Brent Knight

I have nearly 20 years of experience advocating for employers in class action labor and employment law matters. I have represented clients in state courts, federal courts, and before administrative agencies throughout the United States on claims brought pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the National Labor Relations Act, and a variety of state law counterparts, including extensive experience defending claims brought under the California Labor Code. Much of my work is at the cutting edge of labor and employment law, impacting not only his clients' businesses but setting precedent for employers nationwide. I have successfully defended several cases involving claims that McDonald's was a joint employer of its franchisee's employees under both state and federal law. I also successfully defended overtime claims at trial under California's Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). And I regularly advise clients regarding the enforceability of noncompetition agreements throughout the country, navigating the constantly evolving area of restrictive covenants. Representative clients in recent public matters include McDonald's, Publix Super Markets, Abbott Laboratories, Service Corporation International, and CrossCountry Mortgage. For the last five years, I have been a member of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice, a nonpartisan, independent research and advocacy organization that seeks to promote social justice by proposing solutions to barriers and inequities affecting vulnerable populations within our court systems. I also belong to the Illinois State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Specialties: Labor & Employment