Mr. Mahler's practice concentrates on general labor and employment matters.  He advises clients on various labor matters including: collective bargaining negotiations, corporate downsizing of represented employees, ?union free? campaigns and media communications regarding labor negotiations.  Recently, Mr. Mahler served as legal counsel to the bargaining team for a large public utility in collective bargaining negotiations with the Utility Workers Union of America.  His employment litigation experience includes defending clients against race, gender, disability and pregnancy discrimination claims as well as trade secret, restrictive covenant, retaliation, defamation and Whistleblower Protection Act claims.  Mr. Mahler has also handled facilitations, mediations and unemployment appeal hearings for positive client results.  In addition, he routinely counsels clients with regard to various employment-related statutes such as HIPAA (including the drafting and negotiation of Business Associate Addendums), FMLA, ADA, Title VII, Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, Michigan Wage and Fringe Benefits Act, FLSA and Occupational Safety and Health matters.  He also advises clients and drafts documents in several human resource-related areas, including personnel manuals, relocation agreements, Social Security privacy and ethics policies and non-compete agreements.

Prior to joining Ogletree Deakins, Mr. Mahler worked in the Labor and Employment Group of a major Detroit law firm.