Richard H. Wessels

Richard H. Wessels has devoted his legal career to management-side labor and employment law, advising employers since 1967. He is widely known for guiding organizations through complex workplace challenges with steady judgment. His work centers on protecting employers’ rights while promoting clear strategies that support stable labor relations across many industries.

Richard completed his undergraduate education at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, earning a Bachelor’s Degree. He later pursued legal studies at Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago, Illinois. He went on to receive his Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, Illinois, completing his formal legal education in 1967.

Richard has earned consistent professional recognition for his long-standing work in labor and employment law. He has been listed annually in numerous “top attorney” and “super lawyer” publications and holds the highest Martindale-Hubbell rating. He was also named a “Leading Illinois Attorney,” a peer-selected distinction awarded to fewer than five percent of attorneys statewide.

Richard focuses his practice on labor union matters, representing employers that are union-free as well as those with existing union representation. He regularly handles labor negotiations, arbitration, NLRB matters, and disputes involving picketing, secondary boycotts, and prevailing wage law. His experience spans nearly all international unions across the United States.

Richard brings valuable insight from serving in top officer-level labor law positions with two major corporations. He also served as the former chairman of the labor committee for the Washington D.C.-based Association of General Merchandise Chains (AGMC). These leadership roles strengthened his practical understanding of employer needs and workplace decision-making.

Richard H. Wessels continues to be a trusted authority for employers seeking clear, experience-driven labor and employment law guidance. His decades of focused practice, national reach, and commitment to employer advocacy have helped organizations navigate union relations and regulatory demands with confidence and consistency.

Law Office Affiliations

• Founder, Wessels Sherman
• Member, DuPage County Bar Association
• Member, Kane County Bar Association
• Member, Illinois State Bar Association
• Member, State Bar of Wisconsin
• Member, Iowa State Bar Association
• Member, American Bar Association, Committee on Labor and Employment Law
• Member, Chicago Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Committee, National Labor Relations Board Liaison Subcommittee

Licensed State

• Illinois
• Iowa
• Wisconsin

Education

• DePaul University College of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Northwestern University School of Law
  Bachelor’s Degree

Awards & Badges