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Thomas Melody

Partner

Klein Thorpe & Jenkins Ltd.


Thomas M. Melody graduated from Loyola University of Chicago in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University School of Law in 1994.

Mr. Melody is an equity shareholder in the law firm of Klein, Thorpe and Jenkins, Ltd., and his experience includes the general practice of school and municipal law, with a focus on labor and employment law. He has negotiated many collective bargaining agreements, and represents employers in all facets of labor and employment law, including contract administration, grievance arbitration, and statutory compliance. Mr. Melody has represented numerous public sector employers in both State and federal courts, as well as before State and federal administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the Illinois Department of Employment Security, the Illinois Labor Relations Board, and the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board. He has also handled numerous matters before local Civil Service Commissions and Fire and Police Commissions.

Mr. Melody is the co-author of the “Formal Dismissal and Suspension Procedures Under Illinois Tenure Law,” Illinois School Law, IICLE, and he is also one of the authors of the “Handbook on Practice and Procedure in Police and Fire Disciplinary Matters”, and “Home Rule vs. Non-Home Rule (What’s Best For Your Municipality?)”, both of which were published by the Illinois Municipal League. Mr. Melody has also written numerous articles on school law and labor law issues.

Mr. Melody is a frequent speaker on labor and employment law issues, as well as school and municipal law issues. Mr. Melody’s most recent presentations include “9-1-1 Dispatch System Consolidation” at the 2016 IML Conference, “Employee Use of Social Media” at the Will County Police Chiefs Annual Conference and “Negotiating Through a Public Safety Consolidation” at the 2016 IPELRA Conference. In addition, Mr. Melody has provided seminars on municipal labor law for the Illinois Metro Managers Association, the Illinois Municipal League, Chicago Kent Annual Illinois Public Sector Labor Relations Law Conference and Northern Illinois University’s Center for Governmental Studies.