“Aaron is extraordinary in terms of his mastery of an otherwise difficult area of the law. He knows it inside and out.”
Aaron R. Gelb is one of Conn Maciel Carey’s co-managing partners. Based in Chicago, Aaron leads the firm’s Midwest OSHA Defense Team, which includes eight OSH-focused lawyers in Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio who regularly advise and represent employers in relation to inspections, investigations, and enforcement actions involving federal OSHA and state OSH programs, while managing a full range of litigation against OSHA. Aaron also litigates EEO matters in federal and state courts (having tried several cases to verdict) and defends employers before the EEOC and fair employment agencies across the country.
- “Band 2” Ranked Attorney in Occupational Safety and Health, Chambers USA – Nationwide (2023 – Present)
Aaron is frequently asked to speak about a variety of workplace safety and health topics to audiences across the country. Although his practice is national in scope, Aaron focuses his efforts on educating safety professionals, operations leaders, business owners and executives in the Midwest, regularly presenting in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
A long-time member of the Illinois Manufacturers Association, Aaron serves as the exclusive workplace safety and health educator for the IMA’s members, presenting quarterly webinars and organizing weekly in-person and online events each year during Safety Month (June). Having worked extensively with each and every one of OSHA’s Area Offices in Illinois, Aaron regularly hosts panel discussions and presentations that include Area Directors, Assistant Area Directors, and Compliance Assistance Specialists. Aaron is currently working with the IMA and OSHA to educate food manufacturers about the agency’s Local Emphasis Program focused on food manufacturing.
Recent events and organizations include:
- American Bar Association OSH Committee Midwinter Meeting
- American Foundry Society
- American Transportation Association’s Safety & Security Seminar
- Grain and Feed Association of Illinois Annual Meeting
- Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS)
- Hospitality Law Conference
- International Liquid Terminals Association (ILTA)
- National Grain and Feed Association
- National Meat Institute Environment, Labor & Safety Conference
- National Safety Council OSH Network
- Midwest Food Products Association Safety Conference
- Precision Metalforming Association Annual Meeting
- Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association
Aaron also frequently presents on a variety of topics for the firm’s OSHA Webinar Series and Labor & Employment Webinar Series.
- Illinois Manufacturers Association
- Chemical Industry Council of Illinois
- Grain and Feed Association of Illinois
- Midwest Food Producers Association
- National Grain and Feed Association
- University of Texas School of Law, J.D. 1995
- University of Chicago, B.A., 1992
- Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Trial Bar
- U.S. District Court for the Northern Districts of Indiana
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Southern Districts of Indiana
- U.S. Eastern and Western Districts of Texas
