J. Michael Riordan

Michael Riordan has more than 44 years’ experience representing Fortune 500 and other clients in employment law and  commercial and corporate arbitrations, litigations , and advisory matters, including drafting employment policies and procedures, negotiating and drafting employment contracts and severance agreements , conducting in-house seminars and training for clients regarding a wide range of employment and other legal issues, conducting internal investigations, litigating the full range of employment law disputes in administrative, arbitral and judicial forums across the country, litigating employment, commercial, and corporate class actions as well as mediating commercial and employment disputes.

Michael also has lectured on employment law alternative dispute resolution procedures and trial advocacy to numerous groups, including the Judicial College of New Jersey, the Securities Industry Association ,  the Inns of Court, and client groups. Michael is a Member of the Bar of the States of New Jersey and New York and is admitted to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Eastern District of New York, the Southern District of New York, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second and Third Circuits, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Prior to his medical leave in 2017, Michael had been listed in Super Lawyers (2005-2017), a Thomson Reuters business, in the areas of Employment & Labor, Business Litigation, and Civil Litigation: Defense. He has also been listed in Best Lawyers (2007-2018), a Woodward/White, Inc. business and partners with U.S. News & World Report, in the areas of Employment Law – Management, Insurance law, and Litigation - Labor and Employment.  Michael also gained recognition as a top New York Attorney from New York Magazine (2011), Top Attorney in New York, New Jersey & Connecticut from New York Magazine (2010), Top lawyer from the American Lawyer (2011), a New York Area Best lawyer (2011), one of New Jersey's Top Attorneys from Inside Jersey magazine (2011), selected as one of Americas Most Honored Professionals by American Registry (2011), and in 2015, 2016 and 2017 Chambers USA as a Leading labor & Employment Lawyer. In addition, Martindale-Hubbell awarded him its AV Peer Review Rating in Labor & Employment Law, its highest level of professional excellence and a Preeminent Lawyer for 2017. In 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 Michael was selected for inclusion in the Irish Legal 100 and named one of New York's Top-Rated Lawyers by ALM Legal Leaders. In 2017 the American Registry selected Mr. Riordan as an Exceptional Lawyer.

Michael also previously served a full term on the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness and as Chair of the New Jersey District X Ethics Committee, as a Member of the New Jersey State Court Pilot Mediation Program, as a Member of the Federal Mediation Program, District of New Jersey, as Member of the Civil Justice Reform Act Advisory Committee for the District of New Jersey and as Master of the Worrall F. Mountain American Inn of Court.

Michael has been active in numerous philanthropic endeavors. He was a member of the Alan Ameche Memorial Foundation until its dissolution in 2017. The foundation provided scholarships to under privileged youth in the Philadelphia area. He is Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Malvern Preparatory School, President of the Board of Trustees of the Library Company of Philadelphia (founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1731) , a member of the Board of the Conshohocken Rowing Center, and has been a volunteer, mentor and teacher at a couple of universities and high schools.

Experience

Michael serves as a trusted and effective advisor to clients as they navigate a wide range of legal challenges. He has held various roles, including counselor, investigator, negotiator, trainer, and, when necessary, trial and appellate counsel. He represents institutional clients as well as individual officers, directors, executives, and other professionals in matters related not only to employment but also to commercial and corporate investigations and litigation. Some of his representative experiences and notable rulings include: 

Reported Decisions

• Salcer v. Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner and Smith, Inc., 682 F.2d 459 (3^rd 1982);
• In Re Hub Recycling v. Louis Usdin Co., Inc., 106 B.R. 372 (D.N.J. 1989);
• Moore v. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner& Smith, Inc., CIV. 90-1182 (CSF), 1990 WL 105765 (D.N.J. July 16, 1990);
• In the matter of Loans of NJ Property Liability Insurance Guaranty Ass’n., 124 N.J. (1991);
• State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co. v. State of New Jersey, 124 N.J.32 (1991);
• Rutgers State University of New Jersey v. Grad Partnership, 269 N.J. Super 142 (App. Div.1993);
• Hansen v. Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc., 887 F. Supp. 669 (S.D.N.Y. 1995);
• Brill v. Dean Witter, 986 F. Supp. 171 (S.D.N.Y 1997);
• Ferring v. Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., 664 N.Y.S 2d 279(1^st 1997);
• Young v. Prudential Insurance Company of America, Inc., 297 N.J. Super. 605 (App. Div. 1997);
• Salomone v. Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., 1998 WL 151036 (S.D.N.Y. Mar 31. 1998);
• Littman v. Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, 337 N.J. Super. 134 (App. Div. 2001);
• Iannazzo v. Stanson, 778 N.Y.S. 2d 490 (1^st 2004); 8 A.D.3d 113 (2004);
• Sarbak v. Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., 354 F. Supp. 2d 531 (D.N.J., Dec. 21, 2004);
• United Nat. Retirement Fund v. Watts, Slip Copy, 2005 WL 2877899 (D.N.J., Oct. 28, 2005);
• In Re Royal Dutch/ Shell Transport Securities Litigation, 404 F.Supp.2d 605 (D.N.J., Dec. 12. 2005);
• Neuman v. Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, 01-5239 (D.N.J. 2005);
• Eliasof v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 835 N.Y.S.2d 628 (2d Dept. 2007);
• Gabel v. Richards Spears Kibbe & Orbe. LLP, 615 F.Supp.2d 241 (S.D.N.Y. 2009);
• E.E.O.C. v. Preferred Labor LLC, 2009 WL 415429 (D. Mass. Feb. 13. 2009);
• Thomas v. MasterCard Advisors, LLC, 901 N.Y.S.2d 638 (1^st 2010);
• DiMare v. MetLife Ins. Co., 369 Fed.Appx. 324 (3rd Cir. 2010);
• Jewett v. IDT Corp., 2010 WL 4000618 (D.N.J. Oct 12. 2010);
• Multi-Media Intern, LLC v. Clark Group, Inc., 2010 WL 2545165 (D.N.J. Jun. 18, 2010);
• Vargas v. Morgan Stanley, 08 CIV 9512 GBD, 2010 WL 3911494 (S.D.N.Y Sept. 29, 2010); 438 F. App'x 7 (2d Cir. 2011);
• Vargas v. Morgan Stanley, 08 CIV. 9512 GBD, 2011 WL 4435923 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 23, 2011);
• Scheidt v. DRS Technologies, Inc., et al, 424 N.J. Super. 188 (App. Div. 2012).

Other Notable Matters

• Representing a Major League Baseball player in connection with former Senator George Mitchell’s investigation.
• Advocating for a quasi-public insurance guaranty fund in a challenge before the New Jersey Supreme Court regarding significant insurance legislation.
• Assisting a performing artist and songwriter in contractual negotiations while successfully handling securities, products liability, and personal injury cases.
• Securing a multi-million-dollar verdict for a physician-partner in a dispute with his medical practice.
• Advising a major non-profit institution in negotiations with potential affiliates.
• Counseling institutions on how to effectively respond to serious public relations challenges.

News & Alerts

Articles & Publications

Professional Affiliations

• Fellow, American Bar Foundation

Civic Involvement

• Chair of the Board of Trustees, Malvern Preparatory School

• President of the Board of The Library Company of Philadelphia (founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1731)

• Member of the Board of the Conshohocken Rowing Center

• Senior Advisor to Parsippany-Troy Hills Senior Citizens Housing Corp

Awards and Honors

• Selected as an Exceptional Lawyer by the American Registry (2017)
• Selected for inclusion in the Irish Legal 100 for 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017
• Listed in Super Lawyers (2005- 2017), a Thomson Reuters business, in the areas of
• Employment & Labor, Business Litigation, and Civil Litigation: Defense
• Listed in Best Lawyers (2007- 2018), a Woodward/White, Inc. business and partners with
• S. News & World Report, in the area(s) of Employment Law- Management, Insurance Law and Litigation- Labor and Employment
• In 2017, Chambers USA as a Leading Labor & Employment Lawyers
• In 2014, Michael was named one of New York’s Top-Rated Lawyers by ALM Legal Leaders
• Best Lawyers in New York City, Wall Street Journal (2016)
• Selected as one of the “Top Lawyers of New Jersey” (2018)
• Selected as one of the “New York Area Top Lawyers” (2018)

Get to Know Michael

After a medical leave from practicing law in late 2017, Michael focused on numerous volunteer activities including providing pro bono advisory assistance for individuals and volunteer teaching at various schools and universities. He has now recovered from his cardiac issues and returns to the firm to serve as a Senior Advisor in the areas of his expertise.

During his free time, Michael enjoys spending time with family and friends , outdoor activities and traveling .