Michal R Shinnar

Michal Shinnar was named “among the most influential and respected practitioners in the employment law sector in Maryland” in the Daily Record’s 2023 Employment Law Power List. She takes a client centric approach to all legal matters and represents employees in sex discrimination, disability discrimination, sexual harassment, pregnancy discrimination, race discrimination, age discrimination, whistleblower retaliation, non-compete agreements, and unpaid wages cases.

Her practice includes all aspects of employment law, including discrimination, disability accommodations, employment contracts, non-competes, severance agreements, and wage and hour disputes. Michal was a member of the litigation team that won the highly publicized $43.8 million settlement in Breen v. FAA, which made history as the highest settlement in an age discrimination case against the federal government. She serves as the Chair of the Disability Law Practice Group for the National Employment Lawyers’ Association (NELA).

Michal joined JGL after over eight years of practicing at plaintiff-side employment law firms and having clerked for an Administrative Judge at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Honors
Civil Plaintiff – Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Maryland, The National Trial Lawyers

The Best Lawyers in America®, 2027

The Best Lawyers in America® – Ones to Watch, 2026Bethesda Magazine Top Attorneys, Employment (employee), 2023

Maryland’s Employment Law Power Players, The Daily Record, 2023

Media
Interviewed in the segment, “What the changes coming to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission mean for federal workers,” WUSA9, 2026

“The Psychology Behind Corporate DEI Pivots: Evidence vs. Emotion in 2025

”Quoted in “More Courts Taking Broad View Of EEOC Investigative Power,” Law360, 2025

Interviewed about a federal court ruling that could reinstate probationary federal workers, KNX News Radio Los Angeles, 2025

Interviewed in the segment “First 100 Days – Federal Worker Layoffs”, CBS Mornings, 2025

“Washington, D.C., employee awarded $525,000 for age-based firing.” (PDF)Quoted in “How to Fill Out FMLA Forms: A Step-by-Step Guide,” Investopedia, 2025

“Disability Inclusion In The Workplace: Michal Shinnar Of JGL Law On How Businesses Make Accommodations For Customers and Employees Who Have a Disability,” Authority Magazine, 2024

Quoted in “Maryland State Police shakes up Internal Affairs Division, bringing in new commanders,” The Baltimore Sun, 2024

Quoted in “Maryland State Police seeks $2.75M to settle claims of racial discrimination,” The Daily Record, 2024

Quoted in “Federal judge rules racial discrimination lawsuit against Maryland State Police can continue.” The Baltimore Sun, 2024

Quoted in “A Maryland trooper shared an offensive meme a week after police killed George Floyd. His punishment: retiring 3 years later,” The Baltimore Sun, 2023

Quoted in “Internal emails detail pressure state police troopers faced to drive up traffic ticket numbers,” The Baltimore Banner, 2023

“Employment Discrimination Against Survivors of Domestic Violence,” Maryland State Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Newsletter, Fall 2016

Speaking Engagements
“Know Your Rights – and How Trump is Changing Them: A Conversation with Disabled and Disability Law Practitioners,” American University Labor & Employment Law Society, 2026
“Leveraging Expert Witnesses to Quantify Economic Damages in Employment Law Cases,” National Employment Lawyers Association/New York, 2025
“Navigating Unique Challenges in Age Discrimination Cases,” National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) Annual Convention, 2025
“State of the ADAAA,” National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) Annual Convention, 2024
“25 Years After Faragher-Ellerth,” National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) Annual Convention, 2023
“Civility from the Podium: Professionalism as a Strategic Tool in an Employment Appeal,” College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers’ Association (MWELA), 2021
“Motions for Summary Judgment,” Federal Bar Association & Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association (MWELA), Panel at the United States District Court for the District of Maryland on Motions Practice, 2020
“Invisible Disabilities,” Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) Annual Conference, 2020
“Anatomy of an ADA Case,” National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) Annual Convention, 2019
“Trial Strategies for Disability Cases,” National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) Annual Convention, 2020
“Pregnancy & Family Responsibilities Discrimination,” Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association (MWELA) Annual Conference, 2019
“The Intersections of Disability Discrimination and Sex Harassment: Part I: An Introduction to the Issues,” TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund and National Women’s Law Center Webinars, 2019
“The Intersections of Disability Discrimination and Sex Harassment: Part II: Guidance for Litigating Attorneys,” TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund and National Women’s Law Center Webinars, 2019
“Legal Protections for Employees Experiencing Infertility,” DC Women’s Bar Association, 2018
“Essential Functions Under Title I of the ADA,” Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium, 2021
“Undue Burdens Under Title I of the ADA,” Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium, 2019
“Strategies for Bringing Charges at the EEOC,” Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium, Baltimore, 2018
“Disability Accommodations for Federal Employees,” Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium, 2017