Michael Wilson, Jr. is a shareholder in the firm’s San Francisco office. He enjoys helping clients navigate the complexities of the ever-changing local, state and federal employment regulatory landscape, so that growth and achieving core business objectives remain the primary focus. Michael partners with his clients to solve their unique problems, whether the client is a construction company, a tech startup, a minority-owned business, a hospital, a hotel chain, a restaurant and/or a Fortune 500 company. When called upon to investigate workplace disputes, litigate single plaintiff, multi-plaintiff or class action lawsuits, Michael tailors his solutions based on his thorough understanding of his client’s operations and business culture. When a case must be litigated in state court, federal court, arbitration or before an administrative body such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Michael utilizes his extensive experience in those venues to help his clients navigate the process.
In addition to his litigation practice, Michael regularly partners with in-house counsel, corporate executives and HR representatives to provide advice and counsel on compliance with federal, state and local laws. He develops and updates employee handbooks and company policies for clients operating in multiple jurisdictions and advises employers on risk management. Michael also counsels clients on best practices for compliance with wage-and-hour laws, the intersection of leave of absence laws, data privacy issues, large scale reductions in force (including state and federal WARN compliance) and pandemic response. In other instances, Michael relies on his background — as a San Francisco native and son of West-African parents — to develop workplace trainings which address unconscious bias and social factors, to prevent future claims of discrimination or harassment.
Outside of the office, Michael has been featured on the local radio broadcast talk show “Your Legal Rights” discussing labor and employment topics. He is also a regular panelist and moderator at the annual National Bar Association Labor & Employment Section Conference.
In his spare time, Michael loves to travel, follow college football, expand his eclectic music library and catch up on all things related to the UCLA Bruins. He also works with first generation law students and youth from the Boys & Girls Club of San Francisco to provide mentorship and guidance on transitioning from the classroom to the modern workforce.
