Chad J. Sullivan

Member

(O): 812.422.9444

(F): 812.421.7459

(C): 812.204.1534

cjsullivan@jacksonkelly.com

PDF

Chad J. Sullivan

Member

(O) : 812.422.9444

(F): 812.421.7459

(C): 812.204.1534

cjsullivan@jacksonkelly.com

PDF

Chad J. Sullivan is a Member in the Coal, Healthcare, Energy, and Oil & Gas industry groups, focusing primarily on labor & employment and litigation. He practices out of the Firm’s office in Evansville, Indiana.

Bio

Chad frequently represents and counsels clients on a variety of matters across a number of industries. He advises employers on a variety of labor and employment issues, including covenants not to compete, wage and hour, civil rights discrimination, unfair labor practices, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), sexual harassment, union avoidance, union elections, and wrongful discharge. He also drafts companies’ employee policies and procedures and reviews those already in place for compliance. As part of his practice, he has defended clients before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, numerous state and federal courts and state and local Human Rights commissions. Chad also has extensive experience in drafting, negotiating and litigating non-compete agreements covering professional employees including physician agreements under Indiana’s Physician Non-Compete Statute.

Chad is also involved in the legal community and the community at large – he is a frequent speaker on labor and employment law topics, knowing that it’s important to ensure his clients are up-to-date on the latest changes to the law.

Education

Washington University School of Law – St. Louis (J.D., 1997)
University of Missouri (B.S., B.A. in Human Resource Management , 1994)

Admissions

Indiana (2000)
Illinois (1998)
Missouri (1997)
U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri

Notable Legal Experience

Lead counsel in successful jury trials in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Texas
Successfully litigated non-compete and trade secret claims in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Texas, and North Carolina
Won defense verdict in jury trial in St. Clair County, Illinois on behalf of oil and gas operator on multi-count claim brought by investors (2017)
Won award in jury trial for seller of business for breach of purchase agreement and promissory estoppel in St. Charles County, Missouri (2017)
Won jury trial for Plaintiff in fraud claim in Spencer County, Indiana including award of attorney’s fees (2017)
Obtained summary judgment on behalf of oil and gas investor on securities fraud claims and award of damages and removal of operator in Hamilton County, Illinois
Obtained full dismissal for a major Indiana university on claims brought by applicant denied admission into medical school
Lead counsel in matters before the Illinois, Indiana and Ohio Civil Rights Commissions
Successfully resolved multiple matters in Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky for trustees defending against breach of fiduciary duty claims
Obtained summary judgment for coal operator dismissing plaintiff’s claims and affirming operator’s right to inject slurry into mine voids
Obtained summary judgment for coal operator against environmental advocacy group protecting right to long wall mine in Illinois

Work History

Jackson Kelly PLLC (2011-Present)

Professional Organizations

Evansville-Area Human Resource Association
Evansville Bar Association
Energy & Mineral Law Foundation
Illinois Oil and Gas Association
Illinois Coal Association
Indiana Coal Council

Community

Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Employment Law Policy Committee
Southwestern Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Government Relations Committee
Evansville Young Life, Vanderburgh County Chairman
Evansville Youth Hockey Association, Past President
Highland Baseball Club, Board of Directors
Evansville Freedom Festival Foundation, Past President (2001)
Career Choices, Inc., Past President (2000)
Lutheran Day Care Center, Past President
Evansville Parks Foundation, Board of Directors
Southwestern Indiana Red Cross, Board of Directors

Awards

The Best Lawyers in America® – Evansville- Labor Law – Management (2025-2027)
Indiana Leadership Forum Class of 2020
Scholar in the Law
Washington University Law Quarterly, associate editor

Speaking Engagements & Publications

Speaking Engagements

Presenter, “Veil Piercing and Charging Orders” and “Deadlock and Dispute Resolution,” NBI, LLC’s in Indiana: Entity Choice, Formation, and Operation, June 7, 2023.
Presenter, “Changing Employment Regulations for 2023,” The American Board of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) Virtual Review Course, Strategies for Successful Practice Management in IPM: Documentation, Coding, Compliance, and Practice Management, Jan. 15, 2023
Co-presenter with Lucero Tennis Kieffer, “Do’s and Don’ts in this Tight Labor Market and Recent Cases of Note,” EHRA Member “Lunch N’ Legal” Meeting, Sept. 22, 2022
Presenter, “Changing Employment Regulations Under the COVID-19 Era,” The American Board of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) Virtual Practice Management Course, Feb. 27, 2022
Co-presenter with Lucero Tennis Kieffer, “New Laws and Issues Employers Face With Medical/Recreational Marijuana Use,” Evansville-Area Human Resource Association 2021 Fall Conference, Oct. 15, 2021
Co-presenter, “Returning to Operations in a Post-COVID Climate,” Energy & Mineral Law Foundation (EMLF) 42nd Annual Institute, Memphis, Tennessee, June 20-22, 2021
Panelist, “COVID-19 and Returning to Work,” Bluegrass Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Virtual Chapter Meeting, May 12, 2020
“FMLA Master Class: Managing FMLA and avoiding RISK!,” Evansville-Area Human Resource Association (EHRA) 2019 Spring Conference, Evansville, Indiana, April 24, 2019
“Sexual Harassment in the #MeToo Era,” Indiana Coal Council Annual Meeting, 2017
Co-presenter, “A Wicked Web is Weaved — FMLA & ADA — Interplay with Employee Leaves, Job Accommodations and Employee Conduct,” Evansville-Area Human Resource Association Spring Conference, Evansville, Indiana, April 16, 2015
“Preparation for Depositions and Hearings,” Tri-State Association of Professional Landmen, Poseyville, Illinois, Oct. 20, 2014
“The Illinois Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act,” EMLF Kentucky Mineral Law Conference, Lexington, Kentucky, Oct. 24, 2013
Panel Member, Jackson Kelly Webinar, “What does HB 2615 Mean to You? The Illinois Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act.”
Panel Member, Evansville Human Resource Association Spring Seminar – Leadership in Human Resources
Panel Member, Employment Optimization Training Series Workshop 3 – Complying with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA)