Michael T. Bissinger
Michael Bissinger, a trial and appellate lawyer, focuses on representing employers in employment cases in state and federal courts, and also defends companies against administrative charges filed with state and federal agencies. He has managed multiple jury trials through verdict in nearly three decades of practice. Michael has also engaged in appeals before the New Jersey Appellate Division, the New Jersey Supreme Court, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Clients turn to Michael to manage claims under a wide variety of complex state and federal statutes and regulations, including:
- New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD)
- New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA)
- New Jersey Family Leave Act
- New Jersey Wage and Hour Law
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
- Age Discrimination in Employment Act
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
In addition to defending pending legal claims, Michael partners with clients to consider and develop proactive solutions to train their workforces, identify areas of legal risk, formulate strategic initiatives to prevent the filing of legal claims, review and counsel high risk employment decisions, and integrate technology and analytics to track and measure the success of these solutions. Michael also speaks and publishes on complex employment-related topics. He conducts training seminars for both small and large audiences, and uses his decades of courtroom experience to explain the real life consequences for non-compliance with the law. Recent topics include sexual harassment, racial harassment, workplace violence, disability discrimination, retaliation, compliance with state and federal wage and hour laws, restrictive covenants, and the legalization of marijuana and its impact on drug testing in the workplace.
Tried cases before the New Jersey Superior Court (Chancery Division and Law Division) and the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, including claims of age discrimination, disability discrimination, national origin discrimination, sexual harassment, race discrimination, retaliation, and related tort and contract claims
Appeared before the New Jersey Superior Court, the New Jersey Appellate Division, the New Jersey Supreme Court, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, including an appearance before the New Jersey Supreme Court on the appeal of a trial involving retaliation claims under the NJLAD and CEPA
Defended numerous class action lawsuits alleging federal and state wage and hour violations, and gained several reported victories for one of New Jersey's largest private corporations, denying class certification to more than a thousand potential class members on alleged FLSA violations, and obtaining summary judgment in a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor seeking millions of dollars in alleged overtime violations
Defended and prosecuted claims concerning restrictive covenants, non-compete agreements, non-solicitation agreements, employee-raiding claims, and other related matters, and has successfully litigated restrictive covenant disputes through a jury trial
Appears in state and federal courts seeking injunctive relief on behalf of employers involved in labor disputes, including relief from unlawful picketing, violence in and around the workplace, and other unlawful behavior by employees and/or picketers
Chosen for inclusion in the Chambers USA Legal Directory (Chambers & Partners) as a leading labor and employment attorney, 2014-2019
Selected as the Litigation-Environmental Lawyer of the Year for the Newark Metro Area by The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.), 2018
Chosen for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.), Employment Law - Management, 2011-2021
Chosen for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.), Labor Law - Management, 2011-2022
Chosen for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.), Litigation - Labor and Employment Law, 2011-2022
Selected to the list of New Jersey Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), Employment and Labor, 2006, 2008-2022
Chosen for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.), Labor and Employment Law, 2006-2011
No aspect of these advertisements has been approved by the highest court of any state. See Awards Methodology.