Vedder is an international business-focused law firm serving sophisticated clients of all sizes and industries from offices across the U.S. and in the UK and Asia.

A Business Focused Law Firm With a Global Reach | Vedder

General

Michael Wahlander is a labor and employment lawyer representing clients of all sizes, from publicly traded retail organizations to local non-profits, in nearly every industry, including retail, construction, healthcare, education, technology and non-profit.

contentpilot/introduction

From high-stakes litigation and handling difficult personnel issues to developing complex compliance plans, Mike vigorously defends companies and delivers solutions aligned with their business goals.

core/paragraph

Clients trust Mike with their most difficult labor and employment problems, including wage and hour disputes, discrimination, retaliation, harassment, wrongful termination, employment torts (including defamation), whistleblower cases, and background check cases under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. With a practice spanning all stages of litigation, from trial to appeal, Mike is recognized for being an entrepreneurial thinker and defending employers in class actions, collective actions, PAGA representative actions, and single-plaintiff cases.  &nbsp;

An accomplished litigator well-known in the courtroom, Mike recognizes that winning takes on a different meaning for each client and shapes his strategies accordingly. When litigation can be avoided, he&nbsp;leverages&nbsp;his extensive mediation experience to negotiate and steer clients toward an agreeable resolution. When not in court, Mike’s counseling practice harnesses his litigation experience to develop business-focused strategies for his clients. He provides workplace counseling ranging from wage and hour compliance and handbooks to navigating thorny personnel matters and internal investigations. &nbsp;

Outside his active practice, Mike serves on the firm's Pro Bono Committee and as the pro bono office lead for the firm’s San Francisco Office. His pro bono work has included&nbsp;representing&nbsp;prisoners in civil rights cases and human trafficking matters, as well as&nbsp;advising&nbsp;non-profit organizations that support underserved communities. &nbsp;

core/heading

Won a class-action settlement for a property inspection company in a wage and hour class action case with a mid-seven-figure liability exposure.

core/list-item

Helped a national retail company obtain a favorable class action and PAGA settlement in a wage and hour class action with eight-figure liability exposure.

Received a nominal representative action settlement on behalf of a tree-trimming company in a PAGA matter alleging wage and hour violations.

Obtained a summary judgment in three related retaliation and defamation cases for a national health technology company, where two were appealed and the appellate court affirmed both in favor of the client.

Obtained several individual settlements that resolved wage and hour class action/PAGA claims for numerous clients.

Obtained numerous nuisance value settlements in single plaintiff matters, ranging from wage and hour cases to wrongful termination (discrimination, retaliation, and harassment).

Obtained favorable trial outcomes in several wage and hour cases, including two trial wins and one walk-away settlement.

Michael A. Wahlander

Michael A. Wahlander

Credentials

Education

Bar Admissions

Court Admissions

Insights & Events

The New Year’s Guide to New California Employment Laws

2025 New California Employment Laws & Recent Developments Webinar

Vedder Works Employment Law Series Rosemont, IL 2025

Vedder Works Employment Law Series Chicago, IL 2025

Vedder Price Immigration Compliance and Enforcement Rapid Response Team

New California Employment Laws & Recent Developments Webinar

Vedder Works Employment Law Series Rosemont, IL 2024

Vedder Works Employment Law Series Chicago, IL 2024

Michael A. Wahlander

Credentials

Education

Bar Admissions

Court Admissions

Insights & Events

The New Year’s Guide to New California Employment Laws

2025 New California Employment Laws & Recent Developments Webinar

Vedder Works Employment Law Series Rosemont, IL 2025

Vedder Works Employment Law Series Chicago, IL 2025

Vedder Price Immigration Compliance and Enforcement Rapid Response Team

New California Employment Laws & Recent Developments Webinar

Vedder Works Employment Law Series Rosemont, IL 2024

Vedder Works Employment Law Series Chicago, IL 2024

Slide Menu

Slide Search