Michelle's practice focuses on "preventative" employment law - finding ways to keep employers out of court by being proactive in identifying and addressing employment law issues before an employee files a claim.  Michelle provides day-to-day advice to employers of all shapes and sizes on a wide array of employment law topics, including allegations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employment contracts and an employer's obligations under the maze of federal and state laws governing disability, leaves of absence, compensation, overtime, unemployment, military leave, Form I-9 compliance, etc.  Michelle routinely prepares employee handbooks, policies, and other employment-related documents and contracts, and provides training for employers on issues such as anti-discrimination, workplace violence, and the FLSA. Michelle also conducts independent investigations into allegations of discrimination, FLSA violations, and Form I-9 audits. Michelle's special district practice concentrates on serving as general counsel to various special districts across the state, and advising such districts on all aspects of local government, TABOR, election law compliance, employment law, and general Board procedures.    Michelle is an active member of various civic and charitable organizations throughout the Denver-metro area.  She is the former co-chair, of the Denver Bar Association's (DBA) Community Action Network and an active member of the Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce, the Alliance of Professional Women, the Colorado Human Resource Association, the Society for Human Resource Management, the Special District Association, the Colorado Parks and Recreation Association, the Colorado Bar Association, and a member of Park Hill Congregational U.C.C.