Leading appellate advocate and litigator

Jeff Michalowski, a certified appellate specialist and elected member of the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers, is an experienced advocate who helps Fortune 500 businesses, universities and public entities navigate legal challenges at all levels of the state and federal judiciary. He has authored over 100 briefs and argued over 20 cases in the courts of appeal, and handles high stakes trial court litigation in civil rights and constitutional cases. Jeff's areas of focus include:

• Appellate practice
• Constitutional law
• Higher education
• Employment disputes

Clients come to Jeff with their most unique and challenging cases and appeals, and rely on his strategic vision and his distinctive writing to help achieve their goals.

Jeff is vice chair of the firm's Appellate Group. He has taught civil rights law at California State University, has authored several chapters of the leading treatise on California employment law and serves on the editorial board of a forthcoming book on California employment litigation.

Bar Admissions

• California

Education

• Harvard Law School (J.D., cum laude, 2006)

• University of Virginia (B.A., with high distinction, 2001)

• "California Employment Law, Matthew Bender (Chapter 2 - Applicability of Rules Governing Hours Worked (Co-Author)"
• "California Supreme Court Announces New Standard for Administrative Exemption: An Analysis of Harris v. Superior Court"
• "Complex Whistleblowing and Retaliation Issues, National Employment Law Institute"
• "Employees May Elect A Working Lunch (But Employers Beware): An Analysis of Brinker v. Superior Ct."
• "Navigating the Ethical Landmines of Handling Your Own Appeal, San Diego County Bar Association"
• "The Duty of Candor on Appeal"
• Federal District Courts that Stay Proceedings and Compel Arbitration Retain Jurisdiction to Confirm or Vacate the Resulting Arbitral Award
• Oral Argument in Callais Signals Uncertainty for the Future of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act
• Oral Arguments Heard in Trump v. Learning Resources as Justices Question Scope of President's Tariff Powers
• Oral Arguments Heard in Supreme Court Case on NJ Transit's Claim of Sovereign Immunity
• Oral Arguments in Urias-Orellana v. Bondi Raise Key Questions about how Federal Courts Interpret Asylum Protections
• Oral Arguments in FS Credit Opportunities Corp. v. Saba Capital Reveal Close Questions on ICA Rescission Claims
• Oral Arguments in Tariff Challenge: Supreme Court Finds No Authority Under IEEPA
• Oral Arguments Point to Upholding Limits on Transgender Participation in Women's Sports
• Prominent Jurist Issues Resounding Statement Supporting University Self-Determination Over Academic and Pedagogical Affairs
• Supreme Court Clarifies Standard of Review for Asylum Persecution Determinations
• Supreme Court Hears Cox v. Sony in a Battle Over ISP Responsibility for Copyright Abuse
• Supreme Court Limits Voting Rights Act, Strikes Down Louisiana Congressional Map, and Signals Ongoing Skepticism of Race-Conscious State Action
• Supreme Court Reverses Billion-Dollar Copyright Verdict, Holds Internet Service Provider Is Not Contributorily Liable for Subscribers' Infringement
• Supreme Court Rules Negligent-Hiring Claims Against Transportation Brokers in Interstate Commerce Are Not Preempted by the FAAAA
• Supreme Court Rules New Jersey Transit Is Not Entitled to Sovereign Immunity
• The Supreme Court Further Restricts the Use of Race in College Admissions; Its Decision May Also Impact Employers and Government Contractors

Seminar

• 27th Annual Paul Plevin Quarles Employment Law Update
• 28th Annual Quarles Employment Law Update
• Quarles' 2025 Annual Legal Ethics Seminar
• Quarles' Annual Legal Ethics Seminar 2025 Program Webinar Replay
• Quarles' Annual Legal Ethics Seminar 2025 Program Webinar Replay
• Quarles' Annual Legal Ethics Seminar 2025 Program Webinar Replay
• Supreme Court Further Restricts the Use of Race in College Admissions-The Impact on Higher Education and Beyond