Leading Labor & Employment Practice Group Joins Benesch Chicago Office

Benesch is pleased to announce that prominent Executive Compensation & Benefits attorney Jessica L. Winski has joined the firm’s Chicago office as a partner. With Jessica’s addition, the Chicago office of Benesch is now home to a leading full-service Labor & Employment Practice Group, capable of handling the complete range of employment law matters.  The Chicago group joins 20 other top employment attorneys in other offices, making it one of the most well-regarded labor practices in the country. U.S. News & World Report gave Benesch’s labor group first-tier rankings in four metropolitan categories and the group was recognized in Best Law Firm/Best Lawyers and Chambers & Partners.

Jessica is a skilled Executive Compensation & Benefits attorney who counsels employers on all aspects of employee benefits law, focusing on the design, administration and legal compliance of retirement plans and health and welfare benefit plans.  She also assists employers and executives in the design and negotiation of executive compensation arrangements, including nonqualified deferred compensation plans, employment agreements, severance arrangements and incentive compensation plans. Leading Lawyers names Jessica an “Illinois Emerging Lawyer” and Super Lawyers names her an “Illinois Rising Star.  Jessica received her J.D., magna cum laude, from John Marshall Law School in 2006, her M.A. at University of Illinois at Springfield in 2002 and her B.A., cum laude, from Occidental College in 1996.

Partner Margo Wolf O’Donnell, who serves as Vice Chair of the Labor & Employment Practice Group, Chicago, joined the firm in January.  She focuses her work on employment-related litigation and counsels clients in anticipating and preventing disputes. Margo 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.  Illinois Super Lawyers has recognized Margo as one of the “Top 100 Attorneys in Illinois” and “Top 50 Women Attorneys in Illinois.” Margo received her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Yale University.

Emily Fess joined Benesch earlier this month.  She advises and represents employers in issues concerning medical leave and accommodation requests, discipline and discharge, harassment and workplace investigations and wage and hour issues. Leading Lawyers names Emily an “Illinois Emerging Lawyer” and Super Lawyers names her an “Illinois Rising Star.”  Emily received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin and her B.A. from Northwestern University.

“I am thrilled about the fantastic Labor & Employment team we are building in Chicago,” said Margo Wolf O’Donnell.  “Jessica is one of the top Executive Compensation and Benefits attorneys in the country and a great colleague. We are recruiting legal talent of the very highest caliber and, supported by the firm’s leadership, we intend to keep growing to continue to provide the best service possible to our clients.”

The firm’s Chicago office has grown from just two attorneys in 2016 to over 35 attorneys, with plans to double in size by 2019.