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Michael G. Cleveland

Shareholder

T: +1 (312) 609 7860
F: +1 (312) 609 5005

Chicago

Michael G. Cleveland has practiced labor and employment law since joining Vedder Price in 1974. He concentrates his practice in employment litigation and has successfully litigated a wide variety of employment cases in the US state and federal courts, before administrative agencies, and in arbitration, including equal employment, ERISA, FLSA and wrongful discharge cases. He has defended employers in all phases of class action litigation, including trials of race discrimination and age discrimination class action cases which resulted in complete verdicts for the employer defendants. Mr. Cleveland represents employers in matters before administrative agencies and advises employers on employment issues and policies and on matters relating to employment agreements.

Mr. Cleveland has lectured extensively on employment law issues. He has also authored a number of articles on employment-related subjects. Mr. Cleveland has served as the Practice Area Leader for the firm's Labor and Employment Law group and as a member of the firm's Board of Directors and Executive Committee. He is currently the firm's Professional Responsibility Counsel.

In 2011, Mr. Cleveland was ranked in Chambers USA in the Illinois Labor and Employment category. Mr. Cleveland was selected for inclusion from 2009 to 2012 in Illinois Super Lawyers. In addition, he received an "AV Preeminent" Peer Rating in Martindale-Hubbell.

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Cleveland

Speaking Engagements

May 2010: Presentation, Vedder Price Annual Employment Law Conference, “Wage and Hour Update—Threat Level Raised to Orange.”
April 2010: Presentation, “New Administration/New Employment Laws and Regulations,” Illinois Bankers Association Human Resources Conference.
October 2009: Co-Chair, Practising Law Institute’s 38th Annual Employment Law Institute.
October 2009: Presentation, “Significant Federal and State Appellate Cases during 2009,” Practising Law Institute’s 38th Annual Employment Law Institute.
October 2009: Moderator, “Litigation Strategy: Plaintiffs’ Counsel, A Moderated Discussion,” Practising Law Institute’s 38th Annual Employment Law Institute.
April 2009: Presentation, “Terminations and Other Disciplinary Actions: Minimizing Legal Liability,” Illinois Bankers Association Human Resources Conference.
October 2008: Presentation, “Hot Issues in Employment Law—2008,” Community Bankers Association of Illinois, Seminar for the Community Bank Attorney.
October 2008: Co-Chair, Practising Law Institute’s 37th Annual Employment Law Institute.
October 2008: Presentation, “Supreme Court Year in Review,” Practising Law Institute’s 37th Annual Employment Law Institute.
April 2008: Presentation, “Employment Law Issues in the Changing Workplace,” Illinois Bankers Association Human Resources Conference.

J.D., University of Chicago Law School, 1974
B.A., Loyola University of Chicago, 1971

Illinois, 1974
US District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1974
US District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1977
US District Court, Central District of Illinois, 1994
US District Court, Northern District of Indiana, 2005
US District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 2006
US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 1977
US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1981
US Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 1988
US Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 2003

Member, American Bar Association
Member, Illinois State Bar Association
Member, Chicago Bar Association