Reck, Michael R.
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
Local Time
When you choose a lawyer, Mike understands you typically bring him or her your most serious problems. He also understands there are thousands of lawyers from whom you can choose. If you select him, it is an expression of faith that cannot be disappointed. Legal representation is an exceptional responsibility and Mike treats it that way. If you have problems that keep you up at night, they will keep him up at night until a solution is found.
Employment and Labor Law
Mike also has extensive experience in employment counseling and litigation. Beyond litigating cases, he provides substantial counseling in labor and employment matters. He assists clients with the full range of employee relations including drafting and editing employee handbooks and manuals, investigating employee allegations and complaints, representing clients before lowa’s Civil Rights Commission and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and counseling on compliance with the full range of regulatory matters including the WARN Act, the Family & Medical Leave Act, the ADA, the ADEA, Title Vll and the Wage Payment Collection Act. Mike has been recognized by Chambers and Partners for his employment law practice.
Litigation
Mike recognizes all litigation matters, large or small, are important and stressful to you. He understands you want an experienced lawyer who is not afraid to try a case, but also understands successful outcomes short of trial avoid stress and burden for clients. Thus, in addition to trying cases, Mike always has emphasized creative solutions to allow resolution through dispositive motions. He has a long history of successful summary judgment motions putting an end to litigation.
Mike began his career in Washington, D.C., working on extremely large and complex litigation, and large complex cases have continued to be part of his practice since he returned to lowa over twenty years ago. Mike has extensive experience including representative lawsuits such as proposed collective actions, class actions, and derivative suits. That experience includes a vanishing premium class action in the insurance industry, a proposed class action challenging mortgage practices, asbestos property damage class actions, a proposed public nuisance class action, antitrust class actions, a shareholder fraud class action, Fair Labor Standards collective actions, and derivative suits challenging corporate mergers.
Mike will take your matter as seriously as you do - maybe more. He also could not be more proud of the team he can put on the field to get outstanding results while minimizing costs.
Personal
When not working, Mike enjoys watching his sons play violin, viola and baseball. He contains his exuberance more at violin and viola recitals than at baseball games - although he’s working on that. He’s trying to become more exuberant at recitals. He is very proud of both his sons despite them being knuckleheads. Mike also is an avid Chicago Cubs and lowa Hawkeye fan. Every year, he goes to South Dakota and insists his family get pictures taken in old west garb despite their better judgment.
Honors and Accomplishments
-Recognized by Chambers and Partners for his Labor & Employment Law practice, Band 1
-Recognized by Best Lawyers in America in the
practice areas of Employment Law -- Management (nominated); Litigation -- Labor and Employment
-Recognized in Super Lawyers for his Labor and
Employment Law practice
Publications and Presentations
Mike regularly presents on a wide range of employment and litigation topics. Recent topics include:
-FMLA—Yes, You Still Have to Worry
-Restrictive Covenants: The Thou Shalt Nots…
-So You’ve Been Sued…
-Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Pregnancy But Were Afraid to Ask
-Telecommuting—FLSA and Other Non Traditional Work Schedules
-Religion in the Workplace
-FMLA Developments
-You’re Welcome, or, You’re Not. Who Determines?
-Ensuring FMLA Compliance when Employees Provide Little Information, Yet Demand Dramatic Accommodations
-Litigating Employment Cases
-Technology and The Internet: Their Implications for the Work place
-My Job is Getting Old, But I’m Getting Older
-Public Policy in Iowa: An Ever Moving Target
-Are Men and Women Different? Can They Ever Be Treated Differently?
-Non-Compete Agreements in the Technology Age
-Defamation in the Workplace
