Scott Cruz represents public and private sector employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, including civil litigation and preventative counseling. Scott represents employers in state and federal courts and administrative agencies involving claims brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, retaliatory discharge, breach of contract, labor arbitration and class actions. He is particularly versed in all aspects of state and federal law relating to minimum wages, overtime, exemptions, and wage payment issues. Scott provides management and employee training on workplace legal issues and conducts workplace investigations and legal audits.

He assists employers in drafting employment policies and employment agreements and helps companies enforce non-competition and non-solicitation agreements and protect their trade secrets, proprietary information, customer relationships, and other valuable assets.

Scott has handled unemployment audits before the Illinois Department of Employment Security and defended unemployment compensation claims. He also has extensive civil litigation experience on behalf of educational institutions and has successfully dismissed lawsuits for clients on a motion to dismiss or on summary judgment in the Circuit Courts of Cook, Will, Kane, Lake and DuPage counties.

Scott has presented to clients and organizations on topics including conducting effective workplace investigations and analyzing and defending unemployment insurance claims. He is on the Board of Directors of Alivio Medical Center, a not-for-profit whose mission is to increase Hispanic access to comprehensive, affordable quality health care.

    Education

    • University of Illinois College of Law (J.D., 2002)
    • Marquette University (B.A., cum laude, 1999)

    Bar Admissions

    • Illinois
    • Missouri

    Professional Affiliations

    • Illinois State Bar Association
    • Chicago Bar Association
    • Illinois Labor Advisory Board
    • Illinois Manufacturers’ Association
    • Illinois Chamber of Commerce
    • Chicago Latino Network
    • Decatur Regional Chamber of Commerce
    • Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
    • Illinois Bankers Association
    • Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce
    • Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce

    Community Involvement

    • Alivio Medical Center (Board of Directors)
    • 1871 (Mentor)
    • Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce (Board of Directors)

    Awards & Honors

    • Named to The Best Lawyers in America®, Employment Law - Management (2024-2026)
    • Named a Labor & Employment Star by Benchmark Litigation (2020-2022)
    • Crain's Chicago Business, Notable Gen X Leaders in Accounting, Consulting and Law (2022)
    • Illinois Leading Lawyers (2020-2021)
    • Crain's Chicago's Notable Minority Lawyers (2018)
    • Forty Under 40 Lawyers in Illinois, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (2017)
    • 10 Best Labor and Employment Attorneys for Client Satisfaction in Illinois, American Institute of Legal Counsel

Scott Cruz

Scott Cruz represents public and private sector employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, including civil litigation and preventative counseling. Scott represents employers in state and federal courts and administrative agencies involving claims brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, retaliatory discharge, breach of contract, labor arbitration and class actions. He is particularly versed in all aspects of state and federal law relating to minimum wages, overtime, exemptions, and wage payment issues. Scott provides management and employee training on workplace legal issues and conducts workplace investigations and legal audits.

He assists employers in drafting employment policies and employment agreements and helps companies enforce non-competition and non-solicitation agreements and protect their trade secrets, proprietary information, customer relationships, and other valuable assets.

Scott has handled unemployment audits before the Illinois Department of Employment Security and defended unemployment compensation claims. He also has extensive civil litigation experience on behalf of educational institutions and has successfully dismissed lawsuits for clients on a motion to dismiss or on summary judgment in the Circuit Courts of Cook, Will, Kane, Lake and DuPage counties.

Scott has presented to clients and organizations on topics including conducting effective workplace investigations and analyzing and defending unemployment insurance claims. He is on the Board of Directors of Alivio Medical Center, a not-for-profit whose mission is to increase Hispanic access to comprehensive, affordable quality health care.

Scott Cruz

Scott Cruz represents public and private sector employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, including civil litigation and preventative counseling. Scott represents employers in state and federal courts and administrative agencies involving claims brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, retaliatory discharge, breach of contract, labor arbitration and class actions. He is particularly versed in all aspects of state and federal law relating to minimum wages, overtime, exemptions, and wage payment issues. Scott provides management and employee training on workplace legal issues and conducts workplace investigations and legal audits.

He assists employers in drafting employment policies and employment agreements and helps companies enforce non-competition and non-solicitation agreements and protect their trade secrets, proprietary information, customer relationships, and other valuable assets.

Scott has handled unemployment audits before the Illinois Department of Employment Security and defended unemployment compensation claims. He also has extensive civil litigation experience on behalf of educational institutions and has successfully dismissed lawsuits for clients on a motion to dismiss or on summary judgment in the Circuit Courts of Cook, Will, Kane, Lake and DuPage counties.

Scott has presented to clients and organizations on topics including conducting effective workplace investigations and analyzing and defending unemployment insurance claims. He is on the Board of Directors of Alivio Medical Center, a not-for-profit whose mission is to increase Hispanic access to comprehensive, affordable quality health care.