Joseph C. Torres

Joseph (Joe) Torres is a Partner at Karmel & Torres, LLC., and is experienced in all areas of labor and employment law. Focusing on representing public and private companies, Joe has extensive experience in administrative, grievance, and arbitration proceedings, as well as state and federal court. In addition to traditional labor law representation, Joe’s expertise includes the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, state and federal discrimination, and anti-retaliation law.

Joe serves as outside counsel for unions representing retail and commercial food workers, cannabis workers, nurses, and auto and defense manufacturer workers across various legal areas. These areas include labor issues before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), contract and disciplinary interpretation issues, administrative investigations and hearings, and other types of employment litigation. Joe is also an expert at developing and carrying out legal strategies in support of union organizing and contract campaigns.

As one of the nation's leading union-side cannabis attorneys, Joe advises cannabis unions from the ground-up. This includes being heavily involved in initial organizing campaigns. Joe negotiated Illinois’ first cannabis collective bargaining agreements, earning significant wage and benefit increases for workers. Relatedly, Joe has successfully litigated against cannabis employers in NLRB proceedings, protecting cannabis workers’ right to organize under the National Labor Relations Act.