Martin Brook focuses his practice on representation of employers before state and federal courts and administrative agencies and advising employers on litigation avoidance and positive employee relations. Additionally, Martin’s practice regularly involves representing and advising employers regarding payroll compliance issues which include, for example, wage garnishments, voluntary wage assignments, other wage attachments as well as electronic pay and tax protestors issues.
Martin has developed business-minded solutions for complex employment challenges with the aim of risk management and litigation avoidance. He developed, implemented and/or managed various labor relations programs and human resources programs. This includes voluntary and involuntary reduction-in-force programs, employment-related due diligence, contract negotiations and grievance administration, responses to multiple union organizing campaigns, internal wage and hour audits, user and provider co-employment and independent contractor issues, OFCCP compliance programs and audit responses, in-bound and out-bound restrictive covenant matters, payroll and attachment/garnishment compliance programs and employment policies and procedures and training programs.
Experience
Martin has extensive litigation/arbitration experience defending employers in discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour and WARN Act matters. He has also successfully defended and enforced non-compete agreements. Martin has also been first and second chair in numerous labor negotiations and labor arbitrations.
Martin has worked six years as Corporate Counsel to a large office furniture manufacturer and a large staffing company responsible for employment and benefits law.
Law is Martin’s second career. During his first career, Martin worked as a Human Resources professional in the chemical and automotive industries at the plant level in both the United States and Canada. During this time he was responsible for union and employee relations, college recruiting programs, OFCCP compliance, and safety programs.
Michigan
U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Professional Activities
- State Bar of Michigan
- Trustee - Alumni Board of Directors - School of Labor and Industrial Relations 2006 to 2011 - Michigan State University
- Trustee - Bloomfield Hills Schools Board of Education 2005-2011 (served one term as President and two terms as Vice President of the Board)
- American Payroll Association (Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Creditor Garnishments)
In The News
- April 2012 - PAYTECH - The Official Publication of the American Payroll Association - "Corporate Garnishees And The Unauthorized Practice Of Law"
- February 2012 - PAYTECH - The Official Publication of the American Payroll Association - "USERRA's Uniqueness - Provides Extra Protection for Uniformed Service Members"
- October 13, 2011 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "Fifteen Minutes of Fame For the Wage Garnishment "
- July 2011 - Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) - "Assist An Employer With Administering A Garnishment"
- Summer 2011 - The Michigan Business Law Journal - "Garnishments: The Growing Menace For Michigan Employers"
- January 12, 2011 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "Michigan Electronic Pay Amendment Takes Effect"
- 1999 - Employee Relations Law Journal - "What Happens When the WARN Act and Bankruptcy Code Converge"