Leigh has represented private and public sector employers in labor and employment matters for more than 25 years. Her litigation experience includes successfully advocating for clients in state and federal courts and administrative agencies across the country in harassment, discrimination, disability, and leave-related disputes, grievance arbitrations, unfair labor practices charges, and various administrative agency matters.
Leigh also has extensive experience investigating and handling matters filed with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, and other federal and state agencies. She has significant experience conducting neutral workplace investigations on behalf of employers in a wide range of industries. In addition, she has conducted investigations into allegations of workplace misconduct, including those alleging discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to accommodate, performance or misconduct issues, wage and hour violations, embezzlement, fraud, assault and battery, collective bargaining agreement violations, and ethics and compliance violations. Through the course of her career, Leigh has honed innovative and effective strategies for managing investigations and achieving clients’ objectives.
As part of her proactive approach to helping clients, Leigh frequently conducts training for employers on an array of employment matters, including the prevention of discrimination and harassment, supervisor best practices, and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Family Medical Leave Act. The Department of Justice, the EEOC, and other agencies have approved Leigh to provide required training in connection with consent decrees and conciliation agreements.
Leigh also regularly counsels clients to establish best practices and appropriate policies designed to minimize litigation risk. When issues arise, Leigh provides valuable advice concerning discipline and terminations, performance counseling, misconduct, leave and accommodation policies, harassment and discrimination complaints, fitness for duty considerations, union grievances, unfair labor practice allegations, and other labor and employment issues.
Before joining Michael Best, Leigh was Senior Counsel and Partner at two employment law boutique firms in Chicago. She also served as Director of the Sexual Harassment Prevention Office at Northwestern University. Previously, she founded and led her own labor and employment law firm. Leigh began her legal career as a labor and employment attorney at a major national firm.