Marc R.Jacobs
Senior Counsel
Labor & Employment
mjacobs@seyfarth.com
More About Marc
Since 1985, Marc has represented employers throughout the United States regarding the full range of labor and employment related issues. His legal practice is premised on the ideas that an organization’s employees are its most important asset. He believes that good employee relations is good for business and good for the “bottom line.”
Marc regularly helps employers insulate themselves against liability and claims by counseling them through employment-related problems and situations; analyzing employers' practices and procedures; negotiating and preparing employment, restrictive covenant, confidential information and severance agreements; writing employment policies and manuals; and conducting interactive supervisor training programs for clients. Marc represents client in numerous industries, including healthcare, aviation, hospitality, parking services, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, education, specialty chemicals, and professional services.
Marc has successfully represented employers in employment and labor disputes before state and federal courts (at both the trial and appellate levels), arbitrators, mediators, the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the US Department of Labor, and similar agencies throughout the United States.
Marc has successfully tried cases before juries, judges, administrative law judges and arbitrators and obtained multiple summary judgment decisions in discrimination and employment-related matters. He is also a skilled negotiator who has resolved numerous disputes at the table in collective bargaining and through one-on-one negotiations and alternative dispute resolution.
Marc is rated “AV” (the highest rating possible) by the Martindale-Hubbell Lexis/Nexis peer review system; is listed in Illinois Super Lawyers for Employment & Labor (Thomson Reuters) (2005-2006, 2008-2017, 2020); and is listed in the Expert Guide to the World’s Leading Labour and Employment Lawyers (Legal Media Group). He is a sought after speaker and has spoken for organizations including the American Bar Association, National Academy of Arbitrators, National Public Employers Labor Relations Association, Human Resources Management Association of Chicago, and Chicago-Kent College of Law Institute for Law and the Workplace. Marc is the author of several articles on legal topics and was a Chapter Editor of the 2011 Supplement to the ABA/BNA treatise, How To Take A Case Before The NLRB. He also serves as co-chair of Seyfarth's audit response committee of the Firm’s Chicago Pro Bono Committee.
Marc regularly helps employers insulate themselves against liability and claims by counseling them through employment-related problems and situations; analyzing employers' practices and procedures; negotiating and preparing employment, restrictive covenant, confidential information and severance agreements; writing employment policies and manuals; and conducting interactive supervisor training programs for clients. Marc represents client in numerous industries, including healthcare, aviation, hospitality, parking services, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, education, specialty chemicals, and professional services.
Marc has successfully represented employers in employment and labor disputes before state and federal courts (at both the trial and appellate levels), arbitrators, mediators, the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the US Department of Labor, and similar agencies throughout the United States.
Marc has successfully tried cases before juries, judges, administrative law judges and arbitrators and obtained multiple summary judgment decisions in discrimination and employment-related matters. He is also a skilled negotiator who has resolved numerous disputes at the table in collective bargaining and through one-on-one negotiations and alternative dispute resolution.
Marc is rated “AV” (the highest rating possible) by the Martindale-Hubbell Lexis/Nexis peer review system; is listed in Illinois Super Lawyers for Employment & Labor (Thomson Reuters) (2005-2006, 2008-2017, 2020); and is listed in the Expert Guide to the World’s Leading Labour and Employment Lawyers (Legal Media Group). He is a sought after speaker and has spoken for organizations including the American Bar Association, National Academy of Arbitrators, National Public Employers Labor Relations Association, Human Resources Management Association of Chicago, and Chicago-Kent College of Law Institute for Law and the Workplace. Marc is the author of several articles on legal topics and was a Chapter Editor of the 2011 Supplement to the ABA/BNA treatise, How To Take A Case Before The NLRB. He also serves as co-chair of Seyfarth's audit response committee of the Firm’s Chicago Pro Bono Committee.
- JD, Boston University School of Law
Cum laude
- BA, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Other Education
- Reed College, Portland OR
Certifications
- Certified Health Care Institute (HCI) professional, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (2022)
- Illinois
- US Supreme Court
- US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- US District Court, Northern District of Florida
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
- 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, Western District of Michigan
- US District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
- US District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
Related Key Industries
- Won a jury trial on behalf of a client in case where an in-house accountant alleged national origin discrimination and various SOX-related claims.
- Successfully defended a client in a whistleblower case alleging that the client terminated an employee because he filed complaints with the Federal Aviation Administration.
- Obtained multiple state court injunctions to stop picket line violence and misconduct.
- Negotiated a mid-term modification of a collective bargaining agreement relating to a multiemployer pension plan, which paved the way for the sale of the client’s business.
- Defeated a union’s challenge to outsourcing and privatizing certain operations by a Chicago suburb.
Related News & Insights
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Firm News
08/15/2024
220 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2025
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Recognition
08/17/2023
210 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2024
-
Firm News
Jan 5, 2022
Seyfarth Completes Inaugural Health Care Institute
-
Attorney Publication
Nov 6, 2020
Seyfarth lawyers update Illinois Corporate Practice and Forms: The Seyfarth Shaw Manual
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Labor Law - Management (2024-2025)
- American Bar Association
- Co-Author, "What President Trump’s Executive Order Means for Unemployment Compensation Benefits," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (August 11, 2020)
- Co-Author, "President Trump Signs Four Executive Orders Providing or Extending Coronavirus Relief," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (August 10, 2020)
- Co-Author, "Illinois Amends Recreational Cannabis Law To Protect Drug Testing By Employers," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (December 18, 2019)
- Contributor, Illinois Corporate Practice and Forms: The Seyfarth Shaw Manual (2017–2023)
- "Executive Order Increases Minimum Wage For Illinois Government Contractors," One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (January 13, 2015)
- "Illinois Becomes First State To Adopt Mandatory Retirement Savings Law," One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (January 6, 2015)
- JCFS Chicago (Business Advisory Committee, 2013 - present [chair, 2016-2018]; board of directors, 2016-2018)
- Jewish Vocational Service of Chicago (vice president 2011-2013; board of directors 2001-2013)
- Temple Sholom of Chicago (president, 2009-2011; board of directors, 2004-2011)
More About Marc
Since 1985, Marc has represented employers throughout the United States regarding the full range of labor and employment related issues. His legal practice is premised on the ideas that an organization’s employees are its most important asset. He believes that good employee relations is good for business and good for the “bottom line.”
Marc regularly helps employers insulate themselves against liability and claims by counseling them through employment-related problems and situations; analyzing employers' practices and procedures; negotiating and preparing employment, restrictive covenant, confidential information and severance agreements; writing employment policies and manuals; and conducting interactive supervisor training programs for clients. Marc represents client in numerous industries, including healthcare, aviation, hospitality, parking services, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, education, specialty chemicals, and professional services.
Marc has successfully represented employers in employment and labor disputes before state and federal courts (at both the trial and appellate levels), arbitrators, mediators, the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the US Department of Labor, and similar agencies throughout the United States.
Marc has successfully tried cases before juries, judges, administrative law judges and arbitrators and obtained multiple summary judgment decisions in discrimination and employment-related matters. He is also a skilled negotiator who has resolved numerous disputes at the table in collective bargaining and through one-on-one negotiations and alternative dispute resolution.
Marc is rated “AV” (the highest rating possible) by the Martindale-Hubbell Lexis/Nexis peer review system; is listed in Illinois Super Lawyers for Employment & Labor (Thomson Reuters) (2005-2006, 2008-2017, 2020); and is listed in the Expert Guide to the World’s Leading Labour and Employment Lawyers (Legal Media Group). He is a sought after speaker and has spoken for organizations including the American Bar Association, National Academy of Arbitrators, National Public Employers Labor Relations Association, Human Resources Management Association of Chicago, and Chicago-Kent College of Law Institute for Law and the Workplace. Marc is the author of several articles on legal topics and was a Chapter Editor of the 2011 Supplement to the ABA/BNA treatise, How To Take A Case Before The NLRB. He also serves as co-chair of Seyfarth's audit response committee of the Firm’s Chicago Pro Bono Committee.
Marc regularly helps employers insulate themselves against liability and claims by counseling them through employment-related problems and situations; analyzing employers' practices and procedures; negotiating and preparing employment, restrictive covenant, confidential information and severance agreements; writing employment policies and manuals; and conducting interactive supervisor training programs for clients. Marc represents client in numerous industries, including healthcare, aviation, hospitality, parking services, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, education, specialty chemicals, and professional services.
Marc has successfully represented employers in employment and labor disputes before state and federal courts (at both the trial and appellate levels), arbitrators, mediators, the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the US Department of Labor, and similar agencies throughout the United States.
Marc has successfully tried cases before juries, judges, administrative law judges and arbitrators and obtained multiple summary judgment decisions in discrimination and employment-related matters. He is also a skilled negotiator who has resolved numerous disputes at the table in collective bargaining and through one-on-one negotiations and alternative dispute resolution.
Marc is rated “AV” (the highest rating possible) by the Martindale-Hubbell Lexis/Nexis peer review system; is listed in Illinois Super Lawyers for Employment & Labor (Thomson Reuters) (2005-2006, 2008-2017, 2020); and is listed in the Expert Guide to the World’s Leading Labour and Employment Lawyers (Legal Media Group). He is a sought after speaker and has spoken for organizations including the American Bar Association, National Academy of Arbitrators, National Public Employers Labor Relations Association, Human Resources Management Association of Chicago, and Chicago-Kent College of Law Institute for Law and the Workplace. Marc is the author of several articles on legal topics and was a Chapter Editor of the 2011 Supplement to the ABA/BNA treatise, How To Take A Case Before The NLRB. He also serves as co-chair of Seyfarth's audit response committee of the Firm’s Chicago Pro Bono Committee.
- JD, Boston University School of Law
Cum laude
- BA, University of Wisconsin - Madison
Other Education
- Reed College, Portland OR
Certifications
- Certified Health Care Institute (HCI) professional, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (2022)
- Illinois
- US Supreme Court
- US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- US District Court, Northern District of Florida
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
- 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, Western District of Michigan
- US District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
- US District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
Related Key Industries
- Won a jury trial on behalf of a client in case where an in-house accountant alleged national origin discrimination and various SOX-related claims.
- Successfully defended a client in a whistleblower case alleging that the client terminated an employee because he filed complaints with the Federal Aviation Administration.
- Obtained multiple state court injunctions to stop picket line violence and misconduct.
- Negotiated a mid-term modification of a collective bargaining agreement relating to a multiemployer pension plan, which paved the way for the sale of the client’s business.
- Defeated a union’s challenge to outsourcing and privatizing certain operations by a Chicago suburb.
Related News & Insights
-
Firm News
08/15/2024
220 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2025
-
Recognition
08/17/2023
210 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2024
-
Firm News
Jan 5, 2022
Seyfarth Completes Inaugural Health Care Institute
-
Attorney Publication
Nov 6, 2020
Seyfarth lawyers update Illinois Corporate Practice and Forms: The Seyfarth Shaw Manual
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Labor Law - Management (2024-2025)
- American Bar Association
- Co-Author, "What President Trump’s Executive Order Means for Unemployment Compensation Benefits," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (August 11, 2020)
- Co-Author, "President Trump Signs Four Executive Orders Providing or Extending Coronavirus Relief," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (August 10, 2020)
- Co-Author, "Illinois Amends Recreational Cannabis Law To Protect Drug Testing By Employers," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (December 18, 2019)
- Contributor, Illinois Corporate Practice and Forms: The Seyfarth Shaw Manual (2017–2023)
- "Executive Order Increases Minimum Wage For Illinois Government Contractors," One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (January 13, 2015)
- "Illinois Becomes First State To Adopt Mandatory Retirement Savings Law," One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (January 6, 2015)
- JCFS Chicago (Business Advisory Committee, 2013 - present [chair, 2016-2018]; board of directors, 2016-2018)
- Jewish Vocational Service of Chicago (vice president 2011-2013; board of directors 2001-2013)
- Temple Sholom of Chicago (president, 2009-2011; board of directors, 2004-2011)