Michelle Seldin Silverman counsels and defends clients facing single-plaintiff and systemic employment discrimination claims in US state, federal, and appellate courts. Michelle regularly handles disputes involving alleged harassment, wrongful termination, and retaliation, as well as matters alleging disparate impact or pattern and practice discrimination. She regularly represents clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and handles regulatory agency investigations and fact findings.
Michelle is the head of Morgan Lewis’ Employment Counseling Taskforce, working regularly with employers to proactively develop effective and compliant anti-harassment programs, diversity and inclusion initiatives, disability accommodation processes, and leave management programs.
Michelle provides clients with day-to-day counseling regarding employee complaints, performance management, and leaves of absence/disability accommodations. She also works closely with employers to design and implement practical and compliant employment policies, with a particular focus on helping employers build the infrastructure necessary to successfully manage employee leave and sick time and disability accommodations. Michelle also provides advice on workplace diversity and inclusion, including corporate diversity best practices.
Michelle provides training to employers on the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and performance management. She frequently participates in seminars about these topics, as well as gender stereotyping and LGBT employee issues. Michelle also performs internal audits and investigations relating to leave management, harassment, and discrimination.
In addition, Michelle represents employers in the arbitration of union grievances, and has experience defending clients before the National Labor Relations Board.
She is a member of the firm's nationwide Diversity Committee and the ML Women Steering Committee. While a student at Penn Law, Michelle was a founding member of the LGBT Clinic for Civil Rights.
Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Michelle practiced with another large international firm, where she focused on complex class action and multidistrict litigation. She has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Member, Law360, Practice Group of the Year, Employment (2017, 2019)
Member, New Jersey Law Journal’, Litigation Department of the Year, Labor and Employment (2013, 2015)
Recommended, Labor and Employment - Labor and Employment Disputes (including collective actions) - Defense (2016-2018); Next Generation Lawyer, Labor and Employment - Workplace and Employment Counseling (2017–2022), The Legal 500 US
No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. A description of the selection methodology for the above awards can be found here.