Michael G. Cleveland

Shareholder

T: 312-609-7860 F: 312-609-5005

Chicago

Michael G. Cleveland has practiced labor and employment law since joining Vedder Price P.C. in 1974.  He concentrates his practice in employment litigation and has successfully litigated a wide variety of employment cases in the 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.

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• Recent Accomplishments in Labor and Employment Law
• Employee Separation Agreements
• Supreme Court Holds Employer Bears Burden of Proving Workforce Reduction Was Based on Reasonable Fac
• Supreme Court FLSA Decision Relieves Domestic Service Industry: Deference to DOL Regs a Good Sign

• Arbitration / Grievances / Mediation
• Discrimination Law
• Employment Agreements
• Employment Class Action Defense
• Employment Counseling
• Employment Litigation
• ERISA Litigation
• Fair Labor Standards Act
• Labor and Employment Law
• Wrongful Discharge

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
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1974
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1977
• U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit, 1977
• U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, 1981
• U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, 1988
• U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, 1994
• U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit, 2003 
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana, 2005
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 2006

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