Michael A. Drab
Practice Areas
Experience
- Government Contracts & Procurement
- Labor & Employment Litigation
- Trade Secrets
Biography
Michael Drab specializes in departing employee disputes, with an emphasis on the protection of trade secrets and confidential business information. Whether itâs developing and implementing effective strategies to guard trade secrets, obtaining emergency injunctive relief, or defending against allegations of misappropriation, Michael creates tailor-made solutions to the unique and fluctuating challenges faced by his clients.
Michael also represents government contractors and federal grant recipients on procurement matters. He has assisted clients with compliance issues related to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FARs), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), the Uniform Guidance, and a wide range of other federal statutes and regulations impacting government contracting and procurement, including small business and minority owned business certification requirements.
Prior to joining the firm, Michael served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Andrew M. Edison in the Southern District of Texas.
Education
B.A., magna cum laude, University of Houston
J.D., University of Houston Law Center
Bar Admissions
Texas
Court Admissions
United States District Court for the Southern and Western Districts of Texas
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas
United States District Court for the District of Colorado
- Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2024-2025
- Co-Author, âSupreme Court Lowers Burden of Proof for FLSA Overtime Exemptions,â Jackson Walker Insights (January 2025)
- Co-Author, “FTC Rule Banning Non-Competes Found Unenforceable,” Jackson Walker Insights (August 2024)
- Co-Author, “Court Issues Injunction Against Enforcement of FTC Non-Compete Rule,” Jackson Walker Insights (July 2024)
- Co-Author, “Federal Trade Commission Issues Rule Banning Non-Competes in the Workplace,” Jackson Walker Insights (April 2024)
- Co-Author, “Minimum Wage Hike for Federal Contractors Halted in the Fifth Circuit,” Jackson Walker Insights (September 2023)
- Co-Author, “Department of Labor Proposes Expanding Overtime Eligibility to Millions,” Jackson Walker Insights (September 2023)
- Co-Author, “Second Circuit Narrows Defend Trade Secrets Act Remedies,” Jackson Walker Insights (June 2023)
- Author, “Indiana to Further Restrict Physician Non-Competes,” Jackson Walker Insights (May 2023)
- Co-Author, “Imagine Thereâs No Non-Competes,” Texas Lawyer (subscription required) (February 2023)
- Co-Author, “Supreme Court Addresses Federal Arbitration Actâs Residual Clause, But Circuit Split Remains Regarding Personal Jurisdiction in FLSA Cases,” Jackson Walker Insights (June 2022)
- Co-Author, âEffective Use of Expert Witnesses,â State Bar of Texas 30th Annual Advanced Employment Law Course (April 2022)
- Co-Author, “Key Highlights from OSHAâs COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard,” Jackson Walker Insights (January 2022)
- Co-Author, “What Federal Contractors Need to Know About the New Minimum Wage Requirements,” Jackson Walker Insights (January 2022)
- Speaker, âRemote Work: Risks and Best Practicesâ Jackson Walker Virtual Labor & Employment Law Symposium (December 2021)
- Terry Foundation Alumni Advisory Board Member, 2022
- The People’s Law School, Student Volunteer, 2018-2019
- National Hemophilia Foundation, Volunteer, 2007-2015
- Camp Ailihpomeh Board of Directors, 2013-2014
- Greater Houston Partnership, Houston Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs (HYPE)
October 6, 2025
Insights
The Non-Compete Conundrum: The Ban, The Backlash, And Whatâs Next
By G. Scott Fiddler and Michael A. Drab
In April of last year, the FTC voted to implement its final rule prohibiting non-compete agreements in the workplace. The rule, as a practical matter, eliminated the patchwork of non-compete statutes and common law adopted on a state-by-state basis. It also was designed to greatly reduce the use and enforceability of non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, except in the narrowest of circumstances.
September 18, 2025
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Congratulates 2025 Texas Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the recognition of 75 attorneys by Thomson Reutersâ Super Lawyers in the 2025 “Texas Super Lawyers” list, as well as 66 attorneys as “Texas Rising Stars” for 2025. Each year, less than 5% of attorneys are selected to Super Lawyers and 2.5% to Rising Stars. Selection is based off of peer nominations that are then reviewed by a research team. Each nominee is evaluated on his or her professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement.
August 21, 2025
Attorney News
âThe Best Lawyers in Americaâ Features 350 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2026 Edition, Including 10 âLawyers of the Yearâ and 106 âOnes to Watchâ
The Best Lawyers in America, a widely regarded guide to legal excellence, has recognized 350 Jackson Walker attorneys across 87 specialty practice areas in its 2026 edition, including 10 Lawyers of the Year and 106 Ones to Watch.
January 22, 2025
Insights
Supreme Court Lowers Burden of Proof for FLSA Overtime Exemptions
By Michael Drab and David Schlottman
On January 15, 2025, the Supreme Court for the United States issued an opinion interpreting the standard of proof employers must meet to establish the applicability of an exemption to the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (âFLSAâ).
August 28, 2024
Insights
FTC Rule Banning Non-Competes Found Unenforceable
By G. Scott Fiddler and Michael A. Drab
On Tuesday, August 20, 2024, employers throughout the country breathed a sigh of relief when a federal trial judge in Dallas struck down the FTCâs rule banning non-competes. It brought to a conclusion a tumultuous and chaotic summer that had turned employers and workers into court-watchers.
July 9, 2024
Insights
Court Issues Injunction Against Enforcement of FTC Non-Compete Rule
By G. Scott Fiddler and Michael Drab
A federal court in the Northern District of Texas has issued an injunction against enforcement of the Federal Trade Commissionâs rule banning non-compete agreements, which is scheduled to go into effect on September 4, 2024. The Court has stated it intends to issue a ruling on the merits on August 30, 2024, less than a week before the Rule is scheduled to take effect.
April 25, 2024
Insights
Federal Trade Commission Issues Rule Banning Non-Competes in the Workplace
On April 23, 2024, in a 3 to 2 vote, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voted to implement its final rule prohibiting non-compete agreements in the workplace.
By G. Scott Fiddler and Michael Drab
March 21, 2024
Attorney News
Jackson Walker Congratulates 2024 Texas Rising Stars
Each year, Super Lawyers recognizes only 5% of Texas attorneys who either are 40 years of age or younger or have been in practice for 10 years or less as âRising Stars.â
December 4, 2023
Newsletters
JW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter â December 2023
View Jackson Walker’s December 2023 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.
September 29, 2023
Insights
Minimum Wage Hike for Federal Contractors Halted in the Fifth Circuit
By David Schlottman and Michael A. Drab
On January 1, 2023, a new regulation from the Department of Labor took effect that raised the minimum hourly wage applicable to certain federal contractors to $16.20. But this past Tuesday (September 26, 2023), a federal judge in Victoria, Texas, entered an injunction prohibiting the DOL from enforcing the rule in the states of Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
Recognition & Accolades
- Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2024-2025
Publications & Speeches
- Co-Author, âSupreme Court Lowers Burden of Proof for FLSA Overtime Exemptions,â Jackson Walker Insights (January 2025)
- Co-Author, “FTC Rule Banning Non-Competes Found Unenforceable,” Jackson Walker Insights (August 2024)
- Co-Author, “Court Issues Injunction Against Enforcement of FTC Non-Compete Rule,” Jackson Walker Insights (July 2024)
- Co-Author, “Federal Trade Commission Issues Rule Banning Non-Competes in the Workplace,” Jackson Walker Insights (April 2024)
- Co-Author, “Minimum Wage Hike for Federal Contractors Halted in the Fifth Circuit,” Jackson Walker Insights (September 2023)
- Co-Author, “Department of Labor Proposes Expanding Overtime Eligibility to Millions,” Jackson Walker Insights (September 2023)
- Co-Author, “Second Circuit Narrows Defend Trade Secrets Act Remedies,” Jackson Walker Insights (June 2023)
- Author, “Indiana to Further Restrict Physician Non-Competes,” Jackson Walker Insights (May 2023)
- Co-Author, “Imagine Thereâs No Non-Competes,” Texas Lawyer (subscription required) (February 2023)
- Co-Author, “Supreme Court Addresses Federal Arbitration Actâs Residual Clause, But Circuit Split Remains Regarding Personal Jurisdiction in FLSA Cases,” Jackson Walker Insights (June 2022)
- Co-Author, âEffective Use of Expert Witnesses,â State Bar of Texas 30th Annual Advanced Employment Law Course (April 2022)
- Co-Author, “Key Highlights from OSHAâs COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard,” Jackson Walker Insights (January 2022)
- Co-Author, “What Federal Contractors Need to Know About the New Minimum Wage Requirements,” Jackson Walker Insights (January 2022)
- Speaker, âRemote Work: Risks and Best Practicesâ Jackson Walker Virtual Labor & Employment Law Symposium (December 2021)
Community Involvement
- Terry Foundation Alumni Advisory Board Member, 2022
- The People’s Law School, Student Volunteer, 2018-2019
- National Hemophilia Foundation, Volunteer, 2007-2015
- Camp Ailihpomeh Board of Directors, 2013-2014
- Greater Houston Partnership, Houston Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs (HYPE)