Michael Kibbe is a seasoned legal professional concentrating in employment law, advising a diverse clientele on matters concerning federal and state regulatory compliance and best employment practices. His extensive legal journey showcases his commitment to delivering top-tier representation and achieving outstanding results for his clients.
Before joining Littler, Michael honed his legal practice at a boutique trial firm. There, he passionately represented both individuals and businesses in a wide spectrum of employment and business litigation cases. Michael’s litigation prowess shined through as he navigated clients through every phase of the legal process, from case inception to courtroom triumph. His clientele included military service members, private individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as large national corporations. Michael's practice extended beyond the borders, defending clients not only nationwide but also on the international stage. His areas of focus encompassed employment law, wage and hour law, Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) claims, unfair competition, fraud, defamation, trade secret disputes, and comprehensive business litigation, among others.
Prior to his private practice, Michael served with honor as a judge advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps. During his tenure, he tirelessly defended over 90 service members facing federal prosecution, leading to an impressive record that includes nine trials by courts-martial. His cases involved a wide array of offenses, from sexual assaults, child abuse, drug distribution, and criminal assault to drug possession and use, as well as larceny. Remarkably, Michael continues to serve as a judge advocate for the Marine Innovation Unit in the Marine Corps Reserves, exemplifying his unwavering dedication to public service.
Michael is highly sought after by clients to represent them in adversarial hearings of all types – whether it be arbitrations, labor charges, administrative hearings or jury trials. He is a legal advocate with a remarkable track record, unwavering dedication, and a passion for client services. His experience, both in and out of the courtroom, makes him a trusted ally for organizations seeking skillful legal representation and positive results.
Selected Matters
- Securing an acquittal for a service member facing a life sentence without parole.
- Successfully representing and acquitting three separate service members charged with possession and use of controlled substances.
- Defending a service member against multiple sexual assault charges involving three separate individuals, ultimately leading to an acquittal.
- Obtaining summary adjudication in an employment law case on behalf of a prominent institutional client.
- Skillfully quashing service of summons for multiple corporate officers of a national corporation, effectively dismissing each officer as a named defendant in the lawsuit.
- Dismissing all claims against a large institutional client through a demurrer.
- Securing a dismissal of all claims against a national corporation through terminating sanctions.
- Recovering over $10,000 in sanctions on behalf of international clients against a national corporation and its attorney for their abuse of the discovery process.
- Crafting an appellate brief that resulted in a published opinion from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which expanded the rights of public employees in California to bring claims against public entities under 42 U.S.C. 1981.
- Securing a full defense verdict on behalf of a Fortune 200 client in arbitration.
- Obtaining a favorable published opinion with the California Court of Appeal on arbitration agreements and their impact on California’s Private Attorney General Act.
- Securing a complete defense verdict in an unlawful labor practice charge.
- Successfully secured favorable results for companies involved in union campaigns.