Am Law 100 firm Polsinelli welcomes Carlos A. Ortiz as Shareholder in the firm’s national Employment Advice & Investigations Practice. He is based out of the Chicago office. Ortiz joins the firm from Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in Milwaukee.
Ortiz focuses his practice in the areas of employment compliance, immigration and mobility, and also has extensive experience in consumer and class action financial services litigation. He represents employers across various industries, with particular emphasis on handling harassment and discrimination claims, matters related to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), wrongful discharge cases and other state and federal employment statutes. He also has experience handling claims involving the enforcement of restrictive covenants and has successfully obtained temporary restraining orders and injunctions. Additionally, he counsels employers on risk management and compliance issues.
In the area of immigration law, he works with employers on obtaining various work visas for their foreign employees. He also counsels employers on Form I-9 compliance, Social Security no-match letters and international migration issues.
In the consumer and class action financial services litigation arena, he defends against claims arising from the application of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Truth-in-Lending Act (TILA), Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), Illinois Collection Agency Act, Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and the Wisconsin Consumer Act, as well as various state and federal consumer and mortgage-related laws. His clients in this area include businesses, corporate entities, mortgage lenders and servicers, creditors, asset purchases and third-party debt collectors. Additionally, Ortiz represents clients regarding investigations by regulatory agencies and attorneys general and has counseled clients in responding to subpoenas in this context.
“We are thrilled to have Carlos joining our team,” said Polsinelli Employment Advice and Investigations Practice Group Chair Andrew Cripe. “Our clients are looking for clear guidance on how to manage complex issues for their increasingly mobile global workforces, his experience and versatility adds to the breadth of services and counsel we can provide.”
Ortiz is fluent in Spanish and is a past president of the Wisconsin Hispanic Lawyers Association. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School and summa cum laude from Northern Illinois University.
“We are delighted to have Carlos join our team of over 120 lawyers in Chicago, given his vast experience in workforce management, litigation, and regulatory matters,” said Cross Department Litigation Chair and Chicago Office Managing Partner Mary Clare Bonaccorsi.
Polsinelli’s Labor & Employment practice is currently nationally ranked in U.S. News and World Report‘s 2021 “Best Law Firms” for Litigation – Labor & Employment and Employment Law – Management.
“I am excited to join Polsinelli’s outstanding team,” said Ortiz. “Their business-minded and forward-looking approach to labor and employment work is a great fit for my practice.”
