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Michael is a shareholder in the firm of Briggs and Morgan, Professional Association. He is the head of the Labor and Employment Law Section, as well as the Employment Law Counseling Practice Group. He practices principally in the areas of:
Michael's practice includes application of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA). He counsels employers to prevent unwanted litigation and advises companies of ongoing changes in federal, state and local employment law, providing an essential services for the firm's corporate clients. Michael advises employers in several areas, including discipline and discharge, leaves of absence, wage and hour compliance, non-compete and confidentiality agreements, affirmative action plans, background checking, and drug and alcohol testing.
Michael regularly conducts training for employers on topics such as sexual harassment, employment law basics, and management of performance and misconduct issues. Additionally, he drafts and edits various employment policies, employee handbooks and manuals.
Michael provides employment law support in a variety of transactional settings, including the performance of employment-related due diligence. He drafts and negotiates employment agreements for key personnel, executive compensation agreements, change in control agreements, stock option agreements, and independent contractor agreements. Michael also counsels companies regarding reorganizations and reductions-in-force, including applications of federal and state WARN Acts, and drafts separation and release agreements.
After graduating from law school, Michael was a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Peter S. Popovich, then chief judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals. He is admitted to practice in Minnesota state and federal courts, Wisconsin state courts, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Michael's legal analyses have contributed to several groundbreaking cases establishing employer rights. Michael also has extensive national experience responding to discrimination charges filed against employers before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Minnesota Human Rights Department, and state and local fair employment agencies throughout the country. He also assists employers before the Minnesota unemployment compensation agency, the Minnesota Department of Labor, and state and federal affirmative action agencies, including the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).
Michael is a lecturer for labor and employment law seminars on topics such as avian flu workplace defamation, sexual harassment, exempt status, company culture and employment reference disclosures. He is a member of the Hennepin County, Minnesota State and American Bar associations and is listed in Who's Who in American Law. He was designated as a "Super Lawyer" in 2006.
Michael was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and received his B.A. from the University of Minnesota. He received his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law, where he was executive editor of the William Mitchell Law Review and received the Student Award of Merit for Excellence. Michael joined Briggs in 1987.
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