Michael J. Lebowich is a partner in the Labor & Employment Law Department and co-head of the Labor-Management Relations Group. He represents and counsels employers on a wide range of labor and employment matters, with a particular interest in the field of traditional labor law.
Michael acts as the primary spokesperson in collective bargaining negotiations, regularly handles grievance arbitrations, assists clients in the labor implications of corporate transactions, and counsels clients on union organizing issues, strike preparation and day-to-day contract administration issues. He also has significant experience in representation and unfair labor practice matters before the National Labor Relations Board.
His broad employment law experience includes handling of race, national origin, gender and other discrimination matters in state and federal court. A significant amount of his practice is devoted to counseling clients regarding the application and practical impact of the full range of employment laws that affect our clients, including all local, state and federal employment discrimination statutes, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and state labor laws.
Michael has substantial experience in a wide variety of industries, including entertainment, broadcasting, newspaper publishing and delivery, utilities and lodging. He represents such clients as The New York Times, BuzzFeed, ABC, the New York City Ballet, PPL, Pacific Gas & Electric, Host Hotels and Resorts, and The Broadway League (and many of its theater owner and producing members). Michael also has significant public sector experience representing, among others, the City of New York and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Michael is a frequent guest lecturer at Columbia Business School, the Cornell School of Hotel Administration, the New York University Tisch School for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management, and is an advisory board member of the Cornell Institute for Hospitality Labor and Employment Relations.
magna cum laude
Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers 2020-2022, 2024-2025
The Legal 500 United States: Labor & Employment: Labor-Management Relations 2010-2017, 2019-2021
The Legal 500 United States: Labor & Employment: Disputes: Defense 2018
New York Super Lawyers 2016-2022
Lawdragon & Human Resource Executive Nation’s Most Powerful Employment Attorneys, Top 20 Labor & Employment 2016-2019
Lawdragon & Human Resource Executive Nation's Most Powerful Employment Attorneys, Top 40 Up and Comers 2012-2015
Best Lawyers of America: 2022-2024
Proskauer on labor management relations