Michael Downey is a Senior Associate in Seder & Chandler’s Labor & Employment Practice Group. He advises private and public sector employers on the full range of labor and employment matters, including collective bargaining, contract negotiations, workplace accommodations, employee discipline, personnel policies and day-to-day personnel issues. He also conducts workplace investigations into complaints of harassment, discrimination and workplace conflict.
Mr. Downey counsels employers on matters involving the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Massachusetts Wage Act, and state and federal discrimination laws. As a litigator, he represents clients in state and federal court and has appeared as lead counsel before labor arbitrators, the Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations (DLR), the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) and the Massachusetts Civil Service Commission.
Before joining Seder & Chandler, Mr. Downey practiced at a Boston management-side labor and employment firm. Before that, he was Deputy Labor Counsel for the Executive Office of the Massachusetts Trial Court, where he represented the Trial Court in labor and employment matters and advised human resources staff, department heads and court administration.
For nearly five years, Mr. Downey served as Associate Town Counsel for the Town of Brookline, where he was the town’s sole labor and employment attorney. He was the town’s lead spokesperson in collective bargaining with all of its unions, including police and fire, and handled grievance and arbitration proceedings. He also advised town departments and boards on discipline, internal complaints and compliance matters. During his time with the town, he negotiated Brookline’s partnership agreement with the USGA ahead of the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Downey served as Labor Counsel for the Human Resources Division of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In that role he was lead counsel for state agencies at arbitration and before the DLR, the Civil Service Commission and the MCAD, and he led investigations of workplace harassment and discrimination complaints. He began his career as a staff representative and attorney for AFSCME Council 93, where he handled grievances and negotiated contracts for more than 50 bargaining units. Having worked on both sides of the bargaining table, he understands how unions approach negotiations and disputes.
- J.D., Roger Williams University School of Law
- B.A., Political Science, University of Rhode Island
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit