Mr. Kalt is a partner and has been with the firm since 1996. His employment law practice emphasizes the litigation of harassment, discrimination and wrongful termination matters in state and federal court. Mr. Kalt also provides advice and training to employers on employee discipline and investigations, employment policies and procedures, and fair employment practices. He has also served as the editor for the Firm’s employment newsletters concerning legislative and case law developments. Mr. Kalt represents businesses of all sizes and in many industry sectors. Mr. Kalt is admitted to all California State Courts and Federal District Courts in California.

Representative Matters

• Co-author of successful appellate briefs in Jones v. The Lodge at Torrey Pines Partnership (2008) 42 Cal.4th 1158 holding supervisors immune from FEHA retaliation claims.
• Second chair trial counsel on behalf of prestigious five-diamond resort in sexual orientation/discrimination case, and author of successful Motion for Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict.
• Obtained summary judgment or dismissal in favor of public university in numerous separate employment suits, including in two separate matters in which he obtained attorneys’ fees award exceeding $55,000, and another matter in which he successfully argued before the California Court of Appeals following a favorable summary judgment ruling.
• Assisted in successful trials on behalf of multiple separate employers in discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims.
• Obtained dismissal or summary judgment in favor of national grocery chain in numerous separate employment suits.
• Obtained dismissal or summary judgment in favor of local municipality in multiple separate employment suits.
• Successfully represented employer in bench trial in mandamus proceedings involving wrongful termination claim.

Education

• University of California, Los Angeles Law School - JD
• University of California, Los Angeles - BA, Political Science, Magna Cum Laude
  

Professional and Community Affiliations

• San Diego Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) - Vice President - Legislation
• The State Bar of California - Author (former), ADR Notes Column, California Law Review
• Defense Research Institute - Vice Chair of Publications - Employment
• San Diego County Bar Association - Former Co-Chair, Labor and Employment Section
• East County Personnel Association - Former Legal and Legislative Liaison
• Member Delegate to the 2005 Delegation to the Conference of Delegates of California Bar Associations
• Federalist Society, San Diego Chapter - Member, Executive Board
• The Honorable William B. Enright Inns of Court - Member
• American Inns of Court – Louis M. Welsh Chapter No. 9 - Member
• Knights of Columbus - Grand Knight
  

Awards and Accolades

• Named by Southern California - San Diego Super Lawyers® Employment and Labor attorneys in San Diego (2007 and 2008)
• Named by San Diego Daily Transcript - “Top Attorneys” Employment Law (2008)
  

Articles

• 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,” DRI 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,” DRI The Voice, 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