Penelope M. Lechtenberg
Lechtenberg & Associates LLC
Founder and Managing Partner, Rockford
815-222-6727
pml@lechtenberglawfirm.com
Practice Focus and Client Representations
Penelope Lechtenberg represents management in labor and
employment law matters before federal and state courts and
administrative agencies, including the National Labor Relations
Board, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, OSHA, U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services, Illinois Department of
Human Rights, Illinois Department of Labor, Illinois Human
Rights Commission and Illinois Department of Employment
Security.
Ms. Lechtenberg counsels employers on a wide range of issues,
including:
- Union campaigns and strategy
- Collective bargaining negotiations
- Grievance procedures
- Discipline and discharge
- Discrimination and harassment charges
- Wage and hour issues
- ERISA compliance and COBRA matters
- All contract issues and disputes
- Restrictive covenants
- OSHA investigations and related safety matters
- OFCCP compliance issues
- Affirmative action requirements
- Immigration rules and regulations
Ms. Lechtenberg provides employers with practical advice on all
day-to-day employment-related issues. In addition to those listed
above, she counsels on effective implementation of ADA and
FMLA requirements, employee benefits programs,
unemployment compensation procedures and hearings, and
questions arising under the federal and state wage and hour
laws. She regularly prepares employment agreements,
separation agreements and all other forms of business contracts.
Ms. Lechtenberg also maintains a substantial business and
personal immigration practice. She advises corporate and
individual clients in immigration matters involving U.S.
Citizenship & Immigration Services, Department of Labor and
Department of State, from immigration petitions to audits and
workplace investigations.
Professional Background
In addition to her extensive client representation, Ms.
Lechtenberg serves as an Arbitrator for the Circuit Court of the
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, Winnebago County, Illinois. She is
a member of the Winnebago County Bar Association, Illinois
State Bar Association, and the the American Immigration Lawyers
Association.
Ms. Lechtenberg serves on the board
of directors of the Rockford Area Economic Development Council, the Stateline World Trade Association and the OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center Foundation Council.
Ms. Lechtenberg is a member of the Leading Lawyers Network,
where she was selected by her peers as a Leading Lawyer in
Employment Law: Management and Labor Law: Management. In
addition, she has been rated by Martindale-Hubbell for ethics
and legal ability. Ms. Lechtenberg founded Lechtenberg & Associates LLC after more than twenty years of private practice in other firms.
Publications and Presentations
Ms. Lechtenberg is the author of, "Updated I-9 Form Now
Required for Every New Hire," which was published in the
December 2007 edition of The Voice, the monthly publication of
the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
She is a frequent public speaker, presenting employer training
and informative programs about labor, employment and
immigration law. Her presentations include:
- "Employment Discrimination Law," guest lecturer, Rockford
Business College, Rockford, Illinois, November 2007.
- "Employment Law (Discrimination) Update," Hinshaw's 2007
Effectively Dealing with Current Labor & Employment Issues
seminar, Chicago, Illinois, September 2007.
- "Immigration 2007: New Issues and Regulations,"
Employer's Association of Illinois, Rockford, Illinois, April
2007.
- "2007 Immigration Update," Life Services Network, 2007
Annual Convention & Exposition, Chicago, Illinois, March
2007.
- "Basics of Employment Immigration Law," Aurora
University's Human Resources Institute, Aurora, Illinois,
February 2007.
- "Triple Trouble - Overlapping HR Program Changes,"
DuPage Society of Human Resources Management,
Naperville, Illinois, January 2007.
- "Annual Employment Law Update," Employers Association
of Illinois, Rockford, Illinois, September 2006.
- "Banking the Unbanked," Community Bankers Association of
Illinois, Indianapolis, Indiana, September 2006.
- "Human Resources Legal Update," Aurora University's
Human Resources Institute, Aurora, Illinois, June 2006.
- "Recent Illinois Developments" and "Hiring and Recruiting,"
Lorman Education Services' seminar, "State and Federal
Personnel Laws in Illinois," Rockford, Illinois, June 2006.
- "Employment-Based Immigration Law Today," Hinshawsponsored
seminar "Effectively Dealing with Current Labor &
Employment Issues," Lisle, Illinois, November 2005.
- "Wage and Hour," Lorman Education Services seminar
"Illinois State and Federal Personnel Laws," Rockford,
Illinois, March 2005.
- "Labor and Employment Law Update," Hinshaw-sponsored
breakfast seminar series, Rockford, Illinois, March 2005.
- "Awareness of Harassment in the Workplace," Rockford
Network, Rockford, Illinois, January 2005.