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
- Seattle Seahawks Headed for a Second Straight Super Bowl Victory? Yes, According to Unemployment Statistics - (Posted On Friday, January 30, 2015)
- Employers: Don’t Forget About the Possibility of Associational Discrimination Liability - (Posted On Thursday, January 29, 2015)
- Winter Storm Juno Expected to Bring Lots of Snow, but Also Potential Wage and Hour Issues - (Posted On Monday, January 26, 2015)
- Latest update on the New York State Wage Theft Act Annual Pay Notices: No Need to Distribute Them. But NY Employers, Don’t Forget About What the Rest of the Law Says - (Posted On Wednesday, December 31, 2014)
- Did the NLRB Really Just Grant Employees the Presumptive Right to Use Employer-Provided Email Systems? We Break Down the Purple Communications Decision and What it Means for Employers. - (Posted On Wednesday, December 31, 2014)
- San Francisco Board of Supervisors Continues to Reshape Working Environment for Low-Wage and Part-Time Workers; Becomes First Jurisdiction in Nation to Approve So-Called “Retail Workers Bill of Rights”; Forces Large Retailers to Address Automated Scheduli - (Posted On Saturday, December 20, 2014)
- Update to the Update: New York Employers Will Likely Be Relieved of the Requirement to Distribute Annual Pay Notices in January 2015 After All - (Posted On Friday, December 19, 2014)
- EEOC’s Attempt to Limit Reach of Severance Agreements Hits Roadblock…Again - (Posted On Tuesday, December 16, 2014)
- Update: New York Employers Will Still Be Required to Distribute Annual Pay Notices in January 2015 - (Posted On Friday, December 05, 2014)
- Another One Bites the Dust – Court Strikes Down Non-Solicitation Agreement as Overbroad under New York Law - (Posted On Friday, October 24, 2014)