PROVIDING EMPLOYERS TLC (TRAINING, LITIGATION DEFENSE & COUNSELING) FOR CLOSE TO 30 YEARS A specialist in the field of employment law since 1987, Connie Michaels has a deep understanding of how to best address challenges related to a wide range of employment issues. She regularly leads the defense in lawsuits, arbitrations and administrative proceedings brought against companies and managers involving a variety of claims including: sexual harassment; age, disability, race and gender discrimination; retaliation; wrongful discharge; whistle blowing; and wage/hour claims including class actions. Connie prepares and argues law and motion matters, and successfully assists clients in achieving cost-effective settlements in mediations. Her legal arguments have been adopted in published opinions in both federal and state courts. Connie offers practical advice to in-house counsel, human resources professionals and business owners of companies ranging from local family-owned businesses to multinational corporations regarding their legal rights and responsibilities to their employees. She assists employers in designing and implementing arbitration programs, conducting personnel practices audits, and preparing personnel documents such as disciplinary memos, employment contracts, severance agreements and personnel policies. Connie represents clients in diverse industries, including: Aviation Education Equipment rental Healthcare Hospitality Industrial gas providers Insurance Media, including broadcast and publishing Pharmaceutical Placement agencies Property management Restaurant Retail A sought-after speaker and engaging trainer, Connie regularly participates as a panelist in employment seminars and has made numerous presentations in specialized areas of employment law, including: Avoidance of legal risk involving employment discrimination and retaliation Awareness and prevention of sexual harassment Compliance with disability laws Creation of personnel policies, including binding arbitration policies Effective discipline Management and employee training Minimizing wrongful termination lawsuits Preparing and updating employee handbooks Proper interviewing Wage and hour and employment law updates Connie is a Shareholder (Partner) at Littler Mendelson. Littler Mendelson was founded in 1942 and is the largest U.S.-based law firm exclusively devoted to representing management in every aspect of labor and employment law. Littler attorneys have deep subject matter expertise in employment law matters that companies have faced for decades, as well as emerging issues that are only now beginning to surface. With lawyers who practice in more than 36 areas of law, including discrimination, wrongful discharge and trade secret litigation, and employee benefits and union avoidance counseling, there is no employment issue a company has faced that hasn't been addressed by one of Littler's attorneys. Littler has a Knowledge Management group whose attorneys harness the collective knowledge of the firm and provide that knowledge to clients through tools, products and services that are available 24 hours per day, seven days a week. This allows Littler to provide up-to-the-minute information on changes in the employment law arena and give clients the information and tools they need to respond to those changes. Littler is constantly evolving and growing to meet and respond to the changes that impact the workplace.