Nigel F. Telman

Nigel F. Telman leads the employment practice in the Chicago office and is co-head of the Employment Litigation & Arbitration Group.

Nigel's practice is concentrated in litigating single and class action disputes arising out of claims of workplace harassment and employment discrimination. He also represents employers in collective and class actions involving allegations of wage and hour violations under federal and state law. In addition, Nigel has significant experience defending and enforcing Restrictive Covenant Agreements, as well as protecting employers' trade secrets and other confidential information from misappropriation by former employees through the institution of emergency litigation seeking temporary and permanent injunctive relief. Nigel utilizes his experience litigating employment-related disputes to counsel clients on effective ways to avoid such litigation and when needed conducts investigations where there are allegations of harassment and discrimination. His counseling practice focuses on training and advising clients on ways to improve all aspects of the employment relationship, including techniques on how to make effective hiring decisions; reviewing and revising employment policies, practices and procedures; and advising on employee disciplinary matters, reductions in force and termination decisions.

Nigel represents clients before state and federal courts throughout the country as well as before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Illinois Human Rights Commission and the American Arbitration Association.

Nigel is ranked by Chambers USA in Illinois for Labor & Employment and his clients praise him as being "business-savvy and delivering stellar results. He is an extremely effective negotiator and has the highest degree of integrity in all of his dealings."

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Responding to COVID-19: Illinois Specific Considerations For Employers

The State of Illinois has taken strong measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Recognizing the impact of COVID-19 on the State of Illinois, on March 20, 2020, the Governor first issued Executive Order 2020-10 directing Illinois citizens to stay at home. The Governor has since issued Executive Orders 2020-32 and 2020-33 extending most of … Continue Reading

Second Circuit: FAA Mandates Stay of Claims Pending Arbitration

By Evandro Gigante, Lindsey Chopin, Nigel F. Telman and Steven Hurd on August 20, 2015 Posted in Litigation and Arbitration

The Second Circuit recently held in Katz v. Cellco P’Ship d/b/a/ Verizon Wireless, Nos. 14-138, 14-291, 2015 WL 4528658 (2d Cir. July 28, 2015) that, under the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), district courts must stay all proceedings upon a finding that the claims before the court are subject to arbitration if a stay is requested. … Continue Reading

Second Circuit Clarifies Pleading Standard for Title VII Claims

By Evandro Gigante, Jenna Hayes, Nigel F. Telman and Steven Hurd on August 7, 2015 Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation

A Second Circuit panel recently revived a former employee’s racial discrimination suit against New York City, reversing in part the Southern District of New York’s dismissal of her case. In Littlejohn v. City of New York, No.14-1395-cv (2d Cir. August 3, 2015), the panel made a number of important holdings, including on how courts should … Continue Reading

Illinois and Chicago “Ban the Box” Laws Take Effect

By Daniel Saperstein and Nigel F. Telman on January 11, 2015 Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Hiring/Background Checks, Workplace Policies and Procedures

Illinois’ and Chicago’s “ban the box” laws took effect on January 1. Both laws prohibit private employers from making criminal inquiries until after an applicant has been notified of his or her selection for an interview (where the employer does not conduct an interview, it must wait until after making a conditional offer). The two … Continue Reading

Chicago Proposes “Banning the Box”

By Daniel Saperstein, K.M. Zouhary and Nigel F. Telman on October 13, 2014 Posted in Hiring/Background Checks, Workplace Policies and Procedures

Only a few months after Illinois “banned the box” for private employers, Chicago’s city council has proposed to do the same. “Ban the box” refers to a movement that seeks to remove the check box from job applications asking whether or not the applicant has a prior criminal history. Like the Illinois law, Chicago’s proposal … Continue Reading

Employers To Face More Concurrent EEOC and Tort Suits after Second Circuit Decision

By Keisha-Ann Gray, Kathleen McKenna, Nigel F. Telman and Steven Hurd on March 13, 2014 Posted in Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation, Litigation and Arbitration

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has joined the Seventh and Ninth Circuits in holding that an EEOC charge will not toll the statute of limitations on a state-law tort claim. This decision likely will lead to an increase in concurrent filings of state-law tort claims and Title VII federal administrative proceedings … Continue Reading

Illinois Restrictive Covenants Harder to Enforce Post-Fifield and Montel

By Gray Mateo-Harris and Nigel F. Telman on June 24, 2013 Posted in Litigation and Arbitration, Non-Competes and Protection of Corporate Assets

Illinois employers are still reeling from the Illinois Supreme Court’s refusal to review the decision in Fifield v. Premier Dealer Services, Inc., No. 1-12-0327 (Ill. App. Ct., 1st Dist. June 24, 2013). In Fifield, the First District Appellate Court ruled that employee non-competition and non-solicitation agreements supported by consideration consisting of less than two years … Continue Reading