Mr. O'Brien is a senior attorney in the Vorys Columbus office and a member of the labor and employment practice group.  He has defended several employers in national and multi-state collective and class actions under federal and state wage-hour laws.  Mr. O’Brien has also defended employers in federal and state courts in a broad range of employment-related lawsuits, including Title VII, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the American with Disabilities Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.  He counsels clients on a broad range of employment issues, including federal and state employment laws, discharge and discipline of employees, layoffs, employment contracts, and the drafting of employee handbooks.

His notable experience includes:

• Defending and advising employers regarding state and federal wage-hour laws, class actions and collective actions
• Responsibility for extensive research for the development and publication of the firm’s 50-State Employment Law Manual

Mr. O’Brien is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association.

Mr. O’Brien has participated in seminars regarding the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, sexual harassment, employment discrimination and how to conduct an employment audit.

Mr. O’Brien received his J.D. magna cum laude from Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law where he was an associate member and Research Editor of the Cleveland State Law Review.  He received his B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross and was awarded a National Merit Scholarship.

Publications

• Co-author of the chapter on Kentucky’s wage and hour laws for the 50-state wage hour book, 2007
• Allen S. Kinzer & Michael F. O’Brien, “Rule Changes to Minimum Wage and Overtime Requirements Under Consideration,” Ohio Matters, September/October 2003
• “Operation Rescue Blockades and the Misuse of 42 U.S.C. Section 1985(3),” Cleveland State Law Review, 1993 (41 Clev. St. L. Rev. 145)

Honors and Awards

• Howard Oleck Distinguished Writing Award, Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law