Jill K. Bigler

Overview

Employers seek out attorney Jill Bigler to advise and represent them in a broad range of labor and employment litigation matters.

She regularly works with clients on matters arising under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the National Labor Relations Act, and state employment laws.

Jill’s experience includes litigation in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies. Clients rely on Jill to handle such matters as discrimination and harassment involving race, gender, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and religious or political affiliation; intentional infliction of emotional distress; breach of contract; wrongful termination in violation of public policy; and violations of ERISA. Jill also represents employers as defense counsel approved by Employment Practices Liability Insurance and Directors and Officers Liability Insurance carriers. In addition, Jill regularly advises on and litigates non-compete, non-solicit, and trade secret issues.

A trusted advisor, Jill counsels employers on day-to-day employment issues, such as drafting employment policies, handbooks, employment agreements, severance agreements, and other employment-related documents.

Focus Areas

Services

Industries

Experience

Helped clients understand their legal obligations under new labor and employment laws passed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jill drafted work-from-home, leave, and reopening policies; advised on mass layoff and WARN Act obligations, furloughs, terminations, unemployment issues, and alternative work arrangements; and recommended best practices for essential workers, employee testing and health assessments, employee travel, face covering requirements, and safe reopening.
Represented a national mortgage loan company in two lawsuits in which the client hired two mortgage loan officers from a competitor, and the competitor sought to enforce the loan officers’ non-compete agreements. Jill negotiated a global settlement that considerably reduced the length of each employee’s non-compete agreement.
Conducted a full analysis of a health care client’s multifaceted bonus programs to determine compliance with state and federal wage and hour laws. Jill developed options for changing the criteria of several bonus programs and pay calculations to avoid possible wage law violations in calculating overtime and created a plan for correcting possible improper overtime calculations for the previous two-year period.
Represented a mortgage lender in a dispute following the abrupt resignation of a branch manager and 25 employees who left to join a competitor, taking confidential information with them. Jill secured a temporary restraining order prohibiting the employees from working for the competitor and then negotiated a settlement with the former employees and their new employer, which prohibited the employees from soliciting their former employer’s clients.
Defended the president and CEO of a national software company against claims of sex and age discrimination, retaliation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress in connection with the accusing employee’s termination from the company. Jill secured a favorable judgment for the company and a dismissal of the employee’s claims.
Represented a regional health system in a harassment lawsuit following the termination of an employee related to her affair with a coworker. The employee had claimed that 10 other influential employees were engaged in consensual affairs with coworkers. Jill successfully negotiated a settlement on behalf of the health system, avoiding depositions and cross-examinations of other employees in court.
Advised a regional health system’s vice president of human relations regarding the investigation, suspension, and ultimate termination of a nurse who allegedly made off-duty threats to an on-duty coworker, including threats of violence involving a firearm. Jill assisted in revising the health system’s weapons-free policy and crisis protocol for emergency situations.

Recognition

Best Lawyers in America, Litigation - Labor and Employment (2022-2024), Employment Law - Management (2024), Labor Law - Management (2024)
Chambers USA: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business, "Up and Coming" in Ohio Labor & Employment (2021-2023)
Ohio Rising Stars, Employment & Labor: Employer (2018)

Credentials

Education

The University of Toledo College of Law (J.D., 2008)
- Assistant Executive Editor, The University of Toledo Law Review
Kent State University (B.S., magna cum laude, 2004)