William J. Wortel

  1. People /

William J. Wortel

William J. Wortel

Partner

  1. People /

William J. Wortel

William J. Wortel

Partner

William J. Wortel

Partner

Chicago

T: +1 312 602 5105

VcardVcard
Download PDFDownload PDF
Print
Share

Biography

William (Bill) Wortel is the former leader of the firm's Global Employment & Labor Practice Group and the current co-leader of the firm’s Non-Compete, Trade Secret and Employee Unfair Competition Team. He has over 25 years of experience litigating complex cases in a variety of litigation in federal and state courts and in the U.S. Courts of Appeals. His lead counsel experience includes high-stakes non-competition and trade secret litigation, defense of wage and hour class actions, and defense of actions alleging violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Reconstruction Act of 1866, the Labor Management Relations Act, ERISA, and the Illinois Human Rights Act. He has also defended employers against claims of retaliatory discharge, breach of contract, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, fraud, negligent retention, negligent supervision, public disclosure of private facts, and intrusion upon the seclusion of another.

Bill has extensive experience drafting and negotiating executive employment agreements, drafting restrictive covenant agreements for use throughout the United States, and negotiating the resolution of sensitive disputes between employers and their C-suite executives.

Bill oversees and conducts a wide range of workplace investigations, often involving sensitive subject matters and high-level executives. In addition, Bill assists employers in avoiding litigation through the development, implementation, and application of harassment, drug testing, and other personnel policies and employee handbooks.

Bill has been repeatedly ranked by Chambers USA as one of the top employment attorneys in Illinois for over a decade. Clients surveyed by Chambers USA have commented that Bill “has very good business acumen and makes very practical recommendations in a very clear way,” and that he “offers thoughtful, business-forward solutions to complicated problems..." Bill also has been ranked by Illinois Super Lawyers for many years and has been named to its list of the Top 100 Lawyers in Illinois across all practice areas. 

Professional Affiliations

  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Illinois Bar Association
  • American Bar Association

Admissions

  • Illinois, 1996
  • United States Supreme Court
    United States Courts of Appeals for the Third, Seventh and Eighth Circuits
    United States District Courts for the Central, Northern and Southern Districts of Illinois, Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, and Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin

Education

DePaul University, J.D., 1996

University of Illinois, B.S., with honors, 1993

Related Practice Areas

  • Employment & Labor

  • Investigations

  • Regulation, Compliance & Advisory

  • Litigation & Dispute Resolution

  • Employment Class & Collective Actions

  • Sports (Class Actions)

  • Data Privacy, Telecommunications & Collections

  • Toxic Tort

  • Retail & Consumer Products

  • Cross-border Employment Issues

  • Antitrust Class Actions

  • Shareholder Securities and Mergers & Acquisitions

  • Food, Ag & Nutrition (Class Actions)

  • Non-Compete, Trade Secret & Employee Unfair Competition

  • Financial Services

  • Business & Commercial Disputes

Resources

Publications

  • "Tips for Drafting Executive Employment Agreements," The Employment Law Strategist, March 2013
  • "Terminating Employees," The Employment Law Strategist, October 2012
  • "Early Dismissal Strategies When Dealing with a Dishonest Plaintiff," The Employment Law Strategist, October 2011
  • "Separation and Settlement Agreements: Getting More Bang for Your Buck," The Employment Law Strategist, April 2011
  • "Reducing Exposure to Attorneys Fees Awards Though Use of Rule 68 Offers of Judgment," The Employment Law Strategist, September 2010
  • “Reducing Damages Exposure,” The Employment Law Strategist, April 2010
  • “Overtime Implications of Bonus Plans Under the FLSA,” The Employment Law Strategist, November 2009
  • “Tips for Drafting Employee Handbooks,” The Employment Law Strategist, May 2009 (co-author)
  • “Avoiding State Law Pitfalls,” The Employment Law Strategist, June 2008
  • "How to Reduce Your Exposure to Lawsuits," The Employment Law Strategist, March 2007
  • "2006 Illinois Employment Law Update," Bryan Cave LLP Labor & Employment News Alert, December 2005
  • "Overtime Implications of Bonus Plans Under the FLSA," Ross & Hardies Labor & Employment Update, July 1999

Speaking Engagements

  • "Recent Developments in the ADA and FMLA," Ross & Hardies, May 22, 2003
  • "Keeping Current with the Legal Implications of Technological Changes in the Workplace," Ross & Hardies, October 21, 1998

Related Insights

News
Jun 01, 2023
Chambers USA 2023
Blog Post
Jan 12, 2023
Don’t panic: the long view of FTC’s proposed non-compete rule
Awards
Jun 01, 2022
Chambers USA 2022
Blog Post
Jun 21, 2021
Illinois Enacts Sweeping Reforms to Non-Compete and Non-Solicit Agreements—What All Employers Need To Know
Awards
May 20, 2021
Chambers USA 2021
Blog Post
May 03, 2021
Employers Required to Pay Premiums for COBRA Continuation Coverage Until At Least September 30, 2021
Awards
Aug 03, 2020
BCLP Wins The Deal’s Middle Market Award for Restructuring Deal of the Year
Awards
Apr 23, 2020
Chambers USA 2020
News
Jan 08, 2020
BCLP Announces Election of New Board Members and Other Leadership Changes