Robert Johnson III

ROBERT JOHNSON III focuses his practice on complex and high-profile matters across a range of industries, topics, and areas of law, including contract disputes, securities litigation, ERISA class actions, artificial intelligence, and employment law. He has experience at nearly every stage of litigation, including discovery and depositions; pre-trial briefings, motions, and oral arguments; mediation and settlement negotiations; trials and arbitration proceedings.

Robert is committed to pro bono work and community service, working for clients in adoption, disability discrimination, and prisoner rights cases. He graduated from the University of Chicago Law School, where he served as a Business Law Review staff member, president of the Black Law Students Association, and a fellow ambassador at the Institute of Politics. He also externed for Judge Valderrama on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Upon graduation, Robert received the “Ann Watson Barber Outstanding Service Award” and the “Campus Life and Leadership Award” for his leadership and service to the law school community.

Commercial Litigation and Disputes

• Assisted with deposing the former chief legal officer of multinational mass media company as part of a defamation suit related to the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

ERISA Litigation

• Defending an investment advisor in arbitration against claims of breach of contract, professional malpractice, and breach of ERISA fiduciary duties.
• Represented a retirement services provider in third-party discovery matters in the Southern District of California.
• Helped successfully defend and obtain favorable settlements for an automotive manufacturer and a health care provider facing federal class action lawsuits asserting ERISA fiduciary duty claims related to 401(k) plan investment options and fees.

Employment Litigation

• Successfully defended a manufacturing company against ADA and FMLA claims, obtaining a full dismissal and notice of closure from the EEOC.
• Helped enforce non-compete and confidentiality agreements for a financial technology company.
• Defending a global investment firm from a lawsuit in the Northern District of Illinois asserting joint employer and class claims arising under Title VII and the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Employment Counseling

• Assisted with an internal compliance review for a healthcare services provider, consisting of comprehensive analysis of company documents and public filings, interview of company executives, and visual summary of findings and recommendations for presentation to the board of directors.
• Advised a professional services firm on the use of artificial intelligence in HR functions.
• Helped advise a holding company on the enforceability of non-compete and “choice of law” provisions in employment contracts under California law.
• Conducted due diligence review of employment agreements and restrictive covenants in support of a multi-billion dollar transaction.
• Advised non-profit on the application of labor and employment law to their programs.

 

Robert serves as an associate board member for the Black Men Lawyers’ Association.