Michele R. Fisher
No Company Is Too Big to Play Fair
About
Michele R. Fisher is a managing partner, and a leader of the firm’s Business Development and Marketing Groups, which originate class and collective actions and market the firm. Michele has dedicated her career to litigating and arbitrating and wage and hour class and collective actions. She has represented tens of thousands of workers in over one hundred class and collective actions, and hundreds of arbitrations. She has also represented workers in individual discrimination, harassment, and retaliation matters, several of which have gone to trial. Michele’s energy, experience, and resourcefulness have made her a nationally recognized litigator and a popular lecturer on wage and hour and employee rights issues.
Michele created and manages arbitratorrater.com, a free website exclusively for employee and worker rights advocates. Michele holds, and has held, many leadership positions to support and improve the profession and is a repeated recipient of honors and awards for her work. She is active in providing pro bono legal work and guidance to foster children through the Children’s Law Center.
Education
- J.D., William Mitchell College of Law, 2000
- B.A., St. Cloud State University, 1997
Admissions
- Minnesota Supreme Court
- Georgia Supreme Court
- New York Supreme Court
- Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. District Court -- Northern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court – Northern District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court – Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court – Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court – District of Minnesota
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court – Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court – Western District of Oklahoma
- U.S. District Court – Western District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court – Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court – Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court – Western District of Wisconsin
Memberships & Honors
- Named to "Top Lawyers List," Minnesota Monthly 2022-2024
- Inducted as Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, 2020-Present
- Named to the Top 50 Minnesota Women Super Lawyers list, 2021-2024
- Named to Top 100 Minnesota Super Lawyers list, 2022-2024
- Named to the Super Lawyers list, Minnesota Super Lawyers, Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine, and Twin Cities Business, 2013-2024
- Named Top-Rated Lawyer by Avvo, the American Registry, 2018-Present
- Named one of The Best Lawyers in America, 2019-2025
- Named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers in America, 2023
- Named to Top 10 Wage & Hour Lawyers list, the National Trial Lawyers, 2018-2025
- Named to the Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Lawyers, the National Trial Lawyers List, 2016-2025
- Named to the Top 100 National Advocates/Top 20 Workers Compensation and Employment Law, the National Trial Lawyers List, 2018-2022
- Named to Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment & Civil Rights Lawyers list, 2018-2024
- Named to the Power Lawyer list, Lawyers of Distinction, 2020-2023
- Named to Top 10% in the USA Employment and Labor Law list, Lawyers of Distinction, 2017-2019
- Named to America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators, 2019-2024
- Named to the Rising Star, Minnesota Super Lawyers, Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business, 2005-2012
- Developed and manage arbitratorrater.com, 2019-Present
- Children's Law Center, Volunteer Attorney for Foster Children, 2016-Present
- Council Member, ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law, 2022-2026
- Council Liaison to Federal Labor Standards Legislation Subcommittee, ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law, 2022–Present
- Council Liaison to Social Media Administrative Committee, ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law, 2022–Present
- Council Liaison to Trial Institute Administrative Committee, ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law, 2022–Present
- Co-Chair Emerita, ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law, Annual Conference Planning Committee, 2021-2022
- Co-Chair, Practising Law Institute, Wage & Hour Litigation and Compliance, New York, NY, 2011-Present
- Advisory Board Member, Center for Labor & Employment Law at NYU School of Law, 2021-2023
- Co-Chair, ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law, Annual Conference Planning Committee, 2020-2021
- Vice Co-Chair, ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law, Annual Conference Planning Committee, 2019-2020
- Task Force Member, Mass Employment Arbitration Protocols, CPR International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution, 2020-2021
- Twin Cities Diversity In Practice Connect Program, 2020-2021
- Worker’s Rights Advocate Liaison to U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Education & Labor, 2019-2020
- Co-Chair, ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law, Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee, 2017-2019
- Co-Chair, ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law, Revenue and Partnership Development Committee, 2018-2019
- Track Coordinator, ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law, Wage & Hour Track for Annual LEL Conference, 2019
- Chapter Editor, ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law, Wage and Hour Laws: a State-by-State Survey, Second Edition by Gregory K. McGillivary, 2012-2018
- Co-Chair, ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law, Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee, FLSA Subcommittee, 2013-2016
- Co-Editor-in-Chief of ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law, Federal Labor Standards Committee, Fair Labor Standard Act Midwinter Report, 2013-2016
- Associate Chapter Editor of ABA Section of Labor & Employment Federal Labor Standards Committee, Fair Labor Standards Act Midwinter Report, 2012-2013
- Contributing Author of ABA Section of Labor & Employment Federal Labor Standards Committee, Fair Labor Standards Act Midwinter Report, 2008-2013
- Co-Chair, ABA Section Labor & Employment Law, FLSL Subcommittee, WARN Act and Employee Polygraph Protection Act Subcommittee, 2006-2009
- Editorial Board Member for BNA’s the Fair Labor Standards Act Treatise, 2013-2015
- American Bar Association Member
- ABA Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee Member
- Minnesota State Bar Association Member
- New York State Bar Association Member
- Georgia State Bar Association Member
- Hennepin County Bar Association Member
- National Employment Lawyers Association
- National Trial Lawyers Member
-
The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
-
The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
-
National Advocates Top 100
-
Lawdragon 2021
-
Lawyers of Distinction - 2021
-
National Wage and Hour Trial Lawyers Top 100
-
America's Top High Stakes Litigators - 2021
-
Best Lawyers - Fisher
-
Super Lawyers - Fisher
-
Super Lawyers - Fisher - 5 Years
-
Super Lawyers - Top 100
-
Super Lawyers - Top 50 Women
Presentations & Publications
- “Dealing with Difficult Situations at Depositions.” In-House Firm Training, Minneapolis, MN 2024
- "'Need to Know' 2024 Wage and Hour Developments." Practising Law Institute: Employment Law Institute, New York, NY 2024.
- "Multiple Individual Arbitrations and Mass Arbitrations." ABA 17th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, Seattle, WA 2023.
- Wage and Hour Law Handbook: Federal and Minnesota, MN Continuing Legal Education, Author, Plaintiff-Side Analysis of Wage-Hour Litigation Issues, Chapter 12, 2023.
- "Successfully Litigating Joint Employment and Employee Misclassification Claims." Minnesota CLE: Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, MN 2023.
- “The State of Arbitration.” National Employment Lawyers Association, NELA Annual Convention, Chicago, IL 2023.
- "Effectively Working With Experts in Wage and Hour Litigation." Practising Law Institute: Wage & Hour Litigation and Compliance 2023, New York, NY 2023.
- “Snapshot of Wage & Hour Statistics and Trends.” Practising Law Institute: Wage & Hour Litigation and Compliance 2023, New York, NY 2023.
- "Practical Tips for Participating in a Wage and Hour Investigation." ABA 16th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, Washington D.C. 2022.
- “‘Need to Know' 2022 Wage and Hour Developments.” Practising Law Institute: Employment Law Institute, New York, NY 2022.
- Introduction of Keynote by U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Commissioner Keith Sonderling. 74th Annual NYU Conference on Labor & Employment Law: Initiatives of the Biden Administration, New York, NY 2022.
- “Basics of Wage and Hour Law.” Practising Law Institute: Understanding Employment Law 2022, New York, NY 2022.
- “Snapshot of Wage & Hour Statistics and Trends.” Practising Law Institute: Wage & Hour Litigation and Compliance 2022, New York, NY 2022.
- "COVID-19's Impact on Wage and Hour Practices." Michele Fisher and Jen Davison, The Journal of PLI Press, Vol. 5, 2021
- “Hot Tubbing With Experts: Concurrent Expert Testimony.” ABA 15th Annual Section of Labor & Employment Law Conference, Beverly Hills, CA 2021.
- “‘Need to Know' 2021 Wage and Hour Developments.” Practising Law Institute: Employment Law Institute, New York, NY 2021.
- “Tips for Effective Legal Writing.” Twin Cities Diversity in Practice: Mentorship Program, Minneapolis, MN 2021.
- “New Wage and Hour Cases and Trends in 2021.” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, MN 2021.
- “COVID-19’s Impact on Wage and Hour Practices.”Practising Law Institute: Wage & Hour Litigation and Compliance 2021, New York, NY 2021.
- “‘Need to Know’ 2020 Wage and Hour Developments.” Practising Law Institute: Employment Law Institute, New York, NY 2020.
- “New Wage and Hour Cases and Trends in 2020.” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, MN 2020.
- “Calculating Time Worked and Damages in Wage & Hour Cases.” Practising Law Institute: Wage & Hour Litigation and Compliance 2020, New York, NY 2020.
- “What’s Going on at the DOL?” ABA 13th Annual Section of Labor and Employment Law Conference, New Orleans, LA 2019.
- Co-Author of the National Employment Lawyers Association’s Comments to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Joint Employer Status Under the FLSA, 2019.
- “‘Need to Know' Wage and Hour Developments.” Practising Law Institute: Employment Law Institute 2019, New York, NY 2019.
- “Wage and Hour Update: What HR Professionals Need to Know.” 2019 Industry Liaison Group National Conference, Milwaukee, WI 2019.
- “Wage and Hour Cases and Trends in 2019.” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, MN 2019.
- “Uniting With the Minnesota State Attorney General to Fight Wage Theft & Unfair Employment Practices.” Continuing Legal Education, Minneapolis, MN 2019.
- “Arbitration Administrators Hear from NELA Lawyers on the Challenges They Face in Arbitration.” National Employment Lawyers Association, Epic Advocacy: Protecting Wages in Litigation & Arbitration, Denver, CO 2019.
- “Arbitration Agreements & Challenges to Them Post-Epic” Practising Law Institute: Wage & Hour Litigation and Compliance 2019, New York, NY 2019.
- “Latest Challenges in the Wage & Hour Arena.” Practising Law Institute: Employment Law Institute 2018, New York, NY 2018.
- “Pursuing FLSA and Employment Discrimination Claims in the Wake of Epic Systems.” American Bar Association: Webinar, 2018.
- “Marketing for Attorneys: Be the Voice for Employees, for Consumers, for You!” Nichols Kaster, PLLP: In-House CLE, Minneapolis, MN 2018.
- “Test Your Wage & Hour IQ: Compliant or Non-Compliant?” Practising Law Institute: Wage & Hour Litigation and Compliance 2018, New York, NY 2018.
- “Employee Classification.” Practising Law Institute: Employment Law Institute 2017, New York, NY 2017.
- “Top Ten Things You Need To Know About Litigating Wage & Hour Cases.” National Employment Lawyers Association’s Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas 2017.
- “Implementing the New 'White Collar' Regulations.” Practising Law Institute: Wage & Hour Litigation and Compliance 2017, New York, NY 2017.
- “Wage and Hour Update.” Practising Law Institute: Employment Law Institute 2016, New York, NY 2016.
- “The Regulatory Avalanche: The Final White-Collar Regulations.” Plenary Session. Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, MN 2016.
- “Litigating/Arbitrating Wage and Hour Cases.” ABA 10th Annual Section of Labor and Employment Law Conference, Chicago, IL 2016.
- “Settlement of Class and Collective Actions and Attorneys’ Fees and Costs.” Practising Law Institute: Wage & Hour Litigation and Compliance 2016, New York, NY 2016.
- “Wage and Hour Update.” Practising Law Institute: Employment Law Institute, New York, NY, 2015.
- “FLSA-Emerging Trends, Cases and Analysis in 2015.” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, MN, 2015.
- “Trends in Wage & Hour Filings and Case Law Update.” Practising Law Institute: Wage & Hour Litigation and Compliance, New York, NY, 2015.
- “Fair Labor Standards Act Basics and Wage-Hour Update.” Practising Law Institute: Understanding Employment Law, New York, NY, 2015.
- Moderator of “Litigating a Hybrid Rule 23 Class and FLSA Collective Action.” ABA Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee Midwinter Meeting, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, 2015.
- “An Update on Misclassification Litigation, Including Joint Employment and Related Issues.” ABA 8th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, Los Angeles, California, 2014.
- “FLSA-Emerging Trends, Cases and Analysis.” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, St. Paul, MN, 2014.
- “FLSA Basics/Wage and Hour Update.” Practising Law Institute: Understanding Employment Law 2014, New York, NY, 2014.
- Moderator of “FLSA: Class Communications and Settlements that Judges Will Tolerate.” ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law, Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee Midwinter Meeting. Miami Beach, FL, 2014.
- Moderator of “Judges Panel: The Court's View on Wage & Hour Litigation.” Practising Law Institute Wage & Hour Litigation and Compliance Challenges 2014, New York City, NY, 2014.
- Interview Article, “Michele Fisher Describes Impact of Growing Judicial Hostility to Wage-Hour Class Claims and Trend Towards Mass Individual Arbitrations.” Bloomberg BNA FLSA Litigation Tracker Litigator Q&A, 2013.
- “Class and Collective Action Arbitration: an Update.” ABA 7th Annual Section of Labor and Employment Law Conference, New Orleans, LA, 2013.
- “Winning Strategies for Handling Class and Collective Wage and Hour Actions.” National Employment Lawyers Association Annual Conference, the Summit for Workers' Rights, Denver, CO, 2013.
- “FLSA Basics/Wage and Hour Update.” Practising Law Institute: Understanding Employment Law 2013, New York, NY, 2013.
- “FLSA-Mass Arbitrations in Wage and Hour Cases.” ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law, Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee Midwinter Meeting, Los Cabos, Mexico, 2013.
- Ethical Issues in Wage and Hour Litigation and Settlement.” Practicing Law Institute’s Managing Wage and Hour Risks Conference, New York, NY, 2013.
- William Mitchell College of Law Hachey Initiative Face Time Speaker, St. Paul, MN 2012.
- “Fair Labor Standards Act Cases: Overview and Best Practices.” Maine Employment Lawyers Association, Wayne, ME, 2012.
- “Factoring in the Latest Developments Regarding Off the Clock, Meal and Rest Breaks, and Tipped Employees into Your Litigation Strategy.” American Conference Institute’s Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions Forum, San Francisco, CA, 2012.
- “FLSA Basics/Wage and Hour Update.” Practising Law Institute: Understanding Employment Law 2012, New York, NY, 2012.
- “Wage and Hour Litigation Part III – Special Issues: Arbitration, Decertification, Settlement.” Practising Law Institute: Managing Wage & Hour Risks 2012: Panel, New York, NY, 2012.
- “Focus Areas for Claims - the Latest Legal Developments.” Practising Law Institute: Managing Wage & Hour Risks 2012, New York, NY, 2012.
- “The View from the Plaintiffs’ Bar: Adjusting Your Litigations Strategies in Light of New and Innovative Claims.” American Conference Institute, 14th National Forum on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions, Miami, FL, 2012.
- “Maximizing the Value of Your Case.” National Employment Lawyers Association Convention, Securing Wages, Protecting Hours: Representing Workers Under FLSA, Washington, D.C., 2011.
- “Top Ten Mistakes to Avoid in FLSA Litigation.” American Association for Justice Annual Convention, New York, NY, 2011.
- “Representing Misclassified and Reclassified Workers.” National Employment Lawyers Association Annual Convention, New Orleans, LA, 2011.
- “Tips for the Settlement of FLSA Actions.” Ohio Association for Justice Wage & Hour Seminar, Cleveland, OH, 2011.
- Wage and Hour Law Handbook: Federal and Minnesota, Plaintiff-Side Analysis of Wage-Hour Litigation Issues, Chapter 12, 2011.
- “The Keys to Final Victory.” Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute, Minneapolis, MN, 2011.
- “Trial, Appeals and Settlements.” Managing Wage & Hour Risks: Wage and Hour Litigation Part III, Practicing Law Institute, New York City, NY, 2011.
- “It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over: Unique Ethical and Practical Issues Posed by Settling Wage and Hour Litigation.” American Bar Association Fourth Annual Section of Labor and Employment Law Conference, Chicago, IL, 2010.
- “Strafford, Wage and Hour Collective and Class Claims: The Continuing Litigation Threat, Pursuing, Defending and Settling FLSA Actions as Costs Skyrocket.” Internet Webinar, 2010.
- Testified before the Minnesota Senate's Business, Industry and Jobs Committee relating to Senate File 2347, a proposed amendment to the state’s overtime law, 2010.
- “Managing Wage & Hour Risks: Wage and Hour Claims Today . . . and Tomorrow.” Practicing Law Institute, New York City, NY, 2010.
- “Managing Wage & Hour Risks: ADR, Structuring Settlements.” Practicing Law Institute, New York City, NY, 2010.
- “The Financial Crisis: Impact on Government Contracts, WARN Act Cases and Whistleblower Claims Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.” American Bar Association, Section of Labor and Employment Law, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2010.
- “A Class Action is in Your Future, Developing a Class Action From The Plaintiff’s Perspective.” Atlanta Bar Association, Advanced Employment Law Conference, Atlanta, GA, 2009.
- “Turning the Table on Defendants in FLSA Cases.” National Employment Lawyers Association, Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA, 2008.
- “Recent Developments Under the WARN Act and EPPA.” American Bar Association, Section of Labor and Employment Law, Jamaica, 2008.
- “FLSA 101: The Basics.” National Employment Lawyers Association, Representing Workers in Individual and Collective Actions Under the FLSA, New Orleans, LA, 2007.
- “Recent Developments Under the WARN Act and EPPA.” American Bar Association, Section of Labor and Employment Law, Manzanillo, Mexico, 2007.
- “Using Medical Records & Experts in Employment Cases.” Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, MN, 2007.
- “A Starting Point – Helpful FLSA Cases for Plaintiffs’ Lawyers.” 8th Circuit NELA Conference, IA, 2006.
- “Ethical Considerations When Investigating and Defending Sexual Harassment Claims: Sexual Harassment - A Plaintiff’s Perspective.” Minneapolis, MN, 2006.
- “Electronic Discovery-Not Just for Geeks Anymore.” Ramsey County Bar Association, St. Paul, MN, 2005.
- “Current Status of the FLSA Regulations.” Hennepin County Bar Association, Minneapolis, MN, 2004.
- “Sex Harassment Investigations.” Hospitality Inc., Minneapolis, MN, 2004.