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Barry Hartstein ’73 (ILR)has earned a national reputation for a career that includes more than 35 years of counseling and representing employers in a broad range of labor and employment matters. He serves as co-chair of Littler’s EEO & diversity practice group. He is a frequent writer, commentator, and lecturer on workplace issues. He also has extensive experience as a litigator and has defended employers nationwide in individual and class action claims.  He has particular expertise dealing with the EEOC on both a local and national level, which has included being invited by the chair of the EEOC to address the commission on EEO-related issues on behalf of the employer bar.

Barry serves in numerous leadership roles at Cornell University. He is one of the vice chairs of the Cornell University Council, which recognizes Cornell alumni who have demonstrated strong leadership and service to the community, their profession and to Cornell. Additionally, Barry is on the advisory board of the Cornell Center for Innovative Hospitality Labor and Employment Relations. Barry also has served in numerous leadership roles at the Cornell ILR School. In addition to previously serving  on the Dean’s advisory council and president of the alumni association, he currently serves on the board of  the ILR School’s Scheinman Institute, which is the first institute exclusively focused on the study and practice of workplace dispute resolution.

Barry has served for many years in a national leadership role for the American Bar Association in its section devoted to labor and employment law focusing on EEO issues, including previously serving as management co-chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee. In this role, he has worked closely with various chairs and other members of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, aside from serving as a liaison between the Chicago bar and the EEOC’s Chicago district office, facilitating communication between members of the bar and the EEOC on both a local and national level.

Prior to joining Littler, Barry was the managing partner of the Chicago office of a major AM Law 100 Firm, where he also served as Chicago practice leader for the firm’s labor and employment practice.

Professional and Community Affiliations

  • Vice chair, Cornell University Council, 2014 to present
  • Co-chair, Membership, Labor and Employment Law Section – American Bar Association, 2012-present
  • EEO Committee, Labor and Employment Law Section American Bar Association, 1976 – present; Management Co-chair, 2002-2004
  • Co-chair, EEOC Liaison Committee, Chicago District Office, Labor and Employment Law Section – American Bar Association, 1995-present
  • Member, Executive Committee – Cornell ILR Alumni Association, 1995-present; Executive Committee, 2000 to Present, President, 2007-2009
  • Board of Directors – Scheinman Institute on Conflict  Resolution, Cornell ILR School, 2008-present

Recognition

  • Named, The Best Lawyers in America, 2007-2014
  • Named, Nations’ Most Powerful Employment Attorneys – Top 100, Human Resource Executive / Lawdragon Inc., 2010-2014
  • Named, Management Labour and Employment – Who’s Who Legal, 2007-2014
  • Named, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business – Chambers USA, 2003-2013
  • Named, Leading Lawyer 500 – InterContinental Finance Magazine, 2013
  • Recipient, Judge William B. Groat Alumni Award, Cornell ILR School, 2011 (recognition of alumnus for special contributions to Cornell ILR School and labor and employment field)
  • Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, 1999 to Present

Education

  • J.D., Northwestern University School of Law, 1976
  • B.S., Cornell University, 1973

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois
  • California

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin