Jennifer A. Riley
Partner
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Phone: +1 312 499 6711
- Duane Morris LLP
190 South LaSalle Street, Suite 3700
Chicago, IL 60603-3433
USA
Jennifer A. Riley, vice chair of Duane Morris’ Workplace Class Action group, has defended companies faced with significant complex litigation matters for more than two decades. Ms. Riley regularly defends companies facing class actions, collective actions, pattern or practice lawsuits, and other types of representative proceedings, ranging in size from dozens to tens of thousands of claims. Working on the forefront of the developing law in an ever-changing arena, Ms. Riley regularly develops strategies for navigating some of the largest challenges faced by corporate America today and counsels employers confronted with a range of complex employment law theories that span from claims of discrimination or sexual harassment to myriad types of alleged wage & hour violations.
Ms. Riley develops and employs strategies to navigate and defend complex actions at inception, as well as by fracturing large-scale actions and structuring creative solutions. She has represented clients facing bet-the-company cases in a wide range of complex civil litigation matters in federal and state courts across the country, and has served as trial counsel in federal court bench trials, jury trials and arbitration proceedings. Ms. Riley has defended a multitude of actions by securing dismissal, defeating class or collective action certification, prevailing on summary judgment, and structuring and securing approval of complex and multiparty settlements and consent decrees. She also provides counsel to employers to navigate thorny issues, including investigations and terminations, and is a regular speaker and presenter regarding legal developments, issues and challenges employers may face in the future.
In addition to her commercial litigation experience at some of the nation’s biggest law firms, Ms. Riley was in-house counsel for a Fortune 100 pharmaceutical and medical device company where she investigated, managed and resolved a wide range of commercial and employment disputes, including single and multi-plaintiff discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage and hour cases.
Ms. Riley is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley School of Law and Vanderbilt University (B.A., magna cum laude).
Admissions
- Illinois
- Supreme Court of Illinois
- New York
- Court of Appeals of the State of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Education
- University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, J.D., 2000
- Vanderbilt University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1997
Experience
- Duane Morris LLP
- Partner, 2022-present - Seyfarth Shaw LLP
- Partner, 2010-2022 - Abbott Laboratories
- In-House Counsel, Commercial Litigation, 2008-2010 - Jenner & Block
- Associate, 2000-2008
Selected Publications
- Co-author, "Illinois Appellate Court Affirms Dismissal of BIPA Class Action Lawsuit," Westlaw Today, January 20, 2023
Co-Author, “Illinois Federal Court Grants Class Certification to Cook County Department of Corrections Applicants Based on Allegedly Discriminatory Entrance Exams,” Workplace Class Action Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, August 11, 2022
Co-Author, “The U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Industry-Based Reading of FAA’s Transportation Worker Exemption, Reduces Visibility for Workers Challenging Arbitration Agreements,” Workplace Class Action Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, June 8, 2022
Co-Author, “Picture This: Illinois Federal Court Holds That BIPA Applies To Photographs,” Workplace Class Action Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, April 27, 2022
Co-Author, “Georgia Federal Court Denies Class Certification to AT&T Employees in Pregnancy Discrimination Lawsuit,” Workplace Class Action Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, March 27, 2022
Co-Author, “Illinois Supreme Court Holds Workers’ Compensation Act Does Not Bar BIPA Claims,” Workplace Class Action Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, February 3, 2022
Co-Author, “Seventh Circuit Sends BIPA Claim Accrual Question to Illinois Supreme Court,” Workplace Class Action Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, December 22, 2021
Co-Author, “Court Declines To Enjoin Employer’s Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy,” Workplace Class Action Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, September 29, 2021
Co-Author, “In Precedent Setting Ruling, Texas Federal Court Dismisses Employees’ Wrongful Termination Suit Regarding Refusal to Receive COVID-19 Vaccine,” Workplace Class Action Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, June 23, 2021
Co-Author, “Primer on The Line Between Proper and Improper Communications with Parties in a Class Action,” Workplace Class Action Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, January 28, 2021
Co-Author, “A Busy Year in Workplace Class Action Litigation is Expected,” Law360, January 8, 2021
Co-Author, “Leaving the Laches Open: Federal Court Denies Employer’s Dispositive Motions Despite EEOC’s Seven-Year Delay In Filing Suit,” EEOC Year-End Countdown Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, November 23, 2020
Co-Author, “Petition for Additional Attorneys’ Fees Denied by D.C. Court in Largest Employment Discrimination Class Action Settlement in U.S. History,” Workplace Class Action Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, November 11, 2020
Selected Speaking Engagements
- Co-Presenter, "Understanding the EEOC Strategic Plan," Law Practice CLE Webinar, December 2, 2022
Speaker, “Insight on the Viability of Class Waivers in the Era of COVID-19,” American Bar Association Webinar, December 16, 2020
Speaker, “Mastering Qui Tam, False Claims and Class Actions,” The Rossdale Group CLE Seminar, October 15, 2020
Speaker, “Employment Class Actions: The 2020 Landscape Explored,” The Knowledge Group Live Webcast, October 8, 2020
Speaker, “Settling Wage/Hour Claims,” Strafford Publications Webinar, September 22, 2020
Speaker, “Personal Jurisdiction and Article III Standing in Class Actions,” Strafford Publications Webinar, July 28, 2020
Speaker, “Class Certification: Trends, Developments and Effective Strategies,” The Knowledge Group Live Webcast, February 11, 2020
Speaker, “Class Action Litigation in 2019: Trends and Updates to Watch For,” The Knowledge Group Live Webcast, August 20, 2019
Speaker, “FLSA Collective Action Certification and Decertification Strategies,” Law Practice CLE, August 8, 2019
Speaker, “Workplace Class Action Litigation: Navigating Trends, Developments and Issues,” The Knowledge Group Live Webcast, June 25, 2019
Speaker, “EPLI Decision-Making for Wage & Hour Claims,” ACI’s 32nd Annual Wage and Hour Claims and Class Actions Conference, June 25, 2019
Speaker, “FLSA Collective Action Conditional Certification and Decertification Strategies,” Strafford Publications Webinars, June 19, 2019
Speaker, “Employment Litigation and Claim Settlements: Maximizing Tax Benefits, Avoiding Penalties When Allocating Proceeds,” Strafford Publications Webinars, May 1, 2019
Speaker, “2019 Workplace Class Action Litigation Report Webinar,” Legal Executive Institute, Thomson Reuters, March 26, 2019
Speaker, “Wage and Hour Class Actions: Looking Back and What’s Ahead,” The Knowledge Group Webinar, January 17, 2019
Speaker, “How and Why Employers Must Create Reasonable Accommodations Under The ADA,” Lexington Insurance Company Sponsored Webinar, August 1, 2018
Speaker, “FLSA Collective Action Conditional Certification and Decertification Strategies,” Strafford Publications Webinars, June 20, 2018
Speaker, “EEOC: Updates, Investigations and Enforcement in 2018,” The Knowledge Congress Live Webcast Series, May 9, 2018
Speaker, “Workplace Class Actions: Lessons from 2017 Settlement and Court Rulings, Preparing for 2018 and Beyond,” Strafford Publications Webinars, April 25, 2018
Speaker, “Class Action Litigation: Defense Strategies You Need to Know,” The Knowledge Group Live Webcast, December 12, 2017
Speaker, “FLSA Collective Action Conditional Certification and Decertification Strategies,” Strafford Publications Webinars, May 11, 2017
Speaker, “Joint Employer Liability in the Employment Discrimination Context,” American Conference Institute’s 8th Annual Forum on Defending and Managing Employment Discrimination Litigation, July 29, 2016
Speaker, “The EEOC's Proposed Revisions to EEO-1 Report: Time to Overhaul Your Payroll System?” The Knowledge Congress Live Webcast Series, September 19, 2016
Speaker, “Class Action Litigation: The Ins and Outs,” The Knowledge Congress Live Webcast Series, May 6, 2016
Speaker, “Strategies for Compliance With Upcoming Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Regulation Changes,” Lexington Insurance Company Sponsored Webinar, October 13, 2016
Speaker, “EEOC Conciliation Efforts: Reviewability - Truth and Consequences for Employers in 2016 and Beyond,” The Knowledge Congress Live Webcast Series, November 4, 2016
Speaker, “EEOC Conciliation Efforts: Reviewability - Truth and Consequences for Employers in 2015 and Beyond,” The Knowledge Congress Live Webcast Series, December 4, 2015
Speaker, “Legal Risks Facing the Staffing Industry,” Randstad North America Legal Committee Meeting, November 5, 2015
Speaker, “Key Trends In EEOC Litigation,” Retail Industry Leaders Association Webinar, August 19, 2015
Speaker, “Assault and Battery: Emerging Issues in Employer-Employee Litigation in 2015,” The Knowledge Congress Live Webcast Series, March 10, 2015
Speaker, “Defending Title VII Litigation: Rethinking Strategies After Recent Employee-Friendly Federal Court Rulings,” Strafford Publications Webinars, June 18, 2014
Speaker, “It’s Time to Re-Evaluate Workplace Arbitration,” Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, IMA Video Reference Library, May 8, 2014
Speaker, “Arbitrating Class/Collective Action Cases: The Next Frontier in ADR?” American Bar Association, ADR in Labor & Employment Law Midwinter Meeting, February 22, 2014
Speaker, “Wage and Hour Litigation and New Insurance Solutions,” Retail Law Conference, Phoenix, sponsored by Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), October 2013
Speaker, “Emerging Issues in Workplace Class Action Litigation,” The Knowledge Congress Webcast Series, June 2013.
Speaker, “Affordable Care Act: What Employers Need to Know,” HR Affinity Day Workshop, Planned Parenthood National Conference, sponsored by Lexington Insurance Company, April 2013
Speaker, “Workplace Class Actions and EEOC Litigation Trends for 2011,” Planned Parenthood National Conference, sponsored by Lexington Insurance Company, April 2011
Speaker, “On the Cutting Edge of Workplace Class Actions,” EPLI Webinar for Zurich Insurance, February 2011
Speaker, “Preserving Attorney-Client Privilege and Controlling Discovery,” Corporate Counsel College, International Association of Defense Counsel, April 2010
Speaker, “Dispute Resolution Clauses in Commercial Contracts,” Reinsurance Association of America, Re Contracts, June 2007