Michael B. Cohen

Michael is an associate in the firm’s Labor + Employment Practice Group. He focuses his practice on representing employers in wage and hour class and collective actions, FMLA claims, ADA claims, restrictive covenant and trade secret litigation, and wrongful termination actions. He has extensive experience representing his clients before federal and state courts across the U.S., as well as federal, state, and local administrative agencies.

In addition to his litigation practice, Michael routinely counsels his clients through a number of complex issues, including independent contractor misclassification, exempt employee misclassification, restrictive covenant violations, trade secret misappropriation, managing leave and accommodation requests, and terminations. Michael also helps draft and revise employee handbooks, employment agreements, independent contractor agreements, severance agreements, and restrictive covenant agreements.

Every year since 2018, Michael has been recognized as a North Carolina “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers, a rating service of outstanding attorneys from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional development. Michael was also recognized by Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Michael was recently selected by the firm as a pro bono ambassador to facilitate pro bono opportunities for attorneys in the Raleigh office.

• Prevailed at the Fourth Circuit in a breach of contract action valued in excess of $500 million.
• Prevailed at the Fourth Circuit on claims of FMLA interference and retaliation.
• Prevailed at the Fourth Circuit in an USERRA and constitutional action against a municipality.
• Obtained summary judgment in a wage and hour class and collective action involving pre-shift and post-shift work, travel time, and deductions.
• Obtained summary judgment in a wage and hour action involving unpaid commissions.
• Obtained summary judgment in an ADA and Title VII action against a Fortune 50 company.
• Obtained summary judgment in an ERISA action both on administrative grounds and on the merits.
• Obtained summary judgment in a Title VII and Virginia Human Rights Act action against a health care company.
• Obtained summary judgment in a Title VII, Section 1983, and ADA action against a municipality.
• Spearheaded a whistleblower investigation for an international food supplier.
• Led a wage and hour audit for a publicly traded industrial products company.
• Led defense of multiple wage and hour investigations conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor.
• Obtained dismissal of class claims brought under Title VII, Section 1981, and IRS false information return statute against manufacturing company.
• Obtained summary judgment in an ADA action against a regional contracting firm.
• Obtained dismissal of whistleblower claims against health care company.
• Obtained dismissal of an ADA, Title VII, REDA, and wrongful termination action against a publicly traded manufacturing company.
• Obtained dismissal of a Title VII and Section 1981 action against a national restaurant chain.
• Obtained dismissal of a wage and hour class action involving independent contractor misclassification allegations and deductions.
• Obtained injunctive relief for employers affected by trade secret misappropriation.
• Favorably resolved numerous class and collective wage and hour actions in jurisdictions across the country.

• Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch: Labor and Employment Law – Employee (2023), Labor and Employment Law – Management (2023-2026), Litigation – Labor and Employment (2023-2026)
• Super Lawyers “Rising Star” – North Carolina (2018-present)
• Eugene Grassman and Daniel H. Pollitt Oral Advocacy Award
• Seymour W. Wurfel Award