Michael is very active in the Spokane community and serves as General Counsel for the Spokane Home Builders Association, General Counsel for Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest, Past President of Spokane Rotary Club #21 (current member, chair of the President’s Advisory Council, and chair of the Human Resources Committee). Michael also serves on the Board of Directors for Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest, and he is a Board Member and Past President of the Inland Northwest Society of Human Resource Managers (INSHRM). Michael currently serves as the Legislative Affairs Director for Washington State SHRM.

Areas of Emphasis

Michael focuses his practice on employment litigation and advice. Michael’s experience includes representing clients in class and collective action litigation, as well as other complex and multiparty disputes before state and federal courts and in arbitration. Michael’s experience includes:

• Noncompetes and trade secrets

• Breach of contract

• Discrimination and retaliation

• Workplace investigations

• Title VII

• Class actions

• Reductions in force

• Employment termination

• Employee discipline

• Wage and hour

• Healthcare

• Commercial and business litigation

• Federal and state appeals

Michael counsels and represents clients in both enforcing and defending noncompetition, nonsolicitation, trade secret, and related matters, as well as assists clients in drafting and revising restrictive covenants to stay current with a constantly evolving legal landscape. In litigation, Michael regularly represents clients in state and federal courts and arbitration.

In addition to litigation, Michael helps his clients comply with employment laws by counseling employers on employment agreements, employee classification and hiring, discipline, and termination. Additionally, he helps employers prepare contracts, separation agreements, and general employee policies.