John P. (‘Pete’) Morrison is an experienced labor and employment counselor and litigator. He serves as lead counsel in individual and class actions in federal and state court jury trials as well as multi-forum actions and emergency injunction proceedings. He prosecutes and defends claims for breach of non-compete agreements and fiduciary duty, unfair competition, trade secret misappropriation, and computer fraud.
Pete also defends whistleblowing, discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims under all employment laws including race, pregnancy, sex, national origin, and age, claims for fraud and defamation and claims under ERISA, NLRA, and FLSA.
He has represented employers engaged in healthcare, securities, financial and professional services, insurance, manufacturing, transportation, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, retail, direct marketing, hospitality, food service, and restaurants.
Pete provides counsel on a range of labor and employment issues for both unionized and non-union employers, including discharge and discipline, disabilities accommodation, and internal investigations.
He designs, drafts and negotiates employment contracts, separation agreements and union collective bargaining agreements, and advises on union organizing campaigns, double-breasting, drug testing, subcontracting, strikes and picketing, plant closings, and compliance with WARN and other labor laws.
Experienced in arbitrations, Pete has served as lead counsel for employers in over one hundred arbitrations, under the labor, commercial, and construction rules of the American Arbitration Association, the New York Stock Exchange, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, and private and union arbitration agreements.
He also represented government contractors and handles administrative hearings before the OFCCP, DOT and various state agencies, the EEOC and state human rights commissions, and the NLRB. He has been appointed Special Assistant Illinois Attorney General and Special Assistant State’s Attorney for Labor Litigation.
Pete is a frequent panelist on forums involving protection of trade secrets, enforcement of non-compete covenants, discrimination litigation, compliance with civil rights and employment laws, emergency injunction proceedings, and ethical topics in the practice of law.
Education :
- J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1982, cum laude
- B.A., Yale University, 1978, cum laude
Bar Admissions : Illinois
Court Admissions :
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
Affiliation :
- American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section, Member
- Yale Alumni Schools Committee, Member, 1990-Present
- Grace Episcopal Church, Chancellor, 2004-2014
Cost
Rate : $$$