Michael P. Gardner

Mike focuses his practice almost exclusively on labor and employment issues and has represented clients large and small, public and private, in state and federal courts in the Mid-Atlantic and beyond. He has counseled employers on handling all aspects of employment claims, from internal management, proceedings with state and federal agencies such as the EEOC or DOL, and through litigation, trial and appeal. While litigation is sometimes unavoidable, Mike emphasizes a proactive and preventative approach to employment issues in an effort to minimize the costs and disruptions litigation can impose on a business. Mike is a presenter at the annual Woods Rogers Labor and Employment Seminar series.

Mike holds Martindale-Hubbell's AV Preeminent rating—the highest possible—in both legal ability and ethical standards. This honor is bestowed from confidential surveys of members of the Bar and Judiciary. He has also been recognized by Virginia Super Lawyers since 2016 and among Virginia Business magazine “Legal Elite” since 2018.

Mike is an active member of Christ Episcopal Church in Roanoke, Va. Mike has served in various roles with the Virginia Bar Association, including regional chair for the Young Lawyers’ Division, and chair of the Model Judiciary Program where high school students from across Virginia try mock cases before real judges, including Virginia Supreme Court Justices.

In his time at Washington and Lee University School of Law, Mike served as a lead articles editor on the Washington and Lee Law Review, won the John W. Davis Appellate Advocacy Competition and placed fourth in the Nation in the American Bar Association’s Negotiation Competition. After graduating from law school, Mike had the privilege of clerking for the Hon. Jackson L. Kiser in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia.

Recognition

Clerkships

Hon. Jackson L. Kiser, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia

Education

Washington and Lee University School of Law, J.D.

Hampden-Sydney College, B.A.

Admissions

Virginia

U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia

U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia

Supreme Court of Virginia

• Roanoke Area Ministries (RAM), Board of Directors
• Roanoke Bar Association
• Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM)
  • Roanoke Valley, Blue Ridge Chapters
  • Roanoke Valley SHRM, Past Legislative Chair
• Ted Dalton American Inn of Court, Former Member
• Virginia Bar Association
• Western Virginia Workforce Development Board, Executive Committee

Co-author. “Employment: North America, USA – Virginia.” Lexology Getting the Deal Through, September 19, 2023.

Co-author. “Employment: North America, USA – Virginia.” Lexology Getting the Deal Through, October 17, 2022.

“Cannabis Cans & Can’ts: How Employers Should React to Legal Marijuana in Virginia.” VBA Journal, Spring 2022.

“Can a Business Be Liable to Its Employees for LGBT Discrimination?” Lynchburg Business, February 2018.