Join SL SHRM
Our Annual Employment Law Update presented by The Attorneys of Parsons Behle & Latimer
About Michael P O'Brien
A seasoned lawyer with almost four decades of experience, Michael partners with employers in many industries to prevent and solve employment problems. He represents news media organizations in all aspects of the law related to newsgathering and distribution. He also serves as a mediator to help resolve employment and media law disputes.
Michael partners with employers in many industries to prevent and solve employment problems.
He works with the local and national Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and has served as the legal and legislative director for Utah SHRM and Salt Lake SHRM. For such services, National SHRM honored him with its prestigious Capital Award, which was given annually to one of SHRM’s 300,000 members worldwide. Utah SHRM has given him its Award for Professional Excellence.
Michael counsels employers on how to minimize and manage risks, including those involving: civil rights, discrimination, the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), sexual harassment, other harassment, retaliation, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), payment of wages, overtime pay and exemptions, employee benefits, drug
and alcohol testing, workplace violence, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), affirmative action, unemployment compensation, employee misconduct, investigations, unions, unfair labor practices, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), employment contracts, noncompetes, defamation, torts, wrongful discharge, mediation and arbitration.
He represents employers when disputes become lawsuits.
He has successfully handled hundreds of cases before administrative agencies, trial courts, juries, arbitrators, mediators and appeals courts.
Michael works with clients regarding preventive employment law activities, such as investigations, supervisor and employee training, policy and handbook reviews, job descriptions, human resource audits and counseling on day-to-day employee problems.
He has published numerous articles on employment law topics.
He is a popular public speaker, often addressing the news media and local and national employer groups on various employment law trends and issues.
Michael serves as amediator in employment law disputes.
About Mark D Tolman
Mark is the Co-Chair of the Employment Department at Parsons Behle & Latimer. Mark represents employers in matters before state and federal courts, the Utah Labor Commission and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Mark also helps his clients avoid litigation by daily counseling on employment law problems, developing preventative practices and policies and providing regular inhouse training. He was recognized by the Utah State Bar as the 2018 Labor & Employment Attorney of the Year.
