Michael Lotito

About Michael Lotito — Shareholder at Littler Mendelson in San Francisco, California

Michael J. Lotito is a Shareholder at Littler Mendelson, where he co-chairs the firm's Workplace Policy Institute® (WPI®), a division focused on government relations and public policy. Based in San Francisco, California, Michael provides strategic guidance to executives and policymakers on the complex interplay of public policy, communications, and legal matters at international, national, and local levels. His work involves a proactive and comprehensive approach to advocating for employer interests globally, collaborating with companies, trade associations, and various business groups to influence laws, regulations, and policies that impact the workplace.

Mr. Lotito is dedicated to ensuring employers have a voice amidst evolving workplace dynamics. He has actively challenged numerous rules and regulations affecting employers, including changes to the joint employer doctrine, the definition of an independent contractor, new overtime pay requirements, the PRO Act, and the Persuader Rule. He also advocates for employers on issues such as government agency nominations, state-level developments impacting corporate freedom of speech, and the expansion of sectoral bargaining boards. Michael serves as labor and policy counsel to the International Franchise Association, is a member of the Labor Relations Committee of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and sits on the board of directors for the California Business Roundtable.

A frequent speaker on workplace topics worldwide, Michael Lotito also writes extensively on emerging workplace issues. He has provided testimony before committees in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, as well as before the NLRB and EEOC. His insights are regularly featured in prominent media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Bloomberg.

In 2018, Michael co-founded the Emma Coalition, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization addressing the technology-induced displacement of employment (TIDE™). Through this initiative, he works to prepare American businesses and the workforce for the future of work, focusing on understanding future skill requirements and addressing workforce challenges through education, training, and engagement with policymakers.