Michael W. BowlingDirector

Michael Bowling has almost two decades of legal and executive experience advising clients regarding human resources best practices and representing clients in employment and business immigration matters. With an extensive background in guiding management and training leaders and staff, Michael provides counsel to employers on implementing employment practices, policies and procedures with an eye toward improving employee performance, retaining employees and avoiding liability. As a director in the firm’s Oklahoma City office, his practice focuses on advising employers in all facets of human resource compliance as well as representing employers in employment-related litigation and administrative actions, including matters of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, leaves of absence, reasonable accommodation, wage and hour disputes, OSHA compliance, National Labor Relations Act charges, and compliance with the Davis-Bacon and Davis-Bacon Related Acts. Michael also serves as chair of the firm’s Business Immigration practice.

What Clients Say about Michael

“His advice is always well researched and well explained. He understands our needs and guides us to a result that is both compliant and cost-effective for our business model.”

“Michael is an exceedingly responsive, seasoned employment attorney.”

“Michael has former human resources management experience, so he not only understands the legal side of issues but also the practical and usage side as well.”

Prior to rejoining Crowe & Dunlevy, Michael served in several roles for INTEGRIS Health, Inc., including most recently as Vice President of Human Resources, where he oversaw operations for the human resources and employee health departments and directed efforts for employee compensation, benefits and relations, organizational development, diversity and affirmative action, recruitment and business partner strategy. While serving as INTEGRIS’ in-house legal counsel, he provided advice to members of management on legal and regulatory compliance with employment laws and human resources best practices, conducted investigations and represented INTEGRIS before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Michael attended Duke University, where he graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Russian and political science and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School, graduating magna cum laude and being elected to the Order of the Coif. During law school, Michael was an editor for the Michigan Law Review, winner of the State of Michigan Moot Court contest and a Pace National Environmental Law Moot Court finalist. He also holds a certification as a Senior Professional of Human Resources from the Human Resources Certification Institute.

Outside of practicing law, Michael has been involved with several community organizations, including serving on the boards of directors for 8th Street Church of the Nazarene and the OKHR State Council. Michael has also mentored students in the Oklahoma City public school system.

Representative Experience

Obtained a verdict for his client, a small chiropractic practice, on claims of race discrimination, harassment, and retaliation under the Oklahoma Anti-Discrimination Act
Obtained summary judgment for healthcare system client on claims of race, color, national origin, age, and disability discrimination
Obtained summary judgment for large retail client against former employee on grounds of judicial estoppel
Obtained dismissal of race and age discrimination lawsuit in federal court due to former worker’s failure to exhaust administrative remedies
Obtained an agreed injunction against a defendant employer and two former employees, where employees had violated their non-solicitation agreements
Successfully argued to OSHA that work-related death of LLC member was not recordable injury, allowing company to maintain safety rating and continue as ongoing concern
Successfully argued to OSHA that technical violations discovered during investigation of COVID-related death were “other-than-serious” violations
Obtained a reversal on appeal to district court of an OESC determination
Obtained a reversal on final administrative appeal from the Board of Review of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, which found that a part-time intern could not collect unemployment benefits from his then-current employer
Successfully argued to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service that not-for-profit client was exempt from H-1B cap

*Past results afford no guarantee of future results. Every case is different and must be judged on its merits.

Areas of Practice

Education

Admissions

Professional Associations & Memberships

Honors & Awards

Published Works

Note, The Case against Employment Tester Standing under Title VII and § 1981, 101 Mich. L. Rev. 215 (2002)
All Is Fair in Love and Wages: Marketplace Wage Comparisons and Antitrust Law, Labor & Employment, American Health Lawyers Association Labor and Employment Practice Group, Vol. 5, Issue 3 (Fall 2006)
Saint v. Data Exchange: A Sea Change or Business as Usual for the Public Policy Tort Exception to At-Will Employment?, 78 Okla. Bar J. 137 (Jan. 13, 2007)
We Go Together: Addressing the Intersection of Professional Appointees and Hospital Employees, In-House Counselor, American Health Lawyers Association In-House Counsel Practice Group, Vol. 13, Issue 2 (Late Spring 2007)
Contributing Author, 2012 Midwinter Meeting Report, American Bar Association, Section of Labor and Employment Law, Subcommittee on the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Contributing Author, 2012 Midwinter Treatise Supplement: The Fair Labor Standards Act, American Bar Association, Section of Labor and Employment Law, Fair Labor Standards Act Subcommittee.
Contributing Author, 2013 Midwinter Meeting Report of 2013 Cases, American Bar Association, Section of Labor and Employment Law, Subcommittee on the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Practical Considerations for Gender Transitions, The Journal Record (Dec. 31, 2019)
ADA Accommodation Issues and COVID-19, The Journal Record (June 19, 2020)
COVID-19 and the People Side of Business Continuity, The Journal Record (July 2, 2020)
COVID-related Leave Provisions: What Employers Needs to Know, The Journal Record (Apr. 23, 2021)
Guidance to Help Protect Employees from COVID-19, The Journal Record (Sept. 13, 2021)
Employment-related Compliance Tips for Small Businesses, The Journal Record (Mar. 18, 2022)
Dress Code Danger Zone, The Journal Record (Sept. 23, 2022)
Leveraging Foreign Talent to Meet Challenges, The Journal Record (Oct. 21, 2022)

Speaking Engagements

"Navigating the Minefield: An Employment Law Crash Course," Oklahoma Healthcare Financial Managers Association, Oklahoma City, OK, April 25, 2008
"Labor Relations Awareness," Ponca City Area Society for Human Resource Management, Ponca City, OK, November 13, 2008
"Emerging Labor & Employment Challenges in Health Care," The Healthcare Roundtable for General Counsel, Las Vegas, NV, September 13, 2010
"Employment Law for Internal Auditors," Institute of Internal Auditors – Oklahoma City Chapter, Oklahoma City, OK, October 14, 2010
"Legal Issues with Wellness Programs," Health at Work Coalition Conference 2011, Oklahoma City, OK, April 15, 2011
"Social Media: Legal Implications for Healthcare Employers," The Healthcare Roundtable for General Counsel, Chicago, IL, September 12, 2011
"Auditing Compensation," Institute of Internal Auditors – Oklahoma City Chapter, Oklahoma City, OK, October 13, 2011
"Social Media and Healthcare Compliance Issues," The Healthcare Roundtable for Chief Compliance Officers, Phoenix, AZ, November 4, 2011
"Legal Issues with Wellness Programs," Southwest Benefits Association Plan Administration Skills Workshop, Oklahoma City, OK, March 30, 2012
"Hot Topics in Employment Law," Oklahoma Hospital Association/Oklahoma Healthcare Human Resources Association Annual Convention, Oklahoma City, OK, October 31, 2012
Panel Moderator, "Listening to Employers (Panel Discussion on Population Health Management)," Sooner Healthcare Executives/Oklahoma Organization of Nurse Executives, Norman, OK, May 14, 2015
“Employment Accommodations for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities,” Oklahoma Restaurant Association, Oklahoma City, OK, September 25, 2019
“What’s Next with the ACA and Wellness Programs,” Southwest Benefits Association 30th Annual Benefits Compliance Conference, October 24, 2019
“Are You Dazed & Confused Yet?: An Update on Medical Marijuana & Safety-Sensitive Positions, Yukon Chamber of Commerce, Yukon, OK, March 12, 2020
“COVID-19 and the Evolution of the Workplace at Pandemic’s End, OKHR Annual Conference, Virtual, April 23, 2021
“Essentials of Managing a Practice Staff,” Oklahoma Veterinary Conference, January 27, 2022
“Employment Law Basics for Water Districts,” Oklahoma Rural Water Association Annual Meeting, April 21, 2022
“Engaging Employees in the New Reality,” Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits Day of Learning Conference, Virtual, April 28, 2022
“Up Your Unemployment Winning Percentage,” OKHR Annual Conference, Tulsa, OK, April 6, 2022
“What to Expect in 2023,” Central Oklahoma Human Resources, Shawnee, OK, February 16, 2023
“Professionalism in the Workplace,” Oklahoma Rural Water Association Annual Meeting, Tulsa, OK, April 20, 2023

Community Service

Michael W. BowlingDirector

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