Sam M.Schwartz-Fenwick

he/him/his

Partner

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Sam represents employers in complex ERISA and traditional labor matters. He is passionate about helping clients build strong workplace cultures that uphold high performance standards, identify and mitigate legal risk, and put in place practices to enhance inclusion and create welcoming spaces for all employees.


More About Sam

Sam is a counselor, a negotiator, and a litigator. He views his role as helping employers to find ways to get to yes by developing creative solutions to mitigate risk while still achieving business goals. 

He co-leads Seyfarth’s cultural flashpoints taskforce. In this role, he counsels clients on how to navigate high-risk situations in a way that is true to their unique corporate cultures while being cognizant of the complex web of state and federal laws that may apply. Sam also counsels employers on how they can better leverage their employee benefit offerings to recruit and retain top talent. He also provides day-to-day counseling and advice to clients about the various laws affecting the employment relationship, especially as it relates to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Sam brings this same practical work ethic and creative energy to his litigation work. Sam is an experienced and effective ERISA litigator. He handles both large portfolios of single-plaintiff benefits-related litigation as well as defending clients in significant and cutting-edge class actions. He has litigated at district and circuit courts throughout the United States.  

In addition to his ERISA litigation practice, Sam devotes significant time to working with clients in all facets of their collective bargaining relationships. He is skilled at labor negotiations and adept at representing clients in both arbitration and NLRB-related litigation.

Sam speaks nationwide and publishes regularly on a variety of employment law and litigation topics, and issues regarding diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. He has serves as a Senior Editor to Employee Benefits Law (ABA).

Sam leads the firm’s LGBT Affinity Group. He is the incoming president of his synagogue Anshe Emet.

  • JD, Northwestern University School of Law

    Cum laude

  • BA, Tufts University

    Summa cum laude
    Phi Beta Kappa

  • Illinois