312.332.7760 (tel.)
312.332.7768 (fax)
jperkoski@rsnlt.com

Practice Areas: Education Law, Labor & Employment, Student Discipline

Joe Perkoski focuses his practice on labor and employment law, representing both public and private employers in collective bargaining, contract maintenance and grievance arbitration matters. Joe also represents employers against claims involving discrimination, wrongful discharge, sexual harassment and labor/management relations issues. Joe has litigated civil rights and discrimination cases before federal and state courts and agencies. He also has litigated unfair labor practice charges before the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board, the Illinois State and Local Labor Relations Boards and the National Labor Relations Board. Joe's practice also includes the representation of public pension boards, and he is an active member of the National Association of Public Pension Attorneys (NAPPA).

Education

• J.D., The Ohio State University, The Mortiz College of Law, 1993
• M.A., The Ohio State University, 1987
• B.A. with honors, The Ohio State University, 1985

Admitted to Practice

• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
• Supreme Court of Illinois
• Supreme Court of Wisconsin

Awards

• Illinois Super Lawyers, 2008 and 2009

Organizations

• American Bar Association
• Chicago Bar Association
• Council of School Attorneys
• Illinois Association of School Business Officials
• Illinois Bar Association
• National School Boards Association
• Wisconsin Bar Association

Recent Publications

• Contributing author, "Labor Issues in the Transactional Side of the Project," Construction Law – Transaction Practice, (IICLE, 2010)
• Contributing author, "Labor Relations: Contract Administration Including ULPs", Illinois School Law Series, (IICLE, 2010)
• Contributing author, "Police and Firefighters' Pension Boards," Illinois Municipal Law Series, (IICLE, 2008)
• "Are You a Target? Countering Union Organizing Activity in the Educational Workplace," CUPA-HR Journal (Fall/Winter 2005)
• Contributing author, "Labor Relations: Contract Administration Including ULPs," Illinois School Law Series, (IICLE, 2005)

Recent Presentations

• Labor-Management Relations and Alternatives to Collective Negotiations, IASBO, Downers Grove, IL (August 2008)
• Subcontracting, IASBO 2008 Convention, St. Charles, IL (May, 2008)
• Subcontracting, IASBO 2008 Sub-contracting Seminar, St. Charles, IL (February, 2008)
• The Illinois Open Meetings Act and What To Do When You Receive a Freedom of Information Act Request, McHenry County College In-service presentation, Crystal Lake, IL (November 2007)
• Board Governance: Compliance With the Illinois Open Meetings Act, Hawthorn School District No. 73 In-service presentation, Vernon Hills, IL (June 2007)
• Employment Law Update: The Latest on Employer Record Keeping and Confidentiality Obligation; Developments in the World of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Victims Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA); and Sexual Harassment Investigations Ð Scenarios Demonstrating Practical Responses to Impractical Situations, 2007 Spring Conference, College and University Professional Association for Human Resources, (April 2007)
• Terminations: Non-Tenured and Tenured Certificated Staff, Evanston-Skokie School District 65 (April 2007) and Illinois Association of School Personnel Administrators Conference (February 2007)
• Employment Law Developments, PACT at DuPage Regional Office of Education (January 2007)
• Public Employee Ethics and Employee Leave Abuse Issues, Illinois College and University Professional Association Ð Human Resources (October 2006)
• Peer Harassment and Employee Confidentiality Agreements and Issues, CUPA-Illinois (June 2006)