Practice Areas
Education
Detroit College of Law
Detroit, Michigan
J.D., 1992
Madonna University
Livonia, Michigan
B.S., 1988
Bar Admissions
Michigan
Court Admissions
All Michigan state courts
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Labor and Employment Attorney
Maureen is a partner and leads Varnum’s Labor and Employment Practice Team. She represents clients in all areas of labor and employment. She advises clients on labor management relations including union election proceedings, collective bargaining and contract enforcement in arbitration and before the National Labor Relations Board. Maureen defends employment-related claims including discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, Whistleblowers’ and Fair Labor Standards Act violations in federal and state courts, administrative proceedings and arbitration hearings. She counsels clients on drafting, implementation and enforcement of workplace policies. She has significant experience working with companies in a variety of industries including manufacturing, automotive, logistics and health care.
Maureen regularly writes and speaks on a variety of labor and employment matters. She is a frequent presenter for Michigan Chamber of Commerce programs.
Honors and Recognitions
Best Lawyers in America®, Litigation – Labor and Employment, since 2021
BTI Client Service All-Star since 2020
DBusiness© Top Lawyers, Labor and Employment Law, since 2016
Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Influential Women of Law, 2022
Michigan Super Lawyers® since 2012
Professional Affiliations
Detroit Bar Association
Oakland County Bar Association
State Bar of Michigan
Michigan Chamber of Commerce Health and Human Resources Committee
Community Involvement
Northern Michigan Adaptive Sports
Presentations
Reasonable COVID Accommodations, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, July 2021
HR Issues to Look for in the New Year, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, December 2020
What Employees Need to Know About the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, 2020
FMLA and ADA: Managing Leave Request Doesn’t Need to be Complicated, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, November 2020
COVID-19 Legal Updates, Comerica, October 2020
Put To the Test: When You Are Faced With a Workplace Investigation, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, July 2020
Best Practices for Managing Return to Work After COVID, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, June 2020
New Workplace Norms Will Greet Workers as They Get Back on the Job, Fox 17 News Interview, April 2020
With Michigan Schools Out, Businesses Grapple with Productivity Woes, Crain’s Detroit Business, April 2020
Fear of the Workplace – What to Expect, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, April 2020
Employment Law Update: Top 10 Hot Topics, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, January 2020
Leadership Training, Silver Pine Medical Group, September 2019
Employee Handbooks – What to Include and Why, MIRS, July 2019
Preventing Harassment and Discrimination in the Workplace, BCS Automotive, June 2019
HR “Hot Button” Topics in the Green Industry, MGIA Trade Show Presentation, May 2019
Employment Law Update, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, January 2019
Workplace Harassment: New Awareness and Strategies to Address an Old Problem, 2018 MISHRM Conference, October 2018, Traverse City, MI
It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye: Employment Terminations; and Supreme Court Decisions: Recent Rulings and Potential Landmines in 2018, Varnum Labor and Employment Seminar, May 22, 2018, Detroit, MI
2018 Employment Law Update: Top Ten Hot Button Topics, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, January 2018, Novi, MI
Responding to HR Sticky Situations 2, Co-Presenter, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, December 2016, Novi, MI
FLSA Overtime Rules Take Effect for Exempt Employees on December 1: Are You Prepared?, Bodman Sunrise Series Meetings, November 10, 2016, Ann Arbor, MI; November 15, 2016, Detroit, MI; and November 17, 2016, Troy, MI
HR Sticky Situations: How Would You Respond?, Co-Presenter, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, June 2016, Novi, MI
Disability in the Workplace, ADA, FMLA, Workers’ Comp, December 8, 2015, Lansing, MI
FMLA Update on Same-Sex Spouses Benefits Rule, Co-presenter, Bodman Sunrise Series Meetings, March 31, 2015, Ann Arbor, MI; April 1, 2015, Detroit, MI; and April 2, 2015
Your Computer or Mine – Employees’ Right to Employers’ E-mail Systems and Other Electronic Systems (Management’s Perspective), The Bernard Gottfried Memorial Labor Law Symposium, October 2015, Detroit, MI
Is Your Workplace Prepared for Increased Government Scrutiny?, Bodman PLC, November 10, 2014, Detroit, MI
Annual FMLA Update, Crittenton Hospital Medical Center, 2008-2013, Rochester, MI
Face Off With Facebook, Washtenaw Dental Association, June 2012, Ann Arbor, MI
What Every Employer Needs to Know to Survive 2012, Bodman PLC, Detroit, MI
Monitoring and Controlling Employee Use of Social Media, Bodman PLC, October 21, 2010, Livonia, MI
FMLA, COBRA and Ledbetter: Are You Compliant?, Bodman PLC, Workplace Forward Series, May 28, 2009, Livonia, MI
Restoring Employee Rights in a Unionized Workplace, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, November 20, 2008, Lansing, MI
Employment Law Under the New Administration, Bodman PLC, Workplace Forward Series, November 8, 2008, Lansing, MI
Managing Leaves of Absence, Crittenton Hospital Medical Center, October 2008, Rochester, MI
The Bernard Gottfried Memorial Labor Law Symposium, Panel Discussion Member, October 2008, Detroit, MI
Boosting Employee Morale, Howell Area Chamber of Commerce, April 2007, Howell, MI
Remaining Union Free, CEO Roundtable, Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce, September 9, 2005, Owosso, MI
Basic Training: The 3R’s, Recruiting, Records & Retention, Health Care Recruiters Association of Metro Detroit – Keynote Speaker, September 30, 2004, Detroit, MI
Civil Rights Law: Avoiding Discrimination in the Workplace, American Society of Employers, March 11, May 7 and October 23, 2003, Southfield, MI
Understanding US/Canadian Labor and Employment Law, Michigan Chamber Services, March 12, 2002, Livonia, MI
Managing Disability and Leaves of Absence in Michigan, Lorman Education Services, September 7, 2000, Livonia, MI