Stephanie R. Setterington

Labor and Employment Attorney

Stephanie advises employers on a wide variety of labor and employment matters, with an emphasis on employment litigation defense, the identification and development of best practices in the area of human resources, and affirmative action. She has worked extensively as labor and employment counsel for publicly-traded and privately-held companies that vary from single-site businesses to multistate or global entities. She works with each client to ensure compliance with labor and employment-related legal requirements, develop effective human resource operations, and achieve the successful resolution of employment-related disputes.

Stephanie defends employers in state and federal trial and appellate courts, and before state and administrative agencies. She also assists unionized employers with contract and grievance administration issues. Her experience includes defending clients in grievance arbitrations, as well as in National Labor Relations Board proceedings at the trial and appellate levels.

Stephanie also maintains a focus on representation of educational institutions. She regularly assists higher education institutions and independent schools regarding specialized matters of compliance, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act), and other federal, state and local laws relating to students and employees of educational institutions. Stephanie represented one of three Michigan universities in litigation before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court regarding the constitutionality of Michigan’s voter-enacted ban on the use of affirmative action in college admissions.

Honors and Recognitions

Michigan Lawyer’s Weekly, Michigan Go to Lawyer, Employment Law, 2024

Best Lawyers in America^®, Lawyer of the Year, Litigation – Labor and Employment, 2021

Best Lawyers in America^®, Litigation – Labor and Employment, since 2021

Grand Rapids Magazine’s Top Lawyers, Labor and Employment, since 2021

Professional Affiliations

Federal Bar Association, Western District of Michigan

National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA)

State Bar of Michigan

Community Involvement

Davenport University, Paralegal Program Advisory Board, 2009 – present

Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids, Board, 2018 – present