Meredith S. Kirshenbaum

Meredith Kirshenbaum is a Principal in the firm's Labor & Employment and Litigation Groups. She assists clients in navigating labor and employment issues and the challenges of commercial litigation. She is experienced in litigating labor and employment law matters, commercial contract disputes, false claims act litigation and real estate disputes. She also handles employee benefits (ERISA) matters.

In Ms. Kirshenbaum'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. 

Ms. Kirshenbaum 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. As a testament to her experience, she has been invited to speak before the Alliance of Public Charter School Attorneys, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and the Illinois Network of Charter Schools. She has also presented at the Charter School Leader Summit.

Since 2022, Ms. Kirshenbaum has been named annually by Best Lawyers to its Ones to Watch in America list in the areas of Labor and Employment Law/Management and Litigation/Labor and Employment. She has also been named a Rising Star from 2020-2022 by Illinois Super Lawyers. 

Publications and Presentations
Ms. Kirshenbaum recent presentations have included:

• "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. 

Her published articles include:

• "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.

In addition, leading up to and following the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Ms. Kirshenbaum 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.

Professional Background
Ms. Kirshenbaum joined Goldberg Kohn in June 2011. She is a member of the firm's Administrative Committee and serves as Associate Counsel for employment law members. She is also one of the firm's liaisons to Meritas, a global alliance of leading independent law firms.

Ms. Kirshenbaum received her law degree, with honors, from the University of Chicago Law School in 2012. While attending law school, she was recognized as a Kirkland and Ellis scholar and was a member of the Order of the Coif. She received her B.S., magna cum laude, in Social Policy from Northwestern University in 2009. She is admitted to practice in Illinois.

You can contact Meredith Kirshenbaum via email at meredith.kirshenbaum@goldbergkohn.com or call 312.201.3933