Ethan G. Zelizer

HR LAW COUNSEL (Ethan and his associates) have helped me on a couple of occasions, both times in contract litigation non-compete matters for my company. Ethan is a very quick study, picking up the nuances of the cases and dissecting their important components in short order. He is a bull dog and does...n't suffer fools. I take great pleasure in watching him work because he strives to SAVE his clients money by working efficiently and expediently -- and without the usual big-firm runaround that generates superfluous fees. He communicated well with me and kept me engaged on the best ways to proceed and the appropriate timing whenever appropriate (also a nice change from my typical experiences with attorneys). These were two very different cases and from opposite sides of the courtroom and in two different jurisdictions (Illinois and then Missouri), but in both cases we prevailed fully and completely. I would fully endorse him and wouldn’t hesitate to call him if the need should arise (though I hope it doesn’t)!

We approached Ethan requiring a complicated intellectual property and restrictive covenant contract to be advised/negotiated/written/monitored to protect our business against IP theft and unfair competition. We were acquiring a small competitor and there was a good chance we would lose a few of their... key employees. Everything was well explained, helping us understand all the legal jargon and keeping us informed every step in the process. He took a challenging and at times aggravating experience and made it hassle free for our us. We continue to use Ethan's expertise for our ongoing legal/compliance needs and would certainly recommend him because having an attorney like Ethan as part of the team will pay for itself many times over.

I had a very positive experience with Ethan. I am a LGBT executive-level employee that was unceremoniously terminated in violation of my employment contract with a large pharmaceutical company. The company had offered me a serious package but it was nothing in comparison to what I would have earned ...if they honored our agreement. In addition to the breach of contract issues, there were comments made by my direct superior about my partner and our "lifestyle." It was a multi-faceted dispute that I was about to walk away from (and sign the deal presented). I am so happy that I talked to Ethan first. Ethan met with me within a day of me contacting him and his one-hour consultation turned into three hours (although he stuck to his consultation fee of one hour, which I appreciated). Ethan was incredibly clued-in to my field and executive compensation trends generally. He is also an employment law professor and is about as knowledgeable about employment laws and protections as you could ever hope for. I was working with Ethan while the federal appellate court for IL/WI was considering whether Title VII discrimination law covered LGBT employees. Ethan walked me through the state of the law at the time I met him: no explicit federal protection, clear IL protection, arguments for federal protection that were working through the courts, and an EEOC guidance stating that Title VII should cover LGBT. Ethan was courageous enough to take that guidance and run with it, convincing my former employer and our agreed-upon mediator of why the law would support us. The entire mediation was a revelation. Soon after we concluded my representation, the appellate court found differently and all but sank the federal argument in our jurisdiction. Ethan was keenly aware of that case, where it was in the system, and worked tirelessly to get our matter rolling, argued and resolved before the hammer fell. It was really amazing to watch him work. Bottom-line: Ethan gave me realistic and unbiased advice (not just advice that would get him business) and it seemed like he was really considering my best interests. He knows about many different aspects of employment and business law which came in useful at various times during my case. He was always available and when sudden developments happened he and his staff were super responsive and jumped into action. I highly recommend him.

I retained Ethan to help me negotiate a better severance agreement with my prior employer. I am a 65 year old former VP at a fortune 100 company (with health issues). He listened to my story, asked the "right" questions and developed a strategy that highlighted the merits of my case. Ethan provided ...extremely effective representation and negotiated a monetary settlement 150% greater than what was initially offered. If we did not settle, he was ready to litigate. He set us up to file and provided me with clear advice and solid options. He did not push to settle either. He was ready o fight. He did a fantastic job.

Ethan was very attentive and kept me informed throughout the process, getting back to me even on evenings and weekends, working around my schedule and convenience by phone and email without it being necessary for me to go to the office. Litigation can be an unnerving experience so it's important to f...ind someone not only knowledgeable but compassionate as well. I was very satisfied with the outcome and the manner in which my case was handled. I would not hesitate to recommend Attorney Zelizer!