Alex Breland practices in the areas of labor and employment law and school law. He defends against discrimination claims in both the public and private sectors, and negotiates collective bargaining agreements on behalf of local governmental agencies and school districts. He also attends administrative hearings regarding special education matters.
Mr. Breland has conducted extensive research on merit pay and pay for performance issues in the public sector, and has drafted district guidance on the use of electronic devices on school premises, maintenance of student records, sexual harassment, chronic infectious diseases and English language learners.
Mr. Breland joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP as an associate in October 2009. Previously he was a law clerk with the firm since June 2007 and a summer associate in 2008. During the summer of 2006, Mr. Breland was a campaign intern in the office of Illinois State Senator Kwame Raoul. While in law school, he was a member of Chicago-Kent’s Trial Advocacy Team.
Prior to his legal career, Mr. Breland was an elementary school teacher, first from 2004 to 2005 at McDonogh 42 Elementary School in New Orleans, and then from 2005 to 2006 at Bond Elementary School in Chicago, where he received the Million Man Ministries! 2006 Hero Award. Mr. Breland is a 2004 Teach For America Corps member. During his undergraduate studies, Mr. Breland received the Raymond Pace Alexander Award for All Around Outstanding Achievement.
He is a member of the Labor and Employment Section of the Illinois State Bar Association.
Mr. Breland is a regular contributor to Employment Practices Alerts, Hinshaw’s monthly labor and employment newsletter. His articles there include:
- “ERISA Collective Action Defeated by Termination Defense," October 1, 2010.
- “New Hotel and Restaurant Opens Its Doors to Unfair Labor Practices,” August 2, 2010.
- “Supervisor's False Information Did Not Affect Decision Not to Promote,” July 1, 2010.
- “Firefighter With Protectable Interest Raises Triable Issue Regarding Removal,” June 1, 2010.
- “Conduct Alone May Show Assent to Increased Contribution Rates to Employee Funds,” February 1, 2010.
Mr. Breland’s presentations include:
- “Hiring Scenario,” an interactive workshop session, Hinshaw’s Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, October 2011.
- “Labor Law Crystal Ball: The Effect President Obama’s NLRB and NLRA Legislative Initiatives Will Have on Non-Union Employees,” Hinshaw’s Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 2010.
- “Negotiation Issues for Superintendents,” Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education Administrative Academy, Alsip, Illinois, February 2010.
Mr. Breland is a member of the Local School Council at William C. Reavis Elementary School, which is part of the Chicago Public School system.
He also volunteers with the Edward J. Lewis, II Lawyers in the Class Program, sponsored by the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago.
During law school Mr. Breland was member of the Student Hurricane Network, a law student organization that provided legal assistance to local attorneys involved in the rebuilding effort in post-Katrina New Orleans.