With more than 25 years of experience in providing employment-related counseling and litigation representation to private and public sector employers in a wide range of employment matters, Connie Michaels has deep understanding of how to best address challenges related to developing and following sound employment policies and practices. In addition to her seasoned legal capabilities, she has an advanced degree from the Annenberg School of Communications and was a legal intern at the National Association of Broadcasters and the Office of the Chairman at the Federal Communications Commission, providing Connie with unique insight into dealing with employment issues involving the broadcast industry and other communications-related businesses.
Connie specializes in defense of discrimination, retaliation and harassment claims arising under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California Family Rights Act, Title VII, the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Additionally, Connie counsels and represents clients in:
- Wrongful discharge litigation
- Employee training
- Sexual harassment investigations
- Leaves of absence
- Disability accommodation
- Wage and hour disputes, including class actions
- Alternative dispute resolution forums
- Preparation of personnel documents, including policies
- Workplace performance management and counseling
Connie has significant litigation expertise and regularly appears in state and federal courts, as well as before appellate courts, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement of the Department of Industrial Relations. In addition to trials and arbitrations, she has extensively represented clients in mediations. A specialist in the field of employment law since 1987, Connie’s legal arguments have been adopted in published opinions in both federal and state courts.
Connie represents clients in diverse industries, including:
- Media, including broadcast and publishing
- Pharmaceutical
- Healthcare
- Retail
- Restaurant
- Insurance
- Equipment rental
- Placement agencies
- Industrial gas providers
- Property management
A sought-after speaker and engaging communicator, Connie regularly participates as a panelist in employment seminars and has made numerous presentations in specialized areas of employment law, including:
- Awareness and prevention of sexual harassment
- Avoidance of legal risk involving employment discrimination and retaliation
- Compliance with disability laws
- Minimizing wrongful termination lawsuits
- Effective discipline
- Proper interviewing
- Management and employee training
- Creation of personnel policies, including binding arbitration policies
- Preparing and updating employee handbooks
- Wage and hour and employment law updates
Connie is a valued participant in firm management. She currently serves on Littler Mendelson's Governance Committee and on the steering committee for the Women's Leadership Initiative through Littler’s Diversity Counsel. She served for six years as an active member of the Associates Committee.
RECOGNITION
- Named, Super Lawyer - Southern California, six times including 2012
