Senior Employment Litigation Partner (Grand Rapids)

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 350,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP in Grand Rapids seeks an experienced Partner to lead its Employment Litigation Practice Group. The ideal candidate will bring substantial employment litigation expertise, a portable book of business preferred but not required, and the seniority to guide a growing team.

The role involves managing matters from inception through trial and appeal, advising clients on labor issues, and developing case strategy while pursuing new business opportunities.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in Michigan.
• 15–20 years of employment litigation experience at the partner level.
• Strong business development and client-relations skills.

Responsibilities

• Represent clients in employment litigation from inception through trial and appeal.
• Advise on employment issues and labor counseling.
• Develop case strategy and oversee pleadings, discovery, motions, and trials.
• Manage complex matters including class actions and FLSA matters.
• Build and maintain client relationships and identify new business.
• Pursue business development opportunities with prospective clients.

Skills

Client relationships

Business development

Leadership

Employment litigation

Legal analysis

Pleadings & motions

Communication

Education

Juris Doctor

Job description

Description

About the Position

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP is seeking an experienced Partner to join our Employment Litigation Practice Group in our Grand Rapids office. The ideal candidate will bring significant employment litigation experience, a demonstrated ability to develop business, and the seniority to provide experienced leadership within the group. A portable book of business is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Representing clients in employment litigation matters, from case initiation through trial and appeal
• Advising clients on employment-related legal issues and providing labor counseling, as appropriate
• Developing case strategy and overseeing pleadings, motions, briefs, discovery, depositions, and court proceedings
• Handling complex employment litigation matters, including class action and FLSA matters, as applicable
• Building and maintaining strong client relationships and identifying opportunities to expand those relationships
• Identifying and pursuing business development opportunities with prospective clients

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in employment litigation, with labor counseling experience as a secondary practice area
• Experience managing employment litigation matters from initial case assessment through trial and appeal
• Experience drafting pleadings, motions, briefs, and discovery materials
• Experience conducting legal research, managing discovery, and preparing for depositions, hearings, mediations, and trials
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly and practically to clients
• Ability to listen to clients’ concerns and provide thoughtful, business-minded legal advice
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to assess complex legal issues and develop effective case strategies
• Precision in legal writing and attention to detail
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and professionalism
• Demonstrated ability to build client relationships and identify business development opportunities

• Ability to meet the physical requirements of the position, including prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing, and the ability to lift up to 25 pounds as neede

About You

• Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school
• Licensed and in good standing to practice law in the State of Michigan
• 15-20 years of employment litigation experience at the partner level, preferably in a law firm setting
• Labor counseling experience is welcome; class action and FLSA experience is preferred, but not required

About Warner

By providing discerning and proactive legal advice, Warner Norcross + Judd builds a better partnership with its clients. Warner is a full-service corporate law firm with 220+ attorneys practicing in nine offices throughout Michigan: Bloomfield Hills, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Holland, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Macomb, Midland and Muskegon. To learn more, visit www.wnj.com, or connect with us on LinkedIn or Facebook.

Our Culture

Warner’s cultural motto is “Fun, Pride + Profit...in that Order”. We believe that if you have fun at work, take pride in the accomplishments of you and your colleagues, that profit will naturally follow. We build A Better Partnership through:

• Teamwork – Warner’s lockstep compensation model encourages teamwork, and distinguishes us from our competitors. Partner and associate salaries are set based upon seniority, not total hours worked, encouraging client legal projects to be routed to the most knowledgeable person in the firm. Our team approach to compensation yields better legal representation for our clients and lays the foundation for a fun culture without internal financial competition. We have a team atmosphere where people like working together and supporting each other.
• Diversity – A diverse group of 30 firm members serve on Warner’s DEI Action Committee and contribute over 2000 collective hours annually to drive diversity, equity and inclusion through initiatives such as firm-wide town hall meetings, employee resource groups and hiring processes. Our DEIAC focuses on Warner’s “one firm” approach that embraces everyone in the firm. We celebrate differences with the same energy we honor our commonalities. When all firm members feel safe being their authentic selves and all barriers to opportunity are eliminated, it’s a better partnership for everyone.
• Balance – Our culture of balanced personal and professional lifestyle allows us to maintain a 94% attorney retention rate. Attorneys throughout Michigan, the region and beyond are choosing Warner as their forever home – and because of our dedicated focus on living balanced lives, our attorneys’ families are fully supporting these important decisions.
• Community – Warner’s time-honored community engagement initiatives include financial contributions to 150+ nonprofits, scholarships and paid time off for all firm members to engage in community initiatives that are meaningful to them.

Closing Statement

Warner hires top talent at every point in our organization. We are seeking dedicated professionals with diverse backgrounds who strive to support the firm and its goals. Our collegial culture attracts people with diverse skills and backgrounds who are dedicated to teamwork and client service.