Michael C. Lueder
Milwaukee, Partner
Education
- Indiana University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1987)
- DePauw University (B.A., political science, 1984)
Bar Admissions
- State of Ohio
- State of Wisconsin
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
Awards
- Recognized in the area of Commercial Litigation and Consumer Law by The Best Lawyers in America© publication (2021 – 2027)
- Recognized by Wisconsin Super Lawyers® as a “Super Lawyer” (2017 – 2025)
- Pro Bono Attorney of the Year by the State Bar of Wisconsin (2014)
- Peer Review Rated as AV® Preeminent™
Biography
Michael Lueder is a trial lawyer. He has tried nearly 50 cases and taken hundreds of depositions. Trying cases is the joy of his career. Michael approaches every case from the beginning as though it will ultimately be tried. He believes there is no substitute for preparation—knowing the facts, mastering the evidence, anticipating the opposition, and being ready to adjust when a trial takes an unexpected turn. That preparation allows him to do what good trial lawyers must be able to do: think on their feet.
Michael also believes that overly aggressive and hostile litigation often produces worse results for clients. He believes in fighting hard while maintaining a good working relationship with opposing counsel. Professionalism makes it easier to solve problems, narrow disputes, negotiate effectively, and focus the fight on the issues that matter. Michael is always willing to pursue a fair settlement when it serves the client’s interests. But his default is to prepare for trial, and he believes the best settlements are often achieved when the other side knows that going to trial is not a threat—it is the plan.
Michael’s primary practice is aviation labor and employment law. He represents pilots, mechanics, and flight attendants in employment disputes, disciplinary and termination proceedings, and whistleblower and retaliation claims, with a particular focus on claims under AIR21, the federal aviation whistleblower statute. He also represents pilots in proceedings before the National Transportation Safety Board involving FAA actions against their pilot and medical certificates.
A significant part of Michael’s aviation practice involves representing pilots in disputes arising from airline HIMS programs, including allegations of substance dependence, compelled medical examinations and monitoring, disability discrimination, and the intersection between airline employment decisions and FAA medical certification.
Michael also represents whistleblowers in federal False Claims Act (qui tam) litigation. His broader litigation practice includes class actions, non-compete and restrictive-covenant disputes, and complex business litigation.
Before joining Hansen Reynolds in 2017, Michael was a partner at an Am Law 100 firm, where he founded and chaired the firm’s national Consumer Law, Finance, and Class Action Practice Group. Immediately before that, he served as chief counsel for one of the nation’s largest banks.
Michael is admitted to practice in Wisconsin and Ohio and in federal district and appellate courts throughout the country.
When he is not practicing law, Michael enjoys spending time with his wife, Tonya, and daughters, Meryl and Tess—especially cheering them on at sporting events and theater performances. He is also an enthusiastic supporter of Milwaukee’s arts community and serves on the board of Skylight Music Theatre, where he previously served as president.
Experience
Aviation Labor and Employment Litigation – Represents pilots, mechanics, and flight attendants in labor and employment disputes involving discipline, termination, discrimination, retaliation, and whistleblower claims. A significant part of Michael’s practice involves disability discrimination and related claims arising from allegations of alcohol abuse or substance dependence and participation in airline HIMS programs.
Pilot Grievances and Labor Arbitrations – Represents pilots in grievance proceedings and labor arbitrations arising under collective bargaining agreements. Michael frequently serves as independent counsel for pilots who want their own attorney to handle a grievance or arbitration rather than relying exclusively on representation provided by their union.
AIR21 Whistleblower Litigation – Represents pilots, mechanics, and flight attendants in whistleblower and retaliation claims under AIR21, the federal aviation whistleblower statute. Michael has tried AIR21 cases before the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Administrative Law Judges and has represented pilots and other aviation employees in AIR21 proceedings before the Department’s Administrative Review Board.
HIMS Litigation – Represents pilots in disputes arising from airline HIMS programs, particularly cases in which an airline alleges that a pilot is alcohol or substance dependent. Michael’s HIMS practice includes cases involving compelled medical examinations and treatment, disability discrimination, monitoring requirements, employment consequences, and the relationship between an airline’s HIMS program and FAA medical certification.
FAA and NTSB Proceedings – Represents pilots in direct dealings with FAA officials concerning medical and airman certification and in proceedings before the National Transportation Safety Board. Michael works with pilots, physicians, and aviation experts to develop the medical and factual record and prepares and tries NTSB cases involving the suspension, revocation, or denial of a pilot’s medical or airman certificate.
Employment Litigation – Has handled more than 100 employment matters over nearly 40 years of practice. His experience includes discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower, wrongful termination, and related employment disputes, with his current employment practice concentrated heavily in the aviation industry.
False Claims Act / Qui Tam Litigation – Represents whistleblowers in federal False Claims Act litigation involving allegations of fraud against the federal government.
Class Action Litigation – Has extensive experience litigating class actions in federal and state courts, both as lead counsel and in partnership with some of the country’s leading class action firms. Michael’s class action work has included environmental and nuisance litigation, data privacy, consumer protection, robocalls and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the Video Privacy Protection Act, and wage-and-hour claims. He also serves as Wisconsin and regional counsel to national class action firms, providing strategic guidance on local courts and procedures, developing litigation strategy, drafting key pleadings and motions, and helping national counsel navigate the distinctive requirements of Wisconsin class action practice.
Noncompete and Restrictive-Covenant Litigation – Represents businesses and individuals in disputes involving noncompete, nonsolicitation, confidentiality, and related contractual restrictions. Michael obtained a recovery of more than $4 million in litigation involving a senior broker who left a brokerage firm with her team.