Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D., High Honors, 1996
Senior Associate, Chicago-Kent Law Review
Kent Legal Scholars
Order of Coif
AmjurAward – Legal Writing
As a partner in the firm, Ellen Rothenberg concentrates her practice in the areas of labor and employment law. Ellen focuses her work on traditional labor issues including managing grievances/arbitrations, unfair labor practice charges, and collective bargaining. She also handles a broad spectrum of personnel matters, including counseling clients on leave of absence issues, navigating disability related matters, guiding difficult employee performance concerns, drafting employment contracts, and advising on employee discipline and dismissal issues. In addition, Ellen has extensive experience working with clients on investigating employee misconduct claims and counseling clients toward a sound, practical resolution. Ellen’s experience also spans practicing before a variety of administrative agencies, including the EEOC, IDHR and the IELRB, as well as conducting administrative hearings in a variety of forums.
Clients turn to Ellen for her innovative and effective skills managing complex employee discipline matters and the difficult balance between employee and management rights. She works with clients to provide creative solutions to complex school law issues including reductions in force, tenured teacher rights, the coordination of employee leave rights and managing labor relations and difficult union challenges.
Most important to Ellen, is spending time with her husband, three children, and dog. Ellen’s active family enjoys traveling, the great outdoors, and annual family ski trips. Passionate about running and cycling, Ellen often competes in triathlons.
National Council of School Attorneys, Member, 1996 – Present
Illinois Council of School Attorneys, 1996 – Present
Illinois State Bar Association, Member, 1996 – 2019
Jewish United Fund, Member,
Anti-Defamation League, Member
Leading Lawyers Network, 2021
Leaves of Absence With or Without COVID-19 Accommodation, co-presenter, Illinois Association of School Personnel Administrators, 2021
Labor Relations: Overview and Certification of the Bargaining Unit, Chapter of the 2021 IICLE School Law Edition: Personnel and Student Issues, 2021
Writing Evaluations that Withstand Scrutiny, co-presenter, Illinois Association of School Personnel Administrators, 2019
Reduction-in-Force, Discipline/Dismissal of Teachers, In-Service, 2017, 2018
