Ruben R. Chapa

Ruben R. Chapa has more than 3 decades of experience trying the most complicated cases in the country. He has successfully litigated the most costly and sensitive matters against some of the most prominent attorneys in the nation. He focuses on achieving the best outcomes for clients. He is a relentless advocate that does not stop until the job is accomplished. His years in the courtroom have helped him persuade the most hardened judges.

He served for over 30 years as a federal civil prosecutor and Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Labor. While working for the Government, Ruben developed a wide breadth of experience, handling Cybersecurity, ERISA, FLSA, OSHA, Discrimination, and whistleblower matters.

As a prosecutor he litigated more than 200 matters. He also tried more than 20 matters across the country, both in federal district court and bankruptcy court. Given his extensive experience he was sent to Mexico to give a week-long trial advocacy course in Spanish to Mexican judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys. In addition to lecturing on trial techniques, he has instructed attorneys on various employment law matters.

Moreover, he was appointed by the Secretary of Labor to be the Regional Director of the Chicago Employee Benefits Security Administration. In that position he directed criminal and civil investigations to ensure that fiduciaries complied with ERISA. In March 2025, he resolved a health plan case in the U.S. District Court of Wisconsin resulting in a $20 million settlement.

He is a proven Chicago leader serving on the boards of several organizations including: Chicago Bar Association; Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois; American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section; Chicago Bar Foundation; and the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

Practice Areas

• Complex Litigation
• Employment Law (ERISA, FLSA, OSHA, Discrimination, etc.)
• Whistleblower
• Cybersecurity

Education

• Juris Doctorate, 1993, DePaul University College of Law, Chicago, Illinois
• University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois B.A., 1990, History and Spanish

Admitted to Practice

• United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1996
• Illinois, 1993
• Federal Trial Bar, 1994
• U.S. 7^th Circuit Court of Appeal, 1994
• U.S. Dist. Ct. Eastern Dist. Of Wisconsin, 2000
• U.S. Supreme Court, 2001
• U.S. Dist. Ct. Southern Dist. of Ohio, 2010
• U.S. Dist. Ct. Western Dist. of Wisconsin, 2010

Reported Decisions

OSHA

• Secretary v. United Contracting Midwest, OSHRC Docket No. 10-209, 2016 WL 6604547 (June 26-28, 2012).
• Secretary of Labor v. Advanta, 19 O.S.H. Cas. (BNA) 2155, 2002 WL 31931904, (Dec 20, 2002).
• Secretary v. National Coal Museum, Equal Access to Justice Act, Decision February 1, 2002.
• Secretary v. Exelon Generating Corporation, Lasalle County Station, 21 O.S.H. Cas. (BNA) 1087, 2001 WL 1587275, Decision October 29, 2001.
• Secretary v. National Coal Museum, 2001 WL 1154444, Decision August 7, 2001.
• Secretary v. Midwest Generation, LLC, 2001 WL 799559, Decision July 16, 2001.
• Secretary v. Gunite Corporation, 2000 WL 1853439.
• Secretary of Labor v. A & K, 1998 O.S.H.D. (CCH) P 31,474 (January 1998).

MSHA

• Material Service v. Secretary of Labor, 21 FMSHRC 151, 1999 WL 65446 (February 1999).
• Secretary v. Rohloff Sand & Gravel, 20 FMSHRC 868, 1998 WL 739879 (August 1998).
• Secretary of Labor v. Consolidation Coal Company, 19 FMSHRC 1897, 1997 WL 797279 (December 1997).
• Secretary v. Amax Coal Company,18 FMSHRC 764, 1996 WL 239235 (May 1996).
• Secretary v. Amax Coal Company, 17 FMSHRC 1127, 1995-1997 O.S.H.D. (CCH) P 30848 (July 1995).
• Secretary v. Little Sandy Coal Company, 17 FMSHRC 1638, 1995 WL 570616 (September 1995).
• Ed Daugherty v. Director of Office of Workers’ Compensation Program, November 1995.
• Secretary v. Cedar Lake Sand & Gravel, 17 FMSHRC 1076, 1995 WL 386955 (June 1995).

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION ACT

• Secretary of Labor on behalf of Jack Haefling v. UPS, Decision August 1999.