Michael Kalt is a partner in the Employment Law Practice Group of Wilson Turner Kosmo LLP, where he has worked since 1996. His employment law practice emphasizes the litigation and trial of wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination cases in state and federal court. Michael also provides advice and training to employers on employee discipline and investigations, employment policies and procedures, and fair employment practices. Michael represents businesses of all sizes and in most industry sectors. He is an accomplished writer and oral advocate and has prevailed through summary judgment in dozens and dozens of litigated matters and has also prevailed before the California Supreme Court and California Court of Appeal, resulting in several published decisions. (Jones v. The Lodge at Torrey Pines Partnership (2008) 42 Cal.4th 1158 [no individual liability for FEHA retaliation], Acuna v. SDGE (2013) 217 Cal.4th 1402 [successive administrative charges does not extend statute of limitations after right-to-sue notice issued] and Tu v. UCSD Medical Centers (S.D. Ca. 2002) 201 F. Supp. 2d 1126 [precluding negligent infliction of emotional distress claims for intentional employment decisions].)

Michael is currently the Governmental Affairs Director for the California State Council for the Society for Human Resource Management (CalSHRM) and tracks and oversees the legislative advocacy efforts for its 30,000 members, including testifying before various legislative committees on employment matters. He formerly was Vice President-Legislation for the San Diego Chapter of SHRM where he monitored the federal and state employment-related developments for its 1,000 members. He is also the Legislative Liaison and a Steering Committee Member for the Employment and Labor Committee for the Defense Research Institute and editor of its annual 50-state new employment laws compendium and is the editor of the Firm’s monthly employment newsletter. He is also the former author of the ADR Case Notes Column of the statewide publication: California Labor and Employment Review.

Michael has been elected by fellow attorneys as a Super Lawyer by Law and Politics Magazine from 2007 to 2022 for labor and employment law. He was also named by the San Diego Daily Transcript as one of the top 10 Labor and Employment attorneys in 2009 and 2012, and by Super Lawyer as one of the top 10 attorneys in 2013 and one of the top 50 attorneys in San Diego from 2012-2018. Michael was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2014-2023 for Litigation - Labor and Employment. Michael received both his B.A. magna cum laude and J.D. degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Affiliations

• California State Council of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) - Governmental Affairs Director (2011-present)
• Defense Research Institute, Employment and Labor Law Steering Committee Member (2008-present) and Legislative/Rule-Making Liaison (2011-present)
• San Diego Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) - Vice President - Legislation (2008-2011)
• Author, Annual Legislative Update for California Law Review - The State Bar of California
• Author (former), ADR Notes Column, California Law Review - The State Bar of California
• Defense Research Institute - Vice Chair of Publications - The Voice - Employment Edition (2008-2011)
• San Diego County Bar Association - Co-Chair, Labor and Employment Section - (former)
• East County Personnel Association - Legal and Legislative Liaison - (former)
• Conference of Delegates of California Bar Associations - Member Delegate (2005)
• Federalist Society, San Diego Chapter - Member, Executive Board (former)
• The Honorable William B. Enright Inns of Court
• American Inns of Court – Louis M. Welsh Chapter No. 9
• Knights of Columbus, St. James - Solana Beach Council, Trustee (Former Grand Knight)

Speaking & Publications

• Michael S. Kalt "California Extends Compliance Deadline for New Harassment-Prevention Training" SHRM, September 5, 2019
• Michael S. Kalt and David J. Duchrow "New Employment Laws for 2019" California Labor & Employment Law Review, January 2019
• Michael S. Kalt and Daniel C. Gunning "A Holiday Wish List of Potential Employment Changes for 2019," Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal, December 11, 2018
• Michael S. Kalt and Emily Fox "#MeToo & Equal Pay: Addressing Employment Trends in 2018," American Public Power Association's 2018 Business and Finance Conference, September 18, 2018
• Michael S. Kalt, “Interesting Trends Abound in Recent State and Local Employment Law Efforts,” Defense Research Institute The Voice, Vol. 17, Issue 22, June 6, 2018
• Cal Legislative Forecast, Cal SHRM Legislative and HR Conference (2012-present)
• Michael S. Kalt and David Duchrow "A New Year Brings New Laws for California Employers, Employees, and Unions" California Labor & Employment Law Review, January 2018 (Annually since 2010)
• Michael S. Kalt and Emily Fox "California’s Paid Sick Leave Amendments Effective Immediately" SHRM California Employment Law , July 15, 2015
• Michael S. Kalt, Joseph L. Beachboard and Jason Gabhard, "California: Eureka! Avoiding Compliance Hot Spots” SHRM, March 2015
• Michael S. Kalt "Being Flexible With Workplace Flexibility” The Daily Transcript, Friday, December 19, 2014
• Michael S. Kalt “California Enacts Paid Sick Leave,” Society for Human Resources Management Magazine, September 2014
• Michael S. Kalt and Michael Letizia "Creating Flexibility in California’s Workplaces," Los Angeles Daily Journal, February 14, 2014
• Michael S. Kalt and David Duchrow "A New Year Brings New Laws for California Employers, Employees, and Unions" California Labor & Employment Law Review, January 2014
• Michael S. Kalt and David Duchrow "New Labor & Employment Laws For 2013" California Labor & Employment Law Review, January 2013
• Michael S. Kalt and Emily T. Gates "Toolkit for Workplace Flexibility for California Employers” Society for Human Resources Management January 2012
• Michael S. Kalt and David Duchrow "New Labor & Employment Laws For 2012" California Labor & Employment Law Review, January 2012
• Michael S. Kalt and Erich W. Shiners "New Labor & Employment Laws For 2011" California Labor & Employment Law Review, January 2011
• Michael S. Kalt "New Governor and New Year Mean New Laws For California Employers" SHRM California Employment Law, November 2011
• Michael S. Kalt “It’s Not Easy Going Green…But It Can Be Done Legally: How Employers Can Be Environmentally Conscious Without Getting Sued” The ABTL Report, Winter 2010
• Michael S. Kalt "How Employers Can Be Environmentally Conscious Without Getting Sued” The Daily Transcript, October 21, 2010
• Michael S. Kalt, Claudette G. Wilson and Lois M. Kosch “Setting 2010’s Employment Legislative Agenda,” Los Angeles Daily Journal January 4, 2010
• Michael S. Kalt and Erich W. Shiners "New Labor & Employment Laws For 2010" California Labor & Employment Law Review, January 2009
• Michael S. Kalt and Lois M. Kosch “No Mixed-Motive Instructions In ADEA Cases…At Least For Now” Law Review, September 2009
• Michael S. Kalt and Erich W. Shiners "New Labor & Employment Laws For 2009" California Labor & Employment Law Review
• Michael S. Kalt and Leonid M. Zilberman "Bringing The 'Change' To Employment Law" Los Angeles Daily Journal, September 12, 2008
• Regina A. Petty and Michael S. Kalt “Jones v. The Lodge at Torrey Pines: California Supreme Court Rejects Personal Liability for Retaliation Claim” California Labor & Employment Law Review, July 2008
• Michael S. Kalt and Leonid M. Zilberman “Bossing Employers Around” Los Angeles Daily Journal, May 2008
• Regina A. Petty, Michael S. Kalt and Theresa O. Stevenson, “Supervisors Breathe Easy” Los Angeles Daily Journal, March 2008
• Michael S. Kalt, Theresa P. Yutadco and Erich W. Shiners, “Out With The Old, In With The New Laws For 2008” California Labor & Employment Law Review, January 2008
• Michael S. Kalt, “When Johnny (And Jenny) Come Marching Home Again, Hurrah! Hurrah!…They’ll Be Protected By USERRA. Hurrah! Hurrah!” California Labor & Employment Law Review, April 2007
• Claudette G. Wilson, Michael S. Kalt and Krista M. Cabrera “Legislative Wish List,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, January 2007
• Michael S. Kalt, “Immigration Issues Loom For Employers In 2007,” Defense Research Institute The Voice, November 2006
• Michael S. Kalt, “New Case And Regulations Beef Up Employer Duties To Returning Troops,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, November 13, 2006
• Regina A. Petty and Michael S. Kalt, “The California Supreme Court Trilogy Foretells That Supervisors Are Not Liable for Retaliation,” Defense Research Institute’s “The Job Description”, Spring 2006
• Michael S. Kalt and Hugh Kim, “Motions For Summary Judgment” California Labor & Employment Law Review, February 2006
• Michael S. Kalt, “Do Employers Have To Accommodate Absences Due To Immigration-Related Rallies?” Employment Law Update, January 2006
• Michael S. Kalt, “Reassessing Individual Liability For Retaliation Under FEHA In Light Of McClung v. Employment Development Department,” California Labor & Employment Law Review, September 2005
• Robin A. Wofford and Michael S. Kalt, “Down And Out: Anti-Business Legislature Will Topple Companies With Ridiculous Laws,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, August 21, 2003
• Claudette G. Wilson and Michael S. Kalt, “Dubious Duties; New Identity Theft Law Leaves Employers Unsure About Their Duties,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, June 11, 2002
• Claudette G. Wilson and Michael S. Kalt, “Identity Theft Law Leaves Employers Uncertain,” San Diego Daily Transcript, May 3, 2002
• Claudette G. Wilson and Michael S. Kalt, “Armendariz’ Viability After Circuit City,” California Labor & Employment Law Quarterly, Vol. 16, No. 1, January 2002
• Claudette G. Wilson and Michael S. Kalt, “Workplace Arbitration Agreements Upheld By California Supreme Court,” San Diego Lawyers Magazine, November/December 2000
• Claudette G. Wilson and Michael S. Kalt, “Are Mandatory Arbitration Agreements Worth The Paper They Are Printed On? A Guide To Ensuring That They Are,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, June 28, 1999

Honors and Recognition

• Included in The Best Lawyers in America® for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2014-2024)
• Named to the San Diego Super Lawyers list (2007-2024)
• Named by San Diego Metro as one of San Diego's Top Attorneys (2021)
• Named to the San Diego Super Lawyers “Top 10 Attorneys” (2013) and “Top 50 Attorneys” (2012-2018) lists
• Named by San Diego Daily Transcript “Top 10 Attorneys” in Employment Law (2009 and 2012)