logo

Back

Brian W. Bulger

Of Counsel

: Chicago
123 North Wacker Drive
Suite 1800
Chicago, IL 60606
P: (312) 474-7990
TF: (877) 992-6036
F: (312) 462-1820

Brian W. Bulger

Our friend and colleague Brian Bulger passed away Sunday, June 24, 2018. Brian was a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Labor and Employment Department group since he joined the Firm in 2015 and previously was a founding partner of Meckler Bulger Tilson. Brian was not only one of the most highly regarded labor and employment lawyers in Chicago for decades, but he was a great partner, mentor and friend to all of us. He will be greatly missed.

Brian earned his undergraduate degree, cum laude, from Georgetown University in 1972 and earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1977.

Read more about Brian's 41 years of practicing law in this tribute by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.

Brian W. Bulger, of counsel to Cozen O'Connor previously was founding partner of Meckler Bulger Tilson, et al, practices in the Labor and Employment Department. For over 40 years, Brian has advised and represented employers on all aspects of the employment relationship, including individual and class discrimination litigation, union avoidance, collective bargaining, wrongful termination litigation, workplace harassment, wage & hour matters, non-competition, workforce staffing issues and general employment advice, training and counseling. Brian also previously headed the labor and employment group of a major U.S. law firm.

Brian has extensive experience in equal employment opportunity and affirmative action and diversity matters, including representation in many state and federal courts around the country, and before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. Brian has handled numerous unfair labor practices and other matters before the National Labor Relations Board.

Brian is an adjunct associate professor and adjunct professor serving at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and Ave Maria School of Law; he is a board member of the Anixter Center for the Rehabilitation of Persons With Disabilities and is a member of the advisory board of the National Employment Law Institute.

For 25 years, Brian has held an AV rating in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, the highest possible distinction for legal ability and ethical standards and has been named by the National Law Journal as one of the nation's Best Litigators in Employment Law. Brian has been selected as one of the Best Lawyers by U.S. News &World Report from 2010 to present.

Experience

News

Twelve Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named To 2018 Illinois Super Lawyers Lists

January 26, 2018

Super Lawyers has recognized 12 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to its 2018 lists of top practitioners in Illinois, including Joe Tilson who was again named one of the "Top 100" Illinois Super Lawyers.

Leading Lawyers Network Recognizes 22 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers as Top Illinois Practitioners

November 29, 2017

Leading Lawyers Network has recognized 22 Cozen O'Connor attorneys as top Illinois practitioners, including 19 "Leading Lawyers" and 3 "Emerging Lawyers" for its 2017 survey results publication.

Illinois Salary Query Ban Fails, Employers Still Urged to Comply

November 21, 2017

Brian Bulger, of Counsel of Cozen O'Connor's Labor & Employment department, shares his perspective in the Daily Labor Report on the collapse of the Equal Pay legislation in the Illinois General Assembly.

100 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers Named to the Best Lawyers in America

August 23, 2017

Lawyers were selected for inclusion in the 2018 edition based on a rigorous peer-review that has been developed and defined for more than 30 years.

Illinois Law Emphasizes Employee Religious Garb Rights

August 23, 2017

Brian Bulger, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Labor & Employment department, discusses this topic in Bloomberg BNA.

UPS Agrees to $2 Million Settlement in Disability Discrimination Lawsuit

August 08, 2017

Brian Bulger, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Labor & Employment department, discusses this issue in the Chicago Tribune.

From Overtime Rules to Worker Protections, 5 Ways Trump is Shifting Labor Policy

July 19, 2017

Brian Bulger shares his perspective in a July 19 article in the Chicago Tribune on how businesses are responding to the president's shift in policies regarding salary thresholds for overtime and other proposed workforce compensation changes.

Cozen O’Connor Earns Client Recognition in 2017 Chambers USA Rankings

May 26, 2017

Chambers USA recognized 47 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields; 14 attorneys were recognized nationally and 11 were ranked in the top band.

Employers’ Usual Rules Apply to National General Strikers

February 16, 2017

Brian Bulger, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Labor & Employment department, discusses employers' usual rules and how they apply to national general strikers in SHRM.org.

Thirteen Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named to 2017 Illinois Super Lawyers Lists

February 03, 2017

Super Lawyers represents the top five percent of all practicing lawyers in each state. The publishers of Super Lawyers identify preeminent attorneys based on surveys and interviews with thousands of attorneys, plus consideration of civic service and pro bono activities.

Experts Discuss Pay Equity Analysis and its Relation to OFCCP Compliance

November 16, 2016

Brian Bulger, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Labor & Employment department, discusses pay equity analysis and its relation to OFCCP compliance on Wolters Kluwer's Employment Law Daily.

OFCCP Director Shiu's Tenure, Current Compliance Assessed at NELI Conference

October 31, 2016

Brian Bulger, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Labor & Employment department, discusses OFCCP director Shiu's tenure on BNA's Daily Labor Report.

Sixty-Two Cozen O’Connor Lawyers Named to the Best Lawyers in America

August 15, 2016

Sixty-two Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 13 of the firm’s national offices have been selected for inclusion in the 2017 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Leading Lawyers Network Recognizes 22 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers as Top Illinois Practitioners

July 01, 2016

The Leading Lawyers Network has named 22 Cozen O’Connor lawyers to its annual list of Illinois’ top practitioners and named 4 others as Emerging Lawyers in its 2016 survey results.

Cozen O’Connor Earns Client Recognition in 2016 Chambers USA Rankings

May 27, 2016

Chambers USA recognized 41 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields; 12 attorneys were recognized nationally and 11 were ranked in the top band.

15 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named 2016 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

February 03, 2016

Super Lawyers has named 15 attorneys at Cozen O’Connor to its 2016 lists of top practitioners in Illinois.

Fifty-Two Cozen O’Connor Lawyers Named to the Best Lawyers in America

August 17, 2015

The current edition is based on more than five million detailed evaluations by the top lawyers of the country. This list will be included in dozens of city and regional publications in the United States including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.

Cozen O’Connor Earns Client Recognition in 2015 Chambers USA Rankings

July 06, 2015

Chambers USA recognized 37 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields; 12 attorneys were recognized nationally and 10 were ranked in the top band.

Case of First Impression Under ADA Warns Employers About Telling Workers Too Much About EEOC Charge

October 30, 2017

Brian Bulger, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Labor & Employment Department, shares his perspective and offers suggestions employers might consider both in advance and during EEOC inquiries of its employees.

Rumored Merger of OFCCP into EEOC Bolstered by Proposed Budget [Labor & Employment Alert]

May 25, 2017

The Trump administration’s draft budget proposes a merger between the EEOC and the OFCCP. Initial reactions to the proposal, including employer reactions, have been almost uniformly negative.

Contractors Should Note: Seventh Circuit Sets Up Sexual Orientation Split for SCOTUS [The OFCCP Digest]

May 19, 2017

Brian Bulger and Jenny Goltz, both members of Cozen O'Connor's Labor & Employment department, discuss this issue in The OFCCP Digest.

Disciplining February 17 General Strikers May Cause Problems for Employers‎ [Labor & Employment Alert]

February 10, 2017

Brian Bulger cautions employers to treat the possible strike on February 17 as protected concerted activity.

Activist NLRB Created More Problems For All Employers in 2016 -- What Happens Under President Trump? [Labor & Employment Observer]

December 23, 2016

Brian W. Bulger, James R. Glenn, and Jeremy J. Glenn discuss the 2016 decisions of the National Labor Relations Board.

Judge's Ruling Blocks Most of Blacklisting Rules for Now, but Contractors Still Have Obligations and Need to Take Action [LocalJobNetwork]

November 11, 2016

Brian Bulger, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Labor & Employment department, discusses the recent ruling blocking blacklisting rules.

Judge Temporarily Blocks “Blacklisting” Rules [Labor & Employment Alert]

October 26, 2016

Brian Bulger, Jeremy Glenn and David Barron discuss a federal judge in the Eastern District of Texas who granted a preliminary injunction blocking portions of the U.S. Department of Labor’s so-called “blacklisting” rules addressing labor law violation disclosure requirements and restriction on use of arbitration agreements.

Federal Contractors Must Report All Federal Labor Law Violations [Labor & Employment Alert]

August 25, 2016

Brian Bulger discusses the July 31, 2014 Executive Order 13673, Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces, that requires government contractors and subcontractors to file reports with the U.S. Department of Labor of labor law violations.

National Labor Relations Board Makes Unionizing of Staffed Workforces Much Easier [Labor & Employment Alert]

July 11, 2016

Brian Bulger discusses the NLRB's decision in Miller & Anderson Inc., overturning a long-standing decision that when bargaining units combine employees who work solely for a user employer with employees who work jointly for a staffing employer and the user employer, the consent of all involved employers must be obtained to organize any grouping within the unit.

Employment Law Conference	Chicago, IL	11/09/2017
Affirmative Action Update - The OFCCP in Transition		10/13/2017
2017 Labor and Employment Law Update - Chicago	Chicago, IL	10/05/2017
Employment Law Update	Chicago, IL	07/20/2017
Labor and Employment Law Update	Philadelphia, PA	06/14/2017
It's Yuuuge! - Labor Law Update & Trump's First 100 Days?	Newport Beach, CA	04/23/2017
Implications of the Trump Administration on Labor and Employment Laws after the First 90 Days	San Diego, CA	04/04/2017
Current Status of the Joint Employer Doctrine and Its Impact in the EEO Area	New Orleans, LA	03/31/2017
Hot Labor and Employment Law Topics Under the New Administration	Fort Lauderdale, FL	03/23/2017
National Employment Law Institute’s Employment Law Briefing	Naples, FL	03/05/2017
What’s Next From the NLRB?	Dallas, TX	10/16/2016
Affirmative Action Briefing	Various	10/06/2016
Hot Topics in Contemporary Labor Relations Law	Chicago, IL	06/17/2016
Labor and Employment Law Issues in an Election Year	Fort Lauderdale, FL	04/21/2016
Affirmative Action Briefing - Chicago	Chicago, IL	10/30/2015
National Forum on Labor-Management Relations	New York, NY	10/28/2015
Affirmative Action Briefing - Washington, D.C.	Arlington, VA	10/23/2015
Affirmative Action Briefing - San Francisco	San Francisco, CA	10/09/2015
Chicago Metropolitan Industry Liaison Group	Riverwoods, IL	09/11/2015
39th Annual Employment Discrimination Law Update	Chicago, IL	07/09/2015