Amanda Sonneborn

Ms. Amanda A. Sonneborn is a partner in the Labor & Employment Department of Seyfarth Shaw LLP. Ms. Sonneborn also serves as co-Office Managing Partner of the Firm’s Chicago office. She actively advises clients in the health care, construction, print media, hotel, gaming, manufacturing, transportation, and energy industries. Ms. Sonneborn has considerable experience in the area of Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) litigation.

Ms. Sonneborn is co-chair of the Firm’s ERISA & Employee Benefits Litigation practice group. Her ERISA and employee benefits litigation experience includes defense of single plaintiff claims for benefits, breach of fiduciary duty claims, cash balance plan claims, breach of contract claims, and ERISA Section 510 employment discrimination claims.

Ms. Sonneborn devotes a considerable amount of her practice to litigation of class-action and multi-plaintiff claims. She also frequently advises clients regarding handling of claims brought under benefit plan claims procedures.

Ms. Sonneborn has handled hundreds of single plaintiff cases brought in federal court under ERISA. She also frequently speaks on ERISA litigation issues and serves as a chapter editor for the American Bar Association book on  Employee Benefits. Ms. Sonneborn also is particularly well-versed in the field of labor relations law, with a particular focus on advising clients in the health care industry.

Within this arena, she has represented clients in hundreds of unfair labor practice proceedings, contractual arbitrations, representation proceedings, and Section 301 litigation. She has served as national counsel to several corporations facing targeted corporate campaigns. She also has experience advising clients during union organizing campaigns.

In addition, she provides clients with day-to-day labor relations advice on a wide spectrum of topics, including independent contractor issues, neutrality agreements, and corporate campaigns. She also frequently negotiates collective bargaining agreements on behalf of clients. Finally, Ms. Sonneborn has handled several appellate cases seeking review of National Labor Relations Board decisions.

Ms. Sonneborn has substantial experience with non-union employment issues as well. She has represented clients in litigation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the WARN Act, and the Illinois Human Rights Act. Ms. Sonneborn also counsels various clients on day-to-day employment law matters and assists clients with revisions to employee policies and employment applications.

Education:

• J.D., University of Illinois College of Law (2003)
  • Lincoln Scholar; Research Assistant to the Honorable Governor Jim Edgar
  • Editor Comparative Labor Law & Policy Journal
• MHRIR, University of Illinois (2003)
• B.A., University of Illinois (1999)

Affiliations:

• American Bar Association (Labor & Employment and Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Sections)
• TIPS Employee Benefits Committee
• Canine Therapy Corps Board of Directors Member
• University of Illinois Department of Political Science Board of Visitors Member