Lavanga V. Wijekoon is a shareholder at Littler and co-chair of its Business and Human Rights Practice Group. Based in Chicago, he regularly advises multinational employers on international employment, global mobility, workplace compliance, and human rights, while representing clients in complex labor and employment litigation before courts and administrative agencies.

Representative Matters:

1. Represented employers in class actions and single-plaintiff disputes involving workplace discrimination, harassment, and retaliation before federal and state courts and administrative agencies.

2. Defended employers in wage-and-hour litigation, including class and individual claims concerning employee compensation and working time.

3. Represented companies in disputes involving the classification of employees and independent contractors.

4. Handled employment disputes concerning the interpretation and enforcement of employment contracts.

5. Represented employers in district and appellate proceedings before state and federal courts, as well as matters before the EEOC, IDHR, and IHRC.

6. Advised multinational employers on the design and implementation of global mobility programs and the management of expatriate workforces.

7. Conducted multi-jurisdictional surveys of employment laws and practices to support multinational employers’ cross-border operations and compliance programs.

8. Assisted multinational companies in developing global codes of conduct, international employment policies, and business and human rights compliance frameworks.

9. Advised on corporate compliance with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and labor obligations arising under international free trade agreements.

Qualifications and Memberships:

Qualifications: Admitted to practice in Illinoisin Illinois

Memberships:

• • Member, Illinois State Bar Association

  • Member, American Bar Association

  • Member, Junior Leadership Board, National Immigrant Justice Center

  • Member, Chicago Council on Global Affairs

  • Member, Professional Board, PAWS Chicago

Education:

• B.A., Illinois Wesleyan University, 2004 (magna cum laude)
• M.A., Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington, 2009
• J.D., University of Washington School of Law, 2009

Awards:

• Named, Ones to Watch The Best Lawyers in America®, 2022-2025
• Named, Stand-out Lawyer Thomson Reuters, 2024
• Recipient,Rising Star Award National Immigrant Justice Center,2013.

Languages:English;Sinhalese