Michigan Employment Law Attorney

Strong Representation for Employees and Employers

Here at Sommers Schwartz, we are committed to representing the legal concerns of both employees and employers. We have unique insight and inside knowledge of how and why employment disputes get resolved. We often provide alternative dispute resolution services such as mediators or arbitrators. We even counsel other law firms on their workforce issues. The breadth of our experience uniquely qualifies us to evaluate employment matters, provide clients with knowledgeable and practical advice and, when necessary, to successfully represent clients in litigation.

Michigan's labor laws provide regulations for minimum wage, overtime pay and countless other areas. Employees throughout the state are protected by a number of laws including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Michigan Prevailing Wage laws, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). In some situations, it is apparent to the employee that his or her rights have been violated. In other cases, the violations are much more subtle and can be difficult to prove in court.

Michigan Employment Lawyer - A Full Range of Expertise

Employment law is complex and must be handled by a knowledgeable professional who is fully aware of the ins and outs of all processes involved in this branch of the legal system. When a contract is breached, especially if it is an executive employment contract, there will be immediate need for legal representation for the both the employee and the employer no matter which party is responsible for the contract breach.

Furthermore, legal intervention will be needed in cases of discrimination or sexual harassment in the work place. Employee discrimination is one of the most common violations of employees' rights, and happens when an employer harasses or treats an employee unfairly because of his or her race, disability, color, age, religion, height, sex, weight or national origin. If you have been the victim of discrimination, do not hesitate to seek the legal help you need and deserve.

No circumstance of wrongful termination, severance and separation agreements or unpaid wages / overtime should be attended to before aligning yourself with an employment law attorney who can help regulate the process and ensure that your legal rights are recognized and met.

If a business matter involves any type of stock option, performance award, community involvement or issue concerning the whistleblower law, you should not hesitate to contact a lawyer to help you address the matters at hand. As professionals in the field, we know exactly how each of these matters should be attended to in order to ensure that your needs and best interests are not compromised in the process. A Michigan employment law attorney at our firm can also offer legal representation for issues concerning:

• Claims arising under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• Whistleblower retaliation
• Breach of non-compete agreements
• Breach of confidential information agreements
• Sales commission disputes
• Misappropriation of Trade Secrets
• Minority shareholder oppression and freeze-out disputes

Litigation is Not Always the Best Option

Our vast experience in this field has taught us that while litigation is sometimes required to deal with employment disputes, it is not the only way - nor is it always the best way - to obtain good results for our clients. We believe in the importance of knowing when and how to litigate, and when to find a solution through negotiation and creative thinking. This sort of knowledge comes from years on the front lines handling cases for clients of all types against employer or employee opponents of all varieties. Contact our firm today to learn more about your rights in regards to any of these matters.

Executives, Managers and Small Business Clients

Our employment law clients are often executives, senior managers, and family businesses. We advise and represent them in complex issues such as the following:

• Executive employment contracts
• Compensation plans
• Stock options, Performance awards and commissions
• Equity acquisitions, separation agreements
• Taxes
• Creative or technical intellectual property protection or enforcement

In addition, we guide employer clients through labor and employment laws to help them solve workforce management issues, defend them in lawsuits filed by individual employees or governmental agencies, or to protect and enforce their interests in legal proceedings.