Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins’ partner Carlos S. Arévalo and associate Megan E. Carlson will present at the Illinois Municipal League (IML) Annual Conference on Thursday, September 17, 2026.

During their session, “Handling Discrimination Charges Through IDHR and EEOC: Overview and Best Practices”, Carlos and Megan will cover practical procedures, legal standards, and defense strategies for employers facing an employee charge of discrimination, whether under state law with the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) or federal law with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

The session will cover these key highlights:

• Recent agency developments at the EEOC and IDHR, including changes to enforcement priorities and filing deadlines
• Best practices for evaluating a discrimination claim, from complaint reporting mechanisms to release and severance considerations
• How position statements can serve as evidence in later litigation, and how to draft an effective one
• Best practices for investigating a charge, including document and electronic evidence retention obligations
• Recent caselaw developments affecting Title VII, disability, retaliation, and other discrimination claims

Learn more and register here.

For more than 25 years, Carlos has represented Illinois public and private sector clients in labor and employment law, including benefits, termination, discipline, labor arbitration and collective bargaining. He appears in state and federal court and before administrative bodies such as the EEOC, IDHR and Illinois Labor Relations Board. Carlos also serves as corporate and special counsel for municipalities in the Northwest suburbs, McHenry County and Lake County, and represents private clients ranging from for-profit and non-profit entities to individuals.

Megan brings extensive experience in litigation, labor and employment, police misconduct and investigations. As former Deputy Inspector General at the Cook County Office of Independent Inspector General, she supervised investigations into fraud, waste, abuse and misconduct, along with compliance and program reviews of Cook County government agencies. She has also served in the same role at the Illinois Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General, overseeing investigations into abuse, neglect and financial exploitation committed by State employees against individuals receiving services from State-licensed mental health and developmental disability agencies.

Founded in 1913, the IML has worked continuously for the benefit of municipalities, promoting competence and integrity in the administration of municipal government. The IML Annual Conference is the premier educational and networking opportunity for municipal officials and staff, providing specially-designed session tracks to learn from industry experts, exchange ideas, and build relationships with municipal colleagues.