Lawrence A. Michaels - Attorneys - Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP ~ Full service entertainment law firm

Legal Expertise

Representing employers before state and federal courts and administrative agencies (e.g. NLRB, EEOC, DLSE) in virtually all labor and employment areas (wage/hour class actions, discrimination, wrongful termination, privacy, and other emerging torts). Providing advice and strategic planning for personnel policies, force reductions, and difficult personnel decisions (e.g. discharges, promotions, mergers and acquisitions). Representation in all labor matters, including union avoidance, organizing drives, labor disputes, and collective bargaining.

Representative Matters

Represented eight major motion picture studios in industry-wide wage/hour class action.
On behalf of Fortune 100 company, obtained defense verdict and award of attorneys' fees in excess of $100,000 against plaintiff in discrimination and whistleblower action, following one month jury trial.
Successfully represented NYSE Company in defeating a major "corporate campaign" organizing effort by labor union, which included wage/hour litigation, unfair labor practice charges, publicity initiatives, and other organizing tactics.
Oral argument before the California Supreme Court (as amicus) in Scott v. PG&E.
Appearance before the California Supreme Court (as amicus) in Cortez v. Purolator Products, Yanowitz v. L'Oreal, and Sullivan v. Oracle Corp.
Previously served as a regular columnist on employment law for the Los Angeles Daily Journal.

Partner - Los Angeles

Email Lawrence A. Michaels

Phone:

(310) 312-3766

Fax:

(310) 231-8466

Practice Area

Industry Focus

Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies, public sector and non-profit clients, entertainment, defense and aerospace, financial services, manufacturing, apparel, personal service industries

Education

University of Southern California Law Center, J.D., 1982; Order of the Coif
Southern California Law Review; Recipient, Legion Lex Scholarship
University of California Los Angeles, B.S., 1978; cum laude

Court Admissions

California, 1982
USDC, Central District of California, 1982
USDC, Northern District of California, 1983
USDC, Southern District of California, 1983
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1982

Professional Recognition

"Best Lawyers in America, Labor and Employment Law," Best Lawyers (2007-2012)
"Top 5% of lawyers in Southern California," Southern California Super Lawyers (2004-2011)
AV® Preeminent™ Rating, Martindale-Hubbell

Publications and Presentations

Oral Arguments In Brinker v. Superior Court Hint At How The Supreme Court May Decide Critical Issues Regarding Meal And Rest Periods, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp Labor & Employment Alert (December 2011)
Veering Off the "Gardner" Path: Supreme Court Allows Arbitration of Statutory Claims Under Union Contract, MS&K Labor & Employment Alert (May 2009)
Speaker, Wage and Hour Class Actions, Advanced Employment Issues Symposium
Speaker, Drafting and Using Employment Contracts, PIHRA Annual Conference
Speaker, Enforcement of Provisions Limiting Competition by Employees, California Employment Law Council
Speaker, Duty of Fair Representation in the Entertainment Industry, 11th Annual Entertainment Industry Labor & Employment Law Conference
Speaker, Enforcement of Arbitration Agreements, 19th Annual OCIRRA Labor Law Conference
Speaker, Developments In Wage-Hour Law In The Entertainment Industry, 12th Annual Entertainment Industry Labor & Employment Law Conference
Speaker, Security and Civil Liberties in the Workplace, OCIRRA Labor Law Conference
Speaker, Basic Wage and Hour Law in California, National Business Institute
Speaker, Written Employment Agreements, Managing A Workforce Conference
Speaker, Disability Discrimination and the Workers Compensation Laws
Author, The Assault on Arbitration Agreements, California Labor Letter
Speaker, Mandatory Arbitration of Statutory Claims in the Unionized Work Place, LACBA Annual Employment Law Symposium
Speaker, Managing the Electronic Workplace, The Employers Group
Speaker, Employee References - Risks and Rewards, Los Angeles County Bar Association
Speaker, Conducting Internal Investigations, Employers Group
Author, Placing Limits on Worker Competition - A California Employer’s Guide, California Labor Letter
Speaker, Update of Recent Decisions and Procedures Under the National Labor Relations Act, OCIRRA Labor Law Conference
Speaker, Common Mistakes Employers Make In Their Sexual Harassment Prevention Programs, Advanced Employment Issues Symposium
Speaker, Witness Credibility Issues, National Academy of Arbitrators/IRRA Conference
Speaker, The Ins and Outs of Employee Handbooks, LACBA Continuing Legal Education
Speaker, The Ins and Outs of Employee Handbooks, LACBA Continuing Legal Education
Speaker, Legal Issues Dealing with a Contingent Workforce, PIHRA Regional Conference
Speaker, Discrimination and Harassment Law Developments, Managing a Workforce Conference
Speaker, Hot Issues in Union Organizing, LACBA Annual Employment Law Symposium
Speaker, Effective Strategies For Handling Difficult Employees, Labor and Employment Law Practice Symposium
Speaker, Free Speech, Protected Activity and Harassment, Labor and Employment Law Practices Symposium
Speaker, Adverse Action and Retaliation Under The California Supreme Court’s Decision in Yanowitz v. L’Oreal, LACBA Continuing Legal Education
Speaker, Corporate Raiding and Sensitive Commercial Information, in conjunction with Pepperdine Law School CLE Program

Oral Arguments In Brinker v. Superior Court Hint At How The Supreme Court May Decide Critical Issues Regarding Meal And Rest Periods, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp Labor & Employment Alert (December 2011)
Veering Off the "Gardner" Path: Supreme Court Allows Arbitration of Statutory Claims Under Union Contract, MS&K Labor & Employment Alert (May 2009)
Speaker, Wage and Hour Class Actions, Advanced Employment Issues Symposium
Speaker, Drafting and Using Employment Contracts, PIHRA Annual Conference
Speaker, Enforcement of Provisions Limiting Competition by Employees, California Employment Law Council
Speaker, Duty of Fair Representation in the Entertainment Industry, 11th Annual Entertainment Industry Labor & Employment Law Conference
Speaker, Enforcement of Arbitration Agreements, 19th Annual OCIRRA Labor Law Conference
Speaker, Developments In Wage-Hour Law In The Entertainment Industry, 12th Annual Entertainment Industry Labor & Employment Law Conference
Speaker, Security and Civil Liberties in the Workplace, OCIRRA Labor Law Conference
Speaker, Basic Wage and Hour Law in California, National Business Institute
Speaker, Written Employment Agreements, Managing A Workforce Conference
Speaker, Disability Discrimination and the Workers Compensation Laws
Author, The Assault on Arbitration Agreements, California Labor Letter
Speaker, Mandatory Arbitration of Statutory Claims in the Unionized Work Place, LACBA Annual Employment Law Symposium
Speaker, Managing the Electronic Workplace, The Employers Group
Speaker, Employee References - Risks and Rewards, Los Angeles County Bar Association
Speaker, Conducting Internal Investigations, Employers Group
Author, Placing Limits on Worker Competition - A California Employer’s Guide, California Labor Letter
Speaker, Update of Recent Decisions and Procedures Under the National Labor Relations Act, OCIRRA Labor Law Conference
Speaker, Common Mistakes Employers Make In Their Sexual Harassment Prevention Programs, Advanced Employment Issues Symposium
Speaker, Witness Credibility Issues, National Academy of Arbitrators/IRRA Conference
Speaker, The Ins and Outs of Employee Handbooks, LACBA Continuing Legal Education
Speaker, The Ins and Outs of Employee Handbooks, LACBA Continuing Legal Education
Speaker, Legal Issues Dealing with a Contingent Workforce, PIHRA Regional Conference
Speaker, Discrimination and Harassment Law Developments, Managing a Workforce Conference
Speaker, Hot Issues in Union Organizing, LACBA Annual Employment Law Symposium
Speaker, Effective Strategies For Handling Difficult Employees, Labor and Employment Law Practice Symposium
Speaker, Free Speech, Protected Activity and Harassment, Labor and Employment Law Practices Symposium
Speaker, Adverse Action and Retaliation Under The California Supreme Court’s Decision in Yanowitz v. L’Oreal, LACBA Continuing Legal Education
Speaker, Corporate Raiding and Sensitive Commercial Information, in conjunction with Pepperdine Law School CLE Program

Professional, Business, and Civic Affiliations

Executive Committee, Labor Law Section, Los Angeles County Bar
California State Bar, Labor Law Section
American Bar Association, Committee on Individual Employee Rights and Responsibilities
Magic Castle

Other Career Experience

Judicial Extern to the Honorable Malcolm M. Lucas