Joseph E. "Joe" Tilson

Joseph E. "Joe" Tilson


Cozen O'Connor

Recognized since 2003

Chicago, Illinois

Practice Areas

Employment Law - Management

Labor Law - Management

Litigation - Labor and Employment

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2021 - Labor Law - Management Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Litigation - Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2017 - Labor Law - Management Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Employment Law - Management Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2011 - Labor and Employment Law
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Joseph E. Tilson is Co-Chair of Cozen O'Connor's Labor & Employment Department and a member of the Management Committee and Board of Directors. Joe represents employers in large-scale employment litigation and labor arbitrations. In the past 35 years, he has tried more than 150 jury and non-jury cases before the full range of courts, administrative agencies and labor arbitrators. His clients include a number of the country’s largest public and private employers, and Illinois’ most prestigious universities, whom he represents in both traditional labor law matters and employment litigation. Joe is nationally known for his knowledge and success in handling large wage and hour class action cases, but he also has vast experience in collective bargaining involving large and complex bargaining units.

In his role as Co-Chair of the Labor & Employment Department, Joe has been instrumental in the growth of the practice, which has more than doubled in size to over 80 attorneys since 2015.

In addition, Joe is currently the chair of the ABA’s Labor and Employment Law Section, one of the largest Sections of the ABA with over 12,000 members, and he continues to serve on the ABA's Council, the governing body of the ABA's Labor and Employment Section.

Joe has been repeatedly recognized for being one of the top labor and employment lawyers in Chicago. He was named the 2018 Chicago Employment Law “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers for the fourth time in the past eight years; he has also twice received Lexology's Illinois Client Choice Award for outstanding client service; he has been named one of the "Nation's Most Powerful Employment Attorneys" by Human Resource Executive and Lawdragon in every year since 2010; and he has consistently achieved a Band 1 Labor and Employment ranking from Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.

Joe is also a frequent lecturer, author and bar association leader. He regularly speaks on labor and employment issues for the American Bar Association, Practicing Law Institute, Northwestern University's Corporate Council Institute, Chicago-Kent College of Law and many other educational institutions and associations. Joe is a fellow of the College of Labor & Employment Lawyers and is the former chair of the American Bar Association’s Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee. Joe also serves as vice-chair on the Board of Managers of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago.

Prior to entering private practice, Joe served as law clerk for the Honorable Stephanie K. Seymour, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit.


Admitted to Practice:
  • Illinois (1979)

Work History
  • Cozen O'Connor (2015 - Present)
  • Meckler Bulger Tilson Marick & Pearson (1994 – 2015)
  • Katten Muchin (1989 – 1994)
  • Pope Ballard (1980 – 1989)
  • Clerk for Judge Stephanie Seymour of the tenth Circuit (1979)

Contact & Links
Location
  • 123 North Wacker Drive, Suite 1800
    Chicago, IL 60606
Languages
  • English
Education
  • University of Michigan, J.D., cum laude, graduated 1979
  • University of Michigan, B.A., with honors, graduated 1976
Bar Admissions
  • Illinois, Illinois State Bar Association
Affiliations
  • American Bar Association - Chair of Labor & Employment Section; Past Chair: Employment Law Trial Advocacy Competition; Past Chair: Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee; FLSA, Age Discrimination, and Equal Pay Act Subcommittees
  • College of Labor and Employment Lawyers - Fellow, Regional Director
  • YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago - Member of Board of Managers
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court -- Colorado
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court -- Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court -- Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Cozen O'Connor
Headquarters: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

155 The Best Lawyers in America® awards

92 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards

Visit Website View Firm Profile

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2021 - Labor Law - Management Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Litigation - Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2017 - Labor Law - Management Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2014 - Employment Law - Management Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2011 - Labor and Employment Law
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Labor Law - Management, Chicago (2021)
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment, Chicago (2018)
  • Labor Law - Management, Chicago (2017)
  • Employment Law - Management, Chicago (2014)
  • Labor and Employment Law, Chicago (2011)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Employment Law - Management
  • Labor Law - Management
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment
Special Focus:
  • Employment
  • Labor
  • Management
Awards:
  • Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business (Band 1 Rated 2005 - Present)
  • Chicago Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in America (2011, 2014)
  • Corporate LiveWire Global Awards - Employment & Labour Law (2016)
  • Illinois Super Lawyer (2005 - Present)
  • International Who's Who of Management Labor and Employment Lawyers (2007 - Present)
  • Leading Lawyers Network Illinois (2005 - Present)
  • Lexology’s Illinois Client Choice Award (2015, 2016)
  • Martindale & Hubbell AV rated 5.0/5.0 (2005 - Present)
  • Most Powerful Employment Attorneys by Human Resource Executive/Lawdragon (2010 - Present)
  • Outstanding Lawyers of America (2007)
  • Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyers (2010, 2014)

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Publications

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