Michael Droke
PEOPLE

Michael Droke

Partner
droke.michael@dorsey.com
Seattle P +1 (206) 903-8709 F +1 (206) 260-9093 Palo Alto P +1 (650) 857-1717 F +1 (650) 857-1288
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Overview

MIKE STRIVES TO UNDERSTAND HIS CLIENTS’ BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND GOALS, AND TUNE HIS LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO THOSE OBJECTIVES. 

Mike started his career as a client, not a lawyer. He represented the same company where he worked in management, thus “walking both sides of the street.” As a lawyer, Mike had devoted his practice to practical, results-oriented advice and litigation representation in situations where the law, facts or business risks are ambiguous.

Mike’s practice is devoted to the areas food, cooperatives, agriculture and employment law. He is a member of the Food, Beverages & Agriculture industry group. He has litigated and advised across the United States. Throughout his career, a substantial part of Mike’s practice has been representing agriculture and food-based companies. He acts as outside general counsel in that industry, handles corporate governance, and manages complicated domestic and international transactions.

On the business side, Mike developed Dorsey’s LegalMine Document Review Solution from concept to operation. He has also held leadership roles as Office Head for Seattle (where he negotiated a large office move, and the office was named one of Washington’s Best Workplaces) and as co-head of the Labor & Employment and other practice groups.

Education & Admissions

Santa Clara University School of Law (J.D., 1992), summa cum laude
Editor-In-Chief, Santa Clara Law Review

University of California, Berkeley (A.B., 1986)

Admissions

  • Washington
  • California
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Languages

  • German (conversational), Spanish (conversational)

Experience

Client Achievements

News & Resources

Articles

Washington’s Travel Time Trap for Employers
September 24, 2021
U.S. Supreme Court Decision Affects California Agricultural Growers
June 23, 2021
Nomads Working from Anywhere
January 15, 2021
Congress Extends the FFCRA’s Payroll-Tax Credit for Employers (but not the Paid-Leave Obligation!)
January 4, 2021
Washington Dairy Workers Now Entitled to Overtime Pay
November 9, 2020
Cooperative Business Law: A Practical Guide to the Special Laws Governing Cooperatives
June 26, 2020
Ninth Circuit Holds that After-Acquired Evidence May Disqualify Plaintiffs Under the Americans With Disabilities Act
April 21, 2020
UPDATE: What Employers need to know now that the President has signed the Family Relief Act
March 19, 2020
What Employers Should Know About The “Families First Coronavirus Response Act”
March 16, 2020
Seattle Employers: Prepare for Employee Commuter Benefits
December 17, 2019
NLRB Adopts “Contract Coverage” Standard to Apply to an Employer’s Unilateral Changes to Terms and Conditions of Employment
September 12, 2019
Weed & Work: As Legalization Spreads, So Does Uncertainty Over Employers’ Duty to Accommodate Marijuana Use
July 29, 2019
Obesity Is A Disability, Washington Supreme Court Rules
July 12, 2019
Washington State’s Limited Cooperative Association Statute
July 8, 2019
The Hammer Revealed: Mandatory Recall Authority Under The Food Safety Modernization Act
November 8, 2018
California High Court Rejects De Minimis Standard, Requiring Employers to Account for and Compensate Even Small Increments of Time After Clocking Out
July 30, 2018
California Changes the Gig Economy Game For Independent Contractor Status
May 1, 2018
Washington Law Prohibits Employers from Requiring Non-Disclosure Agreements Covering Sexual Harassment or Assault as a Condition of Employment
March 23, 2018
Washington Meal Breaks
July 13, 2017
Washington Paid Family Leave
July 13, 2017
U.S. Supreme Court Grants Certiorari To Evaluate Class Waivers Under the National Labor Relations Act
January 13, 2017
Employer Is Liable under the WLAD for Refusing to Hire a Truck Driver for Taking a Prescribed Narcotic
September 2, 2015
Webinar Playback - Selling EMEA: Practical Issues When Engaging Sales Professionals Abroad
July 28, 2015
DOL Issues Guidance Reminding Employers That “Most Workers Are Employees”
July 16, 2015
Pregnancy Discrimination: A Hot Topic in the Aftermath of "Young v. UPS"
July 7, 2015

News & Press Mentions

Super Lawyers Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers in Seattle
July 15, 2021
Farm to Table Talk Podcast: Labor Supremes – Michael Droke
June 26, 2021
13 Dorsey Lawyers Selected for Inclusion in 2021 The Best Lawyers in America Employment Law Issue
June 24, 2021
Dorsey Partner Mike Droke Discusses SCOTUS Ruling in Favor of Growers Property Rights
June 23, 2021
Dorsey Partner Mike Droke Comments on CA Uber, Lyft Drivers Now Employees
October 23, 2020
Dorsey Partner Mike Droke Discusses 5 Ways to Keep Retail Foodservice Alive
July 29, 2020
Super Lawyers Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers in Seattle
July 16, 2020
Dorsey Partners Bernhard, Goldstein and Droke Discuss Food Processors COVID-19 Challenges
April 13, 2020
Dorsey Partner Mike Droke Discusses Coronavirus and Business Impact
March 3, 2020
Dorsey Partner Mike Droke Comments on Another Romaine Recall
November 22, 2019
Dorsey Partner Mike Droke Discusses California Gig Worker Bill
September 11, 2019
Dorsey Partner Mike Droke Comments on Obesity and WLAD
July 23, 2019
Super Lawyers Recognizes 14 Dorsey Lawyers in Seattle
June 10, 2019
Chambers USA 2019 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
April 25, 2019
Dorsey Partner Mike Droke Discusses Avocado Recall
March 26, 2019
Dorsey Partner Mike Droke Remarks on Workers Arbitration Ruling
January 15, 2019
Dorsey Partner Mike Droke Discusses Romaine Recall
November 20, 2018
12 Dorsey Lawyers in Seattle Selected for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2019
August 15, 2018
Super Lawyers Recognizes 14 Dorsey Lawyers in Seattle
June 18, 2018
Chambers USA 2018 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices in Seattle
May 7, 2018
13 Dorsey Lawyers in Seattle Selected for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2018
August 15, 2017
Super Lawyers Recognizes 18 Dorsey Lawyers in Seattle
June 9, 2017
Chambers USA 2017 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practice Groups in Seattle
May 30, 2017
Chambers USA 2017 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
May 30, 2017
Dorsey Partner Mike Droke Comments on Wage History Ban
April 19, 2017

Events & Speaking Engagements

Webinar Playback: President Biden’s Mandatory Vaccination Executive Order: What We Know and What We Don’t Know
September 14, 2021
Webinar Playback: The Future of Agriculture Roundtable
September 10, 2021
Webinar Playback: Capturing Value: Successful M&A Integration
June 22, 2021
Webinar Playback: The Deal Timeline and Process
April 29, 2021
Webinar Playback: Best Practices on Presale Preparation
March 23, 2021
Webinar Playback: Capitalizing Your Co-op: Financing Strategies to Retain the Cooperative Model
October 21, 2020
Webinar Playback: Marketing Communication in Uncertain Times: Social Media and Influencer Guidance
September 24, 2020
Webinar Playback: 5 Key Considerations in Agriculture’s Financially Uncertain Times
August 21, 2020
Webinar Playback: 3rd Annual Food Summit
July 29, 2020
Webinar Playback: Pivoting Post-Covid: Practical And Legal Considerations To Building Better Companies And Their Leaders
June 15, 2020

Legal Writings

Cooperative Business Law: A Practical Guide to the Special Laws Governing Cooperatives

Cooperative Business Law Third Edition 2020

Select Presentations

  • Webinar: Beyond the Munchies, December 2, 2019
  • Webinar: Limited Co-op Association, November 15, 2019
  • Beyond the Munchies, National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives, August 5, 2019
  • Surviving the Food Recall, Consumer Cooperative Management Association Tour, June 7, 2019
  • How to Survive a Food Recall, NSAC Western Chapter Meeting, May 24, 2019
  • Webinar Playback: Prop 65 Risks for Food & Beverage Industry, January 30, 2019
  • Webinar Playback: 2019 Minnesota Government Affairs Preview – Food, Beverage, and Agribusiness Industries, January 16, 2019
  • Keynote Speaker Employment Law Update, SHRM Conference, 2000 – Present
  • Risk Management and Ethics for In-House Counsel Seminar, September 25, 2017

Industries & Practices

Banking & Financial Institutions

Banking & Financial Institutions

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Canada

Canada

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Class Action Litigation

Class Action Litigation

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Cooperative Law

Cooperative Law

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Corporate Governance & Compliance

Corporate Governance & Compliance

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Electronic Discovery

Electronic Discovery

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Europe

Europe

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Financial Services Regulatory

Financial Services Regulatory

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Food, Beverage & Agribusiness

Food, Beverage & Agribusiness

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International Trade

International Trade

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Labor & Employment

Labor & Employment

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Mergers & Acquisitions

Mergers & Acquisitions

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Products Liability

Products Liability

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Technology

Technology

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  • Banking & Financial Institutions
  • Canada
  • Class Action Litigation
  • Cooperative Law
  • Corporate Governance & Compliance
  • Electronic Discovery
  • Europe
  • Financial Services Regulatory
  • Food, Beverage & Agribusiness
  • International Trade
  • Labor & Employment
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Products Liability
  • Technology

Professional & Civic

Professional Achievements

  • Washington Athletic Club Board of Governors, Memberships & Marketing Committee
  • Member, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Legal, Tax / Accounting Committee
  • Member, Federal Bar Association
  • Founding Member, The CHO Group, 2002-Present
  • Founding Member, Board Member, President, 2002-2009, Bainbridge Schools Foundation
  • Member, National Society of Human Resource Management and Northwest Human Resource Management Association, 1986-present
  • Founding Member and Past President, Association for Corporate Growth

Accolades

  • Dorsey & Whitney – Scales of Justice Team Award (The World Ventilator Foundation), 2021

Contributed 50+ Pro Bono Hours in 2020

  • Contributed more than 50 Challenge pro bono hours, 2020

Chambers USA 2021  Ranked in Chambers USA 2020  Ranked in Chambers USA 2019 Leading Individual  
Chambers USA 2018 Leading Individual  Ranked in USA Chambers 2017 Leading Individual  Ranked In - USA Chambers and Partners 2016 - Leading Individual   Top Ranked - Chambers USA 2015 - Leading Individual 

Michael Droke