Susan Benton joined the firm’s Chicago office as a partner in 2000. She concentrates her practice in labor relations and employment litigation and counseling. Ms. Benton represents employers in a range of industries, including consulting, insurance, broadcasting, communications, technology, manufacturing, and distribution, as counselor, negotiator, and trial attorney before administrative bodies and state and federal courts. Her experience includes matters involving employment discrimination, sexual harassment, union organizing, collective bargaining, grievance arbitration, NASD arbitration, employment contracts and separation agreements, affirmative action, retaliatory discharge, defamation, confidentiality agreements, restrictive covenants, and related labor and employment issues. Prior to joining Winston & Strawn, Ms. Benton was a partner at another large Chicago law firm. She also has previously managed human resource functions, including employee communications, executive training and development, and executive recruitment, for a division of a major department store and for a financial services company.
Honors and Awards
Ms. Benton is a fellow of the College of Labor & Employment Lawyers. She has
been named as a top lawyer in the areas of management labor and employment
law by Leading Lawyer. She also was chosen as an Illinois Super Lawyer for
2005 and 2006.
Activities
Ms. Benton is chair of the firm’s Foundation Committee and a member of the
Business Development and Client Services and Diversity Committees. She is a
trustee of the Field Museum, a member of the board of directors and executive
committee of the Academy for Urban School Leadership, and on the boards of
directors of Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights and The
Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA).
Education
Ms. Benton received a B.A. in Psychology in 1975 and an M.B.A. in 1982 from
the University of Missouri, St. Louis. She received a J.D. in 1982 from Boston
University School of Law.
Speeches and Publications
Ms. Benton’s publications include a chapter in the Employment Law Deskbook
Ms. Benton’s publications include a chapter in the Employment Law Deskbook
for Human Resources Professionals titled “Individual Autonomy” (West Group,
2001), a book and videotape titled Sexual Harassment in the Workplace/A Guide
to Prevention, (Crisp Publications, 1995), and an article titled “Managing to
Prevent Liability: The Recruitment and Selection Process” ( EMA Journal, Fall
1992).
She has been a featured speaker at the American Management Association Human Resources Conferences, and also lectures extensively in programs sponsored by the Practising Law Institute, American Management Association, Society for Human Resource Professionals, the Employment Management Association, and others.