Mona Stone represents both public and private entities throughout the country, ranging from small businesses to multibillion-dollar companies. Serving as corporate in-house counsel early in her career exposed Mona to a vast array of business legal issues. Drawing on that experience, her broad litigation and ADR skills have resulted in the resolution of major disputes:
ˇ Strategically partners with clients to deliver efficient claims handling to advance business goals.
ˇ More than 15 years of experience managing general independent caseload for global companies.
ˇ Directed critical internal and external client investigations and communicated findings to executive management teams in response to employee grievances and formal charges, including intellectual property and data privacy issues.
ˇ Initiated client compliance programs and mitigated legal costs.
ˇ Advises employers with respect to lawful background checks, risks and rewards of social media, and emerging technology issues.
ˇ Anticipates and counsels clients on issues relating to proactive risk management, regulatory and compliance issues, licensing, and e-discovery.
ˇ Regularly handles labor disputes and represents corporate and individual clients, with successful defense track record at administrative hearings, arbitrations, mediations and trial.
ˇ Counsels clients on employment agreements, including non-compete and non-disclosure terms.
ˇ Drafts, interprets, and litigates various corporate and service contracts.
ˇ Updates clients on developments in the law affecting their operations and business practices.
ˇ Published author of 4 books and frequent speaker, having written and presented on many topics involving best practices for employers, contract/policy drafting and enforcement, legal career management topics, and diversity issues.
Areas of Concentration
ˇ Business and commercial litigation
ˇ Labor and employment
ˇ Antitrust
ˇ Insurance defense and insurance coverage
Significant Representations
ˇ Represented a Fortune 50 company in MDL proceeding involving more than 40 class actions alleging deceptive trade practices in connection with the sale of motor fuel.
ˇ Successfully compelled broker-dealer arbitration on behalf of major financial services firm.
ˇ Represented a Fortune 50 company in proceedings related to alleged violations of labor law.
ˇ Defended employers before DOL, EEOC, and state departments of employment security and proactively counsels organizations on training and policy enforcement.
ˇ Defended clients against violations of FMLA claims
ˇ Defended clients against discriminatory charges and secured a full dismissal of all race, retaliation, and sexual harassment charges at the Chicago Commission on Human Relations and EEOC.*
ˇ Negotiated contracts with employee unions and resolved employee and union complaints such as unemployment, discrimination (race, sex, handicap, age, national origin, and religion), wrongful termination and retaliation claims.*
ˇ Represented a security company which conducted pre-board screening for American Airlines Flight 11 on September 11, 2001.*
ˇ Defended major national and international airlines in cases ranging from injuries sustained in an airport terminal upon disembarkation to survival and wrongful death claims associated with catastrophic airplane crashes.*
ˇ Defended a trial in Oklahoma and obtained a jury verdict for her client, a private pilot charged with wrongful death allegations arising out a near mid-air collision (which resulted in a fatality) between a Cessna 152 two-seat primary training aircraft and a nine-passenger Mitsubishi MU-2, twin engine turboprop aircraft.*
*The above representations were handled by Ms. Stone prior to her joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
Professional & Community Involvement
ˇ Arbitrator, Cook County Arbitration Program
ˇ Board of Directors, ATHENA International
ˇ Member, American Bar Association
ˇ Member, Indian American Bar Association
ˇ Member, North American South Asian Bar Association
ˇ Member, State Bar of Arizona
ˇ Mentor and Member, National Association of Women Lawyers
ˇ Judicial Evaluation Committee, Chicago Bar Association (2006-2010)
Awards & Recognition
ˇ Team Member, Law360 "Employment Practice Group of the Year" (2011)
ˇ Appointed, Committee on Women and the Law, Illinois State Bar Association (2008-2010)
ˇ Listed, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin "Top 40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch" (2008)
ˇ Rated, AV® Preeminent™ 4.6 out of 5
Articles, Publications, & Lectures
Articles
ˇ Author, "Asian American Lawyers: Differences Abound," IILP Review 2011: The State of Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession, September 2011
Books
ˇ Author, Drafting an Employee Handbook, What You Need to Know, Boston: Aspatore Books, a division of Thomson Reuters, 2011
ˇ Author, Responding to EEOC Investigations: What Employers Need to Know, Boston: Aspatore Books, a division of Thomson Reuters, 2011
ˇ Author, Future Performance: Your Guide to a Successful Career in Law, Boston: Aspatore Books, a division of Thomson Reuters, 2009
ˇ Author, "Securing Adequate Protections in Employment Contracts: Understanding Your Client's Objectives and Concerns," Negotiating and Drafting Employment Agreements: Leading Lawyers on Terms of Employment, Restrictive Covenants, Termination Provisions, and Other Key Elements (Inside the Minds), Boston: Aspatore Books, a division of Thomson Reuters, 2008
Lectures
ˇ Instructor, "Introduction to the Legal Profession" course, Bradley University, March 2012
ˇ Speaker, "Friend Me... Or Better Not: The Judiciary's Dilemma with Social Media," CLE presentation to McDonald's Corporation, March 2012
ˇ Speaker, "Tips for Succeeding in the Practice of Law in Any Organization," Arizona State Bar Leadership Institute, March 2012
ˇ Speaker, "Doctor's Orders: Conduct Legal Background Checks," Greenberg Traurig Labor and Employment Seminar, October 2011
ˇ Speaker, "Asian American Lawyers: Differences Abound," Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession Symposia in San Francisco and Seattle, September 2011
ˇ Speaker, "Beyond Behavioral Interviewing: How to Hire the Best!" Arizona SHRM State Conference, September 2011
ˇ Speaker, "Legal Background Checks," 2011 U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Phoenix Technical Assistance Seminar, August 2011
ˇ Speaker, "Arizona Fair Pay Event," U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, May 2011
ˇ Speaker, "Medical Marijuana: What Arizona Employers Need To Know," Greenberg Traurig Client Briefing, April 2011
ˇ Speaker, "Tips for Succeeding in the Practice of Law in Any Organization," Arizona State Bar Leadership Institute, March 2011
ˇ Speaker, "CFO v. Human Resources," Arizona SHRM State Employment Law and Legislative Conference, March 2011
ˇ Speaker, "Smart Strategies for EEOC Charge Handling," State Bar of Arizona, February 2011
ˇ Speaker, "Future Performance: Your Guide to a Successful Career in Law," Connect, Listen and Learn Author Lecture Series, Nationwide Teleconference Presentation to National Association of Women Lawyers, May 2010
ˇ Speaker, "Independent Contractor Risks and Rewards," Midwest Minority In-House Counsel Group Presentation, May 2010
ˇ Speaker, "Making the Most of Your Summer Experience," Successful Summer Attorney Series, Northwestern University School of Law, April 2010
ˇ Speaker, "Future Performance: Your Guide to a Successful Career in Law," Bradley University Pre-Law Center, February 2010
ˇ Speaker, "Future Performance: Your Guide to a Successful Career in Law," Washington University School of Law Career Exploration and Development Presentation, January 2010
ˇ Speaker, "Future Performance: Your Guide to a Successful Career in Law," Indian American Bar Association, November 2009
ˇ Panelist, "Private Law Firm Practice," Asian American Bar Association Law Student Forum, October 2009
ˇ Speaker, "Independent Contractors v. Employees - Risks and Rewards," Preventing and Solving Today's Employment Law Problems Annual Labor & Employment Conference, October 2009
ˇ Panelist, "Middle School Law Camp - Life as a Lawyer," Just the Beginning Foundation, August 2009
ˇ Speaker, "Life as a Lawyer," Just the Beginning Foundation - Middle School Law Camp, August 2009
ˇ Speaker, "Working with Partners and Senior Colleagues Presentation," Backpack to Briefcase Signature Program, National Association of Women Lawyers and North American South Asian Bar Association, April 2009
ˇ Speaker, "Legal Practice in the Chicago Market," Washington University School of Law Career Services Presentation, February 2009
ˇ Speaker, "Issues Facing Minority Attorneys," Washington University School of Law Career Services Programs, February 2009
ˇ Speaker, "Diversity in the Workplace," Preventing and Solving Today's Employment Law Problems - Annual Labor & Employment Seminar Workshop Presentation, October 2008
ˇ Speaker, "A Career By Design: Career Planning for South Asian Women Attorneys," Women's Professional Development Presentation, North American South Asian Bar Association, June 2008
ˇ Speaker, "Private Law Firm Practice," 10th Annual North American South Asian Law Students Association Conference, February 2008
ˇ Speaker, "Advancement of Women in the Legal Profession," 9th Annual North American South Asian Law Students Association Conference, February 2007