Nancy L. Van Allen
Ms. Van Allen has over twenty years of employment litigation experience, having litigated and/or supervised the litigation of hundreds of cases involving a wide range of workplace issues.
Ms. Van Allen was drawn to the law and to employment law in particular when she became a member of a class action discrimination lawsuit brought against her employer. (Laffey v. Northwest Airlines, 74 F.2d 4 (D.C. Cir.1984)). She was struck by the confusion and lack of understanding among her fellow employees about their options and what the lawsuit might mean to them. She also was fascinated by the legal issues that arose from what she personally perceived as less favorable treatment of female employees.
As an attorney, Ms. Van Allen is dedicated to providing excellent legal representation and personalized client service. She listens closely to her client's concerns and thoughtfully counsels clients about their options. She understands that not everyone can take time off of work to consult with an attorney and arranges to meet with clients outside of regular office hours when necessary.
Ms. Van Allen strives to achieve each client's goals in the most beneficial and cost-effective way. While she is an experienced and tenacious litigator, she is creative and aggressive in negotiating settlements of employment claims where a satisfactory resolution without litigation is possible.
Before joining the Law Offices of Fern Trevino, Ms. Van Allen was a supervising attorney for the City of Chicago, most recently as Chief Assistant Corporation Counsel in the Employment Litigation Division. Her litigation experience with the City spanned a wide range of federal, state and local employment laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHRA), and the Chicago Human Rights Ordinance. She also handled workplace issues arising under the U.S. Constitution, including the First Amendment and the Equal Protection and Due Process clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Having joined the Law Offices of Fern Trevino, Ms. Van Allen represents only employees and accepts no requests for defense representation. She represents both private and public sector employees. Ms. Van Allen's extensive defense experience is invaluable in assessing the strength of a client's case, anticipating the defenses employers commonly assert, and devising the best strategy to withstand those defenses.
The areas in which Ms. Van Allen concentrates her practice include:
- Race/national origin discrimination
- Gender/sex/pregnancy discrimination
- Sexual harassment
- Racial/ethnic harassment
- Sexual orientation discrimination
- Retaliation
- Age discrimination
- Religious discrimination
- Disability discrimination/failure to accommodate claims
- Family Medical Leave claims
- Veterans' employment rights claims (USERRA)
Professional Experience:
City of Chicago Department of Law, 1985-2004: Chief Assistant Corporation Counsel; Senior Attorney-Supervisor; Assistant Corporation Counsel
City of Kenosha, Wisconsin, 1982-1985: Assistant Corporation Counsel
Dane County Circuit Court, Madison, Wisconsin, 1981-1982: Law Clerk to the Honorable Richard W. Bardwell, Chief Judge
Bar Admissions:
Illinois, 1982
Wisconsin, 1981
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1985
Trial Bar, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1987
Education:
University of Wisconsin Law School, Madison, Wisconsin, J.D., 1980 (Internships: National Labor Relations Board, Milwaukee Regional Office; Center for Public Representation, Employment Law Project, Madison)
University of Wisconsin - Parkside, B.A., With Highest Distinction, 1975 (Major: German; substantial coursework in French)
National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 1988
Professional Activities/Bar Association Memberships:
Chicago Bar Association (Labor and Employment and Federal Civil Practice committees)
Constitution Day Speaker/Panel Member, Harold Washington College
Moot Court Judge, DePaul University College of Law
Contact Information:
Telephone: (312) 630-4491
Fax: (312) 630-9281
