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Lawyer Profile

Image of Gerald F. Lutkus

Gerald F. Lutkus

Barnes & Thornburg LLP
  • Recognized Since:
    2005
  • Recognized in:
    Commercial Litigation
    Employment Law - Management...
  • Website:
    http://www.btlaw.com
  • Location:
    First Source Bank Center, Suite 700
    100 North Michigan Street
    South Bend, IN 46601-1632

Jerry Lutkus practices in the areas of labor and employment law counseling and litigation, arbitration, collective bargaining and media law. Notably, Jerry offers practical solutions to clients shaped by his lengthy experience in the law. He has developed a wide array of skills across a variety of labor and employment disciplines, making him invaluable to clients and colleagues alike.

Jerry exclusively represents management in virtually all aspects of labor and employment law. A full-service labor lawyer, Jerry has represented clients at virtually all levels of administrative proceedings, including matters before the EEOC, the NLRB and the DOL, as well as in federal court litigation.

Jerry has guided employers through employment demotions and discipline, internal investigations, workforce reorganizations and plant and company closings and acquisitions. He works on issues involving new technology and social networking and is a frequent writer and speaker on this topic. Jerry devotes a significant part of his practice to daily client counseling and management training.

In the area of traditional labor law, Jerry advises on labor strategies, conducts union-free training and union-avoidance campaigns, handles arbitrations, contests organizing campaigns and negotiates collective bargaining agreements. Jerry provides relationship-affirming solutions to serious union problems in a way that minimizes acrimony and can result in better employee relations for his client.

Jerry’s unwavering patience, genuine communication style and ability to actively listen, hear and process even the most divergent viewpoints distinguishes him as a trusted adviser, collaborator and team player. Because Jerry is able to dig deep into many different substantive labor and employment law disciplines, including liability issues and multi-employer pension matters, he provides solutions that are directly relevant to his client’s operations.

In addition, Jerry also handles a full range of commercial, business and media-related matters and cases. He is frequently involved in pre-publication and pre-broadcast review for media clients, as well as contesting subpoenas to journalists, handling defamation and related tort defense, counseling on web and internet-related issues, and advising on open meeting and open records questions. Having worked as a journalist for five years prior to the law, Jerry developed the requisite people skills, communication style and responsiveness needed to succeed in the law today.

Jerry is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and a Notre Dame alumnus and faithful fan of the Fighting Irish.

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  • Lawyer Bio
  • Client Comments
  • Firm Details

Lawyer Bio

Jerry Lutkus practices in the areas of labor and employment law counseling and litigation, arbitration, collective bargaining and media law. Notably, Jerry offers practical solutions to clients shaped by his lengthy experience in the law. He has developed a wide array of skills across a variety of labor and employment disciplines, making him invaluable to clients and colleagues alike.

Jerry exclusively represents management in virtually all aspects of labor and employment law. A full-service labor lawyer, Jerry has represented clients at virtually all levels of administrative proceedings, including matters before the EEOC, the NLRB and the DOL, as well as in federal court litigation.

Jerry has guided employers through employment demotions and discipline, internal investigations, workforce reorganizations and plant and company closings and acquisitions. He works on issues involving new technology and social networking and is a frequent writer and speaker on this topic. Jerry devotes a significant part of his practice to daily client counseling and management training.

In the area of traditional labor law, Jerry advises on labor strategies, conducts union-free training and union-avoidance campaigns, handles arbitrations, contests organizing campaigns and negotiates collective bargaining agreements. Jerry provides relationship-affirming solutions to serious union problems in a way that minimizes acrimony and can result in better employee relations for his client.

Jerry’s unwavering patience, genuine communication style and ability to actively listen, hear and process even the most divergent viewpoints distinguishes him as a trusted adviser, collaborator and team player. Because Jerry is able to dig deep into many different substantive labor and employment law disciplines, including liability issues and multi-employer pension matters, he provides solutions that are directly relevant to his client’s operations.

In addition, Jerry also handles a full range of commercial, business and media-related matters and cases. He is frequently involved in pre-publication and pre-broadcast review for media clients, as well as contesting subpoenas to journalists, handling defamation and related tort defense, counseling on web and internet-related issues, and advising on open meeting and open records questions. Having worked as a journalist for five years prior to the law, Jerry developed the requisite people skills, communication style and responsiveness needed to succeed in the law today.

Jerry is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and a Notre Dame alumnus and faithful fan of the Fighting Irish.

Read more on firm website
  • Education
  • Bar & Court Admissions
  • Award List
  • Additional Information
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge

Education:

  • University of Notre Dame , J.D., graduated 1982
  • University of Notre Dame, B.A., graduated 1974

Bar Admissions:

  • Illinois, Illinois State Bar Association
  • Indiana, Indiana State Bar Association
 

Court Admissions:

  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers for:

  • Labor Law - Management, South Bend (2019)
  • Employment Law - Management, South Bend (2018)
  • Labor Law - Management, South Bend (2015)
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment, South Bend (2013)
  • Labor Law - Management, South Bend (2012)
 

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in:

  • Commercial Litigation
  • Employment Law - Management
  • Labor Law - Management
  • Litigation - First Amendment
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment
 

Awards:

  • Indiana Super Lawyers, 2010-2017
  • The Best Lawyers in America, 2005-2019; Lawyer of the Year, 2012-2015 and 2018-2019

Special Focus:

  • Defamation
  • False Advertising
  • Free Speech
  • Litigation
  • Media
 

Additional Information:

Professional and Community Involvement
  • Board of directors and former president, Food Bank of Northern Indiana, Inc.
  • Board of directors, South Bend Venues Parks & Arts Foundation, Inc.
  • Former board member and former chairman, Michiana Public Broadcasting Corporation (WNIT-TV)
  • Former board member, Life Treatment Centers
  • Member, Employment Law Committee, Media Law Resource Counsel
  • Member, Labor and Employment Law Council, Associated General Contractors of America
 

Lawyer Client Comments

Firm Details

Image for Barnes & Thornburg LLP View Firm Profile
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
http://www.btlaw.com
 
19 Office Locations
in 1 Country

United States

United States

California

California

Los Angeles, CA

2029 Century Park East, Suite 300

Los Angeles, CA 90067

United States

(310) 284.3880

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San Diego, CA

655 West Broadway, Suite 1300

San Diego, CA 92101

United States

(619) 321.5000

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Delaware

Delaware

Wilmington, DE

1000 North West Street, Suite 1500

Wilmington, DE 19801-1054

United States

(302) 300.3434

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District of Columbia

District of Columbia

Washington, DC

1717 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 500

Washington, DC 20006-4623

United States

(202) 289.1313

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Georgia

Georgia

Atlanta, GA

3475 Piedmont Road, NE, Suite 1700

Atlanta, GA 30305-3327

United States

(404) 846.1693

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Illinois

Illinois

Chicago, IL

One North Wacker Drive, Suite 4400

Chicago, IL 60606-2833

United States

(312) 357.1313

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Indiana

Indiana

Elkhart, IN

52700 Independence Court, Suite 150

Elkhart, IN 46514-8155

United States

(574) 293.0681

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Fort Wayne, IN

888 South Harrison Street, Suite 600

Fort Wayne, IN 46802

United States

(260) 423.9440

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Indianapolis, IN

11 South Meridian Street

Indianapolis, IN 46204-3535

United States

(317) 236.1313

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South Bend, IN

First Source Bank Center, Suite 700

100 North Michigan Street

South Bend, IN 46601-1632

United States

(574) 233.1171

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Michigan

Michigan

Ann Arbor, MI

24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive

Suite A-3300

P.O. Box 511

Ann Arbor, MI 48105

United States

(734) 489.8001

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Grand Rapids, MI

171 Monroe Avenue, NW, Suite 1000

Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2694

United States

(616) 742.3930

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Southfield, MI

3000 Town Center, Suite 2440

Southfield, MI 48075

United States

(947) 215.1310

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Minnesota

Minnesota

Minneapolis, MN

225 South Sixth Street, Suite 2800

Minneapolis, MN 55402-4662

United States

(612) 333.2111

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New York

New York

New York, NY

445 Park Avenue, Suite 700

New York, NY 10022

United States

(646) 746.2000

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North Carolina

North Carolina

Raleigh, NC

4208 Six Forks Road, Suite 1010

Raleigh, NC 27609

United States

(919) 536.6200

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Ohio

Ohio

Columbus, OH

41 South High Street, Suite 3300

Columbus, OH 43215-6104

United States

(614) 628.0096

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Texas

Texas

Dallas, TX

2121 North Pearl Street, Suite 700

Dallas, TX 75201

United States

(214) 258.4200

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Utah

Utah

Salt Lake City, UT

299 South Main Street, Suite 1825

Salt Lake City, UT 84111

United States

(801) 817.9810

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