Best Lawyers Near You in Grand Rapids, Michigan for Employment Law - Management
Nathan D. Plantinga has been practicing law since 1997 and is the chair of the firm's employment and labor section. He enjoys a busy counseling practice for union and nonunion clients, advising employers on the full spectrum of employment matters, including civil rights charges, difficult medical leave issues, employee discipline and discharge, wage and hour, and unemployment. Mr. Plantinga also specializes in traditional labor work involving collective bargaining, labor arbitrations, unfair ...
Nathaniel R. Wolf practices in the areas of securities arbitration, commercial litigation, employment law and immigration. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the American Association of Immigration Attorneys, the State Bar of Michigan and the Grand Rapids Bar Association. Nate received his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration/Pre-Law from Michigan State University in 1994. He received his law degree from Wayne State University Law School, cum laude in 1997, where he was el...
Kelley Stoppels is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Labor Law - Management. Kelley, who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kelley is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Larry is an experienced trial attorney concentrating on the defense of individuals and organizations in employment litigation, including matters involving discrimination, harassment, wrongful discharge, and employment contracts. He has extensive experience advising employers on executive employment contracts, personnel policies and procedures, discipline issues, corporate downsizing, trade secret and non-compete agreements, and drug and alcohol testing. Larry is licensed to practice law in th...
Keith E. Eastland is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Labor Law - Management. Keith E., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Keith E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
John H. Gretzinger graduated from Michigan State University in 1971 and served as a Naval Officer from 1972 through 1975. After completion of his military service, he attended Detroit College of Law, was Managing Editor of the Detroit College of Law Review and received the Charles H. King Award for the highest scholastic proficiency in his 1978 graduating class. John is a specialist in labor and employment law, including collective bargaining negotiations, grievance arbitrations, Act 312 inte...
Nikole L. Canute’s areas of practice include: labor and employment law, employment litigation, energy litigation, civil litigation, fraud investigation and litigation and securities litigation. She is very skilled in handling employment investigations, electronic discovery and matters involving computer forensic investigations. Nikole also specializes in energy matters, including condemnation. Her experience includes working with local municipal authorities and law enforcement during pr...
Ashleigh E. Draft is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labor and Employment Law - Management. Ashleigh E., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ashleigh E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Brett Swearingen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Government Relations Practice and Labor and Employment Law - Management. Brett, who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brett is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Nicole D. Blanchard is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property Law and Labor and Employment Law - Management. Nicole D., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nicole D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Adam J. Walker is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labor and Employment Law - Management. Adam J., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Adam J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Kevin D. Battle is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labor and Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Kevin D., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kevin D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Matthew M. O'Rourke is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law, Labor and Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Matthew M., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Sandra Andre is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law and Labor and Employment Law - Management. Sandra, who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sandra is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Timothy J. Ryan is a Shareholder in the Grand Rapids, Michigan office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Mr. Ryan is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (J.D., magna cum laude ) and Aquinas College (B.A., magna cum laude). Mr. Ryan has practiced exclusively in the labor and employment area since 1987, when he was admitted to the Bar. He has obtained an “AV® Preeminent™” rating, which is the highest peer review rating from Martindale Hubbell. He has been selected by his peers f...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.