Benesch Adds Prominent Labor and Employment Attorney in Chicago

Margo Wolf O’Donnell joins Benesch as a partner and Vice Chair of the Labor & Employment Practice Group, Chicago.

“Margo is a nationally recognized Labor and Employment litigator and we are very fortunate to have her join our team as we expand the presence of our group in Chicago,” said Eric Baisden, Chair of the Labor & Employment Practice Group at Benesch.  “Her professional reputation in both the legal industry and the women’s initiatives she has spearheaded in Chicago are truly unique leadership traits,” he added. 

Margo handles cases involving restrictive covenants, business torts, employment issues, intellectual property and class action defense. Margo’s experience includes federal, state and administrative agency litigation involving allegations of sex, race, national origin, disability and age discrimination, wage-and-hour violations and breach of contract.

Margo also acts as a business adviser to her clients, helping them to anticipate and prevent disputes. She regularly counsels clients on a variety of employment-related issues, including individual and group discharges, releases, confidentiality agreements, noncompetition agreements and internal investigations.

Margo has received numerous accolades for her work. Crain’s Chicago included Margo in its inaugural list of “Most Influential Women Lawyers in Chicago.” Illinois Super Lawyers has recognized Margo as one of the “Top 100 Attorneys in Illinois” and “Top 50 Women Attorneys in Illinois.” Margo holds an “AV Preeminent” Peer Rating by Martindale-Hubbell (the highest possible rating). She has been recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America, and as one of the “Top 10 Women Employment Management Attorneys in Illinois” by Leading Lawyer. She is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and the Litigation Counsel of America.

Margo also is a Past President and recipient of the Leadership Award of the Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law. Best Lawyers named Margo as one of fifteen “Women of Influence” in the legal profession nationwide and Chambers & Partners recognized Margo as an “Inspiring Role Model Promoting Gender Diversity.”

Margo serves on the Boards of Yale Chicago, the Woman Athletic Club of Chicago and the Auxiliary Board of the Art Institute of Chicago.  She received her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and her B.A. magna cum laude with distinction from Yale University.