Position: Attorney

Mike Crocenzi is a seasoned legal advocate with over three decades of experience, focusing on employment law and litigation. As the Chair of the firm’s Employment Practice Group and a member of the Litigation Practice Group, he provides strategic counsel to businesses navigating complex employment challenges. His deep understanding of workplace laws and regulations enables him to develop proactive strategies that minimize risk, protect employers, and ensure compliance.

Mike has a proven track record of successfully defending employers in high-stakes litigation. He has represented clients before federal and state courts, including the Pennsylvania Superior Court and Commonwealth Court, as well as agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC). He has defended employers in cases involving discrimination (Title VII, ADA, ADEA), wage and hour disputes (FLSA, Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act), wrongful termination, OSHA compliance, non-compete agreements, workers’ compensation, and more.

In addition to litigation, Mike serves as a trusted advisor across multiple industries. In the food & agribusiness sector, he has successfully defended employers in discrimination claims and drafted employment agreements for agricultural businesses. In the transportation industry, he has counseled trucking companies on independent contractor classification, overtime exemptions, and terminations. Mike also lectures on how artificial intelligence is affecting human resource functions.

A recognized thought leader in employment law, Mike regularly lectures for human resource organizations and advises corporations and professional associations. He is also dedicated to shaping future legal and business minds as an adjunct faculty member at Messiah University, where he teaches business law.

Beyond his legal practice, Mike is actively involved in his community, serving on nonprofit boards and contributing his knowledge to organizations that make a difference. His commitment to excellence, strategic problem-solving, and vigorous advocacy make him an invaluable asset to any employer seeking strong legal guidance and risk management.

Read some of Mike’s recent litigation victories below:

– Successfully defended a regional architectural and engineering company in federal court. A former employee of an architectural and engineering company sued the company claiming violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, and Title VII (sex discrimination). Mike successfully convinced the federal judge that there was no basis for these multiple claims and the judge dismissed the case before trial.

– Won an appeal with the Pennsylvania Superior Court affirming a hard won trial verdict for a regional technology company. In 2018, Mike successfully defended a technology company after a five-day trial in which two former executives were seeking almost $11 million in damages related to their termination from the company. After losing at trial, the two former employees appealed the verdict to the Superior Court. Mike once again successfully defended the technology company on appeal and convinced the Superior Court to reject the former employees’ arguments, thus preserving the jury’s verdict in favor of the technology company.

– After a two-day hearing, an arbitrator agreed that a former CEO of a technology company and subsidiary of a central Pennsylvania bank must pay back his ownership stake in the company after he departed. Officials from the technology company predicted that the opposite decision from the arbitrator would have been disastrous to the company.

– Obtained a jury verdict for an employer in a case brought by a terminated employee alleging breach of contract and defamation. The employee claimed the employer did not have cause based on his employment agreement to terminate his employment. He was seeking six months of wages, costs of litigation and attorneys’ fees. Furthermore, the employee alleged the employer defamed him to prospective employers so he was not able to obtain a job. The county judge dismissed the defamation claim prior to jury deliberations. The employer’s witnesses testified that the employee was fired for falsifying documents and violating the employer’s policies. The jury found in favor of the employer.

– Obtained a jury verdict for an employer in a case brought by two terminated employees alleging a violation of the New Jersey whistleblower law. The plaintiffs were seeking in excess of $10 million in damages. After a week-long trial, a county jury found in favor of the employer.

– Obtained a jury verdict for a landlord accused of negligence by his tenant. The tenant alleged that a leaking gutter above her front door caused ice to form on the concrete porch in front of her front door. Plaintiff claimed that while taking the trash out one morning, she slipped on a spot of ice and broke her ankle that eventually required five surgeries. After three days of testimony from various witnesses and experts, the county jury found the landlord not negligent.

– Obtained a jury verdict in federal court in Philadelphia for an employer in a case brought by a terminated employee alleging a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. An employee claimed the employer terminated him because he suffered from attention deficit disorder. The employer presented witnesses that it terminated the employee for poor job performance. The jury agreed with the employer and found no violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.