Megan Mechak joined McGillivary Steele Elkin LLP in 2007 to continue her work representing unions and to uphold the essential rights protecting workers across the nation.
Megan is a relentless and steadfast litigator specializing in cases brought under the First Amendment of the Constitution, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, and the Fair Labor Standards Act. She has obtained relief in federal court litigation across the country in cases brought on behalf of American workers who have been retaliated against for speaking out on matters of public concern or have been fired for associating with their firefighter’s union. She also has significant experience litigating wage and hour cases pursued to arbitration through collective bargaining agreements.
In addition to her litigation work, Megan provides advice and guidance to union officials regarding all manner of labor-management relations matters, including negotiation of memoranda of understanding and collective bargaining agreements, processing of grievances and administrative appeals, and applicability of state and federal laws to bargaining unit members. Her success and experience in union-side labor law has led her to being named interim General Counsel of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).
She has been invited to speak on panels and make presentations on workplace issues, including workplace violence and settlement of employment-related litigation. She has also written and edited articles on employment and employment litigation, including a plaintiff’s obligation to make a prima facie case in Title VII litigation
When Megan graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law, with honor, in 2003, she received the William P. Cunningham Award for excellence in achievement and service to the law school community. In 2002 and 2003, Megan served as an Articles Editor of The Business Lawyer. From 2003 through 2004, she clerked for the Honorable (Ret.) J. Frederick Sharer, of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. Megan graduated from Loyola University Maryland (formerly Loyola College in Maryland) in 2000.
Outside of the office, Megan continues to serve the legal community as the Union Co-Chair of the ABA Labor and Employment Law Section’s Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee, as a member of the Union Lawyers’ Alliance’s Board of Directors, and as a Track Coordinator for the ABA Labor and Employment Law Section’s Annual Conference. She previously served as Chair of the Maryland Bar Association’s Animal Law Section.
