James J. Hess and Katie E. Ngo to Present IPELRA Webinar
Tressler attorneys James (Jim) Hess and Kate E. Ngo will be presenting a popular new webinar for the Illinois Public Employer Labor Relations Association (IPELRA) on January 27, 2026. Jim and Katie will be presenting “Record Request Fatigue – I Need the Information, and I Need it Now!”
About the Webinar
Have you noticed an increase in records requests coming to the HR office or to management? You may be receiving requests for information from a union or an elected official, from Illinois OSHA or from USCIS/ICE, from the EEOC or IDHR, through a FOIA request or subpoena, under the DOT Clearinghouse or under the Massey Act, pursuant to the Personnel Records Review Act, or from a First Amendment Auditor. Does it feel like a part-time job at times, accepting, coordinating, and replying to all of these requests?
Join your HR and management colleagues and attorneys Jim Hess and Katie Ngo from Tressler LLP in this virtual session to learn about how to comply with legal requirements for a variety of information requests, information that is exempt from disclosure, an employer’s rights and obligations in responding to information requests, best practices for accepting and processing information requests and securely disseminating information, limitations involved when you reply to a range of records requests, handling First Amendment Auditor requests, and when to coordinate with legal counsel. If you have a question or two, please submit them when you register!
When:
January 27, 2026, from 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM CT
Where:
This is an online event. The Zoom link will be sent three business days prior to the event. Click here for details.
About James (Jim) Hess
Jim Hess represents various local government entities, primarily focusing on day-to-day operations for cities, villages, fire protection districts, park districts, and library districts. Jim’s practice includes handling intergovernmental agreements, ordinances, contract negotiations, administrative proceedings, demolition issues, employment, Open Meetings Act issues, Freedom of Information Act matters, tort liability defense, and ethics. Jim also handles a variety of land use matters, including Tax Increment Financing districts, redevelopment agreements, annexations, and comprehensive planning.
Jim has also served as corporate counsel for a number of businesses where he regularly assisted clients with corporate matters, contract negotiation, landlord-tenant issues, real estate transactions, breach of contract, and criminal matters. He has litigated professional liability and personal injury matters, as well as commercial and employment disputes. Click here to read Jim’s full attorney biography.
About Katie E. Ngo
Katie E. Ngo is Senior Counsel in Tressler LLP’s Local Government practice group. Katie has practiced for more than a decade, focusing on all aspects of labor & employment and day-to-day operation counseling for public sector clients, including school districts, villages, counties, cities, park districts, library districts, hospital districts, and law enforcement entities.
She has extensive experience working directly with human resources offices and other administrators to manage a variety of matters, including human resources investigations, employee discipline, hiring practices, collective bargaining, executive contracts, development and review of employee handbooks, leave and accommodations requests, and RIFs and layoffs. Katie also provides in-house training for various employee groups. Click here to read Katie’s full attorney biography.
About IPELRA
The Illinois Public Employer Labor Relations Association is an organization of public sector labor relations professionals charged with representing management with respect to collective bargaining and labor relations matters. The Association serves as a resource and advocate, providing top-quality training, information, networking opportunities, and support for legislative initiatives that further management’s interests in effective labor relations.
About Tressler
Tressler has one of the most experienced and multi-faceted government law practices in Illinois. As local governments are faced with increasingly complex regulatory matters and ever-growing exposure to litigation, we offer a diverse array of talent to serve our clients’ needs. From our Chicago and Bolingbrook offices, our seasoned team is uniquely positioned to represent municipalities, cities, villages, park districts, school districts, and other public entities throughout Illinois.
