Michael Starr practices in all areas of employment and labor relations law. He conducts litigation in both state and federal trial courts, as well as before the United States courts of appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. In addition to defending employers in employment discrimination, breach of contract and other matters, his experience involves obtaining labor injunctions, the defense of employers in class action lawsuits alleging employment discrimination or wage-law violations, non-competition and employee disloyalty litigation, and international employment law.
Mr. Starr represents management before the NLRB and in other agency proceedings, as well as in arbitration, mediation and collective bargaining. Mr. Starr advises clients on preventive labor and employee relations practices.
His clients are engaged in a broad range of industries. He has represented companies engaged in hospitality, communications, media, publishing and management consulting, as well as in financial services, retail, manufacturing and construction.
Mr. Starr is frequently published on employment issues, is the regular employment law columnist for The National Law Journal and was an editor of the Yale Law Journal.
Before entering private practice, Mr. Starr served as a law clerk to The Honorable Abner J. Mikva, circuit judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C.
His extensive additional activities include being a member of the Pro Bono Panel for civil appeals of the U.S. Court for the Second Circuit and a mediator for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. He was also a founding board member and member of the Board of Directors of the Court Appointment Special Advocates (CASA), a board member of the Lawyers Alliance for New York, a member of the Board of Arbitrators with the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) and of the Human Resources Committee for the New York City Partnership and Chamber of Commerce.
Representative Experience
Obtaining judgment against a company that wrongfully recruited the senior employees of an international management consulting firm to launch a "copy-cat" version of that firm's distinctive corporate finance consulting practice.
Obtaining a court-ordered injunction against the New York Newspaper Pressmen's Union to halt surreptitious workplace disruptions that interfered with the timely printing and distribution of the New York Post.
Obtaining on behalf of a global investment bank a temporary restraining order (TRO) against a competing global bank and eleven of its former employees who had defected en masse to the competitor and removed confidential proprietary documents.
Defended hotel owner in labor arbitration seeking millions of dollars in damages to union due to sale of property without securing buyer's assumption of labor agreement.
Ongoing advice and litigation representation in both employment and labor-relations matters for Fox Television Stations, the New York Post and other companies affiliated with News Corporation.
Representing global hotel-and-resort company in arbitrations involving employment disputes with its most senior corporate executives.