Christina Michael is a partner in the firm’s Philadelphia office whose practice includes both employment litigation and counseling. In her litigation practice, Christina handles a full range of employment-related matters in court and administrative agencies, including cases involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge, whistleblower claims, wage and hour laws, and common law contract and tort claims. Christina has experience taking matters to jury trials, as well as arbitration proceedings, and has appeared before a variety of state and federal agencies. Christina also has represented employers at the appellate level, and has briefed appeals and writs in the United States Supreme Court, the Second Circuit, and the Third Circuit.

Christina also dedicates a substantial portion of her practice to counseling employers as they address day-to-day employment law questions. She regularly advises employers on a wide variety of matters, such as the appropriate handling of disciplinary issues, employee terminations, compliance with employment laws and regulations dealing with harassment and discrimination, worker classification pursuant to wage and hour laws, background checks, disability and religious accommodations, creating and implementing employee handbooks and personnel policies, and handling of labor relations. Her experience includes both unionized and non-union workplaces.

Christina has a particular practice focus representing clients in the retail industry. Prior to attending law school, Christina worked in store for a large national specialty apparel retail chain. Her hands-on experience managing and working with retail sales floors, stock rooms and merchandising teams gives her a valuable perspective and understanding as an employment lawyer for retail industry clients. She has represented a variety of retail clients, including department stores, national discount retailers, boutique jewelers, local retailers, and convenience store chains. 

Christina regularly presents continuing education seminars to human resources and legal professionals on various topics including:  managing employee leave under the FMLA, ADA, Workers’ Compensation, and disability statutes, the pitfalls of conducting background checks, legal issues facing Gig Economy participants, and the appropriate classification of workers under applicable laws. 

Honors & Awards

• Pennsylvania Super Lawyers – Rising Stars, since 2013

• Brandywine Ballet Company, Board of Directors 2015 - present

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Seminars & Speaking Engagements

• 2017 Pennsylvania Employment Law Institute
  The Gig Economy: Classified Ads for Unclassified Workers
  April 27, 2017
• Background Checks:  A Minefield of Potential Liability
  9.26.17

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