SANDRA P. ZEMM
LABOR LAW 2014 WINNER
It gives us great pleasure to announce that
Joseph Sexauer has been awarded the 2014 Sandra P.
Zemm Labor Law Prize. The Prize was established in 2009
at IIT Chicago-Kent by the law firm of Seyfarth Shaw to
honor the memory of Sandra P. Zemm, who died in September
2008 after a lengthy battle with cancer.
The Zemm Prize is awarded each year to a graduating senior
in the Certificate program who exemplifies the qualities
that Ms. Zemm possessed: “a commitment to pursue a career
in labor and employment law, a pioneer spirit and willingness
to take the initiative wherever possible, and a gracious
and generous attitude toward helping those in need.” Recipients
are selected by the Chicago-Kent faculty who teach in
the law school’s program in labor and employment law.
Joe graduated from the University of Michigan with a BA
in Communications, and then worked for a decade as a union
member, organizer, and representative. He is President
this year of C-K's Labor and Employment Law Society, and
is a student editor on the Employee Rights and Employment
Policy Journal. Joe has been extremely generous with his
time and energy throughout his time at Chicago-Kent, and
his generosity is not ideologically grounded. Joe advises
students interested in careers in labor and employment
law, works to organize and present information and programming
on careers in labor and employment law, and serves as
a tireless representative of the Certificate program.
A Chicago native, Sandra P. Zemm earned her undergraduate
degree from the University of Illinois. She received her
J.D. from Florida State University, where she served as
managing editor of the law review. Sandra Zemm joined
Seyfarth Shaw in 1975 as the first female associate in
the Labor and Employment practice. In 1982, Ms. Zemm became
the firm's first female equity partner in Labor and Employment.
Her practice concentrated on traditional labor matters,
and on matters involving employment discrimination, wage-hour,
and employment litigation. She negotiated collective bargaining
and/or shutdown agreements with major labor unions, and
represented management in more than 200 hearings before
arbitrators, the National Labor Relations Board and various
state labor agencies. In 2002, Ms. Zemm was elected to
the American College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.
"Sandy was beloved by her colleagues
and clients and respected by her opponents. She was a
no-nonsense labor lawyer and an elegant, sophisticated
woman at the same time. Her ability to stand up to the
toughest adversaries while always carrying herself with
style and grace inspired many of us who came to the firm
after her," said Allegra Rich, Pro Bono and Philanthropy
Partner at Seyfarth Shaw. "This award is our way
of keeping her in our thoughts and honoring her legacy."
Seyfarth Shaw has over 750 attorneys located
in 10 offices throughout the United States, including:
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York,
Sacramento, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., as well
as internationally in London. Seyfarth Shaw provides a
broad range of legal services in the areas of labor and
employment, employee benefits, litigation, corporate,
and real estate.
LELS
Executive Board
Joe Sexauer - President
Matthew Jarka - Vice President of External Affairs
Brendan Crowley -Vice President of Internal Affairs
Mike Adler - Secretary
Kelly Carson - Treasurer
Charlie Burns - IIT Director