Biography

Ron’s practice concentrates on defending individuals, municipalities and companies in complex civil litigation matters. He has been practicing for 22 years largely in defense of private and public sector employers in municipal law matters, employment law matters and complex commercial/business law matters. He has represented defendants in cases involving issues ranging from catastrophic personal injuries, toxic torts, product liability, false tax claims, breach of fiduciary duty, violation of the Illinois Trade Secrets Act and violation of non-compete agreements. Ron’s practice also involves client counseling in the areas of employment law, litigation management, fee auditing and cost recovery. He has handled matters in state courts, federal courts and administrative courts. He is also skilled in all forms of alternative dispute resolution including arbitration and mediation.

Ron has investigated and prepared position statements for employers/insureds of a Fortune 500 insurer involving claims made pursuant to Employment Practices Liability insurance policies and defended them in lawsuits stemming from those claims. He has acted as lead counsel representing multiple municipalities before state and federal agencies and in state and federal actions alleging related employment and civil rights claims against the municipalities and against individual defendants. Ron has defended a municipal water reclamation district in a Section 1981 action and breach of contract action seeking $60 million. He is lead trial counsel for a multi-national battery manufacturer on a multi-count complaint alleging breach of the Illinois Trade Secrets Act, intentional interference with employment contract, breach of fiduciary duty, conversion, conspiracy, and fraud involving a former employee of a UPS battery cabinet manufacturer. Ron defended the individuals and companies who founded the world’s largest electronic stock exchange in litigation arising out of a former business partner’s allegations of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. He assisted in representing multiple on-line retailers against qui tam cases and successfully extricated them on motions to dismiss. Finally, he assisted in the representation of marketing associations in a successful facial challenge to the Illinois internet sales tax statute. 

Practices

Employment Litigation and Counseling
Civil Rights and Governmental Liability
Commercial Litigation and Business Disputes
Fire and Explosion Litigation
Toxic Tort Litigation
Product Liability
Insurance
General Trial Practice

Memberships & Affiliations

• American Bar Association
• California State Bar Association
• Lake County Bar Association, Employment Law Committee

Publications

• "Every Lawyer's Guide to...Answering a IDHR Discrimination Claim," Illinois Bar Journal, Vol. 101, #3, March 2013
• "Overview of Federal and State Whistleblower/Retaliation Statutory and Common Laws," American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law, Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee, Midwinter Meeting, San Juan, Puerto Rico, March 23, 2011

Presentations

• “Steps Municipal Employers Can Take to Comply with State and Federal Employment Discrimination Laws,” Illinois Municipal League – 98^th Annual Conference, September 2011
• ”The New Illinois Human Rights Act: The Process and Deadlines to Keep In Mind When Faced with Employment Discrimination Claims Under the Act,” Illinois Municipal League Defense Counsel Seminar, August 2011
• "Defensive Employment Practices Associated with Reductions in Force and Defending a Human Rights Case," Presentation to the Illinois Municipal League, March 2010
• “EEOC Investigations: What an Employer/Insurer Should Know,” Presentation to Insurance Company Client’s Commercial Litigation Department, 2007 and 2008
• Employment-Related Practices Liability Endorsements: Alien In a CGL Universe, Presentation to Insurance Company Client’s Commercial Litigation Department, 2007 and 2008

News

Chicago, November 20, 2019
Wisniewski Co-Chairs ABA Annual Law Student Trial Advocacy Competition
Teams from law schools across the country competed as plaintiffs and defendants in labor and employment-related matters.

Libertyville, July 25, 2019
Wisniewski Speaks at Lake County Bar Association Seminar
Wisniewski's portion of the seminar covered business dispute litigation.

Chicago, November 5, 2018
Wisniewski Co-Chairs ABA Annual Law Student Trial Advocacy Competition
Teams from law schools nationwide will compete as plaintiffs and defendants in labor and employment-related matters, with Wisniewski and fellow attorneys serving as judges and evaluators.

Chicago, June 26, 2018
ABA Section on Labor and Employment Law Profiles Wisniewski in Member Spotlight
The Member Spotlight program is designed to focus attention on members and their work with the Section and Committees.

Chicago, October 31, 2017
Wisniewski Co-Chairs ABA Annual Law Student Trial Advocacy Competition
Teams from law schools nationwide will compete as plaintiffs and defendants in labor and employment-related matters.

Chicago, August 15, 2017
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin Highlights Appellate Court Ruling in Noncompete Case
According the article, "in a ruling that broke new legal ground Monday, a state appeals panel found that connecting with a former colleague on a social media platform is not enough to violate a noncompete agreement."

Chicago, November 9, 2016
Wisniewski Co-Chairs ABA Student Employment Trial Advocacy Competition
Teams from law schools nationwide competed as plaintiffs and defendants in labor and employment-related matters, with Wisniewski and fellow attorneys serving as judges and evaluators.

Chicago, December 16, 2015
Wisniewski Featured in ABA Member Spotlight for Labor and Employment Law
Wisniewski has been involved in the section since 2012.