About Sonya
Sonya counsels companies and organizations on various employee-related legal issues and needs that arise at all the stages of the employment relationship, including the negotiation of employment agreements, restrictive covenants, policies and training, performance management, internal investigations and individual and group separations. Sonya also represents employers in litigation, her experience including the successful defense of numerous administrative charges, lawsuits and appellate proceedings at the state and federal levels. Clients value that her ability to understand their needs and thoroughly assess their legal situations often results in invaluable savings in time and resources.Sonya is a frequent presenter and author of numerous articles on current employment law topics, including effective employment audit and risk management practices, harassment and discrimination in the workplace, technology issues relating to biometric privacy, social media and use of recruiting technologies, restrictive covenants, medical leave and disability-related issues, workplace violence, smart performance management, conducting workplace investigations and reductions in force and other notable developments in labor and employment law.In addition to her practice, Sonya is a member of the National Board of the Coalition of Women's Initiatives in Law, where she serves as the National Secretary/Treasurer on the Executive Committee. The Coalition is a nonprofit organization focused on supporting female attorneys in Chicago, New York and D.C.-area law firms and companies. Sonya is also a member of the Chicago chapter of the International Women’s Forum, an international organization that supports global, national and local networks of women leaders in government, medicine, business, education, the arts and community service. Sonya is also involved on the International Committee of the American Jewish Committee (AJC). At the firm, Sonya is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, hiring, anti-harassment and attorney credit allocation committees.Sonya was recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as one of the country's leading labor and employment lawyers. She was recommended by her peers as a Leading Lawyer for 2021 for her work in "Employment Law: Management" and "Labor Law: Management." In 2021, on behalf of NGE, Sonya accepted the Cabrini Green Legal Aid's "Spirit of Generosity Award" that recognized the firm for its pro bono counsel provided over several years. She also received the 2021 Chicago Leadership Award from the Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law for her work as Chicago Chapter President, growing the chapter and organizing a wide array of virtual programs in a challenging year. In 2020, Sonya received the Collaborative Leadership Award from the Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards, and was named among the Crain’s Chicago Business “Notable Women in Law.” In 2017, She was recognized as one of "40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch" by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company, which also named her an Emerging Lawyer in 2015. Sonya has been named a Rising Star since 2013 in Illinois Super Lawyers, and was recognized in the Spring 2017 Women of Influence issue of Best Lawyers - Business Edition. In 2012, She was named by Today’s Chicago Woman as one of the 100 Women to Watch.
Sonya counsels companies and organizations on various employee-related legal issues and needs that arise at all the stages of the employment relationship, including the negotiation of employment agreements, restrictive covenants, policies and training, performance management, internal investigations and individual and group separations. Sonya also represents employers in litigation, her experience including the successful defense of numerous administrative charges, lawsuits and appellate proceedings at the state and federal levels. Clients value that her ability to understand their needs and thoroughly assess their legal situations often results in invaluable savings in time and resources.Sonya is a frequent presenter and author of numerous articles on current employment law topics, including effective employment audit and risk management practices, harassment and discrimination in the workplace, technology issues relating to biometric privacy, social media and use of recruiting technologies, restrictive covenants, medical leave and disability-related issues, workplace violence, smart performance management, conducting workplace investigations and reductions in force and other notable developments in labor and employment law.In addition to her practice, Sonya is a member of the National Board of the Coalition of Women's Initiatives in Law, where she serves as the National Secretary/Treasurer on the Executive Committee. The Coalition is a nonprofit organization focused on supporting female attorneys in Chicago, New York and D.C.-area law firms and companies. Sonya is also a member of the Chicago chapter of the International Women’s Forum, an international organization that supports global, national and local networks of women leaders in government, medicine, business, education, the arts and community service. Sonya is also involved on the International Committee of the American Jewish Committee (AJC). At the firm, Sonya is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, hiring, anti-harassment and attorney credit allocation committees.Sonya was recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as one of the country's leading labor and employment lawyers. She was recommended by her peers as a Leading Lawyer for 2021 for her work in "Employment Law: Management" and "Labor Law: Management." In 2021, on behalf of NGE, Sonya accepted the Cabrini Green Legal Aid's "Spirit of Generosity Award" that recognized the firm for its pro bono counsel provided over several years. She also received the 2021 Chicago Leadership Award from the Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law for her work as Chicago Chapter President, growing the chapter and organizing a wide array of virtual programs in a challenging year. In 2020, Sonya received the Collaborative Leadership Award from the Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards, and was named among the Crain’s Chicago Business “Notable Women in Law.” In 2017, She was recognized as one of "40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch" by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company, which also named her an Emerging Lawyer in 2015. Sonya has been named a Rising Star since 2013 in Illinois Super Lawyers, and was recognized in the Spring 2017 Women of Influence issue of Best Lawyers - Business Edition. In 2012, She was named by Today’s Chicago Woman as one of the 100 Women to Watch.
Sonya counsels companies and organizations on various employee-related legal issues and needs that arise at all the stages of the employment relationship, including the negotiation of employment agreements, restrictive covenants, policies and training, performance management, internal investigations and individual and group separations. Sonya also represents employers in litigation, her experience including the successful defense of numerous administrative charges, lawsuits and appellate proceedings at the state and federal levels. Clients value that her ability to understand their needs and thoroughly assess their legal situations often results in invaluable savings in time and resources.
Sonya is a frequent presenter and author of numerous articles on current employment law topics, including effective employment audit and risk management practices, harassment and discrimination in the workplace, technology issues relating to biometric privacy, social media and use of recruiting technologies, restrictive covenants, medical leave and disability-related issues, workplace violence, smart performance management, conducting workplace investigations and reductions in force and other notable developments in labor and employment law.
In addition to her practice, Sonya is a member of the National Board of the Coalition of Women's Initiatives in Law, where she serves as the National Secretary/Treasurer on the Executive Committee. The Coalition is a nonprofit organization focused on supporting female attorneys in Chicago, New York and D.C.-area law firms and companies. Sonya is also a member of the Chicago chapter of the International Women’s Forum, an international organization that supports global, national and local networks of women leaders in government, medicine, business, education, the arts and community service. Sonya is also involved on the International Committee of the American Jewish Committee (AJC). At the firm, Sonya is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, hiring, anti-harassment and attorney credit allocation committees.
Sonya was recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as one of the country's leading labor and employment lawyers. She was recommended by her peers as a Leading Lawyer for 2021 for her work in "Employment Law: Management" and "Labor Law: Management." In 2021, on behalf of NGE, Sonya accepted the Cabrini Green Legal Aid's "Spirit of Generosity Award" that recognized the firm for its pro bono counsel provided over several years. She also received the 2021 Chicago Leadership Award from the Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law for her work as Chicago Chapter President, growing the chapter and organizing a wide array of virtual programs in a challenging year. In 2020, Sonya received the Collaborative Leadership Award from the Women, Influence & Power in Law Awards, and was named among the Crain’s Chicago Business “Notable Women in Law.” In 2017, She was recognized as one of "40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch" by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company, which also named her an Emerging Lawyer in 2015. Sonya has been named a Rising Star since 2013 in Illinois Super Lawyers, and was recognized in the Spring 2017 Women of Influence issue of Best Lawyers - Business Edition. In 2012, She was named by Today’s Chicago Woman as one of the 100 Women to Watch.
