Julie Proscia (’03) was promoted to Chair of USLAW Network’s Labor and Employment Practice Group for 2021-2022. USLAW is an international organization composed of more than 60 independent, defense-based law firms and 6,000 attorneys in over 170 offices in 48 U.S. states, Canada and South America. Members of the USLAW Employment and Labor Practice Group focus on supplying real-world, tailored solutions, working collaboratively with clients’ in-house legal and Human Resources professionals, to ward off potential challenges, carefully plan policies and training, and to implement best practices. SmithAmundsen is a founding member of USLAW Network.
Julie is a partner with SmithAmundsen in St. Charles, IL where she provides labor and employment counsel that is outcome based. Julie actively navigates employers of all shapes and sizes through the legal pitfalls of the employment relationship from its inception at recruitment and hiring through the implementation of policies and procedures, and the conclusion of the relationship with the termination/separation process. When litigation becomes necessary, Julie aggressively advocates for clients in the areas of traditional labor and employment law, including but not limited to discrimination/retaliation cases, non-competition/non-solicitation enforcement, wage and hour litigation, and employment and labor arbitrations.
In addition to, and in concert with, her labor and employment practice, Julie assists a substantial number of not-for-profits with both their traditional employment issues, as well as the issues that arise before 501(c)(3) and 501 (c)(6) organizations. Julie’s not-for-profit practice includes training in board policies, procedures, and development, as well as counseling a defense.
In 2012, Julie was honored as one of the 40 Attorneys Under 40 in the State of Illinois to Watch by Chicago Lawyer magazine. Julie is well respected by her peers in the legal, business and service communities. She is often asked to speak on trending topics in the labor and employment arena by clients and educational providers around the country. Prior to joining SmithAmundsen, Julie practiced at a Midwest-based boutique labor and employment law firm. Preceding that, Julie worked in the Human Resources Department of Northern Illinois University as the Assistant Director of Affirmative Action and Legal Compliance. In this role, she conducted numerous internal investigations, reviewed policies and procedures for legal compliance, and developed training programs aimed at preventing employment litigation and liability.
