CHICAGO, April 23, 2025 – Cozen O'Connor today welcomed employment litigator and appellate lawyer Matthew Barszcz to its nationally recognized Labor & Employment Department. Barszcz, who advises and represents clients facing employment discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower, and wage and hour claims in both state and federal courts, joins Cozen O’Connor as a member and will work out of its Chicago office.
Barszcz comes to the firm from Dinsmore & Shohl LLP and handles high profile union and non-union workforce disputes for clients ranging from privately held entities to Fortune 500 enterprises with global operations. He also serves as lead appellate counsel in state and federal courts, having argued cases before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Kentucky Court of Appeals.
“Adding an employment litigator with Matt’s credentials helps us continue to grow the department and further develop our existing client relationships,” said Jeremy J. Glenn, office managing partner of Cozen O’Connor’s Chicago office. “Labor and employment attorneys track a profusion of interrelated federal, state, and local laws and regulations and Matt brings to us an exemplary 15-plus year record of keeping his clients well informed and well protected. He’s a great addition to our team and I’m thrilled to welcome him to Cozen O’Connor.”
“Matt further strengthens a talented roster of lawyers here in Chicago,” said Anna Wermuth, vice-chair of the Labor & Employment Department. “He brings to us a strong track record of helping clients adjust to newly implemented employment laws, while also representing them in court and before state and federal regulators. I’m very happy to welcome him to the Chicago office.”
Recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (2021-2024) and Super Lawyers: Rising Stars (2019-2020), Barszcz’s clients range from colleges and universities to leading technology entities. In recent years, he has been called upon to lead internal investigations on leadership misconduct, systemic wage and hour issues, tort and employment discrimination and retaliation claims. To foster positive workplace relations and diminish the potential for employment related disputes, Barszcz also advises on personnel matters, helps draft/revise employee handbooks, and regularly reviews and negotiates arbitration, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements.
“I have a very practical and common-sense approach to practicing law. My goal is to help clients think through revised/updated employment laws and make the changes needed to maintain their business objectives,” Barszcz said. “That I represent clients in diverse industries with equally diverse geographic footprints matches up well with Cozen O’Connor's growing international North American presence. And I have substantial experience advising/representing higher education institutions, which is an area where Cozen O’Connor is essentially unmatched. After 15 years in Kentucky, I’m looking forward to making a mark in Chicago.”
Barszcz earned his J.D. at the University of Kentucky’s J. David Rosenberg College of Law, and his B.A. in Sociology at the University of Kentucky.
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 925 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 33 offices across two continents.
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