Joseph M. Wientge, Jr.

Joseph M. Wientge, Jr. is a principal in the St. Louis, Missouri, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Joe partners closely with employers, by honestly listening, to deliver practical, business‑focused solutions to complex workplace challenges. He is known for his client‑centered approach, taking the time to understand each client’s goals and operations in order to provide strategic guidance aligned with business objectives. While Joe is a strong advocate in defending employer decisions when disputes arise, he is equally committed to helping clients prevent conflict through proactive planning, thoughtful decision‑making, and effective execution.

Joe focuses his nationwide practice on counseling, drafting, enforcement, and defense of employment arbitration matters. He also represents employers in internal investigations and before administrative agencies, as well as in state and federal litigation, drawing on extensive experience to guide clients through all stages of dispute resolution.

Joe offers thought leadership and advises employers nationwide on issues involving employment arbitration agreements, including their drafting and enforceability, and has successfully enforced arbitration agreements in trial courts and courts of appeal. He regularly counsels clients on mitigating risk while preserving the effectiveness of arbitration programs.

Joe has significant experience resolving employment disputes through motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, trial, and appeal. His litigation experience includes defending employers against claims involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, family and medical leave, trade secret misappropriation, and breach of contract disputes.

Joe regularly guides employers through administrative investigations and proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Missouri Commission on Human Rights, the Illinois Department on Human Rights, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Office of Civil Rights, and boards of education for numerous Missouri school districts.

In addition to litigation and arbitration, Joe counsels employers on day‑to‑day employment matters, including hiring, discipline, and termination decisions. He advises on the development and revision of employment policies, separation agreements, and employment contracts, and conducts training and seminars on a wide range of employment‑ and education‑related topics.

Prior to joining Jackson Lewis, Joe worked for another national labor and employment firm, where he served as co‑chair of the firm’s Arbitration Practice Group. He also previously practiced at a St. Louis‑based law firm, where his work focused on education and labor and employment law. While in law school, Joe served as a note and comment editor for the University of Missouri, Kansas City Law Review and was a member of the American Bar Association Negotiation Team.

Joe has represented employers across a variety of industries, including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, automotive services, manufacturing, information technology, and customer service. He takes a business‑minded approach to his practice, making it a priority to understand each client’s operations and industry realities in order to deliver aligned, practical, and effective counsel.