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Press Release

James F. Botana Honored as Latino Lawyer of the Year by Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois

CHICAGO, IL (October 12, 2020) Jackson Lewis P.C., one of the country’s preeminent workplace law firms, is pleased to announce Principal James F. Botana has been named Latino Lawyer of the Year by the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI). As an advocate for increased representation for Hispanic attorneys in the legal industry, Mr. Botana will carry out HLAI's mission to promote high standards of competence, professionalism and integrity with and among Hispanic attorneys and the Hispanic communities within the State of Illinois.

“I am honored and humbled to be named a recipient of HLAI’s Latino Lawyer of the Year Award,” said Mr. Botana. “I have been a member of this organization since I graduated law school and I have always enjoyed working to help further HLAI’s mission of providing a forum through which Hispanic attorneys and their achievements, goals and aspirations may be promoted within the legal profession. I look forward to continuing my work with HLAI by participating in their activities to increase diversity and inclusion in the legal community. I am particularly excited about HLAI’s social justice initiatives and partnering with similar bar organizations to advance these initiatives through dialogue and a unified voice.”

Mr. Botana is a Principal in the firm’s Chicago office, where he represents management in employment cases in federal and state courts, and before administrative agencies in a variety of employment and labor related claims. Prior to joining Jackson Lewis, he was a prosecutor and a senior attorney in the Employment Litigation Department of the Office of the Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago. He has successfully prosecuted and defended numerous civil and criminal cases in trials and evidentiary hearings in federal and state courts. Mr. Botana has represented the City of Chicago in prosecuting criminal and quasi-criminal matters and has defended the City of Chicago in employment discrimination, civil rights and insurance defense cases in state and federal courts. Mr. Botana currently serves as a Special Assistant Corporation counsel and represents the City of Chicago and its employees in a variety of claims.

Mr. Botana was born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in Spain. He is fluent in Spanish and is frequently called upon by businesses with large Spanish-speaking workforces to train managers and supervisors as well as non-supervisory employees in both English and Spanish in best employment practices as well as to conduct investigations of employment related disputes.

Mr. Botana has been a member of HLAI since 1992 and was a previous recipient of the HLAI Community Service Award. He has served the organization in several leadership positions including as a member of its Judicial Evaluation Committee, Translations Committee and as an HLAI mentor. Mr. Botana has helped organize several HLAI events and has participated in roundtable discussions as a featured speaker. 

Mr. Botana earned his J.D. from DePaul University and his B.S. from Chicago State University. 

Jackson Lewis’ Chicago office can be reached at (312) 787-4949.

About Jackson Lewis 
Focused on labor and employment law since 1958, Jackson Lewis P.C.’s 950+ attorneys located in major cities nationwide consistently identify and respond to new ways workplace law intersects business. We help employers develop proactive strategies, strong policies and business-oriented solutions to cultivate high-functioning workforces that are engaged, stable and diverse, and share our clients' goals to emphasize inclusivity and respect for the contribution of every employee.

Additional information about the firm can be found at jacksonlewis.com

For more information, please contact:
Lara Hamm, Director of Communications and Public Relations
T: (267) 319-7803 / E: Lara.Hamm@jacksonlewis.com

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