Michael H. Cramer

Shareholder | Chicago

Mike Cramer advises employers ranging from small non-profits to Fortune 500 companies on a variety of labor and employment-related legal matters, leads workplace investigations, and conducts learning sessions for attorneys, executives, HR professionals, and entire workforces. Mike also represents employers in employment-related litigation.

Counseling, Investigations and Training

Mike partners with employers to help them create positive work environments, increase engagement, comply with applicable laws, and reduce litigation. This work includes:

Assisting in-house counsel, HR professionals, and business leaders with employment policies, solutions to complex workplace issues, and day-to-day employment decisions;
Leading workplace investigations of possible harassment, discrimination, bullying and other behavior that can harm a company’s culture and bottom line; and
Conducting training for leadership teams, individual executives, HR teams and entire workforces on topics including anti-harassment, internal investigations, DEI initiatives, performance management, workplace bullying, and professionalism.

Mike is a frequent speaker and writer on employment law topics through organizations including the Association of Corporate Counsel, the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, and North Shore Labor Counsel.

Employment Litigation

Mike litigates discrimination, harassment and retaliation cases and wage-and-hour class/collective actions. He has negotiated cost-effective resolutions to many contentious disputes, and has litigated to many victories. Examples of his work include:

Defending manufacturers, retailers, financial institutions and other employers in numerous class and collective actions involving alleged wage and hour violations
Defeating a former employee’s attempt to certify a class of more than 200 employees alleging overtime violations, then defeating the remaining plaintiff’s claims at trial
Winning summary judgment on behalf of employers in numerous discrimination and retaliation suits
Defeating a 27-count federal lawsuit brought by the former chief executive of a non-profit organization against the entity and each of its board members
Defeating an age and sex discrimination suit in a federal jury trial, and
Defeating an executive’s suit claiming he was entitled to millions of dollars under an executive severance plan.

Peer Recognition

Based on other peer surveys, Mike has achieved Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer review rating (AV), and repeatedly has been named among the Best Lawyers in America, a Leading Lawyer, and an Illinois Super Lawyer. Mike has been elected to The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, an organization of labor and employment attorneys in practice for more than 20 years who meet “the highest professional qualifications and ethical standards.”

More About Michael H. Cramer

Education & Admission

Professional Activities

Speeches

Executives’ Club of Chicago Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Summit – “The Practicality and Legality of DEI” – Chicago – November 12, 2024
PILI CLE Series – “Where Do We Stand? Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Efforts in 2024” – Chicago – June 25, 2024
Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “DEI + Workplace Investigations = Serious Challenges” – Washington, D.C. – May 2, 2024
Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “How In-House Counsel Can Support DEI Efforts While Protecting the Company” – Phoenix – November 9, 2023
Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) – “Increasing Scrutiny for DEI Programs: The Impact of Supreme Court’s Recent Admissions Decision on Private Employers’ DEI Initiatives” – Chicago – October 19, 2023
HR Source Employment Law Conference – “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programs and Challenges in 2022 and Beyond” – Naperville – November 9, 2022
Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “The Top Workplace Investigation Mistakes—and How to Avoid Them” – Colorado Springs – September 22, 2022
Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) Employment Law Institute – “Heated Hallway Talk in Turbulent Times: A Panel Discussion on Social, Political and DEI-Related Workplace Communications” – Chicago – May 12, 2022
Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Ready or Not: Examining Your Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy Two Years Later” – Phoenix – May 4, 2022
HR Source EAA Conference – “Challenging DE&I Issues for Employment Attorneys in Turbulent Times” – February 25, 2022
Association of Corporate Counsel – “Employment Law in 2022: What In-House Counsel Must Know” – Chicago – January 19, 2022
Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Challenging DE&I Issues for In-House Attorneys in Turbulent Times” – Amelia Island – November 12, 2021
North Shore Labor Counsel – “DE&I Issues in 2021 and Beyond” – June 11, 2021
Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “TECHPLACE^TM DE&I and the Future of Work” – May 19, 2021
IICLE Employment Law Institute – “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives: A Priority and Challenge” – Chicago – May 2021
Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs Following the Chauvin Verdict—What Every Company Needs to Know” – April 28, 2021
North Shore Labor Counsel – “Beyond Diversity & Inclusion: 12 Things Companies Can Do to Be Better About Race” – Chicago – June 25, 2020
IICLE Employment Law Institute – “It’s Not Just ‘Diversity:’ How Inclusion and Allyship Can Make You and Your Organization Better” – Chicago – May 2020
Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Beam Me Up, Scotty: Legal Issues When Employees Telecommute” – New Orleans – November 14, 2019
Ogletree Deakins Podcast – “Building and Maintaining a Positive Manufacturing Work Environment” – November 8, 2019
HR Source Employment Law Conference – “Investigating Harassment Complaints in the #MeToo Era” – Naperville – September 27, 2018
Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Demystifying Pay Audits, Pay Transparency, and Pay Disclosures” – Phoenix – May 10, 2018