NEW YORK, October 11, 2022 — The New York Law Journal has honored Michael Schmidt, vice chair of the Cozen O’Connor national Labor & Employment Department and New York office managing partner, with a 2022 “Professional Excellence Innovation Award” for the creative use of technology in his practice. He was honored at a special awards ceremony in Manhattan on October 6.
The New York Law Journal recognized Schmidt for his Employment Law Now podcast, where he provides his perspectives on employer liability issues, along with guests in the field. Schmidt was also recognized by the publication with an Innovation profile, highlighting further details about the podcast. The profile is available here.
As the founder and host of Employment Law Now, Schmidt has received several other awards. In 2021, he was recognized by The National Law Journal as an “Employment Law Trailblazer” for his use of digital and social media. He has also twice won (2020 and 2021) JD Supra “Readers’ Choice Award for Top Podcast and Thought Leadership.”
Schmidt is a member of Cozen O’Connor’s board of directors, and for nearly 30 years, he has assisted businesses and their management teams throughout the United States in accomplishing their goals through litigation, negotiation, and day-to-day counseling.
A highly successful trial lawyer, Schmidt represents employees in federal and state courts, in arbitration, and before government agencies, including discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, wage and hour, including class and collective actions, FMLA, ADA and other federal, state, and local leave obligations, breach of contract, whistle blowing, including SOX and other laws, restrictive covenants, non competes and non-solicits, social media use, WARN, and Families First Coronavirus Response ACT (FDCRA) and other COVID-19 legislation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Schmidt has been instrumental to Cozen O’Connor’s development and rollout of its COVID Human Resources Tool Kit, a collection of essential forms, templates, and policy guides to help employers navigate through the maze of new regulations and local workplace requirements. He has further contributed his industry perspective during the pandemic in myriad webinars, seminars, and media interviews.
Schmidt is a fellow in The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers (CLEL) and has been recognized by his peers as a SuperLawyer and by Benchmark Litigation as a “Labor & Employment Star for the Northeast.” In addition, he has been recognized.by Lawdragon for the past two years as a Top 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyer.
Schmidt is a 1990 graduate of Brandeis University, B.A., with honors, and a 1993 graduate of Hofstra University School of Law, J.D., with distinction.
Beyond his regular client practice, Schmidt serves as the chairman of the board of directors of After-School All-Stars of New York, the New York chapter of a charitable organization founded by Arnold Schwarzenegger to provide after school and summer programs for inner city youth. He also spends significant time providing pro bono counsel to various organizations and individuals who are less able to afford legal representation.
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970 and ranked among the top 100 law firms in America, Cozen O’Connor has more than 825 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor services its clients’ needs through 32 offices across two continents.