Cozen O’Connor: Miller, Michele

Recent News:
State Governments May Increase Focus on Workplace Regulation During Second Trump Administration
Michele Ballard Miller and Michael Schmidt were quoted in an HR Brew article discussing how President-elect Donald Trump’s administration may shape the workplace landscape.

Michele is a widely recognized management-side labor and employment attorney. For more than 30 years, she’s represented businesses in single and multiple plaintiff cases and collective actions. Her clients — who run the gamut from Fortune 50 powerhouses to burgeoning startups — trust her practical business-centered advice and counsel on a wide range of workplace matters.

Michele is a frequent speaker on employment law issues for clients and outside groups, and has been selected for the Northern California Super Lawyers list every year since 2004. She is also consistently named to “Women Leaders in the Law” lists. Prior to joining the firm, Michele was the founding and managing partner of a California labor and employment law firm.

Michele earned her bachelor’s degree from University of Michigan and her law degree from University of California, Hastings College of Law.

News

State Governments May Increase Focus on Workplace Regulation During Second Trump Administration

November 13, 2024

Michele Ballard Miller and Michael Schmidt were quoted in an HR Brew article discussing how President-elect Donald Trump’s administration may shape the workplace landscape.

Which Rule is ‘Dead’ and Which Will Go into Effect Under Trump? Attorneys Weigh In

November 06, 2024

David Barron, Michele Ballard Miller, and Michael Schmidt were quoted in an HR Dive article discussing the impact of the upcoming Trump administration on key labor regulations.

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition

August 15, 2024

Best Lawyers selected 242 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys to its Best Lawyers in America 2024 Edition

August 17, 2023

Best Lawyers selected 232 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

California Pay-Disclosure Practices Draw Scrutiny from Regulators

June 19, 2023

Michele Ballard Miller was quoted in SHRM discussing the new pay transparency requirements in California.

COVID Increased Disability, but It Also Showed How to Make Society More Accessible

April 06, 2023

Michele Ballard Miller was quoted in Speech Technology Magazine discussing how the COVID-19 pandemic has potentially caused a significant increase in the number of people with disabilities, including long COVID, which will have ramifications for society and businesses.

Employers are revisiting early-pandemic policies as delta variant surges

August 30, 2021

Michele Ballard Miller spoke with HR Dive about handling the recent COVID-19 surge.

Should ‘Deskless’ and Office Workers Be Treated Differently?

August 19, 2021

Michele Ballard Miller and Ethan Chernin were quoted in SHRM discussing how the recent focus on the return to worksites and hybrid work, employers risk overlooking "deskless" employees who never had the option to work remotely.

Vaccinated workers in California could go maskless under proposed workplace rules

June 11, 2021

Michele Ballard Miller was quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle discussing job setting rules proposed Friday by California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health.

California Courts Grapple With Proposition 22’s Gig Fallout

February 25, 2021

Michele Ballard Miller was quoted in Bloomberg Law discussing Proposition 22.

How Do You Require Customers to Wear Masks Without Endangering Employees?

August 04, 2020

Michele Miller and Bethany Vasquez spoke with SHRM about how businesses that ask customers to wear face masks walk a fine line between complying with mask mandates and putting employees at risk if customers refuse and respond violently.

Judge Halts California Labor Law from Applying to Independent Truckers

January 16, 2020

Michele Miller was quoted in KTLA 5 discussing a new California labor law that was blocked to more than 70,000 independent truckers.

Uber makes major changes to California rides as gig-work law takes effect

January 08, 2020

Michele Miller was quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle discussing the impact AB5 has on companies such as Uber.

Publications

PAGA Reform: A Win for Employers in California [Alert]

July 16, 2024

Michele Miller and Brett Greving discuss the new reforms to PAGA (California's Private Attorneys General Act) and what the impact will be on employers.

Update to California’s New Pay Disclosure Requirements [Alert]

January 05, 2023

Senate Bill 1162 imposes significant new pay scale disclosure requirements on California employers.

COVID-19 FAQs For California Employers

July 01, 2020

Michele Ballard Miller, Walter Stella, Elena Hillman, and Austin Dieter designed an FAQ that California Employers have regarding COVID-19.

Events & Seminars

Upcoming Events

What’s on the Horizon in 2025 for California Workplaces

December 06, 2024 - Santa Monica, CA

Michele Ballard Miller and Nicole Herter Perkin will present “What’s on the Horizon in 2025 for California Workplaces” for the Southern California Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel.