For more than 30 years, Mike Lord has provided solutions to workforce problems for employers of all sizes. Business owners, managers, human resources and safety professionals appreciate Mike’s practical guidance, which is grounded in his experience, legal acumen and controversy skills.
For more than 30 years, Mike Lord has provided solutions to workforce problems for employers of all sizes. Business owners, managers, human resources and safety professionals appreciate Mike’s practical guidance, which is grounded in his experience, legal acumen and controversy skills.
Mike serves as a trusted resource for his clients as they confront the daily variety of labor challenges, including those related to recruitment/retention, applicant screening, drug testing, probationary employment, performance management, addressing internal and external complaints, rightsizing the workforce, creating HR polices and rolling them out, separations, and more. Examples of questions Mike frequently addresses include:
- May I reject an applicant for a positive drug screen when she claims that a prescription medicine caused her to fail the test?
- May I drug test an employee involved in a near-miss accident on the manufacturing floor?
- May I fire a probationary employee for excessive absenteeism when he belatedly claims to have hurt his back while on the job?
- I just received notice from the EEOC about a Charge of sexual harassment from a current employee who never raised her concerns with me – how do I respond?
- How may I best manage a reduction in force with a largely age-protected workforce?
- Our key sales representative resigned without notice on Friday and has been calling on customers throughout the weekend on behalf of our competitor – what may I do to protect the business?
- A DOL representative just arrived at our offices and wants to begin an investigation – help!
Mike proactively suggests best practices and provides training to help minimize being pulled into the quagmire of litigation. Nonetheless, lawsuits and administrative complaints are facts of corporate life. He has represented management in employment law and related litigation before state and federal courts and administrative agencies.
Clients will receive a vigorous defense, but, more importantly, they will receive the benefit of his accumulated wisdom. Not all actions threaten the existence of a company, and there is great value in resolving disputes in a manner that serves business needs. Mike’s approach is to leverage client communication into informed collaboration, efficiency and achieving “success” as mutually defined.
Mike has represented general industry, construction and agricultural employers regarding OSHA matters. By handling hundreds of these matters, he has practical experience with the General Duty Clause and virtually every OSHA standard. However, Mike’s representation in OSHA matters is not limited to citation defense. To avoid proposed penalties and unnecessary abatement costs, he advises clients on how to prepare for the inevitable OSHA inspection. Mike works closely with management and, in some cases, private consultants to devise and implement a workable safety and health program. Mike also counsels clients on creative abatement methods to suit their particular needs and circumstances. Finally, he provides guidance to employers as they defend against personal injury and wrongful death actions arising out of workplace accidents/catastrophes.
Similarly, Mike has carved a niche practice involving employee mobility and restrictive covenants. He advises businesses on how best to protect their trade secrets, goodwill and other assets. Mike frequently litigates non-compete, non-solicitation, non-hiring and non-disclosure promises when pre-suit negotiations fail.
Mike has served several stints as in-house employment counsel with GlaxoSmithKline and serves as de facto general counsel for smaller businesses. He understands the need to actively listen to business partners and then to deliver legal services at the business’s pace that meet commercial objectives in a lawful manner.
His philosophy is not to dismissively announce, “No, you can’t,” without offering any constructive strategy. Instead, Mike identifies a range of options and helps the client select the most appropriate one to implement. Clients appreciate both Mike’s calming demeanor as he talks to them as partners and Mike’s keen sense of humor.
Directly upon graduating from the Wake Forest University School of Law, Mike clerked for the Honorable Eugene A. Gordon, Senior U.S. District Court Judge for the Middle District of North Carolina. Mike experienced first-hand how the law is applied at the trial-court level in civil actions. He also assisted Judge Gordon when he sat by designation with the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to decide challenges to district court rulings.
Mike was AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, listed in The Best Lawyers in America © for Labor & Employment Law (1999-present) and recognized by Chambers USA for Labor & Employment Litigation and Employment – Management (2006-present). He was also listed in North Carolina Super Lawyers for Labor & Employment Law (2008-present), named among North Carolina's "Legal Elite" by Business North Carolina (2013-present) and named a "Labor & Employment Star" by Benchmark Litigation (2018-present).
In sum, Mike actively works with clients to quickly and efficiently achieve the best possible result. His business model isn’t based on repeat representations arising from a failed (and unabated) policy or practice. Rather, his client-centric practice generates long-term relationships built on trust and referrals.
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01.18.2023
15 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2023 North Carolina Super Lawyers List; Camden and Kapp Named to Top List
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01.05.2023
11 Williams Mullen Attorneys Honored by Business North Carolina's 2023 'Legal Elite'
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10.07.2022
Williams Mullen’s Labor, Employment & Immigration Practice Named in Benchmark Litigation 2023
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08.18.2022
123 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©
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07.07.2022
Higher OSHA Penalties Soon To Be Issued in North Carolina
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06.29.2022
Mike Lord Named to 2021 North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society
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06.02.2022
39 Williams Mullen Attorneys, 14 Practice Areas Recognized in Chambers USA 2022
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01.18.2022
16 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2022 North Carolina Super Lawyers List; Camden, Johnson, Kapp and Scott Named to Top List
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01.13.2022
Supreme Court Stays OSHA Vaccine Rule
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01.03.2022
14 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to Business North Carolina’s 2022 ‘Legal Elite’
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09.29.2021
Williams Mullen’s Labor, Employment & Immigration Practice Named in Benchmark Litigation 2022
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08.23.2021
124 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©
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05.26.2021
40 Williams Mullen Attorneys, 12 Practice Areas Recognized in Chambers USA 2021
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01.14.2021
17 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2021 North Carolina Super Lawyers List; Camden, Kapp, Scott and Johnson Named to Top Lists
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01.05.2021
16 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to Business North Carolina’s 2021 ‘Legal Elite’
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12.18.2020
Recent Developments in Virginia and North Carolina Concerning the Department of Labor and Industry’s COVID-19 Regulations
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10.13.2020
Williams Mullen’s Litigation and Labor, Employment & Immigration Practices Named in Benchmark Litigation 2021; 15 Attorneys Recognized
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09.14.2020
DOL Doubles Down on its COVID-19 Leave Guidance for the Most Part, the “Old” Normal is Again the “New” Normal
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08.20.2020
116 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©; Most Total Lawyers in Virginia
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08.17.2020
Lord Writes Article for National Association of Safety Professionals
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05.21.2020
Return to Workplace Guidance: Temperature and Other Medical Screening of Workers for COVID-19 Symptoms and OSHA Reporting of COVID-19 Cases
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04.28.2020
29 Williams Mullen Attorneys, 11 Practice Areas Recognized in Chambers USA 2020
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04.16.2020
OSHA Unveils COVID-19 Related Enforcement Plan
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04.08.2020
OSHA Unveils New Poster Aimed at Reducing Workplace Exposure to the Coronavirus
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04.06.2020
NC Employers Take Note: New Duty to Notify Laid Off and Furloughed Employees About Unemployment Services
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03.20.2020
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) - Chart
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03.13.2020
OSHA's Planning Guidance to Employers About Hardening Workplaces Against Coronavirus
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01.22.2020
10 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2020 North Carolina Super Lawyers List; Camden, Kapp and Scott Named to Top Lists
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01.02.2020
13 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to Business North Carolina’s 2020 ‘Legal Elite’
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09.30.2019
Williams Mullen’s Litigation and Labor, Employment & Immigration Practices Named in Benchmark Litigation 2020; 14 Attorneys Recognized
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08.15.2019
119 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in 2020 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©
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04.25.2019
30 Williams Mullen Attorneys, 12 Practice Areas Recognized in Chambers USA 2019
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04.10.2019
Mike Lord Co-Authors Blog Post on Best Practices for Employee Handbooks
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02.05.2019
11 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2019 North Carolina Super Lawyers List; Keith Kapp and Elizabeth Scott Named to Top Lists
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01.02.2019
13 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to Business North Carolina’s 2019 ‘Legal Elite’; Keith Kapp and Elizabeth Scott Inducted Into Hall of Fame
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12.03.2018
Williams Mullen’s Litigation and Labor, Employment and Immigration Practices Named in Benchmark Litigation 2019; 11 Attorneys Recognized
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08.15.2018
110 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in Latest Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©
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05.03.2018
29 Williams Mullen Attorneys, 12 Practice Areas Recognized in Chambers USA 2018 Guide
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01.25.2018
9 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in North Carolina Super Lawyers for 2018; 3 Included in Rising Stars List
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01.03.2018
11 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to Business North Carolina’s 2018 ‘Legal Elite’
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08.14.2017
114 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2018
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05.26.2017
32 Williams Mullen Attorneys, 12 Practice Areas Recognized by Chambers USA for 2017
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04.13.2017
When Are Your Subcontractor's Employees Your Employees?
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04.11.2017
Money, Dirt and Steel: Spring 2017
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02.01.2017
10 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to the 2017 North Carolina Super Lawyers List
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01.06.2017
Eight Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to Business North Carolina’s ‘Legal Elite’ in 2017
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08.15.2016
100 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2017 Best Lawyers in America
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06.02.2016
26 Williams Mullen Attorneys, 11 Practice Areas Recognized by Chambers USA for 2016
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01.11.2016
Seven Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2016 North Carolina ‘Legal Elite’
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08.17.2015
106 Williams Mullen Attorneys named 2016 Best Lawyers in America
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01.21.2015
Williams Mullen North Carolina Attorneys Named 2015 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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01.12.2015
Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2015 North Carolina “Legal Elite”
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08.18.2014
100 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2015 Best Lawyers in America
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05.23.2014
Williams Mullen Recognized by Chambers USA for 2014
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01.31.2014
Williams Mullen North Carolina Attorneys Named 2014 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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01.03.2014
Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2014 North Carolina Legal Elite
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09.12.2013
Williams Mullen Represents Lonesource in Sale to Retail Giant Staples
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08.16.2013
100 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2014 Best Lawyers in America
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05.24.2013
Williams Mullen Attorneys Recognized by Chambers USA for 2013
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02.27.2013
Williams Mullen North Carolina Attorneys Named 2013 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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09.13.2012
104 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2013 Best Lawyers in America
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06.08.2012
Williams Mullen Recognized by Chambers USA for 2012
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02.08.2023
Current Trends in Worker Misclassification and Wage Theft
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02.03.2022
2022 Antitrust & Complex Business Disputes Law Section Program
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11.16.2021
Limiting The Ever-Present “Bet the Company” Risk
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11.20.2020
CLE Institute 2020
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10.01.2020
CLE Institute - The New Rules of the Workplace: The Latest Occupational Health and Safety Regulations Concerning Working Amid COVID
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08.05.2020
Liability Risks to Manufacturers in the COVID-19 Era: Workplace & Employment Law Considerations
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05.15.2020
Re-Opening NC Businesses: Workplace and Employment Law Considerations
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04.28.2020
Webinar: Re-Opening Businesses - Workplace and Employment Law Considerations
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04.07.2020
Webinar - ABC Carolinas Town Hall, COVID-19: Construction Employment and Business Legal Discussion
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04.02.2020
Webinar: Turnaround and Survival Strategies from a Corporate Finance & Legal Perspective
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10.28.2019
Labor and Employment Law Essentials
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05.08.2019
Joint Employment – The Hidden Liability
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02.22.2019
Mock OSHA Trial
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02.21.2019
The Interplay Between Staffing and Construction
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12.06.2018
Employer Experiences, Agency Benefits, Non-Profits’ Role in Accessing Talent Pipeline
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11.15.2018
OSHA's Use of the General Duty Clause