illinois Employers Must Now Pay for Breaks of Nursing Mothers," Oct. 25, 2018.
"New Requirements Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act for Employers Conducting Background Checks," Oct. 2, 2018.
"Placing a Cap on the Number of Years of Experience in a Job Posting Could Be Deemed Age Discrimination," May 15, 2018.
"What Is the Future of the Obama Administration’s Overtime Rule?," Sept. 28, 2017.
"Is Your Former Employee Violating a Non-Solicitation Agreement Through Social Media Activity?," Aug. 3, 2017.

Amy is co-author of "Personal Liability in Closely Held Entities," Chapter 2 in "Disputes Involving Closely Held Companies 2023 Edition," published by the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Aug. 2023, an update to the chapter she first co-authored and published for IICLE in Feb. 2020.

She has presented:

"Insights on Embracing DEI," DCBA Diversity Symposium, May 16, 2023.
"Best Practices for Employment Interviews," March 23, 2023.
"ADA Training for Supervisors and Managers," June 15, 2022.
"Professional Development Best Practices and Strategies," Chicago Bar Association panel, March 2, 2022.
"Covid-19 Vaccination Policies," EmPower HR webinar, March 11, 2021.
"A Recap of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and CARES Act," a webinar for the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, April 2, 2020.
“The ADA at 30: A Look Back and a Look Forward at Current Trends Relating to Reasonable Accommodations and Other Issues Raised in Employment Claims,” at the CBA's “A New Year, A Fresh Perspective on Issues Under the Americans with Disabilities Act,” seminar, Jan. 9, 2020.

"The American With Disabilities Act," a private client seminar, Oct. 3, 2019.
"2018 Employment Law Hotspots - ADA Website Accessibility, Marijuana in the Workplace and Ban the Box Laws," a private client seminar, April 17, 2018.
“Employment Law: Highlights From 2017 and Beyond” to The Decalogue Society of Lawyers, September 27, 2017.
"Arbitration v. Litigation: A True Hobson's Choice," to the Association of Corporate Counsel, 2012.

In 2017, Amy presented on and wrote about the new-at-the-time Cook County Earned Sick Leave Ordinance and Chicago Paid Sick Leave Ordinance, and completed a thorough guide to both. Specifically, these were:

Author, "Chicago Paid Sick Leave: Are You Feeling the Pain," in The Administrators Advantage published by the Greater Chicago Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators, November/December 2017 edition.
Speaker, "The Cure to All of Your Paid Sick Leave Ordinance Aches and Pains," at a Chicago Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators seminar, August 1, 2017.
Author, "Is Your Business Prepared to Comply with the Cook County and City of Chicago Paid Sick Leave Ordinances That Become Effective July 1, 2017?", June 8, 2017.

In addition, Amy has been invited on several occasions to be a guest lecturer at Chicago-Kent College of law to discuss the topics of attorney billing and discovery in the Illinois court system.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Amy joined Aronberg Goldgehn as a law clerk in 2006 and, upon graduation from law school, as an associate in 2007. She became a Member/Partner in the firm in January 2015. Amy has served the firm as a member of the Executive Management Committee since 2022. In this role, she focuses on specific management tasks including firm policy-making, strategic planning, and culture and relationship building.

Amy was named to The National Law Journal’s 2022 Employment Law Trailblazers list for her commitment to advancing in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within the firm and the employment law industry.

In 2021, Amy was recognized as a "Forty Under 40" Illinois Attorneys to Watch by Chicago Lawyer Media, the publisher of Chicago Lawyer and Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.

In July 2017 she was listed in Crain's Custom Media's inaugural edition of "The Most Influential Women Lawyers in Chicago."

Since 2015, Amy has been recognized annually as a Leading Lawyer or Emerging Lawyer in Commercial Litigation and Employment Law by Illinois Leading Lawyers, and since 2010 has been recognized by Illinois Super Lawyers on its Super Lawyers or Rising Stars lists in Business Litigation. Since 2023, she has been named to The Best Lawyers in America list by Best Lawyers for her advancements in Employment Law - Management.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Chicago-Kent College of Law (Student Mentor)
National Employment Law Institute (Certified for ADA Professional Training)

LEADERSHIP ROLES

Executive Management Committee Member, Aronberg Goldgehn (2022-present)
Co-Chair, Commercial Litigation Practice Group at Aronberg Goldgehn
Co-Chair, DEI Committee at Aronberg Goldgehn
Chicago Bar Association's Labor & Employment Law Committee, former Co-Chair (2019-2020)
Chicago Bar Association's Alliance for Women Committee, Co-Chair (2020-2021); Co-Vice Chair (2019-2020); Executive Committee Member (2018-2019)

RELATED NEWS

IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D., 2007

DePaul University, B.S., Finance, with honors, 2004

BAR AND COURT ADMISSIONS

Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, including Trial Bar
U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

MEMBERSHIPS

Chicago Bar Association, Alliance for Women Committee, Co-Chair (2020-2021), former Co-Vice Chair (2019-2020), former Executive Committee Member (2018-2019); Labor & Employment Law Committee, former Co-Chair (2019-2020)
Illinois State Bar Association
American Bar Association

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Forty Under 40 Illinois Attorneys to Watch, Chicago Lawyer Media (2021)
Crain's Chicago Business's Most Influential Women Lawyers in Chicago (2017)
Emerging/Leading Lawyer in Commercial Litigation by Illinois Leading Lawyers (2015 - Present)
Rising Star/Super Lawyer in Business Litigation by Illinois Super Lawyers (2010 - Present)
CALI Award for Trial Advocacy (2007)
CALI Award for Legal Writing (2006)
Employment Law Trailblazers, National Law Journal (2022)

PERSONAL

Amy is well traveled, having been to Greece, Israel, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Australia, Croatia and the Czech Republic, among other places. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family (including her husband and young daughter), working out, snow skiing, ice skating, and hiking. She is also a self-described ‘foodie’ and enjoys trying new restaurants, cooking and baking.

What is your favorite thing about working at Aronberg Goldgehn? I love the team atmosphere and always having someone to bounce an idea off of.
What is one item on your bucket list? Traveling to Bora Bora because it looks incredibly serene and beautiful.
What would you be doing if you weren’t a lawyer? I would be a professional event planner because I love to plan and host parties.
What is your favorite place in Chicago? The Lakefront.
What is the best vacation you’ve ever been on? The Greek islands.
What is your favorite restaurant? There are too many to choose from, but my latest obsession is GT Fish & Oyster.
What is something most people don’t know about you? I competitively figure skated for 15 years.