Thomas E. Ahlering

• Obtained landmark victory in the Seventh Circuit on behalf of airline in class action brought by employees alleging violations of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA).
• Successfully represented global fast-food franchisor in employee privacy class action by obtaining court order compelling arbitration on an individual basis.
• Successfully represented multinational home improvement retail company in consumer privacy class action alleging violations of state privacy law and corresponding investigation by state Attorney General regarding company data practices.
• Acts as outside counsel for e-commerce company in the privacy and employment contexts advising on various issues including artificial intelligence, employee data, employee monitoring, wiretapping/recording laws, employee benefits, employee health/medical information and employee devices, and negotiation/preparation of complex privacy and employment agreements/policies.
• Conducted complex internal workplace investigations on behalf of automotive and pharmaceutical biotech companies.
• Represents university in defense of EEOC pattern and practice discrimination claims with respect to faculty, students, and employment programs.

Tom represents clients on a wide range of complex privacy, employment and consumer issues with a focus on providing simple, practical, and effective solutions to mitigate legal risk.  Tom has extensive experience representing/advising clients in cutting-edge privacy matters implicating both the workplace and consumer contexts—including the emerging areas of biometric privacy, workplace privacy/monitoring, artificial intelligence, and data privacy.  

Tom specifically helps clients navigate and comply with the evolving global landscape of privacy and employment laws; defends clients in privacy, employment, and consumer litigation; conducts workplace internal investigations; and negotiates/prepares privacy, employment, and consumer related agreements and policies.

He has personally represented over 50 companies in privacy class actions involving bet-the company damages spanning a wide range of industries, researched/developed comprehensive compliance and defense strategies, obtained a landmark decision in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit on behalf of a Fortune 500 client, obtained case dismissals, and negotiated favorable resolutions on behalf of clients.

Tom also has significant experience representing and advising clients in traditional employment matters and litigation, including complex employment discrimination class actions, EEOC pattern-or-practice lawsuits, and wage-and-hour class/collective actions.