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Michael Abcarian photo

Michael V. Abcarian

Senior Counsel


Dallas

t:214.220.8300

f:214.220.9122

Email

Service Focus

  • Class and Collective Actions
  • Labor Relations
  • Litigation and Trials
  • Workplace Safety and Catastrophe Management
  • Wage and Hour

Industry Focus

  • Education
  • K-12 Institutions
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Overview
Credentials
Recognitions
Affiliations
Insights

Overview

Mike Abcarian has represented Fortune 500 corporations, units of local government, and local business interests in labor and employment matters for more than 30 years.

He has handled hundreds of lawsuits in federal and state courts with an exceptional success record, including lead counsel defense of complex litigation and nationwide class actions.

Many of Mike's successful cases resulted in defense verdicts for employer clients following trial by jury. Mike also handles complex workplace safety matters, including fatality investigations, and has represented employers in high-visibility proceedings before the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

He has handled significant compensation compliance matters--some involving thousands of employees--in proceedings before the Wage & Hour Division of the U. S. Department of Labor (USDOL). Mike also appears frequently before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) defending employers in discrimination matters. 

He also represents employers before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in union representation proceedings and unfair labor practice proceedings, and in arbitration of labor disputes and labor contract negotiations.

Throughout his career, Mike has been a sought-after speaker and a prolific author on labor and employment law issues.

He is "AV" Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell for preeminent skill and ethics, and he has been listed in Texas Super Lawyers every year since 2004. Mike has also been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 2012 and was listed in Chambers USA since 2016.

In 2018, Mike was inducted as a Fellow into The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. Election as a Fellow is the highest recognition by an attorney's colleagues of sustained outstanding performance in the profession, exemplifying integrity, dedication and excellence. 

Credentials

Education

  • J.D., 1977, Boston College Law School
  • A.B., 1974, with honors, University of California, Berkeley

Bar Admissions

  • Georgia
  • Texas

Court Admissions

  • Florida Supreme Court
  • Georgia Court of Appeals
  • Georgia Supreme Court
  • Texas Supreme Court
  • Texas Courts of Appeals
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Recognitions

  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America (2013 – 2025)
  • Inducted as a Fellow into The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers (2018)
  • Chambers USA (2016-present)
  • Texas Super Lawyers (2005-present)

Affiliations

Professional Activities

  • Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • Member, American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
  • Member, State Bar of Texas, Labor and Employment Law Section
  • Fellow of the American Bar Foundation

Insights

  • News

    07/17/24

    Media Outlets Cover Firm’s New Leadership in Dallas and the Office Move Uptown

    Adam F. Sloustcher, Michael V. Abcarian

    Read more 

  • News

    07/15/24

    Fisher Phillips Announces New Leadership in Dallas with Move to Uptown

    Adam F. Sloustcher, Michael V. Abcarian

    Read more 

  • News

    08/20/20

    Fisher Phillips Attorneys Receive Top Honors in Best Lawyers in America©

    Michael V. Abcarian, Stephanie R. Alexander, William E. Altman, Christopher Alvarez, Joseph W. Ambash, Craig R. Annunziata, Davis C. Bae, Gregory D. Ballew, Kelsey E. Schiappacasse, Cheryl L. Behymer, Clarence M. Belnavis, Steven M. Bernstein, Suzanne K. Bogdan, D. Albert Brannen, Kathleen McLeod Caminiti, Jocelyn Campanaro, Christopher J. Capone, Michael D. Carrouth, Charles S. Caulkins, Lyle M. Chan, J. Randall Coffey, Theresa M. Connolly, Laurel K. Cornell, Steven R. Cupp, Kevin J. Dalton, J. Micah Dickie, Burton F. Dodd, David B. Dornak, Benjamin Dudek, Todd Alan Ewan, Daniel E. Farrington, Brian J. Finucane, Todd A. Fredrickson, Andrew Froman, Joseph W. Gagnon, Brian J. Gershengorn, Lauren G. Goetzl, Rosemary S. Gousman, Michael R. Greco, Paul Greco, Rick Grimaldi, Greg Grisham, Lori A. Guner, Raymond C. Haley III, Edward F. Harold, JonVieve D. Hill, Christopher C. Hoffman, James R. Holland II, Christine E. Howard, Clyde H. Jacob III, David S. Jones, Matthew R. Korn, Danielle Krauthamer Zobel, Edwina C. Kye, Arthur V. Lambert, Terry E. Lardakis, Aymara Ledezma, Courtney Leyes, Karl R. Lindegren, Steven M. Loewengart, Reyburn W. Lominack III, Nathan K. Low, Darin L. Mackender, Scott M. Mahoney, Jeffrey E. Mandel, C. F. W. Manning II, Howard A. Mavity, James J. McDonald Jr., Phillips L. McWilliams, Richard A. Millisor, Stephen C. Mitchell, Danielle Hultenius Moore, R. Henry Moore, Timothy J. Murphy, Gregory V. Murray, Warren L. Nelson, Steven M. Nobil, Daniel P. O'Brien, James Patrick, Jonathan P. Pearson, Regina A. Petty, Ann Margaret Pointer, James C. Polkinghorn, John M. Polson, Keith M. Pyburn Jr., Roger K. Quillen, Melody L. Rayl, Thomas Paul Rebel, Mark J. Ricciardi, Ashton M. Riley, Stephen J. Roppolo, Jeffrey A. Savarise, Susan M. Schaecher, Cheryl L. Schreck, David E. Schreiner, Stephen Scott, Timothy H. Scott, Joseph P. Shelton, Craig P. Siegenthaler, Jeffrey D. Smith, John W. Stapleton, Shanon R. Stevenson, Terri R. Stewart, Christopher P. Stief, Cathy M. Stutin, Douglas R. Sullenberger, James Sullivan, Martin F. Thompson, Megan Reese U'Sellis, Pavneet Singh Uppal, Teresa Valderrama, Joshua H. Viau, Timothy J. Weatherholt, Jeff Weintraub, Alexander A. Wheatley, Benton N. Wood, Robert Yonowitz, George D. Adams, Richard R. Meneghello, Hannah Sweiss, Robert M. Robenalt, Todd A. Lyon, Todd B. Logsdon, J. Hagood Tighe, Danielle S. Urban, Sheila M. Abron, Kristin R.B. White, Michelle I. Anderson

    Read more 

  • News

    08/15/19

    Best Lawyers in America® Honors 96 Fisher Phillips Attorneys in 2020 Edition

    Michael V. Abcarian, George D. Adams, Joseph W. Ambash, Craig R. Annunziata, Cheryl L. Behymer, Clarence M. Belnavis, Steven M. Bernstein, Suzanne K. Bogdan, D. Albert Brannen, Kathleen McLeod Caminiti, Christopher J. Capone, Michael D. Carrouth, Charles S. Caulkins, J. Randall Coffey, Laurel K. Cornell, Steven R. Cupp, Kevin J. Dalton, Burton F. Dodd, Todd Alan Ewan, Daniel E. Farrington, Brian J. Finucane, Todd A. Fredrickson, Andrew Froman, Brian J. Gershengorn, Rosemary S. Gousman, Michael R. Greco, Paul Greco, Rick Grimaldi, Greg Grisham, Raymond C. Haley III, Edward F. Harold, Christopher C. Hoffman, James R. Holland II, Christine E. Howard, Clyde H. Jacob III, David S. Jones, Terry E. Lardakis, Karl R. Lindegren, Steven M. Loewengart, Todd B. Logsdon, Darin L. Mackender, Scott M. Mahoney, Jeffrey E. Mandel, C. F. W. Manning II, Howard A. Mavity, James J. McDonald Jr., Richard R. Meneghello, Richard A. Millisor, Stephen C. Mitchell, Danielle Hultenius Moore, Timothy J. Murphy, Warren L. Nelson, Steven M. Nobil, Daniel P. O'Brien, Jonathan P. Pearson, Ann Margaret Pointer, James C. Polkinghorn, John M. Polson, Keith M. Pyburn Jr., Roger K. Quillen, Thomas Paul Rebel, Mark J. Ricciardi, Robert M. Robenalt, Stephen J. Roppolo, Jeffrey A. Savarise, Susan M. Schaecher, David E. Schreiner, Timothy H. Scott, Joseph P. Shelton, Craig P. Siegenthaler, Jeffrey D. Smith, Shanon R. Stevenson, Terri R. Stewart, Christopher P. Stief, Cathy M. Stutin, Douglas R. Sullenberger, James Sullivan, Martin F. Thompson, J. Hagood Tighe, Pavneet Singh Uppal, Danielle S. Urban, Teresa Valderrama, Joshua H. Viau, Timothy J. Weatherholt, Jeff Weintraub, Benton N. Wood, Robert Yonowitz

    Read more 

  • Event

    Multiple Dates

    Dallas Lunch and Learn Summer Series 

    Michael V. Abcarian, Arthur V. Lambert, John K. Skousen

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  • Insights

    07/01/19

    WEB EXCLUSIVE: June 2019: The Top 16 Labor And Employment Law Stories

    Michael V. Abcarian, Samantha Sherwood Bononno, Melissa Camire, Patrick W. Dennison, Scott Fanning, Jeffrey A. Fritz, Rick Grimaldi, Greg Grisham, Ryan R. Jones, Jason D. Keck, Reyburn W. Lominack III, Michael R. Marra, Phillips L. McWilliams, Richard R. Meneghello, Catharine Morisset, Joshua D. Nadreau, Brett P. Owens, Erin Price, Justin Reiter, Monica Snyder Perl, Arthur M. Wolfson

    Read more 

  • Insights

    06/26/19

    Fox (Mostly) Remains In The Henhouse: SCOTUS Says Agencies (Sort Of) Know Best

    Michael V. Abcarian, Joshua D. Nadreau, Brett P. Owens, Erin Price

    Read more 

  • News

    04/25/19

    Chambers USA Recognizes 40 Fisher Phillips Attorneys in 2019 List

    Michael V. Abcarian, Joseph W. Ambash, Clarence M. Belnavis, Steven M. Bernstein, Suzanne K. Bogdan, Michael D. Carrouth, Charles S. Caulkins, J. Randall Coffey, Theresa M. Connolly, Laurel K. Cornell, Steven R. Cupp, Daniel E. Farrington, Brian J. Finucane, Todd A. Fredrickson, Rosemary S. Gousman, Raymond C. Haley III, Edward F. Harold, Terry E. Lardakis, Scott M. Mahoney, Jeffrey E. Mandel, C. F. W. Manning II, Richard R. Meneghello, Richard A. Millisor, Stephen C. Mitchell, Keith M. Pyburn Jr., Mark J. Ricciardi, Stephen J. Roppolo, Jeffrey A. Savarise, Timothy H. Scott, Christopher P. Stief, J. Hagood Tighe, Teresa Valderrama, Jeff Weintraub

    Read more 

  • Publication

    04/23/19

    Dallas Partner Explains Potential Impact of Reversing the Chevron Deference Doctrine

    Michael V. Abcarian

    Read more 

  • Event

    November 6-8, 2018

    EHS Today's Safety Leadership Conference in Collaboration with Fisher Phillips

    Michael V. Abcarian, Chantell C. Foley, Edwin G. Foulke Jr., Todd B. Logsdon, Howard A. Mavity, Tracy L. Moon Jr., Warren L. Nelson, Travis Vance

    Read more 

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