Overview
Attorney Mike Ferrell provides clients with skilled, practical counseling on labor and employment matters to achieve their business and litigation objectives. He helps clients identify risks in the context of business decisions in order to minimize unnecessary exposure and be in the best position for a successful outcome in the event of litigation or a labor dispute.
His practice extends nationwide and includes employers in the financial services, health care, manufacturing, petroleum refining, retail, and transportation industries.
Mike’s experience includes:
- Representing employers before federal and state courts, administrative agencies, and private arbitrators in cases involving employment discrimination claims, wage-hour claims, employment contract disputes, the interpretation of collective bargaining agreements, and matters involving the National Labor Relations Act
- Successfully representing employers in collective bargaining negotiations, contract arbitrations, union organizing campaigns, decertification proceedings, unfair labor practice proceedings, corporate campaigns, strikes, and picketing disputes
- Regularly counseling employers on employment issues, including hiring, firing, and discipline-related decisions; wage-hour compliance; disability accommodation; the enforceability of non-compete and non-solicitation agreements; and reductions in force
His pro bono work includes negotiating collective bargaining agreements for two Chicago nonprofits (one that provides services and support to people with disabilities and one that presents an annual musical festival), representing veterans before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and representing asylum applicants in immigration court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Before joining Epstein Becker Green, Mike was a Labor and Employment Partner at an international law firm.
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Focus Areas
Services
Industries
Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America©: Labor Law – Management (2024, 2025)
- Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Illinois—Labor & Employment, "Leader in Their Field" (2024)
- The Legal 500 United States: Labor Management Relations (2020, 2021, 2024); Labor and Employment Disputes (Including Collective Actions): Defense (2021, 2023)
Credentials
Education
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law (J.D., with honors, 2002)
- Philip H. Corboy Fellow in Trial Advocacy
- Vanderbilt University (with honors, 1998)
- Texas A&M University (B.B.A., 1994)
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
Court Admissions
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana
Media
Events
Past Events
- Three Rivers Safety Center: Social Media in the Workplace: What Employers Need to Know
Insights
Insights
- BlogsNLRB General Counsel Calls for Crack Down and Harsh Remedies for Non-Competes and “Stay or Pay” Provisions7 minute read
- BlogsNLRB General Counsel Calls for Harsh Remedies for Employers Requiring Non-Competes, "Stay or Pay" Provisions7 minute read
- BlogsNLRB Opens New Front in Campaign Against Contractual Restrictive Covenants, Now Targeting No-Poach Provisions in a ...4 minute read
- BlogsNLRB Issues Complaint Alleging Business-to-Business No-Poaching Agreements Violate Employees’ Rights in Latest ...4 minute read
- Firm Announcements
Epstein Becker Green Attorneys Honored for Excellence in the Legal Profession by Best Lawyers 2025
14 minute read - BlogsWestern District of Texas Says NLRB Structure Unconstitutional, Issues Injunction Preventing SpaceX Unfair Labor ...3 minute read
- Firm Announcements
Epstein Becker Green Receives National Recognition and Top Rankings in the 2024 Edition of Legal 500
3 minute read - Firm Announcements
Epstein Becker Green Honored for Exceptional Performance in Key Practice Areas by Chambers USA 2024
5 minute read - BlogsBicycles, Trains, and Automobiles: Illinois to Require Employers to Offer Pre-Tax Transportation Fringe Benefits ...5 minute read
- Firm Announcements
Epstein Becker Green Attorneys Recognized by 2024 Best Lawyers for Excellence in the Legal Profession
12 minute read - Firm Announcements
Epstein Becker Green Earns National Recognition and High Rankings in the 2023 Edition of Legal 500
3 minute read - Firm AnnouncementsMichael Ferrell and Epstein Becker Green Receive the Grant Park Music Festival “2022 Advocate for the Arts” Award ...3 minute read
- Firm Announcements
Epstein Becker Green Receives High Rankings for Health Care and Workforce Management Practices in 2021 Edition of The Legal ...
3 minute read - BlogsIllinois Lawmakers Pass Numerous Bills Affecting Employers7 minute read
- Media CoverageMichael Ferrell Quoted in “NLRB's New Acting GC Can Do a Lot in a Short Time”4 minute read
- PublicationsThe NLRB Brings the NLRA Into the Modern Era of Discipline for Abusive Conduct3 minute read
- BlogsThe Board Brings the NLRA Into the Modern Era of Discipline for Abusive Conduct, and Union Leaders Lament “Guys Like Us, We ...12 minute read
- Firm AnnouncementsThe Legal 500 United States Recognizes Epstein Becker Green as Top-Tier Law Firm in Health Care and Workforce Management ...4 minute read
- BlogsCoronavirus Considerations for Employers with a Unionized Workforce6 minute read
- BlogsNew NLRB Rule Defining Joint-Employer Status to Take Effect3 minute read
- Media CoverageMichael Ferrell Quoted in "Are Strikes Becoming More Common?"1 minute read
- BlogsIn Adopting “Contract Coverage” Standard, NLRB Gives Employers Greater Flexibility to Act Unilaterally on Subjects ...9 minute read
- PublicationsManaging Employee Mobility Today: Are You Succeeding or Scrambling?14 minute read
- Media CoverageMichael Ferrell Featured in "Epstein Becker Green Continues Growth of Chicago Office with Addition of Michael S. Ferrell" ...2 minute read
- Media CoverageMichael Ferrell Featured in "In the News"1 minute read
- Media CoverageMichael Ferrell Featured in "Epstein Becker Nabs Employment Pro from Jones Day"2 minute read
- Firm AnnouncementsEpstein Becker Green Continues Growth of Chicago Office with Addition of Michael S. Ferrell3 minute read
- PublicationsRecent Developments in Traditional Labor Law