Michael Watts Email & Phone Number

Los Angeles, California, United States

• Assist clients with solving complex problems during challenging labor relations issues, including arbitrations, unfair labor practice charges, representation petitions and bargaining. • Advise clients on workplace health and safety matters, including workplace violence and security issues and compliance with heat injury prevention regulations.

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

• Lead organization of fifty personnel as Deputy Commander, providing leadership and guidance to legal personnel on all aspects of legal practice and military duties• Execute legal missions in support of military operations, including organizing legal coverage for mobilization exercise for 20,000+ personnel• Mentor, coach and train attorneys and paralegals, evaluating personnel, identifying strengths and areas of growth and guiding military professional development

Los Alamitos, California, United States

• Advise senior leaders on sensitive criminal and internal investigations and resolutions, including sexual assault, harassment and ethical issues• Oversee training and development program for prosecutors and paralegals, ensuring all personnel receive challenging assignments and attend training opportunities

Los Alamitos, Ca

• Counsel leaders and senior attorneys on legal issues across range of legal disciplines, including sensitive internal employee and financial investigations• Oversee integration and training program for 35 attorneys and paralegals, ensuring all personnel have opportunities to develop skills and advance in the organization

Cerritos, California, United States

• Lead development of workplace violence prevention plan trainings and products in response to new California statute• Represent clients during all stages of state and federal litigation on a variety of labor and employment issues, including litigation involving the National Labor Relations Board regarding unfair labor practice charges• Deliver trainings to large audiences on various labor and employment legal topics, including workplace violence prevention plans, workplace security and labor issues• Serve on firm's Associate Mentoring and Training Committee, developing and delivering accredited MCLE trainings on areas of key interest for associates in all practice groups• Conduct sensitive investigations into allegations of discrimination and sexual harassment, interviewing witnesses and evaluating evidence to prepare comprehensive investigative reports and recommendations• Co-authored November 2023 article for California Lawyers Association Labor and Employment Law Review on union elections and unfair labor practice charges

Los Angeles

• Successfully defended complex civil rights case involving multiple plaintiffs seeking $27 million in damages, resulting in full judgment for defendants• Represent cities and counties during all phases of civil litigation in civil rights and constitutional rights cases• Train law enforcement personnel on the use of force, constitutional law and current civil rights litigation, assisting officers in developing an understanding of current use of force law and best practices• Draft pleadings, motions, discovery and other legal documents to conduct litigation

Los Angeles, Ca

• Review complex documents during government investigation, analyzing issues relating to an information request and ensuring the release of appropriate information• Assist in drafting review protocols to create detailed privilege log, protecting numerous financial and internal documents during large corporate merger

Greater Los Angeles Area

• Advise senior management on legal operations, compliance issues and key transactions, delivering knowledge to leaders and ensuring successful business operations• Prepare, review and revise business agreements, including contracts, licensing agreements and correspondence, developing relationships with partners while minimizing risk• Perform in-depth research to stay current on industry-wide legal trends and developments in a technical and highly-regulated industry, ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations

San Francisco

• Provided legal support to leaders and investigators at one of America's busiest ports processing over $15 billion worth of international trade annually, ensuring compliance in all areas of the law, including employment law, intellectual property, immigration, information disclosure, trade enforcement and criminal law• Reviewed internal investigations into violations of agency policies and the Standards of Conduct, referring cases to agency management and recommending appropriate discipline• Trained and advised law enforcement officers on federal statutes and regulations, providing expert legal guidance regarding BSA/AML requirements, seizure authority and case preparation • Coordinated and built relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including the U.S. Attorney's Office and DHS law enforcement personnel, supporting multi-million dollar civil/criminal cases and over $7 million in forfeitures

Ft. Campbell, Ky

• Led a legal office of 6 paralegals and 1 attorney and supervised legal operations in an organization of over 2,500 personnel, receiving evaluation as leader of best staff section• Reviewed all products and documents, provided legal and military development and mentorship, and ensured fair and accurate evaluations and awards in one of the busiest criminal jurisdictions in the U.S. Army• Balanced legal and organizational risk during 13 trials, 80 administrative actions and over 50 criminal and internal investigations, including code of conduct and ethics violations, thinking strategically and advancing practical solutions • Developed and implemented training for senior leaders and several units on ethics, criminal law and regulatory compliance, receiving awards for excellence

Los Angeles, Ca

• Successfully planned and executed protective operations, including for the President of the United States, Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidates and various foreign dignitaries, in close cooperation with governmental, military, business and private organizations• Proactively investigated complex financial fraud, government benefit fraud and identity theft for federal and state criminal prosecution, including a case involving multiple suspects and over $2 million in fraud loss• Analyzed layered financial data from numerous sources, utilizing sophisticated software and other methods to review transactions for BSA/AML violations, trace assets, effect multiple federal arrests and seize over $425,000.00 in illegal proceeds, receiving certificates of appreciation• Developed and maintained professional relationships as the Class Coordinator for the International Law Enforcement Academy, Budapest, and served as a liaison for senior officials from 3 foreign countries to the Federal law enforcement community• Received specialized training in BSA/AML statutes and regulations, financial analysis and asset forfeitureBelow are examples of some of the events for which I coordinated security, either independently or in conjunction with permanent details, such as the Presidential Protective Division.

Stuttgart, Germany

• Successfully investigated and prosecuted 11 serious felony court-martial cases as the sole prosecutor for the U.S. Army in Europe's most complex criminal jurisdiction, including the attempted murder of a foreign national and a publicized sexual assault• Led a criminal justice office, managing a staff of two paralegals, and acted as administrative law attorney and officer in charge of an entire legal office as necessary• Coordinated closely with German agencies to investigate and prosecute crime, assist in a real estate transaction and organize military exchange programs

Stuttgart, Gemany

• Provided legal assistance for an overseas military community of more than 20,000 personnel, representing individuals in disputes with American and German government agencies, courts, companies and others in areas such as family law, estate planning, immigration, taxation, military administrative law and international law• Organized, staffed, supervised and operated two legal services offices, including two legal assistance centers containing between two to seven military personnel, and two tax centers which secured over $2 million dollars in tax refunds for American, German and Austrian clients

Certificate Of Completion, Military Operational Art And Science/Studies, Commandant'S List

Juris Doctor, Law

Activities and Societies: Extern, Public Defender's Office; Student Attorney, Mediation Clinic, Knox County General Sessions Court.

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), German Language And Literature

Activities and Societies: Delta Phi Alpha - German Honorary Society

Certificate Of Completion, Russian Studies

Studied Russian language, culture and history in full language immersion program at Russian university.