Related Content
Areas
News
Schools
- University of Maine School of Law
, J.D., 1978
- Harvard University
, B.A., 1975 (Cum Laude)
Biography
Michael G. Messerschmidt practices labor and employment law, advising a broad range of public and private sector employers in the fields of health care, forest products, manufacturing, retail, municipal government, transportation and communications. He is Chair of the firm's Labor and Employment Practice Group.
Michael advises on hiring and employee retention policies, personnel policies, discipline and termination issues, wage and hour issues, collective bargaining agreements and compliance with employment discrimination and civil rights laws.
He is a former Maine Assistant Attorney General and worked in the Criminal Division. In that position, he served as Chief Counsel to the State Department of Public Safety and also prosecuted white-collar crimes.
Michael was born in Portland and graduated cum laude from Harvard University. In 1978, he graduated from the University of Maine School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review. He joined Preti Flaherty in 1980 and served as Managing Partner in from 1991-1992.
Professional Affiliations
- Maine State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law section
- American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law section
Professional Awards
Written and lectured extensively before management audiences at programs presented by the Council on Education in Management, the National Business Institute, the Maine Human Resource Management Association, and other organizations. Selected by the Maine Human Rights Commission to serve as a presenter on defense practice issues before the Commission at the MHRC's first Fair Employment Practice Seminar.
Recognized in the Chambers USA Guide to America's Leading Business Lawyers, the highly regarded legal directory which ranks firms and individual attorneys.
Listed in Woodward/White's The Best Lawyers in America.
Recognized by New England Super Lawyers.
Admissions
Maine; New Hampshire; U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit
Civic Involvement
- Allocations Committee, Jewish Community Alliance
- Former Board Member and current Advisory Board Member, Portland Stage Company
- Founding Member, Second Generation of Maine, an organization of children of Holocaust survivors
- Board of Trustees, Congregation Bet Ha'am
- Coach, Cape Elizabeth Little League (five seasons)
- Past-President, Holocaust Human Rights Center of Maine
- Past-President, Portland Players Community Theatre
Representative Matters
Successfully negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement on behalf of a public sector entity. The contract came in at a financial cost well below the parameters provided. Achieved significant improvements in terms of administering and controlling costs associated with paid sick leave... read more >>
Successfully negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement on behalf of a public sector entity. The contract came in at a financial cost well below the parameters provided. Achieved significant improvements in terms of administering and controlling costs associated with paid sick leave provisions of the contract.
Represented the owner of a Mt. Desert Island estate who terminated the manager of the property for poor performance. The former manager sued for breach of contract, non-payment of statutorily owed wages, and promissory estoppel. Successfully achieved a complete and quick dismissal... read more >>
Represented the owner of a Mt. Desert Island estate who terminated the manager of the property for poor performance. The former manager sued for breach of contract, non-payment of statutorily owed wages, and promissory estoppel. Successfully achieved a complete and quick dismissal challenging the allegations of all claims with aggressive discovery.
Successfully defended a charge of national origin discrimination before the Maine Human Rights Commission against 22 Maine Auto Dealers by Canadian residents who alleged that the dealers' refusal to sell them new cars violated the public accommodations provisions of the Maine Human Rights... read more >>
Successfully defended a charge of national origin discrimination before the Maine Human Rights Commission against 22 Maine Auto Dealers by Canadian residents who alleged that the dealers' refusal to sell them new cars violated the public accommodations provisions of the Maine Human Rights Act. He prevailed upon The Commission to conclude that the dealers were authorized to make decisions based on individuals' residency and where a purchaser intended to garage the vehicle, and that those decisions were not motivated by animus against anyone's national origin or heritage. The federal case was dismissed. This decision has major ramifications for all car dealers in border states.
Messerschmidt, Michael, Mike
Michael G. Messerschmidt is Chair of the Labor and Employment Practice Group and practices from the Portland, ME office.