Andrew M. Fernandez has been practicing law since 2009 and has dedicated his career to labor and employment law issues. Andrew focuses on litigation involving the defense of corporate clients in Illinois, Missouri, and Texas in their civil circuit and appellate courts, as well as in arbitrations and mediations and before employment and workers’ compensation agencies. He is experienced in a wide range of areas including civil rights and municipal liability, as well as employment issues, with specialties in workers’ compensation defense, wrongful termination defense, workplace safety law and implementation, unemployment litigation, general liability, insurance and contract issues, and subrogation.
Andrew works closely with his clients to understand their business and goals, and to mitigate their exposure and provide cost-effective results. He is reputed as an aggressive litigator and advocate for his clients, with a track record of successful trials and favorable settlements.
In his free time, Andrew races on a T-10 sailing team, and is working on obtaining his private pilot’s license.
- Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association (WCLA)
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
- Civil Third Party: Andrew negotiated a global settlement limiting client exposure to a lien waiver and $1.00 Workers’ Compensation Contract. Estimated client savings: $800,000.00.
- In a civil third-party case, Andrew negotiated a global settlement limiting client exposure to a lien waiver and $1.00 workers’ compensation contract. The estimated client savings was $800,000.
- In a workers’ compensation appeal: A wage differential award was reversed by the Commission, affirmed by the circuit court, and resulted in approximately $400,000 in savings to the client.\
- After a two-day jury trial in a civil wrongful termination case, Andrew obtained a unanimous jury verdict for the employer on alleged wrongful termination. Exposure to the client was $0.00.
- Andrew appealed an award of benefits in an unemployment claim. The administrative judge agreed with Andrew’s interpretations of the law and reversed the award of benefits to $0.00.
- Andrew prevailed on a disputed slip and fall, workers’ compensation trial, getting a “zero award” from the IWCC which was later affirmed by both the Commission and circuit court.