Philip H. Gerner III

Partner, Chicago Office

312.332.7760 (tel.)
312.332.7768 (fax)
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Phil Gerner counsels and represents school districts and community colleges in collective bargaining negotiations, union representation petitions and IELRB proceedings, teacher evaluations, remediations and dismissals, employee discipline and discharge issues, labor contract administration and grievance arbitration, and other labor and employment issues. Phil has represented school districts and community colleges in numerous labor arbitrations, unfair labor practice hearings, tenured teacher dismissals, and IDHR and EEOC proceedings. Phil has successfully handled a number of appellate court appeals on issues of significance for educational employers, including short-term employee bargaining unit exclusion standards, teacher evaluation plan bargaining obligations, and RIF/seniority rights of tenured teachers.

Phil is a frequent presenter for IASB, IASA, IASBO, ICCTA and other educational employer associations on a full range of labor and employment issues, including collective bargaining negotiations, teacher evaluation and remediation, school administrator employment contracts, employee discipline and discharge, and public employee speech and concerted activity issues.

Phil joined Robbins, Schwartz in 1983, and has been a partner in the Firm’s labor and employment practice group since 1989.

Awards

Illinois Leading Lawyer, Employment and School Law, 2004-2010

Recent Publications

"Collective Bargaining Implications of the Performance Evaluation Reform Act of 2010 (SB 315) and the Education Reform Act (SB 7)," UPDATE Magazine (IASBO, 2011)
Contributing author, “Labor Relations: Contract Administration Including ULPs,” ILLINOIS SCHOOL LAW (IICLE, 2005 and 2010)

Recent Presentations

An Overview of Public Act 97-0008 (SB 7) – 2011 Education Reform Act, Administrator In-Service Presentation, LaSalle Regional Office of Education (October 2011)
An Overview of Public Act 97-0008 (SB 7) – 2011 Education Reform Act, Teacher In-Service Presentation, Lake Park CHSD No. 108 (October 2011)
Key Statutory Changes to Teacher Tenure Accrual, Vacancy Appointments, Teacher Evaluation, and RIF, Administrator In-Service Presentation, Lake Park CHSD No. 108 (October 2011)
Discipline and Discharge of College Employees and Workplace Harassment – How to Minimize Employer Liability, Supervisory/Management In-Service Workshop, Kishwaukee College (October 2011)
Effective Procedures and Techniques for Employee Evaluation and Teacher Remediation Plans, Administrator In-Service, Evergreen Park CHSD No. 231 (October 2011)
ADA Training Workshop, Workshop Presentation, Oakton Community College (October 2011)
Revisions to Tenure Accrual and Reduction-In-Force Process, The Nuts and Bolts of the Performance Evaluation Reform Act of 2010, Effective Procedures and Techniques for Employee Evaluation and Teacher Remediation Plans, Administrators’ In-Service, Kenilworth SD No. 38 (August 2011)
Revisions to Tenure Accrual and Reduction-In-Force Process, The Nuts and Bolts of the Performance Evaluation Reform Act of 2010, Effective Procedures and Techniques for Employee Evaluation and Teacher Remediation Plans, Administrators’ In-Service, Wilmette SD No. 39 (June 2011)
Effective Evaluation and Discipline of Employees and Protocols for the Hiring Process, Curriculum Leaders In-Service Workshop, Lake Park CHSD No. 108 (August 2010)
Effective Evaluation and Discipline of Employees, Administrative Council – Legal Update, Wilmette SD No. 39 (June 2010)
The Performance Evaluation Reform Act of 2010, Administrators’ In-Service Presentation, Lake Forest SD Nos. 115/67 (June 2010)
The Nuts and Bolts of the Performance Evaluation Reform Act of 2010, Administrators’ In-Service Presentation, Adlai E. Stevenson HSD No. 125 (June 2010)
Employee Internet Use and Guidelines and Legal Liability Issues, Staff In-Service Workshop, St. Peter Lutheran School (November 2009)
Workplace Harassment and How to Minimize Employer Liability, In-Service Presentation, Harper Community College (October 2009)
Investigation of Employee Misconduct and Discipline of School District Employees, Principals’ In-Service Workshop, Durand CUSD No. 322 (August 2009)
Effective Procedures and Techniques for Employee Evaluation and Teacher Remediation Plans, Principals' In-Service Workshop (August 2009)
Employee Internet Use and Guidelines and Legal Liability Issues, Staff Institute Day (August 2009)

Practice Areas

Education Law
Labor & Employment

Education

J.D., Washington University School of Law, 1980
B.A., cum laude, St. Lawrence University, 1977

Admitted to Practice

U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Supreme Court of Illinois

Chicago
55 West Monroe, Suite 800
Chicago, IL 60603-5144
312.332.7760
312.332.7768 fax

Collinsville
510 Regency Centre
Collinsville, IL 62234-4658
618.343.3540
618.343.3546 fax

Decatur
132 South Water Street, Suite 420
Decatur, IL 62523-1332
217.428.2100
217.428.2186 fax

Joliet
24 West Cass Street, 5th Floor
Joliet, Illinois 60432-4116
815.722.6560
815.722.0450 fax