V. Brette Bensinger

Brette Bensinger advises employers on new and evolving federal, state, and local employment laws. She partners with her clients to defend, guide, and counsel them on difficult employment matters, ranging from employee disputes to Equal Pay Act requirements.

Brette's practice also includes handling wage and hour compliance matters, consulting on medical accommodations, conducting internal investigations, performing training, and creating workforce policies and employee handbooks.

Having litigated multi-plaintiff lawsuits in court and defended employers before governmental agencies at the federal, state, and local levels, she uses her knowledge of the law to anticipate problems and offer practical solutions before they develop into litigation. If litigation becomes necessary, Brette calls upon her advocacy skills, which have been recognized by attorneys and business leaders in both the private and public sector, to best represent her clients.

Brette joined Hinshaw as an associate in September 2005. Previously, she was a law clerk with the firm.

During law school, Brette clerked in the Crime Victims Division of the Office of the Illinois Attorney General and in Preliminary Hearings at the Cook County State's Attorney Office.

Prior to her legal career, Brette was a project manager for an event marketing company, handling corporate sponsorship programs and contracts for music festivals nationwide.

• Recognized by her peers as a "Leading Lawyer" in the area of Employment Law: Management, 2018 – 2022
• Named to the "40 Under Forty" list by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer Magazine, 2017
• Recognized as an "Emerging Lawyer" by Leading Lawyers Magazine, 2012 – 2017

Brette's presentations include:

• Co-Presenter, "Evolving Accommodations: Pregnancy, Disability, and Religion," Hinshaw's 28th Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, November 13, 2024
• Co-Presenter, "Equal Pay Act and Protecting the Workplace from Claims," Hinshaw's 27th Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 19, 2023
• Moderator, "Joint Employment, Wage and Hour, and Other Legislative News," Hinshaw's 26th Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, October 27, 2022
• Co-Presenter, "Employer Compliance and COVID-19: Paid Sick Leave, Furloughs, and Layoffs," Chicago Bar Association CLE, Webinar, April 23, 2020
• "Spoliation of Evidence:  Prevention and Consequences," American Bar Association Committee on Litigation - Trial Evidence, Chicago, Illinois
• "Chicago Bar Association's New Partner Panel," Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, Illinois
• "Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms: Law Firm Boot Camp on Professional Development" Sidley Austin LLP, Chicago, Illinois
• "Fair Labor Standards Act Recurring Issues," Hinshaw’s Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
• "Employer's Guide to Overtime and Tip Credit Regulations," Illinois Restaurant Association, Chicago, Illinois
• "No Electronics in the Classroom," Edward J. Lewis II Lawyers in the Classroom Program, Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
• "Discrimination Law 101: Evidence and Burdens of Proof in Discrimination and Retaliation Cases," Hinshaw's 2010 Annual Labor & Employment Seminar, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
• "Stop Unauthorized Overtime: How to Implement and Effective, Legally Sound Tracking and Discipline Program," Business & Legal Reports, Inc., Audio Conference
• "Payroll Basics: What HR Professionals Need to Know About Payroll Administration; Get Up to Speed Now," Business & Legal Reports, Inc., Audio Conference

• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
  • Public Policy Committee of the Board of Directors
  • Founders’ Board
  • Advocacy Committee Chair
  • Executive Committee
• Illinois Constitutional Rights Foundation, Lawyers in the Classroom Program, Law Firm Facilitator
• Illinois Judges Foundation, Auxiliary Board Member
• Federal Bureau of Investigation Citizens Academy, Alumni Member