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[distance2][big_title]Michelle B. Ferguson[/big_title][h4]Director[/h4][p][/p][/column8][/blox][column10] [subtitle]BIOGRAPHY[/subtitle][p]Ms. Ferguson leads the firm's employment law practice group. In her practice, she focuses on "preventative" employment law - finding ways to keep businesses out of court by being proactive in identifying and solving employment issues before a claim is filed. Ms. Ferguson counsels employers, individuals and governmental entities on all matters of employment law and day-to-day personnel issues. She also conducts anti-discrimination training for managers and employees, drafts personnel policies, forms and employment contracts, addresses collective bargaining issues and represents clients in all types of administrative hearings. Ms. Ferguson also conducts independent investigations regarding claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation and violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Ms. Ferguson has presented numerous seminars to professionals in the Denver Metro area on topics such as investigations of employee misconduct and implementation of disciplinary action, workplace violence, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, family responsibilities discrimination, hiring and termination processes and overviews of federal and state anti-discrimination laws.[/p][p]Additionally, Ms. Ferguson serves as the firm's Pro Bono Coordinator. In this capacity she helps identify opportunities and facilitates mechanisms for Ireland Stapleton lawyers to give their professional time to indigent populations and nonprofit groups in need of pro bono assistance. Her efforts help insure that underprivileged communities have access to justice.[/p][/column10]

[column5 class="offset-by-one"] [subtitle]Accomplishments[/subtitle][list-ul type="circle"]  [li-row]Co-Chair, Colorado Bar Association's Labor &amp; Employment Law Section (2012 - Present)[/li-row]
[li-row]Selected for inclusion as a Rising Star in Colorado Super Lawyers (2009-2013)[/li-row]
[li-row]Selected as participant of the 2008 Colorado Bar Association's Leadership Training (COBALT) Program[/li-row]
[li-row]Successfully defended the City of New York in federal and state lawsuits dealing with employment discrimination, labor disputes, and abuse of process[/li-row]
[li-row]Provided counseling to dozens of New York City agencies concerning compliance with federal, state and local anti-discrimination statutes, and collective bargaining agreements[/li-row]
[li-row]Successfully represented employees in multi-plaintiff lawsuits against major corporations in cases involving company-wide violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act[/li-row]
[li-row]Served as a law clerk to former EEOC Commissioner Paul Steven Miller[/li-row]
[li-row]Co-Author, When the Yellow Ribbons Come Down: An Overview of the Employment Rights of the Uniformed Services under the Uniformed Services Employment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) and Colorado Law, 53 TRIAL TALK 4 (2004)[/li-row]
[li-row]Co-Author, A Guide To Consent, Chapter 7, American Association on Mental Retardation, 1999[/li-row]
[li-row]Co-Author, of the Legal Forum column in Colorado Parks and Recreation Association's quarterly publication[/li-row]
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[subtitle]Affiliations[/subtitle][list-ul type="circle"][li-row]Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce[/li-row]
[li-row]Society of Human Resource Management[/li-row]
[li-row]Trustee, Board of Trustees of the Denver Bar Association (2009-2012)[/li-row]
[li-row]Denver Bar Association representative to the Colorado Bar Association Board of Governors[/li-row]
[li-row]Co-Chair, Denver Bar Association's 2013 Barrister's Ball Committee[/li-row]
[li-row]Ombudsman Employer Support of Guard and Reserve (ESGR)[/li-row]
[li-row]Special District Association[/li-row]
[li-row]Colorado State Fire Chiefs Association[/li-row]
[li-row]Colorado Parks and Recreation Association[/li-row]
[li-row]Former Co-Chair, Denver Bar Association's Community Action Network[/li-row]
[li-row]Steering Committee, 2009 COLBALT Program[/li-row]
[li-row]Park Hill U.C.C.[/li-row]
[li-row]Colorado Bar Association[/li-row]
[li-row]Denver Bar Association[/li-row]
[li-row]Colorado Women's Bar Association[/li-row]
[li-row]Admitted to practice in: Colorado, New York, U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. District Court for the Districts of Colorado, Eastern District of New York and Southern District of New York[/li-row]
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[subtitle]Interests[/subtitle]
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[li-row]Ms. Ferguson enjoys spending time with her family, singing, community service, reading and theater.[/li-row]
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