Bennett L. Epstein

Partner/Retired

Bennett L. Epstein

Partner/Retired

Since 1978, Bennett L. Epstein has practiced exclusively in the area of labor and employment law. He has a practical approach to solving workplace issues. However, when a dispute cannot be resolved through dialogue, he aggressively litigates on behalf of clients. Bennett is a partner in the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice.

Bennett’s practice is national in scope. He has litigated jury trials across the country and has extensive agency and arbitration experience, with particular experience in resolving disputes between executives and their employer.

Bennett began his legal career as a trial attorney with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). He continues to represent management in union negotiations, labor relations, arbitrations, and matters before the NLRB.

His experience includes representation of both public and private employers, with clients including advertising agencies, media, entertainment, distribution, financial services, park districts, engineering, and manufacturing companies.

Media Counseling and Litigation

Bennett represents national and regional newspapers, radio stations, radio content producers, and podcast producers regarding a broad range of issues including defamation, FCC compliance, privacy, content ownership, and contract negotiations with staff, artists, content providers, and distributors. Bennett serves as outside general counsel for a variety of public radio content providers including This American Life and Science Friday and represents prominent podcasts.

Labor Negotiations

Bennett regularly represents employers in regards to negotiating initial collective bargaining agreements and the renewal of the agreements.  Specific industry experience includes hotels and hospitality, healthcare, food and beverage, theater management, manufacturing and transportation.

Awards and Recognition

  • Peer Review Rated as AV Preeminent®, the highest performance rating in the Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ system
  • Selected for inclusion in the 2009-2018 Illinois Super Lawyers® lists
  • Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© since 2012 in the field of Litigation – Labor & Employment*

Thought Leadership

Bennett has lectured and written extensively on employment practices and labor law. He has developed a training course to acquaint managers and employees with the fundamentals of employment law and practical methods to successfully implement employment practices, including anti-harassment training. Bennett is regularly invited to speak before trade associations and other industry groups.

28 August 2023 Labor & Employment Law Perspectives

Threat of Harm to Others — What’s an Employer to Do?

An employee who operates a forklift begins to act erratically. While he had always been a solid performer, his judgment is off, and he is quick to become angry. The supervisor fears he might injure someone. What should the employer do?
17 August 2023 Honors and Awards

Foley Attorneys Recognized in 2024 Best Lawyers in America

Foley & Lardner LLP proudly announced today that 236 of the firm’s attorneys across 20 U.S. offices have received recognition in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.
21 November 2022 Blogs

What’s the NLRB Up To Now?

One of the cornerstones of the current administration’s platform has been to “encourage and incentivize union organizing and collective bargaining” and to do so by “appoint[ing] members to the NLRB who will protect, rather than sabotage, worker organizing, collective bargaining, and workers’ rights to engage in concerted activity.”
18 August 2022 Press Releases

Foley Attorneys Recognized in 2023 Best Lawyers in America

Foley & Lardner LLP proudly announced that 250 of our attorneys across 20 offices have received recognition in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
08 November 2021 Blogs

Mandatory Retirement – Can You Toss the Old Guy Out?

For employers covered by the Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act, it is unlawful to discriminate against employees who are over 40. Learn more here.
19 August 2021 Press Releases

Foley Attorneys Recognized in 2022 Best Lawyers in America

Foley & Lardner LLP announced today that 236 of the firm’s attorneys from 18 U.S. offices have been recognized in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©, and 46 lawyers from 13 offices were included in the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list. Additionally, 14 of the firm’s attorneys received the special designation of “Lawyer of the Year,” an honor earned by only one lawyer in each practice area and metropolitan region.