Irving M. Friedman - Chicago, IL

Irving M. Friedman (1924–2004)

Irving M. Friedman practiced labor relations and employment law for more than 50 years at the firm he co-founded with Harold Katz in 1953. Irving and Harold met while opposing each other as counsel in a labor relations case in the early 1950s, during which time Irving served as a senior trial attorney for the National Labor Relations Board. The mutual respect they developed during that trial led to a working arrangement that evolved into a partnership spanning five decades. Irving often attributed the success of their partnership to their shared passion for advocating on behalf of working people.

Throughout his career, Irving represented unions in manufacturing, maritime, longshoring, education, communications, airlines, and government. He was a frequent lecturer and writer on labor law issues. He was inducted into the Hall of Honor of the Illinois Labor History Society and was a fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. As lead counsel in a landmark class-action discrimination case, Irving helped plaintiffs secure what was, at the time, the largest settlement in the history of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He served as a Labor Member on the Board of Review at the Illinois Department of Labor and was a member of the Governor's Commission on Labor Laws, which was instrumental in developing the IELRA and ILRA.

Irving earned his degree in liberal arts from the City College of New York and received his law degree from New York University Law School. He also served as chairman of the Labor Law Committee of the Chicago Bar Association. Outside of his professional life, Irving enjoyed reading, playing golf, fishing, following baseball, and traveling. He resided in Hyde Park with his wife, Abigail, and was the father of three sons and a grandfather to three.