Suzanne E. Bish

Stowell & Friedman Ltd

303 W Madison St
Suite 2600
Chicago IL 60606

[email protected]

http://www.sfltd.com

Phone: (312) 431-0888
Fax: (312) 431-0228

Recommended by peers in: Employment Law: Employee

Advisory Board Member
County: Cook
Litigator: Yes

Practice Description

  • Suzanne E. Bish is a partner with Stowell & Friedman, Ltd., a civil rights law firm committed to eliminating workplace discrimination. Suzanne represents victims of discrimination, harassment and retaliation in court and in arbitration, and in individual and class cases. She served as class counsel in the nationwide race discrimination lawsuit, McReynolds v. Merrill Lynch ($160 million settlement for African American brokers); the nationwide wage collective action, Martignago v. Merrill Lynch ($12 million settlement for sales assistants); and the discrimination case Biondo v. City of Chicago (successful liability and damages trials, followed by settlement). Suzanne also helps clients further their career goals by negotiating favorable out-of-court resolutions, providing counsel through career issues, and negotiating employment and severance agreements.

Notable Cases and Results

McReynolds v. Merrill Lynch (ND III) $160 million settlement for African American brokers.

Martignago v. Merrill Lynch (SDNY) $12 million settlement for sales assistants.

Biondo v. City of Chicago (ND III) Successful liability and damages trial, followed by settlement.

Bar Admissions

Illinois Supreme Court
U.S. District for the Northern District of Illinois
U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd and 9th Circuits

Year of Birth: 1969

Education

  • Law School: Ohio State University College of Law
  • Law School Honors/Involvement: Cum laude; Ohio State Law Journal, Articles Editor
  • Undergraduate School: Ohio State University B.A.B.S.
  • Undergraduate School Honors/Involvement: Graduated with honors

Representative Clients

Suzanne represents victims of discrimination, harassment and retaliation in court and in arbitration, and in individual and class cases.

Employment History

  • Sidley Austin LLP
  • Former judicial law clerk to the Honorable Elaine E. Bucklo

Bar/Professional Association Involvement

  • Chicago Bar Association Employment Law Committee
  • National Employment Lawyers Association – National and Illinois chapters
  • Federal Bar Association

Community Involvement

  • Currently serves on the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Electronic Discovery Pilot Program
  • Recently served as Chair of the Labor & Employment Committee of the Chicago Bar Association

Published Legal Writing

  • A Guide to Narrow the Derivatives’ Understanding Gap and Reduce Losses: How to Increase Knowledge, Controls and Reporting, 58 Ohio St. L.J. (1997)

Firm Description

  • Stowell & Friedman, Ltd. represents plaintiffs in individual, collective, and class-action cases, with a particular concentration in sex and race employment discrimination and glass ceiling issues. The firm also has successfully represented victims of discrimination based on disability, pregnancy, age, national origin and sexual orientation and has successfully prosecuted claims for violations of the First Amendment, Due Process and Equal Protection clauses of the U.S. Constitution, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the WARN Act. Where appropriate, the firm also represents employees in arbitration and mediation. Consistent with its mission of advocating for workers on many fronts, the firm is active in lobbying and legislation to further protect civil rights in the workplace.
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