Overview
Bill Pokorny is Managing Partner of Franczek, P.C., and a trusted advisor to senior leadership at corporations, nonprofits, and educational institutions on high-stakes employment, compliance, and litigation matters. He represents organizations in complex disputes involving wage and hour issues, discrimination and civil rights claims, whistleblower allegations, faculty tenure disputes, and disability and leave issues, often where legal risk intersects with mission-critical operational and reputational concerns.
Outside of litigation matters, Bill is frequently called upon to advise clients during crises or periods of organizational change, providing practical guidance that aligns legal strategy with business and institutional objectives. He counsels boards, executives, and human resources leaders on managing institutional risk and navigating sensitive workplace challenges. His practice includes compliance with federal and state wage and hour laws, employee classification and pay practices, disability accommodations, and leave obligations under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and state and local laws.
Bill also conducts independent workplace investigations into allegations of harassment, discrimination, and other misconduct, including matters involving senior personnel and significant organizational exposure. He provides training for leadership, managers, and employees on employment law obligations and best practices. Additionally, he leads comprehensive compliance reviews and policy audits, helping institutions strengthen internal processes while reducing litigation risk.
Bill joined the firm in February 2006. Earlier in his career, he practiced at Wildman Harrold Allen & Dixon LLP (2003–2006) and McDermott Will & Emery LLP (2001–2003). He is a member of the Chicago, Illinois State, and American Bar Associations.
Representative Experience
- Won defense verdict for City Colleges of Chicago following five-day jury trial of claim by former faculty member who alleged that he was denied tenure because of his religion
- Obtained summary judgment for the Village of Hoffman Estates in a U.S. District Court lawsuit alleging age and sex discrimination and retaliation
- Obtained summary judgment for utility company in Whistleblower Act lawsuit in DuPage County Circuit Court
- Won summary judgment for medical center in Title VII retaliation lawsuit in U.S. District Court
- Prevailed in AAA arbitration of disability discrimination and various state law claims brought by former sales executive against InnerWorkings, Inc.
- Obtained summary judgment after securing dismissal of class claims for an energy company in a lawsuit alleging that the company violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by demoting allegedly disabled employees for excessive absenteeism
- Obtained dismissal of over 40 related age discrimination charges arising from closure of client’s engineering facility
- Successfully defended summary judgment for Morningstar, Inc. in sexual orientation discrimination lawsuit by former employee on appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Won motion to dismiss age discrimination and breach of contract lawsuit filed against Northwestern University by former professor
- Obtained defense verdict for the University of Chicago in a nine-day jury trial in which a former Ph.D. student alleged that the University violated provisions of its student handbook when it suspended him for inappropriate communications with University administrators
- Won dismissal of six-figure claim for sales commissions by former employee of telecommunications client before the Illinois Department of Labor after four-day evidentiary hearing
Recognition
Bill was recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer in 2023 by Super Lawyers Magazine, and has been recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer since 2017. In 2014, Bill was named to the annual “40 Under 40” published by Law Bulletin Publishing, which recognizes 40 attorneys under the age of 40 based on nominations by their clients, peers and the legal community.