Thomas Mandler has for more than 35 years focused his practice on advising management on all types of labor and employment law matters.

Mr. Mandler represents both private and public sector employers on a nationwide basis in collective bargaining, grievance and arbitration proceedings, and strikes and injunctions. He has practiced before federal, state and local governmental agencies enforcing labor, equal employment opportunity, affirmative action and occupational safety and health laws.

Mr. Mandler also handles all types of matters relating to employees whether or not they are represented by a union, employed pursuant to a written employment agreement, or employed "at-will."

Mr. Mandler devotes a substantial part of his practice to proactive training of clients' supervisors, in an attempt to prevent or minimize costly legal problems. In June 2007 Mr. Mandler was named as one of the “Top One Hundred Labor Attorneys in the United States” by the Labor Relations Institute (LRI), an honor that places him in the top one percent of labor attorneys in the country. He was also selected for inclusion on the LRI list in 2006.

He holds the AV® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating for ethics and legal ability, and has also been recognized by his peers as a Leading Lawyer in the area of Employment Law: Management.

Since 2005, Mr. Mandler has been named annually as a “Super Lawyer” in the area of Employment & Labor, by Illinois Super Lawyers magazine.

In 2000, he received the Addis E. Hull Award of Excellence from the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education.

Mr. Mandler served as Chairman (1993-1994) of the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, as well as a member of the Executive Committee (1988-1995) and the Board of Directors (1982-1995).

He is a member of the American Bar Association, including the Section on Labor Relations (1975 to present) and the Committee on Labor Arbitration and Collective Bargaining Agreements (1979 to present).

Mr. Mandler joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in October 2003. He is a member of the firm's Executive Committee. Mr. Mandler currently serves as an Associate Editor for the American Bar Association/BNA book entitled, Discipline and Discharge in Arbitration, and as a Topic Author of the American Bar Association/BNA book entitled, Elkori: How Arbitration Works. His other publications include:

• “Legislative Update,” DuPage Society for Human Resources’ “DSHRM Newsletter,” Volume 7, Issue 2, April 2007.
• "How An Employer Can Minimize Employment Discrimination Risks," Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2007.
• “Legislative Update,” DuPage Society for Human Resources’ “DSHRM Newsletter,” Volume 7, Issue 1, February 2007.
• "How to Hire, Manage And Terminate Employees," Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2006.
• "Employment/Personnel Law Update," Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1996.
• "Analysis of A Typical Employment Handbook," Chicago Medical Society, 1990.
• "Collective Bargaining Negotiations," Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1986.

Mr. Mandler is an active speaker and instructor. He devotes a significant portion of his practice to providing educational seminars and training to clients. His presentations include:

• “A Look Toward the Future: New and Proposed Federal and State Laws and Regulations,” Hinshaw’s 2008 Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Oak Brook, Illinois, November 2008.
• “New Union Organizing Techniques,” Hinshaw’s “Effectively Dealing with Current Labor & Employment Issues” seminar, Chicago, Illinois, September 2007.
• “Union and FMLA Issues,” Security Network of America, Chicago, Illinois, May 2007.
• “Affirmative Action Program,” Alcan, Chicago, Illinois, May 2007.
• “Bermuda Triangle,” Hines Interest Limited Partnership, Chicago, Illinois, May 2007.
• “Union Organizing: A Case Study,” Life Services Network, 2007 Annual Convention & Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, March 2007.
• “Risk Management Employment Considerations in Lawyer Termination,” Hinshaw’s annual Legal Malpractice & Risk Management conference, Chicago, Illinois, March 2007.
• “Employee Investigations,” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education 10^th Annual Employment Law Short Course, Chicago, Illinois, February 2007.
• “Union & Employment Law Issues Confronting the Senior Housing Industry,” Horizon Bay, Tampa, Florida, February 2007.
• “Electronic Work Place Issues / Email Policies / Privacy Issues,” Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago Brown Bag Lunch program, Chicago, Illinois, December 2006.
• “Labor Arbitration,” guest lecturer and arbitrator, Illinois Institute of Technology – Chicago Kent College of Law, Chicago, Illinois, November 2006.
• "The Bermuda Triangle: ADA, FMLA and Workers’ Compensation,” Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago Brown Bag Lunch program, Chicago, Illinois, November 2006.
• “Investigation of Employee Misconduct,” Hinshaw seminar “Effectively Dealing with Current Labor & Employment Issues,” Oak Brook, Illinois, November 2006.
• “Harassment Policies and Prevention,” Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago Brown Bag Lunch program, Chicago, Illinois, October 2006.
• “Valuing Diversity in the Workplace,” MonoSol, Gary, Indiana, October 2006.
• “Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow: Things General Counsel Should Consider When Dealing with Departing Counsel,” Hinshaw’s “Ethics Seminar,” Chicago, Illinois September 2006.
• "Overtime Exemptions,” and “Live-in and On-call Status,” Addus Healthcare, Oak Brook, Illinois, May 2006.
• “Labor and Employment Laws: A Home Care Focus,” Illinois Home Care Council, Chicago, Illinois, March 2006.
• “New Illinois Labor & Employment Laws,” Valley H.R. Association, Aurora, Illinois, November 2005.
• “Unions: Dead or Alive,” Hinshaw’s “Effectively Dealing with Current Labor & Employment Issues” seminar, Chicago, Illinois, September 2005 and again in Lisle, Illinois, November 2005.
•  “Proper Job Interview Questions and Techniques,” MonoSol, Gary, Indiana, October 2005.
• “A Labor and Employment Law Update,” Pechiney Plastic Packaging Annual Meeting of Human Resources Representatives, Chicago, Illinois, September 2005.
• “New Illinois Labor & Employment Laws,” The Naperville Rotary Club, Naperville, Illinois, August 2005.
• “Technology in the Workplace – Controlling Information and Limiting Exposure,” Hinshaw’s “Effectively Dealing with Current Labor & Employment Issues” seminar, Chicago, Illinois, December 2004.
• “Proper Use of Employee Evaluations,” MonoSol, Gary, Indiana, November 2004.

In addition, he has presented at many Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) programs and American Arbitration Association (AAA) workshops. The topics of his presentations for them have included:

• "Employment/Personnel Law Update," IICLE.
• "The Art of Negotiating for Lawyers," IICLE.
• "Labor Law for the General Practitioner," IICLE.
• "The Departing Key Employee," IICLE.
• "Advising Illinois Businesses," IICLE.
• "Collective Bargaining Workshop," AAA.
• "Arbitration Workshop," AAA.

Mr. Mandler was a member of the Township High School District No. 113 Board of Education (1991-2003) and President of the Board from 1996 to 1997 and 2000 to 2003. He is a former member (1983-1989) and Chairman (1987-1988) of the Highland Park Human Relations Commission. In addition, he is a former member of the Highland Park Historical Society Board of Directors and the Highland Park Hospital Board of Trustees.