Heather Renée Adams

Heather is a commonsense, driven, traditional labor and employment attorney who provides practical guidance to employers across a spectrum of commercial and employment litigation matters, including single-plaintiff and multi-party cases, high-stakes whistleblower actions, wage and hour disputes, restrictive covenant litigation, and various other areas of employment law. She has practiced before federal and state and appellate courts. She also has a wealth of experience defending employers before civil rights and fair employment administrative agencies and commissions across the country. Heather has represented clients from diverse industries, including: transportation; federal, state and local government; higher education; healthcare; financial services and global retailers. Heather has given numerous presentations on development with the traditional labor and employment law landscape, litigation strategies, and workplace solutions.

Clients call on Heather to provide general counseling services and leadership with respect to implementing preventative measures and resolving disputes using alternative methods. She also has valuable experience representing employers in union disputes, collective bargaining, labor arbitrations, fact-findings, conciliations, and hearings. Heather is also a highly sought-after investigator and routinely performs internal investigations and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility assessments. 

Services

• Employment Litigation
• Appellate
• Employment
• Equal Opportunity / Anti-Discrimination Law
• Wage & Hour Compliance
• Labor Relations

1. DePaul University College of Law, J.D.
   • Rule of Law Journal, Managing Editor
2. West Virginia State University, B.S., Business Administration

Bar Admissions

1. Illinois
2. Ohio

Court Admissions

1. U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
2. U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
3. U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana
4. U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana
5. U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
6. U.S. Supreme Court
7. U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit

• Presidential Award, Ohio Women's Bar Foundation (2023)
• Presidential Award, Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, Inc. (2016-2017)
• Named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2024)
• Selected as an "Illinois Super Lawyers - Rising Star" by Illinois Super Lawyers magazine (2017-2021)
• Selected as an "Ohio Super Lawyers - Rising Star" by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2023)

Professional Affiliations

• Ohio Women's Bar Foundation
  • President
  • Vice President (2022)
  • Leadership Institute Class of 2019-2020
• Just the Beginning Foundation
  • 2022 Annual Conference Planning Committee
  • 2020 National Conference, Planning Committee
• National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, National Diversity Committee, Chair
• DePaul University College of Law, Dean's Advisory Council, Member
• Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Women’s Collective Committee, Member