William P.Schurgin
Partner
Labor & Employment
wschurgin@seyfarth.com
Bill provides creative solutions to the legal challenges that both union-represented and non-union employers face in an increasingly competitive landscape.
More About Bill
Employers face a myriad of labor relations matters today, whether their employees are union-represented or not. Labor law due diligence in the M&A process also raises complex and evolving challenges that, if ignored, can result in significant potential legal, financial, and operational liabilities. Clients look to Bill for practical, strategic advice and counsel that meets their business interests in a lawfully compliant manner.
Bill has represented employers in collective bargaining labor disputes, corporate campaigns, union representational matters, NLRB proceedings, and transactional due diligence for more than three decades. His experience allows him to provide both legal and practical advice to employers. Bill works to find legally compliant solutions that meet the client's operational needs. He has acted as chief outside corporate campaign counsel for clients involved in campaigns with the Teamsters, UNITE HERE, and the Service Employees International Union.
Throughout his career, Bill has handled more than 100 collective bargaining agreements with numerous different unions in a wide variety of industries, including health care, transportation, construction, and manufacturing. His approach to bargaining is to work on the employers' behalf to reach agreement with the union, working to achieve the employers' business objectives while preserving and respecting its ongoing relationships with its unions. Bill has represented dozens of employers in union representational campaigns and proceedings before the NLRB.
Bill has represented a broad range of employers in labor relations matters, providing him with a deep understanding of the real-world challenges that employers face every day, and enabling him to offer legally sound solutions that meet the operational needs of his clients. He counsels clients on how to avoid litigation, and provides strategic advice on how to adopt best practices in a changing and challenging marketplace.
Bill began his career at Seyfarth working for Lee Shaw and other senior partners, who shared a view of the firm as a place where people work collaboratively to bring the highest level of legal representation to their clients. This is based on a core principle that the firm is stronger through teamwork. To quote Bill: "I am proud to say that this familial and collaborative environment still exists today. It is why our senior attorneys work so hard to pass on their skills and knowledge to the current and future generations of Seyfarth attorneys."
Bill has represented employers in collective bargaining labor disputes, corporate campaigns, union representational matters, NLRB proceedings, and transactional due diligence for more than three decades. His experience allows him to provide both legal and practical advice to employers. Bill works to find legally compliant solutions that meet the client's operational needs. He has acted as chief outside corporate campaign counsel for clients involved in campaigns with the Teamsters, UNITE HERE, and the Service Employees International Union.
Throughout his career, Bill has handled more than 100 collective bargaining agreements with numerous different unions in a wide variety of industries, including health care, transportation, construction, and manufacturing. His approach to bargaining is to work on the employers' behalf to reach agreement with the union, working to achieve the employers' business objectives while preserving and respecting its ongoing relationships with its unions. Bill has represented dozens of employers in union representational campaigns and proceedings before the NLRB.
Bill has represented a broad range of employers in labor relations matters, providing him with a deep understanding of the real-world challenges that employers face every day, and enabling him to offer legally sound solutions that meet the operational needs of his clients. He counsels clients on how to avoid litigation, and provides strategic advice on how to adopt best practices in a changing and challenging marketplace.
Bill began his career at Seyfarth working for Lee Shaw and other senior partners, who shared a view of the firm as a place where people work collaboratively to bring the highest level of legal representation to their clients. This is based on a core principle that the firm is stronger through teamwork. To quote Bill: "I am proud to say that this familial and collaborative environment still exists today. It is why our senior attorneys work so hard to pass on their skills and knowledge to the current and future generations of Seyfarth attorneys."
- JD, Boston University School of Law
Cum laude
- AB, University of Michigan
With high distinction
- Illinois
Related Services
Related Key Industries
Blogs
Representative Labor Cases
- As Transportation Industry chief outside labor counsel, represented a number of large transportation, construction and distribution companies in labor disputes, representation hearings, and unfair labor practices claims involving the Teamsters.
- Acted as chief outside labor counsel for the largest uniform company in the US in more than 200 NLRB unfair labor practice charges filed during the course of an ongoing union corporate campaign filed by UNITE HERE and the Teamsters.
- Represented an Illinois-based health system in an eight-day representation hearing before the NLRB resulting in the Teamsters withdrawing their election petition for a unit of more than 2,000 employees.
- Represented hospital system in 600 employee SEIU bargaining unit decertification election proceedings before NLRB.
- Represented pediatric hospital and research institute in NLRB representation hearings involving nurses and skilled maintenance employees.
- Represented a leading health care provider in Chicago's North and Northwest suburbs in medical resident organizing representation hearing.
- Represented a hospital and health system service Chicago's south suburbs in NLRB proceedings involving nonprofessionals, nurses, and technical employees.
- Represented a manufacturer of transportation equipment in unfair labor case brought by the UAW over refusal of purchaser to recognize union based on good faith doubt of continued majority status.
Representative Involvement in Collective Bargaining
- Negotiated successive SEIU and NNU/NNOC contracts for several large Midwest academic medical centers.
- Negotiated RN labor agreements with NNU/NNOC, SEIU, Operating Engineers and International Brotherhood of Teamsters for multiple hospitals.
- Negotiated area-wide labor contracts with five Teamster Locals for a multi-employer construction bargaining association. Represented association employers in multiple county strikes involving multiple sites and ambulatory picketing.
- Represented buyers and sellers in numerous stock and asset acquisitions involving union represented employers in a wide variety of industries including transportation, health care, construction, media, and manufacturing.
- Represented a network of read-mix concrete plants in approximately 30 Teamster, Operating Engineers, Laborers and IAM contract negotiations in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana (covering local drivers, over-the-road drivers, mechanics, equipment operators, and quarry operators) and outside counsel for three area-wide strikes in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Indianapolis, involving ambulatory picketing at multiple sites.
- Negotiated nationwide Employee Free Choice (Card-Check Neutrality) and Labor Peace Agreement with UNITE HERE covering more than 35 plants of a provider of health care linen services.
- Represented a provider of brick and masonry products in obtaining favorable labor agreements involving unification of multiple labor agreements obtained through various acquisitions over three contract terms.
Representative Wage-and-Hour Litigation
- Represented an academic medical center in Chicago in wage-and-hour class action.
- Represented nursing home system in wage-and-hour collective action.
- Participated in defense of FLSA collective action concerning overtime entitlements to temporary medical workers for an integrated health care system in New York City.
Representative Employment Litigation
- Participated in the successful defense of ADA disability discrimination claim for a hospital and health system serving Chicago's south suburbs. Also provided successful representation in third-party advocate access to premises cases.
- Negotiated nationwide settlement agreement with US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division regarding compliance with Title III of the ADA for an intercity bus common carrier. Also provided successful defense of EEOC carpal tunnel ADA discrimination case brought by EEOC.
- Successfully defeated request for certiorari before US Supreme Court in Title VII national origin discrimination claim for a pediatric hospital and research institute.
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08/15/2024
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210 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2024
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Aug 18, 2022
Seyfarth Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America 2023
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Podcast
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- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Health Care Law (2013-2025) and Labor Law - Management (2016-2025)
- Recognized as a Seyfarth Shaw LLP "Pro Bono All-Star"
-
American Health Lawyers Association (Past Chairman of Labor, OSHA and Human Resources Section)
- Illinois Health Lawyers Association, past president (2012)
- College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
- American Bar Association
- US Chamber of Commerce, NLRA subcommittee
- Chicago Bar Association, YLS Health Law Committee past chairman
- The Association for Talent Development
- Labor Relations Advisory Committee
- Co-Author, "The Law of Medical Practice in Illinois, 3d, Vol. 21, Chapter 29 (Collective Bargaining under the NLRA in the Health Care Industry)," Illinois Practice Series
- Co-Author, "Healthcare Employers On The Defensive: The Continuing Threat of Class Action Lawsuits and Regulatory Scrutiny of Overtime Practices for Nurses," Senior Living & Long-Term Care Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
- “Coaching: A Shift in Law Firm Culture,” Law Firm Partnership & Benefits Report
- “Transform Organizational Culture Through Coaching,” Association for Talent Development (ATD) Magazine
- Co-Editor, Labor and Employment Law: The Employer’s Compliance Guide (Thompson Publishing Group)
- “When Does An Employee Become a Supervisor,” Executive Counsel Magazine
- “The ADA Amendments Act: Expanded Disability Challenges for Health Care Employers,” CCH Health Care Compliance Letter
- “What Color Is Your Collar?” Corporate Counsel Magazine
- “The Rise of Wage and Hour Class Action Lawsuits” CCH Health Care Compliance Newsletter
- Co-Editor, The Legal Aspects of AIDS (West Group)
- “The Limits of Organized Employer/Employee Relations in Non-Union Facilities: Some New Evidence of Flexibility,” Chicago Kent Law Review
- “Labor’s Split Could Mean More Aggressive Unions,” Executive Counsel Magazine
- “Physician and Resident Union Organizing,” CCH Healthcare Compliance Letter
- “An Overview of the Employment Provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act,” Journal of Health and Hospital Law
- “Labor and Employment Employee Relations” chapter in Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education Employment Termination Manual
- “Human Resources, Safety and Labor” chapter in CCH Healthcare Compliance Guide
- “Understanding the New U.S. Department of Labor Overtime Regulations,” CCH Health Care Compliance Newsletter
- Speaker, Health Care Beat Podcast - Episode 20: OSHA and CMS Vaccination Requirements for Health Care Employers, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (November 22, 2021)
- "A Discussion on Corporate Campaigns: What Unions Don’t Want You to Know," US Chamber of Commerce
- "The Future of Labor Relations: The Rise of the Millennial Workforce, Technology, and the Gig Economy," Webinar, presented by Seyfarth Shaw LLP
- "Understanding the ADA Amendments Act," SHRM
- "Labor and Employment Law Update," American Health Lawyers Association
- "Wage & Hour Litigation Update," Metropolitan Chicago Health Care Counsel
- "A Re-Energized Labor Movement and What if Means For Employers," Illinois Chamber of Commerce
- "Military Leaves of Absences," SHRM Annual Conference & Exposition
- "Latest Developments in Employment and Labor Law in China," Atlas Legal
- "The Fair Labor Standards Act Revised White-Collar Exemptions: One Year Later-Lessons Learned," SHRM Annual Conference & Exposition
- "Developing and Implementing Corporate Compliance Training Programs," Northstar Advanced Labor and Employment Program
- "Labor, Compensation and Benefits," Southwestern Legal Foundation
- Loyola University College of Law adjunct professor
- Midwest Center on Law and The Deaf board of directors (2004-2015)
- Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra board of directors (2001-2004)
Bill provides creative solutions to the legal challenges that both union-represented and non-union employers face in an increasingly competitive landscape.
More About Bill
Employers face a myriad of labor relations matters today, whether their employees are union-represented or not. Labor law due diligence in the M&A process also raises complex and evolving challenges that, if ignored, can result in significant potential legal, financial, and operational liabilities. Clients look to Bill for practical, strategic advice and counsel that meets their business interests in a lawfully compliant manner.
Bill has represented employers in collective bargaining labor disputes, corporate campaigns, union representational matters, NLRB proceedings, and transactional due diligence for more than three decades. His experience allows him to provide both legal and practical advice to employers. Bill works to find legally compliant solutions that meet the client's operational needs. He has acted as chief outside corporate campaign counsel for clients involved in campaigns with the Teamsters, UNITE HERE, and the Service Employees International Union.
Throughout his career, Bill has handled more than 100 collective bargaining agreements with numerous different unions in a wide variety of industries, including health care, transportation, construction, and manufacturing. His approach to bargaining is to work on the employers' behalf to reach agreement with the union, working to achieve the employers' business objectives while preserving and respecting its ongoing relationships with its unions. Bill has represented dozens of employers in union representational campaigns and proceedings before the NLRB.
Bill has represented a broad range of employers in labor relations matters, providing him with a deep understanding of the real-world challenges that employers face every day, and enabling him to offer legally sound solutions that meet the operational needs of his clients. He counsels clients on how to avoid litigation, and provides strategic advice on how to adopt best practices in a changing and challenging marketplace.
Bill began his career at Seyfarth working for Lee Shaw and other senior partners, who shared a view of the firm as a place where people work collaboratively to bring the highest level of legal representation to their clients. This is based on a core principle that the firm is stronger through teamwork. To quote Bill: "I am proud to say that this familial and collaborative environment still exists today. It is why our senior attorneys work so hard to pass on their skills and knowledge to the current and future generations of Seyfarth attorneys."
Bill has represented employers in collective bargaining labor disputes, corporate campaigns, union representational matters, NLRB proceedings, and transactional due diligence for more than three decades. His experience allows him to provide both legal and practical advice to employers. Bill works to find legally compliant solutions that meet the client's operational needs. He has acted as chief outside corporate campaign counsel for clients involved in campaigns with the Teamsters, UNITE HERE, and the Service Employees International Union.
Throughout his career, Bill has handled more than 100 collective bargaining agreements with numerous different unions in a wide variety of industries, including health care, transportation, construction, and manufacturing. His approach to bargaining is to work on the employers' behalf to reach agreement with the union, working to achieve the employers' business objectives while preserving and respecting its ongoing relationships with its unions. Bill has represented dozens of employers in union representational campaigns and proceedings before the NLRB.
Bill has represented a broad range of employers in labor relations matters, providing him with a deep understanding of the real-world challenges that employers face every day, and enabling him to offer legally sound solutions that meet the operational needs of his clients. He counsels clients on how to avoid litigation, and provides strategic advice on how to adopt best practices in a changing and challenging marketplace.
Bill began his career at Seyfarth working for Lee Shaw and other senior partners, who shared a view of the firm as a place where people work collaboratively to bring the highest level of legal representation to their clients. This is based on a core principle that the firm is stronger through teamwork. To quote Bill: "I am proud to say that this familial and collaborative environment still exists today. It is why our senior attorneys work so hard to pass on their skills and knowledge to the current and future generations of Seyfarth attorneys."
- JD, Boston University School of Law
Cum laude
- AB, University of Michigan
With high distinction
- Illinois
Related Services
Related Key Industries
Blogs
Representative Labor Cases
- As Transportation Industry chief outside labor counsel, represented a number of large transportation, construction and distribution companies in labor disputes, representation hearings, and unfair labor practices claims involving the Teamsters.
- Acted as chief outside labor counsel for the largest uniform company in the US in more than 200 NLRB unfair labor practice charges filed during the course of an ongoing union corporate campaign filed by UNITE HERE and the Teamsters.
- Represented an Illinois-based health system in an eight-day representation hearing before the NLRB resulting in the Teamsters withdrawing their election petition for a unit of more than 2,000 employees.
- Represented hospital system in 600 employee SEIU bargaining unit decertification election proceedings before NLRB.
- Represented pediatric hospital and research institute in NLRB representation hearings involving nurses and skilled maintenance employees.
- Represented a leading health care provider in Chicago's North and Northwest suburbs in medical resident organizing representation hearing.
- Represented a hospital and health system service Chicago's south suburbs in NLRB proceedings involving nonprofessionals, nurses, and technical employees.
- Represented a manufacturer of transportation equipment in unfair labor case brought by the UAW over refusal of purchaser to recognize union based on good faith doubt of continued majority status.
Representative Involvement in Collective Bargaining
- Negotiated successive SEIU and NNU/NNOC contracts for several large Midwest academic medical centers.
- Negotiated RN labor agreements with NNU/NNOC, SEIU, Operating Engineers and International Brotherhood of Teamsters for multiple hospitals.
- Negotiated area-wide labor contracts with five Teamster Locals for a multi-employer construction bargaining association. Represented association employers in multiple county strikes involving multiple sites and ambulatory picketing.
- Represented buyers and sellers in numerous stock and asset acquisitions involving union represented employers in a wide variety of industries including transportation, health care, construction, media, and manufacturing.
- Represented a network of read-mix concrete plants in approximately 30 Teamster, Operating Engineers, Laborers and IAM contract negotiations in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana (covering local drivers, over-the-road drivers, mechanics, equipment operators, and quarry operators) and outside counsel for three area-wide strikes in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Indianapolis, involving ambulatory picketing at multiple sites.
- Negotiated nationwide Employee Free Choice (Card-Check Neutrality) and Labor Peace Agreement with UNITE HERE covering more than 35 plants of a provider of health care linen services.
- Represented a provider of brick and masonry products in obtaining favorable labor agreements involving unification of multiple labor agreements obtained through various acquisitions over three contract terms.
Representative Wage-and-Hour Litigation
- Represented an academic medical center in Chicago in wage-and-hour class action.
- Represented nursing home system in wage-and-hour collective action.
- Participated in defense of FLSA collective action concerning overtime entitlements to temporary medical workers for an integrated health care system in New York City.
Representative Employment Litigation
- Participated in the successful defense of ADA disability discrimination claim for a hospital and health system serving Chicago's south suburbs. Also provided successful representation in third-party advocate access to premises cases.
- Negotiated nationwide settlement agreement with US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division regarding compliance with Title III of the ADA for an intercity bus common carrier. Also provided successful defense of EEOC carpal tunnel ADA discrimination case brought by EEOC.
- Successfully defeated request for certiorari before US Supreme Court in Title VII national origin discrimination claim for a pediatric hospital and research institute.
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
-
Recognition
Aug 18, 2022
Seyfarth Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America 2023
-
Podcast
Nov 22, 2021
Health Care Beat Episode 20: OSHA and CMS Vaccination Requirements for Health Care Employers
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Health Care Law (2013-2025) and Labor Law - Management (2016-2025)
- Recognized as a Seyfarth Shaw LLP "Pro Bono All-Star"
-
American Health Lawyers Association (Past Chairman of Labor, OSHA and Human Resources Section)
- Illinois Health Lawyers Association, past president (2012)
- College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
- American Bar Association
- US Chamber of Commerce, NLRA subcommittee
- Chicago Bar Association, YLS Health Law Committee past chairman
- The Association for Talent Development
- Labor Relations Advisory Committee
- Co-Author, "The Law of Medical Practice in Illinois, 3d, Vol. 21, Chapter 29 (Collective Bargaining under the NLRA in the Health Care Industry)," Illinois Practice Series
- Co-Author, "Healthcare Employers On The Defensive: The Continuing Threat of Class Action Lawsuits and Regulatory Scrutiny of Overtime Practices for Nurses," Senior Living & Long-Term Care Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP
- “Coaching: A Shift in Law Firm Culture,” Law Firm Partnership & Benefits Report
- “Transform Organizational Culture Through Coaching,” Association for Talent Development (ATD) Magazine
- Co-Editor, Labor and Employment Law: The Employer’s Compliance Guide (Thompson Publishing Group)
- “When Does An Employee Become a Supervisor,” Executive Counsel Magazine
- “The ADA Amendments Act: Expanded Disability Challenges for Health Care Employers,” CCH Health Care Compliance Letter
- “What Color Is Your Collar?” Corporate Counsel Magazine
- “The Rise of Wage and Hour Class Action Lawsuits” CCH Health Care Compliance Newsletter
- Co-Editor, The Legal Aspects of AIDS (West Group)
- “The Limits of Organized Employer/Employee Relations in Non-Union Facilities: Some New Evidence of Flexibility,” Chicago Kent Law Review
- “Labor’s Split Could Mean More Aggressive Unions,” Executive Counsel Magazine
- “Physician and Resident Union Organizing,” CCH Healthcare Compliance Letter
- “An Overview of the Employment Provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act,” Journal of Health and Hospital Law
- “Labor and Employment Employee Relations” chapter in Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education Employment Termination Manual
- “Human Resources, Safety and Labor” chapter in CCH Healthcare Compliance Guide
- “Understanding the New U.S. Department of Labor Overtime Regulations,” CCH Health Care Compliance Newsletter
- Speaker, Health Care Beat Podcast - Episode 20: OSHA and CMS Vaccination Requirements for Health Care Employers, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (November 22, 2021)
- "A Discussion on Corporate Campaigns: What Unions Don’t Want You to Know," US Chamber of Commerce
- "The Future of Labor Relations: The Rise of the Millennial Workforce, Technology, and the Gig Economy," Webinar, presented by Seyfarth Shaw LLP
- "Understanding the ADA Amendments Act," SHRM
- "Labor and Employment Law Update," American Health Lawyers Association
- "Wage & Hour Litigation Update," Metropolitan Chicago Health Care Counsel
- "A Re-Energized Labor Movement and What if Means For Employers," Illinois Chamber of Commerce
- "Military Leaves of Absences," SHRM Annual Conference & Exposition
- "Latest Developments in Employment and Labor Law in China," Atlas Legal
- "The Fair Labor Standards Act Revised White-Collar Exemptions: One Year Later-Lessons Learned," SHRM Annual Conference & Exposition
- "Developing and Implementing Corporate Compliance Training Programs," Northstar Advanced Labor and Employment Program
- "Labor, Compensation and Benefits," Southwestern Legal Foundation
- Loyola University College of Law adjunct professor
- Midwest Center on Law and The Deaf board of directors (2004-2015)
- Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra board of directors (2001-2004)