Michelle Lee Roberts

Michelle Lee Roberts

5.0
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 20 years

Employee benefits Lawyer at Oakland, CA
Practice Areas: Employee Benefits

66 Franklin Street, Suite 300, Oakland, CA

About Michelle

Biography

Practice Areas

1

Practice Area

Employee Benefits 100%

Represent individuals in employee benefit claims

21 years | 100 cases

100%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 30 minutes


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in California for 20 years

State: California

Acquired: 2005

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Roberts Disability Law

66 Franklin Street, Suite 300, Oakland, CA, 94607

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Michelle Lee Roberts's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

47 Client Reviews

5 star (47)
4 star (0)
3 star (0)
2 star (0)
1 star (0)

Posted by anonymous | January 15, 2026 | Consulted Attorney

This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.

a Legal Expert that cares about her clients

Michelle spent more time than she needed with me in advance of an upcoming review for my disability claim. The process for those of us that ACTUALLY DISABLED can be very stressful, and Michelle provides a calmness and guidance that alleviates the pressure. Her poignant advice about the do's and don...'t and her legal expertise in this area helped me through a very tough process. If my claim gets denied, Michelle will the one that I will rely on to help. To sum it up in one sentence, she actually cares about her clients.

Posted by David | November 26, 2025 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Michelle Won, Won, and Won Every Battle in My Disability Claim

Attorney's are very picky when they need to hire another attorney to represent them. I'm an attorney and needed representation in a very difficult disability case. I wanted one of the best disability lawyers in California and several attorneys highly recommended Michelle and it was soon apparent why ...- she's a brilliant lawyer and she's a fighter. She won my claim against a big insurance company. She helped me obtain social security disability coverage. When the insurance company decided to pay me a lump sum amount she fought to get me more money by questioning their methodology and won. When I needed an employment attorney she gave me an excellent referral and worked with them to ensure that my disability benefits were protected. At every turn over 4 years she won, won, won. I simply couldn't rate a fellow attorney any higher than Michelle. Amazing!

Posted by anonymous | October 25, 2025 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

The best ERISA disability attorney you could ever hope to find!

Michelle is an exceptional ERISA disability attorney and truly one of the best in her field. I came to her after my insurance company unfairly denied my long-term disability benefits. From our very first conversation, it was clear she had deep expertise in ERISA law and a strategic understanding of h...ow insurance companies operate. She immediately developed a plan, gathered the right evidence, and communicated with the insurer with precision and confidence. Throughout the process, she kept me informed, explained everything clearly, and always responded quickly to my questions. Her professionalism, intelligence, and persistence were outstanding — and because of her hard work, we won my case. What also stood out to me was how reasonable her fees were for such a high level of service. She’s not just a brilliant attorney — she genuinely cares about her clients and fights for what’s right. If you’re facing an ERISA disability claim issue, I can’t recommend Michelle highly enough. She is smart, efficient, compassionate, and relentless in pursuit of justice for her clients.

Posted by Craig | August 8, 2024 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Excellent!!!

Michele Roberts & all members of the team are excellent, professional, empathetic, personable, and fun to kid around with. This was an excellent experience and I highly recommend this firm to all that will listen!!! In addition they were highly thorough and focused on the which was a big reason I wo...n my case

Posted by Bryan | June 20, 2024 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Highly satisfied with Michelle's handling of my LTD case.

We are incredibly grateful to Michelle and her team for successfully leading us through an extremely difficult and stressful process with my LTD insurance company. I can wholeheartedly recommend Michelle as a highly experienced and professional attorney who knew exactly what it would take to win my c...ase.  Nearly as important as their legal expertise, Michelle and Kristin dealt with my intense aggravation over the insurance company's behavior with gentle patience and kindness. Their perseverance and expertise brought about a successful financial resolution to my case, all while their encouragement, compassion and confidence made the entire process far easier to bear. Thank you Michelle, Kristen and Susan!

See All Client Reviews

Michelle Lee Roberts's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Michelle
Stacy Monahan Tucker headshot
Stacy Tucker

Employee benefits lawyer | Dec 19

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I was opposing counsel to Michelle in ERISA litigations when I represented insurers. I later worked with her on cases representing insureds. I can confirm that she does an excellent job of representing her clients."

Carla N. McKain headshot
Carla McKain

Employee benefits lawyer | Jan 29

Relationship: Other

"I got to know Michelle as a colleague working in the same field of employee benefits. I have relied on her as a sounding board for my cases from time to time, and she is always willing to provide her thoughts. I know she has an excellent track record with her litigated cases. I would highly recommend her for ERISA benefits cases."

Adam Harrison Garner headshot
Adam Garner

Employee benefits lawyer | Nov 17

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Michelle is a widely respected, zealous advocate on behalf of individuals who have wrongfully had their disability benefits terminated or denied. She is knowledgeable, active in a number of professional organizations devoted to the development of employee benefits law, and is an empathetic, caring person as well."

Julian Mark Baum headshot
Julian Baum

Employee benefits lawyer | Feb 26

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Michelle and her partner are among the elite in this specialized practice area. Highly skilled and knowledgeable. In the California federal ERISA bar, both Michelle and Cassie (individually and together) are well-known and highly-respected. I refer potential clients to them with complete confidence."

Brent Dorian Brehm headshot
Brent Brehm

Employee benefits lawyer | Jul 03

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have known Michelle for my entire career. She is a smart and tireless advocate for those in need. A superb lawyer."

Aaron Paul Minnis headshot
Aaron Minnis

Employee benefits lawyer | Apr 24

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I have worked with Michelle on several employment law matters. She is a skilled lawyer and I endorse her."

Joseph Andrew Creitz headshot
Joseph Creitz

Employee benefits lawyer | Aug 07

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"To call Michelle a "rising star" doesn't quite do justice to the achievements she has already had. Well-respected by judges and her peers in the ERISA bar, and adored by her clients, Michelle is a credit and a tribute to the practice of law."

Scott David Kalkin headshot
Scott Kalkin

Employee benefits lawyer | Jun 08

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Michelle is smart, conscientious and a great advocate. I recommed her highly."

View All Endorsements
Stacy Monahan Tucker headshot
Stacy Tucker

Employee benefits lawyer

Zoya Y. Yarnykh headshot
Zoya Yarnykh

Employee benefits lawyer

Andrew Michael Kantor headshot
Andrew Kantor

Employee benefits lawyer

M'Alyssa Christianne Mecenas headshot
M'Alyssa Mecenas

Employee benefits lawyer

Carla N. McKain headshot
Carla McKain

Employee benefits lawyer

Ryan Daniel Sutherland headshot
Ryan Sutherland

Workers compensation lawyer

Michael Bartolic headshot
Michael Bartolic

Employee benefits lawyer

Julian Mark Baum headshot
Julian Baum

Employee benefits lawyer

Sonya Lisa Smallets headshot
Sonya Smallets

Wrongful termination lawyer

Aaron Paul Minnis headshot
Aaron Minnis

Employment and labor lawyer

Joseph Andrew Creitz headshot
Joseph Creitz

Employee benefits lawyer

Scott David Kalkin headshot
Scott Kalkin

Employee benefits lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2023

Top 100 Attorney and Top 50 Women Attorney, Northern California Super Lawyers

2022

Top 100 Attorney and Top 50 Women Attorney, Northern California Super Lawyers

2022

Super Lawyer, Northern California Super Lawyers

2021

Top 100 Attorney and Top 50 Women Attorney, Northern California Super Lawyers

2021

Super Lawyer, Northern California Super Lawyers

2020

Super Lawyer, Northern California Super Lawyers

2020

Top 100 Attorney and Top 50 Women Attorney, Northern California Super Lawyers

2019

Super Lawyer, Northern California Super Lawyers

2019

Top 100 Attorney and Top 50 Women Attorney, Northern California Super Lawyers

2018

Super Lawyer, Northern California Super Lawyers

2018

Top 100 Attorney and Top 50 Women Attorney, Northern California Super Lawyers

2017

Super Lawyer, Northern California Super Lawyers

2016

Super Lawyers, Northern California Super Lawyers

2015

Super Lawyer, Northern California Super Lawyers

2015

Volunteer of the Year Award, ALRP

2015

Client Distinction Award, Martindale-Hubbell

2014

Rising Star, Northern California Super Lawyers

2013

Rising Star, Northern California Super Lawyers

2012

Rising Star, Northern California Super Lawyers

2007

Distinguished CELA lawyer, California Employment Lawyers Association

2005

Prosser Prize,

Work Experience

2021 - Present

Principal, Roberts Disability Law, P.C.

2018 - 2021

Partner, Kantor & Kantor, LLP

2016 - 2018

Partner, Roberts Bartolic LLP

2008 - 2016

Partner, Springer & Roberts LLP

2005 - 2007

Associate, Lewis, Feinberg, Lee, Renaker & Jackson, PC

Associations

2013 - Present

National Employment Lawyers Association

Member

2005 - Present

California Employment Lawyers Association

Member

2021 - 2024

Bar Association of San Francisco, Judiciary Committee

Member

2019 - 2020

American Bar Association, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section

Vice Chair to the Employee Benefits General Committee

2019 - 2020

Federal Bar Association, Northern District of California Chapter

Immediate Past President

2019 - 2022

Ninth Circuit Judicial Council

Lawyer Representative

2018 - 2019

Federal Bar Association, Northern District of California Chapter

President

2017 - 2018

Federal Bar Association, Northern District of California Chapter

President-Elect

2016 - 2017

Federal Bar Association, Northern District of California Chapter

Treasurer/Secretary

2014 - 2015

Federal Bar Association, Northern District of California Chapter

Vice President for Oakland

2014 - 2015

American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section

Welfare Plans/Benefit Claims Co-Chair

2013 - 2015

ABA Employee Benefit Committee

Liaison -Section's Diversity Committee

2011 - 2014

AIDS Legal Referral Panel Board of Directors

Co-chair

Sample of Legal Cases

Chacko v. AT&T Umbrella Benefit Plan No. 3, No. 2:19-CV-01837-DAD-DB, 2023 WL 5806455 (E.D. Cal. Sept. 7, 2023)

Judgment granted to Plaintiff

Hamid v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 517 F.Supp.3d 903 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 5, 2021)

Judgment granted to Plaintiff

Chacko v. AT&T Umbrella Benefit Plan No. 3, 2020 WL 1984171 (E.D. Cal. Apr. 27, 2020)

Summary judgment granted to plaintiff

Dawson-Murdock v. Nat’l Counseling Grp., Inc., 931 F.3d 269 (4th Cir. 2019)

settled

Sangha v. Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York, _F.Supp.3d_, 2018 WL 3023514 (N.D. Cal. 2018)

Won at judgment

 Demer v. IBM Corp. LTD Plan, 835 F.3d 893 (9th Cir. 2016)

settled

 Bush v. Liberty Life Assurance Co. of Boston, 130 F.Supp.3d 1320 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 16, 2015)

settled

 Barboza v. California Ass’n of Prof’l Firefighters, 144 F.Supp.3d 1151 (E.D. Cal. Nov. 17, 2015)

settled

 Hirschkron v. Principal Life Ins. Co., 141 F.Supp.3d 1028 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 29, 2015)

settled

Barnes v. AT&T Pension Benefit Plan-Nonbargained Program, 273 F.R.D. 562 (N.D. Cal. 2011)

Schramm v. CNA Financial Corp. Insured Group Benefits Program,718 F. Supp. 2d 1151 (N.D. Cal. 2010)

Plaintiff's motion granted

Zewdu v. Citigroup Long Term Disability Plan, 264 F.R.D. 622 (N.D. Cal. 2010)

Settled

See More Legal Cases

Education

2005

Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California at Berkeley.

JD - Juris Doctor

2002

University of California - Riverside

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2023

ERISA Basics National Institute

ERISA Benefit Claims Administrative Procedures & Litigation Overview

2022

Employee Benefits Law Update: A Year in Review

From Long-COVID to Compliance with Regulations: Trends in Health and Welfare Administration and Disability Litigation

2020

46th Annual TIPS Midwinter Symposium on Insurance and Employee Benefits Attorney’s Fees in ERISA Litigation

2019

45th Annual TIPS Midwinter Symposium on Insurance and Employee Benefits

ERISA Hot Topics

2016

Joint Committee on Employee Benefits ERISA Litigation National Institute conference

A Practical Guide to Ethics in ERISA Litigation

2016

Joint Committee on Employee Benefits (JCEB) The Basics of Benefit Claims

2016

2016 Midwinter Meeting of the Section of Labor & Employment Law Employee Benefits Committee

Interaction of ERISA 502(a)(3) and 502(a)(1)(B) claims

2016

19th National Advanced Forum on Litigating Disability Insurance Claims The Evolving State of New Remedies & Equitable Relief Under ERISA § 502(a)(3)

2015

Joint Committee on Employee Benefits ERISA Litigation National Institute conference

Discovery in ERISA Litigation—FRCP 26-34, ESI, and FOIA Requests

2015

Joint Committee on Employee Benefits (JCEB)

Expert’s Guide to Research

2015

41st Annual TIPS MId-Winter Symposium on Insurance and Employee Benefits Emerging Issues & Litigation Relating to Life, Health, Disability and Erisa

2015

2015 Annual Convention

Wide World of Post-Amara ERISA Remedies

2014

FBA Webinar CLE Series

Disability Claims Under ERISA

2014

American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section, Employee Benefits Conference

Ethics

2014

2014 Annual Convention of the National Employment Lawyers Association ERISA On The Map: Recent Developments, Hot Topics & Strategies For Success

2013

Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles ERISA Liens

2013

American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section, Employee Benefits Committee

Ethics

2012

Mastering Veterans’ Benefits, Social Security, & Disability Law

Disability Law

2012

CAOC Convention 2012

*E*verything *R*eally *I*sn't *S*o *A*wful - an Overview of the Current Landscape of ERISA Preemption & Remedies.

2012

American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section, Employee Benefits Committee

Ethics

2011

Mastering Social Security & Disability Law CLE

Disability Law

2011

American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section, Employee Benefits Committee

Ethics

2010

American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section, Employee Benefits Committee

Ethics

2009

American Association for Justice, Social Security Disability Law Section

An Introduction to LTD Benefits For the Social Security Practitioner

Publications

2021

Uninvisible Pod Invisible Illness Limitations in Employer-Provided Disability Policies

2021

ABA's ERISA Survey of the Federal Circuits Co-author

2020

Valley Lawyer magazine (SFVBA) ERISA Remedies for Breaches of Fiduciary Duty

2019

Plaintiff Magazine (California) ERISA: Highlights of Recent Notable Cases,

2019

ABA Labor & Employment Law Section, Employee Benefits Committee Newsletter Circuit Round-Up of Key Appellate ERISA Decisions from February-September 2019

2016

Daily Journal ERISA split resolved

2015

The Brief (ABA) Anatomy of a Benefit Claim - Practical Presuit Considerations and How to Ensure a Strong Record for Litigation

2015

ERISA Litigation Personal Jurisdiction and Subject Matter Jurisdiction

2015

Daily Journal ERISA ruling is bad news for plaintiffs, could create split

2014

Daily Journal Circuit changes course on ERISA

2014

Daily Journal Presumption of prudence is imprudent

2014

Daily Journal High court ensures continued split on ERISA remedies

2014

Daily Journal Justices should recognize ERISA fiduciary's continuing duties

2014

ABA TIPS Health and Disability & Life Insurance Law Committee Newsletter, Fall 2014 How ERISA Can Provide Equitable Monetary Relief in Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims

2014

Daily Journal The importance of the ban on discretion in ERISA plans

2014

Employee Benefits Law (BNA), Supplement Contributing Author

2013

Employee Benefits Law (BNA), 2013 Supp. Chapter Editor

2013

Daily Journal Like Stealing Candy from a Baby: ERISA Offsets

2013

Employee Benefits Law (BNA), Third Edition Contributing Author

2013

Daily Journal Health Plan gets a free-ride roadmap

2013

Daily Journal On Your Marks, Get Set, Time's Up

2013

Daily Journal ERISA defense bar: sky is not falling

2013

2013 WL 3458161 (U.S.) (Appellate Brief) Brief of United Policyholders, as Amicus Curiae, in Support of Petitioner in Heimeshoff v. Hartford Life & Accident Insurance Co.

2012

Employee Benefits Law (BNA), Supplement Contributing Author

2012

San Francisco Daily Journal ERISA not likely to preempt state pregnancy leave law

2010

Employee Benefits Law (BNA), Supplement Contributing Author

2009

Employee Benefits Law (BNA), Supplement Contributing Author

2008

Employee Benefits Law (BNA), Supplement Contributing Author

2007

Employee Benefits Law (BNA), Supplement Contributing Author

2006

Employee Benefits Law (BNA), Supplement Contributing Author

Languages

English

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