Professional Experience
Scott Watson’s practice focuses on representing employers in all areas of labor and employment law. He has experience in arbitration, mediation, federal and state agency discrimination claims, federal and state labor board claims, and federal and state litigation. He has successfully represented employers in cases involving Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, wage disputes and labor arbitrations as well as other statutes and venues. Scott has also spoken to several civic and business groups on various employment-related topics, including the creation and benefits of employee handbooks and wage and hour issues, and has written on the Illinois Wage Payment Collection Act and the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act statute, among others. Mr. Watson’s experience includes:
- Successful representation of a large parcel carrier in a multi-million dollar unemployment insurance matter involving several thousand union members.
- Representation of an internationally renowned museum with regard to discrimination claims brought by an employee which went to public hearing and resulted in a complete victory for the museum.
- Defense of a major accounting firm in several federal discrimination matters.
- Representation of a large unionized company in several successful labor arbitrations.
- Representation of an international company in federal discrimination matters in five federal district courts.
- Drafting employee handbooks for many businesses, including corporations, restaurants and not-for-profit agencies.
Education and Honors
- University of Illinois College of Law (J.D., 1995)
- Indiana State University (MEd, 1989)
- Indiana State University (B.S., 1985)
Degree: English. Pfennig Scholar.
Bar Admissions
Illinois,
1995
Court Admissions
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, 2008
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana, 2003
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, 2000
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1997
U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit, 1996
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1995
Professional Recognition
Selected for inclusion in the 2006-2011
Illinois Super Lawyers® lists (Employment & Labor).
Listed in
Chambers USA® (2008-present: Labor & Employment).
Professional and Civic Activities
- Indiana State University Alumni Association (Board of Directors, 2011-2012).
- American Bar Association (Member).
- Illinois State Bar Association (Member).
- Chicago Bar Association (Member).
- 2009-2010 Mentorship Academy, The Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms (Mentor).
- New Leaders in the Executives’ Club of Chicago (Mentor).
- Leading Lawyers Network (Member).