Meredith S. Kirshenbaum

Overview

Meredith Kirshenbaum is a Principal in the firm's Labor & Employment and Litigation groups. With a practical and solutions-oriented approach, she helps clients navigate labor and employment issues, litigation, and the challenges of commercial disputes.

In Meredith's traditional labor law practice, she represents employers in unfair labor practice charges and in other matters pending before the National Labor Relations Board. She counsels employers during union organizing campaigns, defends employer interests throughout the union-election process, and negotiates union contracts.

Meredith devotes a considerable portion of her practice to representing and advising charter schools, counseling them in traditional labor law, employment law, charter applications, contract negotiations, state commission appeals and school policies. Recognized for her expertise, Meredith is frequently invited to speak before charter school leaders and charter school attorneys, including as part of the Alliance of Public Charter School Attorneys.

"I go to great lengths to fully understand my clients, their work, their mission and their objectives – and I ground my legal advice in what I learn, delivering practical advice, rooted in their mission and tailored to their specific needs."

Experience

On multiple occasions, successfully represented and supported charter school clients in union organizing campaigns, resulting in no union being certified and the charter schools maintaining their independence.
Represented client during high-stakes collective bargaining negotiations, advocating for the client’s interests and ultimately achieving a favorable agreement for client.
Assisted client in navigating the complexities of a potential strike during collective bargaining negotiations, providing legal and strategic guidance and ultimately avoiding disruption to the client’s operations.
Represented Fortune 500 client in federal court litigation where former employee alleged discrimination, ultimately prevailing on summary judgment in favor of the client.
Successfully negotiated favorable settlement agreement on behalf of client involved in contentious sexual harassment litigation.

Credentials

Education

University of Chicago Law School, J.D., 2012
– with honors

– Order of the Coif
Northwestern University, B.S., 2009
– Social Policy, magna cum laude

Admissions

Illinois

Professional Activities

Camp for All Kids, Board Member
Anti-Defamation League, Associate Board Member

Presentations

“The Effects of the NLRB’s McLaren Macomb Decision,” at a Labor and Employment Relations Association Chicago Chapter meeting, April 25, 2023.
“Illinois Charter School Challenges and Changes,” a Goldberg Kohn conference, Chicago, March 11, 2020.
“Recent Changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act” at a National Alliance for Public Charter Schools conference, Philadelphia, Sept. 22, 2016.
“Developments in Labor Law: What Charter Schools Need to Know,” a Goldberg Kohn conference, Chicago, July 25, 2016.
“Department of Labor’s Final Rule on Overtime Regulations,” a webinar for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, July 14, 2016.

Publications

“Employer Abortion Policy Considerations in a Post-Roe World,” published in Law360, June 23, 2022.
“J.B. Pritzker Signs Marijuana Legalization Bill into Law: Now Illinois Employers Must ‘Weed’ Through Potential Employment Issues,” a Goldberg Kohn Alert, June 25, 2019.
“Illinois Law To Mandate Timely Expense Reimbursements,” a Goldberg Kohn Alert, Dec. 20, 2018.
“Bargaining With Combined Units: What It Means for Employers,” published in SHRM Online, Aug. 14, 2017.

Media

Leading up to and following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Meredith was asked by multiple media outlets to share her insights regarding employer policies preserving access to reproductive care. Articles she was quoted in include:

“Companies Offer to Help Employees Seeking Abortions. It’ll Be Tricky,” The Washington Post, July 2, 2022.
“Employers Providing Abortion Benefits Should Address Compliance Questions,” SHRM Executive Network, June 29, 2022.
“Be Aware of Legal Risks With Post-Roe Abortion Benefits,” published in SHRM Online, May 16, 2022.
“Is It Legal for Companies to Cover Travel Expenses of an Employee’s Abortion?,” published in Human Resources Director, May 9, 2022.
“Employers Weigh Risks, Benefits of Backing Abortion Access,” published in Law360, May 9, 2022.