Bret Pufahl
- Associate
Bret K. Pufahl
- Associate
Contact Me:
Practice Areas:
- Employment Discrimination
- Class Actions
- Civil Rights
- Business and Contracts
- Worker's Compensation
Biography
Bret K. Pufahl is an associate attorney at Foote Chavez Law, LLC, where he represents individuals and groups in class action litigation, consumer protection cases, and complex civil disputes. He is dedicated to holding corporations and other powerful entities accountable and ensuring that those who have been wronged have a strong and strategic advocate on their side.
Throughout his practice, Bret has helped clients fight back against fraud, deceptive business practices, financial misconduct, workplace discrimination, wage and hour violations, and corporate negligence. He has successfully represented plaintiffs in both state and federal courts, as well as before regulatory agencies including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Illinois Department of Human Rights. His work is driven by a commitment to justice and a deep understanding of the legal strategies needed to take on large-scale defendants.
Bret’s path to the legal profession began with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Eastern Illinois University, where he served as President of the Student Investment Society. His early exposure to the complexities of corporate finance and regulation sparked his interest in the law, leading him to earn his Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he sharpened his litigation skills and developed a passion for employment and consumer law.
Before joining Foote Chavez Law, LLC, Bret gained diverse experience in family law, telecommunications, and banking/finance, giving him a well-rounded and strategic perspective on cases across industries. His ability to navigate financial and regulatory complexities makes him especially effective in class actions and high-stakes litigation.
In addition to his client work, Bret remains active in the legal community. He serves as Vice-Chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section, Labor & Employment Committee, where he helps lead discussions on emerging legal issues. He also dedicated six years as a volunteer with Lawyers Lend-A-Hand to Youth, a nonprofit providing tutoring and mentorship to students in Chicago’s Englewood community.
Bret is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Public Justice, the American Bar Association, and the Chicago Bar Association. Known for his tenacity, strategic advocacy, and unwavering commitment to his clients, Bret is a fierce and dedicated advocate for individuals and communities seeking justice.
Education
- Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois
- Eastern Illinois University
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Honors: President of the Student Investment Society, a student organization
- Major: Accounting
Bar Admission
- Supreme Court of Illinois
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
Classes & Seminars
- What’s New in 2022: An Employment Lawyer’s Guide to trending topics in 2022, LawPracticeCLE, November 2021
Pro-Bono Activities
- Volunteer Tutor with Lawyers Lend-A-Hand to Youth
Professional Associations
- Illinois State Bar Association, Member
- Public Justice, Member
- American Bar Association, Member
- Chicago Bar Association, Member
- Chicago Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section, Labor & Employment Committee, Vice Chair, 2022 to 2023
Representative Class Actions
- In Re: Deere & Company Repair Services Antitrust Litigation: 3:22-cv-50188 (N.D. Ill.)
- Ariel Davis, et al. v. e.l.f. Cosmetics, Inc.: 1:22-cv-05069 (N.D. Ill.)
- George Powell v. Shiseido Americas Corporation: 1:21-cv-02295 (C.D. Ill.)
- City of Peabody, Massachusetts, et al. v. 3M Company, et al.: 25-cv-2083 (JMB/SGE) (Dist. Of Minn.)
- Matthew Baumgartner, et al. v. McDonald’s Corporation, et al.: 2024-LA-000557 (Cir. Ct. 16th Dist., Kane County, Illinois)
- Robert Sliga, et al. v. Combe Incorporated: 2022-LA-000004 (Cir. Ct. 23rd Dist., Dekalb County, Illinois)
- Morgan Kukovec, et al. v. L’Oreal USA, Inc.: 1:22-cv-03829 (N.D. Ill.)
- Morgan Kukovec, et al. v. The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc.: 1:22-cv-01988 (N.D. Ill.)
- Peak Chiropractic Health and Wellness LLC, et al. v. Multiplan, Inc.: 1-24-cv-6284 (N.D. Ill.)
- First Responders Wellness Center, LLC, et al. v. Multiplan, Inc.: 1:24-cv-6825 (N.D. Ill.)
- Logan McGath, et al. v. Cavendish Farms Ltd., et al.: 1:24-cv-12752 (N.D. Ill.)

