Richard B.Lapp

Rich frequently serves as outside counsel and independent counsel to boards of directors and executive teams, leading internal investigations into highly sensitive issues. These investigations often extend across multiple jurisdictions and have sometimes involved matters of considerable public interest. Rich also handles external investigations by government regulatory bodies. Rich’s recent investigatory engagements include a cultural assessment of a supplier’s workforce, work practices, and work environment; multiple investigations for global sports organizations regarding allegations of policy and/or legal and regulatory matters; as well as assisting global organizations with their design and ongoing handling of workplace investigations. For example, Rich has conducted investigations involving allegations of harassment, discrimination, financial impropriety, safety violations, C-Suite misconduct, inappropriate behavior, whistleblower claims, retaliation, data security, corporate compliance, and disability accommodations.

A cum laude graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Law, Rich previously resided in Indiana throughout his clerkship for the Honorable Daniel A. Manion on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Rich is a contributing member of several Seyfarth specialty groups, including its Appellate team, Whistleblower team, Employment Whistleblower team, Fraud & Abuse, False Claims and Internal Investigations team, and Corporate Internal Investigations team. Rich is a member of the US Chamber of Commerce EEO Subcommittee.

In what has been described as the largest jury verdict in a non-class action case in US history, Rich was part of a trial team in HP v. Oracle, litigating on behalf of HP regarding multiple contract and other California advertising and unfair business competition claims against Oracle. The jury ultimately awarded a full victory in favor of HP. In July 2021, an appellate court affirmed HP’s $4.5 billion judgment that was ultimately paid in October 2022. Rich, along with the entire HP trial team, was awarded the first ever “Innovation in Collaboration” honor by the Financial Times.

Rich is a co-leader of Seyfarth’s workplace policy advice partnership with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). He frequently files amicus briefs on behalf of SHRM in significant employment cases before federal courts, including the US Supreme Court. Rich authored amicus briefs on behalf of SHRM in the Muldrow v. St. Louis US Supreme Court case (22-193), Yovino v. Rizo US Supreme Court case (19-1176), and the Coalition for Workforce Innovation et al. v. DOL US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas case (21-CV-00130).

Former EEOC Chairperson Jenny Yang, as part of her work at the Urban Institute, curated a group of experts to present “Promising Practices for Addressing Harassment in the STEM Workplace.” Rich participated in roundtable discussions at the convening and a research report was published by the Urban Institute to share the five key takeaways to help organizations create a culture where harassment is not tolerated.

In 2015 he was recognized by Best Lawyers (Woodward/White Inc.) as a best lawyer in Chicago for labor & employment litigation, and The Legal 500 (Legalese Ltd.) called him "truly outstanding." He has been recognized in the area of Labor & Employment Litigation by The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) recognized Rich in the area of Labor & Employment Litigation (2015-2022), and he was selected for mention in the International Who's Who of Business Lawyers (Law Business Research Ltd.). Rich speaks and publishes on a variety of issues facing employers, and he has authored law review articles on significant labor issues in scholarly journals including The University of Wisconsin Law Review and The University of Pennsylvania Journal of Labor Law.