Employment Separation Agreement

I had the pleasure of having Charlie Wysong represent me while negotiating a complicated separation agreement between myself and my employer. This took place late in my career. The settlement negotiated on my behalf was so beneficial to myself and my family that I was able to begin an early full retirement. I always recommend Mr. Wysong to my family, friends and anyone who finds themselves in need of legal representation.

Graduate Student Academic Grievance Hearing

Charlie Wysong is a dedicated attorney committed to client-first solutions. In my search for legal counsel, it was hard to find a firm well versed in the complexities of graduate academic issues like promotions, grievance hearings, and discrimination. And then I came across HSPRD. Charlie took the time to research the policies and laws in a space that often favors academic institutions. In the limited time that we had to put a case together, Charlie was attentive, responsive and supportive. From beginning to end, Charlie offered his expert opinion while leaving room for my priorities. I’m certain that the guidance that Charlie provided added a level of expertise and professionalism necessary to successfully see this process through.

False Claims Act Whistleblower Lawsuit

Charlie Wysong is the most competent and tenacious attorney I have been privileged to work with during my career in healthcare leadership and government service. From the beginning, Charlie was truthful and acknowledged the complexity of Medicare regulations and the rules governing oversight of Medicare Advantage plans that were at the heart of the case. He methodically identified the relevant facts, as he skillfully assisted me in distilling the alleged fraudulent activities into a cogent legal argument. His support and encouragement sustained my resolve to persevere throughout the process. I attribute the successful outcome of the case to Charlie’s expertise, attention to detail, professional demeanor, and belief in the validity of the claim.

Separation Agreement

Deane and Margaret demonstrated impeccable professionalism in assisting me with my separation agreement matter. It was a pleasure working with each of them during a very stressful time in my career – having their support gave me peace of mind that I was in great hands throughout the process.

Key highlights:
– Rapidly responsive to my questions
– Keen insight into the specific matter, with detailed research that supported our arguments
– Ability to ask the right questions to understand the nuances of a complex problem statement
– Terrific negotiators

I would not hesitate to provide my highest recommendation to Deane and Margaret.

Employment

I had the pleasure of working with Deane and Margaret during a very difficult time in my career. Both of them made it more bearable by responding to emails quickly and keeping me well informed of all the processes that took place, as well as my options. I highly recommend working with them both and have referred several individuals to them. Hopefully I never need an employment attorney again, but if I do, I will surely return here.

I believe it was destined for me to meet Bill solely by accident so my life can change 180 degrees. I was randomly selected for a diversity visa (DV) and I wanted to adjust my status (AoS) while in the US as I had a job with an H1-b visa then. Initially, I filed my DS-260 application requesting to have my DV interview in a consulate outside the US. But, because of COVID, consular interviews were delayed and I found a job in the USA in June. I have consulted many attorneys who were not excited to take my case as AoS takes 1-2 years while I only had 3 months for my case to get approved. However, Bill decided to take the risk and was confident that there was a very good chance of success if we have planned it right.

From day one, Bill and his associate (Naiara) worked tirelessly to get my paperwork done.
Their efforts, efficiency, swiftness, and professionalism were like no other! They updated me every day and every step of the way. They made contacting and communicating with them super easy and accessible. They knew exactly what they were doing from the beginning, always anticipated what might go wrong and had plan B for them. Their enormous effort in contacting KCC (which was extremely difficult then) and pushing them to the limits made THE difference.

I have no single doubt that they will be my first choice in all future immigration issues/queries, either for me or for my family and friends.

William Schiller and Naiara Testai helped me with a issue regarding replacement immigrant visas. They were very knowledgeable and worked to resolve the problem as quickly as possible. Communications were fast and thorough during the process. They were also patient and compassionate; it was a pleasure to work with them.

HSPRD (and, specifically, Attorney Kate Schwartz) handled an employment matter for me recently. It was an emotional experience, and came at a time when I was very vulnerable. Ms. Schwartz was outstanding in two ways: First, she has a keen knowledge of applicable laws, and is brilliant in expressing that. She also is quick to conclude challenging legal matters effectively and efficiently. Second, Ms. Schwartz is exceptionally caring and never made me feel like I was just another client, just another case. She made it clear that she truly cared what happened to me, and truly wanted to help. I highly recommend HSPRD and Kate Schwartz.

My representation was 1st class, to me since day one, clear and understandable and responsible. Kate E. Schwartz was the professional that attended my legal needs and I was greatly honored to have her as my representative.

Employment

Kate was exceptional to work with throughout the legal process. She was kind and empathetic to my situation, strategic and knowledgeable in how to best approach resolution, and ultimately helped me achieve the best-case outcome. Kate is an excellent employment attorney and I would recommend her to anyone who finds themselves in the unfortunate situation of needing an employment attorney.

Domestic Violence Disclosure Discrimination

No one expects to find themselves in this situation, but when it happens, choose legal counsel wisely. I am a female executive with over 2 decades as a top leader, with global personal brand eminence, and I love to win, especially as a team. My personal life took an unexpected turn into domestic violence, and after disclosing the situation to my employer, I was terminated. Going through a contentious divorce, 2 kids in college, and having fled my home for safety, this happened. Lori Deem was my confidant and heroine. Not only because we deeply partnered and she drove a more lucrative and fairer outcome on my behalf, but also as an objective, kind human, who listened, shot me straight, and validated what happened to me. Not only did she negotiate a more favorable outcome, but her support, both professionally and emotionally, allowed me to process my situation much faster and put it behind me, to focus on my future. She included a colleague, Kate Schwarz, on our calls, who I also love! She is a great listener, intelligent, and added additional insights that helped all of us approach with the most solid strategy. The best part is that I gained new friends whom I know I will be in touch with and work with as I engage in my next endeavor. Thank you, Lori. Thank you, Kate. Thank you both for believing in me, counseling me, supporting me, and winning together! I hate we met this way, but I’m eternally grateful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I had the best experience ever with this business! Kate Schwartz was amazing! I wouldn’t hesitate a second if I needed their services again. I’d recommend this business to anyone looking to receive top notch customer service!

FOIA Litigation

Liz is a fantastic lawyer and great to have in your corner.  She is confident, but not arrogant; attentive, and not aloof to the wishes of the client.  She is extremely intelligent, competent, and eager to litigate a case to the fullest extend possible.

Liz is easily one of the best attorneys I have ever had representing me, and will definitely be my first choice in counsel on any future FOIA litigation.

Mark Dym and his team has serviced the Allen family legal needs for 30+ years. Not once have we doubted their loyalty, honesty or commitment. Always advising us with the best interest in mind and the display of genuine support not just as clients, but like family. It’s an honor to write this review as I am proud to say this legal team knows the law and has my back! I’m huge on great customer service, it’s rare and hard to find. Thanks Mark and team.

Executive Employment Agreement

Absolute pleasure, exceptionally professional and personable, very relevant experience for my needed decision support.

Severance negotiation

Lori is a terrific listener, and cares to be understanding, compassionate, and patient…we found common ground quickly, which helped resolve my issue promptly.

Employment Contract

Negotiations for employment contract w a PE firm. Lori is excellent to work with. Have and will recommend her always

Termination and severance negations

Lori provided me with knowledge, education and an understanding of the process for which I was experiencing. She listened to me and intuitively focused in on my situation, feelings and needs. Lori was very responsive to my timeline and guided me through an unfamiliar path.

Thank you so much Lori.

Employment Documentation and Contracts

Lori was incredibly helpful! She reviewed documentation for a former employer as well as contracts for a new employer. She offered assuring, trustworthy advice that helped me navigate the processes. I appreciated that she was responsive over email, provided detailed responses to my questions, and understood my concerns – especially during the timely and stressful negotiation process with my new employer. I cannot recommend her enough.

Employment Agreement Negotiation and Review

Lori was extremely responsive and incredibly insightful during the negotiating process of my employment agreement associated with the merger of my firm with a leading global alternative investment firm. Lori worked within a tight timeframe to provide me with the best possible outcome. She was incredibly efficient and offered terrific advice and suggestions during the negotiating process. Lori was able to draw upon her vast array of knowledge and familiarity in the space to help craft a document that protected my downside and addressed any holes or inconsistencies across several documents and firm policies and procedures. I really felt like I was in terrific hands and I could rely on Lori’s advice and industry acumen. I would highly recommend Lori to anyone looking for employment advice and document review.

Separation Agreement

Lori was simply fantastic! I had a short time window to execute an agreement due to holidays and end of year. Lori was not only very knowledgeable of the law and my options, but also helped me negotiate a larger package than originally offered. Most importantly, she truly cared. Even though she had multiple projects going on with numerous other clients, Lori always made time for me and made me feel like I was her top priority. Lori is a true professional and is great in the employment law space. I highly recommend her.

Domestic Violence Disclosure Discrimination

No one expects to find themselves in this situation, but when it happens, choose legal counsel wisely. I am a female executive with over 2 decades as a top leader, with global personal brand eminence, and I love to win, especially as a team. My personal life took an unexpected turn into domestic violence, and after disclosing the situation to my employer, I was terminated. Going through a contentious divorce, 2 kids in college, and having fled my home for safety, this happened. Lori Deem was my confidant and heroine. Not only because we deeply partnered and she drove a more lucrative and fairer outcome on my behalf, but also as an objective, kind human, who listened, shot me straight, and validated what happened to me. Not only did she negotiate a more favorable outcome, but her support, both professionally and emotionally, allowed me to process my situation much faster and put it behind me, to focus on my future. She included a colleague, Kate Schwarz, on our calls, who I also love! She is a great listener, intelligent, and added additional insights that helped all of us approach with the most solid strategy. The best part is that I gained new friends whom I know I will be in touch with and work with as I engage in my next endeavor. Thank you, Lori. Thank you, Kate. Thank you both for believing in me, counseling me, supporting me, and winning together! I hate we met this way, but I’m eternally grateful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Advice on and Review of Executive Employment Agreement

I reached out to Lori because I knew she would be able to quickly focus my attention on the key issues for consideration as I negotiated my employment agreement. The review of the terms was one thing, but the discussion related to contextual considerations was next level. I ultimately didn’t push for everything, but that was my decision. Lori provided me with the ammunition to respond back in real time and helped me prioritize on those elements that were most important. I have and will continue to recommend Lori to anyone in need of similar advice and counsel.

Assessing if any legal action was required as I exited my previous employer in March of 2023.

Lori was very thorough and spent the necessary time to help me assess all my legal rights and options as I left my previous company. She took the time to listen to my side of the story, while educating me on what a realistic outcome would/could be that was in my best interest.

I would definitely utilize Lori for future issues or concerns.

Severance Agreement Negotiation

Lori is the best. She really listened to me when I presented her with my situation, quickly discerned the legally significant events, and ultimately secured a more generous and fair severance package. Lori is incredibly knowledgeable about the legal options that are available and perhaps more importantly, she has expert instincts about how to approach opposing counsel. She achieved a positive outcome without unnecessary escalation and that was really important to me. I felt well-represented and recommend her without reservation. On a personal note, Lori really cares and our conversations were very affirming which helped me process and catalog this experience in a healthy way.

Workplace harassment and sexual discrimination

Lori took my call when her schedule was packed. Not only did she initially speak to me on a non-billable basis, but despite her busy schedule, she listened wholeheartedly. I felt heard and supported throughout months of discourse and negotiation. More than anything, Lori was tenacious in defending my interests, and she encouraged me to continue when I doubted that my experiences warranted legal recourse. She had the utmost patience and grace from the beginning of our process until the end. As a woman in a male-dominated industry, I was elated to have such a strong, brilliant woman representing me in my time of need. Lori is irreplaceable. Although I do not wish for anyone to encounter the obstacles I have, it is my hope that whomever is in need has Lori on his/ her side. I am certain that if they do, Lori will treat them with the dignity, respect, and compassion that has led me to trust her with my livelihood.

Executive Compensation Plan

Lori Deem is an outstanding attorney. I have worked with her on two different situations (negotiating an exit package from my former employer and reviewing an executive compensation package for a new CEO role). She is extremely knowledgeable and responsive and I have already referred her to 3 other people in similar situations in the last month. I would strongly recommend Lori Deem.

Employment Agreements & Non-Competition Waiver Negotiation

Deane has represented me in the negotiation of two C-level employment agreements and one very challenging (and successful) negotiation to waive a non-competition agreement. Her experience and skills are impressive and her approach direct, confident, and efficient. I will always turn to Deane for counsel and highly recommend that others do the same.

Employment Contract

Deane Brown is one of the most professional, thoughtful attorneys that I have encountered. She helped me negotiate a 16 page employment contract for a CEO position with many intricate, difficult clauses. She helped me clarify my goals, my dealbreakers, and my negotiation points. She also highlighted several Watch Outs and potential points of litigation that I had not thought of. She was able to help me negotiate the deal that worked best for me and my family.
Deane Brown brings to the table that rare and highly coveted quality in a lawyer – the ability to highlight legal risk while also thinking like a businessperson. I highly recommend her services to any C Suite executive looking for a partner in negotiating a sophisticated employment contract.

FMLA Discrimination

My ex-employer, based in Silicon Valley let me go due to performance related reasons, after I requested parental leave following the birth of my child. Deane and her team worked with me and took over the conversation with my ex-employer’s HR department. They requested my employment files and made me feel taken care of. Over a handful of sessions, we documented my time working, projects I was in charge of, and people I managed. In the end, we figured out there wasn’t any real performance related reasons I was let go, but instead it was discrimination against my rights as a parent to take leave under FMLA. Deane and her team were able to recover a large, multi-month compensation package I would have not received based on the severance I was originally offered. My family is forever grateful for all her help in serving justice through employment law. I would highly recommend Deane and her team anytime you’re dealing with losing a job wrongfully or even negotiating terms of a new job.

Wrongful termination / Discrimination

Deane helped me tremendously through some of the darkness periods of my life. She is true expert in her field and I would strongly recommend her to protect your career while fighting for your rights. She is not just any lawyer; she cares deeply about people and has the right emotional intelligence needed to navigate you through very painful processes. I’m forever grateful to Deane and wouldn’t call on anyone else to serve me again.

Discrimination and unfair dismissal

I was referred to Deane through words of mouth. Deane is experienced and competent; more importantly, she is relatable and empathetic to her clients. She has this amazing ability to build trust from our first phone conversation, in my most distressed moment. Throughout our exchanges, Deane remains extremely professional and responsive. I also felt she had my interest at heart and watched out for me to maximize my benefit. My case settled satisfactorily. I would recommend Deane to anyone in a heartbeat.

Employment

What was I looking for in an attorney to represent me and my interests? Exceptional knowledge in their field, proven track record, creativity, objectivity, and transparency. I had the absolute pleasure of working with Deane and her team on an employment dispute. I spoke to 2 other attorneys before retaining Deane. I chose her as other attorneys gave pretty lazy advice and did not appear to have creativity or legal grasp of how to apply the law in a nuanced way. Deane is an expert in her field and was very responsive, responding to emails normally in an hour or less. She provided sound, objective advice which ultimately resulted in an acceptable settlement for my case. She is an excellent negotiator and has a good grasp as to how far we can stretch those negotiations. I’m certain I would not have achieved the desired results without her on my side.

Employment Contract Related

From my very first conversation with Deane, I felt like I was in good hands. She patiently listened to the issue on hand and requested additional information which I provided. From there, she steered the conversation to sharing with me the options available to me and pros/cons of each. She was logical, supportive and gave me the best advice when I requested an opinion. More than anything, I have found her to be knowledgeable and extremely responsive no matter when I emailed/called her. Deane is a rockstar and I couldn’t recommend her enough! All my friends know who to call should they ever need someone to represent them. THANK YOU Deane!

Employment matter

Deane was knowledgeable, helpful, and communicated promptly with me throughout the matter. She explained things very well so that I could make informed decisions and carefully and thoroughly guided me through the process. I highly recommend Deane.

Disability, Gender and Age Discrimination

Several colleagues recommended Deane Brown to me when I found myself a victim of disability, gender, and age discrimination. During a very stressful time, Deane was compassionate and empathetic while explaining the process and next steps. She skillfully assisted with severance negotiation to reach a very favorable resolution. What I appreciated most about Deane was her impeccable responsiveness and follow up. Deane is very experienced in representing senior executives in all types of employment matters and I would highly recommend her.

Executive Separation

Deane helped me navigate a thorny executive separation. She’s not only an expert in her field but also a highly skilled negotiator. She knew exactly how and when to use leverage to our benefit and held my hand every step of the way. Above all, though, Deane was a fierce advocate for me. I knew she had my back and wanted the best outcome as much as I did. She is a true champion for women in the workplace.

P.S. Her reputation definitely precedes her. The opposing counsel knew Deane and the negotiation went flawlessly.

Employment

Deane is a legal advocate you want in your corner. She advised and supported me during a very difficult severance negotiation. Empathetic and incredibly responsive, Deane understood all the nuances involved and any downstream or tangential impact of an end result. She keeps you focused on the end goal yet balances this with her kind understanding of a challenging situation. I always knew Deane was rooting for my personal and professional success.

Unjustified Termination of Partner - No Prior Notifications or Evidence of less than ideal performance

I was unexpectedly notified of my termination as a partner in a large international firm. I was provided a horrible severance package after numerous years of service and strong track record of success. I originally had another well-known attorney in town, but this person delegated to a very junior person and I did not feel that I was in capable hands. Deane was referred to me as the person opposing counsel dread to have across the table because of her excellent reputation for fighting for her clients. This is exactly what Deane did for me. I went from having an attorney where I felt helpless to one who was there every step of the way and consistently provided good counsel. She was upfront in telling me that she will only take cases where she feels that there is an outcome of success in excess of her fees. She is a candid partner that will completely champion for her clients to get the best outcome and also, guide you through this painful process with confidence. I had a significantly better outcome with Deane as my counsel and can not say enough about her professionalism, skill and tenacity. I have referred her to three other individuals as a result of my experience and they engaged her with similar outcomes.

Employment Law (Severance Negotiations, Employment Discrimination Claims and Retaliatory Discharge)

I found Deane to be extremely diligent, thorough, and resourceful. During negotiations, she took a practical and balanced approach in discussing the pros and cons of the case from all perspectives. Her research and historical overview of similar cases was spot on. I also appreciated the efforts of Clayton “Tex” Pasley in assisting her with the case. Both staff worked quickly through the process of researching and resolving my case. My case was put on a brief hiatus (several months) when my employer made some short-term concessions; once it became clear that we would eventually be parting ways, Deane and her team picked up where we had left things and moved rapidly toward a speedy resolution.

I was very surprised (and grateful) when Deane also offered advice on how the payout and medical insurance should be executed to give me the maximum benefit. Overall, I truly felt as if I was treated as a multimillion dollar client.

Wrongful Termination, Employment Discrimination

Deane is phenomenal. During what was easily the most stressful situation of my professional career, Deane not only represented me with determination and tenacity, she also supported and encouraged me throughout the entire ordeal. The written products her team produced were outstanding and represented me authentically. Deane helped me feel empowered to approach these difficult circumstances with courage and confidence. The end outcome in my situation was as positive as possible, and I was very pleased with the final settlement. Deane helped me retain and even boost my professional reputation and integrity against difficult odds. Despite the severity of the situation, I am so pleased that I connected with Deane and benefitted from her stellar legal counsel. I was enormously grateful to have Deane in my corner. For any future employment legal matters (hopefully more positive ones ahead!) Deane will be the first person I call.

Age Discrimnation

Deane was extremely knowledgeable and professional in every aspect. Her guidance and counsel were always outstanding and spot on resulting in a very favorable conclusion. I would highly recommend Deane as one of the best in her profession!

Employment

I had the pleasure of working with Deane and Margaret during a very difficult time in my career. Both of them made it more bearable by responding to emails quickly and keeping me well informed of all the processes that took place, as well as my options. I highly recommend working with them both and have referred several individuals to them. Hopefully I never need an employment attorney again, but if I do, I will surely return here.

Discrimination/Wrongful Termination

I am beyond thankful for Deane Brown. She helped me navigate through a really difficult time/situation. She actively would listen to my concerns and took the time to educate me throughout this entire process. She was a straight shooter and put my best interest first. Deane went to battle for me and did not let me get taken advantage of. I am truly thankful for Deane and highly recommend her and her team.

Separation Agreement

Deane is no nonsense and very knowledgeable. From day one I felt as though I had an empathetic leader of my cause. Excellent communicator and she’s appropriately aggressive with professionalism and drive.

Severance & Discrimination

I had a great experience working with Deane and her team on a difficult case during what was a very stressful situation for me. Deane was able to help me explore all of the possible paths forward and advocate for me where I otherwise wouldn’t have had a voice. She also impressively stayed on top of minute details of my case which I couldn’t even remember (quite impressive since I’m sure she has a large workload!). Deane was very professional, but also was supportive and empathetic to what I was personally going through. I have continued to reach out to Deane for other employment questions and have recommended her to several friends and colleagues.

Severance Negotiations

I worked with Deane Brown on different cases and we successfully resolved all of them. This was definitely attributable to her knowledge, experience being very methodical in her work, and making sure she left no stone unturned. As an employee, one feels overwhelmed to stand up to a big and resourceful corporation but working with Deane made me feel I had someone very strong that could successfully represent me and we did succeed.
I strongly recommend her.

Wrongful Termination

After talking to several lawyers, I knew Deane was the right one. She was referred to me by a friend, who is head of HR at his company, because she won so many cases! Deane walked me through the process, explained my options, and discussed the possible outcomes. She was very insightful and communicated at just the right level. Invoices were clear and billing was reasonable. Deane had a balanced approach – she held my hand when needed and pushed me when necessary. I was very happy with the outcome and have referred Deane to several friends.

Whistleblower/Wrongful termination

Deane is exactly the advocate I needed during a difficult time. She really knows her stuff and she tells it like it is. She’s compassionate, but realistic. When she was recommended to me I wasn’t sure how strong my claim was because it was so complicated. She listened, did a little research and got back to me with a plan in no time. I highly recommend Deane and HSPRD.

Employment

I was really fortunate to have been introduced to Deane at a low point in my 25+ year career. She really dug into the wrongful termination and helped me negotiate a favorable settlement package when I departed in 2021, and also reviewed new offers and provided great counsel. I would highly recommend her.

Workplace Harassment

Deane and her team did a fantastic job of walking me through the process. I was under a time constraint and her team moved quickly and we came to a mutually agreeable settlement. I have referred Deane to a few other people and have heard nothing but raves about the Deane Brown team!

Age discrimination

I had the pleasure of working with Deanne Brown when I was let go from my sales position after 25 years of service. I was a top sales producer. I was let go due to my age and Deane was the perfect attorney to represent me. She was professional, attentive and laid out my entire case beautifully. She responded quickly to all my questions and concerns. The company offered me the minimum severance until I retained Deane. She left no stone unturned and let this big company know what happened to me was not only wrong more importantly, it was illegal and we had evidence to prove it. I liked her direct no nonsense approach. I wound up settling for nearly double of the original offer. Her sound legal advice not only helped me get a severance that I was deserving, it also helped me move on during a painful period. I am married to a lawyer and he continues to applaud how Deane and her firm handled my case.

EEO infraction claim

Deane was, from the very start, approachable and engaged in my case. She did a thorough assessment of my situation and created a plan of attack in short order (required due to statute of limitations for filing). As the case unfolded, she stayed engaged and pressed for resolution when the other side was dragging their feet. Similarly, she called out red herrings, and incorrect /illogical statements made by the opposing party and leveraged these to obtain a better outcome for me. She was quite reasonable and, at no point did I feel as though she was wavering in her support for me. She is an attorney who fights for the worker, despite the size and heft of any corporate machine.
I wholeheartedly endorse her services.

Severance Package

I worked for a company for over 20 years, had a great career there and was promoted several times due to performance and leadership. Unfortunately, I was part of a workforce reduction in the middle of the pandemic. I quickly found out, it was not financial based as indicated. I was replaced immediately by a much younger woman from an overseas office, with no experience in my field of work, nor at the senior level. I received a simple standard severance package, and wasn’t even sure I had legal grounds to ask for more. Luckily, I was referred to Deane from an attorney who worked with my husband’s company. I appreciated Deane’s straight forward approach, her negotiations with my former employer and her advice. She was able to negotiate a much stronger package with higher compensation and benefits. I feel fortunate that a difficult situation worked out with a more positive outcome and I know that was possible because of her. I highly recommend Deane.

Harassment/Discrimination

I found Deane through a referral from another attorney who represented employers. I was looking for “the best” employee representative attorney in Illinois and Deane is that attorney. From the first conversation I had with Deane I knew she would help me to have a fair exit from a very difficult employment situation. Deane is a strong negotiator who kept me informed throughout the negotiation process. She was excellent at helping me understand my options and deciding what would be the best choice for my situation. Deane was very accessible and answered messages/calls seemingly 24/7. Deane has a quick witted sense of humor that I found enjoyable during this very stressful time in my life. I truly believe Deane cares about her clients.
I highly recommend Deane B. Brown to anyone who is seeking “the best” employee representative attorney in Illinois. You will be in good hands!

Claim

After finding myself in an unexpected situation having taken a job on good faith that was promised to be one thing and then turned out to be something else entirely, I found myself in a position I never expected to be in. I needed legal help.

Deane Brown was referred to me by a dear friend. From the time I engaged Deane to the time my situation was settled and beyond she was consistently empathetic and compassionate while providing me with a sound legal approach to this unforeseen circumstance. Deane and her team helped me to get to a much better place and put this situation behind me as she negotiated a suitable outcome for me.

If anyone finds themselves in a circumstance that lends itself to needing legal advice/support, I’d highly recommend Deane Brown and her team. She was highly strategic, confident, empathetic, responsive, and focused. She really helped me to navigate some very choppy waters during an incredibly difficult time in my life.

I am grateful to Deane and her team and I would highly recommend them for anyone who is needing legal support for employment issues.

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Employment Discrimination and Wrongful Termination

After 9 years of service and a high level of performance, new executive management came in and started to systematically eliminate legacy employees. This was very unfair and I was lucky enough to get in contact with Deane. She was amazing right from our first call. When the time was right, she took over all communication with my employer and negotiated a severance package that was greatly in my favor! If you find yourself in a similar situation, you absolutely need to contact Deane.

Sr Executive Separation

Given a case with little in terms of a legal position, Deane achieved a remarkable and rare outcome.

She represented me, a retired executive who had joined a private company as a part time executive at the request of the CEO. My role which I held for 3 1/2 years was to help prepare the company with plans, strategies and investments for its eventual transition, for which I was paid a salary with full benefits including health insurance. No contracts, employment at will.

Upon the CEO’s unexpected death, my role was eliminated with an abrupt termination. With only expectations of long-term employment and benefits based on largely informal conversations with the late CEO, I came to Deane for help.

I essentially had no viable legal recourse, so my leverage had to come from intangibles such as reputation and confidentiality. Unfazed, Deane helped me devise a plan and approach that was perfectly balanced. I appreciated the time she took to understand the unique elements of the company and my relationship with it. In fact it was here were we found the nuances that ultimately led to the successful final resolution.

The total value of this resolution far exceeded any expectation I had, let alone one that any rational expert would have as well!

Finally, Deane was a pleasure to work with personally. She’s very professional and appropriately all-business when required, but engaging and caring as well. We had some laughs too! It was quite effective how, despite her aggressive leaning, she reigned me in to craft approaches and statements that were deft and impactful.

As I expect is the case with most clients, this was a difficult and emotional situation for me and I didn’t know what to expect. However from our first introductory call, Deane put me at ease with her straight-forward counsel, smart advice and great personality. The outcome she achieved was not only remarkable and honorable, but more importantly, protected the interests of my family in a very significant way.

I would recommend her to anyone.

Age and sex discrimination

Deane is a both a fierce advocate and a kind and empathetic person. When I messaged her at the crack of dawn on a Sunday, within minutes she messaged me back, asking that I call her. We spent probably a half an hour that very early morning discussing my case. I was astonished she would respond so quickly and with so much empathy. She knew I felt gutted. From that moment on I felt confident in her hands. She quickly educated me about the law in general and as it applied to my case. She always responded quickly to my calls. And she negotiated a stand-out settlement. There are many employment lawyers out there. I was fortunate to find one of the few who combines kindness with stellar skills. I will always feel thankful for what Deane did for me, and I cannot recommend her highly enough.

Two matters -- Employment discrimination and Board of Directors contract review

Deane Brown was highly recommended to me by a trusted colleague when I was faced with a very difficult situation at work. She was able to successfully guide me through the issues and resolve my concerns amicably. Today I am happily employed by the same firm primarily due to Deane’s expertise and professionalism.

A year later, I was offered an independent director board position and Deane was the first person I called. Again, she provided me with stellar advice regarding the director’s contract and negotiated very favorable terms for all parties.

I highly recommend Deane Brown for anything employment law related. Deane is extremely knowledgeable, personable and ethical attorney. I would trust her to represent me and my interests without hesitation.

Employment Agreement

Deane Brown is a no-nonsense, smart, extremely knowledgeable attorney. She reviewed and negotiated my employment agreement and secured everything I needed and wanted. She turned things around quickly and made sure I was protected. I highly recommend Deane for all employee matters. She is a rockstar!

Employment Issues

I have engaged Deane three times over the course of the past five years. Deane assisted me navigate some routine matters (employment agreements) as well as some unexpected and unwanted issues. I found her to be incredibly professional, responsive and crucial to my ability to achieve favorable outcomes.

I would highly recommend Deane and would employ her services again should the need arise.

Separation Agreement negotiation

Deane was a tremendous help to me during a stressful time. She provided balanced, practical and sound advice. I appreciated her direct and thoughtful approach. Deane was always available and responded timely. I attained the outcome that I was hoping for and attribute that outcome to Deane’s hard work.

I will look to leverage her expertise in the future.

Severance Agreement

Deane provided me great guidance and strategies with my severance agreement. Her knowledge and cool thinking achieved the outcome we were seeking. I highly recommend Deane she was amazing and would turn to her for future guidance and council.

Separation Agreement

Deane Brown is a passionate, caring, and savvy legal advocate for those who need the best, the brightest legal representation. You may find yourself at an unexpected professional crossroads. Deane will provide you with the legal facts to settle, arbitrate, or litigate the case. Separation agreements may include non-compete, non-solicit, confidentiality, and severance compensation. I highly recommend consulting Deane Brown regarding every aspect of executive employment.

Review and revisions to employment contracts

Deane did a great job working through each of the provisions in the proposed employment agreement as well as an equity agreement as part of some re-alignment of incentives. She was able to work through everything with counsel from the other side and we reached what I believe is a fair agreement. She was firm on things that were meant to protect my interests and did an excellent job getting those things as part of my agreements.

Employment

I am extremely happy that I reached out to Deane B. Brown when I was presented with an unsatisfactory employment separation agreement. Deane helped every step of the way, offering me meaningful advice and guidance as she negotiated with my employer, attaining a far better outcome than I could have achieved on my own. Throughout, her communication was outstanding; she was always quick to reply to my emails and was equally happy to schedule phone calls when needed. I unequivocally recommend Deane B. Brown to anyone who believes they’ve been treated less than fairly by their employer.

Separation Agreement

Excellent! Knew how to approach my case, suggestions on what has worked previously, was familiar with my company and contacts. Had the right suggestions on where we could push / be firm, and where it would be fruitless. Have made other recommendations to colleagues to work with Deane, the firm. Highly recommend.

Separation Agreement

Deane and Margaret demonstrated impeccable professionalism in assisting me with my separation agreement matter. It was a pleasure working with each of them during a very stressful time in my career – having their support gave me peace of mind that I was in great hands throughout the process.

Key highlights:
– Rapidly responsive to my questions
– Keen insight into the specific matter, with detailed research that supported our arguments
– Ability to ask the right questions to understand the nuances of a complex problem statement
– Terrific negotiators

I would not hesitate to provide my highest recommendation to Deane and Margaret.

I am very limited in knowledge about any legal terms/documentation so it was very difficult to understand some paperwork I received. Matt Arnold was the first one to finally provide an easier explanation to help me understand what next steps to take. He provided very helpful guidance and tips and I really really appreciate it!

My family and I have been happy clients of the firm on many different occasions. They have handled divorce and personal injury cases for us and they have always treated us like family and really gone the extra mile. They are the only firm my family and I will go to, hands down!

HSPRD has helped me with my legal needs, and each time I was more than satisfied with the results. I would recommend this law firm to anyone who is looking for dedicated attorneys that concentrates on delivering great results. They are my go to attorneys.

I had the pleasure of working with the team at HSPRD. From the very beginning, they demonstrated exceptional professionalism, expertise and dedication to my case. Their attention to detail and deep knowledge of the law made me feel confident and well-represented throughout the entire process.

I hired HSPRD and I was more than happy with their services. I felt like a part of their wonderful family from day one. HSPRD held the highest standards of professionalism and quality of services. The law firm has been very resourceful and responsive throughout my journey with them and that gave me a calming sense of peace and safety. I confidently recommend HSPRD because they are the best law firm in town!

Mark Dym and his team has serviced the Allen family legal needs for 30+ years. Not once have we doubted their loyalty, honesty or commitment. Always advising us with the best interest in mind and the display of genuine support not just as clients, but like family.  I'm huge on great customer service, it's rare and hard to find. Thank's Mark and team.

I was impressed by HSPRD's expertise and commitment to my case. They took the time to explain everything, making sure I was informed and confident. A real five-star experience!