Rachel is a respected business counselor and employment lawyer. In her 15 year career, she has advised many types of businesses, from small start-ups to those with hundreds of employees in industries such as health care, manufacturing, government, and education.
The hallmark of Rachel's practice involves providing proactive, risk avoidance counsel on employment and business matters to ensure her clients stay out of court and in compliance with regulatory statutes. When matters end up in court, her clients rely on her extensive experience as a litigator to get the best results possible. She has tried cases and argued motions before judges and juries in courts throughout Northern Michigan, including Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Benzie, Manistee, Charlevoix and Otsego Counties, as well as in Federal Court.
Rachel regularly advises clients on employment law issues such as employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation; wage and hour law; occupational safety and health (OSHA); unemployment insurance agency issues; as well as union organizing and bargaining. She lends her expertise to her clients on matters relating to best hiring practices; preparation of employment contracts for key employees; handbook drafting and review; I-9 audits; sexual harassment training; FMLA administration; ADA accommodation issues; wage and hour audits; discipline; and termination.
Rachel currently serves as a respected advisor and counselor to businesses on issues such as the formation of client companies; drafting service agreements, leases, and buy-sell agreements; corporate governance compliance, such as the review of corporate documentation; and mergers and acquisitions.
Rachel is frequently sought out by industry and business organizations to speak and write on numerous employment and business issues. For her clients, she designs and implements tailored educational and training programs.
Specific examples of her experience include:
- Representing a mid-sized manufacturer faced with $100,000 in fines and penalties from MIOSHA; Rachel negotiated a resolution in which all fines were waived and the manufacturer was able to participate in writing the rules applicable to its industry.
- Representing a professional employer organization that was charged with SUTA dumping; after a contested administrative hearing, the employer was cleared of all charges.
- Representing a governmental entity in a labor arbitration involving the discharge of an employee; Rachel convinced the arbitrator that the discharge should stand.
- Representing a non-profit organization in a wage and hour investigation involving allegations of unpaid overtime; Rachel negotiated a resolution in which the Department of Labor accepted the employer's calculations and waived all fines and penalties.
- Representing a construction sub-contractor in enforcing a non-compete agreement; Rachel obtained an injunction preventing the former employee from working in the industry for three years.
Admitted to Practice
- State Bar of Michigan, 1994
Education
- University of Notre Dame (B.A. in English and French, magna cum laude, 1991), Phi Beta Kappa
- Wayne State University (J.D., cum laude, 1994), Order of the Coif, Assistant Editor Wayne Law Review
Noteworthy
- Named a "Rising Star" by the Michigan Super Lawyers in 2008
- Named to the "40 under 40" list by the Grand Traverse Business News in 2007
- Served as Judicial Law Clerk to Justice Patricia Boyle of the Michigan Supreme Court and Judge Maura Corrigan of the Michigan Court of Appeals
- Served as assistant editor of the Wayne Law Review
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- State Bar of Michigan
- Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim Bar Association
- Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, Northwest Region
Extra Curricular
- Board Member, Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce, 2009-present
- Board Member, Women's Resource Center, 2003-present
- Member, Traverse Area Human Resources Association, 2005-present
- Member, Zonta Club of Traverse City, 1999-present
- Participant, Leadership Grand Traverse, 2001-2002
- Participant, Leadership Michigan, 2008
Previous Professional Experience
- Assistant Prosecutor – Grand Traverse County
- Law Clerk, Hon. Patricia J. Boyles, Michigan Supreme Court
- Law Clerk, Hon. Maura D. Corrigan, Michigan Court of Appeals
