Williams Mullen (NC)

For more than 15 years, Mike Lord has represented management in employment law and related litigation before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. In addition, he advises clients on non-compete covenants, confidentiality agreements, and the protection of trade secrets. He has extensive experience in OSHA matters.

Mr. Lord 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. While Mr. Lord’s efforts have saved millions of dollars collectively for clients, his representation is not limited to citation defense. To avoid proposed penalties and unnecessary abatement costs, Mr. Lord advises clients on how to prepare for the inevitable OSHA inspection. He 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, Mr. Lord works together with the firm’s litigators when clients suffer from catastrophes or increasingly common episodes of workplace violence. The team consults with management on how to handle the exigencies of the emergency, and later, how to avoid or defend employee lawsuits against the business outside the workers’ compensation domain. He also provides valuable insight when defending employees’ claims of retaliation for reporting alleged unsafe work practices or environments.

Mr. Lord’s experience also includes serving as in-house employment counsel at GlaxoSmithKline and as a clerk for the Honorable Eugene A. Gordon, Senior U.S. District Court Judge for the Middle District of North Carolina.

Mr. Lord is licensed to practice in North Carolina. He is a member of the Labor and Litigation sections of the North Carolina Bar Association and the Litigation Section of the American Bar Association. Best Lawyers in America and Chambers USA have recognized Mr. Lord as a top attorney in North Carolina for labor and employment law and he is listed in North Carolina Super Lawyers magazine.

Mr. Lord earned a B.A. from Washington & Lee University, magna cum laude, and a J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law, cum laude.

• Class action by consumers alleging race discrimination by a rental car company
• Reversed arbitrator's decision ordering reinstatement of discharged employee who refused to take a drug test
• Successful appeal of improper unit determination by NLRB in union organizing election
• Summary judgment granted in sex discrimination matter on the grounds of res judicata
• Summary judgment affirmed in race discrimination action
• Plaintiff voluntarily dismissed ADA claim after the company raised the possibility of seeking costs
• Plaintiff voluntarily dismissed ADEA claim after possibility of costs was raised
• Plaintiff voluntarily dismissed REDA claim during the company's oral argument of its motion to dismiss
• Successfully sought leave to request from OSHA the production of unredacted witness statements taken by its compliance officers during fatality inspections

Practice Area
Construction, Labor & Employment, OSHA