Kramer, Michael Evan

Lawyer Overview

MBA, 1990, Emory University, Beta Gamma Sigma Honors (top 10%).

J.D., 1980, Univ. of California at Davis Law School, Law Review, Editor.

B.A., 1976, Oberlin College, Ohio. Government.

AV-Rated, Martindale-Hubbell.

Of Counsel, Buckley & Klein, LLP, Atlanta, GA, 2010 - Present.  Trial/appellate litigation in administrative, state, and federal courts in workers compensation, education, employment/labor, overtime/FLSA, whistleblower/qui tam, discrimination, pension & benefits law cases for labor unions, union & non-union employees, and injured workers.  Employment/pension counsel to the Housing Authority for the City of Atlanta (1994-2010); litigation, labor, and general/corporate counsel to non-profit Georgia Association of Educators (1985-1992 & 1998-2007; 2007-present as outside counsel); and pension law counsel to the Fulton County Employees' Retirement System and its Board of Trustees (1997-present). Mr. Kramer has brought numerous class action state & federal cases and argued precedent-setting appellate cases before the Georgia Court of Appeals and Georgia Supreme Court, most recently winning Hall v. Nelson, Georgia Supreme Court (Sept. 24, 2007)

Partner*, Clements & Sweet, PC, Atlanta, GA, 2008 - 2010. Trial/appellate litigation in administrative, state, and federal courts in workers compensation, education, employment/labor, discrimination, pension & benefits law for labor unions, union & non-union employees and injured workers. See representative clients above. (*non-equity)

Partner*, Kramer & Patel, LLC, Atlanta, GA, 1997-2008. Trial/appellate litigation in administrative, state, and federal courts in Employment/EEO discrimination, labor, pension & benefits law, professional licensing & liability defense, education law, consumer, non-profits, and workers compensation law for labor unions, union & non-union employees and injured workers. See representative clients above. (*founding/managing partner)

General Counsel, Georgia Association of Educators, 1985-1992 and 1998-2007. Management of GAE's $1,000,000+ legal budget, staff attorneys, network attorneys, paralegals, and statewide legal services program for 40,000 member public school employees organization. Management negotiator in collective bargaining and contract/arbitration disputes with staff union. Chief legal advisor to Executive Director and Board of Directors. Also served as Associate Executive Director, 1998-2003. Actively managed all litigation, contracts, corporate, labor relations, ethics compliance, pension & benefits, non-profit law, and all board of directors' governance and legal issues. Numerous published decisions as lead counsel in precedent-setting education cases in state and federal courts.

Partner*, Zimring & Ellin, Atlanta, GA, 1992-1997. Trial/appellate litigation in state and federal courts in Employment/EEO and labor cases for employers and employees, pension & benefits law, education, professional licensing, contract, non-profit and administrative law. Business advice and legal representation for small business incorporation, contracts, and non-compete/solicit agreements. Legal Counsel to the Housing Authority for the City of Atlanta and to the Georgia Association of Educators. (*non-equity)

Attorney, U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. San Francisco, California, 1984-1985. Civil litigation prosecution under the Securities Acts of 1933 and 1934. Lead counsel on cases of fraud, disclosure of material information, insider trading, and failure to register securities, price manipulation, and excessive broker commissions. Prosecuted first SEC case on broker commission overcharges in zero coupon treasuries against major brokerage house.

Attorney, Beeson, Tayer, Kovach & Silbert/Michael Kramer Law Offices. San Francisco, California 1981-1984. Trial/appellate litigation in EEO/Labor law representing unions, including Teamsters, Nurses, Communication Workers, Newspaper Guild, AFTRA and SAG. NLRB hearings in unfair labor practices, representation, and unit clarifications. Arbitrations in contractual grievances and disciplinary actions.

Areas of Practice

• Workers Compensation
• Employment Law
• Education Law
• Litigation & Appeals

Representative Clients

• Atlanta Housing Authority
• Fulton County Employees Retirement System & Board of Trustees
• Georgia Association of Educators
• Service Employees International Union
• Mailhandlers Local 310
• Progressive Redevelopment, Inc.
• LAI Engineering, Inc.
• Alisias Group
• Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs

Representative Cases

• Superintendent Beverly Hall v. Gerald Nelson, S07A1052 (Georgia Supreme Court 2007)
• Elizabeth Cook v. Gwinnett County SChool District, et al., 856 F.2d 142 (U.S. District Court, Northern District-Atlanta 2005)
• GAE et al., v. Governor Joe Frank Harris, 749 F.Supp. 1110 (U.S. District Court, Northern District - Atlanta 1990)
• Georgia Association of Educators v. Gwinnett COunty School District, 856 F.2d 152 (U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit 1988)
• Ezzell v. Board of Regents, Univ. System of Georgia, 838 F.2d 1569 (U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit 1988)
• Board of Regents, Univ. System of Georgia v. Rux, 260 Ga. App. 760 (Georgia Court of Appeals 2003)
• Moulder v. Bartow County Schools, 267 Ga. App. 339 (Georgia Court of Appeals 2004)
• Gurley v. Gordon County Board of Education, 231 Ga. App. 481 (Georgia Court of Appeals 1998)
• Murray County School Board v. Adams, et al., 218 Ga. App. 220 (Georgia Court of Appeals 1995)
• Muscogee County Board of Education v. Boisvert, 196 Ga. App. 537 (Georgia Court of Appeals 1990)
• Gilda Ellis-Adams v. Whitfield County School District, 182 Ga. App. 463 (Georgia Court of Appeals 1987)
• Sharon Brawner v. Marietta Public Schools, ---Ga. App.--- (Georgia Court of Appeals 2007)
• Service Employees International Union, et al., v. Perdue, et al., 280 Ga. 379 (Georgia Supreme Court 2006)
• Shin v. Cobb County Board of Education, 248 F.3d 1061 (U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit 2001)
• Parrish, et al., v. Employees Retirement System of Georgia, 260 Ga. 613 (Georgia Supreme Court 1990)

West Practice Categories

Discrimination, Education, Employment, Whistleblower-Qui Tam, Workers' Compensation

Bar Admissions

• Georgia, 1986
• District of Columbia, 1986
• California, 1980

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Georgia Bar Association, 1986 - Present (Member)
• California Bar Association, 1980 - Present (Member)
• District of Columbia Bar Association, 1986 - Present (Member)
• American Bar Association (Member)
• American Trial Lawyers Association (Member)
• American Civil Liberties Union (Member)
• Amnesty International (Member)
• Atlanta Bar Association (Member)
• Georgia Employment Lawyers Association (Member)
• Georgia First Amendment Foundation (Past Member)
• GreenLaw, Inc, 1997 - Present (Board Member & Treasurer)

Honors and Awards

• AV-Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

Pro Bono Activities

• GreenLaw, Inc. - Treasurer, 1997 - 2008

Past Employment Positions

• Kramer & Patel, LLC, Managing Partner, 2004 - 2008
• Kramer & Thomas, LLC, Atlanta, GA, Managing Partner, 1997 - 2004
• Zimring & Ellin, Atlanta, GA, Partner, 1992 - 1997
• Georgia Association of Educators, Decatur, Georgia,, General Counsel, 1985 - 1992
• U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. San Francisco, California, Attorney, 1984 - 1985
• Beeson, Tayer, Kovach & Silbert/Michael Kramer Law Offices. San Francisco, California, Attorney, 1981 - 1984
• Georgia Association of Educators, Tucker, Georgia, General Counsel, 1998 - 2007

Education

• University of California at Davis School of Law, Davis, California, 1980
  J.D.
  Law Review: University of California Law Review, Editor
  Law Journal: Environmental Law Journal, Editor
• Emory University Business School, Atlanta, Georgia, 1990
  M.B.A.
  Honors: Beta Gamma Sigma Honors (top 10%)
• Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, 1976
  B.A.
  Major: Government

Address

1230 Peachtree Street
Promenade II
Suite 900
Atlanta, GA 30309

Phones

(404) 781-1100
(877) 562-5878 (Toll Free)

Faxes

(404) 781-1101

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.buckleyklein.com