Employment + Labor

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"The most complete labor and employment practice." — Client, Chambers USA 2012.

Miller Canfield has been recognized as one of the most impressive and all-encompassing employment and labor practices in the nation. Chambers USA ranked our Employment + Labor group among Michigan's best, hailing six of our lawyers for their expertise — more than any law firm in the state. American Lawyer Media named us a 2013 Go-To Law Firm® for the Top 500 Companies in Labor & Employment Law. We are known internationally for our representation in this area.

Our team handles a variety of workplace issues, specializing in complex litigation including class actions, employee benefits and tax issues, proactive "best practices" counselling aimed at preventing disputes, labor relations and governmental contracting compliance and reporting.

Keeping our clients updated about the ever-evolving employment law landscape is an important part of what we do. Whether the legislature passed a new law or regulation, or an appeals court decision changes how the laws are enforced, we keep clients informed about their legal obligations and rights through e-Alerts, newsletters, and seminars. Our clients range from Fortune 500 companies to not-for-profit organizations, and from privately held companies to cities, counties, towns and villages.

Our attorneys bring many credentials to their work: professional experience in corporations, teaching, journalism, judicial clerkships, and significantly, experience in union-side and plaintiffs' firms. Some are Fellows in the College of Labor and Employment Attorneys, others are named among Best Lawyers, as well as Michigan and Illinois Super Lawyers.

The Employment Law Alliance (ELA), a powerful legal resource for clients facing international employment issues, lists Miller Canfield as its designated law firm in Michigan. The Alliance is a network of the best labor and employment attorneys in the world. We wrote the Michigan and Poland chapters of the ELA's Global Employer Handbook, a resource for obtaining practical labor and employment law information worldwide. The Handbook is designed to provide businesses with practical, concrete, up-to-date information on the labor and employment laws in all 50 U.S. states, every Canadian province, and over 100 countries.

Our attorneys are frequent speakers and prolific writers on all employment topics. The group writes and updates the Michigan Employment Law Handbook: Guide for Michigan Employers, first published by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce in 1994 and continually the Chamber’s best-selling publication. The group also edits and provides substantial content for Michigan Public Employment and Labor Relations Law, published by the Michigan Public Employer Labor Relations Association, a must-have resource for public sector labor relations professionals.

Representative Matters

Aerospace Manufacturer Retiree Health Benefit Claim
Successfully represented a prominent aerospace manufacturer after a union and retired workers claiming to represent hundreds of class members sued the company alleging entitlement to lifetime health benefits. After prevailing in efforts to transfer venue to a more appropriate court, Miller Canfield filed and prevailed on a motion for summary judgment.
School District Age Discrimination
Represented a local school district against a union and hundreds of former employees in an age discrimination class action lawsuit. We obtained summary disposition at the state court level, then successfully requested the dismissal of a parallel class action filed in federal court.
Utility Company Fair Labor Standards Act
Successfully represented a public utility company in a wage and hour collective action brought by over 300 employees alleging entitlement to overtime. The federal district court dismissed plaintiffs’ claims. They appealed and we successfully defended the dismissal before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Clothing Retailer Race Discrimination
Defended a clothing retail chain in a purported class action involving race discrimination claims. The case settled on favorable terms after the court declined to certify a class.
U.S. Retailer Age Discrimination
Defended a major retailer in a class action involving sales associates alleging age discrimination arising out of a nationwide reorganization. The Eastern District of Michigan Judge dismissed the lawsuit, avoiding potential damages claims exceeding $16 million.