About John
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.
Practice Areas
Professional Affiliations
Awards & Recognition
- Lawyer of the Year: Employment Law - Management, Grand Rapids (2016)
- Lawyer of the Year: Labor Law - Management, Grand Rapids (2013)
- Lawyer of the Year: Employment Law - Management, Grand Rapids (2012)
- Recognized: Employment Law - Management
- Recognized: Labor Law - Management
- Special Focus: Arbitration and Mediation
- Special Focus: Civil Rights
- Special Focus: Class Actions
- Special Focus: Discrimination
- Special Focus: Education
- Special Focus: Labor
- Special Focus: Litigation
- Special Focus: Management
- Special Focus: Public and Private Sectors
- Special Focus: State and Federal
- Special Focus: Title VII Litigation
- Special Focus: Wage-Hour Law
- Special Focus: Wrongful Discharge
- Recognized by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® as Lawyer of the Year for the Employment Law/Management practice area (2012, 2013)