Michael is a partner in the firm’s Labor and Employment Group. Michael is board certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He represents employers in a wide array of workplace disputes, ranging from high-stakes non-compete and misappropriation litigation to complex wage-and-hour, discrimination, retaliation, and similar employment-related claims. He is a talented litigator who delivers consistently exceptional results for clients in the energy, manufacturing, industrial, hospitality, shipping, and health care sectors.
Michael has served as lead counsel in all phases of employment litigation at the trial and appellate level in state and federal courts, in arbitrations, and before administrative judges and agencies. Michael has prevailed on the vast majority of dispositive motions filed on his clients’ behalf, including several reported cases. He has successfully defended every dispositive motion challenged on appeal. In addition to litigation, Michael regularly helps clients navigate complex workplace challenges involving disability and leave management, wage-and-hour disputes, workplace safety, whistleblower complaints, and high-risk terminations.
Michael works extensively with clients in developing and drafting employment contracts and restrictive covenant agreements, and developing programs to best protect clients’ confidential business information. Michael has significant experience in both prosecuting and defending actions involving breach of non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, employee raiding, misappropriation of confidential information, tortious interference with contract, unfair competition, and related business claims. He also has extensive experience handling class and complex litigation, including nationwide, high-stakes wage-and-hour disputes. He routinely provides preventive advice and counsel to employers wishing to limit their exposure to investigation and litigation under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and state laws that require employers to pay overtime and minimum wages to their employees.
Michael is dependable and results-oriented, combining instinct and experience to identify key issues quickly and drive early resolution. By focusing on each client’s specific business needs, goals and corporate culture, Michael strives to develop realistic, sensible, and cost-effective strategies to achieve the desired outcomes for his clients. Michael believes that sound advice consists not only of helping clients solve their legal problems, but also helping clients implement those solutions in a way that makes business and practical sense.
