Philip H. Gerner III

Philip H. Gerner III counsels and represents school districts and community colleges in collective bargaining negotiations, Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board proceedings, teacher evaluations, remediations and dismissals, employee discipline and discharge issues, grievance arbitration, and other labor and employment issues. Phil has represented educational employers in labor arbitrations, unfair labor practice hearings, tenured teacher dismissals, and Illinois Department of Human Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission proceedings. Phil has successfully handled a number of appellate court appeals on issues of significance for educational employers, including short-term employee bargaining unit exclusion standards, teacher evaluation plan bargaining obligations, and reduction-in-force of tenured teachers.

As a Partner of the firm, Phil’s greatest asset is counseling clients how to successfully navigate difficult labor and personnel issues. His ability to provide practical, effective solutions to challenging legal and personnel problems is based upon his many years of experience in education and labor law. His skill in working effectively with negotiation teams to devise and execute strategies that fulfill the board’s critical objectives is a hallmark of his strength as an attorney.

Recognitions 

• Illinois Leading Lawyer, Employment Law: Management; Labor Law: Management; School Law