Overview

Kris has a multi-faceted management-side labor and employment practice. He represents employers in all areas of labor-management relations, including collective bargaining, labor arbitration, and litigation in state and federal courts, as well as the defense of employers before state and federal administrative agencies such as the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Wisconsin Equal Rights Division, among others.

Experience

Kris has significant experience in the following areas:

Labor

Kris has successfully served as first chair and chief spokesperson in collective bargaining on behalf of multinational and regional employers in both the U.S. and Canada. He represents employers in grievance arbitrations and union organizing campaigns, assists unionized clients with contract interpretation and administration, and defends clients against unfair labor practice charges and in representation actions before the National Labor Relations Board.

Litigation

Kris successfully defends multinational, regional, and small employers in state and federal discrimination matters as well as claims brought pursuant to state and federal Family and Medical Leave Acts, disability laws, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and state and federal wage and hour laws, including class action litigation, among others. He also defends employers in breach of contract, invasion of privacy, defamation, and employment-related tort actions. His litigation experience includes successfully defending clients up to and through jury trials.

Employer Counseling and Training

Kris also counsels employers concerning recruiting, hiring, discipline, and termination decisions. He crafts presentations and conducts training for management personnel; develops employment policies and handbooks; drafts effective employment contracts, including covenants not to compete and confidentiality agreements; conducts harassment and other investigations and provides counsel on appropriate disciplinary actions at closing; serves as lead counsel in disciplinary hearings; and provides interpretative and administrative advice concerning terms and conditions of collective bargaining agreements.

In addition to his legal practice, Kris served for a decade on the Board of Directors, including two years as Chairman of the Board, for Curative Care, a Southeastern Wisconsin non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of those with disabilities. Currently, he serves on Curative’s Foundation Board. Kris also currently serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the College of Letters & Sciences at his undergraduate alma mater, UW-Whitewater. Prior to attending law school at Marquette University, Kris played professional baseball in the Cleveland Indians organization, for which he was a starting pitcher for five seasons. He continues to assist local high school teams and youth programs on baseball skills development in his free time.

Honors & Recognitions

  • The Best Lawyers in America©, Employment Law – Management and Labor Law – Management, 2024-present
  •  Rising Stars, Wisconsin Super Lawyers, Employment and Labor section, 2011-2015

Professional Activities

  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association
  • Member, Milwaukee Bar Association
  • Member, Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM)

Education

Bar Admission

Court Admissions

Community Involvement

  • Past Chairman of the Board and current Foundation Board member, Curative Care Network
  • Member of Dean’s Advisory Board, College of Letters & Sciences, UW-Whitewater

Insights

Education

Bar Admission

Court Admissions

Community Involvement

  • Past Chairman of the Board and current Foundation Board member, Curative Care Network
  • Member of Dean’s Advisory Board, College of Letters & Sciences, UW-Whitewater
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