Joe Tilson is a founding partner and serves as Co-Chair of the law firm of Meckler Bulger Tilson Marick & Pearson LLP in Chicago, Illinois. A recognized authority in the area of labor and employment law, Joe represents employers in large scale employment litigation and labor arbitrations. In the past thirty years, he has tried over one hundred and fifty jury and non-jury cases before the full range of courts, administrative agencies and labor arbitrators. His clients include a number of the country's largest public and private employers, and Illinois' most prestigious universities, whom he represents in both traditional labor law matters and employment litigation. Joe is nationally known for his knowledge and success in handling large wage and hour class action cases, but he also has vast experience in collective bargaining involving large and complex bargaining units.

Joe has been recognized as one of the top labor and employment lawyers in Chicago. He was named the 2011 Chicago Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in America and one of the Nation's Most Powerful Employment Attorneys by Human Resource Executive and Lawdragon; has achieved a Tier 1 Labor and Employment ranking from Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers for Business; and is only one of four management-side labor and employment lawyers to be named to the Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyers list. Joe is a frequent lecturer, author and bar association leader. He regularly speaks on labor and employment issues for the American Bar Association, Practising Law Institute, Northwestern University's Corporate Council Institute, Chicago-Kent College of Law and many other educational institutions and associations. Joe is a fellow of the College of Labor & Employment Lawyers, and is the former Chair of the American Bar Association's Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee. He currently serves on the ABA's Council, the governing body of the ABA's Labor and Employment Law Section. Joe also serves on the Board of Managers of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago.

Prior to entering private practice, Joe served as Law Clerk for the Honorable Stephanie K. Seymour, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

Publications:

Updates on Employment Law in 2012: The Year in Review - NU Corporate Counsel Institute

Effective Mediation in Wage and Hour Litigation - ABA Labor and Employment Law Section Annual Meeting

Labor and Employment Law 2011: The Year in Review - NU Corporate Counsel Institute

Joe Tilson Talks about the Legal and Business Impact of Illinois' "Civil Union" Bill.

Labor and Employment Law 2010: The Year in Review - NU Corporate Counsel Institute

Joe Tilson was profiled by Leading Lawyers Magazine.

22 MBT Lawyers Recognized as Top Illinois Practitioners, Leading Lawyers Network (August 2009)

The Right Fit, Chicago Lawyer (May 2009)

University of Richmond School of Law Wins ABA National Trial Advocacy Competition (January 2009)

FLSA Wage Hour Update

Labor and Employment Law 2008: The Year in Review - NU Corporate Counsel Institute

Hot Topics in Wage & Hour Law - Practising Law Institute

Labor and Employment Law 2007: The Year in Review

Hot Topics in Wage and Hour Law

Presentations:

Joe Tilson will be speaking on "Donning and Doffing: Making Sense Out of the Morass" at the Wage & Hour Defense Institute's Quarterly Update on Developments in Wage & Hour Law webinar.

Joe Tilson chaired Bridgeport's Annual Wage & Hour Program

On October 5, 2012, Joe Tilson moderated a panel discussion entitled "Updates on Employment Law in 2012: The Year in Review" for Northwestern University's Annual Corporate Counsel Institute.

Joe Tilson to speak at 5th Annual ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law Conference

Joe Tilson to speak at Bridgeport CE's 7th Annual Wage and Hour Litigation Conference in San Francisco

On October 6, 2011, Joe Tilson will moderate a panel discussion entitled "Updates in Employment Law" for Northwestern University's Annual Corporate Counsel Institute.

Joe Tilson will moderate a panel discussion entitled: "It Ain't Over "Til It's Over: Unique Ethical and Practical Issues Posed by Settling Wage and Hour Litigation" for the American Bar Association's 4th Annual Labor and Employment Law Section's CLE Conference.

Joe Tilson will moderate a panel discussion entitled "Advanced Wage and Hour Issues - Lessons Learned" for the American Employment Law Council's Eighteenth Annual Conference. The conference this year is called Key Challenges Facing Employers in the New Decade.

Joe Tilson will speak on "Current Developments In Employment Law And Labor Relations" for Northwestern University's Corporate Counsel Institute's Annual CLE program for in-house counsel.

"Unique Ethical Issues Raised by Settling Class and Collective Action Lawsuits," Chicago-Kent College of Law Illinois Public Sector Labor Relations Law Conference

"Ethical and Practical Issues Posed by Settling Wage and Hour Litigation," 4th Annual ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law Conference

Joe Tilson to Moderate Panel on Determining Compensable Work Issues at ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law CLE Conference (November 6, 2009)

Joe Tilson to Present Hot Topics in Wage and Hour Law at PLI's 38th Annual Institute on Employment law (Oct. 26, 2009)

Advanced Litigation of Wage and Hour Class Cases: ABA Teleconference Series

Wage and Hour Issues

Northwestern University School of Law's 46th Annual Corporate Counsel Institute

Professional Activities:

College of Labor and Employment Lawyers - fellow and Regional Director

American Bar Association - Council Member of Labor & Employment Section; Past Chair: Employment Law Trial Advocacy Competition; Past-Chair: Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee; Fair Labor Standards Act Subcommittee; Age Discrimination Subcommittee; Equal Pay Act Subcommittee.

YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago - Board of Managers

Peer Recognitions/Awards:

2011 Chicago Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in America

Chambers USA America's Leading Lawyers for Business - Tier 1 Ranking

Most Powerful Employment Attorneys by Human Resource Network and Lawdragon

Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyers

Leading Lawyers Network Illinois

Outstanding Lawyers of America

International Who's Who of Management Labor and Employment Lawyers

Martindale & Hubbell - AV rated (highest rating for legal ability and ethics)

Upcoming Events:

Joe Tilson will speak on "Donning and Doffing and Other Pre/Post-Shift Activities (Booting Up and Logging Into Computers, Attending Pre/Post-Shift Meetings), and the Continuous Work Day" at the ACI's 19th National Forum on Wage & Hour Claims and

Joe Tilson will moderate the program "Beyond Donning & Doffing: Compensable Time in a Digital Age" at the 7th Annual ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law Conference

News:

Super Lawyers Names 21 MBT Attorneys to 2013 Lists

Tilson Co-Chairs ABA's Trial Advocacy Competition

Joseph Tilson Co-Chairs ABA's Trial Advocacy Competition

Law Dragon/Human Resource Executive names Joe Tilson as a "Top 100 Most Powerful Employment Lawyer"

Joe Tilson named Best Lawyers'

"Chicago Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year"

Leading Lawyers Network Recognizes 24 MBT Lawyers

Joe Tilson named to Lawdragon's List of Most Powerful Employment Attorneys

Fifteen MBT Attorneys Named to 2010 Illinois Super Lawyers List; MBT Attorneys also Recognized on Texas and Arizona Super Lawyers List

Joe Tilson Co-Chairs National Finals of ABA's Student Trial Advocacy Competition

13 MBT Partners Named "Illinois Super Lawyers;" Tilson "Top 100;" Argionis and Wermuth "Rising Stars"

Former Cook County State's Attorney Dick Devine joins Meckler Bulger Tilson Marick & Pearson

Top-Ranked in Chambers Guide

Meckler Bulger & Tilson Expands Its Name, Adds Two Founding Partners to Masthead

10 MB&T Lawyers Named Illinois Super Lawyers