Overview
Heather credits her experience working full-time in office administration and human resources during law school for her seamless transition into management-side labor and employment law. The skills she developed as a legal secretary and office manager help strengthen her appreciation and understanding of clients’ concerns today and gave her the tools to be efficient, respectful and meticulous in her role as an attorney.
For 22 years, Heather has concentrated her practice in employment and labor counseling and litigation, including discrimination and trade secret / non-compete lawsuits, FLSA class actions, labor negotiations and arbitrations, affirmative action, OFCCP/DOL audits, BIPA and FINRA issues. She counsels on day-to-day operations, human resources, and management decisions regarding employees, practices and policies. Heather also works comfortably with FMLA/ADA, sexual harassment, affirmative action, union avoidance and other types of employee and management training. Her clients operate across the U.S. in industries like vending, health care, transportation, parking, automotive repair, construction, staffing, hospitality (restaurants/taverns), banking, nonprofits, IT, and manufacturing to name a few.
As co-chair of the firm's Labor & Employment & Benefits Service Group and as a thought leader in the labor and employment industry, Heather regularly contributes to the firm’s Labor & Employment Law Update, the vending industry’s National Automatic Merchandising Association, Vending Times and Vending Market Watch quarterly publications, and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce’s human resources advisory blog. She co-authored the 2019 Illinois Chamber of Commerce’s Illinois Employment Law Handbook, and frequently presents at the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Clear Law Institute, Chicago Bar Association, Lorman Education Services and NAMA-related conventions across the U.S.
As a prior co-chair of the firm’s Committee for Diversity and Inclusion, Heather managed a team charged with not only creating diversity awareness within the firm and its clients, but also executing strategies to recruit, retain and mentor attorneys and staff of all backgrounds. Additionally, Heather provides incomparable leadership to the firm’s younger attorneys; taking the time to mentor them and help them to develop into exceptional attorneys.
Experience
Membership & Involvement
- Professional Women’s Club of Chicago: Immediate Past President, 2016-2017; President, 2015-2016; Vice President, 2014-2015; Communications Committee Co-chair, 2012-2014; Communications Committee Co-Chair Board Member, 2012-2014
- Executive Committee Member: ProVisors, 2017-Present
- Advisory Council: Illinois Restaurant Association, 2020, 2021, 2022
- Member: National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) (Employment/Labor Knowledge Source Partner since 2003)
- Member: Illinois Chamber of Commerce (Employment Legislation Advisor)
- Member: Former Co-chair; Amundsen Davis Committee for Diversity and Inclusion
- Member: Defense Research Institute (DRI); American Bar Association; Chicago Bar Association; Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
- Volunteer/ Co-captain: Special Olympics Chicago, Polar Plunge Fundraiser, 2008-2022
- Volunteer: The Youth Campus, 2004–2011
- Volunteer: Children’s Home + Aid, 2012-2014
Honors
- Recognized as one of Automatic Merchandiser's Most Influential Women in Convenience Services: 2022
- 2015 Chicago Business Journal Women of Influence Honoree
- Recognized as a Pro to Know by Automatic Merchandiser and VendingMarketWatch: 2015
- Selected to the Illinois Super Lawyers List: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
- Selected to The Best Lawyers in America® in Employment Law - Management: 2023, 2024
- Received Lawyer Monthly Women in Law Award, USA: 2018
Resources & Insights
In the Media
Alerts
Speaking Engagements
Published Works
Blog
Contributing Author, SmithAmundsen's Labor & Employment Law Update, a labor and employment advisory blog.
Contributing Author, Illinois Chamber of Commerce's Chamber Dispatch, an HR advisory blog.
Blog Posts
Education on Demand
As organizations strive to be more welcoming to all team members and the public, internal discussions, trainings and policies regarding diversity, inclusivity and allyship are becoming more and more important. Join Heather Bailey and Julie Proscia as they discuss strategies to challenge bias and how to be an advocate and ally for a diverse workforce.
Research has proven that diverse teams drive better business performance, with the most diverse companies more likely than ever to outperform their less diverse peers. Diversity, inclusion and allyship are top of mind for many organizations, but many of us lack the knowledge, skills, or tools to take meaningful and long-term action.
How to avoid the 7 deadly sins and how to properly discipline health care employees while not creating exhibits and records that can exacerbate a fraud case or claims of malpractice, abuse or negligence.
In today’s society, discussions about politics, race, and religion will inevitably enter the workplace. How can employers maintain order and respect in the workplace in the face of free speech?
“Business as usual” will be anything but for the foreseeable future. Business owners need to evaluate the issues and risks as they prepare to return workers to the workplace.
Firm News
- Diversity, Inclusion and Allyship in the WorkplaceDiversity, Inclusion and Allyship in the Workplace
Heather Bailey and Julie Proscia will discuss diveristy, inclusion and allyship, and provide practical tips for businesses.
- Heather Bailey Recognized as a Top Author of 2021 by JD Supra for Employer Liability IssuesHeather Bailey Recognized as a Top Author of 2021 by JD Supra for Employer Liability Issues
Congratulations to Heather Bailey who was recognized by the 2022 JD Supra Reader’s Choice Awards as a top author in the subject of employer liability issues, among authors published on JD Supra in 2021.
- 30 SmithAmundsen Attorneys Included on 2022 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists30 SmithAmundsen Attorneys Included on 2022 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
Congratulations to all of our attorneys named to the 2022 Illinois Super Lawyers and 2022 Illinois Rising Stars lists!
- Federal Contractors’ Alert: Government Certification of Written Affirmative Action Plans is Here!Federal Contractors’ Alert: Government Certification of Written Affirmative Action Plans is Here!
Please join Heather Bailey as she covers what you need to do to prepare for certifying your affirmative action plans with the government, while covering the regulations related to females and minorities, as well as, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.
Services
- Affirmative Action
- Cannabis in the Workplace
- Class Action
- COVID-19 Resource Center & Task Force
- Employment Advice & Counsel
- Employment Litigation
- Equal Pay Compliance
- Government Regulation, Audit & Compliance
- Health Care
- Hospitality, Leisure & Tourism
- Labor, Employment, Benefits & Immigration
- Mandatory Training
- Staffing Agency, Independent Contractor & Contingent Workforce
- Traditional Labor & Union Relations
- Unfair Competition Counseling & Litigation
- Vaccine Mandates in the Workplace
- Wage & Hour
- Workplace Investigations
Education
The John Marshall Law School, J.D., 2001
Bowling Green State University, B.A., 1992
Admissions
- Illinois