Cozen O'Connor has issued the following press release:
(Chicago, February, 2022) …Lawdragon has named Michael Schmidt, Vice-Chair of the Cozen O’Connor national Labor & Employment Department and New York Office Managing Partner, to its 2021 list of the “Top 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers.”
A Los Angeles-based network for lawyers and clients, Lawdragon produces the annual list of the nation’s top talent representing Corporate America in defending wage and hour, discrimination, and a host of other claims; advising on key matters from immigration to executive compensation and employee benefits; and handling union and other labor-management relations matters. The attorneys are selected based on journalistic research, submissions by firms and clients and vetting by peers
Schmidt is a member of Cozen O’Connor’s national board of directors and, for more than 25 years, he has assisted businesses and their management teams throughout the United States in accomplishing their goals through litigation, negotiation, and day-to-day counseling.
A highly successful trial lawyer, Schmidt represents employees in federal and state courts, in arbitration, and before government agencies, including discrimination, harassment, and retaliation; wage and hour, including class and collections actions, FMLA, ADA and other federal, state and local leave obligations, breach of contract, whistle blowing, including SOX and other laws; restrictive covenants, non competes, and non-solicits, social media use, WARN, Families First Coronavirus Response ACT (FDCRA) and other COVID-19 legislation and employment law matters.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Schmidt has been instrumental to Cozen O’Connor’s development and rollout of its Covid Human Resources Tool Kit, a collection of essential forms, templates, and policy guides to help employers navigate through the maze of new regulations and local workplace requirements. He has further contributed his industry perspective during the pandemic in a myriad of webinars, seminars and in media interviews.
Earlier in 2021, Schmidt was elected a Fellow in The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, recognizing him for sustained outstanding performance in the legal profession, and for integrity, dedication, and excellence in the field. He was also recognized by The National Law Journal as a 2021 “Employment Law Trailblazer”, particularly in the areas of digital and social media. As the founder and host of the award-winning podcast “Employment Law Now,” Schmidt introduces listeners to the latest trends and developments in employment law and employer liability - ranking among the country’s most listened-to podcast on the subject, and winning JDSupra Reader’s Choice awards in 2020 and 2021.
Schmidt is a 1990 graduate of Brandeis University, B.A., with honors, and a 1993 graduate of Hofstra University School of Law, J.D., with distinction.
Beyond his regular client practice, Schmidt serves as the chairman of the board of directors of
After-School All-Stars of New York, the New York chapter of a charitable organization founded by Arnold Schwarzenegger to provide after school and summer programs for inner city youth. He also spends significant time providing pro bono counsel to various organizations and individuals who are less able to afford legal representation.
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970 and ranked among the top 100 law firms in America, Cozen O’Connor has more than 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor services its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.
For more information on Michael Schmidt, please visit his Cozen O’Connor web bio at: https://www.cozen.com/people/bios/schmidt-michael.
For more information on the Lawdragon 2021 Top 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers list, please visit: https://www.lawdragon.com/guides/2021-11-11-lawdragons-leading-corporate-employment-lawyers-of-america