Michael C. Griffaton

Mike is of counsel in the Vorys Columbus office and a member of the labor and employment and government relations practice groups.  He has significant experience with wage and hour law, noncompetition, drug testing, discrimination, wrongful discharge, Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN Act), affirmative action and prevailing wage.  In his practice, Mike advises Ohio and national employers on policy development, personnel matters, and litigation avoidance and represents them before government agencies and the courts and through alternative dispute resolution. He also advises clients on legislative advocacy and strategizes, drafts, and analyzes federal, state, and local legislation.

Career highlights include:

• Counseling on and preparing multi-state compliant employee handbooks, policies, and procedures
• Defending and advising employers regarding state and federal wage-hour laws, class actions and collective actions
• Drafting and advising clients with respect to legislation involving the Ohio Constitution, taxation, insurance, gaming, liquor control, employment (including being the principle architect of Revised Code section 4111.14, Ohio’s minimum wage law), public notice, education and public utilities
• Conducting sexual harassment, equal employment opportunity and general human resources training
• Counseling employers on proactive legal compliance strategies and employee relations issues
• Prosecuting and defending lawsuits regarding covenants not to compete, trade secrets and advising employers in connection with the drafting of those agreements
• Advising employers on affirmative action and federal contractor obligations

Honors & Recognitions

American Jurisprudence Award in Research and Writing

Theodore Sindell Award for Best Essay in Tort Law

Professional & Community Activities

The Contemporary Theatre Company, Board of Directors, 2016-2023

Ohio Humanities Council, Board of Trustees, 2004-2011; Chair, 2007-2011

Actors’ Theatre Company, Board of Directors, First Vice President and Secretary, 2002-2005

Friends of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, Board of Trustees, 1998-2004

Community 21 (Columbus Community Cable Access, Inc.), Board of Trustees, First Vice President, 1997-2002