Overview
Matt Disbrow is a labor and employment attorney who advises clients concerning a wide spectrum of employment matters, including wage and hour issues, overtime issues, executive employment and compensation, employment discrimination, and other related issues. He represents employers in federal and state administrative proceedings as well as trial and appellate courts. Matt's clients include automobile manufacturers, automotive suppliers, lending institutions, technology companies, property management companies, hospitality companies, and building contractors.
- Represents employers at many phases of litigation and administrative audits and proceedings that arise under federal and state wage and overtime laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Davis-Bacon Act, the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act, the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contacts Act, Michigan's Minimum Wage Law and the Wage & Fringe Benefits Act, including significant experience in representing employers during class actions and collective actions
- Conducts wage and hour audits and investigates and evaluates employee exempt, non-exempt, and other classifications
- Counsels clients concerning contractual and other issues that may arise as a consequence of an employment or independent-contractor relationship, including drafting and advising clients with regard to employment contracts, severance agreements, confidentiality agreements, noncompetition provisions, and independent contractor agreements
- Represents employers in harassment and employment discrimination lawsuits brought under federal and state anti-discrimination laws
- Advises employers on drafting and implementing work rules, policies, procedures, and employee handbooks that will appropriately match the employers' specific business goals
- Defends employers in investigations and litigation related to prevailing-wage and other factors that impact immigration/work visa status
- Represents employers in administrative proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG), the Michigan Occupational Health and Safety Administration, and the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency
- Counsels employers regarding planning and implementing workforce reductions, reorganizations, mass layoffs, and plant closings, including under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act (WARN) and analogous state statutes
- Represents employers in lawsuits and administrative proceedings filed in California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, and Wisconsin, including appearing before the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement and the Illinois Department of Human Rights
Services
Experience
Representative Matters
- Prevailed on appeal before the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in a collective action brought under the FLSA regarding the overtime classification of hundreds of mortgage bankers; Henry v. Rocket Mortgage LLC, 698 F.3d 897 (6th Cir. 2012)
- Obtained sizeable settlement for client automotive supplier in a commercial dispute involving trade secret issues (2009)
- Obtained reversal of the Unemployment Insurance Agency’s successor-liability determinations, which resulted in substantial reductions in the unemployment-tax rate and large repayment of overcharges to client; Midwest Rubber Company v. Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, No. 278223, 2008 WL 5273426 (Mich. Ct. App. December 18, 2008)
- Secured a no-cause jury verdict as co-counsel for defendant-employer, a national delivery service in a suit involving federal claims of national origin discrimination
- Secured favorable summary judgment for residential property management company that resulted in the dismissal of a former executive’s Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) claims; Karibian v. Village Green Management Company, No. 06-14989, 2008 WL 192259 (E.D. Mich, January 23, 2008)
- Prevailed on appeal before the Michigan Court of Appeals, which resulted in the affirmance of the trial court’s denial of benefits under the client’s group credit life insurance policy; Michigan Columbus Federal Credit Union v. Madison National Life Insurance Company, No. 272725, 2007 WL 840911 (Mich. Ct. App., March 20, 2007)
- Secured summary judgment in automotive supplier’s favor regarding a former employee’s age discrimination, sex discrimination, FMLA, and other wrongful discharge claims; Casto v. Royal Oak Industries, Inc., No. 5:04-CV-195, 2006 WL 322485 (W.D. Mich., February 10, 2006)
Credentials
Education
Wayne State University Law School, J.D.
- cum laude; Order of the Coif
University of Michigan, B.A.
Admissions
- California
- Michigan
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Recognition
Awards
- Michigan Super Lawyers, 2013-2021
- Recognized as a Rising Star, 2008-2010
- DBusiness, Top Lawyers, 2016
Professional & Community Involvement
State Bar of Michigan
- Labor and Employment Law Section
- Litigation Section
Oakland County Bar Association
American Bar Association
- Section of Labor and Employment Law
- Committee on Federal Labor Standards Legislation, 2010
Christmas in Action of Detroit and Oakland County
- Board of Directors