David J.Rowland
Partner
Labor & Employment
drowland@seyfarth.com
Dave litigates labor and employment disputes in federal and state courts and in administrative agencies across the country.
More About Dave
Dave devotes a significant portion of his practice to advising clients on compliance with federal and state employment laws, with a particular focus on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
In his litigation practice, Dave focuses on handling complex discrimination and executive-level employment cases. Many of Dave's cases arise out of employment agreements and he has successfully tried high-stakes cases in arbitrations for Fortune 100 clients. He also has significant experience in handling matters brought directly by the EEOC and in negotiating conciliation agreements with the EEOC.
Dave also serves as a consultant to employers with enhancing their disability diversity inclusion programs and related corporate social responsibility efforts specifically targeted to their culture and goals. In this regard, Dave collaborates with Seyfarth at Work, Seyfarth’s premier training subsidiary, to deliver practical advice and training to help employers both achieve and move beyond compliance with the ADA.
Dave was a founding member of the firm's Lean/Six Sigma Steering Committee and is a certified green belt. He works with clients to ensure that the firm is delivering effective and efficient legal services in a fashion that aligns with clients' goals and adds maximum value. Dave is currently chair of the firm’s partner board and previously served as the office managing partner of the Chicago office.
Dave also serves as a consultant to employers with enhancing their disability diversity inclusion programs and related corporate social responsibility efforts specifically targeted to their culture and goals. In this regard, Dave collaborates with Seyfarth at Work, Seyfarth’s premier training subsidiary, to deliver practical advice and training to help employers both achieve and move beyond compliance with the ADA.
Dave was a founding member of the firm's Lean/Six Sigma Steering Committee and is a certified green belt. He works with clients to ensure that the firm is delivering effective and efficient legal services in a fashion that aligns with clients' goals and adds maximum value. Dave is currently chair of the firm’s partner board and previously served as the office managing partner of the Chicago office.
- JD, University of Michigan Law School
- BA, University of Michigan
Cum laude
- Illinois
- US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- US District Court, District of Colorado
- US District Court, Central District of Illinois
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- US District Court, Southern District of Illinois
- US District Court, Northern District of Indiana
- US District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- US District Court, District of Nebraska
- US District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
- US District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
Related Services
Blogs
EEOC, Class, Collective and MultiPlaintiff Matters
- Defense of multiple Title VII and ADEA class or collective actions against consulting and IT firms.
- Defense of multiple FCRA class actions against leading staffing firm and leading credit reporting agencies, including successfully compelling claims to individual arbitration.
- Defense of FLSA/wage payment actions brought against national retailer and large automotive manufacturer.
- Defense of multiple EEOC pattern or practice discrimination cases brought against leading companies in varied industries, including financial services, higher education, and manufacturing.
- Defense of 81-plaintiff Section 301/duty of fair representation case brought against steel company.
- Defense of 5-plaintiff sex and race harassment action brought in state court against quick-serve franchisee.
- Negotiation of conciliation agreements with EEOC to resolve Title VII or ADA matters on behalf of clients in various industries, including health care, manufacturing, and beverage distribution.
Single Plaintiff Discrimination/Retaliation Matters/Arbitrations
- Defense of major packaging company in FMLA/ADA federal lawsuit.
- Defense of Fortune 50 conglomerate in Equal Pay/Title VII federal lawsuit.
- Defense of leading consulting firm in SOX whistleblower OSHA proceeding and federal lawsuit.
- Defense of leading financial services company in compensation claim in FINRA arbitration.
- Defense of Fortune 10 company in sex harassment claim arbitration under company’s ADR program.
- Defense of airline in ADA failure to accommodate and retaliation federal lawsuit.
- Defense of leading engineering firm in state court conspiracy and whistle blower lawsuit.
Related News & Insights
-
Recognition
08/17/2023
210 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2024
-
Attorney Publication
Nov 28, 2022
David Rowland and Sarah Bauman co-authored an article in Law360, “ADA Ruling Uses Low Bar For Rare Employer Meddling Claim”
-
Blog Post
Oct 21, 2022
Geisinger Prevails 4-2 Against EEOC in Pennsylvania Federal Court, Leaving Anomalous ADA Title V Claim Ripe For Summary Judgment
-
Blog Post
Jul 11, 2019
Close Call: American Airlines Wins ADA Case by One Vote, but the Warning Signals for Employers are Loud and Clear
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2024)
- American Bar Association (Labor & Employment Law and Litigation Sections)
- Chicago Bar Association
- “What’s an “Implied” Request for an ADA Reasonable Accommodation?,” Employment Law Lookout Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (October 31, 2016)
- “Gambling With The EEOC,” Workplace Class Action Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (October 7, 2016)
- “Employers Should Move Beyond Mere ADA Compliance,” Law360 (August 5, 2016)
- “Age Discrimination in Employment Law,” (Lindemann & Kadue, Editors) prepared Chapter 29 on “Expert Witnesses”, for ADEA treatise, BNA (2003)
- “Strategies for Managing Leaves of Absence and Returning Employees to Work,” Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (December 6, 2016)
- “Strategies for Disability Inclusive Workplaces,” Jewish Vocational Service, Strictly Business Series (February 23, 2016)
- “Tools & Techniques for Avoiding and Defending SOX Whistleblower Claims,” Webcast (June 16, 2010)
Dave litigates labor and employment disputes in federal and state courts and in administrative agencies across the country.
More About Dave
Dave devotes a significant portion of his practice to advising clients on compliance with federal and state employment laws, with a particular focus on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
In his litigation practice, Dave focuses on handling complex discrimination and executive-level employment cases. Many of Dave's cases arise out of employment agreements and he has successfully tried high-stakes cases in arbitrations for Fortune 100 clients. He also has significant experience in handling matters brought directly by the EEOC and in negotiating conciliation agreements with the EEOC.
Dave also serves as a consultant to employers with enhancing their disability diversity inclusion programs and related corporate social responsibility efforts specifically targeted to their culture and goals. In this regard, Dave collaborates with Seyfarth at Work, Seyfarth’s premier training subsidiary, to deliver practical advice and training to help employers both achieve and move beyond compliance with the ADA.
Dave was a founding member of the firm's Lean/Six Sigma Steering Committee and is a certified green belt. He works with clients to ensure that the firm is delivering effective and efficient legal services in a fashion that aligns with clients' goals and adds maximum value. Dave is currently chair of the firm’s partner board and previously served as the office managing partner of the Chicago office.
Dave also serves as a consultant to employers with enhancing their disability diversity inclusion programs and related corporate social responsibility efforts specifically targeted to their culture and goals. In this regard, Dave collaborates with Seyfarth at Work, Seyfarth’s premier training subsidiary, to deliver practical advice and training to help employers both achieve and move beyond compliance with the ADA.
Dave was a founding member of the firm's Lean/Six Sigma Steering Committee and is a certified green belt. He works with clients to ensure that the firm is delivering effective and efficient legal services in a fashion that aligns with clients' goals and adds maximum value. Dave is currently chair of the firm’s partner board and previously served as the office managing partner of the Chicago office.
- JD, University of Michigan Law School
- BA, University of Michigan
Cum laude
- Illinois
- US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- US District Court, District of Colorado
- US District Court, Central District of Illinois
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- US District Court, Southern District of Illinois
- US District Court, Northern District of Indiana
- US District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- US District Court, District of Nebraska
- US District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
- US District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
Related Services
Blogs
EEOC, Class, Collective and MultiPlaintiff Matters
- Defense of multiple Title VII and ADEA class or collective actions against consulting and IT firms.
- Defense of multiple FCRA class actions against leading staffing firm and leading credit reporting agencies, including successfully compelling claims to individual arbitration.
- Defense of FLSA/wage payment actions brought against national retailer and large automotive manufacturer.
- Defense of multiple EEOC pattern or practice discrimination cases brought against leading companies in varied industries, including financial services, higher education, and manufacturing.
- Defense of 81-plaintiff Section 301/duty of fair representation case brought against steel company.
- Defense of 5-plaintiff sex and race harassment action brought in state court against quick-serve franchisee.
- Negotiation of conciliation agreements with EEOC to resolve Title VII or ADA matters on behalf of clients in various industries, including health care, manufacturing, and beverage distribution.
Single Plaintiff Discrimination/Retaliation Matters/Arbitrations
- Defense of major packaging company in FMLA/ADA federal lawsuit.
- Defense of Fortune 50 conglomerate in Equal Pay/Title VII federal lawsuit.
- Defense of leading consulting firm in SOX whistleblower OSHA proceeding and federal lawsuit.
- Defense of leading financial services company in compensation claim in FINRA arbitration.
- Defense of Fortune 10 company in sex harassment claim arbitration under company’s ADR program.
- Defense of airline in ADA failure to accommodate and retaliation federal lawsuit.
- Defense of leading engineering firm in state court conspiracy and whistle blower lawsuit.
Related News & Insights
-
Recognition
08/17/2023
210 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2024
-
Attorney Publication
Nov 28, 2022
David Rowland and Sarah Bauman co-authored an article in Law360, “ADA Ruling Uses Low Bar For Rare Employer Meddling Claim”
-
Blog Post
Oct 21, 2022
Geisinger Prevails 4-2 Against EEOC in Pennsylvania Federal Court, Leaving Anomalous ADA Title V Claim Ripe For Summary Judgment
-
Blog Post
Jul 11, 2019
Close Call: American Airlines Wins ADA Case by One Vote, but the Warning Signals for Employers are Loud and Clear
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2024)
- American Bar Association (Labor & Employment Law and Litigation Sections)
- Chicago Bar Association
- “What’s an “Implied” Request for an ADA Reasonable Accommodation?,” Employment Law Lookout Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (October 31, 2016)
- “Gambling With The EEOC,” Workplace Class Action Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (October 7, 2016)
- “Employers Should Move Beyond Mere ADA Compliance,” Law360 (August 5, 2016)
- “Age Discrimination in Employment Law,” (Lindemann & Kadue, Editors) prepared Chapter 29 on “Expert Witnesses”, for ADEA treatise, BNA (2003)
- “Strategies for Managing Leaves of Absence and Returning Employees to Work,” Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (December 6, 2016)
- “Strategies for Disability Inclusive Workplaces,” Jewish Vocational Service, Strictly Business Series (February 23, 2016)
- “Tools & Techniques for Avoiding and Defending SOX Whistleblower Claims,” Webcast (June 16, 2010)