Wessels Sherman
Wessels Sherman is a private labor and employment law firm founded in 1985 that represents employers exclusively across four Midwest offices in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, offering litigation defense, compliance counseling, and a flat-rate Telephone Consultation Program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersSaint Charles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Wessels Sherman does
Wessels Sherman is a privately held law firm founded in 1985 by Richard H. Wessels, providing labor and employment law representation exclusively to employers across the Midwest. The firm operates four functionally integrated offices in St. Charles, Illinois; Davenport, Iowa; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, uniquely positioned to serve clients with multi-state operations. Service coverage spans litigation defense (discrimination, harassment, wrongful discharge, wage and hour), workplace compliance counseling, union relations, employee benefits, workers' compensation defense, immigration, and trade secret/non-compete matters.
Revenue is generated through two streams: traditional legal services billed via attorney-client engagements for litigation and complex matters, and a flat-rate Telephone Consultation Program at $75 per month providing unlimited attorney consultations on routine HR and compliance questions, which serves approximately 500 participating clients. The firm employs between 11 and 50 people and runs a content-driven GTM focused on thought leadership through an attorney-authored blog, monthly Client Alert Newsletter, E-Alerts, webinars, and a modest organic social presence on Facebook and LinkedIn. No proprietary technology platform, AI/ML capability, or third-party distribution channel is disclosed.
Key principals include Founder and Chairman Richard H. Wessels (practicing management-side labor law since 1967), President and CEO James B. Sherman, Davenport Managing Shareholder Joseph H. Laverty (SPHR-certified), and Wisconsin Managing Shareholder Alan E. Seneczko. The firm holds an A.V. Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers since 1999; revenue is not publicly disclosed.
Wessels Sherman firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wessels Sherman
- Legal name
- Wessels Sherman
- Website
- https://wesselssherman.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Wessels Sherman is a private labor and employment law firm founded in 1985 that represents employers exclusively across four Midwest offices in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, offering litigation defense, compliance counseling, and a flat-rate Telephone Consultation Program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Wessels Sherman is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saint Charles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Wessels Sherman business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Legal Consultation and Representation: Traditional legal services billed through attorney-client engagements for litigation, compliance counseling, workplace policy development, and employment law matters across all practice areas.
- Telephone Consultation Program: Flat-rate monthly subscription at $75/month providing unlimited phone consultations for routine HR and legal compliance questions. Nearly 500 participating clients utilize this program.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Flat-rate telephone consultation for routine HR and legal compliance questions |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Wessels Sherman product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wessels Sherman is a labor and employment law firm that provides litigation defense and legal counsel exclusively to employers. The firm represents clients across Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin through four integrated offices, covering discrimination, harassment, wrongful discharge, wage and hour issues, union relations, compliance, employee benefits, worker misclassification, FMLA, immigration, non-compete agreements, and workers' compensation. The firm also offers a Telephone Consultation Program providing unlimited attorney access for a flat monthly subscription fee.
Product overview
Wessels Sherman is a labor and employment law firm providing legal services exclusively to employers. The firm operates four integrated offices across the Midwest (St. Charles IL, Davenport IA, Minneapolis MN, and Oconomowoc WI) offering comprehensive employment law representation. Their service portfolio includes core litigation defense, workplace compliance counseling, and specialized modules covering independent contractors, union relations, wage and hour matters, employee benefits, workers' compensation defense, immigration, and trade secrets/non-compete issues. The firm also offers a distinctive Telephone Consultation Program providing unlimited attorney access for a flat monthly fee, and distributes a monthly Client Alert Newsletter on employment law developments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Labor and Employment Law Services Full-service labor and employment law firm providing litigation defense and legal counsel exclusively to employers, covering discrimination, harassment, wrongful discharge, wage and hour issues, union relations, compliance, employee benefits, and immigration matters across all practice areas.
- Telephone Consultation Program Flat-rate monthly subscription program at $75/month providing unlimited phone consultations with attorneys for routine HR and legal compliance questions on labor and employment law matters; nearly 500 participating clients utilize this program.
- Litigation Defends companies against employment-related claims in state and federal courts, including ADA, FMLA, EEOC, NLRB, OSHA, and DOL claims.
- Workplace Compliance
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 500 clients use the Telephone Consultation Program
Companies that use Wessels Sherman
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Wessels Sherman technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Wessels Sherman partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Wessels Sherman competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Jackson Lewis P.C. One of the largest U.S. law firms focused exclusively on workplace law, representing employers in labor and employment matters across the country. Closely comparable to Wessels Sherman in exclusive employer-side positioning and practice area mix.
- Fisher Phillips LLP: National labor and employment law firm representing employers exclusively across litigation, counseling, and compliance. Directly comparable to Wessels Sherman on the employer-only model and full-service employment coverage.
- Ford & Harrison LLP: Management-side labor and employment law firm with strong Midwest and national presence. Closely comparable in exclusive employer representation and employment-focused service mix.
- Franczek Radelet P.C. Chicago-based law firm devoted exclusively to representing employers in labor, employment, and education law matters. Directly comparable to Wessels Sherman on employer-side specialization and Midwest anchor geography.
- Laner Muchin Ltd. Chicago-based firm known for its management-side labor and employment law practice representing employers across the Midwest. Comparable in employer-only focus and Illinois-headquartered positioning.
- Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete LLP: National labor and employment law firm representing employers with a long-standing management-side orientation. Comparable on employer-only employment focus, with broader geographic reach.
- Kastner Westman & Wilkins LLC: Ohio-based labor and employment law firm representing management exclusively, with deep Midwest presence. Comparable on employer-only specialization and Midwest regional positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Littler Mendelson P.C. The largest U.S. employment and labor law firm representing management, with a global footprint and deep employer-side practice. Comparable to Wessels Sherman on the management-only employment focus, though materially larger and broader geographically.
- Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart P.C. Major management-side labor and employment firm with significant Midwest presence and a wide service portfolio. Comparable on employer-side employment specialization and multi-state coverage.
- Seyfarth Shaw LLP: Large national firm with one of the most established labor and employment practices in the U.S., representing management. Comparable on employer-side employment focus, though it operates as a broad-based full-service firm.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wessels Sherman social profiles
Digital presenceWessels Sherman financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wessels Sherman leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Wessels Sherman funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wessels Sherman M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wessels Sherman
What does Wessels Sherman do?
Wessels Sherman is a labor and employment law firm that provides litigation defense and legal counsel exclusively to employers. The firm represents clients across Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin through four integrated offices, covering discrimination, harassment, wrongful discharge, wage and hour issues, union relations, compliance, employee benefits, worker misclassification, FMLA, immigration, non-compete agreements, and workers' compensation. The firm also offers a Telephone Consultation Program providing unlimited attorney access for a flat monthly subscription fee.
Is Wessels Sherman a public or private company?
Wessels Sherman is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Wessels Sherman founded?
Wessels Sherman was founded in 1985. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Wessels Sherman based?
Wessels Sherman is headquartered in Saint Charles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Wessels Sherman make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Legal Consultation and Representation is the primary driver. The others are telephone Consultation Program.
Who are Wessels Sherman's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Jackson Lewis P.C., Fisher Phillips LLP, Ford & Harrison LLP, Franczek Radelet P.C., Laner Muchin Ltd., Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete LLP and Kastner Westman & Wilkins LLC. Broad incumbents are Littler Mendelson P.C., Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart P.C. and Seyfarth Shaw LLP.
Does Wessels Sherman have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wessels Sherman.