Gary S. Fealk

Practice Areas

Practices in all areas of labor and employment litigation on behalf of private and public sector employers.

He has particular expertise in union/management relations including collective bargaining, labor arbitrations, administrative proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) and in multi-employer benefit fund collection actions. He has represented many public sector clients, including municipal governments, in labor and employment matters and has counseled them in connection with FOIA and Open Meetings Act matters.

He has extensive experience defending discrimination, retaliation and harassment claims in state and federal courts and before the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). He also represents employers in cases involving non-competition agreements, the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Professional Memberships

American Employment Law Council

State Bar of Michigan (Labor and Employment Section)

Oakland County Bar Association (Labor and Employment Section)

American Bar Association

Federal Bar Association-Eastern District of Michigan Chapter

Associated General Contractors Legal Advisory Committee

Publications

“NLRB Announces New Employee-Friendly Joint Employer Test,” ICLE Legal Update, November 9, 2023

Co-Editor, Michigan Employment Law Letter, 2015-present (contributing author, 1997-2014)

Co-chapter editor, Workplace Harassment Law (ABA-BNA)

Contributing author, Developing Labor Law (ABA-BNA)

Contributing author, Employment Discrimination Law (ABA-BNA)

Co-author, The Role of External Law in Arbitration and Judicial Review, (BNA, 2005) (presented and published in the 2005 Proceedings of the National Academy of Arbitrators)

Contributing author, Employment Litigation in Michigan, 2nd ed. and cumulative supplements (ICLE)