Michael Arnold is Chair of the firm's Employment, Labor & Benefits Practice. He is an employment lawyer who deftly handles a wide array of matters. His capabilities include counseling on everyday HR life cycle issues, defending management and senior executives in connection with employment-related proceedings, and assisting companies navigate the complex employment issues that arise in transactions. Michael’s clients appreciate his strong emphasis on providing not just legal advice, but also practical advice, that aligns with organizational and HR strategies while reducing exposure. He also prides himself on being user-friendly, responsive, and strategic.
When Michael is not with a client, he’s out there leading the Firm’s Employment, Labor and Benefits Section. He is still quite active blogging for Mintz’s award-winning Employment Matters Blog, where he currently serves as an Editor and where he’s twice been named a top author by JD Supra (2016 and 2017). His peers seem to like him too as they have recognized him consistently; first he was included on the New York Super Lawyers Rising Star List in 2012 and then included among the New York Super Lawyers List from 2013 through the present.
More specifically, here is what Michael is practicing on a day to day basis:
- Counseling on issues related to the HR life cycle (recruiting, staffing, performance, including evaluations and PIPs; engagement, retention, separation, including reduction in force; post-separation, including employee mobility issues), and compliance with discrimination, wage and hour, family and medical leave, workers’ compensation and disability, and other employment laws and regulations.
- Investigating and reporting on employee complaints, including sexual harassment and discrimination complaints, and assisting management resolve other employee relations issues.
- Conducting anti-discrimination/harassment and other HR and legal issue-based training seminars regarding legal requirements, best practices, and risk mitigation.
- Auditing and assisting in the development and implementation of employment policies, procedures, and practices.
- Representing management and senior executives in connection with a variety of complex employment litigation matters, including pre-trial, trial and appellate work; administrative discrimination charges and other agency proceedings (including EEOC, NYSDHR, NYCCHR, DOL, WCB); and arbitrations and mediations relating to wage and hour, discrimination, restrictive covenants, contract, and other employment-related disputes, including collective and class actions.
- Drafting and negotiating employment-related agreements and policies, including offer letters, employment and consulting agreements, restrictive covenant agreements, separation agreements, and employee-related regulatory disclosures.
- Representing clients in connection with corporate transactions and bankruptcy proceedings, including conducting employment-related due diligence and negotiating employment-related warrants and representations and related employment transaction documents.
More Legal and Business Bylines From Michael S. Arnold
- The Saga Continues on the Fate of the DOL’s Overtime Rule - (Posted On Friday, January 06, 2017)
- New York City Enacts Nation’s First Freelance Worker Protection Law - (Posted On Friday, January 06, 2017)
- Negligent Employers May Be Held Liable For a Non-Supervisory Employee’s Discriminatory Actions Under “Cat’s Paw” Theory Says Second Circuit - (Posted On Tuesday, January 03, 2017)
- New York State Minimum Wage Rate and Exemption Salary Thresholds Set to Increase - (Posted On Friday, December 30, 2016)
- With DOL’s OT Rule Blocked, Employers Are Left Asking “What’s Next?” - (Posted On Wednesday, November 23, 2016)
- Uncertainty Continues to Swirl Around DOL’s Overtime Rule as Employers Make Compliance Push - (Posted On Monday, November 21, 2016)
- Where Are We With Enforceability of Class Action Waivers in Arbitration Agreements? - (Posted On Monday, November 21, 2016)
- Employers Must Be Mindful of Voting Leave Rights on Election Day - (Posted On Tuesday, November 01, 2016)
- California’s Fair Pay Act Now Covers Race, Ethnicity, and Prior Compensation History - (Posted On Tuesday, November 01, 2016)
- FTC and DOJ Issue Antitrust Guidance for Human Resource Professionals - (Posted On Thursday, October 27, 2016)