Michael R. Gotzler
Shareholder | Co-Chair, Contractors, Staffing and Contingent Workers Practice Group
Professional & Community Affiliations
Appointed Member
State of Wisconsin, Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council
2011-present
Member
Labor and Employment Section
State Bar of Wisconsin
2012-present
Director
Wisconsin Association of Staffing Services
2008-present
Member, Rotary
Chair, Annual Ethics Symposium
Downtown Madison Rotary
2009-present
Trustee
Madison Rotary Foundation
2020-present
Member
Legal Advisory Council
National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO)
2006-2019
Director
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Western Wisconsin
2014-2020; Board President, 2017-2018
Director
Wisconsin Historical Foundation
2005-2014
Recognition
Awarded, AV® Peer Review Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
Named, Top Rated Labor & Employment Lawyers
American Lawyer
Named, Greater Madison “40 Under 40”
Named, Leadership Greater Madison
News, Analysis & Press
Wisconsin Supreme Court Eases the Burden for Employers Defending Arrest and Conviction Record Discrimination Claims Under State Law
Insight
March 11, 2022
New Wisconsin Unemployment Insurance Charging Process Requires Immediate Employer Action
ASAP
August 5, 2020
Federal law now protects LGBTQ workers from discrimination; what does it mean for Madison employers?
InBusiness
June 22, 2020
Wisconsin Supreme Court Strikes Down COVID-19 Safer-at-Home Order: Considerations for Wisconsin Employers
Insight
May 14, 2020
Wisconsin Employers Making the Best of the Worst: Implementing a Work-Share Program
Insight
April 29, 2020
Up in smoke? New Wisconsin governor proposes marijuana legalization and host of new employment laws
InBusiness
March 19, 2019
Up in Smoke? New Wisconsin Governor Proposes Marijuana Legalization and Host of New Employment Laws
ASAP
March 11, 2019
When a Bedrock Principle Gets Shaken
PEO Insider
May 2018
Law Fix for Wisconsin Workers’ Compensation
American Staffing Association’s Staffing Success
April 2018
Impact of Wisconsin Employment Law Preemption Bill
InBusiness
March 28, 2018
DOL’s Final Rule on Overtime Exemptions
PEO Insider
October 2016
Persuader Reporting – Worse Than ACA Reporting?
PEO Insider
May 2016
Hiring with Conviction
InBusiness
June 2015
Achievements and Pitfalls of Obamacare
Wisconsin State Journal
March 29, 2015
Supreme Court Ruling on Obamacare Could Cause Chaos, Experts Say
The Capital Times
March 24, 2015
Experts Divided on Fallout from Potential Supreme Court ACA Ruling
WisBusiness
March 24, 2015
Speaking Engagements
Contingent Workforce Risk Management Workshop
Staffing Industry Analysts Conference, Atlanta, GA
October 18, 2024
Navigating the New Normal: Understanding Union Activity in the Contingent Workforce
SIA North America Summit, Dallas, TX
September 17, 2024
Best Practices for Leveraging Staffing Firms, Contractors, and Platform Solutions
Littler Executive Employer Conference, Phoenix, AZ
May 8, 2024
Hot Topics in Labor & Employment Law for Wisconsin Employers
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce Annual Workforce & HR Conference, Madison, WI
May 2, 2024
National Labor Relations Board Update
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce
October 12, 2023
From the Provider Perspective: Updates on Contingent Workforce Laws
September 19, 2023
Littler Summer Kickoff and Employment Law Update
Madison, WI
May 31, 2023
Annual Case Law Update
NAPEO Legal & Legislative PEO Capitol Summit, Washington D.C.
May 25, 2023
Surveys Says – Emerging Trends and Gotchas Every Staffing Agency Should Know
ASA Annual Staffing Law Conference, Washington D.C.
May 19, 2023
2023 Hot HR Topics
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce Annual Workforce & HR Conference, Madison, WI
May 17, 2023
The Rise and Risks of Leveraging Contingent Workers
Littler Executive Employer Conference, Phoenix, AZ
May 12, 2023
The Rise and Risks of Leveraging Contingent Workers
Littler Executive Employer Conference, Phoenix, AZ
May 11, 2023
Contingent Workforce Risk Management Workshop
Staffing Industry Analysts Conference, Atlanta, GA
April 27, 2023
The Risks and Rise of Contingent Workers
April 25, 2023
Employment Law Update and a Peek Ahead
Madison, WI
October 5, 2022
10th Annual Brewers Briefing Labor & Employment Law Conference
Milwaukee, WI
July 27, 2022
Contingent Workforce Risk Management Workshop
Staffing Industry Analysts Conference, Atlanta, GA
July 19, 2022
Littler Summer Kickoff and Employment Law Update
Madison, WI
June 8, 2022
NLRB Update
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce,Madison, WI
June 1, 2022
Top-10 Predictions for the Future of Nontraditional Work Relationships
Littler Executive Employer Conference
May 6, 2022
Contingent Workforce Risk Management Workshop
Staffing Industry Analysts Conference, Atlanta, GA
April 19, 2022
COVID-19 Has Reshuffled the HR Deck: Remote Work, Vaccination, Testing & More
WMC Workforce and HR Conference, Madison, WI
March 2, 2022
Future of Work and The Wandering Worker
WASS Legal & Legislative Conference
November 11, 2021
OSHA Publishes Emergency Rule on Vaccine and Testing Mandates for Large Employers
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce Webinar
November 8, 2021
An Overview of PCA: A New Day for Employers at the NLRB
Annual ACC-Wisconsin Legal Conference, Elkhart Lake, WI
November 5, 2021
Employment Law Update
CUNA Annual Attorneys’ Conference
October 26, 2021
2021 Upper Midwest Virtual Regional Employer Conference
Minneapolis, MN
October 20, 2021
Clearing the Haze: Understanding Marijuana in the Workplace
Wisconsin State SHRM Conference, Wisconsin Dells, WI
October 14, 2021
Contingent Workforce Risk Management Workshop
Staffing Industry Analysts Conference, Atlanta, GA
July 20, 2021
Legal Considerations for a Remote or Wandering Workforce
Future of Work Conference, University of Wisconsin Business Consortium
June 15, 2021
Returning to Work from COVID-19 Plus Other Challenges for Wisconsin Employers
WMC Annual Human Resources Conference
May 4, 2021
Contingent Workforce Risk Management Workshop
Staffing Industry Analysts Conference, Atlanta, GA
April 13, 2021
What to Expect Under the Biden Administration
WASS Legal & Legislative Update
March 9, 2021
The COVID-19 Vaccine – Legal and Practical Implications
QPS Employment Forum, Milwaukee WI
February 23, 2021
The COVID-19 Vaccine – Legal and Practical Implications in Wisconsin and Beyond
February 8, 2021
The COVID-19 Vaccine – Legal and Practical Implications
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce COVID-19 Update
January 20, 2021
Wisconsin State Law Update
Metro Milwaukee SHRM Legislative Update Conference
December 2, 2020
Employment Law Year in Review – Sneak Peek at 2021
GMA-SHRM Legal & Legislative 2020
November 17, 2020
Employee Handbooks: The COVID Edition!
WASS Legal & Legislative Conference
November 12, 2020
2020 Hot Topics in Minnesota and Wisconsin Employment Law
Littler’s Upper Midwest Employer Conference
November 11, 2020
Employment Law Update
CUNA Annual Attorneys’ Conference
October 26, 2020
Ethical Issues Arising in Workplace Investigations
ACC Wisconsin Annual Conference, Milwaukee, WI
August 28, 2020
COVID-19 Litigation Trends and Recent Employment Law Changes
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce COVID-19 Update, Madison, WI
August 12, 2020
Getting Back to Work in Wisconsin – Lawfully
May 29, 2020
Back to Work? Assessing Whether, When and How to Reopen for Business?
WASS Power 20 Series, Milwaukee WI
April 28, 2020
Practical Advice for Employers Facing the COVID-19 Pandemic
QPS Employment Forum, Milwaukee WI
April 13, 2020
Clearing the Weeds: Making Sense of Marijuana Legalization Laws
MRA Annual Employment Law Conference, Milwaukee WI
February 20, 2020
Ethics in Action
Annual Rotary Ethics Symposium, Madison, WI
February 14, 2020
Marijuana and the Workplace: What Employers Need to Know
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, Madison, WI
January 21, 2020
Clearing the Weeds: Making Sense of Marijuana Legalization Laws
Wisconsin Association of Staffing Services Annual Legal & Legislative Conference, Madison, WI
November 14, 2019
Ethical Considerations in Employment Arbitration
Association of Corporate Counsel – Wisconsin Annual Ethics Seminar, Milwaukee, WI
November 5, 2019
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Recent Developments on Independent Contractors
Wisconsin State SHRM Conference, Wisconsin Dells, WI
October 17, 2019
Marijuana Legalization Workplace Challenges
Manufacturing Business Alliance, Beaver Dam, WI
August 6, 2019
Marijuana Legalization Workplace Challenges
Littler Brewer Briefing, Milwaukee, WI
July 17, 2019
Contingent Workforce Risk Management Workshop
Staffing Industry Analysts Conference, Atlanta, GA
April 24, 2019
#MeToo - Navigating the New Era of Workplace Harassment
MRA Annual Iowa Employment Law Conference, Bettendorf, IA
February 7, 2019
Managing Risks of Using External Workers
Sheboygan Area SHRM Monthly Meeting, Sheboygan, WI
January 17, 2019
Background Checks: Industry Trends and Legal Issues
Wisconsin Association of Staffing Services Legal & Legislative Conference, Madison, WI
November 15, 2018
Independent Contractor Challenges
American Payroll Association, Madison, WI
August 9, 2018
Responding to Sexual Harassment Complaints in the #MeToo Era
Middleton Chamber of Commerce, Middleton, WI
July 11, 2018
Is the Gig Up? Compliance and the Independent Contractor
Wisconsin State Bar Association, Madison, WI
May 23, 2018
Responding to Sexual Harassment in the #MeToo Era
Tri-State Human Resources Association, Dubuque, IA
May 10, 2018
Employment Law & HR Best Practices for Non-Profits
Wegner Leadership Series, Milwaukee, WI
February 13, 2018
Employment Law & HR Best Practices for Non-Profits
Wegner Leadership Series, Madison, WI
January 16, 2018
Where Did Your Employees Go? Leaves of Absence and Independent Contractors
Risk Management Conference, Madison, WI
December 12, 2017
Staffing Industry Challenges and Opportunities
Wisconsin Association of Staffing Services, Annual Legal & Legislative Conference, Madison, WI
November 16, 2017
Employment Law Update
NAPEO (National Association of Professional Employer Organizations) Midwest Conference, Chicago, IL
September 27, 2017
OSHA’s Temporary Worker Initiative
Wausau Employer Safety Council, Wausau, WI
September 20, 2017
Unemployment Insurance Law Update
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) Policy Day, Madison, WI
August 16, 2017
Investigations in the Staffing Industry
Wisconsin Association of Staffing Services Webinar, Milwaukee, WI
June 14, 2017
Compensation Analysis and Wage & Hour Risk Management
Dodge County SHRM, Beaver Dam, WI
May 10, 2017
Employment Law Challenges in the Staffing Industry
Midwest Staffing Conference, Chicago, IL
April 6, 2017
Most Pressing Legal Issues for HR Professionals
University of Wisconsin Business School, Madison, WI
September 21, 2016
The New FLSA Exemption Rule – Impact on the Staffing Industry
Wisconsin Association of Staffing Services Webinar, Milwaukee, WI
June 23, 2016
The New FLSA Exemption Rule – Impact on Non-Profit Employers
Madison, WI
June 8, 2016
Legal Aspects of Workplace Investigations
Metro Milwaukee SHRM and ASIS Investigations Conference, Milwaukee, WI
May 26, 2016
Independent Contractors - Growing Challenges
National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) Annual Legal Conference, Washington, D.C.
May 17-18, 2016
FLSA Exemption Overhaul – What HR Executives Need to Know
Madison HR Executives Roundtable, Madison, WI
May 13, 2016
The Most Pressing Employment Law Issues for 2016
Wisconsin Association of Staffing Services – Annual Legal Conference, Madison, WI
January 20, 2016
Assessing the ACA
WisBusiness Expert Panel, Madison, WI
March 23, 2015
Legal Issues in the Staffing and Recruiting Industries
University of Wisconsin Business School, Madison, WI
February 2, 2015
Education
- J.D., University of Wisconsin Law School, 1997with honors
- B.A., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1993summa cum laude, Honors College, Phi Beta Kappa
Courts
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois