Harold A. Katz - Chicago, IL

Harold A. Katz (1921–2012)

Harold A. Katz was a founding partner of the firm, establishing it with Irving Friedman more than 50 years ago. Harold and Irving met while serving as opposing counsel on a labor relations case in the early 1950s. At the time, Harold was representing the UAW, while Irving served as the Labor Board's senior trial attorney in its Chicago office representing the NLRB. Working together, the two successfully prosecuted an unfair labor practice complaint against a multi-national corporation. Their mutual respect quickly evolved into a professional partnership that spanned more than half a century and impacted the lives of countless working people throughout Illinois.

Harold authored two major labor law books and numerous articles published in professional journals. In a landmark 1956 article in the Harvard Law Review, Harold introduced the "Crashworthiness Doctrine." This doctrine, which became widely accepted across the country, established the legal liability of auto manufacturers to reasonably design vehicles that protect drivers in the event of a crash.

A frequent lecturer at conferences and institutes on labor and employment discrimination, Harold served as chairperson for several organizations, including the U.S. branch of the International Society for Labor Law and Social Legislation, the Labor Law Committee of the Illinois State Bar Association, and the Workers' Compensation Section of the American Trial Lawyers' Association. He was a fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. In 2001, Harold was one of only 12 Illinois lawyers inducted as a Laureate in the Illinois Academy of Lawyers. He also received the Jurisprudence Award from the American Organization for Rehabilitation through Training (ORT) and the Freedom of Expression Award from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

Beyond his private law practice, Harold was a dedicated public servant in every branch of government. He served with distinction for nine terms as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, acted as special counsel to the Governor of Illinois on legislation, and served as a Master-in-Chancery at the trial court level in Cook County. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Vanderbilt University in 1943, followed by a Juris Doctor in 1948 and a Master of Arts in labor economics in 1958, both from the University of Chicago.

Harold resided in Glencoe with his wife, Ethel Mae. He was the father of four children and a grandfather to five. He was a voracious reader and enjoyed traveling whenever he had the opportunity.