Overview

Michael Royal has more than 25 years of experience representing regional, national, and international clients in multiparty complex and class action litigation in state and federal courts, specifically addressing wage and hour and discrimination issues. He also has significant experience in single party litigation matters involving claims related to:

  • Wrongful discharge
  • Whistleblowing and retaliation
  • Harassment
  • Employment-related torts
  • Trade secrets
  • Noncompete agreements

In addition to his considerable litigation experience, Michael routinely counsels employers on compliance with various state and federal employment laws. He works with his clients to identify not only their legal needs, but their business objectives, in order to advance their position in a creative, efficient and persuasive manner.

Michael also serves as the Texas coordinator and liaison for Littler’s Workplace Policy Institute (WPI). Michael focuses on Texas state legislative and regulatory developments in employment and labor law, as well as municipal ordinances and regulation of the workplace. He assists the employer community in understanding and impacting Texas legislation before it becomes law.

Professional & Community Affiliations

Member

Labor and Employment Law and Litigation Sections

American Bar Association

Member

International Bar Association

Recognition

Named, The Best Lawyers in America®

2011-2023

Awarded, AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating

Martindale-Hubbell

Named, Thought Leaders - Global Elite - Labour & Employment (Top 2% of experts in field)

Who's Who Legal

2019 (First Edition), 2020-2022

Named, Who’s Who, Labour, Employment & Benefits

Who's Who Legal

2022

Named, International Who's Who of Management Labour and Employment Lawyers

Who's Who Legal

2010-2021

Named, Client Service All-Star

BTI Consulting Group

2013

Speaking Engagements

Protection of Trade Secrets by Multinational Corporations in a Cross-border and Remote Working Setting

IBA Annual Conference Miami 2022 Panel Session

November 2, 2022

Responding to Workplace Violence: What Would You Do If...

2019 Dallas Regional Employer Conference, Dallas, TX

July 18, 2019

Class and Collective Actions: 2017 Updates and Best in "Class" Strategies on Prosecuting and Defending Class and Collective Claims

National CLE Conference, Vail, CO

January 2018

Labor Law Developments that Impact Employment Lawyers

National CLE Conference, Aspen, CO

January 2017

Labor and Employment Law - Recent Developments from the NLRB That Impact Non-Union Employees and Employers

National CLE Conference®, Vail, CO

January 2016

Cross Border Restrictive Covenants

Taylor Vinters’ International Employment Law Conference, London, England

December 2015

Setting Up Stateside: A Roadmap for Success

CMS Employment and Pensions Practice Group Annual Meeting, Amsterdam, Netherlands

September 2015

Wage and Hour Issues: Class Actions for Retailers

State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting

June 2015

Noncompetes and Trade Secrets: Legal Update and Practical Impact

The 2015 Executive Employer® Conference

Littler Mendelson, Phoenix, AZ

May 7, 2015

Health & Safety Risks for your Traveling Employees: What Steps Can Employers Take to Protect Employees Working Overseas and Mitigate Risks?

Littler Global Latin America Conference

Littler Mendelson, Miami, FL

March 5, 2015

E-Discovery: What Do You Really Want and What Are You Doing With It?

National CLE Conference®, Vail, CO

January 10, 2015

Expatriate Agreements: Best Practices

2014 Annual Meeting - American Bar Association, Boston, MA

August 2014

Employee Misclassification Enforcement: Navigating the Shifting Current

2014 Midwinter Meeting, Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee - American Bar Association, Los Cabos, Mexico

March 2014

Predictive Coding – Best Practices

National CLE Conference®, Aspen, CO

January 2014

Structuring Enforceable Non-Compete Agreements for Multinational Employers with Employees in Europe and Asia

Annual Meeting - Association of Corporate Counsel

October 2013

International Laws Governing Cross Border Discovery, Privilege, Confidentiality and Data Privacy

International Labor & Employment Law Committee - American Bar Association

October 2013

Bullying: From the Playground to the Workplace

Alliance Texas Human Resources Group, Fort Worth, TX

May 2013

Romance in the Workplace: Advising Around the Risks

2013 National CLE Conference - Colorado Bar Association, Snowmass, CO

January 2013

Business Opportunities and Synergies Between Immigration and Labour Lawyers in Today's Market

Annual Conference - International Bar Association

September 2012

Business Opportunities and Synergies Between Immigration and Labour Lawyers in Today's Market

Annual Conference - International Bar Association, Dublin, Ireland

September 2012

Diversity in the Profession: An Open Forum

2012 Midyear Meeting - International Labor and Employment Law Committee - American Bar Association, Paris, France

May 2012

The Stakes Have Been Raised: Increased Government Scrutiny of Contingent Workers

2012 Midwinter Meeting, Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee - American Bar Association, Las Vegas, NV

March 2012

Effective Advising of Employers in Litigation

2012 National CLE Conference, Vail, CO

January 2012

Legal Pitfalls Arising from Requests for Accommodation and Options Resolution

5th Annual Conference, Labor & Employment Law Conference - American Bar Association, Seattle, WA

November 2011

Recent Amendments to the Texas Concealed Handgun Law

Alliance Human Resources Group Meeting, Ft. Worth, FL

September 2011

Wanna Keep A Secret, Eh?: Enforcing Restrictive Covenants in Canada and the United States

2011 Annual Meeting - American Bar Association, Toronto, Canada

August 2011

Tips & Traps for the Unwary: Key Issues in Non-Compete/Unfair Competition Matters

2011 Annual Meeting - American Bar Association, Toronto, Canada

August 2011

Legal Ethics and Attorney-Client Privilege in Cross-Border and Labor/Employment Law Work

2011 Mid-Year Meeting, International Labor & Employment Committee, Section of Labor and Employment Law - American Bar Association, Berlin, Germany

May 2011

Trade Winds of Change: The Perils and Profits Associated with Contingent Workers

2011 Midwinter Meeting, Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee, Section of Labor and Employment Law - American Bar Association, San Juan, Puerto Rico

March 2011

Fair Labor Standards Act - Basics

2010 Annual Committee - American Bar Association

August 2010

Less than a Significant Restriction and More than a Temporary Nonchronic Condition?

Corporate Counsel Symposium - SMU Dedman School of Law, Dallas, TX

November 2009

I Don't Know Where I'm Gonna Go When the Whistleblower Blows: A How-to Guide to Whistleblower Claims

Midwinter Meeting, Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee, Section of Labor and Employment Law - American Bar Association, Key West, FL

March 2009

U.S. Employment Law - Practical Guidance From Leading U.S. Employment Lawyers

LexisNexis, London, England

November 2008

Employment Law and Practices for Texas Independent Schools

Legal Seminar - School Office Services Inc., Dallas, TX

June 2008

General Counsel Panel: Best Leadership Practices

30th Annual Corporate Counsel Institute - University of Texas at Austin, Houston, TX

February 2008

You're Going To Miss Me When I'm Gone; ADA, FMLA, Workers' Compensation and USERRA

Dallas Human Resource Management Association, Inc., Dallas, TX

January 2008

Who's the Boss - the Doctor or the Attorney? A Difficult Diagnosis in ADA/FMLA Cases

Midwinter Meeting, Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee, Section of Labor and Employment Law - American Bar Association, Louisiana

March 2007

Use of Expert Witnesses in ADA and FMLA Cases: A General Overview

Midwinter Meeting, Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee, Section of Labor and Employment Law - American Bar Association

March 2007

Health, Disability & Leaves of Absence Subcommittee Annual Report

Midwinter Meeting, Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee, Section of Labor and Employment Law - American Bar Association

March 2007

Education

  • J.D., University of Oklahoma College of Law, 1992
  • B.A., University of Oklahoma, 1989

Bar Admission

Texas
Oklahoma

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Oklahoma
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Oklahoma
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Oklahoma