Varnum LLP

102 Best Lawyers awards

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Awarded Practice Areas

Employment Law - Management Labor Law - Management

Biography

Pat White's practice concentrates on the full spectrum of civil rights issues, race and gender disability matters, free speech and electronic privacy issues in the workplace. In addition to litigation, he also does traditional labor work, including negotiation and arbitration, both for public and private sector clients. He also maintains expertise in education law, representing school districts, community colleges and colleges and universities, both with respect to employment issues as well as student issues. He is the current Labor and Employment practice group chair.

Pat has successfully litigated, arbitrated or resolved matters involving civil rights violations, employee privacy, wiretapping in the work place, multi-plaintiff race discrimination, disability accommodation, military leave, drug and client negligent discharges, injunctions, unfamiliar practice and arbitration over changes in benefit providers, defended claim for disability benefits, obtained voluntary dismissal of FMLA claim. He has completed several recent union representation matters.
Varnum LLP

102 Best Lawyers awards

Varnum LLP logo

Overview

  • University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, J.D., graduated 1981
  • Eastern Michigan University, Masters, Elementary Educ., graduated 1976

  • Michigan, State Bar of Michigan

  • American Bar Association - Labor and Litigation Sections; Equal Employment Opportunity Subcommittee
  • Community Rebuilders - Board Member
  • Grand Rapids Bar Association - Member
  • National and Michigan Associations of School Boards - Council of School Attorneys, MCSA President, 1997 - 1998
  • National Association of College and University Attorneys - Member
  • Senior Neighbors, Inc. - Past Board President and current Personnel Committee Chair
  • State Bar of Michigan - Labor Relations and Health Law Sections
  • Michigan, State Bar of Michigan
  • American Bar Association - Labor and Litigation Sections; Equal Employment Opportunity Subcommittee
  • Community Rebuilders - Board Member
  • Grand Rapids Bar Association - Member
  • National and Michigan Associations of School Boards - Council of School Attorneys, MCSA President, 1997 - 1998
  • National Association of College and University Attorneys - Member
  • Senior Neighbors, Inc. - Past Board President and current Personnel Committee Chair
  • State Bar of Michigan - Labor Relations and Health Law Sections
  • University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, J.D., graduated 1981
  • Eastern Michigan University, Masters, Elementary Educ., graduated 1976

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2016 - Employment Law - Management Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2013 - Labor Law - Management Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2012 - Employment Law - Management
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Employment Law - Management, Grand Rapids (2016)
  • Labor Law - Management, Grand Rapids (2013)
  • Employment Law - Management, Grand Rapids (2012)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Employment Law - Management
  • Labor Law - Management
Special Focus:
  • Arbitration and Mediation
  • Civil Rights
  • Class Actions
  • Discrimination
  • Education
  • Labor
  • Litigation
  • Management
  • Public and Private Sectors
  • State and Federal
  • Title VII Litigation
  • Wage-Hour Law
  • Wrongful Discharge
Awards:
  • Recognized by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® as Lawyer of the Year for the Employment Law/Management practice area (2012, 2013)

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