Kim Michael has focused almost exclusively on employment law and litigation for 20 years. She represents clients in a range of matters involving compensation, restrictive covenants (including non-competition and non-solicitation agreements), trade secrets, severance pay, discrimination, retaliation, harassment, whistleblowing and defamation. A talented employment litigator, Ms. Michael represents leading professionals who have been wrongfully disciplined, suspended and/or terminated in connection with regulatory and criminal investigations as well as charges. She is a go-to advocate for C-Suite members and high-ranking executives (as well as all levels of employees) in the financial services and securities sectors, as well as technology, fashion, media, entertainment, advertising, publishing, medical, pharma, insurance, and nearly every other industry. Ms. Michael handles actions in federal and state courts (including appeals) before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the American Arbitration Association (AAA), JAMS and fair employment practices agencies. She regularly represents clients in mediation.
Notable Matters:
Ms. Michael’s noteworthy matters include:
- an award from AAA of over $23.3 million for the wrongful termination of a former portfolio manager of a large asset management firm;
- a FINRA award for two former employees of BNP Paribas Securities Corp. of nearly $7 million, the largest FINRA intra-industry award to an employee or employees in 2017;
- a pre-award settlement of nearly $6.5 million for four executives seeking payment of annual and retention bonuses;
- a 2022 JAMS arbitration award of over $2.7 million for breach of contract, quantum meruit, and violation of the New York Labor Law arising out of an employer’s improper withholding of a former employee’s earned bonus;
- winning over $2.2 million in a FINRA arbitration for a former leveraged finance executive at a global investment bank whose deferred compensation was wrongfully withheld;
- successfully defeating an appeal in the New York State Appellate Division, First Department by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss and Winklevoss Capital Management and affirming the dismissal of alleged defamation claims; and
- a seven-figure settlement of claims brought by a former employee of an international investment bank for unpaid deferred compensation.
Professional Memberships: National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA), New York affiliate of National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA NY)
Education: Ms. Michael graduated from Cornell University in 1999 and received her law degree from New York University School of Law in 2002.
Admissions: Ms. Michael is admitted to the bar of New York and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Updated Sep 2023
