Sarah K. Quinn

/My focus

Employment Litigation

l litigate Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) collective actions, state wage-and-hour class actions, misclassification and independent contractor disputes, and restrictive covenant/non-compete matters in state and federal courts. I also represent clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR), handling claims under Title VII, Title IX, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and state whistleblower protection laws. My clients have included small businesses, high-profile entertainment groups, and large US-based consumer services companies.

Compliance and Counseling

I advise employers on the day-to-day decisions that shape a compliant, well-run workplace—from hiring and onboarding through background checks, classification questions, and wage-and-hour practices. When issues arise, I help clients navigate accommodations and leave management, performance management and discipline, and, when necessary, reductions in force. I draft and negotiate employment and separation agreements, executive compensation and severance terms, and restrictive covenants, and I translate evolving federal, state, and local requirements into clear handbooks, policies, and training programs. Throughout, I focus on practical documentation and escalation processes that reduce risk and support defensible outcomes.

Education Experience

My clients include one of the country’s largest K–12 school districts. Before entering private practice, I served as assistant general counsel in the Federal Litigation Group for the Board of Education for the City of Chicago and externed with the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, evaluating and investigating discrimination claims. This background provides me with an inside view of how agencies assess allegations, develop the record, and make enforcement and litigation decisions—insight I use to spot issues early, position matters effectively, and communicate efficiently with investigators and opposing counsel.

/Representative experience

Employment Litigation

• Obtained victory in bench trial before Chief Judge of the Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, seeking specific performance of commercial franchise lease and purchase contract valued at $11+ million
• Proven Seventh Circuit appellate record for clients across industries with multiple oral arguments and successful outcomes, including affirmance of the dismissal of a Section 1981 action against a large national real estate company
• Tried five-day federal jury trial in Northern District of Illinois defending client from Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) retaliation claim
• Defended employers in numerous Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) class and collective actions involving overtime, hours-worked, and employee-compensation claims
• Successfully orally argued denial of temporary restraining orders (TRO) in federal court for alleged violation of due process in employee dispute

Compliance and Counseling

• Regularly serve as general counsel for clients at all stages of growth, advising on complex federal and state employment law issues and other business objectives
• Routinely advise employers on compliance with the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), including implementing compliant biometric notice and consent processes, developing retention and destruction policies, managing vendor and technology deployments, and counseling on the 2024 BIPA amendments and related developments

Clerkship

• The Hon. Iain D. Johnston, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois

/Looking ahead

I’m closely tracking how artificial intelligence is reshaping client expectations for legal services—especially around speed, efficiency, and consistency in work product. I help clients evaluate where AI can responsibly support their legal operations and where traditional judgment remains essential.