Navigating the Miscellaneous Legal Aspects in Your Events, Exhibitions & Contracts: ADA Requirements, DEI & More!

Corporate lawyer Barbara Dunn is relied upon by clients and colleagues alike for her innovative approach to nonprofit and tax-exempt legal matters. She remains at the forefront of current trends in this area of the law and advises clients on meetings, hospitality and travel law; contracts; employment law; computer, trademark and copyright law; litigation and risk management; administrative law; taxes; antitrust; and governance matters.

Known for her depth in the law and candid communication style, pragmatism and workable solutions are at the core of Barbara’s commitment to those she serves. With more than a quarter century of experience, Barbara does not reinvent the wheel, saving her clients valuable time and money.

Barbara has been involved in a variety of leadership positions in organizations that serve the associations and hospitality industries. She was the first woman to serve in a leadership role as chair of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Legal Section Council in 2005-2006.

Prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg, Barbara was a partner at the law firm of Howe & Hutton Ltd., where she practiced for more than 20 years.

Employment lawyer Norma Zeitler is best known in the non-profit and health care world for her no nonsense, proactive approach to problem-solving and her willingness to drop everything to help a client in need. Quite typically, Norma spends her evenings and weekends on calls with CEOs, general counsels or board presidents, advising them on or highly sensitive employment matters. Each of these executives would attest to Norma’s ability to quickly get to the essence of the issue and to propose a sound business solution designed to mitigate risk and cost.

A member of the Associations and Foundations practice group, as well as the Health Care Industry practice group and the Labor and Employment department, the vast majority of Norma’s legal work involves advising boards, CEOs, General Counsel’s and Human Resources professionals on a wide range of legal issues, including COVID-19 vaccine mandates, return to office initiatives, compliance with evolving pay equity laws, litigation avoidance, non-competition agreements, reductions-in force and other workforce planning issues. Norma also conducts highly sensitive investigations for a variety of non-profit and for profit organizations.

In addition to her legal work, Norma is a member of the firm’s management and compensation committee and its legal personnel administration committees, the Chicago Office racial and social justice committee, and the Chicago Labor and Employment Chicago Office administrator. Norma also serves as a mentor for several of the firms diverse (and often first generation college) associates.

Before becoming a lawyer, Norma was an officer in the U.S. Army, serving as a platoon leader and intelligence officer in Germany, a company commander in Turkey during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and an intern to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.