David Ritter '80 (ILR)

David B. Ritter ’80 (ILR) is a partner in the Chicago office of Barnes & Thornburg and a member of the firm’s labor and employment law department. He represents management nationwide in virtually all areas of labor and employment law, including employment discrimination and harassment claims, non-compete, trade secret and restrictive covenants, and employment torts.

With nearly 30 years of experience representing public and private companies, Ritter has counseled clients in service and manufacturing industries ranging from healthcare to logistics and financial services. He defends employers faced with claims under Sarbanes-Oxley, and routinely represents clients before governmental agencies, including the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the Department of Labor (DOL), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), and similar state agencies.

Ritter represents high-level executives on issues related to employment and separation agreements. He also handles affirmative action plans, employment issues related to corporate transactions, counseling of employers on employment issues, and assists in employee training as related to employment issues.

Ritter has been commended on several occasions for his labor and employment practice. He is AV-rated – the highest honor one can receive – by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. He has also been recognized as a labor and employment leader in the 2008-2012 editions of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, and has been listed in Best Lawyers in America every year since 2007 in the categories of employment law-management and labor law-management. Additionally, he is a regular contributor to presentations and publications, providing thought leadership on a wide range of employment law topics.

Prior to his legal career, Mr. Ritter worked as an employee relations assistant at Exxon Mobil (f/k/a Mobil Oil Corporation). He earned his J.D. cum laude from Case Western Reserve University Law School in 1985, where he served as a member of the University’s Law Review. He earned his B.S. from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations in 1980.

Mr. Ritter is a member of both the Labor and Employment Law and the Litigation sections of the American Bar Association. He is also on the board of directors and acts as general counsel for The Greater North Michigan Avenue Association (GNMAA).

David is a board member and acts as volunteer general counsel for the Magnificent Mile Association and is also a board member for the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.