Laura A. Balson

Laura is the managing partner of the firm’s Chicago office. She has broad experience counseling and advising employers across industries to help them manage and minimize risk. She conducts employment practice audits to identify unknown liabilities and assists in due diligence review during corporate transactions. Laura is also an experienced litigator who zealously represents employers in front of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Illinois Department of Human Rights, Cook County Commission on Human Rights, the Chicago Commission on Human Relations and other state and local administrative agencies. She acts as lead trial counsel on litigation in both state and federal courts and has argued appellate cases before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Laura also has extensive experience defending class and individual claims under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA”). Though BIPA became law in 2008, as biometric technology has become more and more common in the workplace, there has been a substantial rise in BIPA-related lawsuits, and Laura works with employers and insurers on compliance efforts, litigation defense and class settlement strategies.

Laura excels at translating complex legal concepts into practical recommendations that are actionable by business owners and executives. Her approach is rooted in a commitment to understanding how legal issues impact the client’s business.

Laura is a sought-after speaker and writer on new legal developments impacting employers. She also regularly conducts seminars and training sessions for client employees, including mandatory sexual harassment prevention training and diversity, equity and inclusion training.

• Emerging Lawyer, Leading Lawyers Magazine (2015-2020)
• Leading Lawyer, Leading Lawyers Magazine (2022)
• Illinois Super Lawyers^® Rising Star (2010-2020)
• Illinois Super Lawyers^® (2022-2025)
• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^® for Employment Law - Management (2024-2025)
• Chambers USA Guide^® (2024)

• American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
• Federal Bar Association
• Illinois State Bar Association
• Chicago Bar Association
• ProVisors - Chicago
• Illinois Federation of Business and Professional Women (Downtown Chicago Chapter President, 2007-2008)
• Society of Human Resource Professionals (Chicago Diversity Committee Leadership Team, 2015)

Laura lives in the suburbs of Chicago with her husband and two children. She loves cooking for others and if she wasn’t a lawyer, she would have become a professional chef.