Beverly Hall Burns Named in Michigan Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame
Michigan Lawyers Weekly has named Beverly Hall Burns in its Hall of Fame Class of 2024, which recognizes Michigan’s legal leaders who have been in practice for 30 years for their successful careers and valuable contributions to the community.
Burns is a member of the firm’s Employment and Labor Group. She developed particular expertise in the area of representing employers in the public education sector, particularly through her significant work with school districts during critical periods of change and development. She helped many public school district clients during the teacher strikes in the 1970s and 1980s, and has assisted districts in working with their unions, including teachers, bus drivers, clerical and paraprofessionals.
Burns was also instrumental in helping clients navigate issues involving special education in the years following the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Education for All Handicapped Children Act in 1975, and later the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, which clarified the duties of school districts to provide special education services.
Burns’ legal expertise has been recognized repeatedly, with honors that include being named the 2014 Detroit Education Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in America and her consistent inclusion in Michigan Super Lawyers since 2006.
“Beverly has not only established herself as a preeminent management-side employment and labor attorney in the state but has also demonstrated an unwavering dedication to community service and civic engagement,” said Miller Canfield CEO Megan Norris.
Burns’ civic and community engagement has focused on supporting both early childhood and senior citizen initiatives. Notably, she served as chair of the Executive Committee of the Early Childhood Investment Corporation, to which she was appointed by former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, and she has held leadership positions in organizations such as Hope Starts Here, the Michigan Humane Society, and the Michigan Women’s Foundation, among others.
Burns currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Luella Hannan Memorial Foundation to serve Detroit’s aging population. The long list of her many past and current civic and community leadership experiences also includes:
- Michigan Humane Society, Board of Directors and Chair
- Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce Nominating Committee
- Grosse Pointe Public Schools Superintendent’s Advisory Board
- Grosse Pointe Historical Society
- Michigan Metro Girl Scout Council Board of Directors
- Michigan State University College of Arts and Letters Alumni Association Board of Directors
- Michigan State University National Alumni Association Board of Directors
- Michigan Women’s Foundation Board of Trustees and Chair
- Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute Professional Advisory Committee
- Detroit Economic Club Board of Directors
- Detroit Athletic Club Board of Directors
- The Greening of Detroit Board of Directors
- Eleanor League Cofounder
- Grosse Pointe War Memorial Board of Directors, Chair
- American Heart Association Executive Leadership Team member
Burns will be recognized with other Hall of Fame members at a luncheon in late April. Profiles of Hall of Fame honorees will appear in the April 22, 2024, edition of Michigan Lawyers Weekly.