Mr. Michael Cramer counsels and represents employers on a variety of labor and employment-related legal matters. He has advised clients ranging from small non-profits to Fortune 500 companies on employment matters, negotiated cost-effective resolutions to troubling disputes, and litigated to victory.
Mr. Cramer’s employment litigation practice includes discrimination and harassment cases, wage and hour collective actions, and restrictive covenant litigation. Examples of his work include:
- Defending employers including retail chains, restaurant chains, manufacturers, and staffing companies in numerous class and collective actions involving alleged wage and hour violations;
- Defeating a former employee’s attempt to certify a class of more than 200 employees alleging denial of overtime pay, then defeating the remaining plaintiff’s claims at trial;
- Defeating a 27-count federal lawsuit brought by the former chief executive of a non-profit organization against the entity and each of its board members;
- Defeating an age and sex discrimination suit in a federal jury trial;
- Defeating a former high-ranking executive’s suit claiming he was entitled to millions of dollars under an executive severance plan; and
Mr. Cramer often conducts training for clients’ executives, HR professionals and entire workforces on topics including anti-harassment, internal investigations, workplace bullying, and professionalism. He is a frequent speaker and writer on employment law topics through organizations including the Association of Corporate Counsel, the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, and the Northern Illinois Society for Human Resources Management.
Education:
- J.D., University of Michigan Law School, 1988
- B.A., with distinction, University of Michigan, 1985
Admitted to Practice:
- Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Central and Northern Districts of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
Professional Activities:
- American Bar Association (Litigation, and Labor and Employment Law Sections)
- Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (Labor and Employment Law Advisory Committee)
- CARPLS – Cook County’s Legal Aid Hotline (Advisory Board, Board of Directors 2000-2008, President 2004-05)
- Chicago Bar Foundation Investing in Justice Campaign (Vice Chair)
- Ogletree Deakins Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee
- The Chicago Committee (Senior Mentor, Mentorship Academy, 2017)
Cost
Rate : $$$