Overview
Jack Vrett concentrates his practice on labor and employment law counseling and litigation. He represents employers in complex labor and employment matters, including collective bargaining, arbitration, strikes, internal investigations, and employment litigation. As a former prosecutor, Jack is a seasoned trial counsel. He helps businesses protect their trade secrets, and he defends employers against discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and whistleblower claims and wage & hour class and collective actions.
Previously, Jack was the Chief Labor & Employment Counsel for the State of Illinois where he oversaw all labor and employment law functions for a workforce of nearly 45,000 full-time unionized workers and 30,000 part-time workers.
Jack is also a veteran of the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG Corps) where he held multiple assignments including Chief of Federal Litigation, Chief of International & Operational Law, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. He deployed to eastern Afghanistan as an international and operational law counsel for the 101st Airborne Division. After serving in the U.S. Army, Jack was employed as labor and employment counsel for a civilian agency of the Department of Defense.
Jack has first-chair experience in trials, arbitration, administrative proceedings, and collective bargaining negotiations. At Honigman LLP, he concentrates his practice on labor relations and employment litigation and by providing strategic workforce counsel to corporate mergers and acquisitions.
Services
Experience
Prior Experience
- Hodges Loizzi Eisenhammer Rodick & Kohn LLP, Labor and Employment Attorney, 2017-2019
- State of Illinois, Chief Labor and Employment Counsel, 2015-2017
- Department of Defense, Labor Counsel, 2014-2015
- United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG Corps), Captain, Judge Advocate, 2009-2014
Credentials
Education
- cum laude
- History
- Communications with Departmental Honors
Admissions
- Illinois
- Wisconsin
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Recognition
Awards
Commandant’s List, United States Army Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School
Leading Lawyers, Illinois, 2022
- Recognized in practice areas of:
- Employment Law: Management
- Labor Law: Management
Professional & Community Involvement
Illinois State Board of Elections, Member
American Bar Association, Labor & Employment Section and Litigation Section
Chicago Bar Association, Labor & Employment Committee and Trial Practice Committee
Board of Advisors, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago
Catholic Lawyers Guild of Chicago
Parish Council, St. Alphonsus Catholic Church of Chicago