Michael L. Vogelsang, Jr., is a principal at The Employment Law Group® law firm, where he frequently handles cases that involve whistleblower retaliation, employment discrimination, wrongful termination, and other workplace claims. He has been with the firm since 2007. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star” and by Lawdragon as one of the top 500 plaintiff-side employment and civil rights lawyers in the country. In its 2023 edition, The Best Lawyers in America honored him for his skill in employment law and litigation.
During his time with the firm, Mr. Vogelsang has gained extensive experience representing federal employees. He has handled scores of cases across several dozen departments and agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Commerce, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and numerous others.
Mr. Vogelsang’s federal employee work includes responding to adverse personnel actions; filing whistleblower complaints with the Office of Special Counsel; litigating discrimination claims before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; and representing federal employees in appeals at the Merit Systems Protection Board.
Mr. Vogelsang has co-chaired private-sector jury trials in federal courts in the Eastern District of Virginia and the District of Colorado. He is active in the LGBT community and has litigated sexual orientation discrimination cases in both state and federal court.
Mr. Vogelsang’s notable victories for clients include:
- An award of approximately $400,000 in damages and fees in a retaliation complaint against a cabinet agency
- An award of more than $200,000 in emotional-distress damages in a sexual harassment case against a federal agency
- The grant of default judgment by the EEOC in multiple cases due to agencies’ failure to follow federal regulations when investigating discrimination complaints
- Confirmation of the extraterritorial application of AIR 21’s whistleblower protections to U.S. airline employees who face retaliation outside the United States
Before coming to The Employment Law Group, Mr. Vogelsang worked as a contract project assistant and paralegal for both Steptoe & Johnson LLP and Jenner & Block LLP, providing support for various class action civil liability cases. He also served as the real estate legal assistant for The Nature Conservancy in the Latin American division of its legal department. During his tenure with The Nature Conservancy, he assisted the company’s international programs with purchasing and protecting large tracts of valuable grasslands, watersheds, rain forests, deserts, and coastal preserves throughout Central and South America.
Mr. Vogelsang received his law degree from the American University, Washington College of Law and is a member of the Virginia State Bar and D.C. Bar. He graduated summa cum laude from the American University’s School of International Service, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies. He spent a semester abroad studying Latin American culture and language in Santiago, Chile, and is conversant in Spanish.
Away from work, he enjoys hiking with his dog, reading Marvel comics, and finding new recipes to try out in the kitchen.
Speaking Engagements
Back From the Brink: What to Expect From a Re-Animated MSPB, DC Bar, Oct-2021
Impact of Marijuana Legalization in the Workplace, DC Bar, Aug-2020
LGBT Policy Town Hall, GW College Democrats, Mar-2017
Best Practices for Transgender Employees, Bloomberg BNA, Mar-2017
Changing Currents in Employment Law 2016: Recent Trends and Developments, DC Bar, Oct-2016
Michael Vogelsang
Principal
Michael L. Vogelsang, Jr., is a principal at The Employment Law Group® law firm, where he frequently handles cases that involve whistleblower retaliation, employment discrimination, wrongful termination, and other workplace claims. He has been with the firm since 2007. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star” and by Lawdragon as one of the top 500 plaintiff-side employment and civil rights lawyers in the country. In its 2023 edition, The Best Lawyers in America honored him for his skill in employment law and litigation.
During his time with the firm, Mr. Vogelsang has gained extensive experience representing federal employees. He has handled scores of cases across several dozen departments and agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Department of State, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Commerce, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and numerous others.
Mr. Vogelsang’s federal employee work includes responding to adverse personnel actions; filing whistleblower complaints with the Office of Special Counsel; litigating discrimination claims before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; and representing federal employees in appeals at the Merit Systems Protection Board.
Mr. Vogelsang has co-chaired private-sector jury trials in federal courts in the Eastern District of Virginia and the District of Colorado. He is active in the LGBT community and has litigated sexual orientation discrimination cases in both state and federal court.
Mr. Vogelsang’s notable victories for clients include:
- An award of approximately $400,000 in damages and fees in a retaliation complaint against a cabinet agency
- An award of more than $200,000 in emotional-distress damages in a sexual harassment case against a federal agency
- The grant of default judgment by the EEOC in multiple cases due to agencies’ failure to follow federal regulations when investigating discrimination complaints
- Confirmation of the extraterritorial application of AIR 21’s whistleblower protections to U.S. airline employees who face retaliation outside the United States
Before coming to The Employment Law Group, Mr. Vogelsang worked as a contract project assistant and paralegal for both Steptoe & Johnson LLP and Jenner & Block LLP, providing support for various class action civil liability cases. He also served as the real estate legal assistant for The Nature Conservancy in the Latin American division of its legal department. During his tenure with The Nature Conservancy, he assisted the company’s international programs with purchasing and protecting large tracts of valuable grasslands, watersheds, rain forests, deserts, and coastal preserves throughout Central and South America.
Mr. Vogelsang received his law degree from the American University, Washington College of Law and is a member of the Virginia State Bar and D.C. Bar. He graduated summa cum laude from the American University’s School of International Service, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies. He spent a semester abroad studying Latin American culture and language in Santiago, Chile, and is conversant in Spanish.
Away from work, he enjoys hiking with his dog, reading Marvel comics, and finding new recipes to try out in the kitchen.
