Bob Smith is the managing partner of Clark Baird Smith LLP. He represents public and private sector employers with respect to labor and employment law matters, including administrative proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board and State labor relations boards concerning representation petitions, unfair labor practice proceedings and impasse disputes. Bob also represents employers in collective bargaining matters, including contract administration and grievance arbitration proceedings, negotiation, mediation and interest arbitration. Bob also advises employers on disciplinary issues, workplace investigations, wage and hour compliance and equal employment opportunity issues. Bob represents employers in state and federal court, as well as before administrative agencies, with respect to disciplinary matters, employment discrimination claims, employment litigation and civil rights actions.
Bob previously served as the Management Chair of American Bar Association’s Committee on State and Local Government Bargaining and Employment Law. This longstanding ABA Committee is comprised of attorneys representing management, unions and public employees, as well as attorneys who serve as arbitrators and mediators. Bob previously served as the Management Co-Chair of the ABA’s Interest Arbitration Subcommittee and regularly authored annual reports on interest arbitration developments in the public sector.
Bob served as General Counsel to the Illinois Public Employer Labor Relations Association (IPELRA), which is the State’s largest public employer labor relations association for management officials from 2007-2023. In March, 2017, Bob was the recipient of the IPELRA Milestone Award in recognition of his commitment and dedication to IPELRA.
In April, 2014, Bob 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. This award is the highest honor bestowed by NPELRA.
Bob has been elected as a Fellow to the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. Election as a Fellow is the highest recognition by ones colleagues of sustained outstanding performance in the profession, exemplifying integrity, dedication and excellence.
Bob is also a Fellow and supporting member of the American Bar Foundation, which the nation’s leading research institute for the empirical study of law.
B.A. DePaul University
J.D. from DePaul College of Law
Admitted to the practice of law in Illinois and Indiana
Grievance Arbitration
Tootsie Roll Industries and Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local No. 1, Gr. No. 10445 (Termination) (Gibbons, Arb. 2020).
City of Elgin and IAFF Local 439 (Staffing) (Hayford, Arb. 2018).
Metropolitan Alliance of Police and City of Crystal Lake (Compensatory Time) (Clauss, Arb. 2017).
Tootsie Roll Industries and Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local No. 1, Gr. No’s. 8451, 8477, 8762 & 8875 (Termination) (Hill, Arb. 2012).
Interest Arbitration
City of Elgin and IAFF Local 439, Case No. S-MA-13-010 (Grenig, Arb. 2013).
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and Las Vegas Police Protective Association, (Fogelberg, Arb. 2013).
City of Highland Park and Teamsters Local 700, S-MA-09-273 (Benn, Arb. 2013).
City of DeKalb and Illinois FOP Labor Council, S-MA-10-366 (Meyers, Arb. 2012).
Village of Lombard and Illinois FOP Labor Council, S-MA-11-311 (Nielsen, Arb. 2012).
Bargaining in the Aftermath of the COVID-19 Economic Crisis, IPELRA Webinar presentation on May 8, 2020.
COVID-19 Pandemic and Emerging Labor and Employment Issues and the new FFCRA, National Webinar in March, 2020, hosted by National PELRA.
Collective Bargaining Trends and Developments, and Interest Arbitration Update, IPELRA Annual Employment Law Seminars (2020-2010).
National Collective Bargaining Trends, IPMA-HR International Training Conference and Expo (September, 2019 & September, 2018).
Collective Bargaining Developments, Illinois Public Employer Labor Relations Association Annual Training Conferences (2019-2010).
Collective Bargaining Training Workshops, conducted during IPELRA’s Multi-Day, Bi-Annual Collective Bargaining Simulation (2019, 2017, 2015 & 2013).
Public Sector Collective Bargaining Trends and Developments: A National Perspective, National PELRA Annual Training Conferences (2019-2017).
National Legal Update on Labor Relations and Employment Law, Rocky Mountain Public Employer Labor Relations Association Annual Training Conferences (2018-2014).
The Supreme Court’s Janus Decision: The Decision, the Fallout and Your Options, National Webinar, July, 2018, hosted by National PELRA.
Your Rights as a Supervisor and Their Rights as Employees, Illinois Public Service Institute (October, 2017).
EEOC Issues New Rules on Wellness Programs, published by the National Public Labor Relations Association (July, 2016).
Police Body Cameras and the Duty to Bargain, 2016 FMCS National Labor-Management Conference (August, 2017).
Protecting Yourself, From A Legal Perspective, Midwest Advanced Public Service Institute (April, 2016).
Grievance Arbitration Preparation, NPELRA Academy II (April, 2016).
Supreme Court Upholds Affordable Care Act—Again, published by the National Public Employer Labor Relations Association (July, 2015).
Labor Law Update, DuPage County Chiefs of Police Association (May, 2015).
A National Overview of Public Sector Collective Bargaining Trends, Keynote address at the NPELRA Annual Training Conference (April, 2015).
Reverse Concessions-Lessons Learned from the Recession and How to Move Forward, Webinar Presentation (November, 2014).
Agency Fee Clause Unconstitutional as Applied to Home Caregivers, published by the National Public Employer Labor Relations Association (July, 2014).
Reverse Concessions: Lessons Learned from the Recession and How to Move Forward, Keynote Address at the NPELRA Annual Training Conference (April, 2014).
ABA Report on 2013 Interest Arbitration Developments, presented at to the ABA Committee on State and Local Government Bargaining and Employment Law (January, 2014).
Supreme Court Clarifies Supervisory Status Under Title VII for Purposes of Vicarious Liability, published by the National Public Employer Labor Relations Association (July, 2013).
National Public Sector Bargaining Trends and Developments, Nevada PELRA Annual Conference (September, 2012).
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