Firefighter Forum

Luke Howieson Related Seminars and Products

Vice President at Large

Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois (AFFI)

Karl Ottosen Related Seminars and Products

Managing Partner

Ottosen DiNolfo Hasenbalg & Castaldo, Ltd.

Karl R. Ottosen is Managing Partner and Shareholder of Ottosen DiNolfo Hasenbalg & Castaldo, Ltd. Hehas over 28 years of experience representing governmental bodies, private corporations, and individuals in a variety of labor and employment law issues. Mr. Ottosen frequently negotiates contracts with unions representing bargaining units in law enforcement, fire protection, education, public works, and other public services, as well as with private sector manufacturing units. Mr. Ottosen is regularly selected to speak at seminars and workshops on labor, employment, and local government law issues. His topics include issues in finance, litigation, anti-discrimination compliance, supervisor training, sexual harassment, violence in the workplace, and other general labor and employment concerns. He received a B.S. from Western Illinois University and a J.D. from University of Illinois College of Law.

Matthew J. Pierce Related Seminars and Products

Shareholder

Asher Gittler & D'Alba Ltd.

Matt Pierce is a partner at Asher, Gittler & D'Alba, a labor and employment law firm based in Chicago. Matt has represented and advised international and local labor unions across diverse industries, including electrical workers, service and hospitality workers, firefighters, police officers, teachers, transportation and aerospace workers, and other public and private sector employees. His union representation has involved litigation in federal and state courts; proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board, the Illinois Labor Relations Board, the Department of Labor and other administrative agencies; and arbitrations. Matt also represents employee benefit funds in federal litigation and oversees the firm's collections practice for ERISA funds. Matt has represented individuals in various employment disputes, including discrimination and retaliation under Title VII, the ADA and related statutes; collective wage and hour actions under the FLSA and state wage laws; breach of contract and wrongful termination; and employment-related tort actions such as defamation. Matt received his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law, and he practiced labor law in Texas before moving to Chicago in 2017. 

James J. Powers Related Seminars and Products

Partner

Clark Baird Smith LLP

James J. Powers IV is a founding Partner of Clark Baird Smith LLP, a labor and employment law practice formed in 2010 that represents management in defense of unfair labor practice charges and federal and state employment-related lawsuits.

He regularly counsels employers in various employment-related leave matters, including the interplay between FMLA, ADA, workers' compensation, and Illinois public safety employee leave and benefits.

His labor relations experience includes representing employers in proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board, Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board, and Illinois Labor Relations Board.

He also represents employers in grievance and interest arbitration proceedings.   He served as chief negotiator in collective bargaining negotiations with unions such as the Teamsters, International Union of Operating Engineers, SEIU Local 73, AFSCME, the FOP Labor Council, and the Metropolitan Alliance of Police. He is active with the Illinois Public Employer Labor Relations Association and serves as a co-editor of the Association’s monthly newsletter.