Gerald Maatman, Jr.

Jerry is a Labor & Employment Partner with Seyfarth Shaw LLP, where he chairs the firm's Class Action Defense Group.

He has defended some of the most significant "bet-the-company" cases ever filed against corporate America, representing companies, executive teams, and boards across the country in class action litigation, ranging in size from hundreds to tens of thousands of claims by employees. As such, he has seen virtually every litigation challenge conceivable and has been the go-to authority for corporate counsel, HR professionals, industry groups, and the legal media on all matters employment and compliance.

Jerry's work has garnered major industry awards, including Employment Law 360 MVP and BTI's Client Service All-Star, and he was inducted into the Legal 500 Hall of Fame in 2021 in recognition of continued excellence in representing clients in labor and employment matters.

Jerry is lead author and editor of the Workplace Class Action Report, an annual study of all class action rulings rendered in federal and state courts on workplace legal issues a “go to” research and resource guide for businesses and their corporate counsel facing complex litigation. His commentary on class action law has been awarded the JD Supra Readers' Choice Award for 6 years.

Jerry is a member of the Illinois and the New York bars, and has taught trial practice and advocacy at Northwestern University School of Law for over 30 years.