Michael E. Plank

Michael E. Plank joined the firm as a partner in 2021. He has broad experience representing unions in a wide array of industries in both the private and public sectors, including education, entertainment, healthcare, retail, and transportation. His practice includes litigation in federal and state court, administrative proceedings, arbitration of contract violation and disciplinary matters, mediation, and negotiation. In addition, Mr. Plank provides advice and legal assistance to unions regarding their ongoing legal rights and obligations under a variety of state and federal statutes. He has extensive experience advising and assisting with internal union elections of officers, and resolving challenges to such elections. Prior to joining the firm Mr. Plank practiced at two other Los Angeles based union-side labor law firms.

Mr. Plank graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he was a teaching assistant to Professor Lani Guinier, and an editor for the Harvard Environmental Law Review. While in law school, Mr. Plank also externed for Greater Boston Legal Services in its employment division, and worked in the Boston community to organize tenants and homeowners against post-foreclosure eviction. Following graduation, Mr. Plank served as a law clerk to the Honorable A. Wallace Tashima on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena. Mr. Plank is a graduate of Oberlin College.

Mr. Plank is a member of the AFL-CIO Union Lawyers Alliance.