Why Hire Us?
Emery Law is a boutique litigation firm servicing our clients’ needs in and around the Chicagoland area. We’ve worked for federal judges and trained at the largest law firms in the world, but our small-firm approach ensures that our clients get the individual attention they deserve without the expensive overhead.
We work with individuals — employees, employers, business owners — and organizations to resolve business and employment disputes. And while most cases are resolved before trial, we welcome the opportunity to present your story to the judge and jury as we’ve done many times before.
Workplace lawsuits are expensive for employees. That is why, where possible, Emery Law represents individual employees on a contingent basis. That is what is sometimes known as a “no win, no fee” type arrangement, where you only pay for Emery Law’s attorneys’ fees if we are successful in recovering money for you. And our initial case evaluation is always free!
``Our small-firm approach ensures that our clients get the individual attention they deserve without the expensive overhead.``
Ethan Emery White, Founder and Managing Partner
Ethan White is a cum laude graduate of Northwestern University School of Law with more than 15 years of pure litigation experience. Ethan’s practice focuses on counseling clients and litigating commercial and employment-related matters, with near daily courtroom experience in both state and federal courts. In addition, he frequently appears before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the Illinois Department of Labor, and various mediation forums. Ethan has tried cases in DuPage County, Cook County, and the Northern District of Illinois and has litigated matters in nearly every other county in the Chicagoland area. He has taken hundreds of depositions and is well-versed in all aspects of the litigation process.
Ethan’s approach to any case is simple and consistent: he spends the time upfront with each client to thoroughly understand his or her story. Ethan takes pride in client relationships. He truly listens to his clients, recognizes their concerns, and thoughtfully answers their questions.
In addition to business and employment-related cases, Ethan has filed or defended lawsuits in a wide variety of other subject matters, including breach of contract, legal malpractice, defamation, commercial disputes, antitrust, product liability, and international arbitration, among others.
Ethan began his law career at one of the largest law firms in the world, helping clients navigate dealings with both federal and state governmental authorities during civil and criminal investigations, particularly the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice. From there, he was a partner in another trial-focused firm where he litigated hundreds of cases in a variety of areas of law, with a strong focus on employment-related matters.
Prior to attending law school, Ethan graduated from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and worked for nearly five years as a business and IT consultant. Ethan’s unique skill set, based on his education and wide-ranging previous experience, gives him the ability to quickly understand the language and dynamics of his clients’ operations, whether large or small.
Ethan has been an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern School of Law, teaching in its prestigious trial practice program, where he has also coached its mock trial teams. He is a regular volunteer at the People’s Resource Center, helping to address hunger and poverty throughout DuPage and Cook counties. Finally, Ethan has been recognized by Giving DuPage for his pro bono legal services provided throughout the Chicagoland area for low income clients.
Representative Cases
High six figure settlement for disabled individual with claims brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with case filed in the Northern District of Illinois.
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High five figure settlement for whistleblower in common law retaliatory discharge case filed in Will County.
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Six figure settlement in a failure to accommodate case, based on a remote work scenario, filed in Cook County Circuit Court.
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High six figure settlement in arbitration based on workplace safety whistleblowing, after rejecting the defense’s offer of less than $50,000 pre-hearing.
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Six figure settlement for Illinois Human Rights Act race and age discrimination filed in Circuit Court of DuPage County.
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Six figure settlement for workers’ compensation retaliation and Illinois Human Rights Act race discrimination, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, reached on the eve of trial.
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Jury verdict in favor of his client, the former president of the Chicago Police Union, in a whistleblower and retaliation lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Cook County.
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Appointed by a District Judge of the Northern District of Illinois to assist a pro se Plaintiff in a hostile work environment lawsuit, leading to a quick settlement.
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High five figure settlement for Title VII gender discrimination case filed in the Northern District of Illinois.
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Six-figure jury verdict for his client, a famed Chicago chef, in a breach of contract action in the Circuit Court of Cook County.
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Directed verdict for his client, a shareholder and alleged co-owner of mining companies, on all counts after a week-long trial in the Circuit Court of Cook County.
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Finding in favor of his client on all counts in a sexual harassment case before the Illinois Human Rights Commission.
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Dozens of settlements for clients in employment-related negotiations and lawsuits, including whistleblowing suits; retaliatory discharge suits; and race, age, disability, and gender discrimination suits, among others, amounting to more than $2,300,000 in client recoveries in the last several years alone.
Employment Discrimination
As an employee, you have the right to work free from discrimination based on any of the legally protected classes.
Business Disputes
Whether you’re involved in a disagreement or an actual lawsuit, we can help you get the outcome you want. We help clients from all
Wage
Disputes
Illinois and federal law protect your right to receive all the compensation you’ve earned, whether you have an employment agreement or not.
Retaliation/ Whistleblowing
Disclosing information you reasonably believe is evidence of employer wrongdoing including illegal or fraudulent business practices
Employment Counseling
Before entering into any type of employment agreement, it’s a good idea to have it reviewed by an attorney.