practice accolades
The American Lawyer Magazine's Litigation Department of the Year – Labor and Employment Law Finalist 2004, Winner 2006, Finalist 2008, Finalist 2010, and Finalist 2012
Listed in the highest tier for National Labor and Employment Practice in Chambers USA 2013
Ranked in the top tier by The Legal 500 for Labor and Employment Litigation, ERISA Litigation, Labor-Management Relations, and Workplace and Employment Counseling (2012)
Ranked, National Tier 1: Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor & Employment by U.S. News and Best Lawyers (2011-2012)
Ranked #1 for "Most Prestigious" Labor and Employment Practice, Vault 2012 Associate Survey
Listed in the highest tier for National ERISA Litigation Practice in Chambers USA 2012
Ranked in Tier 1 for ERISA Litigation by The U.S. Legal 500 (2012)
honors + affiliations
Listed, "40 Best LGBT Attorneys Under 40," National LGBT Bar Association (2010)
Listed, "Rising Star," Illinois Super Lawyers (2009–2010, 2012)
Listed, "Rising Star," Washington D.C. Super Lawyers (2013)
Lambda Legal: National Leadership Council Member (2009–present); Bon Foster Civil Rights Celebration Co-Chair (2011)
Windy City Times: 30 Under 30 Most Outstanding LGBT Individuals (2009)
Chair, Committee for LBGT Rights, Chicago Bar Association (2008–2009, 2010–2011); Vice Chair (2009–2010)
Board Member, Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago, (2008–2011)
Board Member, Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Illinois State Bar Association(2008–2009); Committee on Diversity, Board Member (2008–2009)
bar admissions
- Illinois
- District of Columbia
Court Admissions
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- Washington, D.C.
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1111 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20004-2541
Phone: 202.739.5790
Fax: 202.739.3001
John R. Richards is an associate in Morgan Lewis's Labor and Employment Practice. Mr. Richards represents clients on a wide range of labor and employment matters with an emphasis on class action and multiparty litigation arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), as well as class and collective action litigation arising under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state wage-and-hour laws.
Mr. Richards routinely advises financial services and retail employers on issues related to employee handbooks, employment policies, wage and hour compliance, litigation avoidance, and discovery management.
Mr. Richards also has published multiple articles and papers on ERISA litigation topics, employment law, and LGBT diversity issues. He is actively involved in Lambda Legal as a member of its National Board.
Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Mr. Richards clerked for Judge Gregory L. Frost of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. He also served as an intern for the Office of Political Affairs of the White House, the Ohio Attorney General's Office, and Legal Aid of Tennessee.
Mr. Richards earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2006. While in law school, he participated in the LGBT clinic, serving for two years as an extern for Equality Advocates Pennsylvania. He earned his B.S., summa cum laude, in political science, with a minor in sociology, from Vanderbilt University in 2003.
Mr. Richards is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Illinois and before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of Illinois, the Southern District of Ohio, the Western District of Michigan, and the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
education
- University of Pennsylvania Law School, 2006, J.D., Cum Laude
- Vanderbilt University, 2003, B.S., Summa Cum Laude