Mami Kato maintains a litigation-focused practice in the area of labor and employment law. She has successfully represented clients in state and federal courts both at the trial and appellate levels.  Mami is a passionate oralist, having successfully argued cases before the federal district courts, Michigan Court of Appeals, and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

In addition, Mami has successfully defended clients before various administrative agencies, including the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the United States Department of Labor, Michigan Employment Relations Commission, and Michigan Civil Rights Commission.

Mami is also a member of the firm’s Cross Border Practice Group. A native speaker of Japanese, Mami provides workplace training in Japanese in partnership with her colleagues, conducts workplace investigations in Japanese, prepares and reviews relevant employment documents, and assists various employers with Japan operations in all aspects of managing a Japan workforce, helping bridge language and cultural barriers.  Mami has also partnered with Japanese attorneys to assist Japan-based employers with operations in the United States.

Prior to joining Ogletree Deakins, Mami was an attorney for Detroit’s oldest union-side labor law firm where she successfully defended federal “hybrid” §301 actions jointly brought against an employer and a labor organization as well as advising the firm’s clients on employment law related matters. Prior to embarking on her legal career, Mami served as a management staff for the world-renowned Detroit Symphony Orchestra for over ten years where she dealt primarily with various labor and employment issues. Her experience provides Mami with a unique insight to be an effective and dedicated litigator, both in understanding the employers’ needs and diligently analyzing each and every case.