Rachel Yarch chairs the Firm’s Labor and Employment law practice group. She represents employers in all aspects of the law including client counseling, training, benefits and litigation. She has extensive experience representing for profit and not-for-profit employers, including corporations, schools, colleges, universities, nursing homes, and municipalities. She has trial experience in both state and federal court, and has litigated and mediated employment law matters filed with several governmental agencies. Ms. Yarch has argued before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals on multiple occasions regarding issues such as discrimination, retaliation and failure to accommodate. In 2012, the Court unanimously upheld the granting of summary judgment in favor of her client.

Ms. Yarch reviews and drafts all types of employment documents for organizations and helps them make personnel decisions in compliance with federal and state statutes. She is a frequent lecturer on employment law issues and has experience in providing training sessions on important employment topics such as wage and hour issues, accommodating disabilities, and preventing sexual harassment in the workplace.  In addition to employment law, Ms. Yarch has extensive experience handling complex litigated matters, including general liability, civil rights, and insurance claims from investigation through trial.

Ms. Yarch also provides counseling and strategic advice to executives, including negotiating employment agreements and transition agreements, and advising on issues involving post-restrictive covenants, deferred compensation, and other benefits.

Successfully negotiated numerous key executive employment agreements as part of asset purchase transactions and business succession planning;

Structured a number of early retirement incentives, which have been successful in reducing company overhead without resorting to involuntarily layoffs;

Conducted several internal investigations of employee complaints in the workplace and provided strategies for addressing the conduct uncovered;

Performed internal audits and advised on job classification issues pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act for various types of employers;

Regularly provides a wide range of employee benefits guidance and advises clients regarding interpretation of plan language; and

Drafted, revised, and litigated a number of employee non-compete/non-solicitation agreements.

A representative selection of published opinions:

Morris v. Catholic Bishop of Chicago, 16-C-7916 2018 WL 2087450 (N.D. Ill.)(Obtained dismissal with prejudice of age discrimination claims brought against Archdiocese.)

Holmes v. Housing Authority of Joliet et. al., 1:14-CV-03132 2015 (N.D. Ill.) (Obtained dismissal with prejudice of former employee’s claims of sexual harassment under Title VII and race discrimination under Section 1981 against individual Executive Director)

Nowaczyk v. Joliet Catholic Academy, No. 14 C 3710 2014 WL 3642197 (N.D. Ill.) (Obtained dismissal with prejudice of Title VII discrimination, retaliation and breach of contract claims against two religious orders) 

Green ex rel. Estate of Webster v. Housing Auth. of City of Gary, 10 N.E.3d 518 (2014) (Appellate court affirmed summary judgment in favor of housing authority finding no duty with respect to wrongful death claim)

Vraniskoska v. Franciscan Communities, Inc., 2:11-CV-308 2013 WL 4647224 (N.D. Ind.) (Obtained summary judgment on former employee’s allegations of disability discrimination and failure to accommodate under the Americans with Disabilities Act)

Helm v. Ancilla Domini College, 3:11-CV-212, 2012 WL 4120006 (N.D. Ind.) (Obtained summary judgment on former employee’s Title VII claims of race discrimination and retaliation)

Montgomery v. DePaul University, 1:10-CV-0078, 2012 WL 3903784 (N.D. Ill.) (Obtained summary judgment on former faculty member’s allegations of race discrimination and retaliation in connection with the University’s decision to deny tenure)

Rowe v. Gary Housing Authority, et al., No. 2:06 CV 291, 2008 WL 754254 (N.D. Ind.) (Obtained summary judgment on former employee’s claims of deprivation of liberty and property interest in her job pursuant to the 14^th Amendment)

MacGregor v. DePaul University, 1:10-CV-00107, 2010 WL 4167965 (N.D. Ill.)  (Obtained dismissal with prejudice on faculty member’s untimely claims of discrimination and retaliation)  

Hoppe v. Lewis University, 1:09-CV-03430, 2011 WL 4578352 (N.D. Ill.) (Obtained summary judgment on tenured faculty member’s claims of discrimination, retaliation and failure to accommodate under Title VII and the Americans with Disability Act)

Samuel Pope, Jr. v. Gary Housing Authority, 2:09-CV-301, 2012 WL 1035449 (N.D. Ind.) (Obtained a dismissal with prejudice of Section 1983 allegations against Housing Authority) 

Upton v. DePaul University, 1:09-CV-3954, 2012 WL 3096676 (N.D. Ill.) (Obtained summary judgment on former employee’s claims of discrimination and retaliation under Title VII and Section 1981)

Hoppe v. Lewis University, No. 11–3358 2012 WL 3764717 (7th Cir.) (Successfully argued before the appellate court and obtained a decision affirming the granting of summary judgment in favor of University on tenured faculty member’s claims of discrimination, retaliation and failure to accommodate under Title VII and the Americans with Disabilities Act)

Strategic Partner, Chicago Family Business Council at DePaul University

Defense Research Institute

National Association of College and University Attorneys

Board of Directors, Lakeview YMCA

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