Michael D. Zahler

Michael represents employers and management in Court, in arbitrations, and before administrative agencies on a broad array of employment-related litigation, including cases with allegations involving discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, leave and accommodation laws, occupational safety and health laws, restrictive covenants, and federal and state wage and hour laws. Michael also assists employers in defending class and collective actions.

Michael helps his clients mitigate risk by providing counseling on workplace policies, handbooks, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, safety and health compliance, drug and alcohol testing, wage and hour laws, worker classification, and discipline and discharge. Michael is a frequent lecturer on a wide range of labor and employment topics for various groups, including presenting on sexual harassment prevention at the annual conference of the Associated General Contractors of New York, wage and hour laws at the annual conference of the New York State Society for Human Resource Management, and New York Forward Reopening Guidance to the New York State Bar Association, the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce, and the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Michael has also written on a wide range of topics including worker classification, COVID-19 related whistleblower claims, and business owner liability for wage claims.

• Listed, Upstate New York Super Lawyers Rising Stars, (Employment Litigation: Defense) 2019 - 2021
• Listed, New Jersey Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2016 - 2018
• Morris Gann Prize for Greatest Achievement in Evidence

• New York State Bar Association
• Albany County Bar Association
• Society for Human Resource Management

• Leadership Tech Valley - Class of 2020
• Albany Institute of History and Art, Trustee