Steven P. Cohn

Attorney

T: +1 (312) 609 4596 F: +1 (312) 609 5005

Chicago

Steven P. Cohn concentrates his practice in the area of labor and employment, with a particular emphasis in international law. Specifically, on a global scale, he provides advice and counsel to human resource executives and corporate management concerning international labor and employment law issues.

Before his affiliation with Vedder Price, Mr. Cohn served as Managing Counsel of Global Labor and Employment Law for McDonald’s Corporation. In this role, he was responsible for resolving a variety of labor and employment issues in over 100 countries and led the human resources and employee relations due diligence processes for the company’s expansion into more than 15 countries.

Mr. Cohn’s experience includes the defense of union organizing attempts in multiple jurisdictions, the development of compliant wage systems in countries with unique legal structures, such as China, and developing a highly valued network of local counsel throughout the world.

• The New Union Front

• Business Immigration
• Employment Litigation
• Fair Labor Standards Act
• International Labor and Employment
• International Law
• Labor Relations

• J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School, 1979
• B.A., State University of New York at Albany, 1976

• Illinois, 1979
• US District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1980
• US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 1982

• Member, American Bar Association
• Policy Board Member, Brussels European Employee Relations Group
• Member, Illinois Bar Association

Recent International Experience

• Managed successful corporate defenses against union organizing efforts in several countries, including Russia, Philippines, Poland, Ireland and Panama.
• Developed the framework for, implemented, and oversaw operation of, company’s European Works Council.
• Co-developed system of wage-hour compliance for China that, when challenged by the ACFTU, was vindicated by the Ministry of Labor.
• Developed company’s national works council implemented in Ireland.
• Developed format and conducted labor and employment law due diligence for start-up operations in 15 countries.
• Developed templates and models for global mobility of employees and executives; oversaw process for dozens of internationally mobile employees.
• Managed international labor and employment litigation, including successful settlement of a €14 million suit for under €100,000, and decisive win against claim that all franchised and company operations in a country were a single unit for employee representation.