Atty. Thomas E. Deer
Mr. Deer represents management in a variety of employment-related matters, including litigation involving age, race, sex, and disability discrimination claims, covenants not to compete, trade secrets, wage and hour claims, ERISA claims, and other workplace torts.
Profile Summary
About Thomas E. Deer at a glance
Thomas E. Deer is a employment attorney based in Chicago, Illinois, practicing at Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart PC. Admitted to practice in Illinois, Illinois State Bar Association and Indiana, Indiana State Bar Association. Educated at Indiana University Maurer School of Law (J.D., 1994) and Yale University (BA, 1991). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Employment Law - Management (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Labor Law - Management (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus: (2026). Serves clients in Chicago, IL and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Mr. Deer represents management in a variety of employment-related matters, including litigation involving age, race, sex, and disability discrimination claims, covenants not to compete, trade secrets, wage and hour claims, ERISA claims, and other workplace torts
- Mr. Deer has been named in the 2009 and 2010 editions of The Best Lawyers in America.Mr
- Deer has acted as lead trial counsel in employment discrimination/wrongful discharge cases in the federal district and state courts in Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Alabama and other states
- Mr. Deer’s EEO litigation experience includes the defense of single plaintiff, multiple plaintiff, and class action litigation.Mr
- Deer also practices traditional labor law
- His labor experience includes bargaining contracts, handling labor arbitrations, grievance administration, and the defense of unfair labor practice charges before the NLRB.Mr
- Deer is a frequent speaker and author
- He has been a speaker and moderator at American Bar Association meetings, including twice at the ABA’s Annual Meeting
- He regularly performs training for clients on all aspects of labor and employment law
Practice Areas Explained
Thomas E. Deer's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Thomas E. Deer handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.
Thomas E. Deer is one of 151,622 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in Illinois →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Illinois
Practicing law in Illinois. Legal matters in Illinois are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Chicago are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Illinois state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Illinois brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Illinois courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Illinois attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Chicago or all attorneys in Illinois.
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