Michael J. Ernst
Michael Ernst heads both SLC's Business Litigation practice group and Labor and Employment Law practice group. Mr. Ernst's practice includes business litigation and employment litigation, involving fraud, business torts, contract disputes, securities arbitration, financial services litigation, class actions, commercial transactions and other business matters. He is an experienced litigator who represents business clients throughout the United States before trial and appellate courts in both the state and federal court systems. Mr. Ernst also handles mediation and arbitration disputes, including securities arbitration before FINRA. He also handles traditional labor matters and union campaigns for management. After several years in practice in Atlanta, Mr. Ernst joined SLC in 1989. Mr. Ernst is a frequent speaker on business law, employment law, labor law, and trial law topics, and is a member of the America Bar Association Advisory Panel. He is active in a number of charitable and community organizations, both as a leader, a "pro bono" provider of legal services, and a hands-on volunteer. Mike has been recognized for the past five consecutive years by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of "Georgia's Legal Elite: The State's Most Effective Lawyers" in the areas of labor and employment law and business litigation. He is rated "AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5" by Martindale-Hubbell, the legal industry's premier peer-review rating system.
Areas of Practice
- General Civil Litigation
- Business Litigation
- Employment and Labor Law
- Securities Arbitration and Financial Services Litigation
- Appellate Practice
- Franchise Litigation
- Business Law
- Technology Law
- Class Actions
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
Bar Admissions
- Georgia, 1987
- U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Georgia
- U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
- U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois
- Georgia Court of Appeals
- Supreme Court of Georgia
Education
-
University of Georgia School of Law, Athens, Georgia
- J.D. - 1987
- Honors: School of Law Scholar
- Honors: Tuition Equalization Scholar
- Honors: President, First Year Class
- Honors: Governing Board, Student Bar Association (1984-85)
- Honors: Member, Mock Trial Board
- Honors: Member, ATLA Mock Trial National Team (Regional Finalist, 1987)
- Honors: Who's Who Among American Law Students
-
Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky
- B.A. (Magna Cum Laude) - 1984
- Honors: Phi Kappa Phi
- Honors: Foundation Scholar
- Honors: Outstanding Student, Department of Government (1984)
- Honors: National Truman Scholar Nominee
- Honors: National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalist
- Honors: Pi Sigma Alpha
- Honors: Sigma Tau Pi
- Honors: Gamma Beta Phi
- Major: Political Science
- Minor: Business Administration
Honors and Awards
- Rated "AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5" by Martindale-Hubbell, the Highest Rating Given
- Who's Who of Emerging Leaders in America
- Who's Who in American Law
- Who's Who in Practicing Attorneys
- Outstanding Young Men of America
- "Georgia's Legal Elite: The State's Most Effective Lawyers" by Georgia Trend Magazine: Labor and Employment Law, 2005
- "Georgia's Legal Elite: The State's Most Effective Lawyers" by Georgia Trend Magazine: Business Litigation, 2006
- "Georgia's Legal Elite: The State's Most Effective Lawyers" by Georgia Trend Magazine: Labor and Employment Law, 2007
- "Georgia's Legal Elite: The State's Most Effective Lawyers" by Georgia Trend Magazine: Labor and Employment Law, 2008
- "Georgia's Legal Elite: The State's Most Effective Lawyers" by Georgia Trend Magazine: Labor and Employment Law, 2009
Professional Associations and Memberships
- State Bar of Georgia
- American Bar Association
- American Bar Association, Advisory Panel
- Atlanta Bar Association
- Atlanta Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Board of Directors, 2000 - 2002
- Lawyers Club of Atlanta
