Laurel Bellows, founding principal of The Bellows Law Group, P.C. is an internationally recognized business lawyer counseling senior executives and corporations in the United States and globally on employment matters, employment and severance agreements, executive compensation, and workplace disputes. Her expertise in executive compensation matters also includes mid-level management compensation, and human resource/talent management matters involving incentives, retirement, and workforce restructuring. The Bellows Law Group conducts internal corporate investigations and litigates zealously and efficiently on behalf of executives and employers.
Ms. Bellows and her firm counsels executives and employers relating to general employment matters, prevention of discrimination claims, litigation risk management (including wage and hour regulations, unemployment, whistleblower and wrongful termination claims). The Bellows Law Group assists in the interpretation of new laws in connection with employee benefits, COBRA, disability, religion, dress code, use of marijuana, gun possession and the FMLA Act, to name a few. Ms. Bellows and her firm consult on workplace cybersecurity policies, including “BYOD” policies (Bring Your Own Device).
The firm offers transactional, counseling and litigation services to entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized businesses, and large corporations. Client matters range from commercial litigation to business startups. The firm assists public and private corporations, including federal contractors, to comply with regulations and develop corporate polices directed at combatting human trafficking worldwide.
Ms. Bellows is past president of the nearly 400,000 member American Bar Association and was the second woman president of the Chicago Bar Association. Laurel is past president of the International Women’s Forum (IWF) Chicago Chapter. Laurel’s previous positions include past president of the National Conference of Bar Presidents, past chair of The Chicago Network, past chair of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession, and past chair of the Finance Committee of the American Bar Association’s Board of Governors. Some of her many accolades are acknowledgment by Crain’s Chicago Business on their annual list of Power Players; one of 28 Power Lawyers in the city by Chicago Magazine; and one of Chicago’s 100 Women of Influence by Crain’s Chicago Business. Laurel received the Visionary Award from Vision 2020 for her efforts to combat gender inequity and human trafficking.
Ms. Bellows, along with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa-Mary Robinson, received the Lexis Rule of Law Award. Laurel served on Minister Gordon Brown’s Global Citizenship Commission to update the 1946 United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. The Commission reported to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2016. The German Bar Association honored Laurel with the Maria-Otto Preis Award for her outstanding background as a female lawyer, establishing the ABA Gender Equity Task Force and anti-trafficking efforts. ATHENA International honored Laurel with the prestigious ATHENA Leadership Award presented to exemplary leaders for achieving the highest level of professional excellence and for actively assisting and inspiring women to realize their full personal and professional potential. Laurel received the ABA Commission on Women Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award in 2002.
Ms. Bellows is highly regarded for her many contributions to the Chicago and national community. Laurel is admitted and qualified as an Attorney and Counselor of the Supreme Court of the United States and is a certified mediator. Laurel is licensed to practice in Illinois, Florida and California.
