By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Clark Hill attorney Carly Machasic, voted by her peers as a Super Lawyers Rising Star since 2014, focuses her practice on representing employers in all areas of labor and employment law.
A cum laude graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Machasic is an experienced litigator who defends employers against claims involving a wide range of employment-related issues, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblowing, family/medical leave, and accommodating disabilities. She also is experienced with traditional labor issues and frequently counsels and represents employers regarding the administration of collective bargaining agreements, unfair labor practices, and labor negotiations.
A major part of Machasic’s practice is assisting employers with practical advice and solutions for day-to-day workplace issues, including administration of the Family and Medical Leave Act and requests for disability accommodation, navigating wage and hour issues, conducting sensitive and complex investigations, and creating and leading comprehensive management and human resources training. A resident of Huntington Woods, Machasic also is the lead attorney for Clark Hill’s HR/Advantage client-centered compliance program. She was an integral strategic partner in the program’s founding and continues to assist in developing the strategic vision and legal content for the program.
What would surprise people about your job? How much time I spend responding to e-mails. Seriously.
Why did you become a lawyer? It was the only career I’d ever considered. According to my family, I debated my grandfather and won the debate when I was about two years old. He told everyone from that day forward that he thought I should be a lawyer and I guess it stuck! I also come from a family of lawyers — my grandfather was a federal judge and my aunt, uncle, and cousin are also lawyers. I guess you can say it runs in the family.
What’s your favorite law-related TV show, movie, and/or book? Typically, I can’t stand watching shows or movies about lawyers, except “Legally Blonde.” It’s light-hearted and a little cheesy, but the movie has a great message: always stay true to yourself.
If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would that be? My 13-month old daughter. I would love to see the world through her eyes.
What’s your proudest moment as a lawyer? Making partner the same year I had my daughter. It is very important to me to show other women that you don’t have give up, or even tone down, your ambition when you become a mother — you can have a successful career and a family.
What do you do to relax? Spend quality time with my family. One (or two) glasses of wine does the trick too…
What other career path might you have chosen? I would have pursued my interests — history, art, travel and writing — instead of choosing a “career.” I think that if you are doing something that you love, you will find a way to support yourself.
What would you say to your 16-year-old self? Stop worrying about the future and enjoy the present!
Favorite local hangouts? The Detroit Institute of Arts. Bread by Crispellis (best desserts). Commonwealth (best coffee).
Favorite websites? Amazon. I’m not sure how working parents lived without it.
Favorite app? Amazon. Instagram.
Favorite music? Anything popular in the early 2000s. I’m not ashamed to admit I still listen to the Backstreet Boys and the Spice Girls.
What is your happiest childhood memory? Spending time with my two best friends every summer at one of their family cottages in Indiana.
What is your most treasured material possession? I try not to focus too much on material possessions. I’d rather spend my time with my family or spend my money on travelling.
What do you wish someone would invent? A way to teleport so that I could avoid traffic.
What has been your favorite year so far and why? 2018, when my daughter was born.
What’s the most awe-inspiring place you’ve ever been? Seeing the Eiffel Tower light up on my honeymoon in Paris.
What’s one thing you would like to learn to do? Photography.
What is something most people don't know about you? Very little. I’m generally an open book.
If you could have dinner with three people, living or dead, who would they be? Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Donald Trump. The awkwardness would be fantastic.
Which living person do you most admire? My husband. He has a great perspective on life. He works hard, is very passionate about what he does, but he manages stress much better than I do.
What do you consider to be your greatest achievement? My daughter. Becoming a mother put everything in perspective for me. I’ve always been a high-achiever and very focused on success in my career and I’m very proud of the things I’ve been able to accomplish professionally. But, my daughter motivates everything I do now. She has made me better in every area of my life. I think that’s because I have a lot more purpose behind my “why.”
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