Michele, a California based attorney, is a valued partner at Tucker Arensberg LLP. Michele’s practice focuses on the representation of joint union-management employee benefit trust clients in ERISA litigation matters, including collection of delinquent employer contributions, withdrawal liability, bankruptcy, and the defense of benefit determinations before the United States District Court. She also has represented apprenticeship trusts in claims made before the Fair Employment and Housing Agency (FEHA) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Michele has successfully handled thousands of collection matters, on both a local and national basis, collecting millions of dollars in delinquent contributions for a variety of multiemployer trust funds. Michele’s practice includes collection litigation cases located across the country.

Prior to Michele’s experience in the field of employee benefits, she specialized in construction litigation, including mechanic’s liens, stop notices and delay claims, and conducted multiple jury trials.

In addition to her litigation practice, Michele has created comprehensive educational programs for trust funds, unions, and employer associations with the goal of improving employer compliance with their trust fund obligations, reducing delinquencies, and supporting their positive relationships with both the union and the trust funds.

• International Union of Painters and Tapers (IUPAT) Professional Forum, held by The Painters and Allied Trades Labor Management Cooperation Initiative (LMCI) (January, 2023):
  • “Team Collections,”
  • “The Role of the Payroll Auditor,”
  • “The Role of Legal Counsel.”

• Collections Roundtable Participant in the International Union of Painters and Tapers (IUPAT) Professionals Forum held by The Painters and Allied Trades Labor Management Cooperation Initiative (LCMI), "Practice Guide for Effective Collection Strategies for Multiemployer Trust Funds". (December 2021)

• Speaker at the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans’ (IFEBP) educational conferences:

  • Collection Procedures Institute (2019 and 2021)

    • "Legal Trends in Collections" 

  • 64th Annual Employee Benefits Conference 

    • “Significant Collection Cases”

  • Collection Procedures Institute (2017) 

    • “Collections and Bankruptcy”

  • 62nd Annual Employee Benefits Conference (2016) 

    • “Lessons Learned in Collections”

  • Collection Procedures Institute (2016) 

    • “Settlements and Post-Judgment Strategies”

  • 61st Annual Employee Benefits Conference (2015)

    • “Trust Funds' Role in Collections”

*As Tucker Arensberg L.L.P.