Honors, Awards, and Publications

Honors, awards, and publications

Honors and awards

Roxana Underwood has been named as the Management Co-Chair of the American Bar Association State and Local Government Bargaining & Employment Law Committee. Her three-year term officially began in August 2023.  This longstanding committee is comprised of leading management, union, and neutral attorneys (arbitrators and labor board) from across the nation who practice public sector labor law. 

 

In 2020, Jim Powers coauthored a chapter about Illinois municipal personnel practices for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education.   


The Section of Labor Employment Law of the American Bar Association named James Baird the 2019 recipient of Arvid Anderson Public Sector Labor and Employment Attorney of the Year Award. This is the ABA’s top honor for public sector labor attorneys in recognition of a career spent shaping the practice of public sector labor law.


Clark Baird Smith LLP has been named a Tier 1 “Best law firm” in Chicago and the Chicago-land area by U.S. News & World Report for 2017-2018. Clark Baird Smith LLP received its Tier 1 ranking for its Labor-Management practice as well as for its Employment-Management practice. Visit http://bestlawfirms.usnews.com/ for more information.


In 2016, Jim Powers published an article for the Illinois Public Employee Relations Report entitled "Police Body Cameras: Do Illinois Public Employers Have a Duty to Bargain Over Their Use?" 


Ben Gehrt has been recognized as one of SuperLawyers magazine’s 2016 Illinois Rising Stars. Only 2.5% of all attorneys in the State of Illinois were selected to receive this honor.


On December 9, 2015, the Labor and Employment Relations Association (“LERA”) awarded Jim Baird with the LERA Distinguished Service Award.


Clark Baird Smith LLP has once again been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top-tier law firm in Chicago for its Labor and Employment law practice for the year 2016.


U.S. News & World Report released its 2015 law firm rankings, once again recognizing Clark Baird Smith LLP among the top-tier law firms in Chicago for its Labor and Employment law practice.


On November 8, 2014, Bob Smith was inducted into the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. This is following election as a Fellow into the College in June, 2014. Election as a Fellow is the highest recognition by ones colleagues of sustained outstanding performance in the profession, exemplifying integrity, dedication and excellence.


In April, 2014, Bob Smith was the recipient of the President’s Award from the National Public Employer Labor Relations Association, in recognition of his outstanding service to NPELRA and his contribution to Public Sector Labor Relations.


On November 1, 2013, U.S. News & World Report announced that Clark Baird Smith LLP ranks among the top-tier law firms in Chicago for its Labor-Management practice as well as for its Employment-Management practice. Visit http://bestlawfirms.usnews.com/ for more information.


Jill Leka has been selected to Leading Lawyers for several consecutive years, and featured in a 2012 Leading Lawyers Network article “Making Communities Better Places Through Labor and Employment Law. Click here to read the article


Ted Clark has received “The NPELRA Award of Merit” and “The NPELRA President’s Award” which is the highest honor bestowed by the National Public Employer Labor Relations Association.


The Section of Labor Employment Law of the American Bar Association named Ted Clark the 2010 recipient of Arvid Anderson Public Sector Labor and Employment Attorney of the Year Award. This is the ABA’s top honor for public sector labor attorneys in recognition of a career spent shaping the practice of public sector labor law.


Ted Clark has played a key role in drafting public sector labor statutes, has testified before the U.S. Congress on behalf of such groups as the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities, on proposed public sector legislation and the so-called “Employee Free Choice Act.”


Ted Clark and Jim Baird have been awarded the Jefferson Fordham Society’s “Lifetime Achievement Award” by the ABA’s Section of State and Local the Local Government Law.


Ted Clark, Jim Baird, and Bob Smith are elected fellows in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.


Publications

Our lawyers have authored or co-authored numerous treatises that are prominent in the field, including, but not limited to:
  • Labor Relations Law in the Public Sector: Cases and Materials (the first law school textbook on public sector labor law, which is now in its fourth edition);
  • In Defense of the Public Employer (published by the American Bar Association);
  • Negotiating the Public Sector Contract (published by the International City Manager’s Association);
  • Smarter Bargaining, Volumes I and II (Volume III in production) (published by the National Public Employer Labor Relations Association);
  • Management Rights: Little Understood, Little Used, Quickly Lost (published by the U.S. Conference of Mayors);
  • Practical Labor Relations for Public Employers (published by the Colorado Municipal League);
  • Privacy in the Public Workplace (published by the American Bar Association);
  • Sexual Harassment, Special Considerations for the Public Employer (published by the Bureau of National Affairs);
  • Freedom of Speech in the Public Workplace (published by the American Bar Association);
  • Surviving Police and Fire Collective Bargaining and Interest Arbitration in Illinois (published by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association).
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