WESSELS SHERMAN - Key Persons
Mr. Seneczko is the managing shareholder of our Wisconsin office. Prior to joining Wessels Sherman, Al owned Seneczko Law Offices, where he spent 20 years defending employers before various state and federal agencies, including the EEOC, NLRB, OFCCP, OSHA, the Wage and Hour Division, the Wisconsin Equal Rights, Worker's Compensation and Unemployment Compensation Divisions, arbitrators, and in state and federal court. He also represents a number of insurers and self-insured employers in the defense of worker's compensation claims. He is the author of numerous published articles and a highly sought-after speaker on a wide variety of employment issues.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Executive Committee
- Managing Shareholder
- President and CEO / Managing Shareholder of Minneapolis Office / Executive Committee Chair
- President and CEO, Executive Committee Chair / Minneapolis, Minnesota
JAMES B. SHERMAN is a named shareholder at the firm. Mr. Sherman began his career in labor and employment law by being involved in one of the most notable labor disputes in the country at the time, in Austin, Minnesota.
Throughout his education James Sherman held various jobs each summer and often during the school year, to help pay for his education. Jim calls this having some "skin in the game" and intends to impart this principle to his children.
James B. Sherman is licensed to practice before the state and federal courts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois, as well as the federal court for the Southern District of Indiana. He is also admitted to practice in the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 7 th and 8 th Circuits (covering the Upper Midwest) and since 1997 he has been duly admitted and qualified to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. In addition, Mr. Sherman has extensive experience representing employers before a wide variety of federal and state agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); National Labor Relations Board (NLRB); Department of Labor (DOL); Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP); Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) and Human Rights Commission (MHRC); Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) and Human Rights Commission (IHRC); Wisconsin Department of Industry Labor and Human Relations (DILHR) and its Equal Rights Division (Wisconsin ERD); among many others. He has also arbitrated many grievances and cases under union contracts and commercial/employment arbitration agreements.
An experienced practitioner and litigator, Mr. Sherman has successfully represented employers in achieving many ground-breaking results, not only on behalf of his clients but also by setting important legal precedent that has benefitted many other employers across the country. His legal accomplishments have earned James B. Sherman the distinguished AV® Preeminent Rating in Labor & Employment Law with Martindale-Hubbell™ based upon its rigorous nation-wide survey of peers in the legal profession. In addition, he has been selected to the Minnesota Super Lawyers® list: 2015-2018, 2022-2023.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Attorney
- Associate Attorney / Davenport, Iowa
John Simmons prides himself on being able to see problems from as many perspectives as possible, so as to better secure his client's best interests. He also believes that it's important to make sure that the law is as relatable and understandable for his clients as possible.
Attorney John Simmons brings 17 years of experience in all aspects of state and federal trial and appellate court proceedings, agency matters and arbitrations to Wessels Sherman. He has represented and counseled employers of all sizes.
John obtained his juris doctorate degree with honors from the University of Illinois, College of Law. He is admitted and licensed to practice both in Illinois and Iowa and will handle legal matters in these and other states working with other firm attorneys and local counsel, where needed.
John truly enjoys working with owners and professionals to help them manage their businesses. He and his wife, Sarah, have 2 children. When not passionately representing his clients, John enjoys spending time with his family, reading, and attending arts and cultural events.
Job Titles:
- Trustee of UFCW Local 431 and Employers Health & Welfare Plan V. Eagle Food Centers ( D.C. Ill. 2002 )
Job Titles:
- Managing Shareholder / Davenport, Iowa
- Managing Shareholder of Davenport Office / Member of Firm 's Executive Committee
- Member of the American Bar Association
Joe is a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois Bar Association, Iowa Bar Association, Scott County Bar Association and the Rock Island County Bar Association. He has also received Certification through the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and holds the title of Senior Professional of Human Resources Management (SPHR).
JOSEPH H. LAVERTY is a Wessels Sherman Shareholder. Mr. Laverty focuses his practice on representing management in all areas of labor and employment law.
Mr. Laverty brings enhanced knowledge and perspective to his work in Employment law as a member of the Society for Human Resource Management and through his certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources.
Mr. Laverty is Managing Shareholder of the firm's Davenport office and also works from the St. Charles, Illinois office.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Founder
- Founder and Senior Shareholder, Chairman of the Board / St. Charles, Illinois
- Founder, Senior Shareholder / Chairman of the Board
RICHARD WESSELS is the founder of Wessels Sherman. He has practiced management-side labor and employment law since 1967.