Michael W. Massiatte, a former Assistant General Counsel for a technology and media company and a former Chief Employment and Compliance Counsel for a publicly-traded energy company, focuses his practice on labor and employment matters, including employee and labor relations, employee benefits, workplace safety and obligations arising in connection with mergers and acquisitions. He also counsels clients on litigation, commercial transactions, corporate compliance and ethics, and risk management matters and he frequently conducts high-level internal investigations.
Michael provides advice and counseling to entities of all sizes, ranging from Fortune 100 companies to startups, on a wide range of business and employment-related issues.
Michael partners with clients to proactively address employment and compliance issues to minimize the risk of litigation. He regularly counsels employers an all aspects of the employment relationship. Michael also regularly works with employers to review and update employment policies and to provide training on a wide range of topics including workplace safety requirements and best practices, managing employee leave, handling employee discipline and discharge decisions, and protecting confidential and proprietary information. He also prepares executive and employment agreements, including those containing provisions aimed at protecting trade secrets and other business interests.
Michael also advises clients on corporate compliance and risk management matters and advises companies in connection with corporate internal and governmental investigations. He counsels clients on developing, implementing and enhancing corporate compliance and ethics programs to address a broad range of potential risks, among them anti-corruption/anti- bribery, antitrust, privacy, cyber-security, and data protection and information management.
Leveraging his extensive experience and knowledge of in-house legal operations, Michael also provides general counsel services to his legal and business clients that includes functioning as outside general counsel.
Michael is a member of DLA Piper's national Employment Editorial Board and an editor of The Labor Dish, DLA Piper's employment blog highlighting legal issues important to US employers.