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
- What Does the EEOC’s Lawsuit Against Estee Lauder Mean for Parental Leave Policies? - (Posted On Wednesday, September 27, 2017)
- Employers Receive Important Overtime Law News Just Before Labor Day - (Posted On Friday, September 01, 2017)
- March Sadness: How Not to Drop the Ball When Reduction-in-Force is on Your Schedule - (Posted On Monday, March 27, 2017)
- March Grabness: Lessons from the (Basketball) Court: Avoiding Personal Fouls, Violations and Time Outs in the Workplace - (Posted On Wednesday, March 15, 2017)
- Does March Madness = Workplace Madness? Some Thoughts on the Legality of NCAA Bracket Pools, the Tournament’s Effect on the Workplace, and of course, a Rendition of One Shining Moment (UPDATED) - (Posted On Monday, March 13, 2017)
- New York Paid Family Leave Proposed Regulations Filed - (Posted On Tuesday, February 28, 2017)
- Fourth Circuit Offers New Test for Joint Employment Under FLSA - (Posted On Tuesday, February 21, 2017)
- Update: DOL Regulation For Employers Who Use Direct Deposit and Payroll Debit Cards Invalidated - (Posted On Sunday, February 19, 2017)
- NYSDOL Releases Proposed Notice and Consent Forms for Direct Deposit and Payroll Debit Cards - (Posted On Wednesday, February 01, 2017)
- Can Employers Include Class/Collective Action Waivers in Arbitration Agreements? Supreme Court to Decide. - (Posted On Monday, January 16, 2017)