Thomas J.Posey
Partner
Labor & Employment
tposey@seyfarth.com
Tom solves labor relations and employment law challenges for clients ranging from startups and small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.
More About Tom
Tom is a labor negotiator, employment litigator, and management counselor who helps clients achieve their business and operational goals while navigating the myriad federal and state employment laws that impact them. Tom also represents commercial clients in disputes in other areas of law, with an emphasis on federal and state court litigation matters. Tom serves as chief labor negotiator for hospitality, manufacturing, building trade, transportation, entertainment, health care and other industry clients in collective bargaining. He represents and counsels employers on grievance arbitrations, unfair labor practice proceedings, and responses to union organizing campaigns. Tom also assists hospitality and real estate development companies with labor issues related to the construction, purchase, and sale of hotel and restaurant facilities and operations. He regularly advises corporate clients on labor relations issues impacting mergers and acquisitions.
Tom has litigation and trial experience before arbitrators, state and federal judges and juries, and numerous administrative agencies, and has successfully argued cases before the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Tom counsels clients and trains management staff on practical strategies for effective management in unionized environments. He also advises and presents on employment discrimination law, workplace harassment, litigation practice and avoidance, and other human resources and personnel-related topics.
Tom spent six months as the interim chief operating officer and general counsel of a private-sector client during that company's national expansion. Prior to attending law school, Tom spent several years in the child protective services division of a national social service agency.
Tom has litigation and trial experience before arbitrators, state and federal judges and juries, and numerous administrative agencies, and has successfully argued cases before the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Tom counsels clients and trains management staff on practical strategies for effective management in unionized environments. He also advises and presents on employment discrimination law, workplace harassment, litigation practice and avoidance, and other human resources and personnel-related topics.
Tom spent six months as the interim chief operating officer and general counsel of a private-sector client during that company's national expansion. Prior to attending law school, Tom spent several years in the child protective services division of a national social service agency.
- JD, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology
- BS, Illinois State University
- MSW, University of Illinois at Chicago
- California
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- US Court of Appeals, First Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
- US District Court, Central District of Illinois
- US District Court, District of Minnesota
- US District Court, Western District of Missouri
Related Services
Related Key Industries
- Successfully defended agricultural employer against multiple unfair labor practice and wage and hour claims.
- Represented multiple hotel employers in negotiating their successor collective bargaining agreements and obtained very favorable wage, benefit and operational terms.
- Denied plaintiff a jury verdict in his favor in a retaliatory discharge case where plaintiff was seeking several million dollars in damages from an international telecommunications company.
- Obtained summary judgment on LMRA and ERISA claims brought against an international manufacturing company by more than 50 individual plaintiffs; argued successfully before the Seventh Circuit to uphold the lower court's rulings.
- Prevailed in numerous contract interpretation arbitrations on behalf of various Chicago hotels that cumulatively resulted in significant reductions in scheduling limitations and labor expenses for all unionized hotels in the city.
- Defeated motion for class certification and obtained summary judgment in a case where 43 employees alleged various violations of federal labor laws against an international manufacturing company.
- Represented a large group of employers in negotiation of a successor agreement with the Teamsters that included wage freezes and expanded subcontracting rights.
- Advised global hotelier on labor and employment issues related to its entry into the US hotel market.
- Prevailed before the NLRB on a refusal to bargain charge brought against a service union's local that forced the union to negotiate with a hotel over several critical wage and working condition terms.
- Argued successfully before the Seventh Circuit to remand a matter to the US Department of Labor's administrative hearing process for further proceedings to reduce an unreasonable damages award.
- Obtained verdict in favor of a school district against former employee in bench trial over multiple state law claims.
- Obtained summary judgment in multiple harassment, discrimination and retaliation claims brought against a national retailer.
- Aggressively litigated claims of negligence, fraud and statutory violations on behalf of a school district against its former insurance broker and obtained a very favorable settlement payment for the district.
- Successfully defended multiple unfair labor practice charges brought against a news media company.
- Negotiated collective bargaining agreements and defended unfair labor practice charges for health care employers.
- Successfully defended national retailers in grievance arbitrations and against unfair labor practice charges.
Related News & Insights
-
Webinar
Feb 26, 2025
Micro-Webinar Series - Legal Insights for the Transportation and Logistics Industries
-
Media Mentions
07/18/2024
Seyfarth’s USA Chapter in Chambers Healthcare M&A 2024 Guide Featured in ALM’s Benefits Pro
-
Attorney Publication
Jun 18, 2024
Seyfarth Partners with Chambers to Release Healthcare M&A 2024 Guide (USA Chapter)
-
Webinar Recording
Aug 23, 2023
Micro Webinar Series: Hot Topics in Employment Law for Massachusetts Health Care Organizations - Part 4: Labor Relations in Health Care
- Recognized by The Legal 500 for Labor and employment - Labor-management relations (Legalese Ltd.) (2021)
- Listed in Illinois Super Lawyers for Employment & Labor, 2014-2020 (Thomson Reuters)
- Listed in Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for Employment & Labor, 2010-2013 (Thomson Reuters)
- Listed in Illinois Law Bulletin 40 Attorneys Under 40 to Watch, 2011 (Law Bulletin Media)
- Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys
- American Bar Association
- Chicago Bar Association
- Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association
- Co-Presenter, “Micro-Webinar Series - Legal Insights for the Transportation and Logistics Industries,” Webinar, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (December 17, 2024)
- Co-Presenter, “Micro-Webinar Series: Legal Insights for the Transportation and Logistics Industries,” Webinar, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (August 22, 2024)
- Co-Speaker, "Health Care Beat Episode 37: Labor Relations in Health Care – What to Expect at the Bargaining Table and From the NLRB in 2023," Podcast, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (May 16, 2023)
- Speaker, "Where We Came From and Where We're Going: What Does 2023 Have in Store for Labor & Employment Laws?," Seyfarth Shaw LLP (December 6, 2022)
Tom solves labor relations and employment law challenges for clients ranging from startups and small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.
More About Tom
Tom is a labor negotiator, employment litigator, and management counselor who helps clients achieve their business and operational goals while navigating the myriad federal and state employment laws that impact them. Tom also represents commercial clients in disputes in other areas of law, with an emphasis on federal and state court litigation matters. Tom serves as chief labor negotiator for hospitality, manufacturing, building trade, transportation, entertainment, health care and other industry clients in collective bargaining. He represents and counsels employers on grievance arbitrations, unfair labor practice proceedings, and responses to union organizing campaigns. Tom also assists hospitality and real estate development companies with labor issues related to the construction, purchase, and sale of hotel and restaurant facilities and operations. He regularly advises corporate clients on labor relations issues impacting mergers and acquisitions.
Tom has litigation and trial experience before arbitrators, state and federal judges and juries, and numerous administrative agencies, and has successfully argued cases before the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Tom counsels clients and trains management staff on practical strategies for effective management in unionized environments. He also advises and presents on employment discrimination law, workplace harassment, litigation practice and avoidance, and other human resources and personnel-related topics.
Tom spent six months as the interim chief operating officer and general counsel of a private-sector client during that company's national expansion. Prior to attending law school, Tom spent several years in the child protective services division of a national social service agency.
Tom has litigation and trial experience before arbitrators, state and federal judges and juries, and numerous administrative agencies, and has successfully argued cases before the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Tom counsels clients and trains management staff on practical strategies for effective management in unionized environments. He also advises and presents on employment discrimination law, workplace harassment, litigation practice and avoidance, and other human resources and personnel-related topics.
Tom spent six months as the interim chief operating officer and general counsel of a private-sector client during that company's national expansion. Prior to attending law school, Tom spent several years in the child protective services division of a national social service agency.
- JD, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology
- BS, Illinois State University
- MSW, University of Illinois at Chicago
- California
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- US Court of Appeals, First Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
- US District Court, Central District of Illinois
- US District Court, District of Minnesota
- US District Court, Western District of Missouri
Related Services
Related Key Industries
- Successfully defended agricultural employer against multiple unfair labor practice and wage and hour claims.
- Represented multiple hotel employers in negotiating their successor collective bargaining agreements and obtained very favorable wage, benefit and operational terms.
- Denied plaintiff a jury verdict in his favor in a retaliatory discharge case where plaintiff was seeking several million dollars in damages from an international telecommunications company.
- Obtained summary judgment on LMRA and ERISA claims brought against an international manufacturing company by more than 50 individual plaintiffs; argued successfully before the Seventh Circuit to uphold the lower court's rulings.
- Prevailed in numerous contract interpretation arbitrations on behalf of various Chicago hotels that cumulatively resulted in significant reductions in scheduling limitations and labor expenses for all unionized hotels in the city.
- Defeated motion for class certification and obtained summary judgment in a case where 43 employees alleged various violations of federal labor laws against an international manufacturing company.
- Represented a large group of employers in negotiation of a successor agreement with the Teamsters that included wage freezes and expanded subcontracting rights.
- Advised global hotelier on labor and employment issues related to its entry into the US hotel market.
- Prevailed before the NLRB on a refusal to bargain charge brought against a service union's local that forced the union to negotiate with a hotel over several critical wage and working condition terms.
- Argued successfully before the Seventh Circuit to remand a matter to the US Department of Labor's administrative hearing process for further proceedings to reduce an unreasonable damages award.
- Obtained verdict in favor of a school district against former employee in bench trial over multiple state law claims.
- Obtained summary judgment in multiple harassment, discrimination and retaliation claims brought against a national retailer.
- Aggressively litigated claims of negligence, fraud and statutory violations on behalf of a school district against its former insurance broker and obtained a very favorable settlement payment for the district.
- Successfully defended multiple unfair labor practice charges brought against a news media company.
- Negotiated collective bargaining agreements and defended unfair labor practice charges for health care employers.
- Successfully defended national retailers in grievance arbitrations and against unfair labor practice charges.
Related News & Insights
-
Webinar
Feb 26, 2025
Micro-Webinar Series - Legal Insights for the Transportation and Logistics Industries
-
Media Mentions
07/18/2024
Seyfarth’s USA Chapter in Chambers Healthcare M&A 2024 Guide Featured in ALM’s Benefits Pro
-
Attorney Publication
Jun 18, 2024
Seyfarth Partners with Chambers to Release Healthcare M&A 2024 Guide (USA Chapter)
-
Webinar Recording
Aug 23, 2023
Micro Webinar Series: Hot Topics in Employment Law for Massachusetts Health Care Organizations - Part 4: Labor Relations in Health Care
- Recognized by The Legal 500 for Labor and employment - Labor-management relations (Legalese Ltd.) (2021)
- Listed in Illinois Super Lawyers for Employment & Labor, 2014-2020 (Thomson Reuters)
- Listed in Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for Employment & Labor, 2010-2013 (Thomson Reuters)
- Listed in Illinois Law Bulletin 40 Attorneys Under 40 to Watch, 2011 (Law Bulletin Media)
- Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys
- American Bar Association
- Chicago Bar Association
- Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association
- Co-Presenter, “Micro-Webinar Series - Legal Insights for the Transportation and Logistics Industries,” Webinar, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (December 17, 2024)
- Co-Presenter, “Micro-Webinar Series: Legal Insights for the Transportation and Logistics Industries,” Webinar, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (August 22, 2024)
- Co-Speaker, "Health Care Beat Episode 37: Labor Relations in Health Care – What to Expect at the Bargaining Table and From the NLRB in 2023," Podcast, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (May 16, 2023)
- Speaker, "Where We Came From and Where We're Going: What Does 2023 Have in Store for Labor & Employment Laws?," Seyfarth Shaw LLP (December 6, 2022)