Pamela C. Enslen

Principal

enslen@millercanfield.com

Kalamazoo
T: +1.269.383.5806
O: +1.269.381.7030
F: +1.269.382.0244

Grand Rapids
T: +1.616.776.6336
O: +1.616.454.8656
F: +1.616.776.6322

Pamela C. Enslen has extensive expertise in employment litigation, including federal and state employment contract, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblower, and disability claims. She also has a long and impressive track record in commercial litigation, including breach of contract and fraudulent transaction claims, franchise disputes, software misappropriation claims, product liability actions, personal injury matters, and white collar criminal defense. Since 1985, she has handled employment-related and commercial lawsuits in federal and state courts for corporations, municipalities, universities and colleges, medical facilities and practices, and others. In addition, Pam served as a Federal Public Defender from 2001 to mid-2003, and continues to practice criminal defense law in state and federal courts.

“I listen and relate to the concerns of my clients. I help them achieve their goals by remaining focused and unruffled despite obstacles and difficult parties on the other side.”
Pamela C. Enslen

As a trained and certified facilitative mediator for many years, Pam is also experienced in dispute resolution. She serves as a neutral mediator in cases in federal and state courts, as well as matters not yet in litigation. Pam is also a trained arbitrator and has conducted arbitrations through the American Arbitration Association.

Experience

Pam successfully represented a liberal arts college in Michigan in a particularly difficult sexual harassment lawsuit. Through her efforts, the college obtained a favorable settlement, while at the same time severing all ties to the plaintiff who had been a difficult and disruptive professor in the school’s English Department. The resolution of the lawsuit was a great relief to many at the college, and allowed the healing process to begin. After the matter was concluded, several of the professors and administrators at the college kept in touch with Pam for years.

“I helped my client get back on track with its primary purpose of educating its students, enabling professors and administrators to move on from what was an incredibly disruptive and divisive situation.”

Professional Activities

Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow
American Bar Foundation, Fellow 2003-present
American Bar Association, House of Delegates 1999-present and Nominating Committee 2010-2013; Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants 2011-present; SCLAID Indigent Defense Advisory Group 2011-present; Center for Human Rights Advisory Council 2010-2011; Criminal Justice Section White Collar Crime Committee Midwest/Detroit Region, Subcommittee co-chair 2010-present; Governing Council Officer of Dispute Resolution Section 1993-present; Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity 2007-2010; Standing Committee on Judicial Independence 2003-2008; Chair, Dispute Resolution Section 1998-99; Liaison, Commission on Women in the Profession; ADR Committee of the Litigation Section 1993-00; Standing Committee on Dispute Resolution 1990-93; Subcommittee on Training Attorneys to Operate in an ADR Environment, Chairman
Michigan State Bar Foundation, Fellow 2009-present
State Bar of Michigan, Representative Assembly 2010-present; Justice Initiatives: Equal Access Initiative panel 2010-present; CJI Criminal Issues Initiative 2011-present; Committee on United States Courts 2006-present; Committee on Arbitration and ADR 1986-91; ADR and Arbitration Section Council 1985-99
Massachusetts Bar Association
State Bar of California
Federal Bar Association, Member, Board of Governors, West Michigan Chapter 2003-present; West Michigan Chapter Scholarship Committee 1992-present
American Inns of Court, Master, Grand Rapids Chapter
Kalamazoo County Bar Association, Board of Directors 1996-99, 2007-present; Law Day Committee Chair 1989; Mediation Committee 1991-present; Pro Bono Committee 1986-present; ADR Committee 1993-present
Michigan Supreme Court, Dispute Resolution Court Rule Committee 2007-2008
Women Lawyers' Association of Michigan, Regional Representative, Gender Bias Committee 1989-90
American Arbitration Association, Member, Panel of Arbitrators
National Dispute Resolution Resource Center, Chairman, 1993-99 (Washington, D.C.)
Inforum, Executive Leadership Program, 2008

Honors + Awards

Michigan Super Lawyers, Top 50 Women Michigan Super Lawyers 2010-present; Employment Litigation: Defense 2006-present
Best Lawyers in America, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation 2008-2011; Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense-White Collar, Litigation-First Amendment, Litigation-Labor & Employment, and Mediation 2012
Business Review West Michigan, 2011 Thought Leaders in the Law
Michigan Lawyers Weekly, 1999 Michigan Lawyers of the Year
American Bar Association, Commission on Women in the Profession, 2004 Pathways to Leadership
American Mensa, member
Marquis Who's Who in America
Marquis Who's Who in the World
Marquis Who's Who in American Law
Who's Who among Rising Young Americans
International Who's Who

Civic, Cultural + Social Activities

Gryphon Place, Board of Directors 2007-present; Dispute Resolution Services Advisory Committee
Dispute Resolution Services Advisory Counsel 2007-present
Kalamazoo Kiwanis, Board of Directors 2011-present
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Board of Directors 2011-2014
Michigan Women's Foundation, Board of Trustees 2012-2015
American Cancer Society, Board of Directors, Michigan Division, Inc.; Kalamazoo County Unit 1991-04;
Volunteer, Personnel Leadership Group
Kalamazoo Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Kalamazoo 1991
Community Dispute Resolution Center, Kalamazoo and Barry Counties, Cofounder and Member of Board of Directors 1987-93; Board of Directors Vice-president 1987-88

Teaching Experience

Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Adjunct Professor, teaching course in Alternative Dispute Resolution, 1994-95

Publications

"Health Care Fraud Enforcement," (Co-Author), The Federal Lawyer, June 2010

“Contractual Alternative Dispute Resolution: What It Is and Why It Should Be Used,” International Legal Strategy Monthly Magazine (1994)

“Michigan Pleading and Practice-ADR,” Lawyers Cooperative Publishing (1994)

“Incorporating ADR into Law Firm Practice,” (Co-Author), Michigan Bar Journal (1993)

“Attorney Duty to Inform Clients of ADR”? Michigan Bar Journal (1993) (selected for journals and law reviews database on WESTLAW)

"The Status of Governmental Immunity in Michigan and its Impact on Municipalities,” State Bar of Michigan General Practice Journal, (1982)

Speeches

Frequent speaker before professional and public bodies on alternative dispute resolution and employment, commercial, and criminal law.

Seminars:

Harvard Mediation Skills Workshop

Seminars + Events

Articles

Newsletters

News

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