Anne E. Larson

• Won Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss with prejudice Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) class action against online eyewear retailer, applying BIPA’s health care exemption to Virtual Try-On (VTO) tool.
• Won Section 2-619 motion to dismiss putative BIPA class action, applying “first collection” accrual rule to find claims time-barred.
• Won Rule 12(b)(1) motion to dismiss putative BIPA class action as preempted by Section 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act.
• Successfully petitioned Illinois Appellate Court, Third Judicial District, to accept Supreme Court Rule 308(a) Application for Leave to Appeal on issue of when BIPA claims accrue.
• Putative BIPA class action voluntarily dismissed following forensic audit by biometric vendor which confirmed that defendant employer never collected plaintiff’s alleged finger scan.
• Putative BIPA class action voluntarily dismissed following removal to federal court and production of declarations and ESI showing defendant never collected or stored scans of its employees’ facial geometry and never enrolled them in the device’s biometric “Face Library.”
• Putative BIPA class action voluntarily dismissed after filing of Section 2-619(a)(3) Motion to Dismiss the Case as Duplicative of Previously-Filed BIPA Lawsuit (i.e., for violating the first-to-file rule).
• Putative BIPA class action voluntarily dismissed after removal to federal court and production of declarations and evidence showing claims were time-barred by the purported five-year statute of limitations.
• Won Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss putative FLSA collective action against the largest U.S. wine and spirits distributor with prejudice.
• Won summary judgment for Fortune 500 company in putative nationwide FLSA collective action and IMWL class action.
• Developed and won novel legal argument (based on tort law agency principles) that plaintiff’s settlement of her IHRA sexual harassment claim against her former supervisor extinguished her IHRA strict liability claim against the airline. Won summary judgment on Title VII, ADA, and IHRA sexual harassment, disability discrimination, retaliation and constructive discharge claims.
• Received “no cause” findings on separate regional and statewide EEOC systemic background check claims against Fortune 1000 company.
• Won a jury verdict of “not guilty” on claims of ADA, NYSHRL and FMLA discrimination and retaliation for a Fortune 500, 45,000-employee company after a two-week jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Post-trial, the District Judge reported the plaintiff to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for possible prosecution based on trial testimony that the plaintiff offered a defense witness money in exchange for false testimony.
• Achieved dismissal of nationwide sexual harassment class action against Fortune 500 company; subsequently won summary judgment for the employer on plaintiff’s individual Title VII and state law claims asserting that plaintiff was sexually harassed and forced to submit to nonconsensual sex with her manager. The individual plaintiff made a $1.2 million settlement demand and used the media to publicize her case.
• Obtained a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) for a Fortune 500, office products company against former sales representatives and their subsequent employer, which resulted in the resignation of high-ranking officers of the defendant company and the firing of the defendant sales representatives. The court subsequently directed opposing party and counsel to pay approximately $25,000 in FRCP 37 sanctions.
• Executed bet-the-company workout plan that avoided a $7.5 million ERISA and MEPPA liability for unpaid pension/welfare fund contributions and withdrawal costs against an Ohio trucking company. Central States Pension Fund settled for $250,000 when its usual practice is to obtain summary judgment against the defendant company and liquidate it.
• Obtained a TRO enjoining a Fortune 500 vice president from working for a competitor.
• Barred plaintiff from deposing Rule 30(b)(6) corporate designee for failure to confer on defendant’s objections or follow the court’s discovery dispute procedures.
• Created new law in the Southern District of Ohio regarding use of plaintiff’s demand letters to meet matter in controversy amount for diversity of citizenship to support removal from state to federal court.

Education

• J.D., University of Michigan Law School, 1988
• B.A., Bronze Tablet, summa cum laude, University of Illinois, 1985

Admission to Practice

• U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
• U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
• U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh and Ninth Circuits
• Illinois
• U.S. District Court, Northern (Trial Bar), Central and Southern Districts of Illinois

• Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law – 2020-22 Co-Chair of the National Board; 2020-2023 Co-Chair of the National Programming Committee
• The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, American Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, Illinois Bar Association & Arizona Bar Association
• Society of Human Resources Professionals (SHRP)
• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
• P.E.O. International

• Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Almost California? Recent Developments in Other Key States” – Phoenix – November 10, 2023
• Workplace Strategies Seminar – “ChatGPT, Biometrics, and AI? Oh My!” – San Diego – May 12, 2023
• Moderated first of a four-part Coalition National Board series on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization  – “Program I: The Supreme Court Ruling featuring Dean Vikram D. Amar, University of Illinois College of Law, and Professor Jane S. Schacter, Stanford Law School” – Chicago – September 8, 2022
• Workplace Strategies Seminar – “The Metaverse and Beyond: The Future of Technology in the Workplace” – Phoenix – May 6, 2022
• Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Workplace Tech Tips and Traps: Achieving Business Objectives While Staying Compliant” – Phoenix – May 4, 2022
• Private Client Webinar – “Update on Emerging Technologies, Artificial Intelligence and Biometrics in Hiring and Employment” – Chicago & London – January 20, 2022
• Moderated Coalition Virtual Seminar – “Stagecraft for Lawyers” – July 7, 2021
• Workplace Strategies Virtual Q&A on Remote Work, Return to Work and Other Legal Issues – “Coffee and Conversation Friday” – June 25, 2021
• Workplace Strategies Virtual Seminar – “Workplace Investigations: How Would Sherlock Holmes Deal With a Pandemic?” – June 23, 2021
• Moderated Coalition Virtual Seminar – “Mindful Leaders” – October 7, 2020
• Workplace Strategies Virtual Q&A – “The CARES Act, FFCRA and Other COVID-19 Legal Issues” – May 14, 2020
• Moderated Coalition & Arin Reeves’ Virtual Seminar – “Beyond Inclusion: Bullies, Mean Girls & Other Manipulators at Work” – April 2, 2020
• Ogletree Briefing – “Update on BIPA Litigation” – Oak Brook and Chicago – October 23 & 24, 2019
• Private Client Seminar – “Channeling Sherlock Holmes: Deducing Best Practices for Conducting Workplace Investigations” – Chicago – May 22, 2019
• Workplace Strategies – “Biometrics and Beyond: The Evolution of Workplace Privacy Issues” – Las Vegas – May 2, 2019
• Coalition (moderator) – “Fireside Chat with Elizabeth Alexander” – Chicago – February 7, 2019
• Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Hiring Hurdles and Hiccups – The Latest Developments” – La Quinta – November 8, 2018
• NRA Restaurant Law Center Summit – “The Fight for $15: Five Years Later” – Chicago – October 25, 2018
• Ogletree Briefing – “Fingerprints, Voice Patterns and Retinal Scans: The Risks of Using Employee Biometrics in the Workplace” – Oak Brook and Chicago – May 22 & 23, 2018
• Workplace Strategies – “Fingerprints, Voice Patterns, and Retinal Scans – The Risks of Using Employee Biometrics” – Phoenix – May 10, 2018
• Coalition (moderator) – “Stagecraft II: Impression Management” – Chicago – March 6, 2018
• The University of Chicago Undergraduate Law Magazine – “A Discussion on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace” – Hyde Park – February 13, 2018
• Private Client Seminar – “Sexual Harassment Prevention” – Chicago – February 1, 2018
• Association of Corporate Counsel Webcast – “Addressing LGBTQ Issues in a New Era” – January 30, 2018
• Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “The Three Ps of the 30(b)(6) Deposition: Preparation, Preparation, and Preparation” – Boca Raton – November 10, 2017
• NRA Restaurant Law Center Summit – “Keeping the EEOC Out of Your Restaurants: An Update on Recent Trends and Cases” – Chicago – October 27, 2017
• NELC – “The Practice of Labor & Employment Law: Tools for Success in a New Millennium” – Chicago – October 12, 2017
• Workplace Strategies – “When Looks Deceive: Detecting and Accommodating Invisible Disabilities” – San Diego – May 5, 2017
• Coalition (moderator) – “Discussion with Matt O’Hara: His 10-Year Quest to Free Client From Guantanamo Bay” – Chicago – February 21, 2017
• Coalition (moderator) – “Stagecraft for Lawyers Workshop: Enhancing Persuasiveness Through Presentation” – Chicago – February 21, 2017
• Coalition (moderator) – “Transition Insurance Solutions to Help Close the Deal” – Chicago – January 18, 2017
• Ogletree Briefing – “Keeping the EEOC Out of Your Restrooms (and Other Work Areas): An Update on Recent Trends and Cases” – Chicago – October 18 – 20, 2016
• Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Flag): LGBT Legal Issues Update” – Colorado Springs – September 30, 2016
• Workplace Strategies – “I AM CAIT: Transgender Issues in the Spotlight in 2016” – Chicago – May 5, 2016
• Workplace Strategies – “Financial Services Roundtable” – Chicago – May 4, 2016
• Project 20/35 Facilitator – “Executive Leadership Development Workshop” – Detroit – April 5, 2016
• Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law – “Transition at Work: A Guide to Transgender Employees” – Chicago – January 21, 2016
• Women, Influence & Power in Law Conference – “Privacy and Ethics for Social Media Investigations” – Washington, D.C. – October 29, 2015
• Coalition In-House to Power-House Professional Development Series V – “Making the Move from Legal Operations & the C-Suite – and Back Again!” – Chicago – October 22, 2015
• Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law – “Managing Partner/General Counsel Forum” – Chicago – June 16, 2015
• Association of Corporate Counsel – “Piping Hot Employment Law Topics – Five Things Every In-House Counsel Should Know: Never Heard of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act? You Should!” – Chicago – June 9 & 10, 2015
• Workplace Strategies – “Keeping Up With the EEOC: The Latest on Pattern and Practice Initiatives” – San Antonio – May 14, 2015
• Managing a Workforce in 2015 – “Avoiding the Retaliation Trap – Effective Responses to Whistleblower and Other Protected Conduct” – Denver – September 26, 2014
• Managing a Workforce in 2015 – “Windsor and Hobby Lobby Impact” – Denver – September 26, 2014
• NAWL Conference (Facilitator) – “Pipeline to Equity Partnership (P2P) Program” – Chicago – May 28, 2014
• Workplace Strategies – “Disgruntled, Computer Literate, and Focused on You: Defusing Social Media Attacks” – Las Vegas – May 8, 2014
• Workplace Strategies – Pre-Conference Immersion – “Harassment, She Wrote: The Interactive Anatomy of an Investigation…and Its Aftermath” – Las Vegas – May 7, 2014
• Private Client Seminar – National Webinar – “Harassment Prevention and Investigation: It’s Not Just About Sex Anymore” – September 13, 2013
• Workplace Strategies – “Panel Discussion: Employment Litigation – New Claims, Trends, and Tips” – New Orleans – May 10, 2013
• Ogletree Briefing – “Top Ten Things Every HR Generalist Should Know” – Chicago – April 9, 2013
• ITT-Chicago Kent College of Law 31st Annual Conference on Not-For-Profit Organizations – “Employment Law Update: Social Media Issues” – Chicago – June 7, 2012
• Association of Corporate Counsel – “Small Numbers = Huge Costs: Things Every In-House Lawyer in Illinois Should Know About Wage and Hour Law” – Chicago – June 5 & 6, 2012
• Workplace Strategies – “Retaliation Litigation – Trends, Risks and Practical Strategies” – Phoenix – May 9, 2012
• Monomoy Capital Partners – “Round Table on 2012 Outlook on Deals” – Chicago – January 11, 2012
• Monomoy Capital Partners – “Round Table on the State of Middle Market M&A and Lending” – Chicago – December 14, 2011
• National Employment Law Institute (NELI) 35th Annual Employment Discrimination Law Update – “Escalating Retaliation Claims in the Workplace” – Chicago – July 21, 2011
• International Alliance of Law Firms Webinar – “Social Media Pitfalls for Lawyers” – December 2010
• Private Client Seminar – “Common Employment Law Issues and Litigation Prevention” – Chicago – January 2010
• University of Chicago Graduate School of Business CEO Roundtable – “How to Handle Challenging HR Issues Legally and Effectively” – Chicago – October 2008
• Lorman Education Services – “Advanced Workplace Investigations in Illinois: Doing Them Well and Right” – Chicago – March 2006
• Private Client Seminar – “Techniques for Avoiding Employment Litigation” and “Investigating Claims of Sexual and Other Types of Harassment” – Philadelphia – 2006
• Private Client Seminar – “Tips for Preventing Sexual Harassment and for Effectively Responding to Complaints” – Chicago – 2006
• Private Client Seminar – “E-Discovery Tips” – Chicago – January 2006
• Private Client Seminar – “Anti-Harassment Training” – Florida, Illinois, Indiana and Pennsylvania – 2004 – 2011
• Lorman Education Services – “Illinois Employment Law From A to Z” – Chicago – 2003 – 2005

• August 13, 2024 – Ogletree Deakins Blog Post – “Illinois Governor Signs Law Prohibiting Privacy Act Per-Scan Damages”
• August 9, 2024 – Ogletree Deakins Blog Post – “Employer Alert: Texas Reaches $1.4B Settlement Over Allegations of Violation of Biometric Information Privacy Law”
• May 24, 2024 – Ogletree Deakins Blog Post – “Illinois Legislature Passes Bill to Clarify ‘Per-Scan’ Damages for Privacy Act Violations, Awaits Governor’s Signature”
• May 3, 2024 – Ogletree Deakins Blog Post – “Illinois Lawmakers Nearing Passage of Bill to Stop ‘Per-Scan’ Damages for Privacy Act Violations”
• August 18, 2023 – Ogletree Deakins Blog Post – “Illinois Federal Judge Says Prevailing BIPA Defendants Must Show Bad Faith for Attorneys’ Fees”
• July 21, 2023 – Ogletree Deakins Blog Post – “Illinois Supreme Court Declines to Reconsider Privacy Act Per-Scan Damages”
• July 19, 2023 – Ogletree Deakins Blog Post – “Illinois Federal Judge Says Privacy Act Damages Are Discretionary, Vacates $228M Award”
• April 6, 2023 – Ogletree Deakins Blog Post – “Illinois Federal Judge Finds Another Eyewear Virtual Try-on Class Action Is Exempt Under BIPA’s Healthcare Exemption”
• February 21, 2023 – Ogletree Deakins Blog Post – “Illinois Supreme Court Rules Privacy Act Claims Accrue with Each Biometric Scan”
• February 3, 2023 – Ogletree Deakins Blog Post – “Illinois Supreme Court Rules Privacy Act Claims Have Five Year Statute of Limitations”
• November 11, 2022 – LexBlog – “DashCam Developer Insulated From BIPA Liability”
• October 26, 2022 – SHRM Online – “First Jury Verdict Issued in Illinois Biometric Privacy Act Class Action”
• September 28, 2022 – LexBlog – “Eyewear Virtual Try-On Tool Not Regulated by Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act”
• February 15, 2022 – Ogletree Deakins Blog Post – “No Grand Bargain: Illinois Supreme Court Rejects Exclusive Remedy Preemption in Privacy Act Class Actions”
• November 22, 2019 – Ogletree Deakins Blog Post – “The Artificial Intelligence Video Interview Act: Privacy Implications of Illinois’s AI Statute”
• February 4, 2019 – Ogletree Deakins Blog Post – “Illinois Supreme Court Opens Floodgates for Biometric Lawsuits: Will the Business Community Lobby for Change?”
• August 25, 2016 – Ogletree Deakins Blog Post – “Seventh Circuit Invites Supreme Court to Make Sexual Orientation Discrimination Actionable Under Title VII”
• February 12, 2016 – SHRM Online – “Employee’s Pay Bias, Retaliation Claims Properly Dismissed”
• September 8, 2014 – SHRM.org – “Defuse Social Media Attacks”
• March 14, 2014 – SHRM.org – “Promise of Phony Job in Exchange for Sexual Favors Not Actionable Discrimination”
• September 2012 – Today’s Chicago Woman – “Blogging Your Way To Unemployment”
• May 14, 2012 – SHRM.org – “Fired Indian Teacher Loses Bias Claim”
• January 2012 – Today’s Chicago Woman – “Getting Even: Retaliation in the Workplace”
• July 2011 – Today’s Chicago Woman – “Think Before You Tweet: When Workplace Gripes Play Out in Social Media, Who Pays?”
• June 21, 2011 – Martindale.com – “What Third-Party Retaliation Means For Your Business”
• May 2011 – Today’s Chicago Woman – “Sexual Harassment in the Workplace”
• March 30, 2011 – Martindale.com – “Three Key Things Employers and Employees Should Know about Social Media”
• November 17, 2010 – Martindale.com – “Beware the Allure of Smartphone Technology: Recording Others Without Consent May Get You in Serious Trouble”
• November 12, 2010 – Texas Lawyer – “What the FMLA Regulations Don’t Tell Employers: Your Attendance or Sick Time Policies May Buy You a Lawsuit”
• November 5, 2010 – Corporate Counsel – “What the FMLA Regulations Don’t Tell Employers: Your Attendance or Sick Time Policies May Buy You a Lawsuit”

• March 19, 2024 – Bloomberg Law – “BNSF Deal Suggests More Privacy Cases Going to Trial in Illinois”
• Summer 2019 – Coalition Newsletter, Issue No. 06 – “Chicago Member Spotlight: Anne Larson, Equity Shareholder at Ogletree Deakins”
• May 17, 2018 – SHRM Online – “Illinois Biometric Class Actions Are on the Rise”
• October 29, 2015 – InsideCounsel – “Privacy Ethics in Social Media Investigations”
• October 13, 2015 – SHRM Online – “Offensive Worker’s FMLA Claim Advances to Jury”
• October 22, 2014 – SHRM.org – “FMLA Transfer Provision Rarely Used”
• August 8, 2014 – SHRM.org – “Social Media Threats Warrant Supreme Court Case”
• June 30, 2014 – SHRM.org – “Employment Takeaways from Supreme Court's Cellphone Ruling”
• June 13, 2014 – SHRM.org – “Laws Vary on Foreign Language Translations for the Workplace”
• June 6, 2014 – Columbus Dispatch – “Protest Aimed at Social-Media Firings”
• June 5, 2014 – Reuters – “Lawyer on Supreme Court Hunger Strike Against Social Media Firings”
• October 9, 2013 – SHRM.org – “Pregnancy Can Produce Variety of ADA, FMLA Claims”
• September 26, 2013 – SHRM.org – “Focus on HR”
• September 10, 2013 – SHRM.org – “DOL Onsite FMLA Investigations on the Rise”
• August 27, 2013 – SHRM.org – “Right to FMLA Reinstatement is Not Absolute”
• June 4, 2013 – SHRM.org – “Gender Difference in Yahoo Paid Parental-Leave Program Is OK Legally”
• May 14, 2013 – SHRM.org – “Wage and Hour, Applicant Discrimination Cases Increasing”
• April 20, 2012 – SHRM Online – “FMLA's One-Hour Increment Rule Comes Under the Microscope”
• October 3, 2011 – Crain's Chicago Business – “Navigating Around Social Media's Legal Land Mines”
• May 2011 – Chicago Lawyer – “Bringing Outside Creativity to the Law”
• March 31, 2011 – Workforce – “Attendance Policies Come Into Question After FMLA Ruling”
• January 21, 2011 – HR Executive Online – “Your Attendance Policies Could Buy You a Lawsuit”
• January 12, 2011 – Employee Benefit News – “Court Ruling Adds New Wrinkle in FMLA Enforcement”
• 2010 – WorkLawsExposed.com – “Social Media: Employees Busted Cappin on Their Employer”
• November 11, 2009 – Around the Water Cooler, Chicago Lawyer's Blog – “Using Social Media Carefully”
• November 2008 – pizzatoday.com – “Back Office Training: Touchy Subject”

• BTI Client Service All-Star 2024
• Chambers USA Leading Lawyer (2023, 2024)
• Crain’s Chicago Business – Notable Litigators and Trial Attorneys (2023)
• Chicago Lawyer 2022 Salute! Top Women In Law Award
• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®
  • Commercial Litigation (2020-2025)
  • Employment Law – Management (2020-2025)
• Top 50 Women Illinois Super Lawyers (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024)
• Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyers (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024)
• Illinois Super Lawyers (2005, 2007, 2012 – 2025)
• 2019 “Leadership Award” recipient at the Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law’s 10th Annual Leadership Forum on October 15, 2019. Anne, featured in this interview, takes great satisfaction in developing Coalition programming that is thought provoking, entertaining and helps advance women in all aspects of their careers.
• 2017 “Women of Influence” Awards nomination by Best Lawyers & the Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law in Best Lawyers’ “Women in the Law” Business Edition on March 31, 2017, which states: “Anne is a tremendous role model and advocate for the junior women lawyers at her firm.  She is a bright, tenacious, detail-oriented but pragmatic lawyer who gets great results for her clients and sets an example of excellence and professionalism.”
• Top 10 Leading Women Employment Lawyers-Management Side (2015)
• Top 100 Leading Women Business Lawyers (2010, 2014 & 2015)
• 40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch (2001)
• Leading Lawyers: Top Illinois lawyer in management-side employment law (2007-2024)
• Phi Beta Kappa
• James Scholar
• Mortar Board
• Bronze Tablet – Top 3% of graduating class; highest honors awarded by the University of Illinois